"Granola" Chews

I made a great new recipe last night! It is from my book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall.

They are called Granola Chews but there is NO granola in them, granola isn't even allowed on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet! :) Anyways, it was super simple & easy to make!

Granola Chews

1/4-1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup unsweetened, grated coconut
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, or your choice)
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a saucepan, stir butter and honey over low heat until melted & blended.
Remove from heat & add remaining ingredients, combining well.
Spread mixture in an ungreased square 8 inch baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes until set. Cool, cut in squares.

*I used 5 tablespoons of butter, but next time would only do the 1/4 cup. I also used 1/3 cup honey, as that is what I thought the recipe said until I realized I couldn't read correctly. I've never been a huge honey fan so I left it at the 1/3 cup and it tastes great to me! I used walnuts. I probably used about 1.5 cups of coconut, first to soak up all the butter and second because I just love coconut! :) Mine is actually more like a "granola" because I didn't quite cook it long enough to set up to cut into bars, so it is a little crumbly.

It is a fun little recipe that will make a great snack and a great dessert that is safe to eat on my diet when I want something sweet! I hope you enjoy it if you try it!

Zucchini Muffins

I made the most delicious zucchini muffins last night that are on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, that is helping to keep my Ulcerative Colitis in check. The recipe is from "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall.

Zucchini Muffins
3 cups grated zucchini
3 eggs, beaten
3 cups nut flour (I used a combination of almond & pecan)
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 - 2/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix almond flour, melted butter, honey, & zucchini. Add beaten eggs, cinnamon, salt & baking soda. Mix well. Bake in muffin tins, lined with papers, at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until done. Makes 18 muffins.

They were so good, they tasted just like regular zucchini bread! Definitely worth a try!!

Just a little history...

Wow, my first blog post! I'd like to start out with a little history of myself. I am a 26 year old female. I am currently unemployed, besides Mary Kay & Pampered Chef, but going to school from home for Medical Transcription. I am currently trying to get my Ulcerative Colitis under control & manageable.

I've only been unemployed since last Friday, April 16, 2010. The main decision behind quitting my job was my UC besides the fact that I was just tired of my job. I had NO passion for it anymore. I am trying this diet called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to help manage my UC. I have been on medications but they are not fully helping. I needed to try something else. The SCD seems to be helping, as long as my self-control stays in check & I don't eat things I shouldn't! (I promise this blog is not going to be all about my UC)

I just sell Mary Kay & Pampered Chef on the side, I don't really ever do parties for either. But I love all the products that both offer! Again, the UC has kept me from doing this as well.

I am excited to start this new phase of my life. To really be in control of my future and to be excited about it! There are several things I still need to work out like health insurance but I am working on it!

I went out to lunch with a friend on Monday, April 12th and my fortune in my cookie read, "Your luck will completely change today." I truly believe that! Let's stop looking back & keep looking forward to what is to come. That friend also gave me a book titled, "The Red Sea Rules: The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out" by Robert J. Morgan. The first chapter is about realizing that God means for you to be where you are. That simple fact alone is very freeing to me. I tend to wonder why I am where I am. Why do I have UC so bad? Why do I still live at home at 26 and get treated like a child sometimes? Why can't I make more money? Why? Why? Why? But this really opened my eyes to know no matter what the 'Why?' is, that there is a reason & I don't need to know that right now.

Stay tuned! :)