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Please see my new blog at 
theabsent-mindedcook.blogspot.com

New Day!!!

As I mentioned in my first Health Journal Entry last week, I have started a whole New Day in my diet, fitness, and overall health. I started out with a juice cleanse. I initially intended the cleanse to be 10 days or longer, but I decided to shorten it. I believe it was the best choice for me because it served its purpose. I detoxed and reset my taste buds and body in preparation for a new way of eating.

I have already been sporadically going to the gym with my friend Arielle for a few weeks. I finally started doing my NYC Ballet workout DVD at home yesterday. This is a wonderful workout. It increases strength and flexibility, and I always feel it in my muscles the next day. It makes me feel so strong. I also love doing my Tae Bo DVDs or just taking a walk outside. I don't like running outside yet. I have to build up to it. Right now, I am still working building up my endurance on the treadmill. I also love the fact that it is possible to control the temperature inside. Big plus!

 I have many passions; reading, writing, music (esp. Classical and New Age), flute, piano, science, swimming, history, research and many other things...but I have to say, the most useful of these (at least right now) is cooking. I love cooking, especially for my family and friends. Now that I am figuring out new ways to cook, I can research new ideas, recipes, and nutritional methodologies to make the most nutritious and healthy meals.

I finally got the courage to try sweet potato fries again. I made them a few times around two years ago. Then I had a bad experience, so I have not made them since then. Today, I had three sweet potatoes in my pantry and decided to try them again because I know they can be tasty and delicious. I cut them, tossed them in olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, cumin and a little turmeric. I set them in the oven at 400 degrees F for around 15-20 minutes. However, they were still soft. I do not believe in soggy French fries. I put them back in under the broiler on high to crisp them, but my timing was off….so I burnt them. (Insert crestfallen face here.) My sister Meredith and I were really hungry, so we ate them anyways...cleaned the pan! I will try them again soon.

Nevertheless, I did have one success today. Avocado is one of my favorite foods. Lucky for me, it’s good for me too. Today I made a delicious Mexican style salad. I used romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, roast chicken, canned olives, and canned black beans. I made a dressing by squeezing lemon over it and drizzling it with olive oil. I added a bit of salt and, "Tah-dah!" one delicious Mexican Chicken Salad!

I almost forgot my biggest piece of news. I finally got the call for my job interview. It will be this coming Monday. I knew I had this interview for weeks, but they have been putting it off. They were waiting for the Director to come in from Texas for the final interviews. Please pray for me, that I stay at rest and all goes well.

Now, off to pack for my trip tomorrow! I am excited. I love road trips. I am looking forward to a fun and exciting weekend of soccer with my Church. I cannot wait to support my BCC Detroit kids!! I will be sure to post pictures next week!

3rd Entry

MONDAY

May 7, 2013

Where's the Flour?!

Four blog entries in two weeks?! What is going on here? I have to say, I am very surprised at myself. Well, this is going to be a quick one because it is 2 am. Friday we had girls group activity and we went to a restaurant. I took my own food with me into the restauraunt. Saturday we worked the Taylor Swift concert at the stadium for our fundraising efforts. I took home-cooked quinoa and veggies with chicken breast. I was happy not to be eating the horrible concession food on my break. It has be really interesting taking my food with me everywhere. Now, I really don't like eating anything I don't make, because I don't know exactly is in it. I am getting more picky about those things I choose to put in my mouth. I feel great. Sunday was a long day. Church, choir practice, shopping at the produce market, and then cooking lunch for Monday

Almond Meal Banana Peanut Butter Crackers

Almond Meal Breakfast Quick Bread

Yesterday (Monday May 7th) I spent most of the day cooking. I experimented with some grain free cooking. It was very interesting. I want to do some grain free cooking because I want to avoid white flour, gluten, and as many carbs as possible. Several members of my family have different medical problems that could be helped by avoiding gluten and possible wheat altogether. I tried these recipes for breakfast banana, peanut butter breakfast bread and crackers. The recipes called for the almond pulp from the almond milk I made last week. It used the almond pulp and flax seed meal as a base. The bread was unbearable, but although I disliked the crackers, they may be nice with certain toppings. I'll have to experiment and I'll let you know if they turn out okay. I don't think I'll make either of these recipes again. I am not completely resolved on going grain free. I may still include whole grains. However, I will use as little grain as possible.

