I had a couple of wonderful grandmas.  One could cook pretty good southern food, the other was an amazing Polish cook who baked like a mad woman.  Both loved the kitchen and had crazy talents in that area.  I was blessed to at least be in their presence while they cooked, but even more blessed when they wrote their recipes down.  I'm sure it was difficult for them to do because they knew everything by heart!  It was awesome!  Do you have any wonderful "Grandma Recipes" to share?

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!  Of course you know they are the healthier type of southern recipes and within Glycemic Impact eating.

1.  Sausage and Peppers



2.  This is a slight variation to my Grandmothers meatballs - but it is because I like lower fat meats.  We used bison instead of the ground chunk.  Love this recipe!  So easy and everyone loves it.

I wanted to write about freedom today.  Its inauguration day of the 44th president of the United States and a day that also marks a time in history when Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor and advocate for the civil rights movement gave a very profound speech about freedom for all people.  I love the word freedom.  I take advantage of it every day.  I live in a country where I can go outside in peace, that my kids that even though exposed to the fall of the world, can still ride their bicycles without fear.

I know we are a divided nation, and right now, freedom can take on so many meanings.  Especially when we feel that some of our freedoms are being taken away.  But, as we move forward in this nation, especially as a believer in a Jesus that gives more freedom than we can ever imagine - we must believe that freedom begins with our heart.  Jesus must be the foundation of where freedom really comes from.  Otherwise we are bound up more than any government, job or other worldly restraints.  I am hopeful, that as a Christian, we can be a huge influence on this country, more than any government leader, or Hollywood star.  That we can teach freedom the way that Christ intended it from the very beginning.  That freedom would be a love language instead of a right that we have.




I am so glad that they sing this song on most days like today.  It is a beautiful hymn written by a seminary student, Samuel Francis Smith and was performed for the first time for an Independence Day celebration for children, at Park Street Church in Boston, MA.  There are 5 verses, written by the original author, I challenge you to read them all.

God is always at the center of real freedom!  We take him out, and freedom loses its power.  As we charge forward as a country, I am challenging myself, to remember that any idea, belief, or government initiative that takes God out, is not Truth, and defies the opportunity for the freedom that is so graciously offered to us.  I challenge you to do the same if you too are a believer in a great and mighty God that extends freedom to each of us, freedom that we really don't deserve but is God's love language to us all the time!

1

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From ev'ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

2

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

3

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

4

Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light,

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King.

5

Our joyful hearts today,

Their grateful tribute pay,

Happy and free,

After our toils and fears,

After our blood and tears,

Strong with our hundred years,

O God, to Thee.

WhooHoo!  I am so excited to announce our local weightloss challenge competition.

I have numerous people asking me how do I do this, how do I sign up!  Great questions!  Now, I get to answer them.

The starting point is to email me!  We work with a proven weightloss solution that tries to regulate your bodies natural metabolism.  We do it through developing new habits, looking at your body composition (everyone is unique), behavior modification, and lots of support!

The competition is 6 weeks, in the beginning, we will measure inches, and weight.  The person who has the most dramatic weightloss will win the top prize, AND ALSO, the top 10 people will be entered FREE for the 12 week Corporate National Challenge for 50k!  So this local challenge is to help you jump start your weightloss goals.


Step 1:  Email me!  info@asimplebite.com - we will schedule a time for you to come to my office to weigh, measure and get you started!  This cash prize is for local or Charlotte area only...BUT the national competition is for anyone, that will start in March.  Must register with me by January 31!

Step 2:  There is a $20 subscription fee - which includes either a book OR 8 weeks of our online innovative system - its great because I can see what your doing, setup your menu plan, etc.

Step 3:  Find an accountability partner - someone who will do this with you!

Step 4:  Every 2 weeks, you can either schedule a weigh in and measurement session with me, or you can do this on your own.  It must be entered and logged in either the book or the online management system.

Step 5:  If you have a hard time losing - we will help you!  Don't get discouraged.  Most of weightloss is learning how your body functions.  Remember, as we age, as we have kids, etc.  our body is changing, so you may not lose the way you once did.

That's All!  Questions:  info@asimplebite.com

Start date of competition is:  Feb. 5th, game on!

Looking forward to giving that $500 away!

I wanted to talk about Leptin this week because it is a very large hormone that most of us don't realize we have.  But, with a good number trying to lose weight in January, it is a very good hormone to understand.


