Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Chicken Quesadilla without a Tortilla aka Chicken Cheesy Chip

Chicken Quesadilla without a Tortilla aka Chicken Cheese Chip


Chicken Quesadilla without a Tortilla aka Chicken Cheese Chip

Years ago, when I was writing my low carb cookbooks, my friends and I created these cheesy chips, or cheese chips.  Now, everyone makes them.  I think that is super cool!  Since I've been doing the SCD plan, (Specific Carbohydrate Diet), I've been enjoying cheese chips again.  Since I was making the rest of my family chicken quesadillas for lunch, I decided I could make one for myself without the tortilla.  It was delicious!

Chicken Quesadilla without a Tortilla aka Chicken Cheese Chip
Makes 1

In a small frying pan over medium-low heat place 1 slice of SCD legal cheese, like Jack, cheddar or colby.  Add shredded cooked chicken to the top of the cheese slice to almost cover the slice.  Cover the pan and cook the cheese and chicken until the cheese has begun to crisp, about 3 minutes.  Carefully turn the cheese and chicken over with a spatula, being careful not to splatter the grease that has formed in the pan.  Continue to cook the cheese chip another minute or so, until it is rigid.  Using a spatula, carefully put the cheese chip on a plate.  Top with SCD legal yogurt and garnish with chives, if desired.

Enjoy!


Saturday, February 27, 2016

Emotional Healing with Flower Essences -- My Story

My Story of Emotional Healing with Flower Essences

When I was five years old, I went for a sleep-over at my adult sister's home. When we arrived, excitedly she told me, "while I get the groceries out of the car, you go inside and make yourself comfortable.  Since you are staying with me, we can stay up as late as you want!"  Thinking that meant I could go to sleep as soon as I wanted, I headed for bed right then.  Once she brought the groceries inside, she couldn't find me.  After a bit of searching, she finally found me -- sleeping in her bed!  She woke me up, and we ended up having a fun time together.

The point of that story is that, even as a young child, I was exhausted and felt like I couldn't do things.  I have had those feelings most of my life, largely due to chronic illness.  However, what I want to share is how that has recently changed.  In fact, this is one of the most life-changing things I have ever done, next to my relationship with Jesus Christ. 

A few months ago, I learned about flower essences.  I've known about Bach Rescue Remedy for many years, but I was unfamiliar with the individual flower essences.

This link will take you to Pure Formulas where remedies can be purchased

Clicking on the picture above will take you to Pure Formulas 
where you can search for and purchase remedies.  
I will receive in-store credit for my referral.

I was having a very difficult time emotionally.  I felt like something had snapped inside my head!  I had heard stories of women reaching menopause and doing, saying and feeling crazy things.  I believe that was what was going on with me.  So that, in combination with the overwhelming fatigue and on-going illness I had been experiencing, really made me feel like I couldn't do anything.  It was awful!  I was having suicidal thoughts and just generally despairing.  I was in a very bad way.  I requested prayer, and within a short period of time, I learned about the other flower essences.

I took a self-test for the flower essences located here.  This link will open a PDF file which then can be printed and scored with the attached score key.  There are many other self-tests on the internet which can be taken, but I like this one because it is printed and I could weigh my answers.  With an online questionnaire, that would be more difficult.  When I scored my test, one of the remedies was almost "screaming" at me!  That was the one I needed.

I began my journey with the individual remedies by ordering olive remedy, pictured below.


Clicking on the picture above will take you to Pure Formulas 
where you can search for and purchase remedies.  
I will receive in-store credit for my referral.


I was having a particularly bad day when my new remedy arrived, so I read the instructions and took some right away.  Honestly, I do respond to natural medicine very quickly, so everyone else may not feel the instant rapid relief that I did.  However, what I experienced that day was nothing short of remarkable!  I went from feeling depressed, exhausted and feeling like I couldn't do anything, to feeling like I COULD do things!  My mood lifted, and I was no longer exhausted.  I felt like a human being again!

Read that paragraph again.  Let that sink in.  I went from being nearly suicidal to feeling like a participant in life within what was really just a few moments.  That is what I would call a miracle!

After a couple of weeks of feeling that I Could Do things, I decided to try another remedy, Star of Bethlehem.


