A Rough Week, Chicken Wings and Scallops

About a week ago (last Friday) Maddy was in a bad car accident. All told, she survived it quite well. She's a very strong person. Mad was shaken up, to be sure, but doesn't appear to be physically hurt in a serious way.

Since then we've continued on with a very hectic schedule and have tried to make the best of things. That partially explains my absence from the blogosphere. I've kept up with the HealthFellow columns but lacked the mental or physical will to update things here.

A few positive highlights from this week:

Last night I made some fresh, wild caught scallops (pan-seared) in a lemon butter and white wine sauce. I served them with some homemade garlic-Parmesan mashed cauliflower. Mad told me it was one of her favorite meals ever. What sweet music to my ears! :)

I couldn't find much in the way of healthy, LC prepared foods at Whole Foods Market yesterday evening. So I spoke to the butcher and got some basic advice about how to make chicken wings at home (in the oven). It's good to have snack options on the days we're not on the road. Mad also gave the wings a big thumbs up. :) Sometimes you've got to be resourceful in order to stay on plan and to save a buck or two.

I wrote a couple columns this past week that deal with low carb issues on the HealthFellow site. I love spreading the good word about low carb living in an honest and non-pushy kind of way. I hope I'm succeeding in doing that.

Speaking of blogging ... I've tried to stop by and touch base on most of your menu-blogs as well. I'm not the most organized person but my intention is certainly to stay in touch as best as I can. This isn't a strong suit for me. It never has been. But I'm trying to change that.

I hope you all have a productive and/or restful weekend. Today we're both doing some work. Tomorrow, we'll mostly try to rest and recover. Fingers crossed. :)

Breakfast Pudding

Lately I've been enjoying (and benefiting from) a rather unusual breakfast. Here's how I make it:

I put all of the following into a blending cup:

+ cold water

+ a few ounces of shredded, organic coconut

+ a scoop of organic, sprouted flax seed meal

+ 2 - 3 tablespoons of organic (unsweetened) peanut butter

+ 1 scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein (MRM brand)

+ 1 scoop of Amazing Grass Chocolate Green SuperFood powder

+ a healthy dash of Also Salt (a potassium-based salt substitute)

+ a few mini-scoops of 100% pure stevia powder

I use an immersion blender to combine the ingredients until they reach a thick, pudding like texture. I stumbled upon this one day while *trying* to make an all-in-one protein shake.

I like the taste and the sensation of eating something, rather than drinking it. I'm also able to pack more into the pudding - less liquid and more bulk.

Anyhow, I thought I'd pass this along in case any of you are feeling bored with the typical protein shake routine. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

315 - 321

*** If you haven't already heard - Linda Genaw, a long standing part of Jimmy Moore's forum and the creator of a truly fantastic (and free) LC recipe site, is currently in the midst of a medical crisis involving her husband. They're desperately in need of some emotional, financial and spiritual support. Please considering helping out. ***

Jimmy Moore's Column About Linda Sue and Her Husband

Another week in my low carb existence ...

1. I wrote a column for the HealthyFellow site examining the effects of a low carb bar vs. pumpkin seeds vs. a higher carbohydrate bar on my blood sugar levels. The Atkins Bar Test.

2. I've reintroduced Amazing Grass Green Superfood into my daily pudding and shakes. I'm also back to using organic coconut milk - instead of the coconut butter or shredded coconut. My kitchen is a science lab and I never stop tinkering. :)

3. My body seems to be getting used to my chosen "ideal weight" (180 lbs on 5'11 + frame). Some days I eat more than others and yet my weight rarely fluctuates much. I think this is a good sign. I also know that my fasting blood sugar is pretty fantastic - in 70's - 80's - based on my recent testing. Another reason to be optimistic.

Monday Dinner - spicy catfish (from Whole Foods Market) and homemade Parmesan mashed cauliflower

Tuesday Dinner - sauteed wild shrimp and homemade creamed spinach

Wednesday Dinner - "pepper steak" (from Whole Foods Market) with homemade Parmesan mashed cauliflower

Thursday Dinner - carnitas (from Whole Foods Market) and organic avocado slices

Friday Dinner - turkey chili (from Whole Foods Market) topped with organic chives, organic sour cream and extra sharp cheddar cheese and homemade guacamole

Saturday Lunch - herb crusted salmon, steamed asparagus spears (from The Cheesecake Factory) and unsweetened iced tea

Sunday Brunch - organic, omega-3 cheesy eggs (organic DHA-enriched eggs, a splash of organic half and half, soft goat cheese, fresh organic chives, fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt) natural center cut bacon and organic avocado slices

Day 314 - Sailing!

My Girl, My Girl, My Girl!

Our Brother/Captain!

Our Sister-in-Law and the Captain's Wife/Co-Pilot!

A Phooning Fool!

We had a blast! Very windy but still beautiful and exciting!

Days 307-314

Sunday Brunch

A few highlights from my week of low carb livin'.

1. My lovely lady made a tasty variation on Paula Deen's Magic Peanut Butter Cookies. Mad used organic almond butter and some organic pumpkin spice to make it more interesting. Me likes. :-)

2. I started a new experiment. I'm testing the effect of an Atkins bar vs. pumpkin seeds vs. an all natural (higher carb) bar on my blood sugar levels. I'll include the results later this week.

3. I tried out another brand of stevia (SweetLeaf) from Whole Foods Market. I ran out of my favorite brand of stevia and decided to give it a go. I don't like it nearly as much - as my usual Now Foods standbys.

Monday Dinner - picante chicken (from Whole Foods Market - dark meat chicken with some kind of spicy seasoning) and organic avocado slices

Tuesday Dinner - "jalapeno poppers" (jalapenos stuffed with organic cream cheese, organic sour cream, feta chesse, organic chives, orangic shallots, fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt) topped with sharp cheddar cheese and organic chipotle salsa

Wednesday Dinner - "breakfast for dinner" (sunny-side up organic omega-3 eggs over homemade mashed cauliflower and pan-fried prosciutto)

Thursday Dinner - homemade scallops and homemade creamed spinach (organic spinach, organic onion, organic cream cheese, organic butter (to saute the onion), fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt

Friday Dinner - organic Roma tomatoes gutted and stuffed with a soft cheese/herb blend (organic cream cheese, soft goat cheese, organic sour cream, natural pepperoni, fresh organic thyme, dried organic rosemary and fresh cracked organic pepper) and topped with organic provolone cheese

Saturday Dinner - leftover turkey "cowboy" burger (dark meat turkey burger embedded with natural turkey bacon, cheddar cheese, jalapeno pepper and purple onions) topped with melted cheddar cheese

Sunday Brunch - organic, omega-3 cheesy eggs (organic DHA-enriched eggs, a splash of organic half and half, sharp cheddar and organic Parmesan cheese, fresh organic chives, fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt) natural bacon and organic avocado

We're going sailing today! A first for me and Mad hasn't gone sailing for many years. It should be fun! But I'll be keeping an eye out for pirates and sharks just in case ...