Z’s Low Carb Bread

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I’m a Sucker

If you were stranded on an island and could only have one kind of food…which would you choose? I would choose bread. Yes, you heard right. I would choose bread. Not the stale, old kind of bread…but the warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven kind. Oh Baby! I’m a sucker for bread. There, I said it.

If you stuck a bowl of ice-cream in front of me, and put some fresh homemade bread next to it…Id choose the bread. Every time! I think I might just have a love affair with bread. The only problem with said affair is a whole host of non-nutritious nutrition.

Don’t get me wrong…there is NOTHING wrong with some bread here and there. Especially homemade. But, when your obsession becomes a daily thing, it can quickly become bad. Real bad.

You see, after I got married and learned how to cook and bake (learning how to cook and bake kind of came later in life for me), I got the itch to bake a lot. I mean A LOT. And guess what? I learned how to bake the crap out of bread! Oh, I could bake bread so so good. I started making homemade bread of all kinds, about 2-3 times a week. I mean, we had Honey White bread, whole wheat bread, sweet bread, cinnamon swirl bread. Bread was starting to come out of our ears! Just kidding, but seriously. My husband and I were bread-eating-crazy people! And guess what? We definitely gained a lot of weight in those days! I even saved a picture of our “bread eating days”. Lol. (Mind you, I was very pregnant in this picture).

My husband and I actually like to look at this picture and remember those bread eating days. It really gets us to remember what NOT to do. Luckily, we eventually both discovered the Trim Healthy Mama way of life, and discovered how awesome it is to eat healthy foods, and reap the benefits of a slimmer waist line.

Again, there is nothing wrong with an occasional slice of fresh homemade bread, or a warm roll at a restaurant, or a glorious gooey cinnamon roll. Anyways, I digress. But you know what I mean! “Everything in moderation”, right?

Once I understood how detrimental starchy carbs were for our aging metabolism, I began to dream of breads that were good for us. I began to look for healthier choices. Now, if you’ve ever been to a health food store, they will always have a bread section. They may even have healthy breads. Ones with good carbs. But when you look for the “low carb bread”, usually it will be a tiny little section that you would never find, unless you had a magnifying glass.

You see, about 2 weeks ago, I went into Sprouts to get my usual groceries, and I decided to look for the low carb bread section. It literally was one choice. One brand. I won’t name the brand, cause I don’t want to get in trouble, but lets just say, I was shocked at the price! $7.80! For one loaf of low carb bread! Geez! I bought it with the sole purpose to try it and see if I could make something similar.

So I tried it. It wasn’t too bad. It was great that I could have it with a couple of eggs and bacon (thats the THM way…fats with fats. Carbs with carbs.). However, as I studied the ingredients, there really wasn’t anything significantly healthy in it. It was low carb, and it didn’t have sugar, so technically it was on plan. But it didn’t have health benefits. Here’s the nutrition label from said bread. As you can see, it is “on plan”, but not much in the way of nutrition.

Secretly, I wanted to make it BETTER. I wanted to create my own low carb bread that was beneficial for health, WHILE fulfilling the desirable texture that bread has. Thus started my “quest” to make a better low carb bread, one that actually had health benefits!

Enter Z’s Low Carb Bread

I wish I could tell you that I just threw a bunch of ingredients in the blender and got it perfect the first time, but I would be lying. I can tell you numerous stories of blender “mishaps”. Like full on goo on the walls and cupboards, chopped up spatulas in the mix, horrible looking flat loaves, nasty tasting crumbly messes. Need I say more?

But then, after a couple years (really) of hot and miss, I think finally got the trick down! I think I nailed it! Fluffy, yummy bread with none of the guilt! I mean, look at that crust! Where’s the BUTTAH!?!?

And holy crap…I made this in the BLENDER!?!?! Did I mention BLENDER? The crust came out beautiful, and the texture in not “eggy” or mushy.

The amazing thing about this bread is that you can have this wonderful concoction WITH butter, or WITH peanut butter, jelly, or anything else you would like to add to it! And it’s ON PLAN! Very little carbs, full of protein, and chock full of nutrition!

In this recipe, I added collagen, chia seeds, oat fiber and protein powder. So many good things! I’m working to get a plugin on this site that will show the nutrition of my recipes. Sorry about not having one. I’m still learning techy stuff. But until I do, feel free to try this recipe and tell me what you think! I love feed back! I hope you love this bread as much as I do!

Enjoy!

God Bless!

