Nutrients and Mental Health

It's been awhile since I posted. Summer is a very busy time for my family, which is fine because I am creating memories for them. 

Since my last post, I went through a training on how the food we eat affects our mental health. I always knew there was a connection, but just never knew how deep. I learned of essential amino acids and how we can only obtain them from food. Sad thing is, so much of our food is altered or processed to where these key ingredients are not readily available. 

I learned that antidepressants deplete a persons Vitamin B supply. Ironically, antidepressants cannot do their job without these vitamins. I learned that omega 3's help all the essential amino acids do their job. I learned about each amino acid and it's role in the body. See, I am fascinated by this because it is my passion to help people regain their bearings from mental health issues. This information provides me with an arsenal to adequately do my job. 

Recently, I encouraged the Vitamin B and the omega 3 for someone who experiences depression and severe anxiety, who felt the medicine zapped their energy. After a few days supplementing these essential nutrients, the fatigue went away and their mood lifted. AMAZING! 

As for myself, I know I struggle with carb and sugar cravings. I know I have cortisol problems, the stress related hormone that causes weight gain and difficulty losing that weight. I learned bout L-theanine, the main ingredient in Green Tea. I was hesitant to drink this because I was afraid it was not possible to be delicious. See, L-theanine lowers stress, hence lowers cortisol, then lowers and curbs these cravings I experience ALL THE TIME. So naturally, I turn to Pinterest for green tea recipes. I pinned a few. It turns out the sweet tea lover in me can just replace black tea with green tea. I even add the lemon for a little extra health benefits. I love it! My family loves it. It's a win. 

I know, your saying, there is still sugar in it. True. Very, Very true. But see I am a believer in small changes. I cannot make big changes, because then I know they won't actually be a lifestyle change for me, just a fad. So I take baby steps. 

Even with the sugar in my new found favorite summer drink, I do not crave carbs and sugar, like I did. It even has curbed my appetite. I also know there are proven benefits of reducing blood pressure and slows your heart rate. Lowering cortisol prevent those borderline diabetes people from getting full blown diabetes. Lowering the stress hormone also help lower inflammation in the body which can cause depression, anxiety, ADHD, dementia and Alzeimers. 

So my one small change for the last week was to incorporate green tea in my diet, daily. Only time will tell if the bloating and big stomach will disappear by lowering my response to stress. Check out the recipes, they can be really good. :) 

Day after mothers day - reflection

This is not the normal type post for my blog. I have been deep in thought today about being a mom.

Yesterday was filled with gifts, cards, a dance recital, and some time to myself. I am lucky to be a mom. Period. I am lucky to have been given the kids I have. I am lucky that I have been chosen to guide them, teach them, and love them wholeheartedly. I cannot imagine what my life would be like if they were not in it. Actually, I don't want to imagine it. They have made me who I am and who I desire to be.

We may have chosen to live a frugal life, to not be bombarded with trinkets and the older I get, the less I want. I am hoping to teach my children that happiness and joy does not come from money. I have always wanted them to learn this, but even more now with all the "stuff" out there. This is the hardest lesson of all, because you do want them to have things, to not be looked at as "poor" even though we are not.

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about boundaries and how people will make you feel like you have to give your kids everything that's materialistic. It's hard. She's a new mom, I know she will struggle with it, because we both have similar values and hopes for our kids, and I struggle with it.

The desire to prove everyone wrong that we can financially be materialistic sometimes sneaks up on me. I am not going to lie about this. I know that's not the answer. I know it's offensive when someone assumes we are not of a certain "class", but nor do they understand that it's a choice.

At my daughters' recital yesterday, nearly every girl her age was on a tablet of some sort in the waiting room. My daughter took a doll and clothing to keep her busy, another child brought the crazy loom to make bracelets. I make her keep her kindle at home (which is time limited in my home).

