As the Seasons Change...

As the seasons change, so do my taste buds. My newest addition to my Almond House menu is a Blueberry Almond Cake. This was inspired by a good friend Angi Finnegan who makes absolutely delicious baked goods in Toccoa, GA at Finnegan's. If you aren't completely gluten intolerant, her baked goods contain fresh ground wheat in all of her baked goods - bread, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, & PIZZA. :) BUT since I can't handle the fresh ground wheat, I had to develop some sort of blueberry almond cake for myself and since it was so deliciously, good I must share it with you! On top of the cake, I drizzle my own coconut milk & lemon glaze that, still, contains NO refined sugar! 

Blueberry Almond Cake with Lemon Coconut Milk Drizzle

In addition to the Blueberry Almond Cake, I have a new Cinnamon Coffee Cake with a coconut milk and butter glaze. For the holidays, I believe this will be my first choice as it it takes me back to my childhood & I kind of feel as if I am eating a yummy cinnamon roll... well, almost! Although, I actually enjoy this one better because I still feel wonderful after I eat it - rather than bloated, tired, and foggy-brained!

For all of you gearing up for the holidays these are a great treat that EVERYONE will enjoy - not just gluten free'ers. I polled my church group (20 people) including people who love sugar, eat gluten, and are under the age of 13 and they have been asking me for more! Shhh... don't tell them there is no sugar & no gluten! :)

Guacamole Slaw

As you might notice, I'm a big fan of avocado. Avocado is a great source of healthy fat & it's great for fertility. I made a slaw to go with my Pulled Pork recipe (previous entry) and we really enjoyed it.

1/2 head of cabbage, sliced thin
3 slices of red pepper, sliced thin

Dressing:
1/3 cup of guacamole
1/4 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. pepper
a pinch of sugar

Slice the cabbage & red pepper. Pour the dressing over the top & stir! Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Let me know what you think! Tomato would also be a good addition to the slaw!

Honey & Basil Pulled Pork

Some days I need something a little on the sweet side - How about combining Honey, Basil, & Soy Sauce to create a marinade that will satisfy any sweet tooth? YES! I believe it will be delicious AND super easy! I was going to take a picture, BUT it was so good it was devoured before I could get one!

Sauce & Marinade:
1/2 Cup Honey
3 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp. Basil, fresh or dried
1 Tbsp. Crushed red pepper (optional)

Place the Boneless Pork Tenderloin in a crock pot on LOW. Pour the Marinade mixture over the top. TIP: spray the sides of your crock pot with cooking spray so that it is easier to clean later. Cook until it reaches 160 or 170 degrees.

Pull the pork apart & pour the sauce over the top!

You'll love it. It's extremely delicious.

Body Scrub

I enjoyed a personal, relaxing "spa" day at my house this morning. Reducing stress & relaxing is JUST as important as a healthy diet! This is a body scrub you can do with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Use a coffee grinder or a high-powered blender to grind up the ingredients listed below.



1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup sunflower meal
1/4 cup almond meal
1 tsp. dried peppermint or 1/4 tsp. peppermint oil
1/4 tsp. rosemary essential oil
Coconut milk or herbal tea - just enough to make a paste

Mix all the ingredients together & add the coconut milk until a paste forms. Let sit for 1 minute to thicken. Rub the mixture on your face or over your entire body - this is great for all skin types - except extremely dry. Let stay on skin until the scrub dries then shower the scrub off. Moisturize afterwards with your favorite all-natural lotion. I hope you enjoy.

Chicken & Kale Stoup

On a cold, rainy day in January I couldn't think of a better way to end our day. For women eating dark, leafy greens are essential. I started educating myself a little on the benefits of kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, etc. and found some interesting facts from The Weston Price Foundation.

Weston Price states that poor nutrition is often the cause of PMS and irregular cycles. Leafy green veggies provide Vitamin A. In 1 cup of Kale, 10,000 IU can be given to your body! To aid in PMS relief, it's important to have around 50,000 IU per day so that is a great amount! These healthy greens also provide magnesium which is a necessary mineral to help regulate hormones.

We, as Americans, simply do not eat enough nutritious foods. Most of my life I have eaten for taste rather than nutrition. Learning about the types of foods that help, rather than hurt my body, assists me to truly understand the importance of eating foods that nutritionally support my body.

