Birthday Meals!

Being the total foodie that I am, I had to post my yummy birthday meals. I celebrated with my parents on my actual birthday and then we had a special birthday dinner a few days later with my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece.

My first celebration meal was a super delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, sauteed collard greens and orange slices. This was so great that I completely forgot to take a picture...but it truly was a fantastic way to start the day.

For lunch, we had something I really enjoy...chicken with leeks and apples. Mmm...Granny Smith apples are my absolute favorite. There is just a little apple cider vinegar in this recipe too which really enhances the flavor. We had some collards left over from breakfast, so we added those as a side.


My dessert for this day was a decadent chocolate walnut brownie. I've been asked for some recipes, and this one is so quick and easy that I'll share it below. We enjoyed these tremendously!



The original plan for our family dinner was to include steak, but our local co-op was unable to get the organic, grass-fed filet in, so we went with plan B...my nephew's favorite when he is at Mimi's house: "healthy shapes" with a side of broccoli and the adults had a spinach salad. Healthy shapes are super nutritious with ingredients including; carrots, celery, mushrooms, walnuts, lentils, flax seed, thyme and parsley. We began making these in cookie cutter shapes to entice my nephew and niece to eat them, so although we now make only circles they are still referred to as healthy shapes. The great thing about them is that you can make up a bunch and freeze them to pull out for a quick meal when you are short on time.


I tried a new carrot cake recipe...it was a risk and had about a 50% approval rating. Apparently, it must be a "girl thing" because all of us girls liked it, but the men where a little less enthused. The cake was made with almond meal and sweetened with maple syrup. I used a coconut cream frosting that was also sweetened with maple syrup, so no refined sugar was used resulting in no crazy blood sugar spikes and for that we should all be thankful.





I thoroughly enjoyed both birthday meals and can't wait to try more new recipes and for more reasons to celebrate!

As promised, here is the chocolate walnut brownie recipe:

Ingredients:
1/4 C. extra-virgin coconut oil
1/2 C. bittersweet chocolate chips
1/4 C. raw honey
2 eggs
1/4 C. coconut flour
1/4 tsp. celtic sea salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C. chopped walnuts
1/2 C. bittersweet chocolate chips

*Can use semi-sweet chocolate chips for a sweeter brownie.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8 x 8 glass or stainless steel baking pan with extra-virgin coconut oil.

In small sauce pan melt coconut oil and 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

Add honey, reduce heat, add eggs. Whisk until well combined.

Add coconut flour, salt, baking soda and vanilla. Stir until well combined.

Spread batter in prepared pan.

Sprinkle chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup chocolate chips over the top.

Bake about 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Something to Celebrate!

I went back and forth a little bit on how to deal with turning 30...should I mourn the loss of my twenties or celebrate surviving them? I’m always up for a “party”, so of course the celebration won out! Here is a little recap of some great things that I experienced during the last decade:

At 20, I was loving life, spending long days at the beach and working on my B.A. in Public Relations. My parents and I traveled to Kansas City where I colored (and we dined) at the Crayola Café and we toured the Hallmark Corporation headquarters.

21: I interned at PLT and had tons of fun as “Miss Fun Tickets”, I graduated with my B.A., danced to “Paradise City” on the bar at Coyote Ugly (I do not, nor have I ever drank alcohol, but the movie had popularized this bar and so yes, I entered, I danced and ok, so maybe it was more than one song) in New Orleans. This year wrapped up with some really exciting firsts…my first trip to New York City during Christmastime included my first real snow, seeing the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, having my breath taken away by St. Patrick’s Cathedral delicately covered with freshly fallen snow, shopping at Saks on 5th Avenue, riding in a limo, dining at the exquisite Tavern on the Green (sadly it has now closed), seeing Les Miz on Broadway, eating Dunkin Donuts in Times Square (this was long before my gluten-free days).

22: Began my first career path in the fast-paced world of advertising, welcomed my beautiful sister-in-law into the family, our lives were forever changed when my mom and I brought two little Maltese puppies home on Christmas Eve. Cole and Chloe have been in charge ever since!

