Holy Zucchini Noodles Batman!

I think it's funny that we control our own destiny, and yet sometimes we chose to make decisions that may be good at the time, but you regret later.  Living with Autoimmune disease can be a bitch!  The worst part about it, is that I have learned to keep mine at bay, yet there are times when I falter a little and then I'm the bitch!

If I stray from my diet, stray from my workouts a tad... my body truly pays for it.  Why oh why I wonder why I can't be like other people.  Anyone that has a disease or disorder to manage can attest that we all feel like that at times.  I really have to bring myself down to earth and remind myself that I DO know how to control it, and fix it... so get back to business and quit feeling sorry for yourself!

I did it... had an autoimmune attack and the only one to blame was myself.  What does it feel like?  Well just as an example... this cardio queen can't even make it up a flight of stairs when she feels like this without huffing and puffing.  My joints ache, I have no energy, I swell, and I can't seem to get enough sleep.  When does this happen?  When I get busy, caught up in life, and don't cook and plan my meals properly.  It also happens when I am not exercising!  So for those of you who suffer Autoimmune disease... hear me loud and clear!  IT IS OK TO EXERCISE!  Often times I read that people with Autoimmune disease should limit their exercise, I beg to differ with you.  Of course, you must have proper nutrition to go along with that or you won't have the energy to get through it.  It all works hand in hand. Physical activity boosts physical energy, endorphins produced are like a natural pain killers and it also reduces inflammation.  So even when you don't feel like moving... a little moving can go a long way for the way you feel.

Summer is not my favorite time of the year, but the one thing I love most is my trips to the Farmer's Market. My counter ends up looking like this every week... Beautiful huh?

I got the most amazing tool for Mother's day which I must share with you of course.  I have had my eye on this handy dandy vegetable slicer for some time.  Drum roll please...

This contraption was going to make my Farmer's market finds come to life... I just knew it... and it did...

Are those the most beautiful Zucchini noodles you've ever seen or what?  Freaking amazing!  Those my friends are the best damn thing to sliced bread!  (Gluten Free bread in my case of course.) The family was a tad bit reluctant because of my zucchini noodle experiments in the past, but they didn't know what goodness was about to dance into their tummies.  A healthy sauce had to be made to smother these baby's, so I pulled out the butternut squash cheese-like sauce and they were a match made in heaven! So forks up peeps for this anti inflammatory meal!

Comfort Zucchini

4 Zucchini Spiralized

1 Butternut Squash

1 1/2  tbsp Ghee

3/4 Cup Coconut Milk

6 tbsp Nutritional Yeast

1 tbsp Arrow Root

2 tsp Yellow Spicy Mustard

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder 

1/2 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut Squash in half, and place face down in a Pyrex.  Fill with water about a 1/4 inch and place in oven until squash is tender.  In saucepan add 1 tbsp Ghee, whisk in coconut milk and arrow root powder until smooth. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (minus the zucchini of course and continue to whisk until it has thickened.  It takes about 5 min.  Remove from heat and set aside.  (It will thicken a tad more while it sits.)  In a saute pan, add 1/2 tbsp ghee and saute zucchini until it softens a bit.  Add sauce to noodles and mix well.  Serve up and Enjoy!  

Hello World, I am back!

Happy New Year everyone!  I can't believe it has been since September when I wrote on here last.  The holidays just seem to drain the living life out of me, and I don't become human until about the second week of January... which happens to be now.  Isn't it funny how when we are little kids, we couldn't wait for ole St. Nick to arrive?  It seems that once I turned forty I couldn't wait for him to get his fat ass back to the north pole!  Makes me sad really!  I want to like the holidays... but it has become so much work! 

Since I wrote last, I finished up my treatments with the doctor I was seeing.  The more I saw her, the more I ended up not liking her much.  She helped me... I will give her that!  I lowered my cortisol, conquered the parasite within, and lost 15 lbs.  Ok... 12 now... the holidays through me a bit off track.  Only because I haven't exercised!  I know that for a fact.  We stuck strict to our Paleo diet, and I think that made a world of difference!  I did cheat and have some Brie!  First Dairy I have had since July!  Yikes!  And it was damn good let me tell ya!  I think that 's the only thing I miss... CHEESE!!!!  Anyway... back to this doctor!  On one of my last visits she tried to tell me that I had to continue to see her because that's the only way I would be able to get my supplements, including the pre-biotics and pro-biotics I was taking, which I might add...she claimed she formulated herself!  Wrong!  I'm a business woman for crying out-loud!  I am not stupid!  On the back it had the company that formulates the product and distributes to physicians and vitamin shops!  Needless to say, I found them on the Internet and I don't need her to get them.  Honesty people!  That's all I ask! 

So we rang in the new year quietly and at home.  Of course, we were all just happy that the Mayans weren't right and the world was going to end in December.  People were going crazy I tell ya!  I heard rumors of people selling pet insurance on the Internet.  If you paid these people, they would pair up your family Fido with an atheist, because they were saying only non believers in Christ, and pets would remain on the earth!  Where do people get this stuff?  Really?

We had crab for New Years!  I also made a coconut shrimp cocktail!  So delish!  Of course, I was inspired by one of my favorite sites... Everyday Paleo... But of course, me being me... had to change it up a smidge!

Coconut Shrimp Cocktail

 

 

2 lbs Raw Shrimp

1 Red Bell Pepper

1 Can Coconut Milk

1 Jalapeno (I think next time I'll use 2)

Zatarain's Seasoning

Spices of choice

Chives

 

 

Bring water with Zatarain's in it to a boil.  Add Shrimp and cook until pink.  Drain, rinse and set aside to cool.  (I usually rinse to stop the cooking process.)  While Shrimp is cooling, put coconut milk into a bowl, add diced bell pepper, diced jalapenos, and spices.  I usually use our own blend that we make... it is very similar to Emeril's Essence, so if you have that... add that to taste.  Add Shrimp to mixture, put in cute little bowls, and top with chives.  These need to be refrigerated a few hours prior to chow time!