Soooo Easy Gluten Free Pizza

Confession:  The title is a little misleading.  It's not exactly pizza but it is delicious and looks like pizza.  You won't care if it technically is not a pizza.  Dare I say, it possibly tastes better than a pizza.  Do I have your attention yet?  Are sitting on the edge of your seat?  Okay, I'll just tell you what makes this gluten free pizza so special.  The crust is meat.  No flours to mix or dough to let rise.  No gums or messy starches or ingredient lists that go on for pages.  The recipe is so simple and takes no time at all to make.  Basically take a meat, egg, and spice mixture and bake it.  Add toppings and pop it back in the oven to broil for a few minutes.  Voila!  It's a Meatza!  It takes me less than 30 minutes to make start to finish.  

I was introduced to Meatza (click link to see recipe) by Nia Shanks, a writer and personal trainer.  Nia is a fitness "guru" who has written books on training and nutrition including Fat Loss Detour.  She is also a co-founder of  Girls Gone Strong  – The Women’s Fitness Authority.  I highly recommend that you go to her site and take a look around.  I love her no-nonsense training and nutrition philosophy.  


But I digress, back to Meatza.  There are so many possibilities!  You can treat it just like a homemade pizza:  Pineapple and Ham or Bacon, Fresh Spinach, and Roma Tomatoes or BBQ Chicken with Cheddar Cheese or Good Ol'  Pepperoni (Hormel's is gluten free).  


If you are like me and you have an egg allergy, Ener-G Foods Egg Replacer is a great substitute.

This is Nia's Meatza.  Yummmmmmm!

Oh, and for all you people on the GAPS Diet....hello, pizza!  Note:  Mozzarella is on The Naughty List, but plenty of other cheeses are on The Recommended List like Monterrey Jack, Cheddar, and Gouda.  You could even get super fancy and make a Meatza with Brie and Caramelized Onions!






For another easy gluten free "pizza," check out Coconut Egg Crust Pizza.

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Giveaway!

This contest has ended.  Thanks to those who participated!  I maybe hosting another My Memories Suite giveaway in the future so check back. 



I'm excited today to share with you a great product that is the answer to my "what do I do with all those pictures on my hard drive?" question.  It's called My Memories Suite and is the #1 rated scrapbooking software by Amazon and TopTen Reviews.  

My Memories gave me two copies of their software, one for me to review and one for a lucky reader.  Enter the My Memories Suite Giveaway and win the software along with a $10 credit to be used at the My Memories store.  

Not a scrapbook enthusiast?  My Memories digital software is not just for scrapbooking. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination: DVD slideshows, calendars, greeting cards, posters, and fun printables are just some of the ways to get your craft on with My Memories scrapbook software.  Here is a video that shows you some of the great projects you can make with My Memories Suite.  

 

*Note:  This video is to demonstrate the diversity of My Memories Suite. 

The product shown is not the latest version.

Before I had the twins (children #4 and #5) I was an avid scrapbooker.  I had family books and a series of books for each child.  I poured hundreds of dollars into stamps, papers, and doo-dads that are now bursting out of the drawers I've stuffed them in.  What a mess!  After the twins were born and two years later I have only scrapped a few pages and those were for the twins' baby books.  Needless to say, I don't have time to scrapbook any more and I don't have the room at my house for all the scrapbooking supplies.

This is a designer template.  All I had to do was put the pictures
 in the photo boxes and write a little in the journal box.  You can choose
to do these pre-made pages or start from scratch and design it all yourself.

I had dabbled with photo books but the pages turned out bland and sterile.  As I worked on my first photo book I kept thinking, 'I wish there was a fast and simple way to get cute, personalized pages like traditional scrapbooking'.  I thought "digital" meant that you could not have physical books of the albums you created.  After reading about My Memories Suite, I found out that not only can I have a book in hand to flip through and show off, but I can also have a digital copy in case something happened to the book.  I can also send a digital copy complete with music and narration to my family.  My parents and in-laws will love having a copies of our albums to look through whenever they want (which is every day 'cause my kids are so darn precious).

  Here's an example of a fun printable you can create with My Memories Suite:

I am not a technologically savvy person.  If fact, I call myself "technologically challenged".  Ask anyone who has tried to help me with something computer related and they will confirm this.  My point is, the software is simple and user friendly.  If I can do it, anyone can! 

