Italian Sausage, Peppers and Mushrooms over Pasta - perfect to get back on plan

Hello friends! Sorry about the abandonment my blog has suffered! I just moved from an apartment to our new house and these days have just been too hectic and busy! Packing, unpacking, cleaning, etc... But it's all worth it! We're thankful, excited, happy and a bit scared like with every change!

Now if you are a Trim Healthy Mama like me... I will tell you some "THM related things ahead" if you're not... you can skip all my ranting/venting and go directly to the recipe! This is an "On plan" recipe but ANYBODY can enjoy it! If you love the recipe... then come back to learn more about this plan that is designed to help you improve your health, lose weight and enjoy food freedom!

Now... so... let's see some of the discoveries I made during this move and that I will share just for the sake of "keeping it real" and to show you that we are all on the same boat... yes this plan is easier for some than it is for others but it is definitely doable for everyone!

• I don't do very good with food when moving! I totally went off plan just because "I felt like it"... I just wanted to eat, eat and eat! I had lots of ice cream too!
• I am not like one of those people who find "sugar loaded things" horrible after they've been on plan for a while... ice cream tasted just as good as ever! (maybe even better? Don't know!)
• I could've totally stayed on plan if I had planned ahead... now... I don't plan on moving again but if it ever happens I will make sure I plan, cook and freeze meals ahead of time!
• Now... this is not "news" to me... but I will share it again! all that "off plan" food was definitely not worth it... Not only my shape is suffering the consequences but also my skin, mood and my poor stomach! I won't even go into details!

But the good news! This plan is for life... so ... we just pick up where we left off! After eating the way I did it's comforting to know that I can have fried eggs and bacon for my "first meal" when on plan again! And that's what I did! Don't "punish yourself" for going off plan! That's the problem with many diets! After you "sin" then you have to suffer through horrible "cleanses" or you feel like you should now eat less than 1400 calories a day and you spend your days eating "rabbit food" just because "you deserve it" for being such a bad girl! Who can live like that though? that "punishment" only makes you want to be "a bad girl" again and binge! That's not the case with THM! You can have really yummy, satisfying food that will make you realize you didn't even need to go off plan to begin with! So... that's my focus right now that I am on plan again! I am pretty much cooking Comfort Food "THM Style" and that's what I will be sharing with you today!

I am also making lots of delicious THM Smoothies with their amazing Pristine Whey Protein! I had been pacing myself when using it because it was out of stock but it's back along with all their amazing sweeteners (my favorite is their pure stevia extract) and their yummy peanut flour! You can find it all here:

Trim Healthy Mama Store 

And now... The recipe I promised: 

Italian Sausage, Peppers and Mushrooms over "Pasta" (S)
Yield: 4 generous servings

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. raw mild -or hot- (I use mild so my children can eat) Italian sausage (I use jennie-o Lean Turkey Italian Sausage)
• 1/2 large white onion (chopped)
• 1 large green bell pepper (seeded and cut into chunks)
• 2 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped.
• 2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tsp. dried oregano 
• 1/2 a can (14 oz.) can of fire roasted diced tomatoes (undrained) - you can also use regular diced tomatoes.
• 1/4 tsp. salt (I use Himalayan Salt)- or to taste -
• roughly chopped fresh basil for garnish (optional)
• Grated/Shredded Parmesan Cheese For topping

Directions for Stove Top:

• Using a large skillet, heat the oil over med-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the sausages and turn occasionally making sure all sides are browned (this will take about 10-12 minutes). Stir in the oregano and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the onions and peppers and cook until the onions are translucent, add the garlic, stir and cook for about 2 more minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, mushrooms, season with salt, reduce heat to low and let it all simmer together while you cook the pasta (or cauliflower)

Directions for slow cooker: (I would double the recipe for the slow cooker)

• Using a large skillet, heat the oil over med-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the sausages and turn occasionally making sure all sides are browned (this will take about 10-12 minutes). Stir in the oregano and cook for 1 minute. Add the diced tomatoes with the juices, mushrooms and add some water (about 1/4 a cup), salt; simmer for 3 minutes.

In the bottom of a slow cooker arrange ONLY half of the onion-pepper mixture and then cover with half of the sausages and their sauce, cover with the rest of the onion-pepper mixture to form another layer and top it all with the rest of the sausage/sauce. Cover and cook for 4 hours on low.

Now... "The Pasta"

Instead of Pasta I use (for myself) steamed cauliflower (and then slightly "crushed" with a Potato Masher), while still hot I add some butter, garlic powder and salt to taste. I also use Roasted Spaghetti Squash (buttered as well and with garlic powder and salt)

For non-purists (I am not necessarily a purist but I am not fond of Frankenfoods if I can avoid them) but you could use 1 serving of Dreamfields Pasta) and still keep it an "S"

For a crossover for my family I use my very favorite (not-franken food) Tinkyada Brown Rice Pasta but that's an E so if you are going to use it with this stew it would be a crossover (great for you but not weight loss inducing)  
 
Right before serving remove the sausage links from your stew and cut them on a cutting board (carefully, they are hot!), return them to the skillet or slow cooker and stir! Serve your "pasta", top with the Italian sausage and garnish with fresh basil (optional). Top with grated parmesan!

Enjoy!!!

Now... I can't promise I'll be blogging again too often too soon.... another discovery I made is that I don't actually have a desk! Our apartment had built in desks and shelves so I am typing right now with the computer on my dresser in my bedroom using a chair from my dining set... trust me... it's as uncomfortable as it sounds!

I'll be back as soon as I can!

© Paloma K.

Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links, this means that you pay the same price, but I also receive a very small compensation. I recommend products I have tried and love.

