Mexican Cucumber Salsa

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

Don't let your Phase 2 successes get in the way of celebrating.  Make some stevia sweetened lemonade with a few chopped up mint leaves for a "Faux-jito".  Marinade some shrimp or any other meat with this Taco Seasonings, serve with this Cucumber Salsa!

Photo Credit

Mexican Cucumber Salsa
(Serves 1)
1 whole cucumber, diced into small cubes
2 TB cilantro, chopped
1 TB red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp garlic, minced

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp celtic sea salt

1/8 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
Add a drop or two of stevia if you desire

In a bowl, toss together the cucumber, red wine vinegar and cilantro. Season with crushed red pepper flakes, garlic, cumin, onion, salt, and black pepper. Cover, and chill at least 30 minutes before serving.         

Note: Try this with a large whole tomato, chopped.
   

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Phase 3/4:  Make a mix of cucumber, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, jalapenos, etc... then add 1/4 cup mayo or full fat greek yogurt for a creamy salad or 1 TB olive oil for a lighter taste.

Detox Bath- Take II

I was out shopping at our local co-op this week when I spied this...

Then I got home and saw this article speaking about toxins can cause weight gain.  Toxins and chemicals are all around us, it is unavoidable. 

Don't go crazy, but do what you can to help in eliminating them from your home and body.  Eating organically was a huge step for our family but the benefits it brings are irreplaceable.  Trading out the cleaning products in your home, laundry and dishwasher soaps, room sprays and deodorants, lotions and soaps are a easy switch now a days with all the wonderful and comparably priced, available products at your small and big box stores. 

Using the Detox Bath is a great way to help your body if it is feeling congested, weighted or sluggish.  Brain fog, lethargy and muscle soreness are some severe symptoms but what about just feeling tired, hormonal or just plain "a little bit lazy"!  This will help.  Trying either one will help you feel rested and give you the bounce back into your step the next morning.  I think this new Detox Bath- Take II is great for skin rashes, irritations or sunburns too.  The added vinegar helps in balancing the pH and soothing the skin.  The ginger makes it smell nice too!

Detox Bath- Take II
(Bulk recipe)
2 C epsom salt
2 C sea salt
2 C aluminum free baking soda
5 TB ground ginger
1 C vinegar

Combine all dry ingredients, store in a closed container.  During bath time, add 1 cup of dry ingredients mix and 1 cup vinegar to hot running water.  Soak 20-40 minutes.  Enjoy!

Benefits:
Epsom Salt draws out toxins from your body while relieving aches and pains.
Sea Salt soothes and heals blemishes and open wounds.
Baking Soda balances and over acidic system, leaving you refreshed, energized while softening the skin.
Ground Ginger increases circulations, aiding in the eliminations of toxins.
Vinegar soothes and soften dry, itchy skin while balancing the bodies and neutralizing the bodies pH.

Phase 3/4 recipe over at Saved by the Egg Timer today!

Hello to all the greatest and most successful HCGer's out there! 

The Phases To Forever members get a Phase 3/4 recipe today over at my Family Recipe Blog called Saved by the Egg Timer.  It is a Protein Packed Chocolate Cookie recipe that is wonderfully healthy, full of protein and healthy fats to help you maintain your amazing weight loss.  Please check it out and as always, if you have any questions about the recipe.  Feel free to ask over on PTF Facebook page where I can answer you promptly.  If your wondering, someone else probably is too!

While you are over there, check out the other P3/4 friendly recipe too!
Flavored Coffee Creamers and here
Homemade Peppermint (and sugar free) Peppermint Extract
Homemade Breakfast Sausage- minus the sugar for P3

Giardiniera

Grilled Green Beans (one of my summer fave's!)

Peach Syrup- replace sugar with 2 tsp stevia

Curried Chicken Stir Fry- serve without rice

Smokey Raspberry Jalapeno Chicken Wings- sugar free jam

and out of season but still yummy...Gingerbread Syrup

 

Wow there was a lot more than I thought there would be, hopefully you will find something that suites your taste buds.