It has been labeled before as the obecity hormone, and it is true.  It is the hormone that the brain uses to tell your body when your hungry, how much you should eat but MORE IMPORTANTLY it is the hormone that tells you when to STOP eating!  I love how WebMD Dr. put it:  "Leptin is the way your fat cells tell your brain that your energy thermostat is set right," Lustig says."Leptin tells your brain that you have enough energy stored in your fat cells to engage in normal, relatively expensive metabolic processes," he says.


However, when people go on a diet, the amount of Leptin produced becomes less, because most people begin to eat less resulting in their fat cells losing some fat.
The simple truth is that there are certain Leptin thresholds that occur, which are different person to person.  You can only have so much and you can only have so little.  When you are over weight you typically will produce high amounts of leptin therefore resulting in what is called Leptin resistence (its when your body is so used to large amounts of Leptin that it no longer responds to it properly).  The same happens when a person starves themselves or is too thin your body simply does not respond the way it was intended to respond.

So why this information??  Its January!  Everyone is trying to spring forward on some kind of healthy resolution.  If its weightloss great, if its just to be healthy great!  I love them both - but its my job to help educate you.  There are plenty of marketing tactics out there - that's their job is to market to you, their customer or prospect.  However, as an educator and professional its my job to teach you what you need to know so you can make good decisions.

IF you have not identified yourself with what is called Leptin sensitivity - than great!  Your body is wonderful it is producing leptin as it should and things are where they should be.  However, if you feel when is available and you are nibbling all day, you crave breads, pastas, pastries, chips or other foods in these catagories.  Or, if you feel bloated or gain weight around your waste.  These are all signs, but you can easily check with your health care professional about your specific situation.

There are several supplements that can help you they help with Leptin Sensitivity, manage hunger, etc.
LeptiFit:  Contains LeptiCore 600mg, Green Tea Extract at 150mg, and L-Theanine at 150mg Servings are 30 and price is:  $56.20 (Studies have shown that you do not need this much LeptiCore to get the same results as others that have less)

Life Extension Integra-Lean Irvingia:  Silica, Integra-Lean Irvingia, Gabonensis Proprietary Extract 150mg Servings:  60 Price:  $90.30

Sensa Weightloss System:  Green TEa Leaf Extract, Garcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract, Acai Berry 4:1 Extract, Pomegranate Fruit Extract, Mangosteen Fruit Extract, Pyruvate, Inositol, Choline, Bitartrate, PABA (Para-Amino Benzoiz Acid), Uva ursi (Leaf), Citrus Bioflavonoids, Bio Perine Fruit Extract, Turmeric Root Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Polygonum cuspidatum Root Extract, Vanadyl Sulfate, CoQ10 - Servings:  Month 1 and 2 Shakers Price :  $89.99  

Nutrilite Carb Blocker:  Kidney Bean Extract 500mg, Soybean Extract 300mg, Parsley Concentrate 30mg Servings are 30 Price is:  $42.85 (The problem with this one is that it is a carb blocker, which is never recommended)

Alli:  Orlistat 60mg (Carb blocker which is never recommended)

TLS Core Fat and Carb Inhibitor:  Chromium 100mg, White Kidney Bean Extract 8:1 445mg, LeptiCore Propietary Blend 300mg, Green Select Phytosome, Green Tea Decaffeinated Extract 150mg. (This is the one I recommend to my clients with Leptin Sensitivity because it supports it, helps manage hunger, stimulates fat burning, inhibits amylase enzyme and slows the absorption of carbohydrates but does not block them and it is not meant to be long-term, it is there to stimulate a process that is just off balance until it gets balanced again.  I also love that it has Chromium in it, which an added bonus).  Servings: 60 Price: $69.95

I know this is a lot of information, but if you want more detailed information please email me at info@asimplebite.com  I would love to answer questions or point you in the right direction.

Friends...I'm choosing this topic because as I wrote last week, we lost a great friend in Amy last week to cancer.  After processing, and attending her funeral, I can't help but write about friendships.  It hit me harder than I thought.  Mostly because I miss the friendships I once had in my teenage years, and although I knew I was blessed back then with great friends, you don't realize how great they are until you don't see them as often.

Growing up in the 90's was a fun and unique period.  Let's see, grunge, alternative, computers, Pearl Jam, techno, got any more??  I had a wonderful experience (not perfect) but I grew up with a group of friends who stood by each other.  We all went to different schools, we often times didn't talk every day, but we connected on Wednesdays and Sundays at Forest Hill Church, here in Charlotte, NC.  It was awesome.  We gathered, socialized, did probably pretty stupid things sometimes.  We sang, learned about Christ, and followed our youth leaders around like we were disciples or maybe more like ducks following their Mamas.  I have so many fond memories.

