Matthew's Puzzle and a mom putting it all together

Paleo Chocolate Coconut Milk Panna Cotta

May 9, 2013 By Maryann

As you probably know by now, I love desserts. I like to bake desserts, to make desserts and especially to eat desserts. Hence why I am also on Weight Watchers – trying to lose all these desserts! But we are also trying to live a healthier lifestyle – whatever that is supposed to mean anymore. I don’t really know. I no longer try to label us. I guess if you have to give us a name or label, then we probably follow the Weston A. Price Foundation principles of eating more than any other. But we also dabble in the Paleo or Primal lifestyle, so whenever I cook or bake I try to make it as REAL as possible with the least amount of “junk”.

My boys LOVE having dessert and even though we don’t have it daily, I don like to have it for them on the weekends. Especially when I have time to make something yummy and delicious and of course HOMEMADE. This time I decided to make Paleo Chocolate Coconut Milk Panna Cotta. The boys gave it a bazillion thumbs up, especially on the batch I made with less gelatin. They seemed to prefer it a little softer. So when you read the recipe below you will see it calls for 2.5 to 3 teaspoons of gelatin. My boys liked it with the 2.5 teaspoons better than the one with the 3 teaspoons. It is really up to your preference. I hope you enjoy my Paleo Chocolate Coconut Milk Panna Cotta and let me know which way you prefer yours.

Paleo Chocolate Coconut Milk Panna Cotta Recipe

3 cups Coconut Milk
1/3 cup Pure Organic Maple Syrup
2.5 to 3 teaspoons Unflavored Gelatin
3 to 5 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
dash of sea salt

In a medium Stainless Steel Sauce Pan combine the coconut milk and maple syrup.

Sprinkle the gelatin over the coconut milk mixture and allow it to bloom for a moment.

Turn the heat to medium and add the cocoa powder and salt.
Stir constantly to combine the ingredients and bring the mixture to a scald.

Do not let the mixture boil, but allow small bubbles to begin to form around the edge of the pan.

Pour through a strainer to remove any cocoa powder that did not dissolve.

Pour mixture into ramekins, coffee cups or mold and refrigerate for several hours to allow it to set.

Serve in containers or unmold for presentation.

Mother’s Day, Caldrea and Target

May 8, 2013 By Maryann

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Are you like me, and have zero ideas as to what to get your mom? My mom has everything she wants or needs, and if she doesn’t have it she will go out and get it. But really, at 80 years old, she doesn’t want another knick-knack or as she says, “one more thing to dust”. Usually I try to get her something she can actually use, but she doesn’t have any hobbies (other than cleaning), so I don’t have easy, go-to options like that. And she isn’t much of a reader, so getting her a book isn’t really a great option. I used to love to get her delicious treats to eat but she has diabetes so a lot of that is out.

I do like to grab a few gift cards from her favorite restaurants, such as Red Lobster, and make sure ~~Larry~~ I have a fantastic Mother’s Day dinner prepared for her. But sometimes I want to give her a little bit more.

Caldrea at Target

Have you heard about Caldrea at Target? Well Target carries an exclusive line of Caldrea. You can get a really cute Mother’s Day Kit with a Blackcurrant Mint Candle, Blackcurrant Mint Handwash and Blackcurrant Mint Hand Lotion. I love mine. I have been burning the candle daily since receiving it. Such a lovely scent, dotted with not only blackcurrant and mint, but also with grapefruit and orange. Not only is this a thoughtful gift, but it is also a useful one. You know, as I have said before, that I LOVE hand wash, especially one so finely aromatic. It really lifts my spirits, and when paired with the hand lotion it makes for a light scent you can carry with you. Then to have a candle with such a bright note enlivens our home without being perfume-y. I adore the fragrance.

If you don’t know much about Caldrea let me tell you why I like them. Their candles are made from a sustainable vegetable wax base with cotton and paper core wick, and the fragrance comes from natural essential oils. All their liquid products are biodegradable! And they do not contain ammonia, chlorine bleach, phosphates, formaldehyde, parabens, DEA, phthalates or petroleum distillates. To top that, they don’t test on animals either. More companies should take this approach to making their products.

So, what are you giving your mom for Mother’s day?

Going Grey Update 04.29.13

May 7, 2013 By Maryann

I recorded this on April 29, 2013 as an update to me growing my hair out to it’s natural grey state. Overall it has been a good experience but there are days when I want to dye it again. I won’t, because I will never go through this process again. Too much!

DDPYOGA DVD Review

May 3, 2013 By Maryann

I love yoga, but my PT says I need to do more than just traditional yoga to get myself in shape. I found out about DDPYOGA, probably like everyone else, through the Facebook/You Tube video that was circulatingabout Arthur, the American Veteran that could barely walk. Arthur tried DDPYOGA and made such a remarkable change in his life that he has become the poster child for inspiration. This guy is amazing.

DDPYOGA is a complete program. It comes with 4 DVD Disks which correspond to different levels of the program. It has a handy chart you can post on your wall that shows you the basic movements in DDPYOGA and it has a DDPYOGA Program Guide which give you an introduction to the program, an overview, and a nutrition guide. This is a 49 page document, not some simple 4 or 5 page deal. It covers a ton of information. You also have access to the DDPYOGA website and forums where you can get lots of encouragement and help.

When you start out on DDPYOGA you can use the beginner chart which shows you what to do for weeks 1 through 13. It is highly recommended that you take some starting photos of yourself. You never have to share them, but it is a great way to see just how far you have come. The photos not only show weight loss and toning, but also demonstrate flexibility and strength.

Everything is considered in the DDPYOGA plan, from your ideal fat burning heart rate (mine is 117 to 137) to changing the way you eat (in different phases so as not to overwhelm you). This is one of the areas in which I’m very drawn to DDPYOGA. I agree with almost EVERYTHING they have to say about nutrition – the only place I diviate is in their choice of oils. DDPYOGA wants you to be on REAL food, not processed junk and sugar. They have you go gluten free and dairy free, adding in organics and talking about food combining! The plan even offers sample meal plans and a few recipes to boot!

I have tried the program out and I think it has real potential. It uses a lot of isometrics and that can be tricky at first. I know for someone like me, who has had trouble engaging some of my muscles, it was hard to get my muscles to activate. You may need to play around with the moves or to ask a friend to spot you at first, to make sure you are engaging properly. I do think it will help me build core strength and to get a lot of flexibility in, plus build strength. I actually can’t wait to get back to the program, but unfortunately I hurt my knee, in a non-DDPYOGA related incident, and I’m having trouble even walking right now. I would love to keep you all updated on my progress.