Apple Pie Breakfast PaZookie! (Recipe per request)

I posted this delicious breakfast on my instagram this morning and it got such a great response that I wanted to share the recipe with each of you!

This is a recipe that is actually a part of my 5 day free clean eating group on Facebook from April 29th-May 3rd, so if you're interested in being a part of that, then check it out at this link and request to join!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1591420627767207/

This was simple, delicious, and filling.

Breakfast: Oatmeal PizOOkie! {4 servings}

■Preheat oven to 375 degrees f

2 cup dry oatmeal

8 tablespoons almond flour/coconut flour (you may substitute whole wheat flour if needed

8 tablespoons mashed banana (2 medium ripe bananas)

1 egg to help hold it together well

1-2 TBSP water to moisten if needed

Sweetener is optional: pinch stevia, 2 tsp raw honey, or 2 tsp agave.
2-3 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

 OPTIONAL add ins:

1 Tbs flaxseeds,

1 Tbs cacao powder (for chocolate cookie),

1 Tbs cacao chips, OR,

1 Tbs almond/peanut butter.

Directions:

Mix oats, almond flour and mashed banana in a medium bowl.

Mix in your optional Add-Ins of choice. Combine well.

Place the mixture on a parchment lined baking sheet, form into a round 6-8 inch cookie and flatten about 1/4-1/2 inch thickness.

Bake at 375 degrees f for 8-10 min.

Flip carefully with large spatula and then bake for an additional 5-8 min. Keep an eye on it.

You want the edges to just brown. Cool.

Mix a few tablespoons Greek yogurt, quark, or whipped coconut cream, with a drop of vanilla and a pinch of your favorite sweetener.

Spread the yogurt/cream the cookie. Top with your favorite fruit, berries or nuts.

To serve this as an "apple pie" then top with 1/2 of one medium granny smith apple, 3/4 c plain yogurt (for your protein), and sprinkle with cinnamon. I didn't need any other sweetener, but honey or pure maple syrup is an option to drizzle a little over the top.

I hope you all enjoy this! Don't forget to follow my blog! 

Just Giving A Talk today....

April 19^th, 2015 Sacrament Meeting Talk: Continuous Revelation

Good morning!

My name is Danet Peterson. My husband, Danny, my son Joshua and I moved into this ward about two months ago—it really doesn’t feel like it’s even been that long! We are so grateful to be a part of this ward and look forward to getting to know more of you. Since I’m speaking first, I’ll give you a little background on the two of us: we met in an ASU single’s ward in the fall of 2010. We knew each other, and associated on social media and through church activities, but didn’t begin dating until November that year. We actually began our love story as we waited for tithing settlement appointments.

 I was prompted to sit by him and talk to him, and being the out-going and social butterfly I was, I quickly and without too much question heeded that prompting. I’m so glad I did!  After essentially inviting myself to his apartment, where I cooked dinner for us (out of craving to cook something after being in the dorms without a kitchen for so long—those of you who know me well now know that I LOVE food)—but after that, he asked me on a date. I was busy, and couldn’t go on a date with him until the following week after finals, choir concerts, etc. had concluded.

The next Sunday, a week after we had officially “met” at tithing settlement, I needed a ride out to my family’s home in Gilbert. Danny volunteered to drive me, since it was on the way to his family get together that Sunday evening in Queen Creek. As he waited in the car to pick me up, he has since told me that he felt impressed to ask if I would like to join them for family dinner that evening. I felt like it would be a little unorthodox to meet his parents before we’d even been on a real date, but decided to go with it. It felt like the right thing to do.

How grateful we BOTH are that we heeded the promptings we could have easily dismissed as trivial and silly thoughts that didn’t merit being acted upon. That Sunday night’s CRAZY family dinner was the first evening I began to fall in love with the man sitting behind me, and I haven’t stopped falling for him ever since.

