zucchini, artichoke & tomato salad.

This is a great salad that is filling and light.
Ingredients:
1 zucchini
handful of cherry tomatoes
artichoke hearts {canned or in a jar, rinsed of all liquid from container with water}
spinach
2-3 gloves of garlic
2 avocados
ground flax seed

Instructions:
Dice zucchini, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, spinach and avocado.  I prefer them chopped about the same size.  I use a garlic press to mince the garlic, you can also finely chop it. Mix together in a bowl.  Add ground flax seed {flax seed can only be digested if it is ground} I add about 2 large spoonfuls.
Enjoy!
You can prepare this ahead of time and put it in the fridge.  It’s a great lunch salad or side dish for you omnivores.  It would also be great on a chicken or turkey wrap/sandwich if you so choose.

Be well,

B

Spaghetti Squash

 

I have a new love.  It is spaghetti squash.  Yup, you read that right.

It has a great consistency that is a little more tender than a noodle, a great taste, and is gluten free.

It is de-lic-ous and ridiculously easier to make than it was good to eat.

Preheat oven to about 375 degrees

Recipe:

Slice off the ends of spaghettis squash.

Halve the squash.

Scoop out the seeds and discard.

Place the spaghetti squash on a cookie sheet skin side down, so the hollow part you just scooped is open.

Sprinkle a little olive oil or coconut oil on top. 

Place in oven and bake about 30-45 mins depending on how big it is.  I waited until I could smell the squash and it was tender on the inside.

Remove from oven and scrape at the squash with a fork, it will come apart stringy and look like spaghetti {thus the name ;) }

Add some pasta sauce {I use whole foods brand marinara} and a sprinkling of nutritional yeast if you like and enjoy.  It’s delicious and kid approved.

    

I also also sautéed asparagus with fresh garlic on a pan sprayed with organic olive oil non stick spray.

 

Here is to a new style to a comfort food, and a sure staple for myself and M.

Be well,
B

Valentine’s Day Note

 

Dear family and friends,

Thank you.

Thank you for always supporting me.  Thank you for allowing me to be myself, no matter how crazy/anxious/fasttalking/upset/happy/overprotective/calm/blackandwhite/everythingthatisme.

The past 15 months have been an incredible challenge and time of growth for me emotionally.  I isolated myself, cried alone and with you, yelled at nothing and everything, laughed, smiled, stayed in a lot {physically and emotionally}, and took time to just heal myself.

Not once did you judge me.  Not once did you mock me.  You were there for me.  Physically.  Emotionally. Spiritually.  Each of you have helped me to become a much better person and mother. 

I know that I have not taken much time to cultivate our relationships.  Please know that this self immersion was necessary to heal {which you probably already gathered}  The generosity and kindness that you have presented to me were immeasurable to the well being of my spirit. I am grateful to know that I have surrounded myself with such extraordinary people who know when to calm, push, and support me with the greatest compassion.

This Valentine’s Day I want to say thank you.

So, thank you.

thank you.

thank you.

xoxoxo

B

Going Gluten Free

 

If you read my post from the beginning of January you will see that I was debating going gluten free.  It has been difficult for me.  I am definitely addicted to wheat.  Now, addicted to wheat? You are probably thinking, B…you ARE crazy. I have been looking into gluten intolerance as I don’t think that I have celiac’s disease where your body actually attacks itself {eroding the lining of your intestines..ouch…among other things to your body} I feel that my body shows the symptoms of glucose intolerance which can be found here. {there is even a glucose intolerance test you can take if you are interested}

I tried to eliminate wheat {the protein in wheat that is usually problem some for people is gluten} twice already, on the first day I felt great, the 2nd day was eh.., and then I felt like a mack truck ran me over.  I was incredibly fatigued, running a low grade fever and I was done.  I gave up.  Then my friend, who I have not seen since December {remember how I quarantined myself from the world with my plague like illnesses this winter…?!?} and she has lost 20+ pounds going gluten free.  I am incredibly proud of her.  She introduced me to the book Wheat Belly.  It is a great ready.  A MD wrote it, and it is full of research about how wheat has drastically changed over the past 50 or so years and how that effects our {humans} bodies.  It’s a great read and I recommend it.

It gave me the motivation to try this again. So, here I am at the end of day 2 of eliminating gluten from my diet.  {you will be reading this on my 3rd day gluten free}.  I am feeling better than before.  I am running a slight fever and am slightly fatigued, but so far it’s been ok. 

So get ready for some dairy free, meat free, gluten free recipes!

{and please share the ones that you have!}

Be well,

B

Arizona Trip

Madaelyn and I went to Arizona!! {a month ago} 
 
That is how we fly with a toddler! {I also recommend stickers!!}
Yup, its been a month since I posted, and I am working on tons of things to post… but, back to Arizona!!
We loved being in the warm, sunny temperature {80 degrees the day we left and came home to 15 degree weather….my body was in shock!} We visited with family, went to Sedona one day, and I ran my first half marathon!! My fist half marathon will be post for itself as it is a story of its own!
Sedona:
We went to Sedona for a day, and loved it!  The environment was a bit cooler than Phoenix, but the red rocks and city were ah-mazing! 
   

We even went on a pink jeep tour.



I promise she liked it.

 



 

Where the rugged terrain rocked my baby to sleep!  It was also the first time she faced forward in a vehicle!!

   

We also had a great time with family, and I absolutely loved having M hang out with my cousin who is close to her age! She just kept hugging her.
   
That’s just a snap shot of our trip, it was amazing.
The desert has a tendency to heal me and I’m so glad we went!

Be Well,

B