 

Have a great weekend!
~Natasha

Tomato Turmeric Soup

Great flavor to beat the bland out of you!  Don't let bland get to you in P2, it is possible to love your meals! 
This culture cross of spices is a perfect mix.  We have Turmeric from India, Cilantro and Cumin from Mexico, Plum Vinegar from Japan to blend sweetly into this nice soup.

The flavorful turmeric boosts moods, aids as an anti-inflammatory to your skin and blood vessels, natural pain reliever and cancer cell killer.  Turmeric helps detox your liver and fight obesity.  Kick your health into high gear while enjoying every slurp. 

Tomato Turmeric Soup
(1 serving)
1 tomato, diced  (feel free to experiment and add any other kind of veggies you like such as asparagus, cabbage,  onions, radishes, spinach, fennel...)
1 green onion, sliced
2 TB cilantro, chopped
1 C of water or protocol veggie or chicken broth
1/2 C water
1 TB Ume Plum Vinegar (or vinegar of choice)
1 clove of garlic
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne powder (optional)
Dash of salt and fresh cracked pepper
3 1/2 ounces of any protocol allowed meat you wish
 

Place all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Heat through to a simmer, add any meat that you wish.  Before I add the meat I like to blend it up in a blender or immersion style.  Enjoy!

Phase 3/4:  Saute some red onion, tomato and garlic in 2 tablespoon of grass fed butter before adding the rest of ingredients.  Use all chicken broth instead of water and add more meat.  Try adding sliced grilled steak or ground beef to the soup at the end.  Top with a splash of fresh cream. 

Lemongrass Lettuce Wraps

This is good with ANY meat! A must try, all ingredients are in the produce section of most grocers.  If you cannot find some, try different types of markets- asian and farmers markets should carry these herbs too. 

I heart lemongrass so much, what a wonderful way to welcome Spring!  This perennial herb has a lot of great uses along with health benefits.  Studies and good ole' traditional practices have proven that it helps to detoxify the bodies liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract. Cutting down on uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats and toxins in our body while improving digestion, blood circulation and gastronal intestinal health.  Also said to improve our skin by reducing acne and helping to tone muscle and skin tissue. 

Who wouldn't want those benefits?  Especially while losing weight we need all the help we can get with the whole skin tightening right?  Learning this I am going to be adding more lemongrass to my meal rotations!

PS- I am working on the spring planting project I mentioned last post with the lettuce boxes.  I will post as soon as I can!  Start saving your clear plastic lettuce boxes you buy at the store, don't throw them away!



P2- please ignore the red onion in this, I am past P2 and added sliced red onion as suggested below.

Photo Credit

Lemongrass Lettuce Wraps
(Serves 1)

3.5 oz chicken breast, boneless and skinless- diced small (any meat!)
1/4 C water
1 TB lemon grass, sliced (white part only)

1/4 tsp fresh ginger, minced  (you can use powdered too)

1/4 tsp celtic sea salt

1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper

1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 TB fresh Thai basil leaves, sliced (regular basil works too)

1 TB fresh mint leaves, sliced

1 TB cilantro

few drops or pinch of stevia

1 TB water

red, butter, romaine lettuce leaves all work well.


This is what lemongrass will look like at the stores and markets if you have not used/ bought it before.

 Season the chicken with ginger, salt and pepper.  Cook chicken over medium heat in 1/4 cup water and lemongrass for 10 minutes or until no longer pink through the center. Transfer to a plate to cool.  Shred into small pieces, toss with basil, mint and cilantro.  Add the lemon juice and stevia to the chicken mixture and mix until evenly coated.

Open a a few lettuce leaves and stack; spread chicken mixture onto the lettuce leaf.  Fold and enjoy!

Phase 3/4: Cook your chicken in 2 tablespoons coconut oil instead of water. Add sliced red onion and bell peppers when cooking the chicken ,julienne some cucumbers to place on top before rolling up too!