My Memories has been kind enough to offer a great deal to all my readers: 

Simply enter STMMMS13535 at checkout to receive $10 off the purchase of the MyMemories Suite scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the My Memories store. That's a $20 value! 

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Code:  STMMMS13535

Lose The Weight In 2012

This post has been a long time coming.  I do not throw fitness advice around flippantly, and so after a year come January 6, 2012, I am ready to share with you a weight loss/fitness system that is healthy and actually works!  You don't have to clear your calendar to spend every spare moment in the gym, you don't have to empty your wallet to look and feel your best.

I have no hidden agenda.  I am not making any money by posting this and sharing it with you.  I simply want you to know there is an easier, better way to a healthy, beautiful body.  I don't want you to spend 2012 spinning your wheels at the gym and trying diet after diet going up and down the scale over and over or flat out seeing no results at all.


This is your year to get healthy and see jaw dropping results.

"J" before

"J" ..... 2 weeks later!

Before you read further you are going to have to open your mind and disregard all the information you have read in magazines and all the nutrition advice you have been given by the government, friends, trainers, and "experts."

For the last year I have been doing a diet and exercise program developed by Martin Berkhan, a nutrition consultant, personal trainer, and writer.  His website is called Leangains and it cost nothing to learn everything you need to know.  I will briefly describe what Martin suggests, but you are going to have to go to his site to get the details.  The best place to start is The Leangains Guide and then read all posts in the section titled "Most Popular."  There's a wealth of information in the comments and replies.  Don't skip over them.


In short, Leangains' biggest keys are intermittent fasting and low volume/heavy weight training.  Yes, fasting.  I don't eat for roughly 16 hours of my day and then I have an 8 hour window to eat.  This doesn't mean I starve myself; my calorie intake is between 1230 to 1850 calories a day. Martin sites numerous studies on intermittent fasting and the effects it has not only on fat loss, but muscle gain as well.  This flies in the face of "breakfast is the most important meal of the day."  I know, and that's why I said to leave your preconceived notions at the door.  Take a deep breath cause it gets worse, or better depending on how tied you are to your treadmill.

Most people who follow Leangains are in and out of the gym in under an hour and only go 3 times a week.  You can get off the eliptical and go for a light walk around your neighborhood or park.  Put down those wee, little pink and purple dumbbells because weight training, really heavy/low volume weight training, is one of the keys to unlocking the beautiful body you never knew you could have. Again, Martin has done a ton of research and you can read about it on his site.

Don't worry.  Proof you won't get bulky lifting heavy weights.  Here's a couple of examples of women who lift heavy and are nowhere near bulky:

That's it in a nutshell and I'm sure you now have a million questions.  My question to you is do you have the guts to do what most "experts" will tell you is the exact opposite of what you're supposed to do?

I have no official "before" picture.  This is the
 best example I have of what I looked like,
thin to average but no muscle. 

And now my results so far with Lean Gains:

-My body fat percentage was in the low to mid 20's when I started and I am now about 14-15%.  I know I started out at a perfectly healthy body fat percentage, but the stubborn fat, like the saddle bags on my thighs, made me self conscious.  I wanted to wear a bathing suit and feel confident and comfortable.

-I've lost 9 pounds.  My weight wasn't so much an issue, but I did lose weight.

-4 pregnancies had left my body squishy and saggy in places.  All that beautiful muscle has helped lift and shape those areas.

-I have gained tremendous strength and I am lifting weights that I never in a million years thought I could.

I happen to be one of those women who can put on a good bit of muscle mass.
Don't worry.  Most of the ladies I know who eat and train
like me (and can lift more weight than I can) aren't as muscular. 

-I have stopped swirling around on the waves of the fitness industry's advice.  You know what I mean.  Coffee is good.  No wait, coffee is bad.  Er... coffe is good again.  Eat lots of fat.  Eat low fat.  Eggs are terrible for you.  Eggs are so nutritious.  Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, Pritikin....  If you are like I was, you are completely confused, extremely frustrated and seeing no results.

-My self esteem has improved and I love my body now.  It's no longer the enemy.