23: This must not have been too eventful of a year! I settled into my career and spent time with friends, oh yes and we adjusted to life with two puppies in the house.

24: Mom and I nearly caused dad to have a heart attack when we almost missed our flight to New York. This time we went during July and it was more than HOT. We had a fun time with more NYC firsts: dessert at Carnegie Deli, two Broadway shows: Movin’ Out and Sweet Charity (starring Christina Applegate), Veniero’s Pastry where we had our first cannoli’s (yum!), appearing on Good Morning America hosted by Barbara Walters and Charlie Gibson.

25: Celebrated my Mama Mae’s 80th birthday, began career #2 in interior design (extremely fun!), celebrated the birth of my nephew Deacon which forever changed all of our lives for the better!

26: Missed our flight (for real this time) to Washington D.C. (dad handled it much better than before…really, who knew you had to be there 45 minutes before the plane was scheduled to leave?!), had my picture taken in front of the White House with George W. Bush as President, started back to school to try my hand at accounting.

27: Continued my “detour” through school and continued to study God’s word and seek more of His plans for my life.

28: Led in the preschool department at church and acquired numerous hilarious and precious stories related to toddlers and potty training…fun times! Experienced the miracle of life as I stood by in the delivery room while my niece Layla entered the world. Learned about gluten and eliminated it from my diet. Finished school with a degree in accounting.

29: Worked full-time in accounting, left behind that career path. Vacationed in Savannah where we toured the squares with a true southern gentleman, Savannah Dan; dined at Paula Deen’s Restaurant, Lady and Sons and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Spent time resting, reflecting and seeing God’s grace, mercy and goodness.

The 20’s were certainly a time to be celebrated and filled with laughter, love, heartache, pain, and everything in between. Reflecting, I see God’s hand, His divine purpose and blessing. I pray for the next year, 10 years, lifetime that I will step aside and let God do all that He had in mind when He created me. I’m excited to see where He leads.

You crown the year with your bounty, your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. – Psalm 65:11

I Love Valentine's Day!

Yes, I am a single girl who loves Valentine’s Day! And yes, I just referred to myself as a girl…I’m holding on to my “girlhood” until at least my next birthday (which is coming much more quickly than I’d like) upon which I will probably have to accept that I am no longer a girl, but indeed a woman…that just sounds so much older, but I’ll tackle that issue another day. Back to Valentine’s Day…any day that requires pink, red, hearts and chocolate (preferably dark) is a day to be celebrated in my book!

Since I’m waiting for my true “Valentine” I thought I would share some things that I love. I’ll begin with a passage in Psalms that I recently read and wrap up with some yummy chocolate treats!

I was recently drawn to Psalm 107. I’m going to print it below (it’s kind of long). When I read this Psalm, my heart was just so heavy with love and emotion for God. It doesn’t matter how many times we wander away from Him seeking direction or purpose from people and things, or we willfully rebel and give in to sin, or are just ignorant in the decisions we make, or let the storms of life cause us to falter, if we turn to him, He is always there with this steadfast love to make our way straight, to break the chains of sin and flood the darkness with His light, to heal and calm the storms and calm our souls. This passage just really spoke volumes…

Psalm 107

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;
they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.
For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;
they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,
a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.
He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;
they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.
By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.

When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.
The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Powerful words that have so many layers of meaning for my life.

More V-Day favorites…
My favorite “love” songs right now:

Your Love (Brandon Heath)

More Like Falling in Love (Jason Gray)

Hold Us Together (Matt Maher)

Show Me Your Glory (Third Day)

Yummy Valentine’s Treats…

These flourless chocolate chip cookies really take the place of a traditional oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Quinoa flakes take the place of oats, dates and honey take the place of refined sugar and crunchy roasted almond butter brings it all together.


Triple chocolate cookies are divine! They too are flourless, made with almond meal and sweetened with honey. Plus a super special secret ingredient that really enhances the decadent blend of cocoa, bittersweet and semisweet chocolates.