-Zaneta

Z’s Low Carb Bread

A delicious way to eat bread. With none of the carbs!!!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Servings 22 servings

Author Zaneta Francis

Ingredients

1 Carton Egg Whites (I get mine from Costco)
2 Eggs
2 tsp Xanthan Gum
2 Cups Cottage cheese
2 1/2 Cups Almond Flour
3/4 Cup Oat Fiber (NOT to be confused with oat flour)
1/2 Cup Protien Powder (I Use the vanilla flavored to give it a slight sweetness)
2 Tsp sweetner of choice (I use Pyure blend)
2-4 scoops Collegen Depending how much collegen you want. I use 2 scoops.
3/4 Cup Chia seeds
1/8 Cup Bread Flour
3 Tbs Vital Wheat Gluten
1 Tbs Baking powder
1 Tsp Salt

Instructions

First: Add egg whites, eggs and xanthan gum. Blend on high for 1 minute, or until light and fluffy.
Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend on high until well mixed.
Sometimes you have to use a spatula to get the flours or whatever off the side of the blender. I kind of mix it around until it all get blended and fluffy looking. (just be careful not to stick your spatula in too far. That is how i chopped up a couple of spatulas in my day:).
Once everything is blended, get two bread laof pand and grease them. I use Pam baking spray.
Cut the mixture in to two portions and divide into both of the pans.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. The tops should be golden brown when done. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.
Enjoy!

Chocolate Mint Cookies

Featured zhealthyhousewife2 Comments

Sugar-Free, Keto, Thm

Do you have a certain smell, taste or sight that is directly connected with Christmas? I do. Except its not just one. It’s like a 304!

I love the Christmas tree (the real one, with the REAL smell) all set up right after thanksgiving. I love the Christmas music softly playing in the background whenever I cook or bake. I absolutely love the Christmas tree lights on after all the kids go to bed, when I can actually sit and enjoy it, and the cozy soft glow that it gives off. Somehow, everything seems better around Christmas time.

There is an array of different cookie recipes that I love to bake around Christmas time, but these taste just like Christmas to me. I came up with the recipe last year when I was playing around with some ideas. One evening, as I was scrounging through the cupboards for something sweet (does anyone else do that???), I found an old box of Girl Scout cookies. Mint thins! I smelled them to make sure they were good still…they weren’t. So, I decided to make some chocolate mint cookies, inspired by an old bad box of Girl Scout cookies! The clincher was, they were going to be the healthy version so that I could thoroughly enjoy them!

Staying “on plan”

You see, I have a hard time staying on track with my health and fitness around the holidays. Is it only me? I feel like thanksgiving always starts it off for me, because I always end up baking enormous amounts of pies, cheesecakes and the like. Its not that I am a binger on all that is junk, but my messed up thinking always gets me in the end. I start to think, “well, thanksgiving is this week, so I guess I will have one of those cookies,” or, “I have to have a homemade roll with my dinner!”. That thought process just continues for a couple of weeks, when finally I am ready to get back to eating “on plan” again. Then it is Christmas week, and the whole process begins again.

I know I am not alone on this. I’ve talked to so many of my friends who struggle with this too. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not the end of the world if you take advantage of the wonderful bounty of deliciousness around the holidays. However, if it becomes the “norm”, then it can be.

So with all of that being said, wouldn’t you love to start incorporating healthy options to your holiday traditions? Try these guys on for size! I would love to hear some of your family traditions, your favorite cookie recipes etc, but especially how you liked these Chocolate Mint Cookies!

So grab a cozy blanket, a glass of milk (or cashew milk-one of my favorites), and put on that old Christmas classic movie, and enjoy one of these timeless cookies…with none of the guilt! Feel good about serving healthy options this Christmas!

Heres the recipe! I hope you enjoy them!

God Bless!

-Zaneta

Chocolate Mint Cookies

A Christmas Favorite! Sugar-free, Keto, THM

Course Dessert

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes

Servings 30 cookies

Author Zaneta Francis

Ingredients

3 Eggs At room temp
2 sticks Butter (unsalted) Softened
1 1/2 cups Sweetener I love gentle sweet, monkfruit or an erythritol blend
1 tsp Xanthan gum to thicken and bind
5 drops Vanilla creme stevia
1 1/4 tsp Mint extract
2/3 cups Cocoa powder
3 tbs Pyrure Stevia blend
1/2 cup Sour cream
2 cups Almond flour It works better with the fine ground almond flour
1/2 cup Oat Fiber This is another trick to make it bind together

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In Mixer: Blend together the softened butter and all sweetener until creamy.
Add in room temp eggs and mix until fluffy
Add in vanilla drops and mint extract. Continue to mix.
In seperate bowl, mix together remaining dry ingredients.
Add Dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix until well mixed together.
Once Mixed together, leave mixture in bowl. Place in Fridge for 20-30 minutes.
Once chilled, place round 1 inch balls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Slighty press down on dough.
Bake in oven for 12-14 minutes.

Healthy Mom · Home · Z's Opinions

Emotions of a Stressed-out Housewife

December 4, 2018 zhealthyhousewife4 Comments

This season has been stressful. I aint gonna lie.

