Update - I am still here!

Hello my friends! I have not completely disappeared! I am still here, just so very busy with life right now. I hope to have a new recipe up very soon! I have ideas rolling around up there....just need to find a little time.....

My last post was all about hospital food and I touched on my moms hospitalization. I am thankful to say that she is out now and recovering at home. It has been quite a journey for her, but she is making progress each day. I am believing she is going to be even better than before she had this infection! She will be restored to wholeness!! “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. ¹⁴ I will put My ^[Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”

Through this whole ordeal I have come learned some lessons.

One, THM is really such a blessing. My moms issues are due to diabetes getting out of control, I have now seen the ravages of this disease when it goes unchecked first hand. It's horrible.

Two,  the importance of controlling our blood sugar has become quite real to me. It's so easy to ignore it and pretend we are not really damaging our bodies when we flood it with sugary foods and see no real affect other than a sugar high and the crash that comes after. It's easy to think that's it, no damage done. It's easy to be in denial. The reality? You could lose your life. It's that simple. It will kill you if you let it go and fail to take care of it. For me, THM is for life. A healthy life.

Three, it's a beautifully humbling thing to reach out to friends to help you through difficult times. It's so easy to be the one to always be there for others. To come to everyone elses aid, to be the one others can lean on. Boy, it's such a different thing to admit that I am not able to do it all and I need help. I have beautiful friends and I am so blessed. I had friends come to the hospital with me when my mom first went in. I had friends and my AMAZING son help get my mom home when I was unable to. Her care was given freely by dear friends in her first few days at home and the rest of her care was provided through dear friends recommendations. Amazing. Truly, so amazing.

Four, God is in control. This has been the biggest lesson I have received this year. The weekend my mom was discharged from the hospital was the weekend my husband and I went away to our conference. I was so conflicted, part of me felt I should definitely stay and help my mom, everyone else, including my mom insisted I go away for our trip. Such a hard thing to do. We left Friday morning, about an hour into the 4.5 hour drive I received that call that she was being discharged! I had hoped they would keep her at the hospital over the weekend, but nope, she was coming home! Thank God for cell phones. I spent the next couple of hours coordinating care for my mom and helping as much as I could by phone. My 19 year old son stepped up in an incredible way. He picked his grandma up from the hospital, learned home care from the nurses, coordinated all needed extras for her and made phone calls to those who could come and help him. He was truly amazing. This young man stepped in and handled the whole situation with such incredible maturity. I am so proud as you can imagine. Because I was absent and not able to be here to manage everything, I was able to see God's hand at work. Others, such as my amazing son and precious friends, were able to step up and shine, to show the skills they have and the opportunity to bless my mom. I cannot do it all, I am not God. It was a wonderful reminder. Truthfully, in my absence, everything was handled, my moms care was not lacking and so many people were able to come and show their love for my family and my mom. It's such a blessing to see that and a reminder that we are not alone. It's good to step away and allow God space to work. I miss His hand working when I am so busy moving my own. He has been so good to us.

Five, Surrender. Four leads me to my main lesson that God has been teaching me. Surrender. It is what I am working on. Completely surrendering to God and His will. While at the conference we visited with a dear friend we only see every few years. We had a lovely talk and he told me I needed to surrender to find shalom. I have since been praying about surrendering. My friend also told me to go and read Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord;  And He will give you the desires of your heart." At first I was not sure why he gave me this verse, now I understand. I have been asking the Lord to help me find shalom for my soul through life's ups and downs, that is the true desire of my heart. I am now giving Him the first part of my day even before I reach for my phone or my feet hit the ground. I am delighting myself first in Him each day and remembering Him each night as I drift off to sleep. He is my delight and He is giving me my desire, the ability to surrender to His will. It's been an incredible journey for me, and I am in awe of how He continually works in my life. I have spent so long struggling to be free when all I had to do was let go and surrender. I feel like I was Jacob wrestling an opponent I could never defeat, why did I struggle so long? Now that I surrendered, I am feeling free in a way I have never experienced before. <3 I pray my walk will forever be changed and obvious to all who see me.