The one recipe I was very satisfied with was the one for grain free banana muffins I made. They were delicious. The didn't taste very different from normal banana muffins. I was pretty impressed with this recipe and I plan to incorporate it into our regular menu.

Almond Meal Banana Nut Muffins
Cook time: 20 Min Prep time: 10 Min Serves: 12
Ingredients
3 c blanched almond flour(i use almond meal from trader joes and they turn out great!)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
2-3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c honey(or maple syrup, agave, or xylitol)1/4 c melted coconut oil(or melted butter)***
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c chopped nuts
Directions1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 12 muffin tin. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix wet ingredients in a med. bowl in order listed. Add wet mixture to dry mixture. Stir just to combine. Fill muffin cups. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake about 20 min. (tops will be set and spring back when lightly touched)
2. ***the last time I made these, I accidentally omitted the oil and they still turned out great!




















I also made an Indian Dahl recipe with some of the masala I have left from India. It was very nice. I also dallied with roasted lentils (delicious), roasted a chicken (for tomorrow or Wednesday), and made some chicken wings for my family. My refrigerator is still perpetually crowded from all of the veggies and whole foods. Cooking healthy, whole, completely sugar-free, flour-free, non-processed foods takes a little getting used to and a lot of time and planning, but it is definitely worth it. My health is improving daily. That is all for today. Sorry if it was a little sporadic, but my I am not very alert right now. This coming weekend will be interesting. I am going to New York for a soccer tourney for the kids at my church. It will be my first trip since beginning to eat this way. I plan to make some food and freeze it and take my crock pot with me and warm the food that way. I will fill you in on how it goes. Until next time....tootle-loooo!!

April 30, 2013 – 2^nd Entry

Tuesday – DAY 2

Today was wonderful. I felt great, energetic and happy. It helped that spring finally came and we took the weatherizing cover off the screen door. I kept the door open so I could enjoy all of the smells and sounds of early spring.  It was so relaxing, juicing and listening to the birds on the lake. I love my backyard!

I am enjoying the fast, but looking forward to the end. It just takes so much produce, time and energy. Juicing for one person is intense, but one person juicing for three people is a full time job. Here is how much produce it takes to juice just for one day.

I think the juices have such vibrant color, don't you? 

My brother would laugh at my feminine appreciation for appearance in spite of substance; namely the less than pleasant taste of some of the juices.

My older brother and his family came over for dinner. Since my brother, my mother and I are juicing, we suffered while everyone else enjoyed generous helpings of puttanesca. My little nephew Preston wasn’t feeling so well, poor baby, but ohhh he was so cute. Mere and I sang him all of our favorite little kid Christian songs to make him feel better. I could just eat him up! I never get enough of him.

I wasn’t hungry, but I just wanted real food. I chewed some ice and it was amazing! I know! That was one of several high points today. It is amazing how small things come into focus when you give up eating. I felt ecstatic about just chewing.

The best thing to happen today (other than seeing my adorable Preston) was the detox bath. It was truly amazing. Hot water, Epsom salts, and peppermint oil. I haven’t felt that good in a long time. It was so deeply soothing; like drinking a cup of tea, but much more relaxing.

I also got in some piano playing. Playing music always relaxes me, whether it is the flute or the piano. I just learned a new song that I really enjoy playing. It’s called “Song for Sara.”

Day 2 was wonderful and ended with a lovely sunset over the water.

Healthy Lifestyle Journal

April 29, 2013 – First Entry

Monday – DAY 1

Today I started my detox. I stayed up all night washing, peeling, cutting and juicing veggies and fruit so my mom, my brother and I could start today. I think it is going to be more expensive than I thought, so I am not going to extend it longer than 10 days like I initially planned. Instead, I will do seven days. Then I will transition in to blending (which takes fewer whole fruits and is therefore less expensive), salads, and whole fruits (raw food diet). I will do that for 2-3 weeks. After that, I will slowly add in legumes, quinoa, nuts, and seeds for 3 months (a vegan diet with mostly raw foods, blended green smoothies, and supplemental juices). Finally, I will add in occasional lean meat such as fish or chicken breast twice weekly.

I feel good about this plan. I think it is healthier, and more realistic and natural than juicing for 30 or 60 days. More importantly, I think it will work better for mommy and me. We can always do another juice fast in the future if we feel it is necessary. I think it would be nice to do one every two months, just as a kick-start and to stay energized and healthy. It is also kind of inconvenient, taking up lots of time and effort. In addition, all of the fruit and veggies take up tons of space, which is kind of difficult. This is what my refrigerator is going to look like for the next week.

