Easy Chicken Jambalaya - Keto Friendly

Today I am sharing a Keto Friendly recipe for Easy Chicken Jambalaya.  I found the inspiration for this recipe in a Better Homes and Gardens Skillet Dinners magazine and thought it looked delicious, and I was able to make it with cauliflower rice, rather then regular rice. Which makes this a delicious keto friendly, gluten free, grain free, low carb alternative. Yum!!!  It came out amazing and was super simple to make.  It took about 45 minutes total, including prep and cooking time.  The flavors were delicious together, and I love when a recipe has fewer then ten ingredients.  I know you are going to love it just as much as we did.

Print Recipe

Easy Chicken Jambalaya

Chicken Ingredients:
1 pound chicken thighs, boneless, skinless cut into bite size pieces
4 Tb Cajun seasoning
1 lb andouille sausage, cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces (sugar free)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 yellow peppers, sliced thinly and then cut in half
1/2 red onion, sliced into thin wedges
2 14.5 oz cans stewed tomatoes, undrained

Cauliflower Rice ( not counted in the macros)

Directions:

Put 4 Tb Cajun seasoning into a bowl and add the chicken pieces and toss them to coat well.

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium high heat and add chicken and andouille sausage and brown for 5 to 10 minutes.  It took me about 10 minutes.

Next, add the peppers and onion, cook for another 5 minutes.

Then add to stewed tomatoes, stir and cover pan with a lid and cook for 10 minutes.

Serve over Cauliflower Rice.

I know you are going to love this recipe.  I always love hearing from you, and would love to know how you like it.

Have a great week.
Debi

Nutrition Facts
Servings 6.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 393
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 27 g	42 %
Saturated Fat 8 g	40 %
Monounsaturated Fat 7 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 120 mg	40 %
Sodium 1251 mg	52 %
Potassium 573 mg	16 %
Total Carbohydrate 15 g	5 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g	8 %
Sugars 7 g
Protein 25 g	49 %
Vitamin A	10 %
Vitamin C	211 %
Calcium	8 %
Iron	24

Chalcedony, Malayasian Jade, and Aventurine Necklace

I wanted to show you this set of jewelry that I made recently with Chalcedony, Malayasian Jade, and Aventurine.  I decided to use sterling silver wire for the necklace and bracelet, since I was using semi precious stones.  I used for 14 kt gold wire for the earrings, since my ears are allergic to silver.  I also used some silver beads for interest.  I chose the colors for this necklace, because they remind me of sea glass.  Several months ago I was at the bead store, and saw all of the beautiful aqua, green, and yellow colored stones, and thought they would make a great spring and summer collection of jewelry.  Living a block from beach, creates a feeling of calm, and I wanted to reflect this in my jewelry designs.

I really love wire wrapping, and it creates a strong base for these stones which are pretty heavy.  I didn't want anything breaking or coming apart, so wire wrapping is the perfect medium for these beautiful semi precious stones.  My favorite is the center piece, the briolette which is Chalcedony.  It reminds me of the ocean on a clear, perfect day.

I learned how to wire wrap Craftsy's Wire Wrapped Jewelry Making Class. I loved the class and the techniques are not difficult.

Have a great week.
Debi

I order my sterling silver wire and sterling lobster claw clasps from Fire Mountain Gems. You can Request a FREE Catalog for any of your supplies.

This post contains sponsored links from Craftsy and Fire Mountain Gems.

Dear God Note 16 - Jesus' Hands

Dear God,

Thank you for having Jesus showing the disciples His hands.  Mary Magdalene knew it was Jesus when she heard his voice, they believed it was Him when they saw His hands.  Thank you for giving me the faith to know Him without any proof.  

I love you.

Debi

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

John 20:20

NoOatmeal - Grain Free Hot Cereal Recipe

I made this delicious new recipe for NoOatmeal - a grain free hot cereal.  For those of you on a low carb diet, you like me may miss your oatmeal.  There are times, where I have found it very difficult to stay on the low carb diet, because I miss my carbs "a lot!"  I miss oatmeal "a lot!"  I found the inspiration for this recipe at Real Food RN, and if you are trying to low carb it, this is a great recipe to try.

My doctor put me on a Ketogenic Diet in December for health reasons.  It is not a high protein diet, it is a high fat / moderate protein / low carb diet. So far it is working.  When I went for my lab work in March, all of my levels had gone into the normal range, but I still need to be careful.  I do eat regular food and carbs from time to time, but I try to stick to the Ketogenic diet.

