My Month of "hell"

I know I haven't been blogging lately, and I am so sorry for the lack of attention. I do have a reason, though you be the judge of it being a "good" reason.

So here goes nothin!

We have to go back, way back, to December of 2012. I woke up one day with this splitting headache. I felt like I was going to die. At this point I was training for the Colfax half, so I was trying to get some miles in, but this headache landed me on the couch for days.

After a week of this, my mind started to get foggy, I couldn't concentrate, I felt lost all the time, it was hard to just put a thought together. I decided to go see my doctor, he ordered a CT scan. Everything came back clean and good however my symptoms seemed to progress. I reached a point where I stopped driving. I was still trying to run, but the next day I would be down and out for the count. I was put on the waiting list to see a Neurologist.

I was put on several different types of medications, some made me blow up like a puffer fish, others made me lose all appetite.

Finally, the beginning in May, just a week before my Half, I see my Neurologist and he notices that I'm "off". The feeling in my legs are off, my balance is off, he can see swelling behind my eyes.

Well, he instantly admits me to the Hospital with a very evil dosage of DHE. 5 rounds for 3 days of this vile stuff that cause me the become violently ill, nothing worked. So we tried it again... 5 rounds for 3 days, by this point I am in tears.

What's next? well the next logical thing of course...

A spinal tap!

Yep!

One of my biggest fears, spinal taps. Having lost a mother to Leukemia (this is how you find out you have the cancer), I was shaking the whole time, the room started spinning at a point, and I know the tech was trying to talk to me to get me to relax but there was no way. I was a lone, scared and just spend 2 weeks hooked up to the vile D.H.E.

I'm the lucky person that he can't get fluid the first try, so with a needle sticking out my back, he leaves me on the table, walks OUT OF THE ROOM, and finds another needle to restick me. Mind you these long needles are IN BETWEEN MY SPINE.

Just typing this makes me want to cry. I hated every second of it. I am finally wheeled off to recovery where you lay flat and don't move for an hour.

The next day I sit up and I'm one of those 20% chance of a Post-LP headache. YAY lucky me! I'm rushed to the ER. What is this headeache? I'm glad you asked. Basically the fluid where you brain is doesn't stay filled so your brain bounces around. Very painful. I couldn't even hold my head up without excruciating pain.

To fix this, they do what is called a "blood patch". Basically an epidural but they are putting YOUR blood back in to patch that whole, like 10 cc of blood.

Thank goodness for pain meds!

So needless to say I did NOT run the colfax half, I was having a spinal tap instead.

Besides numerous busted veins, long nights alone in a hospital and facing fears, I'm finally feeling better.

I do believe I'm on the road to recovery. We still don't know what is wrong with me. I seem to be responding well to my current medications, I still get headaches  but nothing like before. I go back on the 15th to see if the swelling is still there and see what happens from there.

But I'm still training for the Rock N Roll Full Marathon and I'm almost on Month 2 of Insanity. I think I've had enough set backs, time to go forward!

From my fab friend Amanda after my spinal tap

Celebratory Crab Cakes

Tonight I wanted to make something different. I don’t usually make seafood, as the husband is repulsed by it, however he is working tonight and I am celebrating losing another inch off my waist.

Oh, I haven’t shared have I?!

                                

I have been working hard since my “month of hell”, which I will blog about next, but that is neither here nor there. 

Anyways on to something different, I decided to make Crab Cakes with Fresh Lemon.

Crab Cakes, 311 calories

They turned out AMAZING! My 6 year old asked “mommy, are these made out of marshmallows?”

And to top it off, they are only 311 calories for TWO crab cakes. WIN!

Recipe:

2/3 cup yellow cornmeal

1/3 cup fat-free milk

1 small sweet red pepper, finely chopped

4 green onions, chopped

1 teaspoon canola oil

3 egg whites, lightly beaten

1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise

¼ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup minced fresh parsley

2 tablespoons lemon juice

¼ teaspoon seafood seasoning

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 pouches (3.53 ounces EACH) premium crabmeat, drained

1 cup frozen corn, thawed

8 lemon wedges

·         In a large bowl, combine cornmeal and milk; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet, sauté red pepper and onions in oil until tender. Remove from the heat.

