Small Goals...Small Victories

I dragged myself out of bed this morning hoping a good workout would help me shake this funk, but unfortunately it did the opposite. Instead of calming my thoughts, a stream of self-deprecation has joined the hum of the hamster wheel already spinning in my head. Now I'm not only unfocused, but slightly injured and feel like I'm losing the battle with the cold I’ve been fighting off for 2 weeks.

But I’m a strong woman, so I’ll concoct a plan to push through this funk. With a little more effort, my mood could be better, right? If I focus on all the really important things I’m supposed to be doing like….making all my meals with organic ingredients, getting all the laundry washed, folded and put away nightly, being attentive to my family’s current and perceived needs and adding another workout (or two) to my roster…..that oughta fix it! Right? To be better, faster and stronger, I need to work harder, do more in less time and never give up! Right?!

WRONG.

I am so flipping tired I’m barely making sense. Try as I might, I can’t keep up. I may honestly scream if I’m asked to do any more than I’m already doing. Which means for today my “best” isn’t going to be that great but it is going to have to suffice.

So…my grand plan consists of focusing on small goals, like hanging out with my kids, sharing a meal, watching a DVD with my husband and getting to bed at a reasonable hour. I am going to take a hot shower, stretch my aching muscles, reassess my life then make a little chicken soup for my soul from the following recipe. Or I might just go out and buy some soup and call it a day.

Mom's Cold-Season Chicken Soup Recipe

INGREDIENTS
•4 cups of homemade chicken stock
•Fat from the homemade chicken stock
•1 yellow onion, peeled and roughly diced
•2 carrots, sliced in half-inch slices (about the same amount as onion)
•2 celery stalks, sliced in 1/4 inch slices (about the same amount as the onion)
•1 Tbsp fresh parsley leaves
•1 Tbsp of chopped greens from a green onion (green part of the green onion)
•1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
•1/8 teaspoon (a pinch) of crushed red pepper flakes (or a small pinch of cayenne)
•Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD
In a 4 qt saucepan, heat a tablespoon of chicken fat (that has risen to the surface and solidified from your homemade stock) on medium high heat. If you don't have enough chicken fat, you can add some olive oil. Sauté the vegetables in the fat until the carrots are almost done. While you are sautéing the vegetables, add the seasoning - the poultry seasoning, the crushed red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. Seasoning like this during the cooking of the vegetables brings out their flavor. According to my mother, crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne is very helpful for a cold, which is why it is part of this recipe. Add the 4cups of stock. Bring to a low simmer. Add the fresh parsley and green onion greens. Check seasoning and adjust to taste.
Serves 3.

Full recipe post at: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/moms_cold-season_chicken_soup/

Not usually this grumpy, but tired of the chatter,
MM

Healthy New Year 2011!

If you’ve resolved to clean up your diet this month or perhaps you’ve committed to participate in a nutrition challenge, you are not alone! I consider myself a healthy eater, but this holiday season I indulged way more than I should have. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and lots of it.

So to start the New Year off right, I am participating in a nutrition challenge at my gym. For me, this means committing to remove sugar, bread, pasta and most grains from my diet for the next 28 days (and hopefully beyond).

Whether you've decided to eliminate sugar, dairy, grains, processed foods or all of the above, the following websites should provide lots of inspiration, information and help you eat well along the way.

Good luck and good health!
MM
PS: Please feel free to share your recipes and how your diet/challenge experience is going so far, in the comments section!

Hearty “No Sugar/No Grain” Breakfast Recipes

Almond Banana Pancakes
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/almond-banana-pancakes/

Sausage and Egg Frittata
http://www.balancedbites.com/2010/12/easy-recipe-sausage-onion-frittata.html

Vegetable Latkes
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/vegetable-latkes/

Other ideas: Breakfast smoothies w/coconut milk, fruit, etc.


Yummy “No Sugar/No Grain” Lunch Recipes

Chicken “Noodle” Soup
http://www.elanaspantry.com/chicken-noodle-soup/

Asian Slaw (top with chicken or another protein)
http://www.elanaspantry.com/asian-slaw/

Other ideas: Tuna salad w/diced apple, celery, red onion, dill, mustard and avocado served in lettuce cups or w/no-sugar crackers like Melba toast.


Great “No Sugar/No Grain” Dinner Recipes

Primal Braised Short Ribs (a personal favorite!)
http://www.joyfulabode.com/2010/04/12/primal-braised-beef-short-rib-recipe/

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Bacon
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/butternut-squash-soup-apple-bacon.aspx

Flank Steak Pinwheels
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/flank_steak_pinwheels.html

Other ideas: Roasted chicken w/roasted root vegetables like Brussels sprouts, turnips, carrots, etc.


Tasty “No Sugar/No Grain” Desserts (or a negligible amount)

Coconut Orange Pound Cake
http://thisprimallife.com/2009/06/coconut-orange-pound-cake-recipe/

Primal Carrot Cake
http://thisprimallife.com/2009/09/primal-carrot-cake-with-coconut-and-walnuts-recipe/

Other ideas: Nearly frozen plain yogurt w/fruit and a drizzle of honey. A decent ice cream substitute.


A few of my favorite “go-to” food & recipe blogs!

Balanced Bites—Lots of Paleo recipes and a seminar coming to CrossfitSAC soon!
http://www.balancedbites.com/

Elena’s Pantry—Gluten free and often low sugar/no grain recipes
http://www.elanaspantry.com/recipes/

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef—Quirky family stories with lot of gluten free recipes
http://glutenfreegirl.com/

Mark’s Daily Apple—tons of information on why to lead a grain free life and loads of Primal/Grain Free recipes
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

Simply Recipes—just that, tons of simple inspirational and easy to modify recipes
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/gluten-free/

The Joyful Abode—Primal/Grain Free recipes and lots of other ideas for the home
http://www.joyfulabode.com/

This Primal Life— Primal/Grain Free recipes
http://thisprimallife.com/category/recipes/