We will have been married 4 years this coming May, and have an adorable little boy, Joshua Timothy, who is currently in the “adjustment phase” of nursery time. For those who have or have had nursery age children, this is the period of time when your child cries, A LOT, but is perfectly fine as soon as you are in room with them. Joshua has been a light in our lives every day and we each look forward to the new things he is learning to do on a daily basis.

My husband and I have been asked to speak on the topic of continuing revelation, as it was addressed in a talk given last October by President Henry B Eyring in General Conference.  I tend to be the more talkative one in our relationship, so I’ll do my best to leave him some time. If you hear a toddler randomly crying “momma!” in the halls or chapel, then that would be Joshua. Separation anxiety is a real thing in our house.

I would like to focus specifically on how revelation can and should be continuous for each of us on an individual basis, in relation to our personal choices in life and our roles in our families.  

In his talk last October, Elder Eyring said the following early on in his address,

“Human judgment and logical thinking will NOT be enough to get answers to the questions that matter most in life. We need revelation from God.”

I will be the first to admit that I usually look for a logical and concrete solution to the problems I’ve had in life. But the times I have been more fully blessed and inspired have been the times when, though perhaps grudgingly, I heeded the promptings which were given to me. I would like to talk on two points: first, being continuously prepared to receive personal revelation and second, acting regularly on the revelation we receive.

In order to receive continuous revelation in our lives, we must constantly be ready and willing to receive it. Doctrine and Covenants Section 8, vs 2-6 reads,

“2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

 4 Therefore this is thy gift; apply unto it, and blessed art thou, for it shall deliver you out of the hands of your enemies, when, if it were not so, they would slay you and bring your soul to destruction.

 5 Oh, remember these words, and keep my commandments. Remember, this is your gift.”

In these 5 verses, the word, “gift” is used twice. In the whole section, it is actually used 7 times. I feel like this is an important point because a gift implies both something that is equally available to all of us from our heavenly father, but that must be both given and received in correct circumstances.

Each baptized member of the church has been given the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is a gift we may ALWAYS have to be with us, if we fulfill our part in the baptismal covenant—to keep his commandments, to take his name upon us, and to endure to the end. The Holy Ghost knows the truth of all things and will communicate with us constantly if we are worthy.

In regards to personal revelation, I feel it’s important to point out that in physically and spiritually dangerous circumstances, the Spirit will ALWAYS make an attempt to prompt us. Whether we listen in the moment is up to us. However, I believe that the volume of his whispers will be more apparent in our lives, no matter the situation or decision we face, if we are striving to be in tune with gospel teachings, following the commandments, and seeking to individually invite the spirit into our lives.

We can ensure the presence of the Spirit in our lives by doing the things we know and hear as the primary answers. Having been a primary teacher for a few years recently, I can testify to you that those answers—pray, read our scriptures, church and temple attendance—are all we need to be more receptive to the promptings of the spirit.

I’ve been reading in the book of Nephi for the last month or so, and one of the chapters that comes to mind in light of this talk is the time Nephi recounts his experience with striving to know the meaning of his father, Lehi’s dream about the tree of life. In the multiple chapters, the angel asks Nephi, “Behold, what desirest thou?”

Nephi’s account then describes how he asked the angel of the Lord to show him the meaning of all the things which were a part of the dream of the tree of life. Before this vision occurred, however, Nephi states that he “sat pondering.”

This is a difficult state for me and for many of us in today’s busy world. To ponder means to be engaged in quiet reflection, purposefully seeking and listening for the whisperings of the Spirit.

Pondering is how we can, as President Packer has stated, “See, hear, and feel to [receive]…revelation.” He also explains that “our spirits learn in a different way than” our minds. The easiest way to bridge the gap between how our minds learn and how our spirits learn is by utilizing prayer in our everyday lives.

President Packer also said in his talk on personal revelation, “Prayer is so essential a part of revelation that without it the veil may remain closed to you. Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees…Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil.” This brings to my mind the image of the Savior knocking on the door, only there is no door knob on the outside. It’s up to us to invite the Spirit and by extension, the Savior into our lives and homes.