In the meantime, it has been very interesting trying to figure out how to eat.  My diet is high in healthy fats such as coconut oil, avocados, and nuts approximately 100 grams.  I eat chicken, fish, beef, pork, and lamb about 80 grams a day ( I avoid shellfish since it is high in triglycerides). I eat approximately 20 grams of carbs a day, which comes mostly from vegetables.

One of the reasons I have not been writing a lot, is because I have been trying to figure out how to eat in this new and different way.  This recipe for NoOatmeal will work for a low carb or paleo diet also, it is really delicious and full of healthy fats and fiber.

Print Recipe

NoOatmeal - Grain Free Hot Cereal Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups pecans

2 cups walnuts

6 TB Flax Seeds

6 TB Chia Seeds

6 TB Hemp Hearts

Directions:

Put the nuts, seeds, and hemp hearts in a high speed blender or food processor. (I have a Ninja blender which works great for this, its blades are not like a regular blender.)  If you don't have one, then use your food processor.  Pulse all of it on and off, but be careful, not turn your

NoOatmeal Ingredients into nut butter.  You just want it to be ground up, but not stuck together.  

Put it into a container and store in your refrigerator.

Yields about 5 cups of NoOatmeal
7.9 carbs (g)
7.1 Dietary Fiber (g)
.8 Net Carbs (g)
35.1 Fat (g)
8.1 Protein (g)

NoOatmeal Ingredients:

1/2 cup Milk, Cream, Coconut milk, or Almond milk (unsweetened)

1/2 cup NoOatmeal

stevia

butter

anything else you eat with your NoOatmeal

NoOatmeal Cooking Directions:

Bring the milk or whatever liquid you are using to a boil.  Add the NoOatmeal and cook for 1 minute.  Let sit for 5 minutes until thickened.  You can adjust the thickness to your liking by adding a little more or less NoOatmeal to the pan.

I add butter and stevia to my NoOatmeal, but you can add anything that you want, just as you would regular oatmeal.  To keep it low carb, you may want to restrict fruit or sugar.

I would love to hear what you think about the recipe.  I hope that you like it as much as I do. So send me your comments.

Have a great weekend.

Debi

Mexican Chopped Salad

This is recipe number three for our Cinco de Mayo celebration and it is a very easy Mexican Chopped Salad.  I love looking at Pinterest for recipe and party ideas.  I have lots of cookbooks and magazines, but I tend to turn to Pinterest more often then not.  I found the inspiration for this recipe for Mexican Chopped Salad at The Cafe Sucre Farine.  I used their salad dressing recipe and made up the rest of the salad and it was truly amazing.  It is a great light salad, especially when you are eating  a heavier meal.  I know you are going to love it as much as we did.  The flavors are so light and bright and Yum!

Print Recipe

Mexican Chopped Salad

Ingredients:

Salad Dressing:

1/2 cup lime juice

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp oregano

2 cloves garlic minced

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup olive oil

black pepper to taste

Salad Vegetables:

2 red bell peppers, chopped into small bite size pieces

1/2 red onion, chopped

6 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped

8 Persian cucumbers, quartered

4 ears of corn, cooked and sliced off of the cob

Directions:

Mix the salad dressing ingredients together with a whisk.

Cook 2 ears of corn at a time in the microwave for 4 minutes.  Cool and then slice off of the cob.

Combine all of the vegetable ingredients in a bowl and then toss with the salad dressing.

Serves 8 to 10.

This Chopped Mexican Salad was surprisingly delicious and so easy to make.

I always love hearing from you .

Have a wonderful Cinco de Mayo.

Debi

Cinco de Mayo Menu

Appetizers:

Guacamole

Pico de Gallo

Mango Salsa

Chips

Dinner:

Mexican Chicken and Rice

Mexican Chopped Vegetable Salad

Fruit Skewers

Dessert:

Mexican Fried Ice Cream Cake

Cocktails:

Peach Sangria

Mexican Chicken and Rice

Are you ready for day number two of our Cinco de Mayo recipes? Today I am sharing my version of a recipe that I found on Pinterest for Mexican Chicken and Rice.  It came from Recipe Tin Eats.  It was absolutely delicious and a great meal for a lot of people.  I doubled the recipe, and as usual made some changes.  I know you are going to love it as much as we did.  It does have a lot of ingredients, but it is not a difficult recipe to make.  It is definitely worth the effort.