As I previously posted, we started a HUGE addition on our home this summer. To say that it has been challenging would be an understatement. We have gone through so many emotions. Excited. Overwhelmed. Hopeful. Exhausted. Contemplative. Excited. And everything in between.

I think most seasons of life have these vast array of emotions. Not to say that these are necessarily a bad thing, but they can be daunting, nonetheless. However, I have learned as of late that these emotions can be good for you. Stretching. If you learn to “ARREST” them.

You see, I have often prided myself on not letting emotions dictate my reality. I have thought of this as a sort of strength. A “super-power”. But, When I sit back and look at all of the situations where I have allowed myself to push my emotions down, or disregard how I feel about something, inevitably, anger follows. At least eventually.

Perhaps it is all in how you look at it. I recently had a nice conversation with someone I love about the mind. How the mind has such a power over your heart. How when you focus on any one thing for too long, you become that thought. Although I fought that thought-process for a little while, I ultimately understood it. It’s true. What you think about, makes you who you are. How you feel. How you act.

I began to analyze where I was in my mind. I began to look at the thought processes that took hold of my thoughts and emotions. How I was letting my emotions (however pushed down I may place them in my heart), were actually dictating how I acted to everyone around me. How the lack of control on my mind was actually destroying my joy. Annihilating my ability to see the beauty in this season of my life. the beauty that God was TRYING to show me. I realized that I was too distracted with myself. That I had begun looking at all of MY “woes” and troubles, and it made me negative, frustrated and…stressed out. In the end, it brought me to a place of prayer, repentance, and ultimately…peace.

Peace. In the midst of chaos.

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as in the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

The Word of God is so powerful. It so often hits home for me, and usually gets me out of the “rut” of self-doubt and personal struggles.

I believe when we “take every thought captive”, we can be liberated from our negative thinking and stress. We can take those thoughts of, “Everything is stressing me out”, or ” my kids are driving me nuts”, or “I can’t do one more day of dishes, laundry or cleaning”, and arrest it. We can literally say in our minds, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me,” and therefore…ARREST it.

You see, we can CHANGE our thinking. We can “arrest” those thoughts and send them packing!

Please don’t get me wrong…I struggle with this. I really do. I struggle every day to be obedient to Christ. My selfish side is strong, and I have to literally be constantly giving my mind over to God. My thoughts of frustration, anger, pride.

Being a housewife is no joke. Believe me, I could do anything I want with my life, but God has called me to be a stay-at-home mom. It is by far the hardest job I have had, or ever will have. But I tell you what…it requires a daily “pick up your cross” mentality. It requires constant service. Although I feel it is almost “un-natural” for me…I have decided in my mind (where it all starts), to do it to the best of my ability. To serve my husband and my kids with my best.

Do I fail often? Yes. Do I want to give up sometimes? Yes. Do I feel inadequate most of the time? Heck yes. But, with God on my side, and the ability to “cast my burdens on Christ”…I can, and I will do it!

So, with all that said, I pray that even one person can be encouraged to keep going. To continue to take every “stressed-out” thought or emotion and ARREST it. Send it packing through God’s strength. Because, it starts in our minds.

God Bless!

-Z

Home · Sweets and Treats

Z’s Snickerdoodles

October 8, 2018December 5, 2019 zhealthyhousewifeLeave a comment

Sugar-free, Keto, THM-S

A Cookie was Born!

Seriously, how can you enjoy fall without snickerdoodle cookies? Seriously.

Well, last week was the official start of fall! Yippee!

One early morning, I was sitting on the couch and feeling a “baking spree” coming on. I was feeling especially “fall-y”. I had my traditional pumpkin smelling candle going, a nice warm fire in the fireplace and a cozy blanket on.

I started thinking to myself, “What cookie says fall? Hmmmmm……”. Hello! Snickerdoodles!

My dilemma started when I immediately remembered that I was supposed to be on a low carb plan that whole week! WHAT?!?! Who’s dumb idea was that???

I really wanted snickerdoodle cookies, BUT I really wanted to stick to my low carb week.

Thus, a cookie was about to be born!

I hurriedly got up and went to my kitchen. I began looking through my cupboards for any kind of ingredients I could use. Of course, I always have almond flour and sweetener around, so that was no problem. I also found butter and a half carton of cream cheese. I found a bunch of cinnamon and other yummies, and I began to go to work.

Mind you…When you picture me in the kitchen, I’m sure you picture a put together mom in her pretty little apron, perfect hair and makeup, gliding around the kitchen in baking perfection mode. NOPE.

My picture of reality is slightly different.

I was still in my pajamas, my hair was a rat’s nest, I hadn’t brushed my teeth yet, there were dishes all over and in the sink from the night before, my boys were running around like wild banshees getting ready to start school (homeschool) and doing chores, and I’m pretty sure my daughter was crying in her room about something.