One place that it is particularly important that we spend time is right here in our church meetings, where we can regularly participate in the ordinance of the sacrament and renew our covenants with the Father. But equally important is attendance in the temple. The temple is where prophets of old and prophets today go to receive the guidance of the Lord. Inside the holy walls of the temple, or as in olden days, on top of a high mountain, is where the Spirit of the Lord is most free to instruct us and guide us.

Throughout our dating experience, Danny and I strove to attend the temple together and do baptisms for the dead on a regular basis. That habit was something that enabled both of us to receive personal confirmation by the witness of the Spirit that we were making a righteous decision in choosing to get married. During our sealing ceremony, we were counseled, as many of us are, to return often to the temple, both on a regular basis and as need permitted.

I have struggled immensely with depression in the last year or so, but have come to learn it’s something I’ve struggled with most of my adult life so far. The biggest shield I have against the dark whisperings of the adversary is personal revelation received in the temple during some of my darkest moments. The interesting thing about personal revelation is that it’s always changing based on our circumstances. A verse of scripture that stuck with me one day during a particular moment may not be the same verse I need to see on a different difficult day. And some days are not difficult-on the easier days; I have to remind myself to continue to work on my faith, so that it is stronger than it was before.

As we pray and study the gospel on a daily basis, we will build up a wall molded and shaped by faith and our testimony of the basic truths in the scriptures. President Packer said this of revelation as it pertains to faith, “The flow of revelation depends on your faith…Be believing and your faith will be constantly replenished, your knowledge of the truth increased, and your testimony of the Redeemer, of the Resurrection, of the Restoration will be as “a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.”  You may then receive guidance on practical decisions in everyday life.”  

When I attended EFY as a youth, one of the songs on the EFY Music CD that we were sent home with was titled, “Live Like You Believe.” Not Live and Believe, or Simply, Believe, but to Life LIKE you believe, even if it doesn’t feel like you can.

I tend to doubt the promptings that are given to me—I always wonder if logically they are really promptings, or just simply the desires of my heart being made into thoughts by my brain. We are not THAT intelligent brothers and sisters, nor should we doubt the Spirit of the Lord who speaks only TRUTH.  One of my goals in life is to learn to simply accept the guidance of the Spirit, especially when I have sought and struggled to find an answer before said guidance comes.

One final thought: In the scriptures we hear it said many times that “faith without works is dead.” I would alter this statement: “Personal revelation without works is dead.” The Spirit can only speak to us if we are worthy. If we are worthy and hear the prompting of the spirit, but choose to ignore it, as agency allows us to do, the consequence is that the Spirit will withdraw. In order to always have the Spirit with us, we must both heed and act upon the promptings we receive. The more regularly that we act on the promptings we are given and act quickly, the more often we will come to recognize instances of personal revelation in our lives and the more blessed we will become.

I testify to you that the simple act of striving to believe, to do the simple primary answers-- pray, read the scriptures, attend church meetings and the temple regularly—will then lead you to being worthy of having the spirit with you always.

As President Packer said in his talk years ago, “We must face life “led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which [we] should do,” 38 just as Nephi did.”

I know that my Redeemer lives. I know he loves each and every one of us. I know that the gospel was restored by the prophet Joseph Smith and that the ordinances of the gospel enable us to live with our families forever. I have a testimony of the power of prayer and the power of priesthood blessings. I know that I have room for improvement in accepting and acting fully on the personal revelation I receive in my life, but I am trying to improve and that is the best any of us can do. I love my husband and my son and I am so grateful for his steadfast testimony and faith in the power of prayer and revelation. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
 

Sweet Potato Pancakes! Delish!

I made these delicious pancakes for breakfast this morning. I made a few modifications to the recipe at this link to make it 21 day fix approved. :)

Pancakes are a favorite at my house. I love how they make the air smell like fresh bread and cookies all mixed together in wonderful aromas.

Here's what my serving looked like today, served as described in the recipe below.

