Creamy Tuna Curry with Cauliflower

When I was a kid, we didn't have a lot of money and my sister and I used to go to a neighbor for lunch. And this neighbor used to make Tuna on a white sauce that had curry added and served it over rice. It became one of our favorite meals.
So sometimes, when I am homesick, or just a bit blue (well dealing with depression will do that) I cook comfort foods that remind me of home. But now with my new healthy eating habits, I have to change the recipes.
So yesterday, I was not feeling great, and there was not a lot in the pantry, as the groceries were delivered later in the evening. Steve said there is Tuna and a light bulb went on in my head. I had to try and make the Tuna Dish gluten and dairy free.
So here is the recipe, I hope you like it.

Ingridients:
makes 4 servings
2 cans of Tuna
1tbsp Coconut Oil
1tbsp brown rice flour.
one can of light coconut milk ( I had this in the fridge, so it was thick)
Curry Powder
Salt and Pepper


Heat up the Coconut oil and then add the rice flour. when it has soaked up all the oil add 2-3 tbsp of curry, depending on how hot/spicy you like your food. Then add the coconut milk and whisk out all the clumps. Simmer till it thickens.
I served this over steamed Cauliflower as I don't do starches in the evening, but you can serve it over rice.

En Guete!!! (as we say in Switzerland)

Nutrition:
200 calories, 11g fat, 9g carbs, 1g sugars, 19gr protein

Protein Pancakes Take 2...

I wasn't happy with the pancakes from 2 weeks ago, so I made another batch and these were super yummy and fluffy.

Ingriedients:

6 egg whites (you must you egg whites cause you want to beat them stiff and that doesn't work with egg beaters, or the "real" eggwhites in a carton)
1 cup of oatmeal, ground in a blender
1 scoop of Warrior Blend Protein Chocolate Flavor
1/2 cup of So Delicious Vanilla coconut yogurt

Beat the eggwhites until they are stiff, you should be able to turn your bowl upside down.
Then add all the other ingridients and fold them under.
Heat the griddle and make pancakes.
This makes aprox. 8-10 pancakes.

To save on sugar, I heated up some frozen blueberries with some water, and poured that over my stack and then put a dollup of Dairy free Vanilla Yogurt on top.

Nutrition for half of the batter:
352 Calories, 5g fat, 38g carbs, 8g fiber, 6 gr sugar, 25g protein

Week 3, day 3, I hate Wednesdays...

Yup there I said it, I officially hat Wednesdays. Well the mornings at least. Cause in the Evening there is Supernatural.

I woke up at 5:20 and got up went to the bathroom and got on the scale like I do every morning. Some say I shouldn't, but this is me. This is how I do things.
So the scale showed 275.6 and I was like WTF? I gained 1.2lb since the day before? I was so mad and upset. I went back to bed. Then my voice of reason aka my husband came in and talked to me. He assured me I do the right thing. My body is changing, it's making adjustments for this new lifestyle. I should be proud of my accomplishments. (I did measurements on Monday and lost a total of 7.6" and dropped 3.3% of body fat), that I have been working out for 2.5 weeks straight, going from not doing anything at all. So he put a bright spin on things. But I still hate Wednesdays. LOL

So I did get up made breakfast and got myself to the gym. I managed to almost get the whole workout done with all the reps, but then in the last two sets, my hamstrings where like "Are you f*ing kidding me?" And gave me a big Fat

So I am proud that I did get to the gym, I worked out and I burned calories, but the scale is still an assbutt. 

But the victory came later when I put on my hoodie that I had not zipped in a year. And it zipped up. It's still a bit tight, but it Zipped. 

So #alwayskeepfighting, my story is not over yet. <3

Fake Fried Rice...

This is now a comfort food ... 

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1 whole egg

3 egg whites

1.5 cups of Frozen stir fry veggies. (this is what I had, you can do fresh)

1/2 cup of cooked Quinoa

1tsp of coconut oil

2tsp Amino Liquids

Use a non stick pan and heat the coconut oil. Wisk the egg and egg whites together and add 1 tsp of the amino liquids. Add to the pan. Do not touch, this is important, you wanna make like an omelet, when you can see that there is little liquid left fold the omelet over on the 3rds. You get like a sausage looking thing. Put omelet on cutting board. Now put Quinoa and veggies into the same pan and add the rest of the Amino Liquids. Let that cook for a couple of minutes to defrost and cook the veggies. Cut the omelet into strips. And put half of it at the bottom of the bowl. Then put the rest in with the veggies, cook for another minute and serve.