So, this healthy soup has some great fat content and some great PMS reducing qualities. :) As I was telling Sam about my new discoveries, he suggested nicely that I should cook these things MUCH MORE OFTEN! :)

3-4 Bone In Chicken Breast
2 Sausage Links (Any Kind - Kielbasa, Italian or Cajun)
1 Bunch of Kale, organic
1 Frozen Bag of Spinach, organic
1 Can Artichoke Hearts, organic
1 Onion
4 Garlic Cloves, whole
1 can fire-roasted tomatoes, organic
1 tablespoon Basil
1 tablespoon thyme or oregano
salt & pepper to taste
1-2 celery stalk & leaves
opt: Parmesan to top

Place the frozen chicken in the crock pot. Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, basil, thyme, garlic, celery, sausage links, salt and pepper. Add water to cover. Later in the day, if you can wait, add the rest of the veggies. If you must do it in the morning that is fine.

Let this cook all day and then serve with my cauliflower "rice" or brown rice. Or just by itself.

The leftovers are EVEN BETTER!!!! :)

Cauliflower "Rice"

I LOVE... I mean LOVE rice. I made a wonderful discovery today. Cauliflower can be shredded to look & feel like rice. I made some wonderful Tacos & instead of just eating the taco meat as usual, I piled my plate with my wonderful cauliflower "rice" and enjoyed every low carb and paleo-friendly bite.

I don't have a picture, but there is a great blog that you can go to, to see where I got my idea from - www.elanaspantry.com.

1/4 head of cauliflower, shredded in the food processor until the size of rice
salt/pepper
butter or coconut oil to saute
1 garlic clove (opt)

Basically, shred the cauliflower in a food processor. Melt the butter or coconut oil in a frying pan. Add salt & pepper as you prefer. Saute the "rice" until soft.

You can add ANY seasoning you would like - for example I shredded 1/4 cup of green bell pepper & onion with the cauliflower. This went nicely with the taco meat. If you were having an Asian type meal, add some ginger.

Rainy Day Pizza

Okay! Before you decide if this is good or not PLEASE try it. I admit I was skeptical too, but once I tried it tonight - I'm sold. Pizza is one of my favorite foods & I need to stay away even from an almond meal pizza crust if I want to loose weight so I decided to see if I could make an egg "crust". I referred to my "Everyday Paleo" book for some tips, but then I made it my own.

5 eggs
No sugar added & GF Pizza Sauce - Classico (or make your own)
Any toppings & cheese that you prefer to add
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt/pepper
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove

Heat oven proof skillet (I use a pyrex dish, I don't know if this is okay, but I did it.) with coconut oil. Whisk the eggs until well blended. Add all the seasonings to the egg mixture. When the skillet is warm, pour the eggs into the skillet and cover. When the eggs are firm half way through, transfer the eggs to a preheated 400 degree oven. DO NOT TOUCH THE EGGS IN THE SKILLET! Then, allow to cook until firm in the oven. When firm put the sauce, toppings, and cheese as preferred. Put back into the oven until cheese is melted and the "crust" is slightly browned on the outside.

That's it. :) I believe you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Week 2: Renew a Right Spirit

Over the weekend, I ate some delicious muffins I made with almond meal. In order to loose weight I have to stay away from high-caloric foods like nuts, but they were simply delicious. I had to make a decision whether I would beat myself up for eating a really good muffin. I felt the Lord prompt me this morning that I need my Spirit to be renewed.

The weight of eating healthy and ultimately the weight of desiring to conceive can feel overwhelming at times. In those times, I want to throw in the towel. If I don't exercise hard enough or eat a really delicious muffin, my thoughts tend to push me into "beat down" mode. As my Spirit is renewed, by the power or grace of God, I am challenged to allow the renewed Spirit with in to change my MIND or thoughts regarding my health or any situation I am in.

My surrender this week is "renewing a right spirit with in me" and ultimately my mind be renewed to the way Christ thinks about and in any situation. If I stop & think about how much He loves me and is walking with me through this journey, I realize that he is okay with the muffin I ate or the level of intensity in my exercise. He, ultimately, meets sperm & egg together to create life - Just like he placed His spirit with in me.

I have in idea what I am cooking tonight - I'll let you guys know tomorrow what, probably, occurs in the crock pot.

Chili & Homemade Chili Seasoning - GF

Chili is a staple in our house. I am a Queen of One-Pot Dinners. For 3 years, we didn't have a dishwasher, so my goal was to dirty as few pots & pans as possible while I was in Grad School & working full-time. Now, it's just habit to make my wonderful One-Pot Meals. As I started eating Gluten-Free we transitioned to this wonderful Chili Seasoning. I have played with this for a while; trying to perfect it. This chili is great for kids because it isn't too spicy, but I like to add some heat to my own bowl! It is smoky & has just enough spice to make it delicious. Give it a try & let me know what you think! By the way, there are no beans in my Chili due to the high carbohydrate content. If that bothers you, of course, just add the beans.