But I didn’t care at that moment. I wanted to create a recipe. I was on a mission! (task-oriented much?)

Sometimes life is not conducive to having that perfect “baking experience”. You know what I mean? That perfect scenario that we all picture?

The perfect kitchen, the perfect hair and makeup WHILE baking. That just aint reality.

At least for me.

I say, despite your environment, JUST OWN IT! Whatever your kitchen scenario is… OWN IT!

A Fall Favorite

Now that you have a picture of how this recipe came to be, we can talk about snickerdoodles! This traditional cookie is definitely a fall favorite around this house! But this year, my family got to experience this favorite in a healthier way!

These cookies are still buttery and rich, but with none of the guilt that accompanies regular sugary snickerdoodles! They have a very tiny amount of carbs in them, so they allow you to only burn one fuel at a time when you eat them (see Trim Healthy Mama for further details)! Yay for slimming your waistline while eating yummies!

I call them Z’s snickerdoodles because this is my own adaption to the traditional snickerdoodle recipe.

I really love being able to create healthier options to craveable favorites such as snickerdoodles. These did not disappoint!

Be Fall-y!

It’s nice and cool now (unless you live in the south), so I encourage you to go be “fall-y”! Put on a pumpkin smelling candle, start a cozy fire, put some good music on and create your fall-y atmosphere.

Trust me…you’ll love it! Even if you don’t have the perfect kitchen, you don’t have your hair and makeup perfect, your kids are less than great, or your house is a mess. Sometimes you just gotta “roll with the punches” and find ways to bless yourself and bless your family! Baking is no exception! It is a blessing to all that around!

So go be fall-y and bake some Z’s Snickerdoodles!!! (recipe below)

God Bless!

-Z

Zaneta Francis

Yields 36 cookies

Z’s Snickerdoodles

Sugar-free, THM, Keto. A rich cinnamon and buttery cookie, perfect for the fall!

10 minPrep Time

12 minCook Time

22 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Wet ingredients:
2 sticks butter (1 cup)
3 eggs
4 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 Tbs Super sweet (or 1 tsp straight stevia)
3/4 cup Erythritol
10 drops vanilla creme stevia drops
Dry ingredients:
2 cups almond flour
1 tsp xanthan gum
3 tbs cinnamon
2 tsp cream of tarter
4 scoops of collagen (or 1/8 cup)
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
For cinnamon/sugar coat:
2 tbs cinnamon
1/2 cup xylitol or sweetener of choice

Instructions

In stand mixer:
Cream together the butter and sweetener until creamy.
Add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix until creamy.
In separate bowl:
with a whisk, mix all dry ingredients until well mixed.
Add dry ingredients to wet and mix well.
Chill dough for 20 minutes.
Once chilled, roll into 1 inch balls, then place in cinnamon/sugar mix to coat.
Place on uncreased baking sheets and then slightly flatten (not too flat).
Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown around edges.
Enjoy!

Notes

keeps well in fridge.

https://zhealthyhousewife.com/2018/10/08/zs-snickerdoodles/

Nutrition

Calories

3553 cal

Fat

338 g

Carbs

106 g

Protein

70 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

Hands-on Housewife · Home

Life Update

September 24, 2018 zhealthyhousewife1 Comment

Posts have been few and far between lately! Sorry to all of my followers, but hopefully this post will explain why…

Life here in the Francis household has been insane, to say the least. We recently undertook an over 900 square feet addition to our home and it has been insanely busy and taxing. My husband used to be in construction, so thankfully, he knows how to build anything! He is doing most of the work himself, so it has been work all day-everyday! 7 am to dark.

Despite the daily rigor of construction (which encompasses dust, dirt and debris on EVERYTHING…everywhere), homeschooling, worship ministry, cooking, cleaning and raising 4 kids…you can say that I am trying to stay sane!

I am officially the “grunt worker” between the two of us. Because I don’t have the skills or knowledge that my husband does, I opt to paint, pick up construction trash and debris, run lumber orders, do whatever miscellaneous projects needed to support the real stuff…and I am the official Francis “gopher”.

Needless to say, I have truly become a hands-on housewife.

Our Insanely HUGE project-In pictures…

Here are some pictures of before and afters of the projects that we have started this summer…

We started with painting the front of the house while we waited for finally plan approval by the county.

It all started with painting the front of our house (while we were waiting for permits to finalize). Modern Farmhouse baby!

Modern farmhouse for the win!!!

Yours truly is the “professional painter” around here!

Once we received approval of plans, we started with the foundation.

Then we began breaking ground on the area that would be the new addition.

We got the foundation finished right in time for the monsoon weather to hit hard!

It was quite disconcerting when the rains hit, but God allowed it to clear on the days we needed it to be clear for building!

