5 days of ups and downs!

Yesterday I finished up my last day of the Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet. I heard many times that it wouldn't be easy and that was the truth. Physically, mentally and emotionally you are drained, yet changed. I can now see how people can become emotionally connected to food. And I also have a testimony of how important eating fruits and vegetables and right foods is to our bodies. I crave those good foods and I think not eating for 5 days has really showed me how important I need to treat my body better. I can say I am glad I did it.

3rd day is the hardest day....

which I agree with. Today has been a rough day. I don't have much energy in the morning to work out and I've been grumpy today. Michelle is also doing this with me and she has been a fabulous support today. We met up at Sunflower Market to get more lemons and syrup. She was very positive, which I need. My husband has also been a great support for me and has juiced the lemons for me every morning. I realized that the one good thing about this crazy adventure... I don't have to make dinner for my family, now! I'm down three pounds. Let's hope tomorrow is a better day... I think once I get through the weekend, then I'll start feeling better about the whole thing.

2nd Day

I'm on my second day and I'm not hungry. I did dream about food this morning, though. And my husband ate a bag of popcorn last night while we watched American Idol, which was torture. But, overall I'm doing ok. I have had a headache since yesterday and I'm not sure if that is from not having any real food since yesterday or from being in the sun too long yesterday. Anyway, I'm feeling ok, but hopefully, I'll feel much better tomorrow. I didn't get to go out and excersice today, which I was bummed about, but I know that my energy will return and that I won't need to be near a toilet as much. I did the salt cleanse today and that really threw my body for a loop. I really don't like that part at all! Well, off to the store, where I can hopefully get my mind off food.

Lemonade Diet Day 1

Day 1

Started the Master Cleanser Lemonade Diet today. This will be interesting.... can't wait to see how the day goes.

Happy Life

I found this on another blog and I loved the meaning behind it.

Recipes for the week...

Can't wait to try these recipes this week! I love finding recipes like this...I should give credit where credit is due... but I forgot which site I got these off of. Now I just need to find the vinaigrette dressing that Bajio makes to top off my Bajio salad for tonight!

Macaroni Grill Bread
1 Tbsp SAF yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary (or 1 Tbsp fresh)
Topping:
2 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary (or 1 Tbsp fresh)
Coarse salt
Mix yeast, sugar, and water till frothy. Add 2 cups of the flour, salt, oil and rosemary and mix till smooth. Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Form into a round loaf and place on a lightly greased pan. (I used my stoneware pan, so I didn't need to grease it.) Brush the loaf with butter using a pastry brush. It will be really wet. Sprinkle with rosemary and coarse salt. Let rise till doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake in a 450 oven for about 20-25 minutes. Serve with balsamic vinegar and olive oil if desired.

Zuppa Tuscana Soup

1# pork sausage
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 slices bacon (optional)—I didn’t add it
6 cups chicken broth (I used homemade broth and chicken bouillon with water)
4 potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 cups chopped kale
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 cup cream
pepper to taste

Brown sausage with onion (add garlic the last couple of minutes. Drain if needed. Cook potatoes and kale in broth till tender. Add sausage, Italian seasoning, and cream and heat through. Add pepper to taste.
Notes:
-They didn't use the bacon and thought it was fine without it. The original recipe called for 1 1/2 cups cream, but she only had one, so that's all she used.
-If you use chicken bouillon instead of the broth, use 2 Tbsp for the 6 cups of water. She recommend using only 1 Tbsp bouillon and 3 cups water and the other 3 cups either homemade or canned broth. If you use all bouillon/water, the soup is quite salty.
-Make sure you chop the kale into small pieces.
-If you have small children, it is easier for them to eat if you cut the slices of potato into halves or fourths.
-This soup is thin, like broth. If you want it thicker, you could whisk some flour into the cream before you add it.


Awesome Bajio Style Chicken

5 chicken breasts
1/2 cup salsa
1 Tbsp cumin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 4oz can diced green chilies
6oz Sprite (1/2 can)

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Return to crock pot and cook 1 more hour. Serve with flour tortillas, lettuce, cheese, black beans, and whatever other taco fixin's your family likes.
Notes:
-This chicken is not real spicy, so you could add some extra green chilies if you like your food with a little more kick.
-It has a lot of juice, so serve it with a slotted spoon.
-Bajio serves the chicken with caramelized onions.

Better Than Bundt Cake

I got this recipe today at our neighborhood recipe club and fell in love with it. I hope my friend doesn't care that I am sharing it on here. Can't wait to make it for Sunday dinner in a couple of weeks. Moist and yummy.

1 pkg. devil food cake
5.9 oz. pkg. choc. instant pudding
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup veg. oil
4 eggs
1 pkg. semi sweet c.c.
add all ingredients except chips and mix for 4-5 min. Then stir in chips and pour into greased bundt pan. cook at 350 for 50-55 min. Yum!

Seriously?

I guess ABC is really getting a good laugh now. Sorry that it had to be at the expense of some nice people. I think this show needs a break...too many heartbreaks, not enough love going around. And I still can't believe the stunt Jason pulled on Melissa last night. Again, ABC knows what they are doing and they got their high ratings. I hope Melissa can find happiness. And good thing Jillian didn't end up with Jason, she deserves better. Ok, there are my thoughts on the subject. I'm still mad, though.