Sugar Free Recipes!!

Honey Orange Chicken
modified Chef Shaun recipe from KPS


3/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup honey (we also use agave)
1 t grated ginger
1 t garlic
zest from one orange
1 t salt (optional)
1/8 t pepper
1 1/2 lbs chicken breast
1 t vegetable oil (we use coconut)

1. Combine first seven ingredients. Add chicken and stir to coat
cover and refridgerate for 30 minutes.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat until hot; add vegetable oil and swirl to coat. Lift chicken from marinade and let excess drip back into bowl. When oil is hot, add chicken and cook over medium heat 3 minutes per side until golden brown.
3. Add reserved marinade to skillet and boil over medium-high heat, turning chicken once or twice, 3 to 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and sauce is reduced by half. Transfer chicken to cutting board, cut into diagonal slices, and arrange on a plated. Spoon sauce over chicken.

***We make this recipe nearly every week. The kids LOVE it! We eat it over rice.


Citrus Salmon
Recipe by Melanie

Zest from one orange (or Lemon)
2 teaspoons grated ginger
3 Tablespoons softened (not melted) butter
3 Tablespoons agave or honey
1 teaspon garlic (or one clove minced)
1 lb salmon (wild caught)

Grease a pie pan or 9 x9 glass dish. Mix first 5 ingredients. Put mixture over salmon. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until Salmon flakes.

My kids LOVE this recipe! They ask for Salmon and it is so healthy!!! =)

REFLECTION!!!!

I was reflection today about how my life has changed since going sugar free!

Here are a few improvements:

1. I no longer want sugar. It looks good, it smells good, and I am sure it would taste good, but I now how harmful it would be!

2. I really do not crave sugar. If for some bizarre reason I have a craving-the craving is extremely mild and I can talk myself out of it!

3. I have energy! I do not crash in the afternoons.

4. I feel good enough I may never go back to consuming sugar.

After my detox my metabolism will be "restarted" until I have my first serving of -you guessed it, SUGAR!!! (According to my chiropractor)

detoxing!!!

Today, I went to the chiro and have started detoxing, however, I will not be adding the weight loss (diet) part until next Friday-April 30th. I was tested for bugs (viral, bacterial, fungus, etc) and am on 4 different detox supplements. As suggested by the chiro, I am going to let the supplements fight off all the bugs before adding the diet. 2 of the 4 supplements can make me feel icky.
I am so excited to start the diet element of the detox. From what I have heard, I may lose 15lbs in 21 days!!! I am so excited. I may be crazy getting so excited about eating only fruits, veggies, and protien shakes!

I have started the Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred. I completed day 2 on the second level (there are 3 levels). I am sore but I am determined.

Goals!!! 2 days until I start my weight loss detox!!

I am so excited about my 21 day detox!!! I will be eating ONLY fruit, veggies, and protein shakes for the first 10 days.(50% more veggies than fruit, and 50% of my veggies are to be raw) Following the 1st 10 days, I will be adding small quantities of lean meat. I will be drinking at least 64 oz of water and taking supplements (several pills)! I have heard of people losing an incredible amount of weight.

I will also be starting Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred work out!! YAY!

1. Start Shred workout MONDAY!
2. Drink 64 ounces of water starting MONDAY!
3. Shop for a variety of veggies and fruit.
4. Blog EVERY day of detox (and add pictures)

counting down, goals

9 days until I start my weight loss cleanse!!! Yay! I am so excited. I will be starting April 21st with eating fruits, veggies, and protein drinks. =) I will post more about this cleanse as I start it. For those of you who know the dangers of completing a cleanse, I will be monitored by a health care professional!

Goals:
1. Maintain weight loss
2. Drink more water
3. Portion control (eat less)
4. Locate 30 day shred video (Jillian Micheal's) to use during my cleanse
5. Exercise 3-5 times this week!
6. Watch cleanse video to prepare for cleanse (I have a video that explains the steps of the cleanse)

I am still sugar free!!!!! =) (and my husband is 10+ days sugar free!!!!

Super yummy

Granola bars:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all purpose flour (I use a GF multi-purpose flour)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup butter, softened (I use coconut oil or a combo of both)

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 cups nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips (I use raisins and dried cherries)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease 9x13 pan.

2. In bowl combine oats, flour, soda, vanilla, butter, honey, brown sugar. Stir in 2 cups of nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips.

3. Lightly press mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 325 for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool 10 minutes and cut into bars. Let cool completely before removing from pan.

*I press the granola bars with a spatula as soon as they come out of the oven and they hold together better.

**If you cut them early or get them out of the pan early they will crumble. =)

***I make at least 2 batches at a time and bag them individually. I put them in the fridge or freezer as a quick snack. The kids love 'em!

*****This is not a sugar free recipe so I do not eat them!! I have made them sugar free with agave but I sill do not eat them (because I do not eat oats). BUT the people in my life that eat these say they are better than store-bought granola bars!!!

pictures-yay for progress!

To date, I have lost 20lbs!! I would like to lose at least 25 more pounds!! =)

Lately, I am struggling to complete full workouts. I am still exercising abour 3 times a week, but I would like to intensify the workouts!!!