We started by putting in the mud seal (the bottom layer of wood that everything sits on-on top of the foundation).

Lets just say that every single day…the kids need baths!

Then there was the floor joists and rough plumbing.

Right before we started tearing off the roof on that side of the house.

before, middle and after pics of the old den.

Got the Sub floor on! We had so much help from people who love us and wanted to help.

Then we went to work tearing off the main half of the roof for the new GIANT beam that had to go in.

Our first official wall! The main wall that would hold up the HUMONGOUS trusses.

Putting in the giant ridge beam with the crane .

With the trusses on, it started looking like a house!

Next was roofing. I swear! Our friends and family have been such a blessing to us! We had the entire roof done in one day!

A bonifide constriction girl! lol! (not really…I’m actually more of a gopher and trash picker upper :/)

We’ve come a long way in a month! I have hundreds of pictures of our progress, but these will suffice for now.

Needless to say…We have had a LOT on our plates. We continue to advance every spare moment we have, and are hoping to be all boxed in and framed by the end of October!

I will especially love picking out the colors, flooring and accessories! P.s. Joanna Gaines is my “spirit animal” ;).

Seasons

My previous post was about the seasons of life. There are many different seasons in life, and I just happen to be in the busy-dirty-construction chaos season. And that’s alright! I believe that there is a lesson to be learned in every season. God has been showing us so much in this season.

The love that has been poured out on us by family and friends has been humbling, to say the least! We have had so many people coming to help us out of the love of their hearts. Just to serve and show that they care! We literally could not have made it this far without all of their help and support!

Because of the love and support poured out on us, we have discussed the humbling realization that we NEED help. That it’s OK to ask and accept the help given. We are humbled and extremely blessed.

So this season of our life is crazy. It really is. But, I have learned so much and wouldn’t trade the hardships and trails for anything! I will keep y’all updated with our progress!

God Bless!

-Z

Faith · Home

Seasons

August 16, 2018 zhealthyhousewifeLeave a comment

Have you ever had a time in your life where you feel like you cannot seem to keep your head above water? Where the perpetual waves of chaos are beating you down, as you are constantly trying to raise to the surface for air, only to have the waves come crashing down on you over and over again?

That has been the feeling I have had for almost a year now.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is ALL just a season.

I don’t mean SUMMER, FALL, WINTER or SPRING.

A season is a section in time of your life timeline. The different sections can help you to see the big picture of growth in your life. We all have them.

Seasons can be good, bad, ugly or downright beautiful.

I believe that all seasons are beautiful in a way. The best part about seasons are, they will pass.

I believe in my heart of hearts that this crazy and chaotic season in my life is for good. But, sometimes it is hard to see the good in anything when you are overwhelmed and constantly waiting for that “wave” to hit you again.

Between being a mom to 4 energetic kids, homeschooling, starting a large addition on our home with my husband (yes, we are doing it all ourselves), leading the worship ministry at my church and other stressful things happening on a personal level…I’d say that I am a little overwhelmed.

The world tells you to “be strong!”, to “take it like a man!”. But, Jesus tells you differently. He says, “cast all your cares on me”, and “be anxious for nothing.”

Sometimes it’s easier said than done though. You see, I grew up in the church. I grew up knowing all the “christianese” sayings and quips. But when you are “knee-deep” in the trenches of a hard season…sometimes you forget these truths. Sometimes you do try to “be strong” and take things head on.

Problem and Solution

I am a pretty “black and white” person. I believe that for every problem, there is a simple solution. My brain just automatically goes there whenever I am faced with a problem or hard decision. It’s almost a bad thing, because I have realized that not all people operate that way. Many people don’t, actually. Even in hard times, I have become accustomed to just saying, “this issue or problem is easily solved, just do this…”.

Let me just tell ya’ll…that does not always work. A lot of the times. Especially with heart issues. People issues.

I laugh as I write this, because I have just recently run into this issue. I realize that human issues are so much more complicated. So much more “messy”. It sometimes frustrates me because I don’t like the emotional side of things. I don’t like “messy”. Why can’t it just be simple? A problem, that therefore needs a solution. Right?

Wrong.

In this season of my life, I have found that out very obviously. There is sometimes NO solution. No fast and easy way to resolve an issue.

But I believe that each issue that arises in your different seasons of life allow for learning and growth.

I have learned a lot through this hard season. The chaos can be disconcerting, but the chaos is meant to bring you closer to Jesus. closer to His heart.

