Tuesday Tidbits

Good Morning, Sweet Ladies!

It's a chilly Tuesday morning here in southwest Missouri and I thought I'd share a few tidbits with you over a steaming cup of hot tea. How goes things in your world this morning?

As for me...I woke up early and laid in bed for quite some time watching videos and reading the latest news articles on the church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. What a terrible and tragic incident! Small town America...families gathered together to worship on a Sunday morning...spanning three generations, nine members of the Holcombe family...27 people in all, killed, and dozens of others injured. It's sobering. It could have been anyone...anywhere. Do we understand? No. Do we give into fear? NO! One of the the things that I watched this morning was the video of the sermon preached by the pastor of that very church the week before. If you watch it, start at about the 28 minute mark. What a timely message!

It's hard to switch gears after thinking about all that again. Things in my world this morning seem so calm...so normal. For those in Sutherland Springs it's anything but! Let's join together in lifting those folks up in our prayers. Pray for the family of the shooter, as well. I'm sure they need it just as much as all the others that were affected. So sad...all the way around!

So...here on the homefront...

Above the Sink - My Mother's Canisters and Three of
My Teapots - An Irish Blessing Hangs on the Wall 

Yesterday I was able to get the kitchen done. I took down all my glassware...teapots, cups, saucers, canisters, etc...and washed them all, cleaned the shelves before putting them back, and washed the curtains. I don't know that it really looks any different, but it sure feels better! I cleaned out cabinets and drawers, too. Today I tackle the livingroom and Van Gogh room!

More Teapots and Tea Sets

Teapots, Cups, Saucers, and More Adorn the Shelves That Run
Along and Not Far Below the Kitchen Ceiling

Teapots, Cups, Saucers, and More Adorn the Shelves That Run
Along and Not Far Below the Kitchen Ceiling

It's such a cool and dreary day today that I decided to change up my menu plan. Instead of sauce and meatballs for supper tonight, I decided to put on a big pot of ham and beans. As an accompaniment for it, I'm going to try Nuke Queen's Cornbread out of the new Trim Healthy Table (page 246). And, no, the cornbread is not nuked. You'd have to know the sisters to understand that nothing has to make sense, but everything is delicious and blood sugar friendly...so...hey! Call it what they will! I can't wait to try it! I've not tried a thing yet out of the new book that I don't like! It's allllll good! 

Well, Ladies...that's it for now! Tea's gone and I need to get to work! You all have a great day and rejoice in the Lord always! His blessings are many and His mercy endureth forever!

 "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent posts that you might enjoy reading...

Happy Homemaking Monday - November 6, 2017

Five Minute Friday - Need

The Beauty of Jesus Revealed in the Feasts by Daniel Krebs and Darlene Schacht - A Review and Book Study Announcement

Welcome November!

Welcome November!

Hello November

Good morning, Sweet Readers! And HAPPY NOVEMBER!

It's hard to believe that most of 2017 is behind us and that the holiday season is upon us again already! Where on earth does the time go? 😲

Yesterday finished up the Write 31 Days writing challenge and I was so glad to be a part of it. I don't know how good the subject matter was or how interesting the posts were, but it really did challenge me to stay on topic, and stay focused on putting something out every day. Now I don't want to lose the momentum. Not that I'll put something out every day, but the challenge definitely got me into the habit of blogging again and, for that, I am thankful!

Yesterday, of course, was Halloween and the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. We handed out candy and tracts to what few trick-or-treaters we had and watched Luther with Joseph Fiennes. After that we went over to our daughter and son-in-law's and watched KJB: The Book That Changed The World with John Rhys Davies. We had never seen it before and, must say, they did an excellent job with it. We got home and to bed late.

This morning for breakfast I made Trim Healthy Mama's Apple Cinnamon Swirl Muffins (page 280 of the THM Cookbook) and served them with Triple Zero vanilla yogurt on the side. I did change the recipe up a bit by adding the second half of the apple into the muffin mixture, rather than eating it on the side, and it was absolutely delicious! It was like eating apple pie for breakfast! 🍎 

Now...for the rest of the day. I don't have a lot planned. I do need to go help my neighbor with a project that she's got pending, then I think I'll go ahead and figure November's bills and get that out of the way. Then I'll get a jump on my fall cleaning as I look ahead to the holidays. 

Have a blessed day everyone! And enjoy your Wednesday!

Until next time,
~Rebecca 

P.S. - As we enter the holiday season, what is the one thing that you are looking forward to the most?