I look back and just think, I am glad my adult kids, got to be kids. I am thankful I do not and did not succumb to that horrible desire to prove people wrong with my kids. My adult kids memories include swimming, exploring fields, catching snakes, water balloon fights, sprinklers, bonfires, vacations and bike rides.... they never talk about playstation, gameboys, xbox, or the expensive shoes (which they had these things, but was limited). My youngest still has childhood memories to make. I intend to be the mom that I was meant to be, one who provides them  with a stable foundation and memories to tell their grandchildren. I am meant to raise responsible, loving, and caring adults. And I will do my best.

Taco Salad

So I am not a Mexican dish fan, but my family is, so I experiment with various recipes on occasion. I have been hearing about how great taco salad is, but never really made one. Pinterest here I come for advice. There were so many variations I was overwhelmed. I finally found one and pinned it to my board. The source was a Taste of Home recipe so I figured I couldn't go wrong with that one.

I made it with alterations of course, based on what I had on hand. My first version was meat, lettuce, kidney beans, tomatoes, red peppers, cheese, and tortilla chips plus the secret sauce. My second version included meat, lettuce, kidney beans, black beans, tomatoes, cheese, and tortilla chips. I use my own taco seasoning mix, which I will include the recipe. I no longer use the seasoning packets because its so high in Sodium and other not so healthy stuff.

Needless to say, both versions were a hit in the family. Of course, this is also gluten free so my youngest could enjoy it. SUCCESS!

My taco seasoning recipe:
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt


Here is the link to get the dressing recipe.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/taco-salad-7?keycode=ZPIN0413

Strawberry cake... Gluten Free!

Gluten Free Strawberry Cake

This cake was such a great change to the normal gluten free cakes. This was moist and strawberrilicious! My daughter wanted a strawberry cake for her birthday. I had trouble finding a bakery in my area that made gluten free cakes, so I had to take it upon myself to provide one for her. Note the decorating is not my forte, but the taste was excellent.

Family members could not tell it was gluten free. I imagine you could tweak the recipe since the base of the cake was a gluten free cake mix. Substitute the gluten free cake mix with the regular mix. The frosting was a cream cheese strawberry too. She thought the cake was delicious and that's all that matters. Happy 8th Birthday my little one. :) 

http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/recipe/fresh-strawberry-cake-with-strawberry-cream-cheese-frosting/

Quinoa Broccoli and Cheese

So not only does my daughter seem to have a gluten sensitivity, I have been hearing so much about this super grain, quinoa. Packed with protein and tons of other great nutrients, I decided to try it. The trick was to make it similar to something else in effort to deceive the skeptics in the house. I chose this cheesy broccoli recipe. It was simple to make and was similar to broccoli/rice/cheese casserole.

I am not a huge fan of rice, in fact I rarely eat it. I am a picky eater at heart. I wanted to still  try this though. (I KNOW , I am brave). Let me just say I really liked this recipe. Hubby said it was good but he likes rice better and the most important person to like it..my daughter...didn't. In fairness she isn't a fan of broccoli. I will be making it again though. Maybe with some variations to it. I will also be trying other quinoa recipes in the future. This was a SUCCESS.

March is a huge month for me, but I will be making some new recipes and posting the results. I will be experimenting with some gluten free recipes and will also let you know how that goes for those whose are gluten free.

Website picture. As mentioned before I am not a photographer. Mine looked almost identical to this though.

Here is the link to the recipe. :)

http://whatsfordinner-momwhatsfordinner.blogspot.com/2012/12/cheesy-broccoli-quinoa-and-giveaway.html

Cake batter puppy chow

As you might notice now, I have a fondness for puppy chow/chex mix. I love trying varieties and a mix of flavors. It just seems like its so easy and it goes far. I can make it a sweet treat or a salty mix. It's just the perfect snack in my home (and to travel with). 

