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Pancakes, Pampering and Purging

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Day 301 in my preparing to party with Mickey

My plan today was to try out a new recipe while Emi (my daughter) is here.  (Yay!  Emi is here!)  For breakfast this morning we had Coconut Pancakes.  I got the recipe off of the internet a few months back, and I have been procrastinating preparing it.  Emi being here was just the impetus I needed.  I wish I had written down the source of the recipe, because I can’t find it now.  So with my apologies to the original creator (if you know, please tell me so I can give credit where credit is due) here is my new favorite recipe:

Coconut Pancakes:

  1. Ingredients:
  2. 2 eggs, whisked
  3. 1 3/4 c. coconut milk
  4. 2 T. coconut oil (or butter) melted, plus extra for frying
  5. 1/2 c. coconut flour
  6. 3/4 c. buckwheat flour
  7. 3 t. baking powder
  8. 1/2 t. salt
  9. 1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
  1. Directions:
  2. Combine, eggs, coconut milk and 2 T. melted coconut oil (or butter)
  3. Stir in remaining ingredients.
  4. Melt a generous dollop of coconut oil or butter in a pan over medium-low heat.
  5. Pour in some batter.
  6. Fry, when surface starts to bubble, flip
  7. Makes 4-6 large pancakes or 8-12 small
  8. Serve with melted coconut oil or butter and/or sweetener, if desired.  (We didn’t add a thing and they were delicious!)

We stuck to the recipe, except I only had unbleached flour, so that is what we used–1/2 c. +3/4 c.  I will try the coconut flour and the buckwheat flour next time.  Enjoy!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: We treated ourselves to mani-pedis today; then we had lunch with my dear friend Joan.  It was pure pampering.  Then I came home and cleaned out my cookbooks and shoes.  A very cathartic day!  PTL!

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Another Payday

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Day 300 in my quest to be healthier when I meet up with Mickey

Today’s plan was to weigh myself for the first time in a couple weeks.  Before my cancer surgery I had lost a total of 43 pounds since last August.  It was bouncing around between 43 and 42.5 and 42, etc…  After my surgery, even though I kept eating well right through, I put on an unexpected 10+ pounds.  I just chalked it up to my body being in fight mode.  I had had seven stab wounds (incisions really) to my abdomen, and my body was angry.  Plus in the first three+ weeks after the surgery, I wasn’t moving around very much.  My body was holding on to everything, water, air, fat, everything.  Now five+ weeks later, my body is making the adjustment at last.  So to my pleasant surprise when I got on the scale this morning, I was two pounds lighter than my pre-surgical weight.  Woo hoo!  I finally have post 45 pounds now.  I have been rounding to that number for a bit, so it feels great to finally really be there.

Whew!  Now to keep making healthy food choices and to move more…meet you at the Kingdom!

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TIMBER!

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Day 299 in my humiliation on the way to a healthier me when I meet up with Mickey in October (4 months and 10 days to go)

Today’s plan was to get through the day with as little pain as possible.  Let me explain.  This morning as I was stepping into the bathtub to take my shower, I held onto a suction grab bar.  I put too much weight on it, and it gave way.  The next thing I knew I was lying in a twisted position in the bottom of the tub.  I hit my head, and in the process wrenched my neck and shoulder.  I hit my sore arthritic hip, my knee, my arm.  So everything is aching.

Praise God that Emi (my daughter) is visiting.  She heard the thunderous noise of me falling (as I play it back in slow motion I keep hearing, “Timber!” shouted in my head), and she came running up the stairs to help me.

Dear readers, I have to tell you that getting this massive body up is no easy task.  Emi called Mike (my honey) and he came racing home.  In the meantime, Emi had rigged up a heavy duty strap for me to pull on.  Once Mike got there, they put a blanket around me and each of them pulled on a side, while I pulled on the strap.  Thank you, Jesus, we were able to get me up onto the side of the tub.