Recent posts that you might be interested in reading...

Happy Homemaker Monday - October 30, 2017

31 Days of the Joys of Autumn - Chili

31 Days of the Joys of Autumn - Preparing For Winter

Happy Homemaker Monday - August 7, 2017

Good morning, Sweet Ladies!

It's the first Monday of a new month and I am so thankful to be a part of this morning's crew at Happy Homemaker Monday. HAPPY AUGUST!!! 🌞

The weather...

The super hot temps that we were having a week or two ago are behind us now and things look much more manageable in the foreseeable future with highs in the mid-80's and lows in the mid-60's. We had a lot of rain over the weekend, but the clouds are clearing out and the sun promises to make an appearance before the day is through. 🌞

Here is a weather-related video that I took at work Saturday...

Right now I am...

Enjoying a cup of tea as I put the finishing touches on this blog post. I am also adding to my 'to-do' list for the day (and week ahead) as things pop into my head.

On my reading pile... 

People of the River's Mouth - In Search of the Missouria Indians by Michael Dickey
Talk To Me: Connecting With The Heart of God by Lynette Hagin
Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison

On the menu this week....

It's not quite been a full week and I've made a few blunders along the way, but, for the most part, I think that I've done fairly well with staying on plan. I had some things on different days than originally scheduled and some of the things that I had planned I didn't make it to at all...like the zucchini boats. That's because I forgot to save back a zucchini to make them with! 😲 But I've tried lots of new recipes and have found several that my husband and I both like very much. Those are ones that are sure to show up quite often on upcoming menus.

- Monday - Fantastic Meatloaf (S) pg 316 Original THM served with Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes (S) pg 361 Original THM and Creamless Creamy Vegetables pg 352 Original THM
- Tuesday - Creamy Mushroom Pasta (S) pg 351 Original THM served over zucchini noodles (aka Zoodles) or Troodles (FP) pg 222 THM Cookbook
- Wednesday - Grilled Salmon (E) pg 284 Original THM, Baked Sweet Potato (E), and Creamless Creamy Vegetables pg 352 Original THM
- Thursday - Chicken Parmy (S) pg 161 THM Cookbook over Troodles pg 222 THM Cookbook
- Friday - Taco Salad (S) pg 347 Original THM
- Saturday - Grilled Salmon (E) pg 284 Original THM, Baked Sweet Potato (E), and Creamless Creamy Vegetables pg 352 Original THM
- Sunday - leftovers

A new recipe to share...

Peach Pie Smoothie (THM: E)

- 1 ripe peach, peeled and pitted (used a handful of frozen peaches instead)
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1 Tbsp vanilla whey protein powder (didn't have this, so upped the cottage cheese a bit and added a splash of vanilla extract)
- 1 tsp xylitol (or 1/2 tsp of Gentle Sweet) (I didn't have either of these, either, so used 1 tsp of Pyure instead)
- 2 Tbsp old fashioned oats 
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- sprinkle of nutmeg (didn't have so omitted)
- 1/2 c unsweetened cashew milk
- 2 ice cubes

Add everything to the blender and blitz until smooth and frothy. Pour into a large glass and enjoy!

(This recipe was absolutely delicious and it's one that I will enjoy often as a snack!)

On my to do list....

- Do my weekly "home blessing"

- Take a friend grocery shopping
- Do as much prep work ahead as possible for this week's menu plans (cut vegetables, cook meats and divide, etc.)

In the craft basket...

- Finishing up that worm farm! 😆

It's all done except adding the worms and food for them. I've saved a few eggshells and will add some bits of lettuce and other things when the time comes. My program is Friday, so I will collect worms Wednesday or Thursday and have them ready for the children to observe and study come Friday morning.  

Looking forward to this week...

- Seeing our son's new apartment, visiting with my friend, Hannah, before she leaves to go back to college, viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower, and celebrating birthdays with family and friends 🎈🎂🎉

From the camera...

My Favorite Flower - The Thistle

Scripture Reading....

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:2-4).

Well, Ladies, that's if for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed week ahead. 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Related and other recent posts that you might enjoy:

HEARTH AND HOME Newsletter - August 2017

My Thrifty Week - Post #5

Happy Homemaker Monday - July 31, 2017

Trim Healthy Mama's Good Girl Moon Shine

Good Girl Moon Shine Served In A McAlister's Cup

Good Girl Moon Shine is a refreshing and tantalizing drink that I discoverd through the Trim Healthy Mama website, and it is so good! I usually drink a quart, sometimes two quarts, a day.