Because I can... Guilt free Pumpkin Muffins!

Good day everyone! I am really excited to report that I have some great healthy desserts to share with you... But before getting there let me invite you to do something... would you please check Torch Coffee out? I am not being compensated in any way to do this... this is just a personal recommendation... when you go through their different choices pick your very favorite one (or two) and come back on Monday when I'll have an amazing discount exclusive for my readers. I have fallen in love with their company and what they do for people through their business.... but more on that later... for now just check out their page and start thinking what you're going to get when I share the promo code ....

And now... the dessert... Well... it's fall! Right? And even when in Texas is just starting to feel like "Summer feels in Wisconsin" at least it's not unbearably hot... plus, my newsfeed is filled with all things pumpkin! So one would think it is impossible to be a good girl with all that temptation around! Well... think twice! If you're already a part of the Trim Healthy Mama movement then you know what I am talking about... It IS possible to eat healthy, stay trim (or get there) and ENJOY LIFE! If you don't know what I am talking about then go ahead and start following these ladies that are losing so much weight by adding more butter to their food (I'm not kidding!) Facebook THM ... Now... if you are not on Trim Healthy Mama and do not care about weight loss but only eating healthy, avoiding gluten and sugar, etc... this recipe is for you too... here it goes:

Ah! Fall.. I am ready for you!

Right before going in the oven

Pumpkin Muffins - THM Style (S dessert)
Slightly adapted from: Empowered Sustenance

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup coconut flour (I like this one )
• 4 eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (unsalted butter is good too)
• 7 Tbs. pumpkin puree (I use Libby's, whatever you use make sure it is unsweetened)
• 2 Tbs. Real Birch Xylitol -make sure you measure your xylitol, then grind it - xylitol is already granulated but grinding it right before using it helps incorporate it and sweeten evenly. (You can use Honey or Real maple syrup instead if you're not on THM or trying to lose weight)
• 1 tsp. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease or line 10 muffin cups.
2. Stir together the coconut flour and eggs, whisk until there is no dry coconut flour, it should look like a smooth paste. Stir in the coconut oil (or butter), then the pumpkin puree and sweetener of choice (xylitol or honey). Then mix in the spices, cider vinegar and baking soda.
3. Divide evenly in prepared muffin pan. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until golden and the top springs back when lightly pressed.

I've been so happy making these! I've been even carrying them with me when having breakfast at church for our Ladies Bible Study! I enjoy them with a cup of coffee knowing that I am still on plan while at the same time enjoying with friends! Bye-bye deprivation! Hello Thanksgiving Dinner! I am ready for you!

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.

© Paloma K.

 Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

Healthy (Gluten Free/Sugar Free) Blueberry Crisps

Hello everybody! If you've been following my journey with food you now know that I am not only not eating sugar but also keeping my family away from it... In the past, when my only focus was "to lose weight" I stopped eating sugar but my pantry was still loaded with sugar, all purpose flour, shortening and all the "good stuff" (I do love baking with all those ingredients to be honest) ... but the more I read and learned about food I realized my way of thinking started to change and not only I wanted to avoid sugar but I wanted my family to avoid it as well... I am not trying to be preachy or anything... I am just sharing with you what *I* have changed for *my* family... not throwing stones or anything... trust me... in the journey with food we all kind of have to learn for ourselves and realize what works best for our families and lifestyles... Anyway... so... after I embraced this whole healthy eating/living thing I felt great but at the same time I felt "lost" when it came to baking... I must say I hate the culinary properties (if there are any) of stevia... although I do love the fact that if you find a good one (with no aftertaste) it's great to know that you can sweeten some things with it (like I do with my smoothies) ... Since nobody else here at home needs to lose weight I do use some other healthier sweeteners -than refined sugar- (with great caution and extreme moderation) for my girls and husband... so... today is 4th of July and I thought I would bake something for everyone to enjoy... I was amazed with the results and how easy it was to put together (I am actually regretting having made it so early... now I realize I could've made it right before serving tonight!!) But I guess it's ok... that way I can share with you "early enough" for you to try it and have a very Happy and Healthy 4th of July!!!

I love this recipe because you can pretty much adapt and personalize to your specific needs (dairy free/sugar free, grain free, etc.) and taste...  (Trim Healthy Mama friends sweeten with stevia and omit the rolled oats for a perfect "S Dessert", Paleo friends avoid the oats as well and sweeten with honey, Strict Vegans use pure maple syrup instead of honey)

So... Here goes!

Berry Crisps
(Yield: 4-6 servings)

Ingredients

Filling:
3 cups of berries (blueberries or a mix of berries, they can be frozen or fresh, frozen works great!)
1 tbsp. of coconut palm sugar or a hint of pure stevia extract
1 tbsp. lemon or lime juice

Topping:
1 cup almond meal/flour

1/4 cup of rolled fashioned rolled oats (if you don't have any grain restrictions, omit for Paleo Diet)

1/4 cup of melted coconut oil (or butter)

2 tbsp. pure maple syrup (or a bit of liquid stevia to taste)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup of chopped walnuts (or pecans or hazelnuts)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. (Lightly grease ramekins with coconut oil or butter)

Filling:
Mix berries, sugar, and lime (or lemon) juice in a large bowl.
Pour mixture into individual small ramekins.

Topping:
Combine almond meal/flour, coconut oil (or butter), maple syrup, oats (if using), cinnamon and nuts
in a medium sized bowl with a fork or your fingers. Sprinkle over top of berries.

Bake for 35-45 minutes until fruit is bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm by itself or topped with a scoop of healthy and plan appropriate ice-cream (coconut ice cream sweetened with stevia or erythritol is great!)

Enjoy!!! Happy 4th of July!

© Paloma K.