I want to share what I have been learning this year. The journey that I have been on in this season…

Homeschool: Each child is different. Each child needs different and sometimes opposite styles of teaching. Learning to be patient is the HARDEST part of homeschool.
Ministry: Each individual involved has a very different personality, and requires different ways of communicating or resolving conflict.
Marriage: For each season, there are different stresses on your relationship with your husband. Each issue that comes up needs to be handled a little differently. Making time to be together is essential.
Home renovation: Literally, everything that can go wrong-WILL. There will always be extra money needed.
Family relationships: The enemy (the devil) wants to destroy it. Any way he can. Learning to be vigilant that proactive is a must.
Personal growth: Finding time to be in the Word and to be alone and silent is a MUST. As a busy mom, it is essential to make time alone a priority.
Hobbies: Some seasons require you to “put away” your dreams. Just for a little while ;).
Relationships: You can not put exceptions on people. They will always fail your expectations.
Hard things: Wether it is hard work, hard people or hard times…they WILL make you be a better person. Don’t avoid it. Just do it.
Worship: Sometimes worship through music is the only thing you can speak. That’s ok.
Responsibilities: Saying no is good.
Asking for help: Is good.

So you see, in this chaotic and crazy season of life, I am STILL learning. Actually, I am learning exponentially more than I would have in an easy season of life! It’s not always easy, but it is worth it…IF you allow God to teach you.

I am learning to embrace the journey. To run TO the hard parts.

I know I have so much more to learn, and I know there are even more hard things to come. Life is funny like that.

Embrace the Journey

Wether you are going through a hard season, an easy season, or if you are having a brand new season of adventures that is scary and unknown…embrace it. look for the lessons. Look for the learning. Don’t be doubtful. Trust God that He is letting you go through that season for your own growth.

I pray that you are encouraged to know that you are not alone. You are not the only one having a hard season. I am right there with you! But, it’s good. It’s growing. It may be hard, but it’s only a season. It will pass.

God Bless!

-Z

Here are some verses for you:

If you are anxious:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

If you are stressed:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

If you are in conflict with family or friends:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

If you are needing encouragement:

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:14-19

If you are struggling spiritually:

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[fn] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph. 6:10-13

If you are entering a new season or journey:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

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Easy Recipes · Home

Z’s Stuffy-Stuffed Peppers

July 10, 2018 zhealthyhousewifeLeave a comment

Easy Peasy!

I started a low carb/no carb stint of two weeks today and as I was making my shopping list and weekly menu, I got a hankering to make something with green peppers. As I was thinking about what I could make with green bell peppers, I looked over on my stove and there was one of my homegrown (we slaughter our own cows) ground beef tubes on the stove-thawing out.

Yes! Stuffed peppers with ground peppers, mushrooms and zucchini! Not to mention the oh-so-gooey cheese!!!

These babies are so easy to make! I just whipped up all the stuffing in a big pan, sliced up the peppers and laid them out in the pan, put lots of cheese below and on top, and then stuck them in the oven! Then viola! –a yummy and easy low carb dinner!

I love easy and yummy. Sometimes that is a hard combo to get, but when you find a recipe that works for you and your family AND is easy to make…KEEP IT!

I called this dish “stuffy-stuffed” because I load my peppers up with meat mixture and cheese! My favorite kind of “stuffy”!

The Method

First, you start with your meat. I added about 2-3 TBS of butter to cook the meat in (because my beef is so lean). It also makes for a richer taste overall.

I added the veggies after the meat was almost done.

Then you add your mushrooms, zucchini and spices.

Saute together and mix up those spices really good!

Next, place all of the halved bell peppers in a greased pan (I used Pam), and then add one slice of provolone to each bell pepper half. Then Place the meat on top of the cheese.

Next, you’re gonna want to cheese the crap (pardon my French) out of them!!! Just load those suckers with that beautiful mozzarella!

Finally, stick those babies in the oven!

Simple is my kind of cookin’!

I really do prefer simple meals when it comes to my weekly dinner menu. With 4 kids and a hungry husband, it is very reassuring to know that there are simple meals that can be prepared very simply, yet having health benefits too. Simple is my kind of cookin’!

I served this dish with Trim Healthy Mama’s Trim Noodles. They are basically a noodle made from Konjac. They are super low carb and have a very similar texture to real spaghetti noodles (you can buy them here http://www.trimhealthymama.com). I made my noodles with pizza sauce (way less less sugar than pasta sauce), and it was the perfect side for a stuffed pepper! Kind of felt like I was eating a cheat meal! 🙂

Anyways, there are many sides you could easily put with this dish for a healthy low-carb meal. Salads, sauteed veggies, konjac noodles, low carb noodles etc. The possibilities are endless!

I served my kids this dish with veggie noodles and pizza sauce, and they loved it!

For my growing kids, I like to add in extra carbs for them.

Notice the amount of sugar! I love pizza sauce because it tastes like pasta sauce, without all the sugar!

The Recipe

So if you have extra bell peppers and some ground beef (or turkey), this simple and easy dish is sure to please! My kids and husband loved it!

Low carb and full of nutrition!

Easy peasy to make!

