The Best Breakfast ever...a recipe too and vegan friendly.

Okay, you might disagree. 
Let me tell ya though that in the right quantities, it is healthy, full of nutrition, satisfying and packs a powerful burst of energy...great for post-workout meal. I promise I AM NOT selling any product.
No gimmicks. No diet platform.

Ever since we figured out the foods causing my hubby to feel bad and get headaches, it has changed the way we view food.  We are trying to budget more whole, homemade foods...does anyone have some energy to spare so I can find the strength (okay, time too and patience to knead bread dough) to make more from scratch items?

So what is in my best breakfast ever? See below...

So here are some pictures of my yummy breakfast:

Nuts, fruit, protein powder and either flax or chia seeds (I used chia seeds here) makes a very healthy breakfast or post-workout meal. So tasty. You can also use a small amount of milk/soy/almond milk or you can add plain or lowfat/low sugar yogurt of your choice as well.

My favorite nuts to use are slivered almonds. I put some cashews in this bowl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Power packed Breakfast By Dionne Adkison

1 1/2 cups of varied fruit
1/2 cup of nuts
one scoop or tablespoon of protein powder (vegans can use soy)
1 Tbsp of chia or flax seed (you can use powder instead)
OPTIONAL: Add in a 1/4 cup of your favorite yogurt or milk (nondairy soy, coconut or almond for a vegan friendly version

1) Mix any combination of your favorite fruit. I always include a half a banana with assorted berries, but I have in a pinch put together apples or pears with bananas too when berries were not in season or expensive. Oooh, try Kiwi with bananas and strawberries. Yuh-um.

2)Add in any form of nuts you like. My favorites are almonds and cashews...together or separate. However, peanuts with bananas and blueberries is awwwwesome. Try Walnuts too.

3)Next add protein powder...soy or whey...depends if you are vegetarian or vegan.

4. Toss in some chia or flax seeds and you have a power-packed, densely nutritious meal.

*You get fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, omega 3's, good carbs, natural fruit sugar that won't spike your blood sugar and just enough calories to stave off morning stomach gurgles. 

Now, go enjoy this hearty meal...your body will thank you!!!

Quick and easy...seriously I will influence you (smile).

If you are reading this than my title captured you (insert bwah-haha sinister laugh). Just teasing. I've never once claimed I wasn't an odd one.

Anyhoo, here are some quick and easy potpourri things to influence your life...to hopefully entice you to try it once, save money and perhaps never go back. Are you scared yet? Again, just kidding. Sorry, I am in one of those silly moods.
Normally, my blog isn't about the following, but well I can't be all honest and not include these. Below you will find everything from breadcrumbs, to no deodorant, to growing the easiest thing on the planet. Take a look:

1. Lettuce: So versatile and wonderful and healthy. Super duper easy to grow! Have a sunny window? Grow it indoors in a pot or outdoors in a pot or well, even in an old boot outside. It doesn't require fertilizer if planted in good soil and can be grown as early as the end of February (accept perhaps in the upper North of the country unless you start it indoors and have a warm/sunny place). You can even use the stump of store bought lettuce to start growing some in your house on a windowsill
Go here for that method (which I have tried and it works)! http://thisbighappy.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-growing-romaine-and-celery-from.html

Or buy seed (cheap), follow seed planting instructions and put it in some good potting or organic amended soil, water it and watch it flourish.

Make your own Bread crumbs:

    Toast your own store bought or homemade bread in the toaster. Use your food processor or something similar and voila, you have instant breadcrumbs...you will know what is in your breadcrumbs this way too!

No deodorant- NO, I am not telling you to adopt a smelly agenda. Seriously, if you use 70% rubbing alcohol on your pits every day, you won't need deodorant EVER again-it does work. Cheaper that way too. If you tend to perspire a lot, then look for homemade recipes to combat that and you will still save money and it is better for your health. Try this recipe: http://yinmomyangmom.com/2013/01/04/natural-antiperpirant-deodorant-recipe/

Sweet Potato Chips: YUM! Preheat oven to 350. Peel potatoes. Use the slicer on your food processor or other nonelectric slicer and slice up the sweet potatoes. Place them on a metal sheet pan (or you can use foil or parchment paper if you are worried about them sticking). Bake for 10-20 Minutes depending on how thick you made the potatoes. Check them after 10 minutes so you don't overcook or burn them. I like them slightly soft. So delicious. Enjoy! Great for healthy eating.

Super healthy, no dairy, low fat smoothie: Great if you are Vegan, vegetarian, need gluten-free or nondairy foods, and or are a rawist.