These brownies have proven to be a real favorite around our house and seem to be big hit with others too. Like the previous cookies, they too are flourless. The main ingredient is creamy roasted almond butter so there is no need for any extra oil or butter either. These are sweetened with maple syrup which pairs nicely with the chunky bittersweet chocolate chips.


In my opinion, Valentine's Day is not complete without chocolate truffles. These are virtually guilt-free too. They are raw and the only ingredients are walnuts, dates, unsweetened cocoa and unsweetened shredded coconut. Lots of vitamins, fiber, healthy omega-3 fats and other nutrients, so it's more than ok to indulge a little on these!

However you choose to celebrate the day, I hope you feel loved and blessed.

Abundant Life

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. -John 10:10

For the longest time John 10:10 was constantly on my mind and brought before my eyes and ears. I meditated on this verse and what exactly I was supposed to glean from it. I knew that Jesus came to save me from a life of sin and that eternally I had the promise of abundant life, but what about now? Here on earth, did God want my life to be abundant, and what did that mean? I didn’t feel very abundant…I didn’t feel like I was pursuing a career that I was well suited to and physically, I felt bad and looked bad. By April, I had tried every kind of cleanser, lotion, potion and make up brand that touted clear skin benefits. Some products may have provided slight relief for a time, but in the end they all failed to live up to their claims and my skin just looked worse. Not only that, but I could scarcely stand to look at myself in the mirror, my skin was pale and I had dark circles under my eyes, my muscle tone and ability to exercise was decreasing as well. I knew this was all more than skin deep and the root of the problem needed to be identified.

I made an appointment with a dermatologist who quickly looked at my skin and said, “If you don’t do something about this you are going to be scarred.” I wondered in that moment just what he thought I was doing in his office. I was there for help, and his words were not helpful, they just incited more worry. He quickly prescribed antibiotics and said that it would most likely get worse for a few weeks before it started to get better. I asked what the side effects were and he quickly told me there were none. Now, I’ve never been one to take much medication and am aware that there are always possible side effects to medicine. Before rushing to the pharmacy, I researched the drug and upon finding several possible side effects, my spirit would not let me fill the prescription. I just believed there had to be a more natural method of healing.

I made an appointment with an alternative health practitioner to have an iridology reading. It was really interesting what he could tell me about my health (things I knew to be true) just by looking into my eyes with a magnifying glass. He prescribed some herbal supplements (which I researched for possible side effects). It was at this time that I discussed with my mom the possibility of quitting my job. We decided it was most important to focus on healing and restoration and the best way to do that would be to eliminate as much stress as possible. This was a real turning point where I prayed for God to teach me to number my days that I may gain wisdom (Psalm 90:12). I began praising Him for the rest and peace He was giving to my soul. After a few months, I saw some benefits from the supplements, but the healing seemed slow.

During this time I tried a vegan diet (or a Daniel Detox, see Daniel 1:8-16). My mom came along on this journey with me as we eliminated all animal products from our diets. This lasted for several months and we saw the benefit in it to cleansing the body of toxic build up from processed foods, non-organic meats and chemicals. During this phase we began reading The Maker’s Diet by Jordan Rubin. In it he tells the story of his journey from severe illness to glorious health. It got us thinking about what God says about the foods we eat and how we are to care for our bodies. At the end of the book, Jordan has a 40-Day plan for physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually taking care of ourselves according to God’s word. We felt a little overwhelmed with committing to this 40-Day plan. We just didn’t know if we could “give up” certain things (namely chocolate) for 40 days. Instead, we found a 28 day elimination diet to help identify any possible food allergies. We began our 28-Day Elimination Diet (see blog posts from last year) and by the time day 28 arrived, we both felt led to continue the plan for 40 days. We felt really good and I was definitely feeling healthier, but it was the end of 2010 and I wasn’t fully healed. My sister-in-law found and told us about a podcast and website for health and nutrition. In January we were watching this video http://www.draxe.com/video/best-books-for-the-new-year-transformation-tv-episode-022/ on recommended readings for the coming year. Hmm…he suggested The Great Physician’s RX by Jordan Rubin. My mom and I both felt the need to read this book. This is where things really started to come together. We were fully ready to embrace and apply the truths of God’s word with regards to health.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. -1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Eat Your Veggies!