Print Recipe

Mexican Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:

Mexican Spice Mix:

3 Tb garlic powder

3 Tb onion powder
3 TB chili powder

3 Tb paprika

3 Tb cumin

1 Tb oregano

2 1/2 tsp salt

dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

1/4 tsp black pepper

Chicken:

8 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless

3 boneless skinless breasts (sliced in half, to make 2 thin pieces) 6 pieces total

3 Tb lime juice

6 Tb Mexican Seasoning

1/3 cup olive oil

Rice:

1 onion, peeled and diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 red peppers, sliced

4 cups short grain rice

4 cups chicken stock

1 28 oz can tomato puree

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 12 oz bag frozen corn

1 16 oz can black beans

1 5.5 oz container sliced black olives

4 Tb Mexican Seasoning

Garnish:

2 limes sliced

cilantro

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray 2 9 x 13 inch casserole dishes with non stick cooking spray.

Mix all of the spice ingredients together.

Next, mix 6 Tb spice seasoning with 3 Tb lime juice and rub all over each chicken piece.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the chicken about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.  Set the chicken to the side.

Then add the onion, garlic, and red pepper to the olive oil and browned bits in the skillet and cook until lightly browned, then add the rice and stir it until it is coated with the onion mixture.

Next add the chicken stock, tomato puree, tomato paste and stir well.  Next add the Mexican seasoning mixture and stir again. Bring to a boil.

Then add the corn, black beans, and olives.

Separate this mixture into the two casserole dishes and place the chicken on top of the rice mixture in each casserole dish.  I put the thighs in one dish and the breasts in the other dish.

Place foil over each casserole dish and bake for 35 minutes and then remove the foil.  Bake for an additional 15 to 25 minutes.  Taste to make sure the rice is cooked and serve.

Serves 8 to 10 people

I hope that you enjoy this recipe.  I always love hearing from you.

Have a great week and a wonderful Cinco de Mayo.

Debi

Cinco de Mayo Menu

Appetizers:

Guacamole

Pico de Gallo

Mango Salsa

Chips

Dinner:

Mexican Chicken and Rice

Mexican Chopped Vegetable Salad

Fruit Skewers

Dessert:

Mexican Fried Ice Cream Cake

Cocktails:
Peach Sangria

Mexican Fried Ice Cream Cake

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo early this year and had friends over for dinner. I love desserts and so we are going to have this Mexican Fried Ice Cream Cake for dessert first, and then I'll share the other recipes over the next few days.  All of the recipes were pretty easy, and as I publish them I will link all of the recipes together.

Charly has made Fried Ice Cream balls before, and she used Frosted Flakes rather then Corn Flakes for her recipe, so I decided that I was going to use them in this recipe also.  My inspiration for this dessert came from Life in the Lofthouse.  This Fried Ice Cream Cake was so good that people were asking for seconds.  You are going to love it!!!

I do want to share my menu with all of you, so that you can look for the additional recipes as I post them.

Appetizers:

Guacamole

Pico de Gallo

Mango Salsa

Chips

Dinner:

Mexican Chicken and Rice

Mexican Chopped Vegetable Salad

Fruit Skewers

Dessert:

Mexican Fried Ice Cream Cake

Cocktails:
Peach Sangria

Print Recipe

Mexican Fried Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups frosted flakes (ground in a food processor)

1/2 cup butter

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 quart vanilla bean ice cream

1 8oz container cool whip

3/4 tsp cinnamon

honey

chocolate syrup

caramel syrup

whipped cream

Take your ice cream and cool whip out of the freezer and let them soften, so that you can mix them together easily.

Melt the butter in a skillet and then add the frosted flake crumbs and cinnamon.

Cook until golden.  Watch it carefully, because the frosted flakes can burn easily.

Let your frosted flake mixture cool down a little bit.  Then spread 1 1/2 cups of the frosted flake mixture in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.

Next mix the ice cream, cool whip, and cinnamon together very well and spread this over the top of the frosted flake crumbs.

You will then put the rest of the frosted flake crumbs on top of the ice cream mixture, making sure that you have covered the entire top of the ice cream with the frosted flake crumbs.

Next drizzle honey over the top of the corn flake crumbs.

Freeze for 4 to 5 hours before serving.

