PCOS - but not a perfect "Out of the Box" meal

I made a squash dish, complete with mushrooms and tomatoes hmmmm good.  I cook the mushrooms and garlic in clarified butter, then I add the zucchini and yellow squash, at the very end I add the tomato and finish cooking with basil added for extra flavor.  It's a fresh uncomplicated flavor.

The chicken was grilled on my favorite George Foreman. I had marinated the chicken in a chipolte seasonings, served on the sandwich thins, with a touch of cheddar cheese.

I had a crystal light sugar fee raspberry lemonade to top it off.

I wish I was a full and complete foodie, but here I am doing what I can to manage my PCOS with good foods.  The chips were not a part of that plan, but they were given to my husband from a client.  So a whipped up some guacamole for dip, and enjoyed a couple.

Here's to dreaming and living the good life!

Now I'm off to finish my sitcom, work out and do the dishes before I dash of to sleep.

Take me out to the Ball Game!

We had great seats, thanks to my husband.  He got a haircut, and tickets to two River Cats games!  I love going to baseball games, but I really love it when they are free!

It was a hot day in the sun, hubby is in brown on the aisle, wondering where I went to.  I found shade for little bit, the game was getting slow and I was cookin'.  

Having a great time at the game.

My handsome man!

Digger - the River Cats Mascot

Ricotta Pudding a la Metabolism Miracle

I have to first admit that I have not done well this week at sticking with this, but I'm working on getting back on track.  So, now for the recipe review.  I like this one, there are three different variations in the book, and I've tried them all and I like them all.  I like them better the day after I mix them, the flavors infuse better.  I have mixed them in my new 1 cup size Pampered Chef prep bowls, making these easy to pack for lunch.  See, I'm not adding BPH to my system, I'm making my own LC foods and I'm using re usable containers.  I'm doing my part to save money, my health and the environment, cha ching! 

Cinnamon Ricotta Pudding - Metabolism Miracle

1/2 Cup part-skim Ricotta cheese

1 Tbsp low fat Sour Cream

1/4 Tsp Vanilla

1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Packet Splenda 

Light whipped cream

Mix Ricotta, sour cream, vanilla, and cinnamon together in a desert bowl, chill and served with whipped topping.

Variations include 1/4 tsp chocolate or 1/4 tsp lemon zest instead of the 1/4 cinnamon.

So, my co-worker did not enjoy this like I did, but she also does not like apple sauce.  It's a texture thing, so if you have issues with that type of texture, this might not be for you.  I'm trying to enjoy some of the recipes so that this will become a life time deal for me.  I'm not good at eating low carb, so this 8 week detox has been a rough start.  

I'm also a part of the Yummy Life's Out of the Box challenge, this is really challenging me to do my own prep work and making food from scratch rather than purchasing items from the store that are filled with dyes and preservatives, and all that filler stuff that we really shouldn't be eating.

It's been a real challenge this week as I have not been at my normal energy level, hopefully next week will be so much better.

p.s.

I only review things that I have or have used. I'm not a paid spokes person or paid reviewer.  The links to Amazon will generate some for of compensation through Google's ad sense, but the link directly to the website does not.  I will be posting more recipes from The Metabolism Miracle, and once I get the cook book I will try those as well.

There are others out there with crazy thoughts

I laughed, and then I thought "oh no, I can relate to well."

Here is a link to the blog:

#740 The Infertile Inner Thoughts

 

Crazy Woman Creek Rd

Views that inspire my art

 

Here is a view I had while creating my "Foggy day at Stinson Beach"

I took a closer view point of this scene, and exaggerated the fog to represent what I saw earlier in the morning.
There are no words to explain what I feel or see when something strikes me as beautiful or intriguing.  I've been asked what goes through my mind when I paint, generally it's what ever I'm feeling during the day, and how that scene struck my heart.  Not a very precise answer, but then art is not something that relates to peoples minds as much as their hearts.

Mango Quinoa Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Photo by: Becky Luigart-Stayner

For this recipe as is: Mango Rice Salad with Grilled Shrimp

I made an adjustment to see how the stats where affected.  I swapped out the rice for Quinoa 

Mango Quinoa Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Author: Cooking Light - PCOS variations made

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp Garlic, raw minced
1 Tbsp Ginger Minced peeled fresh
1 Tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
4 tsp Curry Powder
1/8 tsp Red or Cayenne Pepper
1/8 tsp Cumin Seed ground
1 1/2 pound Shrimp, raw Medium shrimp peeled & deveined
2 Cup (8 fl oz) Water
2 3/10 Cup  Organic Coconut Milk Light
1 1/4 Cup Quinoa uncooked
3/4 Cup, grated Carrots, raw
2 Cup, sliced Mangoes, raw diced peeled
1 1/2 Cup, chopped Red Bell or Sweet Peppers, raw
1 stalk Young Green Onions, tops only (1/2 Cup sliced)
1 Tbsp Cilantro leaves, raw chopped fresh
1 Tbsp Parsley, raw chopped fresh
1 fl oz Lime juice, raw
1/2 tsp Salt
33/100 Spray PAM Original - any cooking spray

Cooking Directions:

Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add shrimp; toss to coat. Cover and chill 1 hour.

Bring water and coconut milk to a boil in a medium saucepan; add rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Add carrot and next 7 ingredients (through salt); toss gently to combine.

Prepare grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.

Thread 3 shrimp onto each of 12 (6-inch) skewers. Place skewers on grill rack or grill pan coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes on each side or until shrimp are done. Serve skewers over salad. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired.

Recipe Facts:

Serves: 6.0
Preparation Time: 60 minute(s)
Cooking Time: 15 minute(s)

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 2 skewers and 1 cup of salad (387g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 371.9

Fat Calories: 87.4

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9.9g

Saturated Fat 5.3g

Cholesterol 172.1mg

Sodium 483.7mg

Total Carb 42.6g

Dietary Fiber 4.9g

Sugars 10.6g

Protein 29g

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs. I'm not a professional so I used the Lean Cuisine meal planner to figure all of this out. So, the carb count did not get as low as what I hopped, but I could always remove the carrots, the Mangos have to stay, carbs and all.  It looks like a great meal and I think I will be trying it soon.

Hope and the prayers of a child

Lady at the foot of the Cross- Dawn Marie Black

I love my niece, she has been praying for us to have twins.  It started when she wanted to know what to pray for us, and my sister told her that I wanted to have babies, so the logical choice would be twins.  My niece is 6, and adorable, she recently added that the twins should be girls.  I'm pretty sure that the hubby and I would like one of each, but we aren't picky, healthy is perfect.
I've been praying myself for years, mostly with tears, sometimes with humor, mostly begging and pleading.  Family asks why we haven't had kids yet, like this is our choice.  It wouldn't hurt if it was our choice, but since it's not, it just doesn't feel fair.  I believe in God, and I pray, but some how it makes me feel so much better to have my little niece praying with us.  She has no fear, nothing has shaken her faith, she has not suffered disappointment and heartache, all she has seen is answered prayers.
Mark 10: 13 - 16
"13- People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14- When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15- I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16- And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."

These kinds of things continue to give me hope through the challenges of PCOS, and life in general.  So, bring on the twins, it will be so much easier to not have to hear when we are having another after we finally have the first.   One day I will post that I am a happy healthy momma, and that is my prayer.