Monday, March 16, 2015

Which Would You Prefer?


Chocolate Spread 1:Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Spread®
Ingredients: Dry Roasted Hazelnuts, Dry Roasted Almonds, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa, Organic Cocoa Butter, Palm Fruit Oil, Sea Salt, Natural Vanilla
Serving size: 2 tbsp.
180 Calories, 14g fat, 0mg Cholesterol, 8g Sugars, 4g Protein

Chocolate Spread 2:Nutella®
Ingredients: Sugar, Palm Oil, Hazelnuts, Cocoa, Skim Milk, Reduced Minerals, Whey, Lecithin as emulsifier (soy), Vanillin: an artificial flavor.
Serving size: 2 tbsp.
200 Calories, 12g fat, 0mg Cholesterol, 21g Sugars, 2g Protein

I love, love, love, adore, cherish, love, desire, crave, and love chocolate and strawberries. Before this lifestyle change, I would buy strawberries in bulk and a jar of Nutella® and dive into heaven. Since I have been making smarter food choices and discovered Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Spread® and began eating organic strawberries instead, my heaven became even more heavenly.

Yes, it costs more money, but listen…for me, making the right choices now instead of paying for them later is worth every extra penny I spend. Also, this is a treat for me. So if my budget won’t let me buy it, that really is okay…because treats shouldn't be consumed all the time. Adds to the waistline ;)

Also, notice the difference in the picture below between an organic strawberry and a non-organic one. The organic strawberry is smaller. While the conventional one is really big and appealing for the eye, it is not so much for the tummy.


For one, more than 40 different pesticides have been found on non-organic strawberries. Also, “organically grown strawberries are more nutritious than their chemically grown counterparts.” Finally, they contain more vitamins and antioxidants. 

Love, 
Rachel


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Recipes

I haven’t been posting my recipes lately because I have been super busy! But I’ve had a handful of people asking me to assist them with learning to eat healthier. It makes it easier for me if I just post my recipes on here. I have a lot of catching up to do so I am including a few recipes in this one post.

Turkey “Burgers”
1 pound ground turkey
1 tsp. poultry seasoning (or can use any spices you prefer)
S & P to taste
¼ tsp. cumin powder
Tomato
1-2 Zucchini
Organic Ketchup
Horseradish Mustard
1 tsp. Grapeseed oil
1 tomato sliced

This can easily be grilled outside or cooked on your stove top. I grilled (or my husband did)

Pre-heat grill.

To the raw ground turkey add poultry seasoning (or seasonings of your choice), S&P, and cumin. Massage together and make into 4 equal patties and transfer to the grill.
While they are on the grill, slice zucchini into thin circles. 
Take a sheet of tinfoil and make a “pocket” and lay the zucchini on the sheet. Season them with S&P and stir in the grapeseed oil. Place on grill. Cook burgers until they are no longer pink and zucchini until it is tender and brown.
On a plate, layer 4-6 zucchini slices, turkey patty, tomato, ketchup, mustard and top with additional zucchini.


.
Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie
1 Free Range Organic Whole Chicken
Two stalks of celery
Three carrots
Fresh rosemary
Poultry seasoning
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
½ cup almond milk
3 tsp. grapeseed oil
1 cup broth from cooked chicken
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Biscuit & Baking Mix

In a large stock pot, cover the whole chicken with water. Into the pot put carrots, celery, rosemary, seasonings, S&P and 2 tsp. grapeseed oil. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover to cook until tender and no longer pink. Take chicken out of the pot and let cool.

Preheat oven to 425

In the meantime make the pie crust according to Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Biscuit & Baking Mix package directions and cut into equal strips. (note: there will be left over crust, either wrap it and refrigerate for a few days or sadly, discard)

In an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish place the remaining 1 tsp. grapeseed oil to coat the bottom.
Remove the skin & bones from the whole chicken once it has cooled and shred the chicken. 
Into the dish, add the shredded chicken, S & P to taste, almond milk, broth, and 1 tsp. biscuit & baking mix and stir. (if the mixture looks too thick, add additional broth or almond milk as it some of the moisture will cook out in the oven and you will want it to be moist and not dry)


Place the pie crust strips on top and bake at 425 for 15 minutes and then turn down to 350 and cook an additional 20-30 minutes or until top of crust is brown and chicken is bubbly.





