Thunderstorms and Recipes!!

It is a very rainy and thunder-stormy day here at the "propetty" in south Alabama  today!!! 

I love thunderstorms though, and am enjoying myself quite a bit! =) 

 The view from our french doors is fantastic!!! It is why we chose to do our living area in this direction!! My little raised bed area is looking better and my big ol' oak trees are getting spring leaves on them!!! So exciting to watch!! The tree on the left is a White Oak. It loses all of it's leaves during the fall and winter. The tree on the right is a Live Oak, It keeps it's leaves all winter and loses them in the spring when new leaves are coming in!!!!  So very interesting to watch year after year!!!

So, as I am sitting here looking out of my bedroom window, I am reflecting on what I have accomplished these last few weeks!!! As I mentioned in an earlier blog, >> http://www.zubadeewopshoppe.com/2014/03/slacker.html <<  I have started THM (Trim Healthy Mama). You can visit the site here>>>   http://www.trimhealthymama.com/  <<. It is an eating plan that not only helps me lose weight, it also is helping to heal my body and "wake up" my mind!!!  Let's be honest. I was skeptical.... I just could not imagine that eating "buttah" and cheesecake and chocolate, and pita pizzas and MANY other super yummy things could possibly help me lose weight!!!! I have never been able to lose weight just by eating certain foods. Never.  I have never been able to lose weight by exercising. But on this plan I have lost about 13 pounds, and 11 inches!!!!!!!! In 5 weeks. That may seem slow to some people, but I am ok with a slow loss. It's not about getting smaller fast. It is about getting healthy and letting my body heal from years of food abuse!!! And at the same time I am getting smaller!!!!!

So, I thought I would share with you what I had for breakfast today and my dessert for later!!!!

This was my breakfast!!!!!!!!!

Ham and Mozzarella cheese on a biscuit-like bread!!! YUMMY!!!!!

Here is the recipe from the THM book

BIM (Bread in a Mug) (S type fuel)
1. Crack one egg into a coffee cup and whisk well with a fork.
2. Add 2 Tbs. golden flax meal (can grind in a coffee grinder first for a finer texture!)
3. Add 2 Tbs. almond flour
4. Add 1/2 tsp. baking powder
5. Add 1 tsp. coconut oil OR butter
6. Add pinch of sea salt and any other seasonings of your choice (I haven't added extra yet, I like it plain!!)
7. Stir vigorously.
8. Microwave for 1 minute. (YES!!! ONE MINUTE!!!! 1 Minute!!!!!! YES!!!!!)

For the "sandwiches" above, I cut the bread in half and then those halves in half again, so I get 4 pieces of bread. So very yummy and satisfying!! I have put sausage and cheese on them, and bacon!! BACON is on plan!!!! =) =) =)


For a snack later I am going to have cheesecake!!! I made these last night for our monthly "birthday fellowship" at church!! There are a few of us girls (and guys if we're honest) on the THM eating plan. I thought it would be nice to have a healthy alternative to cupcakes available for us to enjoy!!! =)
Hip Hip HOORAY!!!! They were a  hit and even a few people who are not on plan enjoyed them!!!

 This is the plain view of my on plan cheesecake. My camera does not do well with red...but I wanted y'all to see the yummy goodness of this dessert!!!! De-light-ful!!!!

This is the cheesecake with Skinny Belly Jelly (that I made!!) on it!! SO Yummy!!!! I will share the cheesecake recipe with you, but the jelly is too long (easy to make, but long to type out!!!). You could probably find it online though, if you really want to make it!!!
As a matter of fact, here are a few of the recipes from the book>> http://www.trimhealthymama.com/main-home/free-recipes/  <<

On to the cheesecake!!!!
I make mine with a "crust" so I will do that first...

Cheesecake Crust
1 Cup Almond flour
1 egg white
2 tsp. Truvia
Mix all together and bake at 350* for 10 minutes. (I use a 12 well Muffin pan to make the perfect sized grab and go pieces!!!)

Cheesecake  (S type fuel)
1. Empty contents of 2 (8 oz.) packages of 1/3 less fat cream cheese into mixing bowl.
2. Add 2 eggs, 10 tsp. Truvia, splash of vanilla, and juice from 1/2 a lemon OR 2 squirts lemon concentrate
3. Optional:: Add 1/4 tsp. glucomannan or xanthan gum. (tends to make the end result smoother, but works fine without)
4. Beat well with electric mixer for 3-5 minutes.
5. Pour mixture into small greased baking dish (or over the crust you have already baked and cooled!).
They recommend a water bath (putting your baking dish in another pan and adding water to the outer pan. This helps with sinking in the middle...)(You don't have to do this if you are using a muffin pan!!!)
6. Bake at 350* for approximately 30 minutes.
Top with berries, or Skinny Belly Jelly,  and/or fat free Ready Whip, or Polaner's fruit and fiber spread >> http://www.polanerspreads.com/ << which is on plan! or just eat it plain!!!
It is yummy in any way and totally helps you lose weight in the guidelines of this eating plan!!!

Well, the storms are almost over, so I guess I will have to get up and do something!!!! Like cooking some chocolate CIM, or chocolate slab, or skinny chocolate.....hmmm... I am seeing a pattern here!!!
Or maybe I should just bear up and do some laundry!!!

Psalm 40:16 

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: 

let such as love thy salvation say continually, 

The LORD be magnified.

(even while doing laundry...)

Blessings!!!