So, for now, I have been learning how to coordinate caregivers schedules, learn how to do payroll, plan THM meals for both my family and my mom. I have been able to see my mom a lot and get to know some pretty incredible people. Caregivers are a unique group of folks, beautiful hearts, their job is to not only take care of the physical needs but so far, from what I have seen, they really are there to also LOVE people. To give their hearts and their love to people in need of care.

It's a beautiful thing.

With joy ~ Tina

Hospital Food and Trim Healthy Mama

Sadly, last week my mom got very sick and had to go into the hospital. She had a major infection and was in need of a lot of care. Thankfully, I can say she is improving each day and we are hopeful she may be out of the hospital either later this week or early next week. I am so thankful for that as well as the love and care and the many prayers people have offered. Truly feeling blessed.

As you can see by the picture above, I am sharing with you the foods offered at the hospital where my mom is staying. They list both the sodium and the carb count of foods next to them. My mom is a diabetic as well, so she was having serious issue with her blood sugar being too high. My mom was eating the hospital approved, diabetic nutritionist approved diet plan. Her numbers were still way too high. About her third day in the hospital she asked me to help her implement THM again. I took her menu and put a star by everything she could have on plan. I also brought in drinks for her, Vitamin Water Zeros, Zevias, Kombucha and protein shakes. She was drinking the hospital approved light lemonade, after I did a little research I realized the "light" drink was made with high fructose corn syrup! We couldn't believe it! Hence, my purchase and bringing in her own drinks. She didn't need any of that!

Within 24 hours of implementing THM foods as best as she could with the options available, her numbers dropped 100 points! We were all thrilled! Including her doctor who told her to keep on doing whatever it was I told her to do because it was working so well!! Talk about a great testimony! My mom is now convinced I need to have a meeting with the hospital nutrition department so they can be educated properly!! LOL! I just LOVED that!!

So, with all that said, if you need to be in the hospital or you have a loved one needing care, there are ways to support them with good food choices during the stay. I found the lowest carb food options I could find, as well as whole grain and fruit options, asked for sandwich fillings such as the turkey, tuna etc in a bowl instead of on bread. They did have a brown rice option, lean protein options such as salmon and chicken breast. Vegetables were all steamed with no added fat so they could be added to any fuel type, although I have not been as concerned that she is not having crossovers, but rather eating the best foods she is able to during this season.

By purchasing her own drinks, bringing in protein drinks and I also left her a couple of Quest protein bars, she has snack options that are on plan and aiding in her healing.

We also brought in her vitamins, fish oils and probiotics. All I had to do was talk to the doctor and he will write an official prescription for them and she will now be able to receive these added nutrients daily until she is released.

As for what I ate, I just did my best to plan ahead. Thankfully I had rolls on hand and was able to make quick sandwiches to take, light string cheese, cashews. I also had baked oatmeal bars and made sure to make up GGMS or singing canary to take with me each day. I just brought my little lunch bag and was able to stay on plan each day and keep my own health up to more fully support my mom!

I'm always so thankful for THM and the knowledge I have gained through implementing the plan in my own life and helping others on plan as well. I was prepared to help my mom through this medical crises in my own way, through supporting her body and healing through nutrition. I love my mom. :)

With Joy ~ Tina

Energizing Oat Pancakes! EGG FREE! DAIRY FREE!

**Please note, this post contains affiliate links! Any purchase made through them helps support my blog and my family. Thank you for blessing us with your purchase!**


This is such a simple and inexpensive recipe. I try to make these fairly often. When I am tired of eating oats, this is a definite go to! My whole family enjoys them and I hope you do too!