Clicking on the picture above will take you to Pure Formulas 
where you can search for and purchase remedies.  
I will receive in-store credit for my referral.


Star of Bethlehem Remedy is used to treat traumatic stress.  Traumatic stress can be from a variety of things:  Job loss, injury, illness, surgery, loss of a loved one, and a host of other reasons.  Personally, I have been diagnosed with PTSD at least three times in my life.  I began taking Star of Bethlehem essence shortly before I had to have emergency surgery (unrelated.)  I was very thankful to have this remedy plus Rescue Remedy and Olive Remedy for my time in the hospital.  My husband works for a Chinese Bible camp and their yearly Christmas conference was being held when I had to have my surgery.  He was very busy in another part of the State, so I did not have him with me to hold my hand during that extremely traumatic, even life threatening time.  However, I did have my remedies, as well as, other friends and family with me.  Without the remedies, I fully believe I would have had some sort of mental break down if I had been in the condition I was before starting the Olive Remedy a few months earlier.  With the Star of Bethlehem, helping me with the trauma, the Olive Remedy helping me know that I could do this, and the Rescue Remedy helping me with the general stress, I was able to come through an extremely difficult time with a smile on my face and a cheerful heart.

There are many other brands of flower essences available.  I've used a few different ones.  They all seem to work just fine.  I have mixed my own formula that I take four times a day.  It contains just a few drops of each of the essences that I am taking.  Additionally, if I have a traumatic experience, feel stressed or that I can't do something, I take the remedies straight from the bottle, (always being careful not to touch the dropper to my mouth), and I always feel better right away.  I keep a bottle of Olive Remedy in my pocket or bag nearly all the time.  I always am sorry when I forget to bring it with me!

Mixing a custom remedy is really a simple process.  Begin with the flower essences desired.  In my case, I use Olive Essence, Star of Bethlehem Essence, Rescue Remedy and a sleep blend I purchased online.  I put four drops of each remedy in a new dropper bottle, (I learned the hard way never to use an old bottle!), add one teaspoon of brandy, vodka or raw apple cider vinegar, and pure, (never city tap), water to the top.  I take four drops four times daily, away from food.

Another word of caution based upon personal experience:  Don't store flower essences near essential oils.  On the pendulum of natural remedies, oils are on one end and flower essences are on the end.  Oils are very strong, even caustic, while flower essences are extremely gentle.  They cannot be stored near each other because the oils are so strong that they will render the essences ineffective.  Don't put them in the same cupboard or next to each other on a counter.  I have mine about six feet apart on my bathroom countertop, and they are doing fine.

I hope that my story has helped.  If for some reason the links above don't work, remedies can be purchased at PureFormulas.com and my referral code is RPVJYG.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Cream of Spinach or Whatever Soup for One

Cream of Spinach (or Whatever) Soup for One







Cream of Spinach (or Whatever) Soup for One


This recipe is low carb and gluten free.

I wasn't feeling well one day and had been doing a liquid fast.  I was ready for something with some substance but that wouldn't be heavy on my tummy.  I had the idea for this soup concept since I had a big pot of venison broth cooking on the stove.  My intention was to make Egg Drop Soup, but what happened was Cream of Venison Broth Soup instead!

I modified the method slightly to add the spinach.  Other vegetables could be used instead of the spinach, but it's so yummy and easy on it's own.  Just dice the vegetable that is desired and use it in place of the spinach.  Mushrooms, onions, scallions would all be great.

Cream of Spinach or Whatever Soup for One
Makes one serving

Heat approximately 1 cup of homemade broth in a small sauce pan.  Alternatively, a high quality commercial stock can be used.  Add approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped frozen spinach or other suitable vegetables.  Cook over medium heat until the spinach has softened.  If using other vegetables, they will need to be cooked until they are soft.

In the mug, add 1 or 2 eggs and stir them briskly until they are well combined.  Add 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons pastured butter.  I use the Kerrygold brand.

Slowly pour the broth and spinach into the mug, stirring constantly with a fork or small whisk.  If it isn't stirred constantly, the result will be a clumpy Egg Drop Soup, which isn't bad, just not what I'm going for here.