Emi and I have been exhausted all day from the trauma of it.  Thank you, Lord, I still have some prescription Motrin from my surgery for pain.  I just ache all over, but here’s the bright side.  I am more determined that ever, to keep eating healthy and to keep moving more, and to keep going on this healthier path.

Here’s one miracle story to prove my determination.  Today I got a bit peckish (hungry) at 2:30 pm.  I knew there was cake in the freezer at work…really good cake with buttercream frosting.  This is one of my favorite goodies (baddies?).  There is also strawberry shortcake in the freezer.  Either would have been delicious and satisfying.  Which did I choose?  The Pink Lady apple that I had brought along from home.  🙂  Just a few short months ago I would have never made that choice.  But you know what?  That apple was delicious and very satisfying.  Praise God!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Feasting with Friends

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Day 298 in my sugar-free, low sodium eating to be healthier when I meet up with Mickey in October

Today’s plan was to have our friends, Ken and Chris Hall, over for dinner tonight.  We had picked up groceries for dinner on Sunday, so today we just stopped and picked up a few last minute things.  We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with our good friends.  It had been a long while since we had had a longer visit, so it was a real treat.  We feasted on Cranberry Pine-Nut Quinoa; White Bean , Herb and Tomato Salad; fresh veggies with hummus.  Then for dessert we had fresh blueberries and strawberries and freshly whipped heavy cream.  It was delightful.  The meal was scrumptious and the company was even better.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Sunday Shenanigans

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Day 296 in my keeping busier than I used to so I am healthier when I meet up with Mickey in October

My plan today is to eat well, shop for groceries, get our guest room ready for my daughter’s visit, and visit with my son and daughter-in-love tonight.

  1. After sleeping in and showering up at the sauna, Mike (my squeeze) and I went to brunch at Maevery Public House in beautiful downtown Lake Bluff.  I ate there yesterday and was so taken with it that I had to get Mike there today.  He ordered the BELT (bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato sandwich) with potatoes fried in butter.  I ordered Croque Jasper (brioche with a lean sausage patty and a bit of cheese sauce).  We both had black coffee which was Douwe Egbert.  For those not familiar with Douwe Egbert: it is a Danish coffee, very full bodied and yet mellow.  It comes in somewhere between Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donut coffee.  Maevery Public House is not inexpensive, but pamperingly delicious!)  Yes, I know I just made up a word, but it seems so apropo.  Now usually I make a habit of cutting my entree in half and bring half home for another day.  Today I ate the WHOLE thing.  I used the excuse that it won’t reheat well.  🙂  So I will not eat a full meal until dinner tonight.  If I get hungry, I have a piece of fruit or something else light.
  2. Our daughter Emi, who lives in Bristol, England, comes tomorrow!  She’ll be here for a week.  Woo hoo!!!  When she’s here, we end up eating out quite a bit so, we picked up just enough groceries so she (a vegetarian) will have some choices for lunches.  And also we got the groceries to have some friends (Yay, Ken and Chris Hall!) over for dinner on Tuesday evening.  On the menu for the evening: Cranberry-Pine Nut Quinoa, White Bean, Herb and Tomato Salad, fresh veggies and hummus, and fresh berries and whipped cream for dessert.
  3. Gotta change the bedding and straighten our guest room for Emi.  I’m so-o-o excited to see her and hug her and kiss her face!  She’ll sing with Damascus Road (the contemporary band at our church) next Sunday, and she’ll sing with Ken Hall and a friend at Cafe Pyrenees in Libertyville on Friday evening.  Mike may play some guitar there, too.
  4. Tonight Jake and Eliza come to dinner and to hang out.  We are having Apricot-Almond Chicken with last night’s leftover Chicken Rigatoni with Broccoli and Peppers as a side and a nice large spinach and Romaine salad.

That’s it for today, dear readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: All recipes mentioned are from Betty Crocker’s 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.  Seriously, if you’re watching your sugar intake, then this is a GREAT cookbook to have.