**Tip of the day: A serving of pancakes should be about the same size of a CD. This is a single serving of grains, 1 yellow container on the 21 day fix, and very filling, nutritious, and all natural in one go! Plus, the kids will love them!

Sweet Potato Pancakes
(serves 8)-1 pancake each, or 2 small if you make 16 hot cakes

On 21 day fix: 1Y, ¼ R, 1 tsp. serve with 1P of fresh fruit, and ¾ r plain yogurt with cinnamon

Ingredients:

1 c mashed sweet potato

1.5 c whole wheat flour

2/3 c almond milk

3 whole eggs

4 egg whites

4 TBSP melted coconut oil

½ c plain greek yogurt

1 TBSP baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

2 TBSP pure maple syrup (honey/stevia substitute allowed)

1 ½ tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients, and then blend all ingredients in blender or mixing bowl. Cook on skillet at medium-high heat for 2-3 min per side, or until fully cooked through.  Enjoy! Serve with fresh fruit and your choice of protein.

Happy Saturday! Enjoy your weekend!

Dinner Recipe of the week!

I am always on the look out for new recipes to add to my arsenal, cuz let's face it, you have to be armed with delicious healthy food to combat all the junk that's available and much more convenient to grab and go.

I try to make a new recipe 1x per week, maybe every 2 weeks. I'm not always successful. Sometimes I get stuck in my current weeks of dinners, then a month goes by and we've eaten the same thing all month and it's no wonder I'm completely sick of the food I'm eating!

These yummy friends were awesome, and fairly simple to make with a little prep.

I used this site as my inspiration, but my recipe has a few personal twists to it: http://www.danielle-may.com/#!21-day-fix-ideas/c1laa

Twice Baked Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins

Servings (3 as main dish, 6 as side)
Main dish for 21 day fix= 1Y, 1 R, 1 G, 1/2-1B, 1 tsp
Prep: 30 min
Cook: 30 min

Ingredients

• 3 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 pound (about 3-4 small) grilled chicken breast (enough to fill 3 red containers on 21 day fix)
• 1/4 cups olive oil
• 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4-1/2 tsp chipotle chili pepper
• 2-3 tsp honey (optional to offset the spicy flavor)
• salt and pepper
• 3 cups spinach, raw
• 1 c sharp white cheddar cheese, grated (I used about 1/3 c for 2 halves of potatoes, 1 B for 21 day fix)
• chopped cilantro, for garnish
• greek yogurt, for serving

Instructions

**I had grilled chicken on hand from the night before. Instead of doing this step, I chose to simply microwave my 3 sweet potatoes for 15 min or so. While they were microwaving I did steps 2-3. So I skipped pretty much the whole of step one. It's great to grill up lots of chicken to use for the whole week!***1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Wash your sweet potatoes and prick all over with a fork. Place in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until fork tender. Place your chicken in a baking dish and rub with a tablespoon of olive oil, salt and peper. Place in the oven with the potatoes and bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool and shred the chicken with a fork or your hands. When the sweet potatoes are done cut in half and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.

2. In a medium size bowl combine the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chipotle spices, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside.

3. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and wilt the spinach (this can also be done in the microwave). Toss the spinach and shredded chicken together, set aside and keep warm.

4. Turn the oven up to 400 degrees. Scrape the sweet potato out of the peel, leaving a medium size layer of flesh inside with the peel so that it can stand up on its own (I reserved the remaining flesh, for another use, so this leaves 1 y container of flesh for every 2 medium potatoes) and place in a baking dish. Brush the skins with with a little of the chipotle sauce and bake for 5-10 muntes until nice and crisp. While the skins bake mix the spinach, chicken and chipotle sauce together. Remove skins from the oven and stuff with the chicken mixture, top with shredded cheese and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the skins are hot and crisp. Serve with fresh chopped cilantro and greek yogurt if desired.

This recipe was SO yummy! If you want to try it, be sure to share the link for my blog with your friends and family!

