From DDD Store

August 8, 2015

How I Broke Through My Fear + a blog announcement!

I still remember the moment like it was yesterday. I was sitting at the nurses’ station staring blankly at my computer screen. After what felt like an incredibly fast orientation, this was my first night shift on my own - no preceptor to check over my work. I was going to be taking care of patients on my own, and not just any patients, incredibly sick children battling cancer.

I nervously adjusted my Strawberry Shortcake scrubs, checked my watch, looked at the computer screen again, checked my watch. Eventually I was going to have to stop procrastinating and start my shift. I looked at my patient assignment paralyzed in fear. Every patient needed something NOW; every family was waiting for me.
Have you ever been in a situation like this? You’re on the brink of something new, but something’s holding you back? I’ve read that fear is our compass for growth, but it’s hard to remember that in the moment.

Remember why you started

For me, these are the moments when we have to recall why we started in the first place. I went to nursing school to make a difference. I chose such an important specialty because I knew I was needed there.
Remembering the big picture is what helps us push past the fear. So what did I do that night at the nurses’ station? I took a deep breath and made a plan. I wrote down everything I needed to do hour by hour and I got to work. I was still terrified, but I let my purpose drive me.

Next steps

When I started dietdeepdish.com I also had a purpose greater than myself - to bring delicious, healthy food to your kitchen. My life changed once I took control of what I was eating and how I prepared it, and I know my mission is to show families that it doesn’t have to be difficult.
So even though I feel that familiar fear creep up every time I take the next step in my business, I’m letting my purpose drive me.

Exciting New Programs

Today I’m thrilled to be launching a brand new meal subscription service. Meal plans, grocery lists and food products can now be delivered to your home for less than $3 per serving.

Fear is a funny thing…

It creeps up when we make any change, especially one for the better. Investing in yourself with healthy meal plans and food delivered to your house might feel selfish, unnecessary or just silly.
I know I felt a lot of resistance when I made the decision to register for a yoga class. I should find a cheaper place. I should just use free videos on YouTube. However, the peace and contentment I feel walking out of that class cannot be matched with a free video.
If you have been wanting to eat healthier and with more variety, I hope you learn more about our programs. You are worth it!

June 29, 2015

Your Summer Party & Travel Guide

Happy Summer! Blue skies, farmers markets and swimming pools… it’s hard not to love this time of year. The only problem? It FLIES by! This week is July already! So don’t waste another moment of summer. Throw that backyard barbecue, plan that weekend getaway, go to that outdoor concert. Whatever you’ve been looking forward to, get our your calendar and plan it. Otherwise it will be over. You know Target is getting out their back-to-school gear as you read this…

Summer Party

This week I’m hosting a virtual barbecue on Facebook. Stop by for free recipes, 4th of July ideas and giveaways! All purchases will come with a FREE personalized party invitation! Shop the store at https://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/cmadormo.

Summer Vacation

Picture this: you’re relaxing at the beach listening to the sounds of waves crashing and your children giggling. You take a deep breath, smell the salty air and sink a little deeper into your chair. You feel happy, rejuvenated and grateful for such an incredible trip. You finally took the time to truly enjoy the planning process and let go of stress.

Far too often vacations can be a source of anxiety. In fact, a recent Huffington Post poll revealed that 1-in-4 full-time employees choose to forgo a vacation altogether because it’s just too stressful to take time off from work.

Fortunately, with just a few simple tricks, it is possible to have a blissful vacation free from stress, sibling bickering and constant fast food. Here are 4 tips for every family vacation. From healthy snacks to car games, we’ve got you covered for your next summer getaway!

Peanut Butter Quinoa Bars for a cause!

Always on the look out for easy, healthy snacks? No matter how many we buy at the store each week, we somehow still run out by Thursday or Friday. And I usually realize we need some as I’m running out the door and/or starving. One trick that helps with my snack dilemma is to bake a batch myself. My new go-to is peanut butter quinoa bars. Just mix in peanut butter and honey, and you have a tray of delicious granola bars at your fingertips! These are perfect for throwing in the stroller on your way out the door. You can also easily substitute any other nut butter.

The best part about this bar mix is that you’ll be helping sick children and their families. I recently made a batch of these for the families at the Milwaukee Ronald McDonald House. Being in the house was a powerful experience, and I can’t wait to go back. It left me wanting to do more, so 10% of all peanut butter quinoa granola bar mixes will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for families whose lives have been disrupted as a result of their child’s illness or injury. No one is ever turned away for their inability to pay. To learn more ways to help, visit their website.

When you’re ready to place your order, visit our store! If you’d prefer the donation to go to a Ronald McDonald House in your area, please send me a message ([email protected]) so I know where to send the donation. Thank you for making a difference! And if you know someone who would be interested in this, please share it with her! I will post updates about our donations!

April 22, 2015

How to Create More Free Time

What would you accomplish with more time? We’re so used to feeling pressed for time that many of us have no idea how to answer that question. It’s time for us to reflect and really live life with more intention. Where do you want to be in a year? You can either set a goal with plans or lead a life by default.