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Scrumptious Day

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Day 295 in my eating my way to a healthier me to meet up with Mickey in October (4 months and 13 days to go)

My plan for today is to make the healthiest choices possible for my meals today.

  1. Breakfast:  We went out with our friends John and Joan Webster to celebrate Mike’s and my birthdays.  We’re a little behind; our birthdays are in November and December.  🙂  We went to a restaurant  called The Point Pancake House in Gurnee, IL.  I ordered a Multigrain Waffle with Yogurt and Strawberries.  The yogurt was plain, unsweetened.  (Ish, right?)  I can’t eat many strawberries because I have diverticulosis, so I ate a couple and gave the rest to Joan.  I asked for and was given sugar-free syrup. I ordered a side of bacon as a treat.  And I had a cup of coffee. I put some syrup on my plate and gently dipped a forkful of the waffle at a time.  It was so good!
  2. Lunch:  After writing out my bills for this pay period, I skipped to town (Lake Bluff) to mail them.  While there I decided to go to brunch at Maevery Public House.  Monday through Friday they are only open for dinner, but on Saturday and Sunday they are open from 10 to 3 for brunch.  I ordered an egg white frittata with locally grow seasonal vegetables and goat cheese.  The locally grown seasonal vegetables turned out to be clover. (Early Spring-sheesh!) This was unexpected to say the least.  It was served with tomatillo salsa.  I opened my small mind, and decided to give it a try.  OMGoodness!!!!  It was to die for and was complimented by a cup of black coffee and the cold water that they serve in a refillable bottle.  Mike and I will go there tomorrow after church, so he can see how wonderful this place its.  What a local gem!
  3. Dinner: Back to my favorite cookbook: Betty Crocker’s 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.  On tonight’s menu: Chicken Rigatoni with Broccoli and Peppers.  We haven’t tried this one yet.
  1. Ingredients:
  2. 2  1/2 (does anyone know how to type this as a number on a MacBook Air?) cups uncooked rigatoni pasta
  3. 2 cups chopped fresh broccoli
  4. 1 medium red, orange or yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  5. 1 cup cut-up cooked chicken
  6. 1/2 cup reduced-fat Alfredo pasta sauce (from 10-oz jar)
  7. 1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (1oz), if desired
  1. Directions:
  2. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli and bell pepper for the last 2 minutes of cooking.  Drain; return to saucepan.
  3. Stir in chicken and Alfredo sauce.  Cook over low heat about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken and sauce are hot.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Betty Tip: Any tubular-shaped pasta (I’m using whole wheat elbow macaroni), such as penne or ziti, will work fine in this dish, and , to make it vegetarian, omit chicken and increase broccoli to 3 cups.

That’s my eating day today.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Unexpected Grace

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Day 294 in my realizations on the way to a healthier me when I meet Mickey in October.  (4months and 14 days to go)

Today’s plan was to go to work and give it my all. I did, and it feels good to have put in my first full week since surgery.

Here are some surprises that God had for me today:

  1. The weather: It was an unexpectedly warm and mostly sunny day here today.  As a matter of fact I am sitting on my front porch with my kitty writing this blog.  She’s very helpful and keeps rubbing her precious face on my hands and on the laptop. 🙂
  2. A friend from church stopped by the office to offer Mike and I two tickets to the musical Anything Goes at Marriott Lincolnshire tonight.  What a lovely and unexpected gift.  Thank you to Mike and Carol Bennett.  So my honey and I get to have a date night.  Yay!
  3. Also while at work a dear friend and former congregation member stopped in to visit.  We had a lovely chat about what’s going on in our lives.  What a joy to spend some time with Kim Minichiello today!