You are quite likely overwhelmed like I was when I stumbled upon all of this.  Please feel free to email me with questions.  Read and reread Martin's website and give it a try.  If you get nothing else from what I've written here, just try it.  What do you have to lose except those saddle bags, tummy pooch, and love handles?

Need a book to get you started?
Read:
Eat Stop Eat by Brad Pilon.

Some other great resources to get you started:
Fitness Safari 
Leigh Peele
Mark's Daily Apple
Fierce Fit Fearless
Nia Shanks
Strong Lifts

Leangains FAQ's gives you the lowdown on ends-and-outs.  This page was endorsed by Martin Berkhan on Twitter so I know it's a good place to get more information!

Join "Fierce.Fit.Fearless" on Facebook (for ladies only).
Lots of helpful women and some great examples of the
results you can expect.  Email Jenn at
fiercefitfearless@groups.facebook.com to request to join.

More Before-and-Afters:
Scroll down to "Jennifer F" and "Jill J"
A few good pics of women's results
More ladies and their transformations
......and more
Knock Your Socks Off Results!

Gluten Free NuGo Bars!

NuGo Bars (That's Nutrition to Go) have made the short list of pre-packaged foods that both my son with food allergies and I can eat.

When we go to the store and I want to get him a treat (read "bribe him to be good"), I head to the sports nutrition section and pick up our "go to" bar because I know the ingredients are safe for him.  I was delighted when NuGo sent me samples of bars from their "Free" line because these yummy bars contain no hydrogenated oils, trans fats, or waxy vegetable fat compounds and are soy, gluten, and dairy free!

NuGo Bars look delicious as well and we all know how important presentation is to our kiddos and grown ups too!  They remind me a little of rice crisp type treats with drizzles of chocolate or vanilla icing squiggles.

The Free line offers three flavors to choose from:  Dark Chocolate Crunch, Dark Chocolate Trail Mix, and Carrot Cake.  I loved all three and before I tried them I thought Dark Chocolate Crunch would be my favorite.  Dark Chocolate Trail Mix won in the test taste for me.  I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the wrapping; I imagined one of those bars that are all nuts stuck together with a glue-like sweetener.  BUT the trail mix bar is a delicious blend of rice crisps, nuts and dried fruit.  My mouth is watering as I type.

NuGo has several different lines of bars to choose from and even candy bars (yum!)  The folks at NuGo have made an easy-to-read chart to help you choose which varieties suit your needs.

NuGo bars are sold at stores nationwide and in Canada.  http://www.nugonutrition.com/about/store-locator/

Sample packs can be ordered on their website for $6-$7 plus free shipping in the US. http://store.nugonutrition.com/category/sample.html

For more information about NuGo's gluten-free bars, click here. http://store.nugonutrition.com/category/gluten-free-nutrition-bars.html

Follow NuGo at your favorite social media:
Blog: http://www.nugonutrition.com/category/gluten-free/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/NuGoGlutenFree
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nugonutrition 



.

***All products that I review are products that I would use or serve my family.  I have been sent products in the past that I did not like and could not endorse.  You won't see them on my blog. 

Crown Maple Syrup Review

I always thought maple syrup was pretty much the same.  Boy, was I wrong!   Crown Maple Syrup sent me a bottle of their syrup to sample and then share my experience with you.  I got an education in maple syrup and I have fallen in love with a new product!

Crown Maple Syrup was born when Robb and Lydia Turner bought land in Dutchess County, N.Y intending it to be used as a family retreat.  They discovered they had a forest full of pristine sugar and red maple trees and began producing pure, high quality maple syrup.  

Crown Maple Syrup is an organic syrup, family produced using sustainable harvesting practices.  I love that it is a small, family run company and, of course, I love that the syrup is organic.

The process used to make Crown Maple Syrup is different and superior to the methods used by other maple syrup producers.   The sap is protected from prolonged exposure to heat, which can cause burning and carmelization, with a unique reverse osmosis machine (the only in the country) and a series of filters.  Honestly, I have no idea what reverse osmosis is, but what I do know is that Crown Maple Syrup is the best maple syrup I have ever tasted.  

