Recipes by Request

I started out with the understanding that there was a story inside me that was different than the one I had revealed over my life time and I would re-write it.  This blog has been the introduction to a life style that is more than just food.  I had to learn to live first - I mean, really live and that meant embracing authenticity and all that might mean.  The early pages of the book were and still are full of discovery, disappointment and delight.  I have learned about the foods that make me feel sick, discovered the simple medical assistance I needed  to get my energy back, learned a lot about what living authentically means including letting go of my perfectionism and being willing to accept other's opinions for what they are - opinions.  Some of this pre-dates my blog launch and represents much of the inner learning I embraced without one thought of food or weight loss (well, at east not as the focus!).


Now, here I am finally able to step out and say out loud that I am a member of a group seeking to lose weight in a healthy way but steeped with the learning I have already put into use.  The recipes I am going to share reflect my own personal discovery of my own body's needs - Weight Watchers provides the community to help along the next trail up this mountain of weight loss.  As I have mentioned, I believe I have many of the symptons of a metabolic disorder that is exascerbated by sugar and most highly refined carbohydrates.  Although the Weight Watchers program allows for any and all food, I have made the decision to continue to watch my consumption of this food group. 

With Raouf's unending patience as I experimented with various eating patterns over the past six months, I have been able to move to a new plateau with a much clearer vision of where I am headed.  My brain fog is under control as long as I maintain this path and my allergies are much reduced.  I have more energy than I could imagine and this morning I woke up singing.  Now that is a blesssing to me but maybe not to Raouf but I think he enjoyed my happiness anyway!

I have included one of my newly discoved recipes that I love. It is focused on controling the amount of refined carbs that enter my body by extending the grain (oats) with quinoa.  Quinoa is not a miracle food but I have embraced it as a wonderful protein that stretches the carbs I do allow myself.

Although porridge is a typical fall/winter food, I love it (and have all my life) and have dicovered this particular dish just recently.  Hope you enjoy it.

Quinoa Oats Porridge

Makes 4 servings
1 serving = 4 points in Weight Watchers

3/4 cup cooked quinoa
3/4 cup uncooked old fashioned oats (I used steel cut oats with flax - yum)
1 T cinnamon
3/4 cup dried cherries (or cranberries or raisins)
1 T pumpkin seeds
2 T ground flax seed meal (optional)

Cook oats in water or you can use almond milk or regular milk but this will increase the WW points.  Follow directions but I cooked for 10 minutes in water.
Add cooked quinoa and continue to cook for another 5 or so minutes - until it is the way you like it!
Add cinnamon.
Remove from heat and add cherries and flax meal if using .  You can also add a sweetner of some kind but I usually save that for a side at the table.  Although I used Splenda, I just know it would be delicious and healthy with maple syrup.
Divide into four bowls and sprinkle a 1/2 T of pumpkin seeds on top.
Yum - this lasts me all morning!