Lunch, Dinner – Guacamole – Probably the World’s Best!

Here is a staple part of my weekly meals. I try to make it more when organic avocados are seasonal. No matter how you have made it in the past, I invite you to try this recipe just once. You will be hooked. You do not need to eat this with chips. It is an amazing accompaniment to seafood, a topping on spicy chili, a side to roast chicken. You get the idea – do not limit it’s use!

Ingredients (makes about 2 cups)
• 2 ripe organic avocados
• 1/4 to 1/2 small red onion, finely minced
• 1 large clove garlic, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 5 teaspoons fresh organic lime juice (2 to 3 limes)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh organic cilantro
• 1/2 organic jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional but recommended)
• 1 small ripe organic tomato, seeded and diced (optional)

Tools
Fork, medium bowl with lid or saran wrap, sharp cutting knife and board, citrus juicer with collecting cup.

Tip: If you are making this ahead of time put one of the pits on top of the mixture to further prevent any brownness. (the acid of the lime juice will do this too).

Directions
Halve and pit the avocados and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash the avocados coarsely with a fork and stir in the remaining ingredients. Can be made 2 hours in advance; cover with wrap or bowl cover and keep chilled.

A Journey from Darkness – Week 6

I had more tests done. Things are not looking good for me on the long term, but Cat assures me we can tackle this latest news together and not to fear an interim diagnosis. I would love to share with you what that was, but I would like to protect this piece of my privacy, which I hope you understand.

Man, have I been having a lot of regrets lately. One of my silly flash cards reads,“Regrets cripple the future.” Ouch!

I hate the term wake-up call. But, I cannot find another word to express the fact that I feel this crazy sense of urgency and helplessness all at once.

Professionally, at least for me, I am keeping all this to myself. My performance of the past 1.5 years hardly allows me a pity-party at work, and I think to some degree it would be used against me.

I am hanging in there. I got a pay-cut. Nothing huge – but I think my Boss wanted to sort of backhand slap me a final time.
I think my performance is there. Thank God my health is not impairing my work.

Eating regularly and eating well are changing me for the better.

I was away all last week but stayed in a hotel that allowed me to give them my diet plan and send me food that kept me out of the sugar devil’s way. I paid out of pocket for this – but it was worth it.

I lost 1.5 more pounds. This really was never my goal – but face it – if we can button things up easier – we feel happier. A sad reality of the human psyche, right?

I have signed on to another 6 week program at The Second Act. I will update you periodically with my progress, as it also keeps me more accountable.

I do hope that if one person out there has learned that your diet and mental health intrinsically affect your overall life – then my job is done!

Until next time, eat well and remember not to take anything for granted.

Jenny

Lunch, Dinner, Leftovers: The Best Baked Chicken Nuggets and Spicy Dipping Sauce

It’s Wednesday and you are tempted to order out. Or, worse yet, put that aging frozen pizza in the oven. Please don’t do either.

This recipe is easy and I will give you lots of prep tips so you can do it fresh when you get home.

What you need to serve 2-3 persons:

Nuggets

• 3 boneless free-range chicken breasts
• ¼ bag of baked organic potato chips – all the stuff that no wanted. Stale is fine.
• ½ cup of panko or spelt crumbs (for diet – spelt is healthier – sheer taste go for panko)
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose organic flour – gluten-free types use brown rice flour
• 2/3 cup of cold buttermilk or whole milk (secret – you can use 1 tablespoon organic fat-free sour cream in 1/3 cup of whole milk plus a bit of water to create a buttermilk like taste)
• Pinch of sea salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
• Dry parsley
• Pinch of cayenne
• Optional: spray olive oil

Sweet Chilli Sauce

• 3 peeled organic garlic cloves (taste so much better than regular)
• 2 fresh red chillies – either Serrano or Jalapeño
• ½ teaspoon of dry red chillies – if you want more fire power
• ¼ cup organic cane sugar
• ¼ cup organic apple juice at room temperature
• ¾ cup purified water (tap affects the taste)
• ¼ teaspoon of sea salt
• ¾ tablespoon of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of room temperature water

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