Approx. 2 1/2 pounds Ground Beef or Venison or a mixture of the two
1 can Tomato Sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can med or mild rotel
2 tsp. chipotle in adobo SAUCE - do not use the actual pepper unless you want more spice.
1/4 cup of chili seasoning - you may need to play a little with the amount depending on you and you families' taste buds.
3 garlic clove
1 onion

1. Brown the meat & add onion & garlic to soften.
2. Add the sauce, tomatoes, adobo sauce and seasonings.
3. Simmer for at least 30 minutes - the longer the better. You can also put this in the crockpot.

That's it.

Chili Seasoning

1/2 cup chili powder
2 tbsp. Onion
2 tbsp. garlic powder
1/4 cup paprika
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. coriander
2 tbsp. salt (optional)

Guacamole Tuna Salad

It's Friday! With all my running around today, I had a make a quick lunch to keep me going! Tuna is easy to digest & gives the liver a break from working so hard! Avocado is rich in those healthy fats we all need! I have a great recipe that will satisfy that guacamole & chip craving!

1/4 cup Organic Wholly Guacamole
1 can Albacore White Tuna
1 tsp. sour cream (or mayo)
Dash of Cayenne Pepper
Salt & Pepper as desired

Mix all the ingredients together and pile on top of a big green salad!

Crock Pot Agave Lime Chicken

I woke up to the sound of, "Kori, you overslept." Don't you hate that? So, the rest of the day was about 30 minutes behind. :) I'm so glad that I took the time to throw one of my favorite recipes in the crock pot this morning! For a rainy, cloudy day this Agave Lime Chicken will help your spirits brighten as well as help with weight loss. Limes aid with digestion, and many other things, but they contain almost 2 grams of fiber in 1 lime. That's pretty impressive for this small little fruit!

Make SURE you try this recipe.

1 whole chicken - preferably organic
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 large onion (or 2 med)
2 limes, juiced & put into the crock pot
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup Agave Nectar (or Honey)
1/2 cup water

1. Place the chicken in the crock pot.
2. Chop the celery, onion, and garlic. Put in the pot.
3. Juice 2 limes over the chicken and then place the limes in the pot.
4. Pour water into the pot.
5. Pour Agave Nectar over the chicken and salt & pepper the chicken.
6. Put the Crock Pot on Low if starting early in the day, Put on High if starting midday.
7. When you get home or right before dinner, place the chicken in a small pan under a hot broiler in the oven just the brown the top of the chicken.

The End.

Side Suggestion: Sweet Potato & Broccoli

I got this idea from Elana's Pantry, but I switched up a few things. This chicken was so tender that when I tried to pull the whole chicken out of the pot, it broke apart... The picture will tell all. :)

Keep Reading & Pinning. Don't forget to look at my Breads, Cookies, & Muffins as well as my Body Products!

Cajun Chicken with Veggies

Tonight, I made a delicious dish that would make your taste buds SHOUT! My husband and I were completely stuffed after this meal. Sam said, "This is seriously the best meal I've had in a while." I should have taken a picture, because it was a a truly beautiful veggie and protein filled meal. Here it is... PLEASE enjoy it. (I provided some rice for my hubby - He can stand the starch, but I cannot. To simplify the meal even more, I cook extra rice on Monday in my rice cooker and place in the fridge. I will heat up a little bit for Sam so that I'm not tempted to chow down.)

Cajun Chicken with Veggies & Kielbasa (4 people)

3 Chicken Breast
3 medium to small yellow squash
1 onion
1 pound fresh green beans
2 kielbasa links
1/4 head medium cabbage
4 tbsp. Cajun Seasoning *recipe below
2 tbsp. coconut oil
2 tbsp. butter
Salt & Pepper
1 garlic clove, grated finely

1. Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil.
2. Slice Chicken Breast in half (cuts cooking time in half) and season the chicken with 2 tbsp. of Cajun seasoning.
3. Place chicken in the skillet and cook in the coconut oil. Season the other side with salt & pepper and a tsp. of Cajun seasoning. Flip.
4. When the chicken is finished, remove from the skillet.
5. Add butter and a little more coconut oil, if needed. Add the squash, cabbage, onion, sausage, and green beans on medium heat. Season with the rest of the Cajun seasoning (2 tbsp.). Add salt & pepper. Cover & reduce to simmer after it begins to boil.
6. Right before serving, add the chicken back into the skillet to warm a little. Heat up rice, if needed.
7. Serve the veggies on the bottom & place the chicken on top. ENJOY!

*Cajun Seasoning Mix

2 1/2 Tbsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Orgegano
1 Tbsp. Paprika
1 Tbsp. Cayenne Pepper
1 Tbsp. Ground Black Pepper

*Combine all the ingredient & shake in a plastic bag to mix. Place in an air tight container to preserve.