To make, start with a large glass or a quart jar filled with ice. As you can see, I use a 32 oz. McAlister's cup. I don't know why. I just prefer it. :)

To the ice I add 4 packages of Truvia, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (make sure it's the good kind with 'the mother' in it), and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Then finish filling the cup with water and stir. That's it! (You do have to kind of stir or shake the drink each time you take a sip because the cinnamon and ginger tend to settle to the bottom.)

Good Girl Moon Shine helps you to kick the soda habit, keeps you hydrated, curbs mindless snacking, aids in digestion, detoxifies, clarifies, and alkalizes your body.

I have seen many different variations of this recipe, and I think my variation is probably different yet, from others that I have seen. To view the original recipe click HERE.

Occasionally, I do have a glass of the original and it's just as refreshing and tantalizing as my version.

GGMS Original Recipe

Have a blessed day!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

#thm

One Thousand Gifts - #15 - how hard my dad worked to make a living for us, #18 -a grandchild's hand held in my own, and # 27 - Scotch fortitude

Cottage Blueberry Porridge (E)

Cottage Blueberry Porridge (E) Single Serving

When I first saw this recipe I didn't think it sounded good at all, but, after trying it, it's turned out to be one my favorite Trim Healthy Mama breakfasts thus far. I usually serve it two to three times per week.

COTTAGE BLUEBERRY PORRIDGE - E

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2  cup low-fat (1%) cottage cheese

1 cup cooked oatmeal 

a pinch of sea salt 

1 tsp. cinnamon 

sweetener to taste (I use 2 packages of Truvia.) 

Place blueberries and cottage cheese into food processor and process until smooth.

Place hot cooked oatmeal into a breakfast bowl. Add cinnamon, sweetener, and sea salt if it wasn't added during cooking.

Garnish with the blueberry cottage cheese mix to the sides of bowl that contains the oatmeal. Don't mix it with porridge, but scoop some up with each bite. Yum-my!!!

#thm

Trim Healthy Mama - Where We're At At The Moment

Trim Healthy Mama

We've been on the Trim Healthy Mama for several weeks now. Well...sort of anyway. We still haven't finished reading the book (have I mentioned that the book is HUGE? 619 pages), but we've been reading along as we get a chance, trying new recipes, and learning new ways of doing things. Some of it we've put into practice; a lot of it we have not. As we do more research, we do have questions, but, thus far, we have gained a wealth of valuable information.

In addition to adding some really great recipes in our menu planning, we've been pretty much sugar-free for about a month and a half now (not perfectly, but for the most part), have given up white potatoes and discovered some really awesome alternatives, have learned the difference between starchy and non-starchy vegetables, and have learned a much better way of pairing foods for maximum fuel burning within the body. 

BUT...we have also made some very unwise decisions in the process, like trying to get set up in everything all at once, which there is absolutely no need to do, especially when your budget won't allow it. I feel really bad about this and feel that I have wasted money that could have been better spent elsewhere, but, my husband, who always offers grace when I goof up, tells me not to worry about it. He says we'll just chalk it up as a learning experience and move on. 

All in all I think things have gone well. At this point I think we're going to keep what we've learned that has worked for us, throw out what hasn't, and continue to move toward a simpler, more basic diet in the right combinations, but am not going to try to write about the Trim Healthy Mama on a weekly basis. I will continue to share THM recipes as I try them out and write, occasionally, about anything of interest that comes up in relation to it. We're not throwing the Trim Healthy Mama out by any means. We've just got to get a better handle on how to proceed using simpler, more basic foods. I will continue to update as we move along. And, when we get the book finished, I will be writing a review, so, watch for it! :)

You might be wondering if I've lost any weight since being on the Trim Healthy Mama. The answer is yes, some, but my objective right now is not the weight-loss as much as it is to get down to food basics...food as close to the way God made it as possible...and get off the sugar, the soda, and the starches. While I still have a long way to go, I have made progress in these areas, and I am thankful for all that we've learned and for all we have yet to learn.  

I will keep you posted in the days ahead and am still greatly interested in others who have embarked on the Trim Healthy Mama journey. 

Until Next Time...

All My Love,

~Rebecca <3

#thm

Cheesy Egg White Scramble With Spinach Served In A Half Joseph's Pita (E)

Cheesy Egg Whites And Spinach In A Joseph's Pita

I had some egg whites left over the other day that needed used up, and just a small amount of spinach, so I threw this together for breakfast. It was very tasty, and John and I quite enjoyed it.