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·         Add the egg whites, mayonnaise, flour, parsley, lemon juice, seafood seasoning and cayenne to the reserved cornmeal mixture; mix well. Fold in the crab, corn and red pepper mixture.

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·         Coat the same skillet with cooking spray; drop crab mixture by scant ½ cupfuls into the pan. Press into ¾-in. thick patties.    Cook in batches over medium heat for 4-6 minutes on each     side or until golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges.

YIELD: 4 servings

NUTRITION FACTS: 2 crab cakes equals: 311 calories, 9 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 67 mg cholesterol, 764 mg sodium, 43 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 17 g protein.

My never fail Deviled Eggs

So the other day, I had a big BBQ, with ribs, homemade burgers, beer brats, potato salad and supposedly deviled eggs.

However, I HAVE to have my deviled egg recipe. Sounds funny, most people just go off taste, I know. But you don't mess with my recipe, those that have had my deviled eggs can attest to that. . I looked everywhere for it and just couldn't find it. People where coming in, burgers where cooking, ribs where done, and the eggs where just sitting there open and waiting to be mixed.

Before I knew it, I just had to throw in the towel on the deviled eggs, much to my husband's dismay. They are one of his favorites, and he always looks forward to me making them.

So I finally found that elusive recipe, a few days too late. I'm posting it here so I never have that tragedy of throwing away a dozen hard boiled eggs again.

12 Hard-cooked eggs
1/2 cup light Mayo
1 tsp ground Mustard
1 tsp White Vinegar
1/8 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp black Pepper
Paprika

Trust me when I say, you don't mess with this science.

Food series Breakdown- Spicy Goulash

Tonight's dish is one of my favorites, because it is flavorful, spicy, made in a crock-pot and within anyone's budget! 

 

It's Spicy Goulash! What is Goulash? Good question, it is a Hungarian stew that is made up of meat, noodles, vegetables and spices. 

My goulash makes 12 servings, so there is PLENTY of left overs or a great dish to make for company; as it totals out to $1.48 PER SERVING! ALSO it's only 210 calories per servings to boot.                                                                                   When was the last time you where able to feed up to 12 people for under $20 and the meal be healthy, chalked full of filling foods, and delicious? I do believe this is a winner for nutritious and affordable.

 

RECIPE BELOW: 

1lb. Ground Turkey (or beef)

6 cans Rotel (or 4 cans 14 1/2 ozs each Mexican diced tomatoes) undrained

2 cans (16oz each) Kidney beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups water

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green pepper, chopped

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tbsps chili powder

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbsps beef bouillon granules

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried parsley flakes

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

 

In a large skillet, cook meat over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, water, onion, green pepper, vinegar, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, bouillon and seasonings. 

 

Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until heated through.

Stir in macaroni, cover and cook 30 minutes longer or until macaroni is tender.

YIELD: 12 Servings

Nutrition Facts:

1 Cup:
213 Calories

4g fat

24mg cholesterol

585mg sodium

30g carbohydrate

6g fiver

15g protein

Food Series Breakdown- Pizza Roll Ups

Tonight is Pizza and Movie night. Usually this would cost a pretty penny AND more than a daily's worth of calories; but not when you do it right with my Pizza Roll ups and OnDemand TV.

2 Slices of Cheese hand toss pizza from Pizza Hut is 640 calories and is $3.80 a serving

My Healthy Pizza Roll Up are 316 calories and $1.83 a serving.


I do believe we have a winner! And bonus round.... my stomach doesn't hurt nor do I feel like pure grease after eating the Roll up.

What do you think? Affordable to be healthy? 

