Creamy Morning Rice - E

   I think best in 'Think Tank' situations. You know, somebody throws out an idea and you take it one step further. Then they take it another step, you add to that idea...... It could go on forever. Or until your both satisfied with the results. That is how this recipe was born. 

    My lovely aunt and I were visiting and talking about E breakfasts. 

She said "We could..."

I said "Yeah! and if we add..." 

She said "It would be really good if we threw in some..."

This was the end result of ONE of those sessions (we've had a few of those!). We both loved it and were pretty impressed with ourselves. If I do say so myself (and I do)!

You can eat this hot or cold. I think if you chill this it would be a decent rice pudding (you could also sneak in a few raisins, I won't look) 

Creamy Morning Rice - E

3/4 cup of cooked Brown Rice, pulsed slightly in blender

(this is a good way to use up leftover brown rice)

1/4 tsp of Cinnamon

1/2 tsp of Vanilla

1/2 cup of Unsweetened Almond Milk

2 Egg Whites

Sweetener, to taste

1 tsp of Butter or Coconut Oil

Add first five ingredients to a small saucepan. Cook over 

medium heat until it thickens to desired consistency, whisking often.

Remove from heat and add butter or coconut oil and sweetener.

You can enjoy it just the way it is or try some add ins!

1/4 cup of Berries (either while cooking or after)

Slim Belly Jelly (stirred in after cooking)

Maple Extract (to taste)

Strawberry Shortcake for Breakfast - E or FP

I love strawberry shortcake! I found a good deal on Strawberries! I've been trying to come up with more E meals! Combine all three and what do you get....?

 Strawberry Shortcake for Breakfast!!

E or FP*

1 Egg White

3 Tbsp of Ground Oats

1/4 tsp of Baking Powder

Dash of Vanilla

Dash of Cinnamon (optional)

1/2 tsp of Butter

Sweetener, to taste

(I usually use 3 'doonks' of Stevia Extract Powder)

Sliced Strawberries, to taste

Unsweetened Almond Milk or Fat Free Reddi Whip

Mix all ingredients, except strawberries and almond milk or reddi whip, in a mug or glass bowl. 

Microwave for about 45 - 60 seconds.

Top with berries and milk. Enjoy!

* If you only eat one recipe I think it's fuel pull. If I want an E, I double the recipe to beef up the carbs so it qualifies for an E.

January Update Post and Chocolate Muffins - E

Okay, I promised myself that I would do a monthly progress report. So I must keep that promise.

Ready for the excuses?... Good, because it took me a long time to come up with ones as good as these ;)

Exercise

I did pretty good maintaining my goal for this month....but...(why must there always be a but?)
There was one week this month that was CRAZY. My brother was sick and I had to fill in for him at work (it's a family business) on top of my normal schedule. The one morning, I woke up at midnight and did one job caught a half hour nap and moved on to the second job. So... I didn't exercise that week. but I did all  the other days I was supposed to! Folks this is serious progress for me. I DO NOT like exercising. It might be growing on me though. (just a teensy, tiny bit. Nothing major.)



E Meals

I did okay with this one as well. I don't know if I actually maintained 5 a week or not. But it was definitely improved!

Total Weight Loss for January

Umm.... None. Remember that week I previously mentioned? About halfway through, I fell off plan. My brother had graciously made supper since I was working and I couldn't ask him to THMify it. He only knows how to cook 3 things. (two of which he learned during that week). So, I fell off and was too busy to bother getting back on. As soon as that week was over, however, I did jump back on immediately.

    I also noticed this month, for whatever reason, I'm not eating my fuel pull meals like I had been. I'm sure that's also a large contributing factor.

Recipe of Choice for the Month!

    I noticed I have a habit of obsessing about a certain recipe for a while. I decided it would be neat to post a link to that recipe here each month. FYI - This is not necessarily the recipe I liked the most. It might just be the one I ate the most.

     This months recipe was chosen because I was blown away by how good these were and they fit in with my challenge to eat more E meals. I'm sorry there's no picture, I'll try to have one for next month.

Chocolate Muffins - E 

I eat these with a side of Greek Yogurt. You can bake a big batch and just freeze them for when you want more!

  These are so good, you can also eat them as an E dessert! ( A little Strawberry Slim Belly Jelly and you have a Strawberry Covered Chocolate muffin! Cool, huh! I think that's what I'll eat on Valentines Day!)

I did some quick calculations in my head, so it could be wrong, but I think about 3 muffins would be a serving (assuming you got 18 out of a batch like the author did).

If you only eat one, I think your in FP territory!

New Goals for Next Month

Exercise

   I'm going to keep the same goal of 3 days per week. I did well last month, but I want to do perfect next month!

Following the THM Plan

     I'm want to try something a little different. I'm going to try to eat 1 S meal a day and  E or FP meals for all other meals/snacks 5 days a week. Which days/meals I choose for the S meal can vary (just to clarify, the other 2 days I will still be on plan, I can just have more than 1 S meal).

I'll let you know by the end of February how I did!

What monthly goal do you have? I would love to hear about them.  Maybe I'll implement some of them for March!

Apple Crisp - E

    I am always on the lookout for good E meals. I have a low carb background and have a much easier time working with the S meals.

    I'm trying to eat about 5 E meals a week and not get into a rut with them. I like variety. If I know I'm going to be having the 'same old thing' for my next E meal, I'm more tempted to go off menu and ditch over to an S.

    So in the spirit of variety I came up with this recipe this morning. Enjoy :)

Apple Crisp - E

1 Apple, cored and sliced (peeled, if desired)

sprinkle of cinnamon

1/4 cup of oats, roughly chopped*

3 scoops of Stevia

1/4 tsp of Cinnamon

trace of Blackstrap Molasses**

1 tsp of Butter

Toss apples in cinnamon and put in bottom of oven safe

bowl. In separate bowl, add the rest of ingredients and cut the butter in with a fork. I should be crumbly.

Sprinkle over top of the apples. I baked mine in our toaster oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. You could also use the microwave for about 5 minutes. (I would have done that but another family member was hogging it!:). 

Serve hot. I poured a little unsweetened almond milk in my bowl with it. YUM!

For extra protein, you could also enjoy with a side of Greek Yogurt.

* I put the 1/4 cup of oats into my single serve blender cup and pulsed a few times, leaving it still pretty chunky.

** I dipped the tip of fork tines into the container and used that amount.

'Rice' Pudding - E

This recipe does not contain rice. Instead it stars the superfood... quinoa (pronounced keen-wah).
If you have never heard of quinoa or perhaps you have heard of it, but have no idea what all the buzz is about, check out this Quinoa YouTube Video . It will also teach you how to cook it, if you don't already know. ( I do not necessarily recommend all the recipes as part of the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle, but the video is so informative I wanted to link it for you)

For those of you who are trying to learn to incorporate quinoa into your diet, this is a great quick and easy way to start.

    One of the great things about this recipe is you can use it as a breakfast, snack, or dessert! I typically just use it for breakfast, but feel free to do whatever works best for you!

*Quinoa Tip: I usually just cook up a couple cups at one time and freeze individual 3/4 cup servings. This makes a quick recipe even quicker!

 'Rice' Pudding - E

Make the Hot Custard recipe from off the Trim Healthy Mama forum

(follow link to recipe)

to this recipe, add cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

       When finished, add 3/4 cup of cooked Quinoa.

Stir Well.

You can eat it warm or make it the night before

 and put it in the fridge overnight for a ready to go breakfast in the morning!

(I love ready-to-go breakfasts!)