Energizing Oat Pancakes

Ingredients:
1 Cup Oat Flour (grind your own or I buy mine already ground for convenience)
2 teaspoons Super Sweet (1 Tablespoon any other plan approved sweetener)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup liquid of your choice, water or on plan milk
1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil (you can omit if you want them fat free, texture will be slightly chewier)


Directions:
Combine the dry ingredients.
Add in the liquid and melted coconut oil, mix until combined.

Allow this to sit for a few minutes to thicken up.

Cook in on a griddle or preheated fry pan set to medium, if you have a good non stick you shouldn't need any extra fat, I cook mine on a dry skillet. These do not bubble like a traditional pancake, so after a few minutes I peek, if it is becoming golden, I flip and cook a few more minutes.

2 Pancakes is a serving. I add a FP trimmaccino to this for boosted protein. It isn't necessary as oats can stand alone for breakfast, but Im a busy mama and need the little bit of extra these days.

In other news, I am opening my own THM STORE!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! I am just so thrilled, it is an exciting season in my life and I am very much looking forward to this new adventure. I will try to take some pictures when my inventory arrives and share a bit of this new phase in my life. God has been so good to me. I am blessed.

With joy ~ Tina

Lemon Poppyseed Breakfast Cookie Makeover! ALLERGY FRIENDLY! (S)

**Please note, this post contains affiliate links! Any purchase made through them helps support my blog and my family. Thank you for blessing us with your purchase!**

Carolyn over at All Day I Dream About Food comes up with the most incredible and delicious recipes! Sadly for me, most of the recipes have eggs or dairy that I cannot tolerate. Yet, I want the yummy delicious looking treats I see scroll on my screen nearly daily!

I had this idea, I don't always need to reinvent the wheel right? I have become pretty good at playing with recipes and creating something that works for me and my allergy issues. I decided that once in a while I would take a delicious looking recipe and share my allergy friendly tweaks so you could enjoy it too!!


To begin with, here is her original recipe, I will only add my changes in this blog post, so please be sure to click on over and show her some love!!

http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2014/11/low-carb-lemon-poppyseed-breakfast-cookies.html

I would like to note, my cookies came out a little darker because I used some hazelnut meal in them. If you used all cashew flour, they would be lighter in color and prettier.
*For the almond flour I subbed 1/2 cup cashew and 1/2 cup hazelnut flour
*Instead of cream cheese I used goat cheese, the kind that comes from Costco in a log.
Little tip, I pop the whole log in the mixer with a little on plan milk and whisk it up until its creamy like cream cheese! I would guess that an equal amount of coconut cream could also be subbed to make these dairy free!
*I subbed in 1/4 cup Super Sweet
*For the egg I used 1 heaping teaspoon beef gelatin mixed with 3 Tablespoons cold water, let gel.

I also baked mine about 5 minutes longer than called for. These are delicious!

I hope you can now enjoy this breakfast cookie too!

With Joy ~ Tina

My Trim Healthy Mama Journey

**Please note, this post contains affiliate links! Any purchase made through them helps support my blog and my family. Thank you for blessing us with your purchase!**


I avoid being overly wordy in my blog posts. I prefer just to get to the lean meat and on plan sweet potatoes. :)

However, I realized I had not yet shared my THM journey with any of you, I hope some of you find it encouraging to your own journey.

In April of 2013 I had been a member at Weight Watchers for a year and finally reached my goal weight! I lost 13 pounds in one year. ONE YEAR! It was the most frustrating year, losing ounces at a time. Working so hard each week, watching the scale barely or never move. But I did it, I lost the 13 pounds and reached my goal weight. (Which I chose the highest possible weight I could so I could at least work towards my Lifetime membership and stop paying $10 per week for attending meetings.)

A month later my local meeting closed down. The closest meeting to me was now 25 minutes away. I am a homeschool mom, I have things to do, places to go and spending a couple of hours (half of that in commute time) plus gas wasn't really an option. I quit Weight Watchers.

Within 3 months of quitting guess what. I gained it all back. ALL OF IT. Every single stinkin ounce I had battled to lose. Of course I wasn't stopping there either! I was working my way up the scale and I didn't see me slowing down!