That is my plan in short. Now onto the good stuff! The juice fast. It is interesting because this is not the first time I have done this. I actually did it three years ago. I did a two week juice fast and afterwards subsisted on juices (mostly fruit, not green) and whole fruits and veggies for three months. I lost a total of 40 pounds in that time. I was not really that informed at the time. I still am not, but I was even less informed then. Now I feel I can benefit even more that I did last time.

Goals – Juice fast – Detox – 7 days

1

2.      Finish the fast and get an energy boost

3.       Break the fast correctly

4.       Eat vegan foods for 7 days after breaking the fast

5.       Start exercising again regularly during the fast

6.      Run 5k race this summer

7.      Begin a new lifestyle of eating mostly fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes and whole grains like quinoa and brown rice, with occasional lean meats (twice/week)

Day 1

I stayed up all night juicing (I know, ridiculous and not healthy. I had to in order to get my brother’s juices ready for him on time. Even working the whole time, I just made it.

So I was up for 25 hours, then 6 hours of sleep and had my first juice of the day at 02:00pm. It was great. Fresh, fruity, and sweet. I’m easing into it.

Drink 1 – 02:00pm

I really liked this one. It was nice and bright tasting.

Good Morning Sunshine

1 grapefruit, halved

2 medium apples, cored

Fresh Italian Parsley, several sprigs

Half a handful of grapes, seedless

Drink 2 – 04:00pm

Grapefruit Green

1 grapefruit

1 green apple

1 head kale

½ cucumber

2 cups spinach

1 inch ginger

I like this one too.

Afterwards, I was energetic, clear thinking and ready to start the day. I worked at my computer looking out over the lake. I watched the swans landing on the lake, the geese leading the new fuzzy, yellow chicks around, the crane standing serenely above his reflection, and a random ground hog skirting around the edge of the rushes. The tree by the balcony was finally sprouting green and I felt new and fresh as if I had a new lease on life

Drink 3 – 05:00pm

Beet This!

2 beets

2 carrots

1 apple

½ cucumber

2 cups spinach

1 in ginger

Really strong, really sweet, really intense. The beets are crazy. I just chugged it down. It wasn’t horrible or anything, just really really beety! I didn’t need to sip and savor this one. But I felt energized and I hadn’t felt hungry yet.

Between 5pm and 7pm, I started to feel a little foggy. My thoughts were not quite as organized and clear and I would have like them to be. My plans for the day fell through. I meant to cut up fruits and veggies for tomorrow’s juicing, clean my room and do some job searching. Instead, I ended up researching juice fasting, sushi, oil pulling, detox teas and new juice recipes. In all fairness, this was part of the plan too. I was supposed to go to the store and get some more ingredient for juice recipes and some detox teas, but that will have to go on tomorrow’s to-do-list. I did my Vlog and made sure my mom and brother were doing well with their juicing today.

Drink 4 – 07:00pm

By this time, I felt hungry, for the first time today. I was fine as soon as I drank it. I felt more foggy and dizzy when I walked around and had a constant dull headache from around 5 to 11 when I went to bed. I started daydreaming about sushi looking for pictures of it on the internet. My sister started cooking her dinner and it smelled wonderful, but I did not really want it.

I think today went very well. I did not take a walk or anything, but I will try tomorrow. I am oil pulling with olive oil right now, because I don’t have sunflower oil or sesame oil. I am just starting oil pulling and I thought this would be a perfect time to start, while I am detoxing. I am trying to stay positive and think about how good I feel and WILL feel instead of thinking about what I can’t do. I really want to take care of myself and this is a good start. I am also having a detox yogi tea before bed tonight.

 I think tomorrow will be more difficult. Today, I was just happy to be starting. I need to get up at 4am to make my brothers juices for work tomorrow. I hope to make all my goals tomorrow and finish everything that I have on my to-do-list.

LOL! I'M BACK!!...again!

I can't believe I completely stopped posting here! Well I am back. Those last few months in Norway and the first few months home were pretty dizzying and crazy, so I will forgive myself for not being on my game. I have decided to change the tenor of my blog since I am home now.