A crowd pleaser!

Yummy!

Hope y’all enjoy it!

God Bless!

-Z

Zaneta Francis

Yields 8 large portions

Z’s Stuffy-Stuffed Peppers

An easy and nutritious low carb dinner!

15 minPrep Time

30 minCook Time

45 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

3-4 whole Green Bell peppers
2-3 lbs of ground beef (ours is grass fed and very lean)
Sliced provolone cheese
3 cups diced mushrooms
1 Large zucchini
3 tbs butter
1 tsp thyme
1-2 tsp pepper
2 tbs salt
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2-3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease large baking dish(9x13)- I used butter or Pam Butter spray.
In large sauce pan, melt butter and add ground beef.
Cook ground beef until brown, add salt and pepper to season.
When meat is almost done cooking, add in diced mushrooms and zucchini.
Cook until softened.
Meanwhile:
Cut Bell peppers in half (de-seeded) and place in greased baking pan.
Place one slice of provolone cheese into each bell pepper half.
Once meat mixture is done, add about 1/2 cup mixture into bell peppers.
Top with Mozzarella cheese, a little more salt and pepper.
Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Enjoy hot, and serve with side dish of choice, or enjoy alone!
NOTE: I had extra meat mixture. I added the leftover meat mixture to my baking pan and topped with cheese, and then I just baked it along with the belle peppers. It is great for adding to omelets for the next morning, or enjoying as a Low carb snack or meal :).

https://zhealthyhousewife.com/2018/07/10/zs-stuffy-stuffed-peppers/

Home · Sweets and Treats

Z’s Banana Creme Pie

June 28, 2018June 28, 2018 zhealthyhousewifeLeave a comment

With Chocolate Crust

No sugar added, Low carb

Bananas everywhere!!!

I recently had bought a bunch of bananas because they were on sale. However, because of our home addition that we started last week (long story), the house has been “opened up” quite a bit…which has caused the house to be very warm during the days. Thus, turning all my newly bought bananas brown!

I usually make a banana bread (try my Banana Walnut bread here….https://zhealthyhousewife.com/2018/01/07/banana-walnut-bread/), which is good…but I wanted to make something yummy and sweet. I wanted to make a pie.

So, I was debating on what to make, when my husband came into the kitchen and suggested that I make a banana pie with chocolate crust. Thus started my brain wheels spinning!

I looked through my cupboards and gathered together what might taste good in a banana pie, and because I only had a couple of hours until my nephews party started, I needed to come up with something fast!

My brother in law requested for me to bring some sugar-free desserts, so I decided to make this and my other popular recipe: Z’s Double Strawberry Cheesecake.

Here’s the recipe for that one…https://zhealthyhousewife.com/2018/06/19/zs-double-strawberry-cheesecake/.

So I made both of these bad boys, and brought them over! Needless to say, they were a hit! Everyone loved them both…but my husband said that his new favorite was the Banana Creme Pie!

Bananas for the win!

I am usually not a fan of banana anything, but I actually thoroughly enjoyed this pie! This pie was definitely win, win!

My favorite part was the chocolate crust!!! The crust was to die for! So chocolatey and perfectly thick!

Also, topping it with Lily’s dark chocolate chips was a perfect finish! (here’s a link where you can buy them…)

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What I am not a big fan of though, is using products that are processed. I just have to say, straight up…I did use a box of Jello sugar-free vanilla pudding mix in this recipe! I know! BAD GIRL!

I am sure there are ways you can tweak it to not have that processed stuff in it, but because of my lack for time and no opportunity to go to the store for special ingredients, this is what I used.

I usually like to stick to healthier choices. But,I think it’s ok to indulge every once in a while! EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE GUYS!

After all, it’s always better to choose things foods that won’t spike your blood sugar…even if occasionally it is processed or contains Sucralose.

Note: Eating foods containing Sucralose on a daily basis can have major health detriments. I would not suggest eating it very often.

The Recipe

Again…this bad boy was made in my Vitamix Blender!!! So stinkin’ easy! I have been spoiled rotten with that machine, and frankly, I am in love with the ease that it allows for making pretty much anything! If anyone wants to buy one…check out my main page on the sidebar! (I’ll get a small commission if you buy from my site:).

This pie was a hit, and I know that it will grace our tables many times to come!!!

I hope that you will enjoy this pie as much as my family and I have!

God Bless! -Z

Z’s

Zaneta Francis

Yields 8 large lices. 16 small slices.

Z’s Banana Creme Pie with Chocolate crust

No sugar added. A delicious and banana-y treat!