I love to eat my veggies and quiche is a great way to get lots of them! I started this one with a homemade almond flour crust. Chopped green onions give it a little something extra.



Then I sauteed a veggie mixture of whatever was in the fridge. This included broccoli, carrots, red onion, mushrooms and a package of frozen chopped spinach.


I don't do cheese, so I whisked together a few eggs and poured the veggie and egg mixture into the crust to be baked. The result was this delicious, nutritious, savory quiche.


We like to serve our quiche with a side of mixed fresh berries, an orange, or a green salad. I think we were all too delighted to taste it that no picture was made of the quiche once it made it to our plates!

Sweet Fellowship

Following the whirlwind of 2009, I was confident that 2010 was going to be a good year. I had finished my degree and began working full-time, so I believed there would be less stress with a more “normal” weekly schedule and with the reduced stress I hoped that some of my physical ailments would again be relieved. I committed to go deeper in my studies of God’s word and asked Him to do big things...I was ready to listen and obey. Reflecting on the previous year, I was reminded of Mary and Martha (see Luke 10:38-42). I let myself get so busy (ala Martha) with all the things I thought I had to do that I wasn’t sitting at Jesus’ feet as Mary did. If satan can’t make us bad he will surely make us busy, but truly the one thing we cannot do without is our relationship with Christ. I was ready to be still by the side of the Lord, to “keep” His word by reading it, memorizing it, meditating on it, and filling my mind with things that are pleasing to Him.

In addition to studying God’s word, I began reading The Magnificent Obsession by Anne Graham Lotz. I love her! If you’ve never read one of her books, I definitely recommend you check one out. I’ve read several and they are all life changing! Ok, getting back on track…two quotes from this book set the tone for me in 2010.

“Obedience requires persistence and patience.”

“One of the primary tactics of the enemy is to tempt you and me to doubt God’s word and to doubt God’s character. Since the Garden of Eden, satan has tried to cast God in such a negative light that we lose confidence in who He is and what He has said, and therefore we draw away from Him and disobey Him.”

Then, in February I began reading So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. Another of my favorite authors, if you’ve never read one of her books or done a group study written by her, you are missing out! They will radically change your life, so again, check one out! Ok, where was I…Beth led her blog community through the study of her new book, So Long Insecurity, which I highly recommend for anyone to read, because, let’s face it, we are all human and we all have areas where we feel very insecure at times. I was a little apprehensive to do the study because I knew that I would have to experience some hard stuff to get rid of the yucky, insecure gunk that my Lord wanted to deliver me from. I faced truth about choices and decisions I’ve made, I faced truth about insecurities that have been passed down from generation to generation. The enemy worked overtime on my emotions to cause me to stumble, to doubt God’s promises, to question my ability to hear clearly what God spoke to me in the quiet moments of my time studying His word, I faced the fear of what if…what if He doesn’t do what I hope He will do? What if life doesn’t work out like I think it should? Persistence and patience were vital to obedience to God in this season. I can honestly say that as a result, I know God is in control and that He provides spiritually, physically, and emotionally in ways and means by which we may have never heard of or thought of.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. – Deuteronomy 8:3

I was experiencing sweet fellowship with my Lord and spiritually and emotionally I began to feel more alive and aware of God’s presence and hand in guiding me. My confidence in His care and provision had been renewed, so as my physical state declined, I knew that He could just heal me, but I also trusted Him to lead me to answers if there were changes I needed to make.

Yummy New Favorites!

I've been enjoying some yummy new recipes and just had to share a few pictures!

Almond flour is a new favorite to bake with...it was perfect in theses super delicious chocolate chip scones! I'm so excited to have eliminated refined sugar from my diet as well. These are honey-sweetened and the dark chocolate chips give a little antioxidant boost!



This raw apple crisp was sweetened with only dates and raisins. A special thanks to my brother and sister-in-law for their very generous gift of a Vitamix for Christmas! This awesome dessert was so quick and simple to make with the right equipment on hand.



A really healthy balanced dinner...