I hope you take time today to stop and reflect on the unexpected blessings in your life.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Of Water and Birthdays

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Day 293 in my research into activities while we visit Walt Disney World and meet up with Mickey

Today my plan was to check out the latest version of WDW Magazine.  It’s an online magazine, and it’s a bit expensive, but for a Disney buff like me, it is magnificent!  The latest issue is about the water parks and all things water at Walt Disney World.  I started looking  at it because my daughter-in-love Eliza asked if there was any place to rent kayaks or canoes at Walt Disney World.  Lo and behold there is.  For only $11 for 60 minutes, you can rent a canoe at Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Campground.  With any luck at all the kids will canoe to their hearts content, and perhaps their dad will join them.  Me?  I’ll be sitting in the shade, in a rocker at Trail’s End Restaurant with a good book.  Sheer bliss!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW:  Happy birthday to my brother Gary yesterday.  Happy birthday to my mom (me littl’ English mum) in heaven today.  Happy  birthday to my brother Howard tomorrow.  I love you all, and wish we could share a cuppa to celebrate. xxoo

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Retirement Joy

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Day 291 in making life changes to be healthier in mind, body and spirit when I meet up with Mickey Mouse at Magic Kingdom

Today’s plan was to submit my letter of retirement at work.  I am retiring from my job as secretary at St. James Lutheran Church.  Here is part of my retirement letter:

As you may know, I have recently been through a bout of cancer. In the process of being diagnosed and treated, it was found that I have several other health issues. These issues make it impossible to perform my job in a timely and efficient manner. So it is with some regret, but with more hope for the future, that I wish to retire from my position as Church Secretary as of December 31, 2015. I turn 60 in December, and I wish to spend my “golden years” writing and pursuing opportunities to volunteer as I am led.

Wow!  This is huge!  I believe with all my heart that this is the Lord’s leading.  I feel such a peace about it.  It’s nerve-wracking because our health insurance is through the church, but I will pursue our options and keep praying about it.  I never suspected when I became a card-carrying Democrat supporting Obamacare, that I might soon be using it. 🙂  I sure am glad it’s in place!

I so look forward to not having to drive to and from work in the snowy, icy winter weather.  AND I have three book ideas, that I am anxious to have the time to work on.  I am so excited about what God has in store for this next phase of my life!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I have the most supportive husband!  He is my soul-mate, my best friend, my true love.  He is an amazing man of God, and I am so grateful for him!  Thank you, Jesus!

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Trying to Tidy

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Day 290 in my attempting to not sit on my can all day, so I can be healthier when I meet up with Mickey Mouse at Magic Kingdom in October (4 months and 18 days to go)

Today’s goal was all about getting ready to organize  and keep a tidier house.  A friend of mine has agreed to clean for me one day every two weeks.  She will start the day after tomorrow.  So today Mikie-mio, my dear one, and I went to Ace Hardware and stocked up: broom and dust pan, mop, dust mop, dusters, new toilet brush, cleaning products for kitchen, bathroom and the rest.  We hadn’t done a good cleaning product shop in 20 years at least.  Now we’re ready for my friend Diana to come and help me out.  Yay!

I picked up the book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.  The only thing I really know from the book so far is one of the guiding principles: When you are tidying, if something does not still bring you joy, then out it goes.  Isn’t that a simply wonderful concept?  I believe this could make it much easier to get rid of stuff that I’ve been holding on to for years.

I’ve already done my spice shelves and medicine shelves and my canned goods selves.  They look so neat.  And today when we got home from our shopping spree, Mike put up hooks near our pantry wall that hold the mop, dust mop, dust pan, broom and dusters.  It’s looking good!

When my daughter, Emi comes for a visit one week from today (YAY!), she is going to help me clean out some stuff.  In particular: my bedroom closet, my shoes and my cookbooks.  Those three things are gargantuan tasks, and I will feel well on my way to a simpler, cleaner lifestyle once they are done.  Here’s hoping so anyway.

I’ll keep you posted as I progress.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Thank you to those who gave their all, so that we can live free. Blessed Memorial Day to all.  As we remember those we love, may God be with us with his comforting presence.