Then I heard about THM, it was like a ray of sunshine, beautiful and sparkly! I saw rainbows and twinkling lights and fairy dust! My eyes had been opened for the first time!!

NOT!!! What I saw was another BANDWAGON!! Another "thing" that was taking the women by storm, hype and hoopla. Pulease. I was not interested. My girlfriends were talking about it and I was digging in my heels that it wasn't even worth pursuing.

You see, when I was growing up I watched my mom battle her weight my entire life. I KNOW what the struggle looks like. I have seen pretty much every diet out there. I have watched my mom go up and down on the scale and I have seen it in my own life. I used to joke around and tell my husband, when I turn 60 it's all on. I am going to eat what I want when I want and stop battling food everyday, every meal of my life. I am going to give in and just enjoy without guilt!!

You know what that's like? Thinking about food when you wake up? Regretting what you overindulged in the night before? Wondering why you keep making the same stupid food mistakes over and over and feeling like there is no hope of ever really finding the promised yet so elusive "food freedom"? Not being a slave to cravings, not giving up because you already blew it at lunch so what's the point "I'll start over tomorrow". Or, I fight too hard anyway to lose pounds, why not just enjoy my life!!?? All of these thoughts have run through my head and oh so many more. I know I am not alone in my journey, I know many of you have thought and felt exactly what I have gone through.

August 2013 - I have a gift card to Amazon from a friend. I suspiciously eye this book, I read reviews such as Gwen's Nest and others I find online. It seems interesting, but seriously $35 for ONE BOOK??? WHAT?? Well, without that gift card, I could not justify that at all. Way too much money is all I could think. I had that gift card, and nothing else was as pressing to me as getting my weight loss journey back on track. (I'm only in my 40's I have a few more years to hold it together before I completely let it all go, LOL) I will give it a try. Worst case scenario, I sell off that over priced book later and recoup some of my loss. Truthfully, I was not very hopeful as you can gather. I had lost hope in ever really being free or finding joy in food unless it was laced with guilt and self condemnation later.

The book came. I started to read. Then I began to devour it. AMAZING. Truly life changing. Light bulbs were going off in my head, someone finally had culminated all my journey into a book that made sense to me!! I understood why I took a year to lose 13 pounds!! When I ate on WW, my whole day was made up of carbs. Fruit was free!! I ate a lot of bananas. A LOT of BANANAS.  I ate minimal protein and almost no fat. Fat cost a lot of points so I didn't even bother with it. I didn't need it and it made you fat anyway. Haha!! Looking back I crack myself up now, I was eating the skinny food, carbs etc (in my pea brain) and I wasn't losing!! I had a lot to learn, but it was really making sense!!

August 29 was my first meal "on plan". I ate soaked oatmeal. First time I had ever tried that, it certainly wasn't hard, and I was still enjoying my beloved carbs. I only ate breakfasts on plan for the most part that week, but I remained mindful of my meals thinking about changes I could easily make to get them on plan as well. I lost a pound and a half in my first week!!!! I was THRILLED! I did in one week what I couldn't do in a months time on WW.

However, here is my entry (I kept a journal in the back of the book as I went): "Stayed on plan 9/1-9/6 - so far loving it. Weighed in, 1.7 pounds down! OH MY GOSH! Happy, but still skeptical....."

Cracks me up to read that today. My next week I went up .8 of a pound. "....we will see...." was my entry that day. A week later, down over 3 pounds!! I was thrilled and starting to really let go and believe there could be help for me. My weight overall had a downward trend, but I had weeks where I would gain a little, stall but more often lose....that's just what I needed. :)

By October, I had lost the 13 pounds I had regained!! I just couldn't believe it. Just about 3 months I lost what took me a year on the other plan. I was completely sold out. I am now a THM'r for life. What I thought was a ridiculous sum of money for a single book, I can now look back and realize what a fool I had been. I spent over $400 to lose 13 pounds in a year, had I known about THM I could have a fun new wardrobe with that money that would have been left over. This has got to be one of the best bargains out there. I think one of the most incredible things I realized, I was physically smaller at the same weight on THM than I was at that weight on WW. Incredible Almost a full clothing size smaller! Crazy good!!