Cut into 12 pieces to serve and drizzle caramel sauce and chocolate sauce over each piece and then top with whipped cream.

I always love hearing from you.
Have a great week.
Debi

87 Thanksgiving Recipes from Pinterest and Adorned From Above

I love Thanksgiving.  I love the food, the friends and family, and this year a walk on the beach will also be part of my Thanksgiving Day.  I wanted to share some recipes from my Thanksgiving board on Pinterest and also some oldies from Adorned From Above.  We will not be with our family this year, but we will be with some wonderful friends in Florida.  

I pin recipes all of the time, so, this would be my dream Thanksgiving Dinner.   The bacon wrapped turkey looks especially yummy.  Charly made the Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes for our son's graduation party a few weeks ago and they were delicious.  I know you are going to love them.  I loved all of these side dish ideas, and what would Thanksgiving be like without a pie.  I saw one on the Food Network Baking Challenge the other day and it looked amazing.  I am going to try to come up with a recipe for that.  It will be a Cranberry Apple Pie topped with whipped cream.  I will take pictures and if it comes out as delicious as I think it will, I will share it with all of you next week.

I hope all of you ave a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Debi

A Little Bit of Amazing from Thistlewood Farms

Bacon Blanketed Herb Roasted Turkey from The Runaway Spoon

Homemade Cranberry Sauce from Adorned from Above

Baked Sweet Potato Fritters from The Farm Girl Gabs

Butternut Squash Casserole from Adorned From Above

60 Thanksgiving Sides from Lil' Luna

Vince's Loaded Mashed Potatoes from Adorned From Above

20 Thanksgiving Pie Recipes from Lil' Luna

Fresh Whipped Cream from Adorned From Above for all of your Holiday Desserts

Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes from Cakescottage.com

Dear God Note 17

Hi Everyone, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

  It's been a little while since I have shared anything with all of you. Today I wanted to share what I am grateful for in my Dear God Note 17.

I read the book Eve, by Wm Paul Young.  He is the author of the book The Shack, and this is his new book about creation.  I will write a review in the next week, but one of the wonderful ideas in this book was Adam being face to face with God.  I love the thought of being face to face with God.  As long as Adam was face to face with God he never felt alone.  When Adam started turning away, looking to other things for companionship rather then God, is when he started to feel alone.  Even though he was never alone, he was human and could not see that.

So this week, I just want to share the idea of meeting God face to face everyday.  We are never alone, but sometimes we turn away and are not aware of it.  That is when we start to feel alone.  So may I suggest that everyday you join God FACE TO FACE.  Don't turn away, because what an amazing relationship you can have with Him, FACE TO FACE.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and God bless all of you.

Debi

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe Book Review

Today I am reviewing the book  Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe   by Max Lucado.    I recently finished this  very fun book, and I enjoyed it so much I wanted to share it with all of you.

This is such a fun story.    It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down.    The story revolves around Chelsea Chambers,  her children,  Manny  (her very clumsy, cheerful, and interesting employee), and her husband.    It takes place in the cafe that she inherited from her mom.    It is a story filled with faith, redemption, prayer, and so much more.    This is the first  fiction story that I have read by Max Lucado, and this  was just so fun.    For all of you bloggers out there, the cafe has a blog called the God Blog. 

The story starts with Chelsea  making her cupcakes and other pastries, and serving coffee to her  customers.   She then hires Manny as to help here and all kinds of miracles start happening.   The cafe needs some serious revamping if it is going to make it, and that is what they set out to do. While reading this book, I felt like I was there with them going through everything that they were going through.   

It is a fun, fast paced book, that I think that you will enjoy.   I hope that  you will get it and read it soon.   Let me know what you think.  I always love hearing from you.

Have a great week.

Debi

Here is a synopsis of the book from the publisher:

   What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would He answer?

Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.

Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea’s door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They’ve come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life’s biggest questions.

When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask God a question of her own. Heaven answers in a most unexpected way.

Captive Movie Review

Well, as I promised,  I am reviewing the movie Captive.  

I explained yesterday that this movie was directed by our  friend Jerry Jameson.  He has been directing since  1971.  He started working in the studios in the early 60's and literally worked his way up to director.   

He was a close friend of my parents and one of my dad's best friends.   He spent an afternoon helping us out with my dad the week before my dad passed away, and his wife Sally stayed with my dad the day he died until they took him from the house.   He has been a consistent figure in my life since I was a kid.   His children were the same age as me and we were very good friends, staying at each others houses all of the time.  So I not only knew him as a friend of my parents, but also as my friends'  dad.   

