Still Losing Weight The Healthy Way

So far to date, I have lost 10.5 pounds.  I have done this by eating healthier, meaning plenty of veggies and organic meat and intermittent fasting. I did a book review on Intermittent fasting by Gabriel Jackson you can read it HERE

I am learning to stop restricting myself so much and just enjoy life more.  Now let me be clear about the restrictions, I am still eating low sugar low carb, but it doesn’t mean no sugar or carbs at all.

The other day I baked some bread and we had it with dinner.  My husband was happy and we had a wonderful meal.  He didn’t freak out and say, “Oh my God…carbs!” No, instead, we enjoyed our dinner and each other and that was it.

Take a look at a few of the things I’ve been making for our health journey.

Bone Broth

Click here for information on the value of bone broth

This is how I make bone broth.  I buy the bones from the meat department.  They are called marrow bones.  I slow cook them for about 18 hours with all the leftover veggies in the fridge like carrots, celery, onion, bok choy, and even garlic cloves (garlic is an anti-inflammatory) 1/4 cup of white vinegar (that helps to leach the nutrients and collagen out of the bones) and then pour filtered water (not tap) to cover the bones by about 2 inches.  Then add whatever else you find that you like to eat and start it out on high and let it all cook down.  Some say it should cook on low, but I cook it on high for a few hours before I turn it down.

Afterward, I strain it by placing a tea towel over a sifter to double strain it to get everything out, the debris I call it.  (Tea towels wash up very easily by the way) Below are the results. Two beautiful gelatinous jars of love.  This can be added to anything and everything.  I never add water to any of my dishes, I always add some kind of broth, like chicken broth or beef broth because it gives the dish more flavor.  Now I have bone broth so that is what I’ll add.  You can even heat it up and drink it by the cup.  I add a pinch of salt and pepper mmmmmmm, like drinking a hot cup of soup.

almost gone

Bone broth can help cure leaky gut, it restores immune system function, helps you overcome food allergies and so much more.  The collagen/gelatin and the amino acids proline, glutamine and arginine that you get from bone broth help seal the openings in the gut lining that cause leaky gut and the collagen/gelatin also support gut integrity.  (bone broth made at home, not the imitation stuff purchased in a carton on the store shelf.)  Also, when it is cold, it turns to collagen/gelatin, when it is warmed up, it is liquid and you can add noodles to make a nice soup or drink it alone.

Below is a regular dinner we have been eating as you can see from the meal planners.  These are the best southern collard greens ever, seasoned with onion, garlic, and smoked turkey leg. (Look for the tutorial in upcoming weeks before Christmas)  Next to the collards is corn that I cut from the cob that we got at a farmers market in New Jersey a few days ago, along with a basket of honey crisp apples.  I always pack an apple cut into wedges in my husband’s lunch box with leftovers.

I added bone broth to the collard greens and the corn.

 

 

The Best Pot Roast Ever!

So I was looking on Pinterest and found this recipe for Pot Roast. My mom would cook this in the oven, but didn’t use the dressing.  It really makes a difference.  I really enjoyed this roast the gravy was thick and the dressing made it pop with all the herbs and seasonings.  Although the idea came from someone else, and the end product looks different from mine (probably because I added another packet of dressing)  I want to give credit where credit is due.  Check it out here.  This is where the idea came from HERE on Cravingcomfort.blogspot.com Awesome job!  Thanks for precise directions

Falls apart

For my recipe here’s what you will need

• 1 Roast big enough to fit in your crockpot.  Mine covers the entire bottom of the pot
• potatoes (as many that will fit is fine)
• carrots (again, as many that will fit) trust me they will cook beautifully
• 2 packets of dry Italian dressing (You can purchase the one with the free cruet and use it for other things.
• 1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing
• 1 packet of brown gravy
• 1/2 cup of chicken broth… yes chicken it’s amazing you’ll see
• crockpot liner

Best Pot Roast Ever!

First, mix the dry ingredients and only 1 1/2 packets of the dry Italian dressing in a container or bowl.

Hold on to the 1/2 packet of dry Italian dressing.  Rub the dry mixture on the bottom of the roast

Put the roast in the crockpot

It is now face down in the crockpot.  Next, rub the rest on the top and add 1/2 cup of chicken broth. DO NOT POUR THE BROTH ON  THE MEAT!!!  Pour it on the side, you do not want to wash the mixture off the roast.  This mixture will cook into the roast and give it a wonderful flavor.

Put the lid over the pot and allow it to cook for an hour on high.

Cut up your potatoes and wash them.  Now empty a bag of carrots into the bowl of potatoes.  Add the 1/2 packet of dry Italian dressing over the veggies.  Do not add celery or onion, they will turn to mush and add no flavor to this dish at all, trust me they will disappear.  I know, learn from my mistakes.  Toss the veggies until the mixture has totally coated them.

After an hour,  pour the veggies into the crockpot.

I put them directly on the meat, totally covering the meat.

Place the lid on top and let it cook on high for at least 5 hours.  Remember,  everytime you take the lid off you lose 30-45 minutes of cook time, so remember, no peeking.

Just let it cook.  This is Sunday dinner at the Teesdale’s home.