Autumn days

Hello friends,
Second attempt at this..phew..I almost posted Sunday night, then held off to tweak a few things..and whammo I got busy again. But I'm glad I waited because I made another new THM (Trim Healthy Mama-ish) recipe tonight and it was delicious, so way down near the end of this post it will appear with the recipe :)
Now the original post:
** I always look forward to Autumn's cooler days after a busy summer preserving food and trying to keep cool. This past weekend we spent time in the garden, digging the last of the potatoes, and then harvesting the first of our Kumera (sweet Potato) for the year. We also tidied up most of the vegetable boxes, weeding and covering the beds with mulch. I call it tucking them in for Winter :) These days we're lighting the wood fire most days to keep warm. I'm very thankful for all our firewood, that hubby so faithfully chops each day.
I'll share some photo's and a few recipes that I've tried and enjoy since starting Trim Healthy Mama, in late January. I wouldn't say my weight loss has been dramatic, but then again I didn't have that much to lose in the first place. These days I'm enjoying wearing clothes I haven't worn in a couple of years, and oh it feels so good. You know when you start to feel like you need to wear a cardigan to cover up that little bulge, well now the bulge has gone.  I think the best thing of all is that this way of eating seems to have cured me of my tummy issues that I had for years. ...
But - having said all this, I also wanted to say that I am not obsessed with losing weight. It doesn't worry me how long it takes to move those extra pounds...it's not my life focus. I don't even weigh myself. Why? Well when I was young that sort of thing consumed me. The scales pretty much dictated if I was going to have a good day or not. I wouldn't even say that was stupid, it was just where I was at in my life, and in my insecurities. Am I more at peace with myself?, more confident ? or am I just more focused on my inner life? I hope it's the latter. While I want to be comfortable in my body and healthy, I also want to bring glory to God through my life and help other woman to focus on what is most important and not just on the exterior person. I also want to be flexible. If I'm out at dinner or at a ladies function and their is nothing THM-ish to eat, I still will have a little something. I call it being thankful for someone's hospitality and showing that thanks by eating what they offer.
So having got that off my chest, here are a few pics and recipes ideas/tips for anyone else who may be starting off with THM and need a little encouragement.

~

My summer breakfast was usually the THM cottage cheese & oat pancakes. Now that the days are a lot cooler I alternate with 2 days a week - a cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs/sausage (homemade), more days with this apricot almond porridge (below) and a couple of days with the pancakes.

Summer THM pancakes - delicious !!! 

I measured out about 1/3rd cup of frozen raspberries. I would microwave them for about 30 seconds. I sprinkled over 1 doonk of stevia, and mixed it in. I spread this on the pancakes like a sort of sugar free jam. Then I would allow myself about a 2 inch piece of banana - thinly sliced on top, and a drizzle of sugar free maple syrup. The top pancake layer, I spread with the 1 teaspoon 5g fat allowance. I used butter ..mmmm

Apricot & Almond Porridge

probably a  THM - E

(Serves 2 - my husband has a larger portion)

I created this recipe from scratch a couple of years ago and now that I no longer add any sugar I've tweaked it to make it even better. This is now my current favourite breakfast.

Porridge

1/2 cup whole oats - chop them up a little bit finer in a coffee grinder

1/4 cup whole oats - left as is

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1 - 2 t vanilla essence

2 doonks Stevia powder

1/2 t THM super sweet blend: 

(I make it myself by mixing 1 cup Erythitol & 1 t stevia)

2 small dried apricots - chop fine

8 whole almonds - chop fine

1 small apple - peeled & grated

3 cups water

1/4 t cinnamon

Topping

3/4 cup unsweetened Greek Yoghurt

2 doonks Stevia

~

Sugar Free Maple Syrup to drizzle over

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients, this can be done the night before. 

2. Add all the porridge ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a gradual boil. Allow it to cook until thickened, adding a little more water if necessary.

3. Prepare the topping and set aside. My husband also has bottle plums with his portion :)

4. Spoon the delicious porridge into bowls. Top with the yoghurt and drizzle some maple syrup over. I also cut up a peeled feijoa for mine. Let me know if you try my recipe :)

An occasional THM - E lunch

2 x slices of sourdough wholegrain seeded bread

with mustard, laughing cow light cheese wedge

skinless chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber & lettuce

The bread with the butter is my husbands sandwich !