But, what I want to say is there were several points that stuck with me at the funeral Wednesday.  The first is my desire to be a GREAT friend to people not just a Good friend.  One of the girls was by my friend's side the ENTIRE time she battled cancer.  She served Amy so well! Unconditionally!  The second was a trait Amy had with her friends and that was to be constant and consistent.  The final and last quality or who I want to strive to become is a person who trusts God unconditionally.  It was described at the funeral regarding Amy, that she had NO CHOICE but to trust God with her daughter and her husband.  She had to let go and just completely leave it up to God...her situation was completely out of her control, and she LIVED like she trusted God.  I must admit that I like to hold things close.  Do you?

I wanted to say to these friendships, I was so blessed to have in the 90's,  you all are the foundation of my walk with Christ.  It started with you!  Your friendships were the first that I was able to process my walk with God with.  I feel so blessed seeing a number of you at her funeral.  I often take the friendships in my life for granted.  And, many of them I pass by.  They take work, and require being selfless which can be hard.  I desire those kind of relationships, I think it is what God wants us to experience in real community.

Lord, help me be a  good friend to the friends that I have around, may I be consistent and constant, may I learn to trust You in all areas of my life by letting go to things (people), I hold close.  May You have all the glory for who You have molded me to be, but make no mistake friends, God used each one of you to help me with my journey!

Us Now.

Fresh green beans are the absolute best!  They are green, they are fresh...am I stating the obvious?  They are just delicious.  As I was sitting, snapping my green beans for the week, I thought "there are so many different ways to prepare green beans!"  I take mine, snap them, and then freeze them for later.  But, here are some ways that I use green beans when the "later" approaches.  I'm linking to some great recipes that I have tried.  I hope you enjoy them too!  If you have some ways you have used green beans, please share them with me!  I would love to try yorus too!

1.  Baked Green Beans (On bar pan, drizzle olive oil and parm cheese and sea salt).
2.  Toasted Almond Green Bean Salad!  Seriously its yummy and easy!  Low GI too...for those of you that know I am a firm believer in low GI foods.
3.  Honey Balsamic Green Beans.  A healthy and not fried recipe from Paula Dean.  But, just a slight twist on normal green beans, which I like.  Makes a great side!
4.  Crispy Sesame Green Bean Fries...you will die...they are so delicious!  I do cheat a little on the homemade bread crumbs...because less face it, there is just not enough time in the day, but she also provides a gluten free version.  But these are totally low GI as well and make a great snack for even your youngest lovely. (You'll love her blog too! )
5.  Green Bean and Artichoke Casserole - I think this makes a fantastic side dish with some chicken.  Just another unique way to prepare your green beans.

This was Amy when we were in highschool.

A friend of mine passed away this past weekend of breast cancer.  She fought the greatest battle I have ever seen when it comes to cancer.  3 years was her battle, I'm sure others have been longer.  She has a tremendous story.  One which she shared so openly on her blog Marginalia and her Caring Bridge Site.  I am still processing, and feel unqualified, small, and a bit misplaced when I write about her.  How did I know her?  Well, I was 13 and attended youth group for the first time at Forest Hill Church. My parents wanted to find a church I connected with and it was my first Sunday.  Which happened to be picture Sunday.  So I was forced into a youth group picture with a bunch of folks I didn't know. Amy happened to be in these pictures.  I remember her laugh.  It was loud.  I remember her smile because she did it all the time.  After my parents decided to attend there regularly I saw her regularly.  We did go to different schools.  But, every Sunday and Wednesday evenings we were present in the same room, singing youth group songs, laughing and learning about Jesus together.  It was great.

I thought for this first Friday of my blog I would give a small tutorial on knitting.  I LOVE to knit!  It was something my grandmother taught me, and I picked it up quickly, but also read books on how to get better at it.  In college, I would knit scarves, hats, socks, blankets, I almost joined a knitting club with some ladies in the small town where I went to school so that I could sit at their feet as they knitted far greater projects than I could dream of, but they met on a night I couldn't meet.