I hope you enjoy trying it out this weekend! :) 

Looking in the mirror through a child's eyes...

I read this article on thebettermom.com and wanted to share it with anyone who might need to read it.

http://www.thebettermom.com/blog/2015/3/20/uzx2dnl451yf2ahboe367hdlvct2s4

This past few weeks, I've been struck by just how much Joshua loves his daddy and I. We've been trying a few new things, like nursery in church and swim lessons, where mom or dad don't get to be with him all the time and his response lately has been to be more clingy, needy, and just all around worried about us leaving him.

Just tonight, he was upset if I so much as walked into another room. Talk about really feeling the love lately!  ;)

While Joshua is obviously struggling to come to terms with the idea of being more independent, and what that really means, he's also becoming this incredibly intelligent little human being with a fun personality and all kinds of things to say, do, and show us.

I was sitting on the couch on Sunday afternoon, working on my talk for next week. Danny was upstairs taking a nap for himself. I had been contemplating taking one too.

It was only 2:33PM and Joshua had only been asleep for maybe and hour and fifteen minutes tops. Not exactly the greatest nap, and he certainly didn't sound happy as I listened to him for a few minutes.

A little irritated that he didn't sleep longer, I trudged up the stairs and did my best to put a smile on my face when I walked in the room to pick him up before he woke up his tired daddy. He was absolutely THRILLED to see me, "momma! momma!" being the main words spoken. His excitement was contagious so we smiled and played around together while I changed his stinky diaper.

We began the trip downstairs where we explored the rooms looking for, "dat!dat!" (Cat! Cat!) Both of whom were sleeping and displeased about being rudely awoken. Joshua went from one task to another, and I was hard pressed to keep up with what he wanted to do because his preference changed rapidly. Eventually, he settled down by the book case, and, thinking that he would amuse himself for a few quiet minutes so I could work more on my computer, I left him to it and moved back to sit on the couch.

Typing away at the keys, I was only at it for a few minutes when I heard a little patter of footsteps across our wood floors. The next thing I know, Joshua is  right in front of me, pushing a board book about colors and shapes onto my keyboard.

At first, I paused what I was doing, kept the computer open, and quickly read through the book. He was pleased with this first rendition of the story and pattered away to the shelf.

A few minutes passed.

The feet sounded again and a new book was placed over my attempting-to-type hands.

I was tempted to sigh, to put on baby signing time, to ignore him.

But I don't have to make that choice.

My son wants ME. He wants his Dad. He wants our presence. Our full, undivided presence and attention. He doesn't want my mere presence in the room-though that has undoubtedly been helpful in times like nursery. He wants to play WITH me, to show me all the new discoveries he's making, to make new ones with me along side him.

So I put my computer away, shut the door, and turned to give him my full and undivided attention for the period of time that he wanted it.  We played with letters, we read stories, I was a human jungle gym. And it was all so WORTH the time I spent just being down on his level and enjoying the simple activities (like opening and closing doors) that he so loves to do these days.

His lovely little red head rests on my chest nightly while we rock and sing primary songs. And when he shakes his head and says, "no! no! no!" in his funky raspy little voice, I hug him tight, lay him in bed and know that he just wants to play with me and daddy more. He's had a good day and now it's time for sleep so he can play again tomorrow.

So let's take a look in the mirror and see ourselves as our children see us shall we? Their visions of us are nothing but the best and most adoring.

Just a little something...

It cracks me up that one of the days I feel the MOST productive is a day when Joshua is sick and miserable...It's not necessarily that I have more time, because even though I woke up early, Joshua was still awake earlier than normal because he had puke all over his bed. :(

I just have gotten more done, maybe because I'm choosing to see it that way? Perspective is a funny thing....  ;)

Speaking of perspective....here's 3 things I'm grateful for:

1. health                       2. yummy smelling food                             3. computers that work well

What are YOU thankful for today? Did you know just acknowledging 3 things daily that you're thankful for is a positive thinking strategy that with consistency will change your life? It's changing mine today....