All I did was scramble some egg whites in a small skillet that had been sprayed with pan spray. I sprinkled them with sea salt and black pepper. Then, just before the eggs were done I added a couple of handfuls of fresh, raw spinach and sauteed all together. Right at the end I sprinkled the whole thing with just a tiny amount of shredded 2% sharp cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt into the egg and spinach mixture. Then, I divided the mixture equally into two parts, and stuffed each portion into one-half of a Joseph's pita.

Short, sweet, and to the point...breakfast! <3

Until Next Time...

All My Love,
~Rebecca

Trim Healthy Mama - 'Sip The Shrinker' Laura's Way

'Sip The Shrinker' Laura's Way

With way too much going on, this past week has not been the best week for staying on plan with the Trim Healthy Mama...BUT...despite all that I've discovered the most wonderful and amazing concoction and I've got to share it with you! It's the great-tasting, fat-burning Sip The Shrinker drink from THM...sort of.

I tried Serene's original recipe, but, must admit, I really didn't know what I was doing and didn't care for what I came up with. (I think I added way too much cayenne pepper for one thing!) Then, I received an e-post from my dear friend, Laura Lane, over at Harvest Lane Cottage. Laura has lost, and kept off, 50 pounds thus far with the THM. (Good job, Mama!!! Rebecca gives Laura a high-five) Laura stated in her post that this drink was a big help to her during this time of weight-loss. She also stated that she, too, had started out with Serene's original recipe, played around with it a bit, and came up with her own version of the Sip The Shrinker drink. It is Laura's version that I use and share with you here today. I've had my two-quart quota almost every day since discovering it and it is wonderful!!!

And, while I, personally, have never been to one of those high dollar specialty drink stores, I do imagine that this drink is similar to something that one might find on the menu there. A frappe, or an iced latte, maybe? I don't know. I've never had either, but I can imagine, and I'm guessing that this is something along that line. Either way, it is absolutely delicious! It keeps me from snacking all day and it has totally taken away my desire for any kind of soda.

'SIP THE SHRINKER' (Laura's Way)

(Makes 2 quarts.)

3 to 4 Oolong tea bags steeped in a large mug (steep until tea reaches room temperature)

Remove tea bags and put cooled tea in blender. (I save my bags and use them a second time.)

To cooled tea in blender add:

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
a pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon caramel flavoring (I use Watkins)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Truvia to taste (I use 8 packages)

Blend on high for just a few seconds. This makes your Shrinker concentrate. Divide contents equally between two quart jars and store in fridge until ready to drink.

When ready to drink, fill jar with ice and enough water to fill to top Then, sip on it until it's gone. You can add extra water and/or sweetener as needed. Stir or shake each time you take a drink, because the cinnamon and cayenne tends to settle to the bottom.

This drink is called a Shrinker because it actually burns calories by raising your thermogenic temperature.

Until next time...

All My Love,
~Rebecca

Hearty Green Soup (E) and Joseph's Crackers/Chips (S, E or Fuel Pull)

THM's Hearty Green Soup and Joseph's Crackers/Chips

The Trim Healthy Mama's, Hearty Green Soup, is a large-scale soup intended for big families and company meals. According to the book, the recipe makes two meals worth of food, but, for just John and I, I made a half a recipe and it ran us for one meal a day for days, plus we had company join us on one of those days. The recipe may be found on page 334 of the Trim Healthy Mama, and you can use your own judgment as to whether to make a whole recipe or a half. That is totally up to you.  The recipe is absolutely delicious and very economical. This is definitely a soup that I will make again and again. (In fact...I've got a pot of split peas cooking right now!)

On several of the days that we ate this soup for lunch or supper, I served it with Joseph's Crackers/Chips (page 394 in the book). These crackers/chips are very good and have totally taken the place of tortilla chips in our home. They're also very quick and easy to make, and you can have a batch made up from start to finish in just a couple of minutes.

(Note: I have made the chips both ways...using pita bread and lavash...and, both are equally good. When using the pita bread, I cut them in half, then separate the two halves, so, when I cut them, I get 8 good-sized triangles out of each original half instead of just four. When using the lavash bread, I use a half a piece, then cut that half in half again and cut diagonally creating the desired, triangle, tortilla chip-shaped pieces. Very yummy! And, since I didn't have any paper plates on hand, I made mine on a regular plate linesd with parchment paper.)