My story doesn't end there.....several years ago I was diagnosed with food allergies. My list is:
Wheat, dairy, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, turkey, eggs. (oh, eggs was a super sad one)
This made THM challenging for me. Everything had eggs, a lot of the fun foods I now couldn't have. Well, a challenging situation can be turned into a challenge to overcome, and that is what I chose to do! I started playing with these new ingredients and creating yummy things. It has been a slow process, but that is how this blog was born. I saw other mamas struggling to enjoy THM without certain foods and thought I would share what I have created for myself so others could eat fun and yummy treats too.

As I continued on my THM journey, I realized I was feeling so much better physically. It was incredible. I decided to try adding in some of my food allergens, I started with cheese, to my surprise, I could tolerate it! I have incorporated so many healing foods into my life I have found that I am literally healing from the inside out! What a great blessing that I would never have found on any other plan.

Now for my biggest surprise of all, a completely unexpected result, not even something I would have even hoped for on any eating plan. Emotional health. I don't know why, I was quite familiar with nutrition before THM, but I never made the link in my own life, that I could literally find emotional health through food. I ate and craved all of those carb filled options because of the physical and emotional response I would feel. I can remember moments of high stress, anxiety sadness and I would choose a carby sugar laden treat and literally feel better. However, that moment quickly passed and sadly, the emotions plus guilt would ride in like a wave. It was an awful cycle.

I have struggled with an anxiety disorder for many years. I have gone to counseling, which has helped for sure, I had joined a recovery group for adult children of alcoholics (Celebrate Recovery), which also helped, A LOT. Pieces to my healing puzzle were missing and while I still have seasons of struggle, I now have a whole new powerful tool in my tool box! Food that doesn't just help me lose weight, but it heals my body and nourishes my brain which leads to a much more peaceful soul. I praise God that I was not so stubborn as to bypass this gift I feel is from Him to me. <3
Please understand, I know my healing is from God alone, however caring for this vessel He created is integral in being the best I can be and serve Him as fully as I am able to through taking care of not just my soul through His word, but through nourishing this body so it is able and ready to serve the Lord of Hosts!

I would like to share an eye opening moment I had while on THM, perhaps you can relate...
I was experiencing a very hard and stressful day, something very emotional had happened and I desperately wanted to use my old coping technique of fatty/carby food to soothe my stormy soul.

I opened up the refrigerator and was scanning for that perfect treat that would help me "feel better". What I saw was a batch of skinny chocolate and a jar of cashew butter. I literally stood at my refrigerator, pulled a piece of skinny chocolate, slathered it with cashew butter and popped it into my mouth. Repeat x 5. Then the light bulb moment arrived. I stood there for a moment and realized I felt satisfied. (I got what the S meant in that moment as well.) I was completely satisfied. I didn't want or NEED another piece. I felt calm and in control again. If that had been a Hershey bar, no matter the size, I would have devoured it and been looking for more. This was an incredible moment for me. I had never experienced anything like this with food before. I soon realized how deprived my body and brain had been of nourishing fats. What a difference they made. Along with eating protein, I was becoming a healthier person in every way!

So, how has my journey been? Honestly, up and down. I have regained some of the weight I originally took off. Life with all of it's ups and downs has shown on the scale at times. I no longer feel trapped or hopeless. I am filled with hope when it comes to eating now, I feel I have the secret key all women are looking for. I want to have my cake and eat it too and on THM I can! I have tools now I have never had. I can and am losing the extra weight I had regained, I know how and I can enjoy the journey! I have never felt this way about any diet before THM. These other diets always like to say it's not a diet it's a lifestyle. Not even close. THM is now my lifestyle. I still enjoy off plan items once in a while, but really, I love sticking to the plan, feeling healthy in every aspect of my life. I am overjoyed to share THM with my daughter, she will have tools that will serve her for her life, even if she doesn't choose THM as her primary eating style. She will have tricks and tips that she can implement forever to be healthy and enjoy food.