Recipe below:

 1/2 lb lean ground beef (I use ground turkey, Italian style)
1 tube (13.8) refrigerated Pizza Crust
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped Spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 jar (7 oz) roasted sweet red peppers, drained and slice (optional)
1 cup (4oz) shredded part-skim Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves
Cooking Spray
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 can (8 oz) pizza sauce, warmed


In a small nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.

Unroll dough into on long rectangle; top with spinach, beef, roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with onion powder and pepper. Top with basil. 

 

Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; tuck ends under and pinch seam to seal. Place roll-up on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; spritz top ad sides with additional cooking spray. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

 Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes. Cut into scant 1-in. slices. Service with warm pizza sauce.

YIELD: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts: 2 slices w/ 2 Tbsps pizza sauce:

316 calories
8g fat
30 mg cholesterol
824 mg sodium
37 g carbohydrate
3 g fiber
20 g protein 

Food series breakdown- Vermont Turkey Loaf

This is my first blog on the series I am starting to breakdown the cost of healthy food made at home.

Last nigh I made Vermont Turkey Loaf, Homemade Mash Potatoes, Gravy and Peas.

This meal made four servings (which we are a family of four!)

This meal breaks down to.... *drum roll*

$3.50 PER PERSON

 or

$14 for the whole family. 

Is that within your budget?! 

Recipe Below: 


 Vermont Turkey Loaf:

2/3 cup chopped Onion
2/3 cup chopped Carrots
2/3 cup Bread Crumbs
1 lb ground Turkey
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper

In a small skillet coated with cooking spray, saute the onion and carrot until tender, cool slighty.

In a small bowl, combine the vegetables, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into a loaf.

Place in loaf pan that is coated in cooking spray and bake, uncovered at 375 for 35 minutes  or until juices run clear.

Makes four servings.

Nutirition Facts: Per Serving
292 Calories
11 g Fat
90 mg Cholesterol
629 mg sSodium
25 g Carbohydrate
2 g Fiber
23 g Protein

Fast food vs healthy food

I had a discussion (or close to one as you can get on an online forum) about the price of fast food vs healthy food.

I’ve been hearing the excuse “Fast food is just cheaper…” or “Healthy foods are too expensive!”  I felt the need to defend healthy products such as fresh produce and healthy cuts of meats. So, I started to see why they felt fast food, or just processed foods, where the way to go. 

When I ask them what they are buying, I am floored to find out that not only do they buy produce out of season, they feel the need to buy ONLY Organic. Now, if you are into the whole Organic movement, that is fine, but I PERSONALLY feel it’s crazy to ask consumers to pay over double the price for the same product. 

When I finally picked my jaw up off the floor, it struck me that I should start a blog series of my not so secret method of eating right, meal planning and produce.

Step 1. KNOW YOUR PRODUCE.

Know what is in and out of season. You will pay well over triple times the price for out of season fruits and vegetables.  Here is an amazing guide:

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/what-fruits-and-vegetables-are-in-season

Step 2.  PLAN YOUR MEALS

Planning can help you get like ingredients, which will cut down on the cost of meals. If I have seven recipes in front of me, and three have the same herbs in it, I will plan those three first .

Step 3. STOCK UP ON SAVING

When I have canned items or items that can be frozen, I stock up when they are on sale. We eat a lot of ground turkey in our house, when I found it at Safeway for $3 a lb, instead of $6 a lb, I stocked up! Turkey can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months (that’s half a year!).  That is two for the price of one. When tomato sauce is on sale for $.20 a can, I stock up! I think you get the point of this one. When you spot a deal and go “That is a great price” why just buy one? The more you have on hand at the cheaper price, the less you have to buy later for full price.

I saw someone post this great article, this is food for thought:

http://www.dailyspark.com/what_20_will_buy_at_the_drivethru_and_the_supermarket

Now with my steps out there, I am going to start a new blog series I hope you enjoy! I am going to make my delicious healthy meals then breaking down what it costs per person. You’ll be amazed at how cheap it is to eat healthy and at home!

Vermont Turkey Loaf Breakdown: Here
Pizza Roll-Ups Breakdown: Here
Spicy Goulash: Here