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Posts Tagged ‘Healthy Eating’

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Homemade veggie pizza has now become a staple in our house.  I make it with a whole-wheat crust and pile on lots of veggies.  It really is delicious.  I’ll share that recipe with you at the end of this post.  I hope you’ll try it – I know you’ll love it!

Two years ago, this month, I began an adventure in a radically different (for me) health plan. I had a “routine” Dr visit which turned into a wake-up call for me. I knew I had to do something drastic if I wanted to feel better and avoid what could be terrible health issues. With the Lord’s help and guidance, this month marks two years that I have been on this health plan. I still have a lot to learn and there are days when I have to talk myself out of having a nice big slice of chocolate cake…  But overall, it’s been amazing.

I literally feel like a different person!  My cholesterol is down, my sugar level is great, my good cholesterol is up, my blood pressure is much lower, I lost 25 lbs., I have so much more energy,  …and the diagnosis I got at the Dr that day is no longer the same!!   Another huge factor is that I haven’t had a migraine for two years!!!!!!  If you knew me, you’d know that is amazing!  That fact alone, was well worth the change in diet.  I just thank the Lord every day for His strength and joy throughout this process, and look forward to continuing in this journey.

I’m not going to write 10 posts about it, tell you what you should & shouldn’t eat… We all know what is healthy and what is not.  I just had to share because I’m so thankful.  I wish I had started eating this way decades ago.  What a difference it would’ve made.  But, I’m happy to have started and looking forward to growing in this process through the rest of my life.

Take good care of yourself, friends.  The saying “you are what you eat” is really true!

And now, here’s that recipe I promised:

Pizza Crust
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup bread flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
1 pkg. yeast
1 Tb sugar or honey
2 Tb olive oil

In a small bowl, warm the water so that it’s warm when you dip your finger but doesn’t feel too hot.  Add 1 packet of yeast, and sugar; Stir until dissolved and set aside for five minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the flours, and salt.  Add yeast & water mixture, Add olive oil, and stir until well- blended.  Add more flour if mixture is too sticky.  Knead for 8-10 minutes.  Place dough in a clean, oiled large bowl, cover with clean kitchen towel, and let rise for at least an hour.

Punch down dough gently, and place on floured surface.  I usually cut dough in half to make two 12” pizzas, but you can either use it for personal pizzas (6-8”), or one large pizza (18”).

Building your perfect pizza:
Now you can have some fun with toppings!  I usually brush the shaped pizza dough with olive oil, sprinkle garlic powder, and add fresh ingredients:  basil, artichoke hearts (my favorite!), yellow zucchini, green zucchini, mushrooms, onions, sweet peppers, and anything else you want!  I buy fresh mozzarella, and place some slices over the top.  You can also sprinkle some oregano, and drizzle a little olive oil over the top.

Bake it in a hot oven, 450-500*, for 30-40 minutes.  The crust will be crunchy and the veggies will be cooked and delicious!

Enjoy!

Happy healthy eating,

Daisy

 

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Yes, I was skeptical, but it’s true!!

And only three ingredients!!  Can you believe it??!!

Lately, I’ve seen all kinds of recipes on Pinterest for different things that call for 3-4 ingredients… pancakes, muffins, truffles, cookies, …  After reading several dozen different takes on the cookies, I decided to add a few other things I need to have every day (according to my Dr.).

Here are the basics:

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Yep!  All you need is 2 ripe bananas, one cup of quick oats, and your choice of 1/3 cup of raisins, dates, nuts, or chocolate chips.  You can also mix it up and have a little of each.

Today I used dark chocolate chips because that’s one of the things (believe it or not!) that I need to be eating!  I know, I know, it’s tough but. . .

To make these cookies fill the bill for my dietary needs, I also add flax seeds (either whole or ground, but I actually like the “toasty” flavor the whole seeds give).

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I realize I don’t need to show you how to mash ripe bananas, but I shared this photo because I just love the color of the blue with the pale yellow… (always looking at things as if through the lens of a camera, sigh).

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Mix in the quick oats a little at a time, and very lightly.  Don’t mush it together.  Be gentle.  🙂

At this point I add the flax seeds, ground cinnamon, and either vanilla or almond extract.  (I love almond extract!)

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Shape into a small ball.  I got 10 out of one batch, but you can make them bigger or smaller, whichever you prefer.

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Flatten out gently and shape into a patty.  (These cookies do not spread out).  You can also place each small ball on the cookie sheet and use a glass to flatten out a bit.

Now is when I prefer to add the “goodies”.  On this batch, I placed the dark chocolate chips and small pieces of walnuts on each cookie as I shaped them in my hand.

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I used a greased, 12 inch pizza round because it fits perfectly into my small counter-top oven.

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Bake at 350 for 12-18 minutes.  I actually left mine for 20 mins and they were perfect.

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Have them with tea, coffee, or cold milk.

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You can also add a spoonful of whipped cream, or drizzle left-over cream cheese frosting over the top.  The possibilities are endless!

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It’s okay to have 2 or 3.  After all, they’re really good for you!! 🙂

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Have fun baking these!  Let me know if you try them and how you liked them.

Happy snacking,

Daisy

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I’ve been experimenting with some basic ingredients and healthy foods…

This dish is surprisingly easy and light, but so tasty!

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Thinly slice 2 large potatoes, and half a small onion.  Fan out the slices of potatoes in a tart pan or pie shell.  (You can add 1/4 cup of water if you like).  Place the sliced onions over the top, and add a drizzle of olive oil over all.  Sprinkle some fresh chopped rosemary (or dried), salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Bake at 375 for 30-45 min, until potatoes are tender.

This is a delicious and light alternative to most potato dishes we see this time of year, (especially if you’re watching your fat or caloric intake).

You can easily customize this to fit your family and tastes – add more potatoes, more onion, or anything you fancy.

Enjoy,

and Happy Thanksgiving week!!

Daisy
xo

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