The End of Winter Comfort Foods

Zucchini Goat Cheese Pizza

-Whole grain pizza dough (can be found in the deli or bakery)

-Zucchini (cut in slices)

-organic tomatoes

-low-fat cream cheese

-goat cheese or chevre'

-basil

Directions: Roll out dough and flatten (you may need to let the dough rest before you do this). Cook dough at 350 degrees (or according to your directions) until just golden brown. Mix together the cheeses with basil and spread over cooked dough. Place remaining ingredients and bake for 400 degrees until hot and bubbly.

Chicken or Veggie Pot Pie

-Ready-made (rolled) pie crust

-frozen peas and carrots

-organic chicken (*optional)

-egg white or milk

-small pie pans or one large one

-chicken broth

-flour or corn starch

Directions: boil chicken in water and spices of your choice (I use garlic and thyme) or put chicken and broth in crock pot. Once chicken is cooked, drain. Add enough chick broth/stock to make a thick soup, add veggies. Add flour or corn starch to thicken. Assemble pie shells by pressing into pie pans. Pour chicken/veggie mixture (be sure its as thick as stew) into the pie shell. Take remaining pie shell and cover and flute edges. Brush egg white or milk on the pie shell to encourage browning. Bake in oven at 350 until golden brown.

Comfort Sandwiches!

You can make any sandwich into a 'comfort', put-on-your-slippers sandwich. This is done by simply grilling both sides. You can achieve this by brushing both sides with butter. Two of my favorites:

Turkey Au Jus

-Turkey

-swiss cheese

-white onion

Directions: Cook onions in beef stock/broth until tender. Add turkey or meat of your choice. Place meat mixture aside (or one your prepared bread). Heat up the broth and start adding flour/corn starch until it thickens a bit--but not too much, you're not making gravy (keep it a darker brown color). Set aside for dip. Assemble sandwich with veggies and cheese and grill both sides. Dip sandwich with every bite. Viola!

Turkey Apple Brie

There is something so comforting about turkey! It must be that thanksgiving day fullness we feel. Here is how to recapture that day in a twist:

-turkey

-brie

-thin sliced granny smith apples

Directions: assemble sandwich and grill both sides.

Turkey Meatballs and/or Meatless Meatballs, with spaghetti!

1 lb ground meat or Bocca Burger

3/4 cup bread crumbs or 3 slices of toasted bread

1/2 cup onion finely chopped (I used dried onion)

2 Tbsp Basil

1 tbsp ground thyme

1 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp Sea Salt

I egg

Olive Oil

Garlic Powder

spaghetti

Red pasta sauce

Directions: Mix all ingredients together to form your meatballs (or meatless meatballs). Coat balls in oil or pour olive oil on the bottom of a oven safe dish. Bake in oven at 375 (flipping once) until golden brown. Serve hot with spaghetti and red sauce.

Zeolite

So I decided I would do a 30-day detox using zeolite. This was prompted with the flu-riden town I was living in. I had been talked into getting the nasal mist Flu vaccine and was opting-out for my 6 month-old. Vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, has a lot of additives such as aluminum which is a heavy metal toxin.

We are surrounded by toxins every day and especially if you live in a big city the toxins can start to build up. Some people may have higher toxins than others. For example, we live in a military base that has been in the news for the last century of known aluminum in the water. What could such toxins do to a person? This information is still unknown but there are many victims claiming rare forms of cancer, diabetes, tumors, and more. For this reasons I have chosen not to drink the drinking water (nor have I ever drank so called 'safe' municipal water). Sure, I still cook with the water, (boiling it first) and bathe in it (including my son).

Another factor that now puts me at higher risks for toxins is my recent c-section that required a spinal tap. "A spinal anesthetic involves the insertion of a needle, usually in the lumbar (low back) region, followed by the injection of a local anesthetic solution. The needle is then withdrawn, and the anesthetic effect occurs quite rapidly. Spinal anesthesia has been around for a long time, and is recognized as a safe and effective means of providing anesthesia for cesarean section. Because the onset of anesthesia is very rapid and reliable, some centers use spinal anesthesia routinely for elective c-sections. "

Since my surgery I have had back pain. This could be due to weakened muscles. I have also noticed an increase in PMS, back pain before and during my menstrual cycle and increase in flow.

So, this leads me to my quests for better health and well-being. A friend of mine recommended zeolite. When doing this type of detox it is important to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration.

Day 1: So how do I feel? Like I have to pee every minute. I feel a little sleepy, which is common. Will update in a few days.