Quick and Easy Chocolate Cake in a Mug

I kept trying various cake in a mug, because if I make a whole cake, I WILL eat it. I found a couple that were close to what I wanted, but still didn't quite do it for me. So, one day, I realized a component of my favorite chocolate cake from Paleo Spirit had something most cakesmug called don't - coconut flour. It gives her chocolate cake the perfect texture. I added a tablespoon to the mug cake is made up and viola! Perfect! Yummy hot or cold!

Chocolate Mug Cake in a Bowl
2 TBSP almond flour (I use blanched from Honeyville)
1 TBSP coconut flour
1 TBSP cocoa or cacao powder
1 TBSP sweetener (honey, coconut sugar, etc)
1 egg
Pinch of baking soda
1 TBSP coconut oil plus some to grease bowl

Grease bowl and mix all ingredients together. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes.

Fat Bombs

Fat Bombs - a weird name for a delicious treat

Fat Bombs were created to give a little satiety and blood sugar boost, and possibly a chocolate fix when you really need one. They're delicious and quite nutritious! An easy way to get that oh so good for you coconut oil in! (Carrington Farms oil is available at Costco for a very reasonable price, and is a good brand!)

In food processor, add:
12oz coconut flakes or shreds
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup raw honey
1/4 cup coconut oil

Process until it starts to look a little wet - that's the oil separating from the coconut. You don't want it to separate too much, or all the chewy stuff will be on the bottom and you'll have a layer of oil on the top, which isn't super pleasant to eat. Or maybe that's just me and my texture issues ;)

Sausage and Zucchini Hash

A fast and easy meal that is super yummy.

Ground pork with Italian seasoning & salt in patties in the frying pan, then add shredded zucchini and some oil.
Cool until zucchini is browned, but not black, turning sausage patty once.

Homemade Almond Milk

I make almond milk for my family. My husband has smoothies for breakfast and we're at a season of life where my older three kids have cereal or oatmeal for breakfast, so they use this almond milk.

1 bag raw almonds 12oz
1 gallon purified water
1-2 cups honey

Alternative:
1 handful soaked almonds
1 quart purified water
a couple dashes powdered stevia
blend and strain. Refrigerate.

Soak almonds in purified water with a tablespoon of salt overnight.
Rinse the next morning and make the milk.

Use 1 cup almonds in 4-5 cups purified water. Blend for 90 seconds.
Strain. Repeat.
You can use the leftover almond pulp in baking, just go.ogle "almond pulp recipes"

Real food meals on a budget and snacks

I was talking with a dear friend about budgeting groceries, easy meals and snacks. She wanted the ideas written down, so here they are. I'm sure I won't be able to remember them all now, lol.

I can't afford to buy most things organic at this point in our lives, so I do the best I can. We get meat at Costco and sometimes from farmers. I am able to get some frozen organic vegetables, organic fresh baby carrots and salad at Costco for good prices.
I shop at Aldi for most of my other food. They have great prices and good variety on fruits & veggies. Aldi is a great company and treat their employees well. They have processed foods, but they also have a lot of whole foods. I use their raw almonds to make almond milk. A bag of almonds at $4.29 makes over a gallon of almond milk for my family.

I do meals pretty basic - meat, veggie and sometimes fruit.

Pork loin - cut your own or buy precut. Season to taste. Bake at 350 for 30minutes or until done. Some seasonings could include:  coconut aminos (use in place of soy sauce), honey and garlic for a teriyaki type flavor;  honey;  honey mustard;  crush pork rinds and add taco seasoning (I make my own with cumin, oregano, salt, chili powder and garlic powder), dip pork in crumbs and fry in coconut oil or bacon grease.

Chicken thighs with skin on - sliced mushrooms and wine; honey mustard;  coconut aminos, honey and garlic; salt; kale on the bottom, chicken on top, salt.

Ground pork - cook with italian seasoning and salt for homemade sausage; shred zucchini and turnips and saute, then mix with ground pork, form into patties for Sausage Veggie Burgers; hash - shredded veggies with ground pork and seasonings.

Veggies:  roasted veggies (turnips, carrots, celery, zucchini, yellow squash, etc) - cube and toss with oil and garlic, minced. Roast at 375 for an hour or so; frozen green beans; peas; broccoli, cooked or raw; fresh veggies and hummus.

Snacks:  fruit - apples, clementines, celery with pb, plums, peaches, grapes, mangoes, watermelon, etc.

Dessert/pick me up:  Fat bombs - 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/3 cup honey, 8 oz unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut - blend in food processor or high powered blender. Plop into a lipped plate or pie plate, spread and score into 36 sections. Refrigerate.
Chovocado pudding
Frosty 

Three and a half months later...

It's been three and a half months since our MRT tests and modifying our diets to remove our sensitivities. 

E4 was 17lbs in January and now she is 21lbs 9oz! She started sleeping through the night within a couple weeks of changing our diets. She's very chubby and solid and happy (when she's not acting like a cranky toddler ;). She even has neck rolls that I have to clean out! That was never a problem until the last few weeks!

I'm also feeling better, my stomach isn't hurting when I eat, thanks to some healing with Gastrazyme, my stools are pretty regular/normal, my skin is pretty clear and I feel pretty good. 

It is clear to me that the test was accurate, through the dramatic change in my little lady (whose chubby feet can be seen above). Over 4 1/2lbs in under four months is pretty amazing. She's absorbing nutrients and she is not nursing for 95% of her calories. It's a relief to know what's going on and have her feeling better, with some pressure off of me. Sleep improvements have been quite wonderful, as well.

I have some friends who are doing the MRT testing, I'm looking forward to seeing their results and hope that they get the help they need, as we have. 

Homemade healthy Wendy's Frosty type smoothie

Hen I was sick a couple weeks ago, all I wanted was a frosty. But because of refined sugar and dairy, I couldn't have one from Wendy's. So I asked some friends for help, and my friend, Kristen, showed me a recipe for mousse and said to add ice and blend it.
The first time I made it, I didn't follow the directions and added too much cacao powder, but it was still yummy.
The second time, it was perfect.
The third time, I tried following the recipes use of dates for sweetener, but there were hard pieces.
The forth time, I made up my own recipe, using my experience from the first three times and viola! Delicious!!!

Knockoff Wendy's frosty chocolate smoothie

1 can coconut milk
4-5 Tbsp cacao or cocoa powder
1/2 cup melted honey

Blend well.

Add 2 cups ice (I use the little balled ice from son.ic).

Enjoy.