Flourless Tortillas - with an unlikely ingredient

As I'm pushing along through the low carb, weight loss, lifestyle change process, I continually look for positive food choices that will fit into my busy schedule, and will taste good enough to be served to my husband and family and not have them digging in the frig 20 minutes after the meal. This process requires extensive amounts of time scanning of numerous websites for alternative options to what we have coined "The American Diet". 

I grew up with and continued into my adult life, eating cereal and toast or waffles and syrup for breakfast,  a sandwich with bread and tuna or a burger on a bun with chips on the side for lunch. Then for dinner we would top the day off with a large chunk of meat with a side of potatoes, rice or pasta, a slice of bread or a roll and if you are lucky we might throw in a salad or steamed vegetable to round out the meal. Mixed in there will be cans of soda and cookies from the office vending machine and a dish of ice cream before we crawl our carb bloated body off to bed.

On top of the American fare that we lived on, we've always enjoyed a mix of ethnic foods, Indian, Greek, Chinese, Thai and Mexican, which I'm sure are called the American versions of these food too, but we enjoyed them just the same.

The challenge of making the switch to a low carb diet has not come easily. I find myself wanting to revert back to the old familiar, so finding alternatives that make eating feel more normal helps me stay on track. Doing little things like making zucchini noodles and serving them up with a good marinara sauce and ground beef feels like family meals growing up. Food items like these have proven to be a nice additions to the changes I have already made for my family; and the flourless tortilla fit right in. 

My oldest son had mentioned that he and his wife had made these tortillas, but when I heard about what was in them, I was reluctant to try them. After coming across them again on a website I decided it was worth giving them a chance. To my surprise, that turned out to be better than some of the other tortillas I've tried and they were also allot sturdier for stuffing with things.

Almost Zero Carb Wraps Tortillas (use this link to get the the recipe) have an unusual ingredient, which is pork rinds.  I've never cared for pork rinds on their own, but in this application, they add a smoky flavor to the tortillas and it's worth getting past the weirdness of the pork rinds, and they were super easy to make.

I shared the tortillas with my group and they thought they were good and could see them used as pancakes with cinnamon and sugar free syrup. I took the balance of the batch and tossed them in a ziplock and put them in the frig. The next morning I took them with me to work and stuffed in full of scrambled eggs, sausage, pico, cheese and sour cream and they were wonderful.

My breakfast tacos

So this unlikely ingredient works in this recipe and I will be making this a regular. They make a fare sandwich in place of bread, they are a perfect soft taco shell and I will be working to find other uses for the this new addition to my recipe list.

Making Tiny Habits

This week in class, we reviewed how things were going with everyone, which is still a mixed bag and healing and recovery. It had been several weeks since we had all been together and there was much to share about what we had been doing to stay on plan as well as what we were doing to get over our ills.

Once we exhausted our catching up, we settled in for a video I had come across that proved to very inspiring of all of us and I felt I wanted to share it with you. Sometimes we look at making lifestyle changes as overwhelming tasks to be faced. How to make all the food changes, how to avoid the wrong foods, to get in enough exercise, and the list goes on and on. Leaving us abandoning our good intentions under the weight of it all.

But this video gave us an insight that was much easier to stomach, it breaks down our big picture into small manageable steps and links them to things we already do. A way to add new behaviors into our lives in tiny steps that slip into our everyday activities and not turning our schedules upside down.  The video is 17 minute, not so much that you can't steal away the time, and hopefully you will be encouraged by it the way we were.

After chatting with a couple of ladies at church this morning we have been taking the video to heart. After arriving home that first night, I packed my gym bag, and one of the ladies is walking to the farthest bathroom every time she needs to use a facility. So we have already put this theory into practice. So watch the video and think about mini habits you can put in place in your own life. 

Time Out

When I think about "time out", I see a child that needs a few minutes to reflect on a undesirable behavior.

Well sometimes we are the ones in need of a time out. Every so often we need to just regroup when we are overwhelmed with work, home and side commitments. If we have allowed our good eating habits to head off on a tangent of poor food choices, we need to step back and take a time out. To have a chance to clear our heads and  be able to start fresh.