I have made this several times and each time it's a hit. I know, it's not super pretty but you can have fun with it if you want. I have seen a variety of different recipes for this, some including Funfetti cake mix. I have found that no matter the sprinkles you use, they get covered up by the powdered sugar mixture or they fall to the bottom. Either way, I have not been able to get that pretty little pop of color. This time around, I drizzled the extra white chocolate on the batch and sprinkled that with some Spring blue sugar crystals. (There are other sprinkles in this version, but like I said, they are hard to see). 

This requires chex, powdered sugar, cake mix (I use white), white chocolate or white almond bark, and your choice of Sprinkles. This can be easily altered to a gluten free version too if you prefer. 

Here's the link from my Pinterest Pin for the recipe. :) 

http://www.soveryblessed.com/2012/02/07/cake-batter-puppy-chow/

Project Antique Hutch

Before

I was torn whether to attempt this. I actually put this hutch up for sale in December. I decided to get rid of other furniture and keep this gem. Not only is this unique, it was my grandma's. She is the only grandparent I have left and her health comes in spurts. I am a sentimental type of person and love my furniture and other pieces that has been passed on to me. This is the only thing I have from that side of my family. This side of my family is fairly large so for something to find it's way to me is pretty awesome. So then how to treat this piece with the respect it deserves? Pinterest of course!

So looking at various pins on how to paint furniture, I finally found one I could actually understand and manage. Tip number one: Primer if your not going to sand to the bare wood. I chose to prime, because, well, I'm a busy mom and my projects can't be lengthy, they won't get finished. So I got a deep tint primer, and got it tinted to a light grey. Apparently, this goes well under red tones. Tip number two: Use a small sponge roller. This is by far the BEST tip I could of ever found! It was small, absorbed a lot, and got into the small creases and crannies. The paint went on smooth and quick. There were no paintbrush marks or mess. It was a small 4" roller with a rounded edge. I will be using this tip from now on with furniture. 

There were tips in the pins about distressing pieces, which I might try on something, someday. I never had very much luck with painting furniture, or really anything for that matter. So I am pretty proud of the result. I think my new favorite color might be red. 

After

Here is the link to the "how to paint furniture" site.
http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/how-to-paint-furniture

Fresh French Fries

Fresh French Fries

This has quickly become one of my favorite things to make. I vary the seasonings sometimes to change it up or to complement the protein I make. I cut up several potatoes into fries or wedges. I coat with olive oil and sprinkle on Kosher salt and pepper. I usually just toss it all in a bowl then spread onto a cookie sheet. Sometimes I add Parmesan cheese. Italian seasonings would be really good too. I bake them at about 450 degrees until browned or desired tenderness is achieved. This is a hit with my family, not to mention healthier and much cheaper to make. It's a win on many levels. I have came across similar recipes using sweet potatoes, unfortunately, my family doesn't care for them. I am sure they would turn out similar if you prefer them. I say this is a definite keeper and a SUCCESS.


http://www.kissrecipe.com/2013/07/oven-baked-potato-wedges.html?m=1

Red velvet puppy chow

Red Velvet Puppy Chow

I am indifferent to this recipe. I made this for my daughter's Valentine party hoping it would be a fun little treat for the kids. After my search for Valentine m&m's failed, I was already a little disappointed in the color scheme not being very true to the holiday. I also had to omit the cream cheese and milk part because I was transferring it to the school and could not keep it cold. Despite the slightly altered recipe, I was not real impressed with the red velvet flavor. I don't think the flavor came through. It just tasted like chocolate, which I never complain about. I doubt I will make this one again. 

No one who received the leftovers in my home complained either. I just wasn't impressed with how this turned out. The kids were excited to receive these as a special treat at the school party. 

I am thankful that I got to spend time with my daughter at school and got to meet some of her friends I always hear so much about, She was thrilled to have me there and meet her friends. I had a great holiday seeing the joy my kids have when they bite into their gourmet chocolates. My hubby and I do not typically celebrate the holiday because we don't see the point in the extra expenses. We get our kids the special chocolates every year and at some point in the week try to have a dinner date night. We kinda just use the holiday as an excuse to venture out. Oh and it's a given I get some of those chocolates too of course. However you celebrate and whatever it means to you, I hope it was treasured in some form. 

http://www.yourcupofcake.com/2013/01/red-velvet-puppy-chow.html

Minion Valentine box

Valentine Box project

My 7 year old really wanted a minion for her party box. I was browsing Pinterest as usual and saw how it was done. This one is more geared toward a girl minion. She got the idea off her game of Minion rush. This little girl has pig tails and a dress.