Enjoy and as always...

Love, 
Rachel

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

I'm A Writer Ya'll!!

I did it, I did it, I did it!!! Well, God did it! Today, March 10, 2015 I submitted my very first article for PRINT you guys!! P-R-I-N-T!! Then want to know what I did after that? Submitted an invoice!! Like a, hey...I need some money...INVOICE!

I have always wanted to write and I have always wanted to write for God. All because a Facebook friend reached out to me to speak with her Publisher, meeting with said Publisher, and praying for the right words to type...God came through and did so in a major way for me.

I have officially submitted my first article for Sumter County Living Magazine and it will be delivered in August.  And you know what? These people aren't scared of God. They aren't afraid of hearing how He works in peoples lives and they aren't afraid to deliver it to the citizens of this county (and many others) through a hometown magazine.

I just can't stop basking in the glory of God right now and how awesome He is to allow me the chance to be a conduit for His greatness! How amazing He is to allow me to speak up for Him and use His name in a day and age when so many people are trying to silence it!

I wanted to celebrate with God in a major way today. When I got in my car, this song was playing. I turned the speakers up as loud as they would go and jammed out, sang along, cried and realized that my past is just that...my PAST!! When others say "you can't do this" or "you'll never be enough", etc... ignore it. And if this doesn't seem like a big deal, that is okay with me because it is to me, God, my husband, my family and my friends.

Whoop..............WHOOP!!

Love,
Rachel

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Possibilities

My tea is steeping and rain is falling outside my window. Life is good, God is good. I have seen many dreams come to pass over the past two years that have blown me away and taken what faith I had and stretched it so far and so big that I know God really does want the best for me…for you. I understand grace now and what it really means. I once had a friend tell me “You don’t know how to accept God’s grace.” That was huge for me and resonated within for about 6 years.

I used to think I had to be a martyr for my previous marriage, my place of employment, to those who struggled with their own demons by “saving” them, and on and on. I used to live my life working to earn the grace only God can so freely give. Not until I stepped out of the boat and held my hand out to God in faith did I begin to see that sometimes God needs us to help ourselves.

Yes, He is always present and will always be there for us. But there are times when we have to take the training wheels off and show that we believe we can ride without falling all while knowing that He is watching to make sure that if we should crash, that He is right there to pick us up and set us back into motion only if we know in our hearts that He is there.

A while back I created a visual board for myself of my hopes and dreams that I knew could only come true if God allowed it and if He were to put the right people in my path or create the circumstances to make these dreams come to pass. I sat this visual board by my bed and look at it every single day. At the top of it are the words “It’s already mine!” to show that I know God will provide if it is His will. I have been speaking those things that are not, as though they were. Happily and with great joy I can announce that over half of what is on that board has come to pass.

Here are a few:

     In Love: I have the most wonderful husband!! I know God specifically handpicked him for me. I am still on a daily basis, shocked that this man God has given me knows me so well and treats me so well.

    Donate: I now, alongside my husband, sponsor a child through Compassion International which was something I was unable to afford 3 years ago.

     Writing: I have been blogging again and just received my first Freelance Writing job last week. I have two articles to complete and hand in by April 13th with the opportunity to complete more assignments afterwards.

     Happy and Healthy: Since God and only God has given me the strength to change my life from living to eat to eating to live, I have lost almost 40 pounds and gained energy, better quality of life, easier movement, and less pain.


While these are only a few of the dreams that God has turned into a reality, these are the top 4 and mean the most to me. I am a true testament to what God can do for someone who “rarely gets lucky” (side note: I don’t believe in luck). He can take some serious situations and turn them around for not just good, but AWESOME! And because He has done these things for me, I must do this for Him….I must let you know that without God, much is impossible…but with God…ALL things are possible.

Love, 
Rachel