A Sweet Success

Blueberries with Lemon Cream

 

Serves: 4

Total Time: 10 min

 

 

 

Ingredients

· 4 ounce(s) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)

· 3/4 cup(s) low-fat vanilla yogurt

· 1 teaspoon(s) honey

· 2 teaspoon(s) freshly grated lemon zest

· 2 cup(s) fresh blueberries

Directions

1. Using a fork, break up cream cheese in a medium bowl. Drain off any liquid from the yogurt; add yogurt to the bowl along with honey. Using an electric mixer, beat at high speed until light and creamy. Stir in lemon zest.

2. Layer the lemon cream and blueberries in dessert dishes or wineglasses. If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.

 

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/blueberries-lemon-cream-recipe-5726

Round Table at the not so round table

We had a family meeting and decided that “round table at the not so round table” was the perfect name for it. Just crazy enough to fit our crazy family. We discussed our new plan for eating healthy and how and where to look for recipes. We will be putting together a family cook book with the recipes that we like. Chicken feta salad will be our first entry.

Melaina thought this should be called “OMG! Mom can prepare food!” It is a variation on the recipe that I posted in my last entry.

Chicken Feta Salad

• Organics spring mix
• Del Monte no sugar added Mandarin oranges (snack pack. one was just the right amount)
• half can pitted black olives (I cut the olives in half because I hate when my food rolls away from my fork)
• crumbled feta cheese (I think i used about a cup of this)
• dry roasted pistachio kernels with sea salt (I used about a cup)
• canned chicken (one can)
• red wine and olive oil vinaigrette dressing

Obviously I didn’t use any measuring cups so amounts are just a guess. It tasted amazing and Jeremy was happy to find that salad actually filled him.

The kids are now in on the other computers looking for recipes for their nights to cook. Melaina gets to find some fish recipes because Jeremy has requested fish Fridays. They all seem pretty excited about the idea of eating better. Well except Ashton but at least he won’t be standing in the kitchen saying he can’t think of anything to cook because I am now making them plan ahead so we can make sure we have the proper ingredients.

Eating Healthy

Melaina has been complaining she wants healthy food. Jeremy has already begun to cut carbs. My Mom and Dad have been doing great on changing the way they eat. I think it is time I do the same.

I have started with the most difficult and the most regularly consumed item in my daily routine. I quit the Dr. Pepper. That meant giving up caffeine as well cause I don’t do coffee. I’m not stressing on the caffeine thing really. If I have a cup of tea fine. I just really needed to eliminate the high fructose corn syrup that is a main ingredient in soda. I can’t switch to diet because aspartame and I have never gotten along.

Now obviously this is going a long way toward controlling my hypoglycemia and will help put off the inevitable diabetes. I am however aware that there has got to be more to do. For instance I need to get rid of the simple carbohydrates and replace them with complex carbohydrates.  No more processed foods and I should eat more fish and chicken. At least salt is not a huge issue for me. quite frankly I don’t really like it and never add it to my foods. I actually prefer the natural taste of things.

So, here is the stumbling block I have just come too in starting this new food adventure. I have to learn to plan meals and shop accordingly. I need to find good healthy recipes that are not too overwhelming for someone who has always hated to cook. I may find after awhile that some recipes that scare me now will be no big deal in the future.

Basically I have all these great ideas and a bit of knowledge about what I can and can’t have but no clue on how to put them together or how to start.

Focus on the positive! Water doesn’t taste so bad after all. An apple makes a great desert. White cheese is better than yellow and I LOVE feta cheese.

Oh think I found something good: Butter Lettuce Salad With Feta, Mandarin Oranges and Kalamata Olives Recipe by Jennifer Meier

Butter Lettuce Salad With Feta, Mandarin Oranges and Kalamata Olives

Photo by Jennifer Meier

This salad is light and refreshing. The salty but mild Feta pairs well with the Kalamata olives and is a tasty contrast to the oranges.

Butter Lettuce Salad With Feta, Mandarin Oranges and Kalamata Olives serves 2-3

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 head butter lettuce, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
• 2/3 cups shelled, unsalted pistachios (either raw or roasted)
• 1/4 lb. Feta, crumbled
• 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
• 2 Mandarin oranges, peeled and separated into wedges
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar

Preparation:

In a bowl, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, salt and cumin together until well mixed

In a large salad bowl, toss the lettuce with pistachios, Feta, olives and orange wedges. Drizzle the dressing on top. Toss again and serve.