But back to why I'm here today....I'm a little spacey.

So I've been meaning to get better at actually BLOGGING and here's my plan: 3-5 times per week, I'll post something. If you would simply click the "follow" button and input your email, then I would LOVE to help populate your inbox a few times a week with some yummy recipes, fitness ideas, random mommy ramblings, and house-wivery tips and tricks.

I'm still learning, but I'd love for you to learn with me!

I've posted about this kitchen chalk board on FB, and a lot of people have asked me how I made it! It wasn't hard, but it was a little time consuming. If you're not as cheap as me, then just go to Tuesday morning and buy one that's premade:

Supplies: 

- 1 2 ft x 4 ft chalk board (Home Depot carries the boards already made!)

- 10 feet of baseboard of your choice

- dark wax to add a distressed look, or paint of your color choice

- gorilla Wood Glue

-28 screws, the smallest depth you can get (mine were like a half inch or less even)

Instructions: 

- cut each of the sides of your frame with a miter saw (I had my dad help me with this cuz you need to be able to do a 45* angle cut to make the ends of the frame meet)

- double and triple check that your frame and board match up well

- paint or wax your frame pieces! Yay!

- using gorilla wood glue and some pressure clamps, attach your frame to the board one side at a time 

- Let glue dry, and then flip frame over and using a low-speed drill, add screws to the back of the frame every 6 inches or so. Use as many screws as you need to ensure the board stays together. 

- mount and hang  your frame where you choose! (Home depot has picture mounting/mirror mounting kits that anchor to the wall--just ask their guys, they'll know best which one you need depending on the size of your board)

If you don't care about using a wall or a door, then just grab some chalk pain and go to your wall with vigor! (I wanted a moveable chalk board, but also wanted it in this specific spot in the kitchen).

So this pic below illustrates exactly WHY I needed that chalk board.

I meal plan. Every week. I change up my dinners mostly, and rotate through the foods on my lunch list. Sometimes I spruce things up a bit, but mostly this is the basic template for my daily meals. I pick a breakfast, snacks, lunch, and the dinner is planned for 2 weeks at a time.

I've also been trying to make freezer meals! Here's this week's freezer meal, taken and modified from this site: http://www.thegunnysack.com/2014/07/slow-cooker-honey-sesame-chicken.html#_a5y_p=2125348

Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken

Ingredients

•6 skinless chicken breasts

•1/2 an onion, finely chopped

•2 cloves garlic, minced

•1/2 cup honey

•1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce

•4 tbs tomato puree/paste

•2 tsp sesame oil

•3 tsp cornflour/cornstarch

•1/4 cup water

•2 cups broccoli florets, chopped into bite sized peices + 1tsp sesame oil for frying

•Rice or quinoa, to serve

•Toasted sesame seeds, to serve

Instructions

1. Place the thighs in the bowl of a slow cooker.

2. Combine the onion, garlic, honey, soy sauce, tomato puree and oil in a bowl, and pour over the chicken. Cook on low for at least four hours, preferably six, turning occasionally to ensure the chicken cooks evenly.

3. 20 mins before you want to serve, prepare the rice according to packet instructions, and remove the chicken from the slow cooker.

4. Combine the cornflour and water in a cup or small bowl to create a slurry, and add it to the remaining sauce in the slow cooker, turning the temperature up to high to allow the sauce to thicken.

5. Add the chicken back to the thickening sauce, turning the mixture occasionally.

6. with the oven at 400*, shake your broccoli around with the sesame oil and then roast the broccoli stalks until slightly crisped.

7. Lay the broccoli over the rice, and top with a good dollop of the chicken/sauce mixture, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Couldn’t be easier.

I used lots of chicken today to make a family meal, and also made up the double batch so I could have 2 freezer meals (we don't need the whole meal for just the 3 of us). Hurray for less cooking over the summer!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

PS! Don't forget to follow me! You're my motivation to keep writing!