   An handful or more of spinach, frozen banana and mango or other fruit (do not use sweetened, frozen fruit b/c it is loaded with processed sugar) and a cup or more of  unsweetened or sweetened almond milk or you can use other nondairy milks like, soy, rice or coconut.

Pour all of it in your blender on smoothie setting or food processor. You can also add ground flax or ground Chia seeds for other health benefits. Tasty and under 400 calories. This is a meal so don't use it as a snack. I make enough to fill a large, plastic glass and have it for breakfast or when I need to eat, but I want something light and tasty.

No oil or egg, whole wheat muffins: Add these items to make your muffins way healthier and you can use less sugar and actually taste the batter without getting ill! Use unsweetened applesauce instead of oil. Use ground flax-I got a big bag at Sam's (one Tbsp of flax with 3 Tablespoons of water) instead of one egg and use a mashed up banana and or sweet potato to cut down on the sugar amount in your muffins. Banana goes great when added to blueberry, or cinnamon flavored muffins. Use at least half whole wheat flour or all whole wheat to cut down on unnecessary sugar spiking. Better for you too. Enjoy! Really cuts down on fat tremendously as well as no cholesterol and less calories as well.

Last, but not least-Cheap entertainment to try:

Go Geocaching.  Especially fun for adventurous children. It is basically hiking and finding treasure. You need a GPS or similar system. Go to this site http://www.geocaching.com/ to learn more and find a geocache near you.

There ya have it! Some easy tips, recipes to try. A way to save money and be healthy. Who could deny the goodness of that?

 Your turn: Share your favorite recipe or tell me your results from above.

Thanksgiving a little early.

Even though Thanksgiving is next Thursday, I am getting SO excited. I love this time of year. Cool, autumn air, crisp leaves and pumpkin recipes!! Plus, I know Christmas is not too far away.

I don't really care about the food (even though it is tasty) as much as the memories, so I wanted to share one memory with my boys that recently happened. We made turkey hands and the result is just too darn cute and will forever be etched in my heart and mind. Check out how Grant's turkey seems to be chasing Schafer's. Truly precious.
See picture below:



I remember one special Thanksgiving with my husband's family. We stayed in Estes Park, Colorado and I was VERY pregnant with Schafer. It was the first time I got to meet my nephew, William (who was 6 months old then) and I made him laugh by simply clicking my tongue.

I believe it was the first time I introduced my southern style of Thanksgiving food to my hubby's family and they really enjoyed it. I made Southern-Style Green Beans with bacon, and Dressing (we don't call it stuffing in the south because we don't cook it in the turkey and it is not made with only white bread). I learned all of this from my mommy. She was such a good cook and I am grateful that I received some of her recipes as well as my Mamaw's too before they left this earth.

This year I will make the Dressing and another dish I am famous for: Hominy Casserole. I am not really sure why Dressing is called Dressing. I guess because it dresses the turkey really well?

I decided to share my Mom's Dressing recipe on here if anyone would like to try it. It is actually surprisingly EASY! So I hope you enjoy it!

Deb's (DeLynn's) famous Southern Dressing recipe:

Cornbread (boxed or homemade) cooked
4-8 slices of white bread (torn into pieces)
4-8 stalks of celery
1 medium white onion
4-6 raw eggs (can use egg substitute)
Broth-Turkey or chicken
Sage and Poultry seasoning to taste
Salt and Pepper to taste
Optional: One regular sized tube of sage sausage

Boil celery and onion in water and add a 1/2 tsp of poultry seasoning. Cook until tender. Meanwhile, cook sausage until done. In a 9x13 aluminum or similar baking pan, crumble cornbread and mix with white bread. Add onion and celery, mix well. Add sausage, mix well. Add broth until the dressing is wet, but not soupy. You want to thin the dressing but not make it too wet or dry. Add seasonings and taste. When you can taste the seasonings and salt and pepper, stop adding them. Add eggs to hold dressing together, mix well. Bake at 350 for about an hour. Check dressing in the first 45 minutes. It will usually crack on top. Cut middle with a knife and check consistency. If it is firm like cake and comes out clean then, it is done.

ENJOY!

There is so much to be thankful for this year and my heart almost bursts as I think about all the gifts the Lord has given me: Beautiful sons, a loving husband, great In-laws, a nice home, GOOD HEALTH, incredible views, a chance to be home with the boys, truth about who I really am,readers for my blog ;) and so much more!

From my heart to yours, I hope you have a very thankful, fun and happy Thanksgiving!