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.

Flying (or not) with THM

I met with quite a challenge about two weeks ago. I was going to be flying across country and wanted to stay on plan. The flight was scheduled to be about 8 hours (including a layover).

    I knew if I was going to stay on plan I was going to have to apply brain power. I feel like I did really good. I was quite proud of my menu, actually. I'm sure others could do better ( and I do want to hear your ideas. Leave a comment!) but I was pretty happy.

My THM Flight Menu

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Bologna and Cream Cheese Roll Ups
(you can use hard salami as well)

Trail Mix

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

These will travel fairly well if they're well chilled when you start your journey. If you think your flight may last longer than the reasonable time for your food to be safe, you can use a lunch bag as one of your carry ons. 

(Please note: My trip was scheduled for March, not the heat of Summer. This made it much safer to take without a lunch cooler.)

Did my menu execute well?

  We may never know. Everything was all packed and we were in the car on our way to the airport when we received a phone call that an ailing Uncle had passed on. Thankfully, we were able to cancel our tickets without getting charged.

   If we reschedule our trip, I'm going to try this menu again. Maybe we can at least make it to the airport ;) 

So Good Grilled Cheese - E

   I am super excited about this! I was amazed at how good this tasted! This is one of my new favorite go-to E lunches. A HUGE thanks to Aunt Tammy for think-tanking (new word?) with me to come up with this!

Grilled Cheese - E

2 Slices of plan approved E Bread

(I used rye)

quick spray of Pam

2 Light Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges

Lean Meat (I used Peppered Turkey)

Heat pan to medium temperature. Quickly spray Pam on one side of each slice of bread.

(Really one quick spray per piece is all you need. Prepare to be amazed)

Spread a Laughing Cow Wedge on each slice of bread (the opposite side of the Pam)

Add Lean Meat of choice. Grill as you would a 'normal' grilled cheese. 

Enjoy more than you would a 'normal' grilled cheese (this won't make you fat!)

You can serve with a side of the Fuel Pull Tomato Soup from the Trim Healthy Mama Book

if that's what makes you happy ;)

A Quick Tip - Spice Rack

    I bought this lovely accessory from the LTD catalog! I was hoping we could use it to free up some cabinet space. It worked! To be honest, it probably wouldn't have worked for regular spice containers. They're too tall and would hit the shelves when I tried to shut the door, preventing it from closing. However, for my prolific Flavored Extract Collection, works like a charm ;)

Coconut Custard Pie - S

Coconut Custard Pie

1 cup of Unsweetened Coconut

4 Eggs

1/2 tsp of Salt

1 can of Full Fat Coconut Milk

(or 1 3/4 cup of milk of choice)

*1/4 cup of Xylitol

1/2 tsp of Coconut Extract, optional

Sweeten coconut to taste and toast in a pie pan in oven at 350 degrees for about 4 minutes, stirring several times. It will not be fully toasted.

In blender add 1/2 of the toasted coconut and all the rest of the ingredients. Blend on low for a few minutes.

Pour into a buttered pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the other half of the coconut on top and finish baking, about 10 more minutes.

If you'd like serve with a few frozen berries. After I took this picture, I smashed them with my fork and put them on top of the pie. Oh My Word! Did that ever take it to another level!

Enjoy!

* You may need more sweetener

Special Occasion Coconut Cake - S

I wanted a coconut cake last year for Easter. It was my first holiday on THM and I knew I would NEED a good THM dessert to keep me from diving for the other Easter goodies we were having. It worked! I'll be making it again this year.

Special Occasion Coconut Cake - S

1 recipe of the Special Occasion Chocolate Cake

recipe from the Trim Healthy Mama Book

(page 384)

omit the cocoa powder

1-2 tsp of Coconut Extract, optional

Mix and Bake cake as directed (remember to omit the cocoa powder!)

I baked mine in two 8'' round cake pans.

1 recipe of Icing for Cake Serene's Superfood Option

(page 385)

omit the cocoa powder

Instead of using stevia extract powder, I would use xylitol or erythritol for 

the sweetener, because you're going to need a little more powder verses 

liquid ingredients to achieve a better icing consistency.

(or you could try powdering a little unsweetened coconut to equal 1/2 cup

I think this would work great.)

Spread a little icing between layers before Icing cake.

1 cup of Unsweetened Coconut

(more or less)

Sweeten with stevia and toast on stove top or in oven.

Press onto side and top of Iced cake.