Start by asking yourself what you value most. For many of us that’s time with family and friends, travel, working out, relaxing, maybe even your career. Everyone’s answer will be different, but there’s one thing we all have in common - the desire for more free time.

One way that I’ve been able to create more time is through my meal planning. Think about how much time each week you devote to: planning lunches, planning dinners, looking up recipes, making a grocery list, grocery shopping. Not to mention the mental energy we waste on feeling guilty about not eating healthy enough, not looking a certain way, not eating enough variety.

And now imagine that your meals and health were already taken care of. What would you do with that time? Maybe train for a marathon or open that Etsy shop. It doesn’t matter what you do - as long as it brings you joy. That is what inspired me to offer monthly dinner plans & freezer meal packages, in addition to the free recipes on this blog.

Take the guesswork out of healthy eating. The products in my TS Eat Well Shop are free from:

artificial flavors
artificial colors
artificial sweeteners
MSG
hydrogenated fats

Removing the time and stress that goes into planning healthy meals will open you up to a world of possibilities. So right now commit to making a change. Whether that means browsing this shop, looking up some new recipes or simply chopping some veggies. Commit to simplifying your meal prep and devoting that time to actively creating your dreams.

Because I’ve been able to save time and money with my product pack, I have been taking business courses, growing my blog and scheduling more TV appearances! Believe me - you will be amazed with what you can accomplish with a little more time and intention.

So good luck with your future plans! I’m rooting for you

Have you signed up for your free ebook yet?

April 8, 2015

Mushroom Goat Cheese “Meat” Loaf

I’ve always dreamed of being the kind of mom who effortlessly serves organic vegetarian meals and stevia-sweetened desserts all in between teaching yoga and growing our own food. I had visions of Charlotte starting school having never seen a real cookie. I have a feeling I’m not quite there, since Char is adamant that the blue oval in her shapes puzzle is the Culvers sign. But THIS meatloaf, this healthy vegetarian meatloaf – this is going to get us there.

Savory and satisfying, mushroom goat cheese meatloaf is better than your grandma’s, and you’ll never believe it’s meatless! The toasted walnuts give it an earthy, nutty flavor and when paired with the goat cheese it’s definitely restaurant-worthy. This is a great dish for a Lenten Friday or any day when you’d like to quickly and easily add some more veggies to your diet.

Mushroom Goat Cheese "Meat" Loaf

2015-04-06 14:30:06

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

1 large red bell pepper
1 large green bell pepper
2 pounds cremini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces goat cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1/4 Bayou Bourbon glaze (link below) + extra for serving

Instructions

Preheat broiler to high.
To prepare meat loaf, cut bell peppers in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 12 minutes or until blackened. Place in a paper bag; fold to close tightly. Let stand for 10 minutes. Peel and finely chop. Place bell peppers in a large bowl.
Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
Place about one-fourth of mushrooms in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until finely chopped. Transfer chopped mushrooms to a bowl. Repeat procedure 3 times with remaining mushrooms.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add mushrooms to pan; sauté 15 minutes or until liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms to bell peppers. Wipe pan with paper towels. Add onion to pan; sauté 6 minutes or until just tender, stirring occasionally. Add onion mixture to mushroom mixture.
Arrange breadcrumbs in an even layer on a baking sheet; bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until golden. Add breadcrumbs and the next 8 ingredients (through eggs) to mushroom mixture, stirring well. Spoon mixture into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; press gently to pack. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155°.
Brush Bourbon glaze over meat loaf. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes; cut into 6 slices.

Notes

This bourbon glaze is available at https://www.tastefullysimple.com/shop-our-products/bayou-bourbon-glaze?scid=156029

Adapted from Cooking Light

Diet Deep Dish http://dietdeepdish.com/

And if the Bourbon sauce got your attention, I think you’d love these other savory sauces perfect for this meatloaf…

Have you signed up for your free ebook yet?

March 13, 2015

A Farmer’s Market Delivered to Your Door…

A farmers market delivered straight to your door… that is the only way I can think to adequately describe Door to Door Organics.

As this blog grows, more opportunities come my way, and one of those is sponsored posts. I have been extremely picky when it comes to these opportunities, because I want every single post I write to truly benefit the Diet Deep Dish community. If it’s not going to provide real value to your life, then I politely decline. So when I find a company or product that I LOVE and makes my life easier, I’m excited to bring it to you! Door to Door Organics is a grocery delivery service that partners with farmers to bring fresh, organic produce and Good Food groceries right to your doorstep.

When you sign up, you’ll get to pick your desired produce box (comes weekly or every other week) and then start adding whatever items you’d like. Here are some of my favorite features…

Option to substitute standard produce - unlike most CSA boxes, if you’re not crazy about any of the options, you get to swap it out for something you do like. Now I do like how CSAs kind of force you to try new things, but at the same time I’d rather be able to pick what I’m paying for. So sorry beets - you’re just not going to make the cut.
Every meatless and dairy-free item you could ever want! I’ve given up meat for Lent, so this is huge for me, but I would try these products whether I was a meat eater or not.
Option to schedule your delivery every week or every other week - I love this option, especially if you have a small family. I hate to waste food, especially locally-grown organic produce, so scheduling our box every other week is a nice option.
Shop by recipe - Door to Door provides free recipes, and even gives you the option to add the recipe ingredients to your cart with one click. Genius!