I found yellow wrap paper at the dollar store and used construction paper for the rest. We just used a cereal box and wrapped it like a present. She cut and glued the rest. I drew and measured for her all the parts. I used scissors to curl the pig tails so they would stick out a bit.

Super Easy and only took about an hour.

Chicken Spinach Pasta Bake

I altered this recipe to again work with the size of my family. This recipe calls for Chicken, Spinach, cream cheese, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. I used canned diced tomatoes and fresh chopped Spinach which I don't think made a difference in the overall dish.

This casserole was easy to put together and instead of softening the onions in the oven, I just sauteed them with the chicken.

I am not a fan of cream cheese in hot meals, that's just my preference. I rate this dish as just OK. There were no complaints from the family, but there was no resounding "it's a keeper" either. I doubt I will be making this again.

I do give myself credit for trying it, but I found myself just eating the bubbly cheesy top with the pasta.  What can I say? I am a sucker for cheese.

I did not take a picture of this casserole. There are times where it's too chaotic in my kitchen and other times, I just forget. Please forgive me if there are posts without pictures, I'll do my best to add them.


Here's the link to the recipe.


http://loramore.com/chicken-spinach-pasta-bake.html

Easy Garlic Chicken

This pinterest recipe was not what I was hoping for. The brown sugar mixture slid off the chicken, laid in the pan as it cooked, bubbled and caramelized since it mixed with the chicken juices. I don't think I'm a fan of garlic with brown sugar. It was very sweet for me. Family was not a fan either with the exception of my 19 yr old son. He pretty much will eat anything though.

 I'm too embarrassed to even post a picture! Actually, it wasn't even an option to take a picture because it looked horrible. It looked NOTHING like the recipe picture. It didn't look pretty and caramelized with nice little garlic hunks on the top. Not appetizing at all. This is a FAIL. I will be deleting this from my recipe board and hopefully from my memory.

Again, I consider myself a fairly good cook. I can follow recipes and create my own, so I am not sure why this turned out bad. Actually, it might be better grilled with the brown sugar mixture. I might try that this summer. If it ever comes. 

Pinterest Picture

Here is the link to the recipe if you decide to try it. 

http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-garlic-chicken-5478

Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole

This is what was for dinner tonight. I've had this on my recipe board for a little while now and was getting the urge to make it. As picky as I am, I actually tried this casserole and really liked it. It was easy to make and not very time consuming. It takes time to cut and chop the ingredients but after that is done it's pretty smooth sailing. I altered the recipe a little bit. I only used one jar of Alfredo and half a box of bow tie pasta. My family is shrinking as some kids are flying the coop and decided to downsize the recipe. I served this with garlic breadsticks which was good to dip in the sauce. This is a keeper recipe. I say it's a SUCCESS. If your looking for healthy, well Alfredo and cheese are not particularly healthy, but I am sure you can buy low fat varieties. I also just used bacon bits instead of cooking up a whole pound. Saved me a lot of time. 

Ps. I am pretty proud that mine looks very similar to the pic on the website. 

Here is the link for the recipe. 

website. http://www.ziplist.com/recipes/821724-Chicken_Bacon_Ranch_Pizza_Casserole?_szp=196193&_szi=28

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Here is another recipe that I found on Pinterest. Fresh off the stove. This Spinach Artichoke dip is super easy to make. So I have a confession, I love to cook new things, but I am a picky eater. I often do not eat what I make. So according to my hubby and 7 year old, this dip is really good. It is fairly inexpensive to make, not to mention quick and easy. I think this will be my next potluck take. So this is rated a SUCCESS! 