For the past year I've had this little slip of paper hanging on the bulletin board at work. It's been a source of encouragement for many things, and many people who come to spend time with me in a small space I occupy during my work week. It's only been recently that it has become more relevant in the day to day challenges of managing a new lifestyle.

When you have that moment, when you realized you have fallen, or at lease started down the wrong path, take that time out and make the most of it. Focus on where things began to go wrong and think about the changes you need to get back on track. 

Do you need to go back and clean out trigger foods that have crept back into your cupboards, or do you need to focus on planned shopping trips to stock up on good food choices? Are you struggling with a stressful situation that has you running back to your comfort foods? How can you face those difficult times and not loose control? 

Taking a time out can also be a reward for hanging in there through the struggles, or an opportunity to just enjoy some peace. With our little accountability group I sometimes struggle with what to share, who will come, am I doing the right thing, am I setting the example for other members of our group? The fact that I took on this challenge is daunting enough, let alone making a lifestyle change in the process myself. But I am determined to do this.

Monthly I visit the chiropractor and then get a 30 min massage to deal with tension in my neck and shoulders from the many hours I spend sitting in front of a computer. Well yesterday was one of those appointments. Normally during the massage, the therapist and I chat about all sorts of stuff going on in our lives (I've been seeing the same guy for some time now). But yesterday was different, I was allowed an extra 15 minutes massage time and I found as I lay face down on the table, I was silent. I was just in the moment while he worked the muscles on my back, shoulders and arms. I was fully aware of each pinch and knot he worked on. The soothing release as he made long pressured strokes down my back. 

Yesterday going into my appointment, I didn't realize I needed a time out, but once it started I realized I needed every minute of it, and was more than grateful for the extended time. I haven't really fallen, but I'm still struggling when the choices in front of me force me to choose between what is good for me and what looks yummy to eat. I'm still running full speed with a full plate, I'm fine, but I needed that time out. To take deep breaths, the think clearly, to revive my spirit and rest.

So don't allow yourself to spiral out of control, take a timeout, it doesn't have to be anything extreme, but step away from all the crazy, breath, allow your head to clear and rest. Do it with a trusted friend or do it alone, it makes not difference, but do it. Take a walk without your phone, lay quietly on your bed for 20 minutes, spend time with your thoughts, read words of encouragement, find just a little time when you can hear your own thoughts. Evaluate the self talk you are having when you face food or stresses, are you talking yourself out of it a bad situation, or into it. You have to be you own advocate not your own destructor.

Take your time out, then Rise.

No Guilt Stroganoff

Well I headed for the church to meet with my group tonight, to have everyone calling out, struggling with continued sickness and physical pains. There have been trips to the hospital, lots of meds and missed work. 

The virus that is pounding our area, seems to have a stronghold on everyone who it comes in contact with it. Virtually everyone I know, including myself, has had it in one form or another and it hangs on for weeks. 

Sickness is one of those things that make it real easy to throw positive choices out the window, but that doesn't have to be the case. Stock up on chicken broth and green tea to drink and keep yourself hydrated to help your body do its job of healing and fighting off the bugs that bring us down. Eat small healthy meals and don't over tax yourself while your body fights. God created us with amazing bodies that have the capacity to rid itself from germs that invade us as we interact with the world. We all have times when you are faced with illness that leave us ragged and miserable, we have to take the best care of ourselves as possible and seek medical assistance if it requires. Eating healthy is a sure way to support bodies in times of compromised health. 

Tonight as I fight my own bug, I wanted something in realm of comfort food and as I did some quick snooping around Pinterest I spotted stroganoff and a light went on as to what I wanted to do.  Here is a look at what we ended up with.

No Guilt Stroganoff

1 lb ground beef
1/2 head cabbage thin sliced
3/4 c. sliced Mushrooms
1/2 Med Onion
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 c. crumbled feta cheese
1/2 and 1/2 or milk
Salt & Pepper
No salt seasoning



In a large skillet brown ground beef, mushrooms, onion and season to taste.  Cook until meat and mushrooms have taken on good color (well browned mushrooms are the best!). Add cabbage and toss until wilted. Stir in cream cheese and feta, thinning with 1/2 &1/2 to desired creaminess, I used around a 1/2 cup. 