To give more people the opportunity to try this amazing service, Door to Door has gifted three $50 gift certificates for giveaway. As always, the BEST (and some secret) giveaways only happen on the newsletter, so join the mailing list to download your free recipe ebook and be entered to win one of the $50 gift certificates! The winner will be announced in the next DDD newsletter on Friday, 3/20.

As if I didn’t love this company enough, they’re also giving away a $10 off code to all Diet Deep Dish readers! Happy weekend!

Have you signed up for your free ebook yet?

This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions are my own.

February 21, 2015

Trail Mix Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for breakfast! These will lure any sleepy head out of bed. I’ve been trying to wake up earlier to start a morning routine – meditation, a little yoga and a (somewhat) relaxed breakfast. I have read countless articles about the importance of a morning routine, that this is something all successful people make time for. How we spend our mornings sets the tone for the entire day, but despite the glaring research and best intentions, I somehow haven’t made it a habit yet. Most days that warm bed wins, but I now have a new tactic… breakfast cookies!

And no cookie would be complete without… chocolate! This month the Recipe Redux theme was Favorite Chocolate Matches
Does your chocolate need a friend? This month’s posting will be after Valentine’s Day, so you may have a bit of extra chocolate around. What’s your favorite chocolate match? Be it traditional peanut butter or something more exotic like cayenne + chocolate. Show us your favorite healthy chocolate combo recipe.

This was a tough one, as everything pairs well with chocolate – even breakfast! One of my favorite foods to pair with chocolate is banana. Bananas are so versatile and make the perfect base for these oatmeal cookies - no eggs, oil or butter required!

So this week let’s commit to a morning routine - whether that means working out, responding to emails, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee before you run out the door. I promise these cookies are worth the early wake up! For more grab-and-go breakfast ideas, check out Cooking Light.

Trail Mix Breakfast Cookies

2015-02-21 16:27:28

Yields 16

Write a review

Save Recipe

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

15 min

Total Time

20 min

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

15 min

Total Time

20 min

Ingredients

2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup uncooked quick oats
1/4 cup dried cranberries (or fruit of choice)
1/4 cup chopped pecans (or nut of choice)
1/4 cup chocolate chips (I used a mix of dark & white chocolate)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a non-stick cookie sheet with cooking spray or use parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and drop 1 tbsp. on the cookie sheet at a time.
Bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy

Adapted from Skinnytaste

Diet Deep Dish http://dietdeepdish.com/

Looking for an even easier chocolate banana cookie?? Try substituting mashed banana for the butter or egg in your favorite cookie mix. I made these chewy chocolate cookies even softer by adding 1 mashed banana + 2 tbsp. water instead of the recommended egg & ¼ cup water. Added bonus… egg-free batter = licking the spoon sans guilt

Have you signed up for your free ebook yet?

This post contains links to the Diet Deep Dish store. Sign up here for the latest updates and your FREE recipe ebook!

An InLinkz Link-up

February 13, 2015

Your FREE ebook!

“For is there any practice less selfish, any labor less alienated, any time less wasted, than preparing something delicious and nourishing for people you love?” ― Michael Pollan, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation

I think it’s safe to say we all wish we cooked at home more. It’s healthier, cheaper and feels great to sit around the table enjoying what you’ve lovingly created. So why don’t we? No time? Don’t know where to start? We have all been there. I recently read an article in Cooking Light that even Michelle Obama has struggled with getting nutritious meals on the table and noticed a huge improvement in her daughters’ health when the family started cooking at home just twice per week.

Today I have 2 exciting announcements for you that will make cooking the food you love infinitely easier…

My ebook is officially available today!! In this book, I’m bringing you 10 of my favorite 30-minute meals – they’re quick & easy to prepare, use simple ingredients and are family-friendly. I’ve written every recipe for 2 people, and they can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger family, so they fit any household! And the best part about this book… it’s free!

Cooking at home does not have to be intimidating. This ebook and all the recipes on Diet Deep Dish will walk you through the entire cooking process step-by-step, and all products in the Diet Deep Dish store are ready to eat or require no more than 2 ingredients to prepare.

In this video, I’ll bring you the second exciting announcement…

And for a limited time, all email subscribers will automatically be entered into store giveaways. First up is whole grain beer bread mix with caramelized onion dip, so be sure to enter your email above. I will announce the winner back here at Diet Deep Dish on Monday, February 23^rd and will also announce the next products up for giveaway at that time!

THANK YOU – I know your time is valuable and I truly want to provide you with everything you’ll need to make meals you love. If you have any questions or ideas for me, please send me an email at [email protected]. Thanks and good luck in the giveaway!