Nutrition:

418 Calories, 13g fat, 47gr. Carbs, 31g Protein

Cauliflower Rice Mushroom Risotto...

Today I was looking thru pinterest, cause I heard about Cauliflower Rice. Which upon looking at it, I realized it was just Cauliflower put thru the food processor to look like rice and it can be cooked like rice. Good thing I like Cauliflower, as I have made fake mashed potatoes with it before. So I am looking at recipes and one just struck me, mushroom risotto. I looked at the recipe and realized I had almost all the ingredients and was like, ok this will go great with Salmon. I changed the recipe a bit so this is my creation.
It was very delicious.

Serves 4

Ingridients:
1 head of cauliflower, cut and chopped. (I used my food processor, but you can use a cheese grater what I hear.)
1 cup low sodium chicken stock
3tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 Onion
1 glove garlic
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 cups spinach

In a pot heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and then add the garlic and the onion. Sautee for a minute, then add the grated Cauliflower. Cook for a couple of minutes and then add the Chicken stock and simmer, don't put a lit on. for about 15mins.
In a frying pan, heat the rest of the oil and sautee the mushrooms and spinach. Then add to the Cauliflower and mix. And Voila fake low carb Risotto.

Nutrition Info:
186 calories, 16g fat (2g saturated, 11g, monounsaturated) 9g. Carbs, 5g Protein

Brunch aka, gluten free, dairy free bread and Turkey Egg Casserole.

Today we were supposed to have brunch, but so many were sick it got cancelled.

But I still wanted brunch so I made a gluten free, dairy free bread and a Egg Casserole.

Gluten Free/Dairy Free Bread:

1 pack of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free homemade wonderful Breakd mix. (you can order it here)
Now on the package it uses milk and oil or butter. I substituted those items with Unsweetened Almond Milk and I used Coconut Oil. And the bread came out delicious.
This loaf makes 16slices.

Nutrition Facts are:
141 cals, 5g fat, 23g Carbs and 3g protein.

Gluten free and Dairy free Turkey Egg Casserole:

1lb of ground Turkey (I use 97/3) 

1Onion, 

1 glove garlic

1/2 red bell pepper

1/2 green bell pepper

1cup mushrooms sliced

1cup spinach

salt and pepper to taste

4 Eggs and 8 eggwhites

1/4 Cup of plain so delicious yogurt

Makes 8 servings

Preheat oven to 375F

Brown the Turkey meat until it is cooked all the way then add the onions and garlic, then add the bell peppers cook till softened a bit. Add the mushrooms, let them cook down a bit and then add the spinach and sautee. Fill into a glass pyrex pan mine is I think 9 by 9. Then in a bowl mix the eggs and eggwhites and add the yogurt. until smooth, season with whatever seasonings you desire, I used just salt and pepper.

Pour over the Turkey mix, put in the oven and bake for 45mins. or until you can tell that the eggs are no longer liquid. 

The leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days

Nutrition info: 

155calories, 7g fat, 4g carbs, 20g protein

I am not on a DIET...

So I am at the end of week 2 of my lifestyle change. So far so good, I am down 6lb. as of today which I am very happy with.

The reason I am writing this post, people are asking me: "What diet are you doing?" "What diet are you on?" or  saying things like "Oh good luck on your diet"

I am NOT on a DIET!!!!!

I am making life style changes, I am changing my eating habits, I choose to eat healthy. I choose to go to the gym 5 days a week and work my ass off, literally.
But no I am not on a DIET.

I have been heavy all my life, and I have done more diets, then I can count on. Then in 2006 I changed my lifestyle, eating habits, workout regimen and suddenly I had lost 80lb. I even became a personal trainer and loved it.  Then shit happened in life and I got sucked into a very unhealthy friendship, that took it's toll on my health and environment. After 4 years I finally saw the light and broke it off, but I also was 80lb. heavier again, suffering from depression and anxiety. I have been trying for 3 years to loose the weight with diets. But my head never was in it 100%.

So DIET is a bad word for me and I am pretty sure others like me. This time I am not on a DIET, this time I want it to stick, form new eating habits, and loose the old ones. It won't be easy, but I know I can do it, as I have done it before.

But yes I AM NOT ON A DIET.

Portabella Mushroom as a Bun Turkey Burger...

I was in the mood for a burger, but since I don't eat carbs after 3pm, getting a hamburger bun was a bit difficult, so I tried to figure out how to do this. And suddenly I got the idea I could use Portabella Mushroom Caps.