Before my grandmother passed away she knitted me several scarves.  I have kept them, and some of them were too small for my taste, so I passed them down to my daughter, who wears them regularly (I wish my grandmother were alive to see how much she loves them).  This week, my son (age 3) requested a scarf, and I could not find a boy colored scarf from my grandmother, so I rummaged through my craft closet and found my knitting needles and some green yarn just dying to be used!  I had not picked up my needles in almost 6 years...but it came back rather quickly and within a few hours, my son had a new scarf.  I hope he treasures it like my daughter and I both treasure the ones made for us by my grandmother.  In fact, I wish I had a picture, because at her funeral all of us grandkids wore the scarves she had made each of us individually.

So in honor of my grandmother who passed away December 17th, 2008 here is a video tutorial I found on You Tube.  My suggestion BTW for yarn is to get baby yarn to start with, it is soft, works great, easy to manage, and stretches.  I use several different size knitting needles but the ones I make scarves out of (which is a great way to start) are size 6 and can be found at Walmart.

Anyone else knit??  I would love to see or hear about your projects or any other tutorials you can share!

I am processing "rest" this week.  It is a topic that I barely understand.  I'm a wife, mom, entrepreneur, bible study leader for other moms, etc.  I have WAY too many hats to R-E-S-T!  However, God has been speaking to me about it lately.  Mostly boundaries in the area of rest.  I want so badly to do better in this area in 2013!  While on detox this week, it allows me to process other changes that need to be made.  I mean, it is a time for setting goals right?

Just a small bite:  Owning my own business, I have come to realize that it is difficult to get away.  Each time we schedule something, a client of mine "needs" me in some way shape or form - and my rest or vacation is interrupted.  It can be quite frustrating, and doesn't really allow for much rest for me or my family.  Especially, since most of the business is on my shoulders (I don't have employees).   But, I think rest goes beyond vacation doesn't it??  Why do we wait for vacations to rest?

There are two verses that come to mind when I think of rest, and I can't help but think that God has something very important to say in these verses.   "Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).  Personally, when I don't rest, I not only feel disconnected, but I feel tired, heavy with worry, anxiety circles around me, and I have a hard time focusing.  Sometimes the opposite can happen too, where I just literally feel like doing absolutely nothing!  I am completely not engaged with my family (husband, children, etc) and life just gets blah.  Not quite depression, but a great sign that I have not had rest.  Rest isn't just 8hrs. of sleep a night.  No, for me it goes far beyond that.  Rest is being able to spend time alone (I am really an introvert who loves people), spending time in God's Word, spending time doing hobbies I enjoy, and spending time with my family.  When I don't have these, I feel weary and I feel not rested.

I was reading in Hebrews, did you know the book alone has 14 words that relate back to rest??  But, one of the words was translated "restored" and I noticed the word "rest" in the word "restored"!  (Hebrews 13:9) YES!  That is how I feel when I am truly well rested!  I feel like a new person and I feel God and my family, and the women I am blessed to serve, get my best. There is a piece of the wellness puzzle that cannot be forgotten, especially for us busy ladies, it is REST...in the many areas of our life.    I want to be able to be my best and give my best so rest MUST become a priority.

What about you?  What makes you feel well rested?

About every 6 months I do what I call a detox week.  It is a period of time between 4 - 7 days where I eat nothing but vegetables and a few servings of fruit.  Please do not try this if you have medical issues, or are pregnant or nursing.  Also, if you are unsure of your health it is best to speak with a doctor first.  But, for me it is great.  Vegetables are a great source of dietary fiber and it allows my body to "recover" a bit from all the comfort food eating I tend to do some of during the holidays.  So January is a good place to start for me, as well as right before summer starts or when the kids get out of school.  If you are the type of person that does not like veggies (I once was that person), there is a great detox kit I can recommend here.  It has all the vital essentials for doing a proper detox that is not a fruit and veggie detox.  I prefer the fruit and veggie detox, I get better results, and it literally puts my body in a great place.  The first 2 - 3 days I feel a little tired, mostly from caffeine withdrawl, but after that I am good.  I NEVER go hungry because you can eat whenever you want all day if you need to, it just needs to be veggies.  ;)

I have several good detox meals click here to view 1 of my menus, and I definitely plan the week for meals.  My kids eat the veggies as sides, so it is easy to fit into our daily routine.  You can check out my Pinterest for some good and yummy detox ideas.  It doesn't get boring.  Or at least I try my best for it not to be.

Tonight, for example was a spin off of Eggplant parmesan.  I added minimal cheese, with spaghetti sauce over top of the eggplant with fresh green beans that I cut and baked with a small hint of olive oil (so they wouldn't dry out) and sea salt.  I made a snack throughout the day of some deliciously baked butternut squash cubes!  I didn't go hungry!

How do you recover from a crazy season of eating?