I hope you enjoy trying these recipes out. They're both very good and totally nutritious!

Until Next Time,
~Rebecca

#thm

Trim Healthy Mama - My Favorite Evening Meal

Broiled Salmon With Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes, Creamless Cream Sauce, and Asparagus

Of all the evening meals that we've tried thus far, this is, by far, my favorite...broiled salmon (S), Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes (S) served with Creamless Creamy Veggies (S, E or Fuel Pull - sauce served as a gravy), and a dark green vegetable (usually broccoli, but, tonight, fresh asparagus), and we have this meal, at least, a couple of nights per week. It's absolutely delicious!

The way I make the salmon is, I start with frozen fillets...one per person. Before placing the frozen fish in the baking dish, I put about a half tablespoon of butter and a half tablespoon of coconut oil under the area where I intend to lay each fillet. Then, after placing each fillet over the butter and oil, I pour one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of red wine vinegar over each one. I sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper, then, cover and bake in a 400 degree oven. I allow the salmon to bake until I have the other dishes near to completion, then I remove the foil, kick the oven up on broil, and broil, flipping once, until fish is done.

The original recipe for Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes (S) is found on page 361 of the Trim Healthy Mama, and as Serene and Pearl say, "If you do these the right way, you can barely tell the difference between this dish and real mashed potatoes. The secret is the food processor." And this is true!

The way I make mine is, I start by steaming a fresh head of cauliflower. After it's done, I place the florets in my food processor and add a couple of tablespoons of butter (or light butter), sea salt, and black pepper. Occasionally, I add a tablespoon of cream or half and half, but, usually, not. I process on high until creamy and viola! Mashed potatoes! (NOT!) :)

To make the gravy I either follow the instructions in the book to make Creamless Creamy Veggies (S, E or Fuel Pull - page 352 of the Trim Healthy Mama) and make extra sauce to be served as gravy, or I make the sauce by itself, and serve the vegetables on the side. Generally, if I'm making broccoli, I make it per the book instructions, cooking the veggies in the sauce, but if, like tonight, I'm making asparagus, I cook the sauce by itself, and cook the asparagus separately, so that it doesn't overcook. (I like it to be crisp, not squishy and stringy.) Whether I cook the vegetables in the sauce, or not, makes no difference. I always use it as a gravy for the mashed cauliflower. It is so yummy! :)

To make the sauce alone as a gravy, I start with 1/2 cup of fat free chicken broth. To that I add one wedge of Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese per person, sea salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. I whisk all this together and cook until boiling. Then I shut the burner off and whisk in one heaping tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. This sauce is a great accompaniment to any non-starchy vegetable, and even the grandlittles happily eat their vegetables when cooked in it...broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower...it doesn't make any difference. They love them all!

And, by the way, I did end up spooning a couple of tablespoons of sauce over my asparagus this evening after the picture above was taken. I just couldn't help myself! :)

So, that's my favorite evening meal. What's yours?

Until Next Time...

All My Love,
~ Rebecca

#thm

Simplified Strawberry Smoothie (S, E, or Fuel Pull)

Simplified Strawberry Smoothie

Since my daughter, Amber, created this wonderfully delicious, 'Simplified Strawberry Smoothie', and shared the recipe with me, I've not missed a day of making and enjoying one. The recipe is based on the Trim Healthy Mama's 'Big Boy Smoothie' (page 242) and is super easy to make. With just the right amount of sweetness, and thickness, I can hardly tell the difference between it and a calorie-laden strawberry shake from a fast-food joint. It's beyond delectable!

SIMPLIFIED STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE (S, E, or Fuel Pull)

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 to 3 packages of Truvia (based on desired sweetness)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
a couple of nice, big handfuls of unsweetened frozen strawberries
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (optional)

Pour unsweetened almond milk into your blender up to the 1-cup line. Add Truvia, vanilla, and whey protein, if desired. (Note: The whey protein powder takes the smoothie from being a snack, to making it a meal, as it is very filling.) Then, add strawberries and blend on high.You might have to scrape the mixture down a time or two as it is very thick. Serve in a large glass and enjoy. Sometimes I use a straw and sometimes I just eat it with a spoon! It is so yummy! :)

#thm

Trim Healthy Mama - The Journey Continues

It's been a busy week and weekend, and we still haven't finished reading the Trim Healthy Mama in its entirety, but everyday we seem to be learning something new. And, while this week has been far from perfect, we are pretty much set up in on-plan foods, and have made several new recipes, most of which we enjoyed, but, we are also coming to some conclusions.