So here is the recipe for this yummy dinner:

2 Portabella Mushroom Caps
1 Turkey Burger Patty (I used the pre made from HEB, but you can make your own)
1/3 Avocado Slices
1 slice Tomato
Home made Hummus (for recipe click)

Preheat oven to 350F and drizzle a bit of olive oil onto the mushroom caps. Then bake them for 20mins. Meanwhile either grill your burger patty or pan sear it. (I pan seared) Once that is done you build your burger. I put Hummus on the bottom cap, then my patty, then tomato and Avocado and topped it with the second cap.
I served spinach and kale salad with it.

Nutriton:
465 cals, 21g Carbs, 31g fat (pretty much all healhty) 36g Protein,

Enjoy y'all.

Wednesday... Kick it in the ass

So today is Wednesday as you probably gathered from the title of this.
I woke up a bit grumpy and then realized it's Wednesday, I felt tired this morning, I didn't wanna go to the gym. I think Wednesday also known as day 3, 10, 17 etc. is the hardest day for people to find motivation to go to the gym. Why is that?
Well you did a hard workout on Monday and Tuesday and by Wednesday you body yells at you WTF? Stop!!! Leave me alone!!! But don't listen to it. You are in this for the long haul. You are kicking it in the ass.
I actually went to work ( I print T-shirts among other things) and as I pulled up, my trainer calls me and told me that I can do this. That I can kick Wednesday in the ass. I had also weighed this morning and was up a lb. It's ok, I looked at it and decided not to sweat it. (pun intended) Cause it's a number on the scale and not how I feel. So after the pep talk I got, I felt better about Wednesday. It was a good thing I tweeted, that is why he called me.
So I finished work and then went to the gym. I did the whole workout (wasn't able to do it last week) and I felt good. When I was looking in the mirror, I saw a strong women getting stronger. I was able to see myself for the first time in a very long time and I smiled. My arms feel like pudding and I swear I will have the best triceps ever. But I smiled, cause I liked the person I saw in the mirror. Not what she looked like, but what she represented. And that has been a very long time since that happened.
I am looking at my Gym time as some Therapy as well. I get to dwell on things and think about things and then just let them go with every drop of sweat that is leaving and it feels great.

SO, for all you Wendesday People, GO KICK IT IN THE ASS :)

Week 2...

Today started week 2 on my Journey to a better and healthier me.

I was sick yesterday, I am thinking it was allergies as I spend Saturday in Austin at the Football game. So sitting outside in the wind. I woke up feeling like a truck hit me. But I rested yesterday and drank lots of Tea and ate healhty. (well there no longer is junkfood in my pantry)

I woke up today and felt much better, still a bit of a runny nose, but not nearly as bad as yesterday. So I went to the gym. I was told to do the same workout I did last Monday, yeah the one I didn't finish. I was determined to get it done this time. Well I almost did. Circuit 3 was only 3 rounds and Circuit 4 was only 2. But I think I did over 200 squats and I know I will feel them tomorrow. *sigh Also I think I was able to do them, due to wearing my awesome new workout shirt from www.fluffyshirts.com


I am looking forward to tomorrow, I will see my two besties from Austin and we are going to lunch. And as I was driving home, I talked my hubby and told him, that I really didn't wanna blow my food, so I will check the menu again today to see what I wanna eat and plan accordingly.

So this non dairy thing is also intersting. My trainer told me Dairy causes inflammation. Well I decided to give non dairy a go. And on Thursday I woke up and had no pain in my hand joints. How weird, so I am keeping an eye on this for sure.

Other than that I think I GOT THIS...

Chocolate Protein Pancakes...

Makes 20 Pancakes:

12 eggwhites (I used Real Eggwhites in the carton and they didn't get stiff) Beat till foamy stiff
1 cup oatmeal ground to flour in a blender (I used my bullet blender)
1/2 Cup non dairy plain yogurt
1/4 cup brown rice flour
2 scoops of Warrior Blend Protein Powder Chocolate Flavor ( you can use any protein powder but it will change the nurtients)
1tsp Baking Powder

Mix everything except the eggs in a bowl, then beat the egg whites till almost stiff. Add the eggwhites and fold them under. Then let sit for a couple of minute. Heat the griddle and cook them like regular pancakes.

Enjoy them with some plain dairy free yogurt and raw honey.

Nutrition per pancake:
51 Calories, 1g fat, 6g carbs, 5g protein

Day 4... ugghh, I hate depression

I got up this am, well reluctantly, which was the first time this week. I didn't want to get up that shoudl have been a sign right there. I made breakfast and I took my daughter to school and then went to the gym. I felt great at the gym I even did more cardio then I was supposed to.