As a grown woman I became friends  with Jerry and his wife Sally, also.   I truly love them both.  We have been rooting for him with this movie for years, and I am so  very happy for him that this movie came to fruition.  

I don't tell you about movies unless I think they are important and relevant, and the  movie Captive is just that.    It is a true story that takes place in Atlanta, Georgia in 2005.   As I told you yesterday the lead characters are  Brian Nichols  played by David Oyelowo and  Ashley Smith played by  Kate Mara.   

The movie is based on Ashley Smith's book An Unlikely Angel.   It is the story of a young woman, Ashley Smith,  being taken hostage by an escape rapist Brian Nichols.   Brian Nichols is accused of rape, and he escapes jail, killing 4 people, and then taking Ashley Smith hostage.   He holds her hostage for about 7 hours, and then lets her go after she reads  The Purpose Driven Life   by Rick Warren to him.   Ashley was a meth addict and received the book from someone in her Celebrate Recovery program.   The book changed both of their lives that night .    

This movie is truly a story of redemption.   The cast is amazingly talented.   It has been described as a faith based film, but it is much more then that.    This movie  really speaks to a part of all of us, that hopes to be forgiven for the mistakes that we have made.    It is a  movie that shows the  gritty, dirty side of life, and how even that can be survived.    How we can come out even better  on the other side.

Please go and see this wonderful movie, you will not be disappointed.    Also,  stay after to watch the Gail King's interview  with the cast and real life  Ashley Smith.

Have a great week.

Debi

Captive Movie Review to Come

I have not seen the movie Captive yet, I am going to see it tonight before it leaves the theaters.  I am asking all of you to do the same.

This movie was directed by a very close family friend Jerry Jameson.  It  is a true story  based on the  a book called The  Unlikely Angel written by Ashley Smith, a young woman who was kidnapped and held hostage by her captor, Brian Nichols.  Ashley Smith is played by  Kate Mara and Brian Nichols is played by David Oyelowo (he won the academy award for best actor this year for playing Dr. Martin Luther King in Selma.

This movie has a great message, and I am hoping that we can support it before it  is gone from the theaters.

Here are some links to the reviews for the  movie, and  I will write a review about it tomorrow.  Please take the time to go and see this movie.  There are too few of these movies made today that make it to  theaters, so we need to support them when  they come out.  I will also be seeing War Room tomorrow , and will review that movie later this week.

Thank you so much for being here today.

Debi

TOP STORIES

LA TIMES | 16 SEPTEMBER 2015

‘Captive’ reflects faith-bases films shift to grittier, non-preachy plots

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-captive-production-20150915-story.html

NY Daily News | 13 SEPTEMBER 2015

David Oyelowo was very sensitive about glamorizing violence in his newest film, ‘Captive’

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/david-oyelowo-mindful-violence-captive-article-1.2355706

Getty Images | 14 SEPTEMBER 2015

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/director-jerry-jameson-attends-the-captive-new-york-news-photo/488234386

Star News Online | 16 SEPTEMBER 2015

Pint-size actress makes mark on silver screen

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20150916/ent/150919766?p=1&tc=pg

CBSNEWS | 14 SEPTEMBER 2015

David Oyelowo on new movie “Captive” and Emmy bid

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/david-oyelowo-on-new-movie-captive-and-emmy-bid/

USA TODAY | 15 SEPTEMBER 2015

‘Captive turns David Oyelowo into a killer

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/09/14/david-oyelowo-brings-captive-big-screen/72032096/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-lifetopstories

Variety | 15 SEPTEMBER 2015

David Oyelowo, Kate Mara and Ashley Smith Talk ‘Captive’ and Seeing Others ‘Through the Eyes of Christ’

http://variety.com/2015/scene/vpage/david-oyelowo-kate-mara-and-ashley-smith-talk-captive-and-seeing-others-through-the-eyes-of-christ-1201594054/

The View | 15 SEPTEMBER 2015

David Oyelowo on the ‘The View’: Talks about New Film ‘Captive’

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/video/pl5554876/vdka0_123vo6ot

Katie Couric | 14 SEPTEMBER 2015

Ashley Smith: The true story behind “Captive”

https://www.yahoo.com/katiecouric/ashley-smith-brian-nichols-story-in-the-movie-129124808228.html