I was given a sample of the Light Amber Syrup and I decided it would be fun to do a blind taste test with my family.  They each tried the brand I normally purchase and then the Crown Maple Syrup not knowing which was which.  Everyone agreed unanimously that Crown Maple Syrup was best.  I've had a lot of request for pancakes and waffles since.  


After visiting the online store, I was surprised to see how affordable Crown Maple Syrup's prices are and excited that I can buy such a wonderful product at a comparable price to the brand I was using.  


For more information about Crown Maple Syrup and to purchase a bottle to see the delicious difference for yourself, please visit http://www.crownmaple.com/.

Zevia Review and Carob Fudge!

I am taking a break from my blogging sabbatical (yes, a break from my break) to review a product and tell you about our new favorite dessert/snack from Whole New Mom!

I have a confession.  I am a former Diet Coke-oholic.  In college 6 Diet Cokes a day was not uncommon for me and many days it was more.  Yes, that's a lot of Diet Coke!  I firmly believe that artificial sweeteners are not good for our bodies and after a lot of starts and stops, I finally kicked the habit.  Unfortunately, every once in a while I really want that sweet, bubbly beverage.  Here's another confession: sometimes I have one.  My moments of weakness usually happen in line at the store.  That's why they put the goodies there anyway, to tempt us, right?

When I saw Zevia hit the market I was excited to see a soda that was made with stevia and curious as to how it would taste compared to my beloved Diet Coke, (which I don't even really think tastes all that good any more).  Zevia is sweetened with stevia and erithrytol.  From what I understand, erithrytol is a sugar alcohol created from a fermentation process, but also occurs naturally in certain foods.   My thoughts are that if I want a soda, it's a healthier choice than aspartame, but I don't really know enough about erithrytol to give an educated opinion.  Read up on it and make your own decision.

Zevia states that their ingredients are all natural.  If you are concerned about any of the ingredients, you can read more about them here and here.  If you still have questions you can contact Zevia at zevia.com.  I have found that most companies are happy to discuss their products with you.

Now, how does Zevia taste?  While the flavors have their own spin on versions from other big name brand colas, as well as a few originals, I think they taste great!  Dr. Zevia, Ginger Root Beer, Orange, and Black Cherry are just a few of Zevia's flavors.  I've tried many of them and have liked them all, but I especially love Cola.  It taste like Diet Coke without that artificial aftertaste.

Zevia would be perfect to pack in the cooler for the beach or lake.  Or as a cool treat during these hot summer days-- put them in the freezer just long enough to make them a slushy treat.  Yum!  (Warning: don't leave them too long or you will have a big mess to clean up.)

    

Carob Pods
photo credit

And as a bonus, I wanted to share a new recipe that my family absolutely loves!  Silky Smooth Bean Fudge from Whole New Mom is awesome!  I've been making it with carob because of Griffin's chocolate allergy, and we really can't taste the difference.  It is super easy to make (no bake), and it's so healthy!  If you have picky eaters you may not want to make it in front of them.  It has a "hidden" ingredient that might make them turn up their noses before they've tasted it.  We've tried it from the fridge and the freezer and love it both ways!

Hope everyone's summer is off to a wonderful start!

Blogger Burn-Out

If you follow my blog, you may have noticed that I am not posting as much.  I am experiencing blogger burn-out and I am going to take some time off to regroup.

I have received some criticism and unkind comments (I am glad I moderate all my comments).  I started my blog for fun and comments like this are not fun.  I am not an expert.  I am not a nutritionist, a doctor, or any other health professional.  I'm a mom.  I blog about my experiences.  I am truly disappointed that some women would feel the need to judge me and to try to do so openly on my blog.

Since my journey into healthy foods I have realized that all my time has been spent in the kitchen.  I am either making a meal or snack or I am cleaning up and doing dishes.  My kids are growing up so fast!  I don't want to live in the kitchen.  I want to spend time with them and enjoy them before they are ready to be off on their own.  Yes, this means I am compromising on some of the food choices I make for my family.  Yes, this means that I am going to make some meals from boxes.  I am thinking about the big picture though and what is overall best for my family.

Sorry to disappoint some of my readers by taking a step back (not a complete reversal) from traditional, real foods.  We all have choices to make and the choices I make are made through lots of reflection and serious thought.