As soon as I got home, I looked at my house and I felt overwhelmed. I hate this. I made my snack ate it and then just sat there, close to crying. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up an hour later with a headache. It was lunch time and I made my lunch (thank Chuck I had prepped lunches, so I could just pop it in the microwave to heat) then went to bed and layed down.
Yup I was hit by a small depression episode. I used to take meds and was in therapy, but 3.5 years ago when I got rid of the most Toxic person in my life, suddenly I didn't need those things. I still have bad days and today is not even a really bad day, but it's a bad day. I am fortunate enough to regognize that it is a bad day. I wanna sit here and just cry and I don't know even why? I hate days like today.
Depression is hard, it cuts into your life, and it makes you feel worthless. I know that I did good by going to the gym and not eating crap, but I still feel sad.

Tomorrow will be a new day and I will keep fighting, I have a wonderful husband, my kids, my family, my friends and Jared Padalecki to fight for.

Sorry for the ramblings... :(

Warrior smoothie -- Non Dairy

My after workout shake:

1 scoop of Vanilla Warrior Blend Protein Powder
8oz of Water
1/4 Cup of So Delicious Vanilla Yogurt
1/2 Cup of frozen Berries

Stick it all in a blender and blend. I use a bullet blender cause then my smoothie is already in a drinking ready glass.

Nutrition info:
205 Calories, 4g fat, 19g carbs and 22g protein.

Day 3 is the worst to keep going...

It's day 3 of my Journey that seems to be ongoing forever now. But here I am. I woke up this morning with legs so sore, I could barely walk. I even took a hot bath last night and that apparently didn't help much. But I digress.
So here I was day 3, hurting. In the past I would make it to day 3 and then stop working out, cause I was to sore, and I made excuses, that I would go back the next day and then just never did.
Well NOT TODAY, I went to the gym and I workout. I even got on the Elliptical for my warm up and Lo and behold I didn't die. Actually my legs felt better after I got off it. I did most of the workout my trainer gave me, but this time I was proud to actually almost do all the exercises. I didn't feel like a failure, cause I looked on the bright side. I beat DAY 3. I went to the gym and worked out instead of sitting at home.
Then I got home and made a delicious protein smoothie. I am going gluten and Dairy free. There will be challenges. I bought the recommended Protein powder, but it came in Vanilla instead of Chocolate. I will remedy that later today. The vanilla was good and I will post the recipe today.

The best part of my workout was, when on the elliptical, I actually was lipsynching to the Supernatural Parody of "Shake it off" and I had a blast doing it. Music is so important for me to workout, it sets my Rhythm.

I am ok with this....

Simple Hummus

I love hummus and it's delicious with veggies and it makes for great "fake" deviled eggs.

So years ago I found a recipe that I adapted, cause I did not have any Tahini. This is super easy and fast.

2 cans of Carbanzo Beans, you can also cook your own.
2 Gloves of Garlic
4-6 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Paprika
this makes about 12 two tablespoon servings

Throw it all in the food processor until smooth.

Enjoy.

Nutrtion:
70 Calories, 7g fat, 2g Carbs, 1g protein.

I got this... or so I think...

I am no writer by any means, but I decided this time around I will do my best to keep up with writing this. I am mergin this blog and my ramblings cause they all tie in together. Healthy cooking, working out, my obsession with Supernatural and this Journey.
It's been 5 years that I packed on the 80lb. I lost in 2006. plus and extra 20. Thanks being over 40. I thought I could do it again by myself, but I realized this is not happening this time. So a friend of mine had amazing results with Holy Fit in Austin and the great thing is Gabriel does online clients. I also talked my beloved husband into doing with me. Except he wants to loose only a little bit of fat and gain mostly muscle.
So here we are on Day 2. I was given the task of doing 30-40 minutes of Cardio. Well one Episode of Supernatural on Netflix is 41minutes long. So I watched that and then added 4 minutes of cool down to it. Having a Trainer makes the differnce, even thou he is not there, I am still accountable for everything. I wear my HR monitor and that way I track how many calories I burn.
On day 1, I got the workout and at first it didn't look to hard. Well when I got to Circuit 3 halfway I wanted to puke and I felt dizzy, so I called it quits. I texted Gabriel and then called my husband. I was close to crying cause I failed, I didn't finish the workout. Then my husband told me, you went to the gym, you did workout, you didn't stay home, this is a victory. He always knows to tell me the right things. Then Gabriel called later in the day and told me that I got a lot farther then he thought. And that I did good. That put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.
So yeah, I need to re learn to focus on the positive and don't dwell on the Negative.
I also made this edit for a group. These are not Jared's words, but he just puts a smile on my face every day.

I have a long Journey ahead but each step that I take will take me closer.