Traditionally this would have had parmesan cheese, but the  container I thought was in the frig was gone and the feta is what I had on hand. So if you have parm feel free to use it in place off the feta.

Because this dish doesn't have any pasta in it, there is nothing to suck up your sauce, so it will stay nice and creamy after it's been pulled from the stove top. 

Pair this with a crisp salad, or curl up with just a bowl and enjoy.

So I wish health for you during this cold and flu season, as well as speedy recoveries if have been stricken with the bugs that are going around.

Temptations

Some days are easier to face than others, and with the challenge of avoiding grains and sugars it can be very difficult thing to do.

As I've mentioned before, I work in a fine dining restaurant, which in itself improves my odds of making positive choices, but they also provide food for us during the day that can be far from the plan I strive to follow. 

Most days they are pretty good about fixing things that I can pick and choose from which I'm very thankful for. And when the overall meal is not suitible, they will let me raid the boiled eggs, some cheese or avocado and I can get by.

But somedays, like today, we had scrambled eggs and bacon that was great. And there was a large pan of fried potatoes for everyone else, but the kicker today came in a fresh batch of donuts made this morning. Sitting openly next to the coffee machine, in a walkway heavily traveled.

I have managed to leave them alone in spite of walking past them several times looking at them (Telling myself just drink more water or eat another slice of bacon!). We all have those times when we are faced with a choice that is very difficult. 

Remember your self talk, you can live without them, it's just a donut. Remember why you are choosing to eat differently, you body will thank you for walking away. 

And remember to cheer when you step on the scale and know that you did the right thing. 

Face the temptations and challenges head on, and if you slip, never fear, you can start again and keep going. Remember the goal, making more positive choices than poor ones.

We've been at this for a month now, and I'm down 12 pounds, many more to go, but it is begining to feel like a lifestyle and less like a hurdle to get over. 

Tell me your challenges and we can face them together.

Tuna and "Rice" Casserole

I know I haven't been around much this last week, sadly enough, our entire group has been plagued with a nasty virus that seems to be circulating in our area. Lots of tissues and cough drops have been within arms length, but I think I'm beginning to see the last of it finally, at least I hope so.

Needless to say, when I find myself under the weather I begin yearning for old favorites that scream with familiarity and comfort. Today was one of those days and I was thinking that it had been ages since I had a batch of Tuna casserole, and it sounded like just the thing.

My traditional casserole used a standard white sauce and a big batch of starchy rice. Both of which have become off limits under the new guidelines that I need to follow in order to correct my health issues. So with the challenge in front of me, I tackled the task of modifying the traditional recipe and came up with an alternative that was good enough my husband was back at the pot snatching a second round.  

Tonight's modified casserole turned out to be just as yummy as any of my old recipes and will be used again in the future. So if you are looking for something that will take you back to dinner in mom or grandma's kitchen this is the ticket.

Tuna and "Rice" Casserole
2 ribs Celery - chopped
1 sm Onion - sm dice
Olive Oil
1/2 head Cauliflower - riced in the food processor
1 c. Frozen Peas
2 cans Tuna, drained and flaked
1/2 - 3/4 c. Heavy Cream
4 oz Cream Cheese
2 c. Colby JackCheese - grated
salt & pepper

In my dutch oven I sweat celery and onion in a little olive oil, when they started to soften I added the cauliflower rice and tossed. Salt & pepper to taste. When the cauliflower begins to turn translucent add tuna and pea and toss to warm. When the pea become bright green add cream, cheese and cream cheese, stirring as the cheese melts together and the sauce thickens. (You may need to adjust the amount of cream you use to get the consistency of sauce you want) 

For me, I love dill in my casserole, so I used a natural dill dip herb blend I keep around, but season with whatever suits you. Pepper flakes, a lemon pepper blend (salt free), experiment with your favorite flavors. You also can top it off with something like a extra layer of cheese and then toss in under the broiler for a minute to brown in up, and if you grew up with crackers or potato chips on top of your casserole, try crushed up pork rinds to give you that crunchy texture without the carbs. We just went for it right off the stove.

This is what was leftover after we had our fill, just enough for lunch tomorrow.

Here's to comfort food, memories and healthy choices!