Here is the link to the recipe. 

http://natashaskitchen.com/2012/09/30/spinach-and-artichoke-dip-recipe/

Valentine bookmarks

Here's a little craft my daughter is doing. Instead of the character cards you can buy at the store, she's making bookmarks. I decided to allow her to make something with a small message that her friends can keep for awhile. Not only is it a fun winter activity for her, it also teaches her that handmade gifts can be personalized and more meaningful. If you already have ink pads and stamps, the activity would only require ribbon and the bookmarks. I bought the bookmarks at Hobby Lobby. They retail $2.99 for 50 of them! This is a very inexpensive Valentine. Hope you have a Happy Valentines Day! 

Pallet shelf

My kitchen is VERY small therefore,  I have limited space for storage. I have seen large pallets on Pinterest used as shelves for pictures and stuff. Truth be told, I loved the idea, but my house is too small to incorporate a large pallet shelf idea.  I came across this little gem at a local antique shop and knew it would be perfect to get the look I loved without overtaking a large part of my wall. This is a small pallet and is placed next to my stove. It has all my spices and I used small jam jars to label and store frequently used spices. My next step is to put a small nail on the left side to hang my oven mitt. 

My husband thought I was crazy to bring home a stained pallet. He asked if I actually paid money for it. He obviously could not see my vision. Now he loves the idea and it is easy for him to find the salt, pepper, and cinnamon. These being the only spices he uses. I consider this a SUCCESS! 

Windows repurposed

These were inspired by Pinterest. I love making these. There is some hard work that goes in them, such as cleaning and sanding. The end result is an old weathered look. Each one can be personalized too! Tons of ideas available on the net, even using pics. These are the ones I have made. It is a SUCCESS!

I am sure I will experiment with different ideas to repurpose old windows. Love the look. I have also pinned other items to repurpose. I'll be sure to let you know how those go! 

Please do not criticize my photography skills, I never claimed I had any. 

I Spy Jar

I work with kids and parents, sometimes I need to talk to the parents uninterrupted. I made a few I Spy Jars to help keep them busy while I talk. The directions looked super simple and I decided this was something I could do. Everything tuned out great, except the next day I realized that I should not of used anything metal. I had used a nail, a paperclip, and a penny. They turned BLAAAACK. It started to corrode and turn the rice surrounding it black. Luckily I hadn't hot glued to lids yet and had to dig them out. Apparently certain metals have a reaction to vinegar. Who Knew? Not I, that's for sure.

http://southerndisposition.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-spy-bottle-tutorial.html

Here is the link to the tutorial. 

Grilled Cheese something

This is a grilled cheese pull apart biscuit type thing. I admit, this is not healthy in any way shape or form. Filled with carbs, processed cheese, and drizzled with butter. But let me tell you, it it so easy and delightful. This is also from Pinterest. This would be great on a cold icky day and you just want to get something quick in the oven.

Mine did not look as fabulous as this pic, but it was pretty close. In hindsight, I should of taken a picture. I will take pics of my future successes and fails.

I served this with tomato soup, the family loved it. This is a SUCCESS.

Red Hot Puppy Chow

This is a red hot puppy chow that I decided to try. First let me say, Red hots are difficult to find! So I review the directions, seems easy enough to do. I love trying new puppy chow recipes.

Well, the candies really don't melt, even when smashed as indicated. So I had to mash them as they heated but they still never became really incorporated into the chocolate. As I waited for the candies to do what they where supposed to, my chocolate went past the nice melted stage needed to really distribute through the chex. So I ended up digging out the candies because the recipe states to do this to prevent teeth breakage. Needless to say, this was a FAIL. I had clumpy chocolate and could not distribute it properly (never had the problem with other recipes) and it has very little red hot flavor since I had to dig out all the unmelted ones.

Bright side, we have some extra red hots and white chocolate clumpy puppy chow!