Season to taste with sea salt to taste.  Everything Seasoning or Adobo are also great!  (For SCD do not use Everything Seasoning.)

Enjoy!


Friday, November 6, 2015

Spiced Pecans

Spiced Pecans 





Spiced Pecans 

This is a recipe update of Roasted Pecans from my Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine book.  I wrote this recipe when my children were young, and they asked for it frequently.  It is lightly sweet and spicy with cloves, cinnamon and vanilla.  It smells like the Holidays!


Spiced Pecans *

Preheat the oven to 325F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set it aside.

In a small saucepan, melt over low heat:

1 tablespoon butter (I use Kerrygold brand)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon coconut sugar (could be increased if a sweeter flavor is wanted.  I was going for "lightly sweet")
2 packets stevia based sweetener

Meanwhile, combine in a mixing bowl:

2 cups soaked and dried pecans
1 tablespoon flax seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/16 teaspoon sea salt

Pour the butter mixture over the pecan mixture and stir well.  Pour onto the prepared pan and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes.  I started with frozen pecans, so it took 15 minutes.  If they are room temperature, it will take about 10 minutes.  Cool then store covered in the refrigerator.  Enjoy!

* Recipe update 11-16-15
I've since made this a couple more times.  I've found that it makes a much more caramel-like if only coconut sugar is used.  Also, I did it with 1/2 cup shredded coconut and 1 1/2 cups pecans.  It was amazing!  Bottom line, this recipe is very versatile.  Enjoy!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Almond Joy Cookies -- Gluten Free and Low Carb

Almond Joy Cookies -- Gluten Free and Low Carb





Almond Joy Cookies -- Gluten Free and Low Carb

As I've mentioned previously, I enjoy looking at recipes online.  Almond Joy Cookies floated past me the other day.  It was crazy loaded with carbs and a HUGE batch of cookies.  I decreased the recipe by 3/4 and converted to to being gluten free, sugar free and low carb.  It can be made with either regular, organic chocolate chips or unsweetened carob chips.



Almond Joy Cookies -- Gluten Free and Low Carb

Pre-heat the oven to 375F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, mix until fluffy:

1/4 butter (I use Kerrygold brand)
1/3 cup xylitol
1/2 cup coconut sugar

Add and continue to mix until well incorporated:

1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (recipe here)

Add, mixing after each addition:

1/2 cup ground coconut
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 ground flax seed meal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds
1 1/4 cups unsweetened carob chips or organic chocolate chips

Using a 1/4 cup scoop, place the balls of dough onto the prepared sheet.  Allow plenty of space between the cookies, at least 2."  I can only fit five cookies onto my baking sheet.  Press the cookies down, so they will spread properly.  Bake them at 375 for about 16 minutes.  Do not over-bake.  They will appear under-done when they are finished.  Allow them to rest on the baking sheet for approximately 5 minutes to finish baking.  Transfer them to another sheet of parchment paper to complete cooling.  Store unused cookies in a covered container in the refrigerator or freezer with parchment between the layers.  Makes 10 jumbo cookies.

Enjoy!

Vanilla Extract Recipe


This recipe for home made vanilla extract is linked from my other blog:  ICrecipesandtips.blogspot.com

Monday, October 26, 2015

Carob Nut Clusters -- Low Carb, Gluten Free

Carob Nut Clusters



Carob Nut Clusters

In re-thinking my snacking and dessert choices, I am trying include foods that are high in fat and fiber, as suggested by Cheryl Townsley in her book, "Food for Life."   This recipe is simple, delicious and meets those goals.  Cocoa powder would work easily in place of the carob for those that tolerate chocolate well.


Carob Nut Clusters

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with either parchment paper or waxed paper, and set it aside.

In a small saucepan on medium-low heat, melt:

1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup butter (I use Kerrygold brand)

Add, stirring until combined:

1/4 cup carob powder (or cocoa)
1/3 cup coconut sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Remove the pan from the heat and add, stirring until combined:

2 tablespoons ground flax seed
2 tablespoons flax seed (whole)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Add, stirring until combined:

2 cups nuts, soaked and dehydrated (I used pecans, sunflowers and cashews in the ones pictured)

Drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared pan.  Freeze or refrigerate until they are firm.  Remove from the tray and store them covered in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!