So, the journey continues. I am now in the process of opening a retail outlet store for THM. It was such an utter surprise and I feel a true gift from God. I have in the past run small businesses as part of being a stay at home mom, but none that I felt I could so completely stand behind and feel proud of. It's an exciting season in my life and a happy outlook to my future of sharing this incredible plan, wonderful treats and fellowship with other women. A ministry unlike anything I had ever anticipated.

If you feel inspired now to check out Trim Healthy Mama I recommend the following books!



You can also purchase all of your THM food needs at my Affiliate Link HERE!

With Joy ~ Tina

*photo courtesy of Shaggy Studios - my incredibly beautiful and talented daughter :)

Egg FREE Dessert Recipes Roundup!! YUM!

Another EGG FREE roundup for you my friends!! Interestingly, I started these egg free roundups before this whole egg shortage issue came about, so I am hoping my egg free roundups as well as my egg free recipes will be a true benefit to more of you than just my allergy mamas! Hopefully these will help you save money as egg prices increase for a season.

I will keep the chatter to a minimum here, let's get on to the dessert ideas shall we?

I want to work on more dessert recipes, but here is what I have so far:

(S) Chocolate chip cupcakes: http://anointedwithoilofjoy.blogspot.com/2015/03/chocolate-cupcakesdrool-s.html

(E) Oat Flour Scones: http://anointedwithoilofjoy.blogspot.com/2014/11/london-fog-healing-protein-tea-oatmeal.html

(S) Chocolate Chip cookie bars: http://anointedwithoilofjoy.blogspot.com/2015/02/chocolate-chip-cookie-bar-egg-free.html

(S) Hamantaschen, this also makes a great snickerdoodle and thumbprint cookie!: http://anointedwithoilofjoy.blogspot.com/2015/03/happy-purim-s-hamantaschen.html

(E) Strawberry Shortcake: http://anointedwithoilofjoy.blogspot.com/2015/01/strawberry-shortcake-delicious-e.html

(S) Guilt Gone Cranberry Pie: http://anointedwithoilofjoy.blogspot.com/2015/01/guilt-gone-cranberry-pie-by-trim.html

From my blogging buddies:

(S) Shortbread cookie: http://homeschoolingaadventures.blogspot.com/2015/05/shortbread-cookies-thm-low-carb-gluten.html#.VXaLXTqlH6W

(FP) Strawberry Jello: http://homeschoolingaadventures.blogspot.com/2015/03/j-e-l-l-o-sugar-free-thm-fp.html#.VXaLlTqlH6V

(S) Ricotta Berry Swirl: http://www.countingalljoy.com/2013/06/ricotta-berry-swirl-trim-healthy-mama-gaps-scd-grain-free.html

(S) Pumpkin Spice "Cheesecake": http://www.countingalljoy.com/2014/10/pumpkin-spice-cheesecake-dairy-free-sugar-free-grain-free-egg-free.html

(S) Coconut cream berry crunch: http://www.countingalljoy.com/2014/01/coconut-cream-berry-crunch-s-trim-healthy-mama-gaps-dairy-free-paleo-sugar-free-scd-gluten-free-grain-free.html

(S) Grain Free Pumpkin Spice cookies: http://www.countingalljoy.com/2014/11/pumpkin-spice-cookies-grain-free-dairy-free-sugar-free-egg-free.html

(S) Grain Free & Sugar Free Magic Cookie Bars: http://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/2014/11/19/15-days-grain-free-christmas-cookies-cookies-magic-cookie-bars-sugar-free-dairy-free/

