Black Cherry Soda

Some days Phase 2 can be hard and all you need is a little "treat" to help you feel normal again, that it won't last forever and that you can make it through this!  My encouragement to you today will be exactly that! 

You will be able to eat normal again soon.  This will not last forever.  You can make it through today and make it through the entire process.

To help you through the day, taking some time to enjoy fruity flavors will help.  Below you will find my favorite kitchen toy.  It makes healthy drinks choices in a snap.  Morning coffee, afternoon iced tea, evening hot tea, hot cocoa for the kids, even hot water for soup.  All at the touch of your fingers.  Highly recommended, especially if you have been wanting one from afar.  I love my Breville Keurig machine and I wanted to share and show you one of my favorite kitchen tools you can use in Phase 2 and beyond.   As always I will answer any questions you have about this kitchen gem.

Black Cherry Soda

2 Celestial Seasonings Black Cherry tea bags

4 ounces boiling water

1 C sparkling water

1/8 tsp stevia

1/2 lemon, juiced (optional)

Place 2 tea bags in bottom of a coffee/ tea mug.  Pour 4 ounces very hot water.  Steep 6-8 minutes.  Squeeze liquid from bags and remove.  Sweeten with stevia to taste, adding lemon juice is optional.  Fill a tall glass with ice, add concentrated tea.  Pour the sparkling water over tea and ice, stir with straw and sip happily.
Note:  If you are not a tea drinker or tea liker...give this a try along with my Faux-Fruit Punch, they don't have a "tea" taste at all.  You should be pleasantly surprised and makes a nice entrance into the world of drinking health tonic called tea!

Keurig compatible Coffee and Tea makers











K-Cup Accessories











K-Cup Coffees











K-Cup Teas

Sweet & Salty Asian Dressing

Wishing all of the mommies had a wonderful Mother's Day!  This great Phase 2 compliant dressing recipe is my yummy gift to you.  Have a wonderful week all, happy losing!

Sweet & Salty Asian Dressing

1/4 C water

1/4 C apple cider vinegar

1 tsp celtic sea salt

1/2 tsp stevia

1 green onions, finely chopped

2 TB cilantro, finely chopped

pinch of red pepper flakes

fresh cracked black pepper to taste

Whisk together the all of the above ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad, cucumbers, cabbage, marinade or cook your meats, etc...

Phase 3/4: Replace water with olive oil and add up to a teaspoon of sesame seed oil (optional).  Add 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds too.  Replace salt with 1 tsp organic, unpasteurized, gluten free, sugar free soy sauce. 

       

Honey Mustard Cole Slaw

How is everyone today?  The weather is finally warming here in Minnesota.  Can't wait for more sunshine and flwers!  Wishing all the mommies a Happy Mother's Day this weekend.  Take some time to treat yourself with a book, manicure, detox bath or just by giving yourself a a boost of confidence.  Tell yourself you are amazing and believe it! 
Another cole slaw recipe that will be sure to be loved.  Maybe not as much as our all time number one Asian Slaw but close.  To see all other cole slaw recipes, see here.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Photo credit

Honey Mustard Cole Slaw
(Serves 2-4)
4 cups of chopped cabbage
4 green onions, chopped
2 TB dijon mustard
2 TB yellow mustard
2 TB apple cider vinegar
2 TB water
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp stevia, powdered or liquid
fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Cilantro (optional)

Chop the cabbage and green onions and set aside in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, whisk together everything else and pour over the cabbage. Toss all to combine.  Allow the cole slaw to sit in the refrigerator for about an hour or two before serving.

Phase 3/4- Replace water with olive oil.  Add julienned veggies of your choice such as green pepper, red onion, cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts or snow peas.  Try broccoli slaw too!

Ginger Syrup and Homemade Ginger Ale

While replying to a HCG Forum post, Ginger Ale was brought up....and along came this!  Ginger is so good for you- known for indigestion, upset tummy, morning sickness, encouraging gallbladder function and decreasing inflammation. 

Perfect for the holiday (and flu) seasons coming- Great for ginger ale, dressings, marinades, stir fries, etc..!

Homemade Ginger Syrup
6 inches of ginger

2 tsp stevia, powdered or liquid

2 cups water

Slice the ginger.  In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the stevia and the water over medium heat, stirring until dissolved. Add the ginger pieces.

Simmer over medium heat for 1 hour if you’ve sliced your ginger very thin, and at least twice that if you’ve cut your ginger larger. (Check on them occasionally to make sure they aren’t drying out and that the water isn’t evaporating too quickly.)

When the ginger is done (it will be soft), remove with slotted spoon or drain through a mesh strainer. Let the ginger syrup cool, then refrigerate. If you want a thicker ginger syrup, continue to cook over medium-low heat until it reaches the consistency you want.  Makes about 1 1/2 cups ginger syrup.  Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 

To make homemade ginger ale:  add 2-4 tablespoons of ginger syrup to a large pint glass. Top with seltzer or sparkling water.  Add a lemon slice and sip happily.

Sugar to Stevia Conversion Chart

This is a conversion chart of sugar to Stevia.  This is a very useful guide when I want to take a favorite "regular" recipe and turn it into a Phase 2 protocol recipe.  I am sure this will come in handy for Phase 3 and beyond as well.  I refer to it often when I am cooking food or preparing large batches of iced tea.  I hope you are able to use it as much as I have! 

Have a great weekend Labor Day Weekend everyone!