Fill Me Up Taco Salad

Last Night I made some DELICIOUS Taco Meat with LOTS of Veggies. These are gluten-free and are made with my homemade taco seasoning. Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 1b. Venison or Grass-Fed Beef (I often will mix the two)
1 red bell pepper
1 onion
1 green bell pepper
2 clove garlic
1 lime, juiced
1 rotel or diced tomatoes (You can also use whatever salsa you have on hand)
4 tbsp. taco seasoning *see below

1. Brown your meat (add salt and pepper).
2. Add veggies & garlic to soften, taco seasoning, rotel, and lime juice.
3. Simmer for 30 minutes to help the flavors marry.
4. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, salsa and lettuce.


Tip - This would also do GREAT in the crock pot. Just add everything together in the morning, turn on low, & forget about it until dinner. DONT FORGET THE LIME - MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Hope you enjoy!

Taco Seasoning Mix - GF - Make sure you put this mix in a GLASS Jar - Apparently, the flavors might seep into a plastic one.

1/2 Cup Chili Powder
1/4 Cup Onion Powder
4 tbsp. Cumin
1 Tbsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp. Paprika
1 Tbsp. Oregano
1 Tbsp. Celtic Salt

My 26th Birthday

Today I woke up to my usual 16 oz. Ice Cold Lemon Water (yes, even in the winter!) which helps my liver continue to detox and a "shot in the dark" or brewed coffee with a shot of espresso in it! Delicious!

I grabbed my brand new heart rate monitor to do Intervals. I walk briskly trying to stay around 60% for 2 minutes then run, getting to 80%, for 1 minute. I repeat this pattern for 15 minutes. Then, today I did workout #1: a)10 squats w 40 pounds, b) 10 pushups, c) 30 second plank - 3 rounds. This workout lasted about 30 minutes.

My diet today was alright - Sam's brother (or his wife) had their baby today unexpectedly. Needless to say, I was at the hospital all day so I had a chic-fil-a chicken salad for lunch and then the dry-rub ribs at Chili's tonight for dinner with broccoli and side salad. I'd say I did pretty good considering the circumstances of having to eat out. I even resisted a Chocolate Molten Cake sitting right in front of me at dinner. It honestly really wasn't that bad. My incentive was being able to right in my blog that I did RESIST one of the best tasting deserts around.

Tomorrow I hope to post something yummy to cook for dinner! Eating out is not much fun anymore when I can create something delicious right in my own kitchen! I hope to post many great healthy recipes. The picture above shows the basic diet I abide by. There are many great resources out there to help transition.

Follow me on Pinterest - I also pin many Paleo Friendly recipes I'm using and other stuff related to my diet.

30 - Day Get Balanced Challenge

Okay... My 26th birthday is tomorrow. After the two year up & down cycle with my health, I want to help my body to continue to heal itself.

Right before Christmas, I did a 21 day cleanse and sugar detox that helped me loose about 10 pounds and to start my menstrual cycle after only having two cycles this entire year. I am determined, by God's Grace (i.e. His power within), to help my body regulate itself through diet, exercise, and supplements from my naturopath.

I believe it will help me to blog daily of my struggles and my successes even if only a few people are reading!

Here's the Plan:

1. Cut out all carbohydrates and sugar except for one time per week on Sunday - I can have oatmeal, 1 sweet potato, or 1/2 cup of Rice. I will be eating Real Foods - lots of veggies & protein. I will be following the Paleo Diet (check out Everyday Paleo by Sarah Fragoso).

2. Cardio (Intervals) & Weight Lifting (Heavy Weights/Fewer Reps) 6 days a week - 1 rest day (Sunday)

3. Continue supplements from my naturopath that help to regulate hormones.

Finally, continue to check out my almond meal treats & body products. I am about to start a line of anti-aging & herbal lotions, soaps, and lip balms - I am still testing recipes. These body products will help heal and prevent rather than "just" moisturizing your skin. Also, my treats are "paleo" friendly and are made with stevia or agave nectar. I have a new bread that is absolutely delicious! Please check it all out. KEEP PINNING MY PAGE SO MORE PEOPLE CAN GET ACCESS TO GLUTEN-FREE AND ALL-NATURAL BODY PRODUCTS. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS!

2012 - Body Products

For about 6 months, I have been mastering lotions, soaps, and lip balms. It is time for all of you to enjoy them! After raving reviews from all of my female (and male) family members, I have been encouraged to place them on the market! Let me know what you think! Pictures to come!

Don't forget there's also plenty of Almond House cookies & breads to enjoy for the new year! These will fit right in to your "new" healthy living goals for the year!