(E) Tropical Fruit Salad: http://www.countingalljoy.com/2013/03/tropical-fruit-salad-e-trim-healthy-tuesday.html

(S) No Bake Snack Bars: http://www.briana-thomas.com/no-bake-snack-bars/

(S) Allergy Friendly Fudgy Brownies: http://www.briana-thomas.com/allergy-friendly-fudgy-brownies/

(S) Choconut Birds Nests: http://www.briana-thomas.com/choconut-birds-nests/

(S) Fudge Swirled Mint Ice Cream: http://www.briana-thomas.com/fudge-swirled-mint-ice-cream/

(S) Chocolate Ganache: http://www.briana-thomas.com/chocolate-ganache-frostingglaze/

(E) Creamy Vanilla "Tapioca": http://www.briana-thomas.com/creamy-vanilla-tapioca/

(E) Creamy Peach Pudding: http://www.briana-thomas.com/creamy-peach-pudding/

(FP) Strawberry Almond Soft Serve: http://www.briana-thomas.com/strawberry-almond-soft-serve/

(S) Peanut Butter Ice Cream: http://www.briana-thomas.com/peanut-butter-ice-cream/

(S) Healthy Buckeyes: http://www.briana-thomas.com/healthy-buckeyes/

(S) Bejeweled No Bake Cheesecake Bars: http://www.briana-thomas.com/bejeweled-no-bake-cream-cheese-bars-low-carb-sugar-free-thms/

(S) Butterfinger Bars: http://www.briana-thomas.com/butterfinger-bars-s/

(S) Coffee Panna Cotta:  http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2013/04/coffee-panna-cotta-with-raspberry-coulis-low-carb-and-gluten-free.html

(FP) Orange Dream Cooler: http://wonderfullymadeanddearlyloved.com/orange-dream-cooler/

(S) Berry Ambrosia Salad: http://mrscriddleskitchen.com/berry-ambrosia-salad-thm-s/

With Joy ~ Tina

S, E, FP or CO Taco Salad!

This taco salad mixture is just so delicious. This makes a wonderful topping for taco salad, would fill burritos (low carb tortillas of course!) or taco shells (remember only 2 regular corn or 4 sprouted allowed in an E setting), this would also make a great nacho topping on top of mini bell peppers sliced open...really this is just delicious in so many ways!

This recipe can be a bit tricky in figuring out what fuel category it falls under, so here are some guidelines:

FP - use leanest meat, don't add the beans keep toppings to FP vegetable choices and use salsa as your dressing

S - LIVE IT UP! Enjoy any cut of ground beef, turkey or chicken, enjoy the S toppings on your salad. Watch the number of beans you add, if you make this into 6 servings, the number works but you are at your limit. If you want to use 1/2 a can of beans, all the better.

E - again, use the leanest meat, salsa dressing, enjoy a little fat, a sprinkle of low fat cheese, a few olives. You can a be a lot more liberal with the beans, double the amount or even bake up a couple of corn tortillas until crisp for chips!

CO - Crossover! This is an easy one to make into a crossover, use the full serving of beans, fattier meat, avocado maybe a small handful of baked blue corn chips crumbled on top.

Adapted from Saving Dinner monthly meals recipes

Taco Salad - serves 6

1 pound ground meat
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed well

Salad greens to feed the family.

Toppings of choice:
S: shredded cheese, olives, avocado, sour cream

E: extra beans, salsa, cilantro, tomatoes, mini bell peppers, brown rice (made into Spanish rice would be good!), carrots

FP: cilantro, mini bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, zucchini

Be creative! There are lots of great things to top your salad with!

To cook:
Brown meat in a large skillet, add beans, Worcestershire sauce and mix in the spices. This recipe is good warm or cold! Great to make it in the morning during the summer, pull it out for a quick dinner in the evening!

We like thousand island dressing on ours, so I whip up a simple recipe with on plan ketchup, mayonnaise, onion, pickle, vinegar and sweetener. Delicious!

With Joy ~ Tina