Keto Cauliflower “Oatmeal” – Just try it!

As the commercial plays repeatedly throughout the day, I find myself quoting along:

“What good is having insurance if you get punished for using it? Newsflash: Nobody’s perfect!”

I’m far from perfect. So far that I can write a post about shortcomings and failures and know that those that struggle with the same, will understand and benefit in some small way. Usually my posts are more spiritual but today it’s physical to be sure.

I’ve been Keto-ing about six weeks…this time…Embarrassed to say that I was on it last year, in anticipation of my son’s wedding and I did lose some weight. One month of that I was even overseas and stuck with it the entire time! It can be done!

But nobody is perfect….and unfortunately, I fell off the wagon with two surgeries, steroids and inactivity the last six months I gained too much of it back pretty quickly. (insert sad and disappointed-in-myself face) But today, 4 1/2 months post op from my lumbar spinal fusion, I am finally feeling better, getting around without a cane or walker, even vacuuming and taking care of my own household again. Victory!

I decided to jump back into Keto full force knowing it is the ONLY thing that has worked for me in years. Obviously I am insulin resistant and diabetes would likely be in my future, thankfully my blood sugars are normal and I am not diabetic and do not want to be.

The first step with Keto is throwing out sugar. That included my Dr. Pepper and I cried since we have had an ongoing and sweet relationship for most of my life. Following the sugar, all breads, flours and processed foods are out the door. We can be more specific if you need help but suffice it to say, the first week or two may be difficult, but after that, you will not even crave carbs! That is sugars main job: eat sweets, breads and junk and it leaves you wanting more and more. Take all of that out of your daily routine and all of a sudden you find yourself eating one meal a day just because you are not hungry!

And the weight will come off.

The one thing I missed last year, and the last six weeks, is something good for breakfast. Of course you may have bacon and eggs but I can only do that so many times so I began Intermittent Fasting basically because I didn’t want breakfast. (We can talk more about Intermittent Fasting in another post.) But I miss oatmeal just about more than anything (except Dr. Pepper!).

Low carb dieters are aware that cauliflower has become famous the last several years as a substitute for our favorite carbs; we make mashed potatoes out of them, pizza crusts, macaroni and cheese and all kinds of comfort foods that we cannot partake of on a strict, low carb diet. And surprisingly, if you do it right, you will be amazed at how the cauliflower smell and taste disappear and you will truly think you have died and gone to carb heaven.

But cauliflower oatmeal? Really? Yes, it really is good! The texture is perfect, the taste is delicious and it is super easy and flexible to suit even the most particular eater.

I hope you give it a try, let me know if you have questions about Keto, would like to see more posts and help for the diet or any success stories and suggestions YOU might have for others!

Keto on!

Cauliflower Oatmeal

1 cup frozen riced cauliflower

2/3 c. UNSWEETENED almond, coconut or cashew milk

2/3 cup water

2 eggs

1-2 Tablespoons of flax meal

At least two teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Salt

Stevia, monkfruit, erythritol sweetener of choice

First, take the bag of frozen riced cauliflower and put it in a strainer, run warm water over it to break it up. Squeeze as much of the water out as you can and then put it in a medium saucepan over medium to medium high heat. Add the water and milk and bring to a boil for about ten minutes, until almost all liquid is gone. I added a little more almond milk and then removed it from the heat and added the two eggs (slightly beaten beforehand) and stirred very well. Don’t worry, the eggs are cooking in the hot porridge and will disappear, leaving a great texture and oatmeal-like-thickness. Add the flax meal/seed at this point and stir well. Don’t forget the teaspoon of vanilla and a sprinkle of salt.

That’s it! Top it with whatever sounds good to you. Sometimes I just sprinkled sweetener over it and a little more unsweetened almond milk. So good. I have also added unsweetened coconut and walnuts or pecans and love it with a couple of blueberries or other berries. (Berries are your fruit of choice on Keto but all fruits are high in natural sugar so be careful!) You could even add unsweetened, sugar-free maple syrup!

I hope you enjoy the recipe and we welcome any suggestions. Be blessed!

What’s in a name?

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#FiveMinuteFriday! Word prompt is Woman. Join me for What’s in a name?!

Names are intriguing at times. Just take mine, for instance. No, really, take it! Yvonne is my first name but my parents have always called me by my middle name, Nannette, which I prefer. Yvonne was my grandmother’s name, it’s always an honor to be named after someone and I adored my grandmother.

Then there is the origin behind Nannette. Obviously, both names have French roots and even sound better if the French are doing the pronouncing. You might think my parents had some rich friends from Paris that visited often and the wife’s name was Nannette Eloise Babineaux (BAB-in-oh). Elegant. Classy. Cosmopolitan!

But no, my parents didn’t have French friends, had never been to France and didn’t take French in high school. They did have a friend though that influenced my name and that friend had a dog. A french poodle, to be exact. And the French poodle had a name.

Yep.

Nannette.

So, with all confidence when someone asks, “Who were you named after?” or “Nannette is such a pretty name, is it in your family?” Ugh.

I was named after a dog, people, a dog.

Names matter. Names are remembered. Names have lifelong consequences or blessings! The Book of Acts only briefly mentions a woman with an unusual name that we do not hear much of today.