#1 - We are definitely going to have to take finances into consideration and settle into a more economical system of menu planning. I have yet to set anything down on paper, but am thinking that we probably need to alternate egg white dishes, with, or without turkey sausage, or turkey bacon on occasion, with oatmeal for breakfasts, and the hearty soups (Red or Green) for lunches. I made a half recipe of the Hearty Green Soup on page 334 this past week and it is very good and it's very economical! A half recipe has fed my husband and I for days (a bowl each for either lunch or supper) and one day we even shared some of it with company! By alternating these breakfast and lunch ideas on a regular basis, we will just have to plan nice suppers and can put most of the allotted grocery money into those meals.

#2 - I still haven't figure out if we started off wrong, if we're missing something, or what, but where on-plan foods according to the book, in places anyway, include things like full-fat butter, full-fat cheese, full-fat cream cheese, ground beef, etc., we have decided to stick with foods that we traded those items in for long ago. Light butter instead of full-fat butter or margarine, 2% cheese in place of full-fat cheese, Neufchatel or fat-free cream cheese instead of full-fat cream cheese, ground turkey instead of ground beef, etc. Why add the extra fat and calories when there is no need to?

The thing that we feel that we've learned the most about thus far is the effect that sugar has on the body and how most of the foods that we were eating before, and the combinations in which we were eating them, created a never-ending process of glucose clean-up, which, in turn, made it impossible for the body to ever get to stored fat and use it as a fuel source. We feel so much better getting off the sugar and, did I mention? I love Truvia! And thanks to a new found love affair with cauliflower, I don't miss white potatoes at all, either. That is something that I never thought would happen! Wow!

I do wish I would have measured before starting this journey though because my clothes are definitely feeling looser. I need to buckle down and get more serious with everything, and I need to start walking again!

Well, I guess that's it for this week. To all you other ladies who are endeavoring to go the Trim Healthy Mama way, I wish you well. Feel free to drop in, comment, and let us know how things are progressing on your end. In the meantime, love to all and God bless!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

#thm

Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse (S)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse

I found this recipe on one of the Trim Healthy Mama sites on Facebook and decided to give it a try. At first I wasn't sure that I was going to like it, but, after tweaking it just a bit (my tweaks are in parenthesis), I can honestly say that it is absolutely delicious! Since my husband and I both liked it, I will definitely be making it again!

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE MOUSSE (S)

1 can pumpkin
2 boxes low-fat cream cheese
1 cup heavy cream (I didn't have any heavy cream, so I used half & half)
4 packets of Truvia (I added 2 more for extra sweetness)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Whip all ingredients together until you have a nice fluffy mousse. I added shaved dark chocolate on top for a garnish.

#thm

Trim Healthy Mama - The Journey Begins

As many of you know, I spent most of last month carrying out My Dollar-Stretching, Cabinet-Clearing, Clean-The-Food-Up Project For March. In reality, the project was two-fold. The first goal was to save money by using up the food we had on-hand, and using the money saved to take care of more immediate needs...which we did. The second goal was, as we used up the food on-hand, to start reading the Trim Healthy Mama book (that I ordered last fall) and see if I really thought I could make a go of it...and I did...and I do.

I'm still not finished reading the book in it's entirety (it's a HUGE book!), but I have read the biggest portion of it and am well on my way with familiarizing myself with the plan, learning some of the recipes, and putting them into practice. In fact, by the 20th of March we had pretty well cleared out our old food stock and, when I restocked with fresh foods on the 21st, they were all foods that were on plan and in line with the Trim Healthy Mama.

Yes, I've went on diets before. I've lost and gained...lost and gained...and regained even more, but the Trim Healthy Mama isn't a diet. It is a new (actually it's a very old) way of eating with a Biblical approach  to food, and I really feel that it is entirely doable. Even my husband (yes, my half-Sicilian husband who has to...make that had to...eat pasta up to three times a day...is reading the book with me and, for the most part, is coming on board, too. I've never seen him so willing to try new things before and I've never seen him go this long without sugar (and all those starches that turn into sugar) and be satisfied. Yes, I honestly do believe that this plan is completely doable...even in my household!

In the days ahead I hope to share my Trim Healthy Mama experiences with you here on a regular basis...my successes, my failures, favorite (and not so favorite) recipes, etc...and I am hoping that other women who are on the plan come along side and chime in, too, joining with me, and others, as we travel this journey together.

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca

#THM