Friday, November 2, 2018

Fresh Friday... You Are What You Eat

 

Here we are in November already.
I think it was just June yesterday...
I have to admit, albeit somewhat grudgingly,
 because I usually cling to summertime white knuckled,
that I am  loving every single beautiful thing
 about this multi-hued Autumn we are experiencing this year.
 The misty grey days provide an ethereal seeming background
 for the sheer profusion of color all of the trees and bushes are bursting with.
 Although I know this must happen all around me every single Fall,
 for some reason my senses are extremely heightened to it this time around.
 I feel as though I am soaking it in through all of my pores
 and every fiber straight into my soul.
These cooler days make me want to stay inside where it's warm
 with my tea kettle going, my doggies around me,
my knitting on the go and something warm and healthy on the stove.
I told you in the last post I would introduce you to my daughter Chelsea.
She's my youngest of two daughters.
My eldest daughter, Hilary, is a Librarian in our local library.
 Chelsea has a Cosmetology license,
 which she uses to specialize as an Aesthetician. 
She works for a dermatologist in a medical day spa.
 Both of my daughters are excellent cooks and healthy, clean eaters. 
Due to ongoing health issues of my own, 
when they were still in grade school and I was in my early thirties,
 I became a vegetarian and thus began my journey 
into grasping hold of the real truth of :
"You Are What You Eat"
Everybody has heard it and even said it at times
 but after years of suffering
 {and I mean truly suffering}
 from serious digestive issues, 
among various other ailments, 
I began the journey of taking hold of that one simple truth
 and what a difference it made and continues to make for me.
 Plus, I believe it made it easier for my girls to make healthier choices as adults.
Eating as healthy as I possibly can helps in my battle against
 two rheumatoid diseases, which cause digestive issues,
 inflammation throughout my entire system and a whole host of issues.
 I will admit right from the start that I am not a person who has a huge appetite and a lot of the recipes I share with you will be on the simple or light side.
 I don't tolerate "heavy" foods. 
Always bear in mind I do not eat the basic American diet and
 have not done so for more than 22 years.
 In the area of food, I have to travel lightly through this world.
Today's recipe is from Chelsea.
  The measurements provided are just enough for two servings.
It's perfect for lunch with a friend or spouse.
Chelsea and I enjoyed it together for lunch one day last week.

Thai Coconut Stir Fry


1 Cup Thai Coconut Broth
1/2 Cup Brown Rice
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
{Organic Virgin, Cold Pressed, Unrefined - if possible}
1 1/2 Tablespoons Liquid Aminos
1/2 Cup Snap Peas, broken in half
1/4 Cup Match Stick Carrots
1/4 Cup Red Peppers, sliced
1/2 Cup Tempeh, cubed

Cook Brown Rice in Thai Coconut Broth instead of water
 by simply substituting, using exact measurement. 
Saute' Tempeh in Coconut Oil on medium - low for approximately 3 minutes.
Add prepared vegetables and continue cooking until barely tender but still crisp.


This makes two nice sized bowls.
 The first delightful flavor that hits the tongue is coconut. 
It's very filling for lunch or supper for two.
 If you want to stretch it to accommodate more people 
just adjust the proportions and play around with seasonings and add ins.
It's healthy, warm and comforting on a cold day and looks like
 a bowl full of beautiful Fall colors to me!
 I just love it!
You can make it ahead and store it in individual containers
 for your busy work week ahead.
It reheats wonderfully and tastes just as good, if not better.
For those of you who have never used Liquid Aminos,
 this is what you are looking for:
If you like soy sauce you'll love it. This is a healthier alternative. It is gluten free, contains no preservatives, alcohol or fermentation and has 16 healthy amino acids. Also, it is lower in sodium than soy sauce. So run straight to your local grocery market and buy some {and chuck the soy sauce in the trash can}.
Here's what the Thai Coconut Broth looks like as well:

You know I can't leave you without showing at least one thing
 that's been on my needles recently.
In my next post,
which will focus on my current knitting projects at hand,
 I'll show you much more.
However here's a tiny sampling of some baby knits
 I worked on last week during my time at the coffee shop.
Just as I love for my food to be as wholesome,
 chemical free, organic and pure as possible,
I also prefer for the fibers I work with to be as natural as possible.
These cable knit baby ear flap hats and booties are knit on size 3 needles
 using divinely soft, soft, soft pure Baby Alpaca.
There is nothing like the feel of it gliding gently
 across my fingers like a mere whisper.
As I work with it, I daydream of and pray for
  the sweet baby that will be cozied up inside these snuggly little accessories
 in order to keep Winter chills far, far away from delicate fresh from heaven skin.
As most of you know, I am a die hard, constant tea drinker.
However, I occasionally enjoy coffee or a coffee latte like this one pictured.
It's the delicious Fall Signature drink at
 Thirty-Thirty Coffee Shop
in Peoria's Junction City.
 A lovely hot drink is just the perfect thing for an evening of knitting!
I typically choose tea because I actually love it so much more than coffee,
which is hard for the coffee drinkers of the world to even fathom.
Also, it is much easier on my sensitive digestive system.
Keeping myself less acidic is always the goal.
For a final note on today's recipe and any future recipe's I share...
Feel free to toss in some chicken in place of the Tempeh if you have to.
But I would like to encourage you to do two things...
If you are a meat eater, try to eat a meatless meal on occasion.
Also, always purchase the leanest, cleanest form of meat you can.
All of the food I share with you will be vegetarian.
This is what I have to do for my body.
You do what is best for yours.
In the meantime,
I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful Autumn
 if you live in an area where this is your season like it is mine.
"The heart of the home beats in the kitchen
and a healthy one beats three times a day."
Bangambiki Habyarimana
The Great Pearl of Wisdom

"Dear Friend,
 I pray that you may enjoy good health
and that all may go well with you,
even as your soul is getting along well."
3 John 1:2

3 comments:

  1. Chelsea looks soluch like that actress, isla Fisher! Just beautiful. I love your occasional latte (I love lattes!), and your recipe sounds delicious! I'm going to get some liquid aminos, that sounds like it's a billion times better than soy sauce!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been thinking about you this weekend and hoping the sale was a huge success! Love the soft baby things! xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it! electric kettle

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Thank you for taking time to chat with me ~
Your comments make me so Happy!
Have a lovely day.
Danette