It has been an adjustment, but I think I have reached some degree of normalcy now. So I feel confident to take on some projects and make some concrete goals. This blog will just follow all of the happenings in my life. There have already been quite a few. I won't bore you with the details, but....I am an aunt now!!!! He name? Preston Baylor Michael Rogan!! He is the most perfect little babe you ever did see! I love him more than anything. That is the best news. I probably should have started with  some other stuff and built up to it, but I couldn't help it. Also, that was one of the first things to happen when I got back. So now I have a new sister, the beautiful Laura and a wonderful nephew.




Over the next few months, I traveled to New York four times (upstate New York, not NYC). I often travel to my church's conference center there. On one of the trips, I catered my first wedding. It was for about two-hundred and fifty people. That was an awesome experience. I will probably do more things like that with my home church in Michigan. We will see how it all turns out. That will be one of the things I blog about. We are renovating the kitchen in preparation for hosting events and that is a pretty big project in itself.

So moving on. I got a wonderful visit from some friends from oversees. Some of my German friends visited me and we went Downtown Detroit and later met up with them at Niagra Falls. It was wonderful to see them again. I couldn't believe my luck to see them so soon after coming back home.

I also got to see several more friends on my travels in New York and we watched NCAA Final Four Basketball - Michigan vs. Syracuse. It was a fantastic weekend. I think I laughed the entire time.

I also joined the choir at my church and we recorded a song, beautifully written by my good friend Stephanie!

In only a few weeks another friend is moving to Michigan for a few months and I can't wait to see her.

And I straightened my hair, for the first time in two years. This is probably the only time you will see me with straight hair, so...enjoy. I like my curls to much to part with them often.

So now we are caught up. I have been job searching feverishly and only took a break this week to work on the renovation plans for the church kitchen.

I will keep you updated on both of those fronts and follow my journey to run a 5K this summer or fall, cooking at home (including green smoothies and juices), and all of my trips, projects, and visitors!

So my plan today?...I am making cauliflower soup (thanks thepioneerwoman.com - my FAVORITE cooking blog), stuffed baked mushrooms, and green juice with chia (haven't decided all of the ingredients yet). Then, on to clean my room, fold laundry, AND workout (either do a video at home or go to the gym with the best workout buddy in the world - Arielle :-)

Also...pray that one of these jobs calls me back.


So that's me in a nutshell for now. Let's see if I can keep up this blog consistently this time!

Bon Voyage again, next stop....Netherlands!

 

At the airport!

First dinner on U.S. soil in 7 months.

Scott and Laura's wedding was wonderful. I had such an amazing time in Salem. I was so happy to see mommy, Ryan, aunt Rose, and Scott, and to finally meet Laura in person. She is such an great girl and I am so happy for the two of them.

Family Breakfast

The week before the wedding was full meeting everyone and getting ready for the wedding. There wasn't really any free time, but it was great. We landed on Sunday and right away had dinner with just Scott, Laura, and our family; then went to Laura's shower and met many of the sister's from Salem. I really enjoyed it.

Even when we leave Hus 33 kitchen we can't stop cooking!

Together again!

Wedding rehearsal. Lovely flower girls :-)

Later that week we had breakfast with Scott and Laura and an evening at Laura's family's house where we met all of her family. Her nieces and nephews were so adorable. It was so nice staying with Anna and I can't wait to go back and visit soon after I return to the U.S.

Day with Laura's Family = Lots of fun!!

Evening with the family!

Nature walk anyone?

 Cut to me...biting my nails hoping no one falls in the stream. It was moving pretty swiftly!

Mommy, doing something creative...as usual

Laura and her niece Claire

A swing inside? Definitely a good idea!

Wedding Day! At last!

Then it was time to say goodbye to old friends again and head back to Brunstad. It went by too fast. I have to say, that while I am loving my time on Alag, I am also excited to go back home in December and be with my family again.

Meanwhile....back at the ranch.

So now we've been back at Brunstad for a few weeks. We missed most of the hockey tourney and volleyball tourney, but we did get to experience the Easter conference. There were many from North America here and some to them ate at house 33. It was wonderful to see the Connecticut girls, Susan and Esther from Salem, and a couple of Canadian girls.

Now we are getting ready to leave for Pagedal...5 am tomorrow morning. We have to pack breakfast and lunch for 130 people tonight. Ohhhh! Fun, right? I don't anticipate much sleep, but I can do that on the bus. Luckily we pre-baked the muffins and the dough for the cookies is already made. All we have to do is pop them in the oven! Well, I should really be getting back to work now. But I had to update. If I wait until I "have free time" it will never get updated. I hope to update soon and let you know how the trip goes!