In the 17th chapter of Acts, the Apostle Paul is preaching on Mars Hill and addressing The UNKNOWN GOD that the people of Athens had inscribed on an altar. It is said that about 600 years before Paul preached in Athens that a devastating plague tore through the city. A man named Epimenides thought he could please the gods by sacrifice so he let loose a flock of sheep through the town and wherever they lay down that was where they sacrificed that particular sheep: to the god that had the nearest shrine. If it didn’t lay down near a shrine or temple then they sacrificed it To the Unknown God. But Paul let them know, “The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all life and breath and all things.”

What comes next gives a woman a place in Biblical history and leaves us to forever wonder about her life, her relationship with God, her faith and her conversion.

“So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” Acts 17:33-34 ESV. (Emphasis mine.)

A woman named Damaris? She is mentioned by name this one time in the Bible and we are given no other information about her except that she joined Paul and she believed.

The Greek meaning of the name Damaris refers to a calf or heifer. Probably not going to mention this to my expectant daughter-in-law as a name choice for our little one on the way!

But the Latin name means gentle and after reading the account of Paul’s sermon, understanding the background of the people in Athens and their infatuation with The Unknown God, I thought that maybe, just maybe, this woman named Damaris was given her name for a purpose, even if it wasn’t revealed to her parents at the time. Quite unlike me and my French poodle.

Her spirit was gentle and yet perhaps it was strong-willed, meaning when she was convinced of something she wasn’t about to let go. “But some men joined him and believed…and a woman named Damaris…” For a woman to be mentioned in scripture in this fashion was a big deal and says to me that she was singled out for a reason. She was wooed by the Savior, by the scripture, not only for her personal salvation but for her influence. Damaris was likely well known and perhaps looked up to in the community and when she joined Paul, when she believed in Jesus Christ, this gentle woman plowed through the rest of her life letting others know about the One who gave His life for everyone. She wasn’t intimidated by those that did NOT believe,

Can the same be said of us today? When we walk by do others get a sense of peace because we shine the Light of Christ or do they whisper about that woman who does nothing but cause division?

A woman named ___________________________. Insert your name here and determine from this day forward to be like Damaris. Even though we know so little…okay…. we know nothing about her; we are looking at that name and surmising that she was strong as a bull but yet gentle like a dove. A perfect combination for a soul winner. Be that woman!

(You might also like my humorous post about my alter ego. Read it here!)

Done!

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#FiveMinuteFriday and today’s word prompt is Done. Join me and read about the miracle of healing God did for me today!

To say I have lived at the dentist the last few years is an understatement. They knew me by my first name in my hometown. They were so good to me. Then I moved to Tennessee and had to search all over again for a dentist. I have found one and they already know me by my first name in such a short time. This week I have spent SIX HOURS and 43 MINUTES in the dentist chair. The story is too long, but I promise you it wouldn’t be boring. It is unbelievable.

In the early morning hours today I awoke with severe pain in my right jaw. I just had another crown replaced on that side on Monday and had two temporaries put in for two more crowns. Then I was back in the dentist chair for a temporary that had fallen out from that visit and while they were finishing up with the new temporary I felt something floating around in my mouth. I pull it out and it is the new PERMANENT crown they had put in on my bottom right side two days earlier! Suffice it to say I was beside myself. They do finally get it fixed and send me on my way.

Back to today, the pain I was experiencing this morning was coming from that permanent crown and radiating up my jaw into my ear. I’ve had a lot of pain lately with dental appointments, and of course my lumbar spinal fusion surgery, but this had me nearly in tears.

I get up and start my day with devotion, trying to ignore what is pounding in my head. I get through the devotion and finally cry out to the Lord that I just cannot call the dentist today. I cannot go through whatever is causing the pain. I. Just. Cannot. Bear. One. More. Thing.

I’m done.

I prayed and reminded myself that God has healed me of migraine headaches! I began to praise Him for that when The Sweetheart walks in the room. I told him what was going on and could we please pray. Why should I have to go back to the dentist when the King of Kings calls me His own? When I have His Spirit living inside of me, I should be able to call on the Name above all Names and be touched today.

We prayed and he went on his way and I went back to praying and within just a couple minutes…the pain was gone. Completely gone! I sit there waiting, just being human and making sure it truly was gone. (smile) I didn’t wait long and I was beside myself all over again but in a different way.

When He speaks, when He shows up, it is complete, it is finished, it is done! I don’t know what other things I might face with all the issues I have going on in my mouth, but today God took away excruciating pain that I just couldn’t possibly deal with another minute.

Does He always answer every prayer when we want Him to? I still have back pain, I still have nerve pain and muscle spasms and all kinds of woes with the healing from this surgery. But that doesn’t mean He isn’t God! He is still in control! His timing is not ours, everything is for His glory and when the timing is right, He heals, saves, delivers, sends money, rights wrongs, puts homes back together, and on and on and on.

So I share with you today an absolute instant miracle so He would receive the glory. Everything points back to Him so He is lifted up, magnified and others can see Him better. Know today that He hears your EVERY prayer and when it is in His timing He will speak and say,

“It is done.”