More often these days I'm enjoying soup - usually chicken & vegetable or pumpkin,

with a couple of slices of sourdough rye toast, spread with laughing cow cheese wedge (light) and 

marmite :) = delicious !

No pasta Lasagna

I simply used a tradional spaghetti bolognaise meat sauce. In place of pasta, I sliced up a fat zucchini into 1/2 inch slices and baked them. When they were cool I layered the meat sauce with the zucchini and then poured a middle layer of my cheesy mixture. I finished with a meat sauce layer and more grated cheese. Baked it at 180 C for 45 minutes. Serve with a salad.

My cottage cheese sauce 

1 tub cottage cheese

1/2 small tub lite cream cheese

2 eggs

salt & pepper

Oregano/basil

1 cup grated tasty cheese

1/2 cup grated mozzarella

some fresh Parmesan

(Mix all together)

~

One more recipe:

Spaghetti Squash Mexicana Meatball Magnifique :)

I would call this recipe a THM ish 'S' meal.

Recipe:

1 x Spaghetti Squash -  yellow and ready to go

2 t butter, salt/pepper/garlic

Meatballs:

Ground Beef (mince) - 1 kilo (2 lb)

1/2 onion - diced, 1 egg, 1/2 t chilli powder, oregano - 1/2 t, 1 Beef stock (bouillon) cube

1 - 2 T tomato sauce (ketchup), 1/4 cup rolled oats, few drops liquid smoke

Topping: 1 Jar Salsa - lge, parmesan & tasty cheddar

 I was happily snapping pics on my camera, and then realised words were appearing on each photo..so I put my glasses on to read it and it was telling stupid me that the disc memory stick thingy wasn't inserted..sigh ..so I am inserting a pic from the net of a spaghetti squash, from this site: https://www.chowhound.com/recipes/roasted-spaghetti-squash-with-parmigiano-reggiano-13563

Method:

1. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Add 1 - 2 teaspoons of butter to the cavity and spread it around. Add some chopped garlic. Season with salt and pepper. 

2. Line a baking dish with foil (for easy clean up), plash the squash on it and bake at  200 C for about 45 minutes to an hour. 

3. Make up the meatballs, rolling them into balls about 1.5 inch. I just fried these slowly in a non stick pan, but they could have also just baked in the oven, with the squash for around 30 minutes.

3. Remove the squash from the oven and using a fork drag it lengthwise and flake the stringy flesh. 

4. Oil a square lasagna/deepish baking dish and spread out all the 'spaghetti' over the base. 

5. Cover the squash with the cooked meatballs. Pour the jar of Salsa evenly over the meatballs.

6. Grate parmesan and tasty cheese over the top and place in a 180 C oven for about 50 minutes.

The squash initially has quite a bit of moisture, so this baking time helps to reduce that.

7. We really enjoyed this meal. I served it with a salad and some left over 'Fotatoes' reheated.

Fotatoes: Steam cauliflower. Stick blend it to a puree with a little butter, salt/pepper and about 1-2 t cream. (I love this quick vegetable recipe). 

~ ~ ~

Autumn at home...

Just a few of our pumpkins and Cox's Orange apples harvested this year..

 ~ Lemongrass ~

(I'll make a Tea with this)

 I always like to pick Camelia branches from our old trees

 to use as foliage in displays.

 ~ A new favourite tea cup ~

 ~ Our table in Autumn ~

 ~ I love this little French Soap dish ~

 My favourite soap I made lasy month

'Sweet Orange Anise' with Calendula

Our Sweet Little Grandies come to visit

They come quite often, but every now and then I'm reminded to 

capture those sweet smiles.

Poppy Mae 

 Fun with Gangar (Grandad Bruce)

 Kora and Poppy

Well sweet friends, that's about all for now. It's been a busy time, as you can see. Wherever you are in the world I pray you are happy and finding joy in your life.

Blessings ~ Linda

If you feel to, please leave me a comment.