This is my favorite way to eat spinach...the citrus from the orange pairs so nicely with the raw spinach.



I'm loving this version of a raw broccoli salad...It's made with grapeseed oil Vegenaise, plus it has lots of healthy ingredients...sunflower seeds, green onions, apple cider vinegar, raisins...I like to have it with an orange for breakfast...I know...it's an odd choice first thing in the morning, but I like it.



Another unconventional breakfast...lentils with kraut, bok choy steamed with lemon juice, maple syrup, cranberries topped with toasted pecans and teecino to warm me up.



Bok choy is excellent with home made baked chicken nuggets for dinner too.



I think this is my mom's favorite breakfast, especially on a cold winter morning. Sprouted quinoa porridge with berries, it really doesn't get much better than this, plus this is just a good warming meal for a quick lunch or dinner too.



I love hummus! Mmm, it is so delicious with raw veggies and a green smoothie...an incredible snack, but also good for lunch, dinner and even breakfast...it's what I had this morning.



Seriously, avocados never tasted so good! I think I could eat my weight in this chocolate pudding! It is so decadent and with avocados, dates, maple syrup and cocoa...it's a "health food" right?



It's so important for little ones to develop a taste for nutritious foods early on. When my nephew and niece are here these are their favorite breakfast and lunch meals...

Ups and Downs and Twists and Turns

This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it. – John 11:4

When I first eliminated gluten from my diet, I felt like I was good…I had figured out the cause of my health issues and all was right in my little world. I felt confident in God’s ability and willingness to restore, I had cried out to Him, listened, waited, walked in faith and praised Him for showing me the probable culprit and how to make things right. I was also entering the final semester of school and could begin to see the light at the end of that very long tunnel. Things were looking up.

Mid-way through the school semester, on a sunny fall afternoon, I was running in my neighborhood and took a terrible spill on the asphalt. My face was the first thing to hit the pavement. It was scary and traumatic as I walked home with blood streaming down my face. My face swelled with a scrape along my left cheekbone and under my eye, my lip was busted, I had scrapes on one shoulder and both knees. I prayed for swift healing and no scars. It was in the healing process from the fall where I saw a glimpse of the healing power of whole foods. The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods (James A. Duke) was my resource for how to heal cuts and bruises and alleviate inflammation. For a full week I loaded up on pineapple, strawberries, oranges, spinach, thyme, garlic, pomegranate, green leafy vegetables, onions, apples and applied calendula gel liberally several times a day. Within a week the bruising and scrapes were healed.

Although the healing was swift, this was the beginning of a series of stressful events. I had one class at school that consumed nearly every second of my thoughts and time…every week was filled with new projects and assignments and my grandfather was admitted to the hospital at the end of October and passed into eternity just before Christmas. It was a busy season for our entire family. I was struggling to rise early and spend time in God’s word, I felt overwhelmed and as though I was barely hanging on. The reality of finishing my degree and what that would mean…working full-time in a career that I wasn’t created for…was beginning to sink in. Looking back I see God was holding me in His word even more so than I realized at the time. I prayed: Your river of gladness/joy flows for me and I will not be moved, for You will help me (Psalm 46:4), Your mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), I will be still and know that You are God (Psalm 46:10), You are faithful to deliver on Your promises (1 Kings 8:24). The hand of God was holding me close. Praise Him!

By the end of 2009, I was at the end of myself. I could scarcely see the next step in the wilderness place, but somehow I knew He was refining me for His glory. I needed to get closer to Jesus so that He could move me. I needed more fellowship with other believers who could pray with me and confirm His leading. I was mentally, emotionally, physically stretched and stressed and my health was beginning to regress. I began having some digestive issues, missing menstrual periods, I felt completely exhausted most of the time and the worst part…my face was breaking out with acne like never before. I thought I had been healed by adopting a gluten-free diet, but the fullness of healing was delayed. As 2010 began, I was hopeful for a new and better year, with fewer bumps and bruises, but this truth from John 11:4 stood out to me: When God delays we can be certain that He has a better plan in mind…that He may be glorified in the situation and that our faith may be strengthened.