15 minPrep Time

15 minCook Time

30 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

Crust:

4 cups almond flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar substitute
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 cup golden flax meal
1 stick butter
1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs

Filling:

3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 box Jello sugar-free vanilla pudding mix (instant)
20 drops vanilla creme stevia drops (or 1 tsp vanilla)
1/3 cups Gentle Sweet
1/8 tsp xantham gum
4 medium ripe bananas

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all crust ingredients in medium bowl until well mixed.
Lightly grease a pie pan (I used Pam baking spray).
Place crust mixture in pie pan and firm down with fingers.
Bake for 15 minutes.
In blender:
Whip up heavy whipping cream in blender until firm. Add the rest of the filling ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Add filling to cooled pie pan and place in freezer until firm (about 3 hours).
Garnish with bananas, whipped cream and Lily's dark chocolate chips.

https://zhealthyhousewife.com/2018/06/28/zs-banana-creme-pie/

Home · Protein Shakes and Smoothies

Z’s Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

April 11, 2018 zhealthyhousewifeLeave a comment

Sugar-free, THM-S, Keto

Deliciousness for Breakfast

I love, love, love protein smoothies for breakfast, snacks and go-to fast meals. It is hard to find ones that are delicious, nutritious and beautiful…but this guy takes the bait!

This smoothie almost tastes like it should be a dessert! IT has a creamy and blueberry-y taste that is hard to resist!

If I could delicious things for breakfast every morning…I would! And this smoothie is perfect for breakfast!

There is a “secret ingredient” in this smoothie that is sooooo good for you. Turmeric. Yes, straight up turmeric! There are many health benefits that the wonderfully orange vitamin is good for.

There are just too many to list! Why not add in a vitamin to your smoothies and shakes that is so beneficial to your health, as turmeric is?

Note: Turmeric is fat-soluble and is way more beneficial when taken with a form of fat. MCT oil, butter, avocados, etc are great to eat it with! Here is a list of the preferred dosages of turmeric:

According to University of Maryland Medical Center

The permissible dosages of various forms of turmeric (for adults):

Cut root: 1.5 – 3 g per day
Dried, powdered root: 1 – 3 g per day
Standardized powder (curcumin): 400 – 600 mg, 3 times per day
Fluid extract (1:1) 30 – 90 drops a day
Tincture (1:2): 15 – 30 drops, 4 times per day

https://www.turmericforhealth.com/general-info/ideal-turmeric-dosage-how-much-turmeric-can-you-take-in-a-day

Easy Peasy Nutrition

I think that smoothies and shakes have the potential for so much health and nutrition. Why not use it as a way to get in a meal replacement? If you are like me, and you are still trying to get baby weight off, protein smoothies and shakes are the perfect way!

Unlike juicing, straight blender smoothies are so much healthier for you! You see, when you juice, you take the pulp and fiber out of the vegetables and the fruit. The pulp and the fiber in fruits and veggies are the most healthy part! They help to transform the “sugars” that fruits and veggies have in them, so that you are able to not only metabolize them better, but also keep your insulin from spiking in the process.

I love smoothies and shakes for that reason alone, but I also love the ease of them! What’s not to love about throwing everything in your blender (or personal blender cup) and blending a meal together in 30 seconds!

Look at all those beautiful berries and that spinach!

I usually use a unsweetened vanilla ALMOND milk for my smoothies, but I tried unsweetened vanilla CASHEW milk in its place, and was very pleasantly surprised! There is just something so creamy and delicious about cashew milk!

Now that your mouth is watering for a delicious and nutritious snack or meal, maybe you should make one! 😉

You’re welcome.

God bless!

-Z

Zaneta Francis

Z’s Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

Sugar-Free, THM-S, Keto

3 minPrep Time

3 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

6 oz frozen blueberries
1 large handful of spinach
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (about 1/4 cup)
1 scoop of collagen
1 tsp MCT oil
1/4 tsp turmeric (optional, but so much healthier)
2 tsp super sweet blend
1 1/3 unsweetened vanilla cashew milk

Instructions

Put all ingredients in high speed blender and blend until smooth (about 30-40 seconds).
Note: some blenders that are not high powered may require a longer blend.

https://zhealthyhousewife.com/2018/04/11/zs-blueberry-spinach-smoothie/

Nutrition

Calories

268 cal

Fat

8 g

Carbs

33 g

Protein

19 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

Home · Sweets and Treats

Triple Berry Cheesecake

March 22, 2018March 22, 2018 zhealthyhousewife2 Comments

Sugar-Free, THM-S, Keto

Dessert for Breakfast

I have to admit that I have had this delicious amazingness for breakfast a time or two!

I mean, come on! Who WOULDN’T eat this for breakfast? The amazing part is, it is sugar-free, chock full of berries and actually has flax meal in the crust…so yea…healthy cheesecake for the win!

There are no carbs in this sucker (hence, the THM-S and Keto label), so you know that when you eat this beautiful dessert, you are only burning one fuel (fat). And, because of the lack of processed sugar, your insulin levels will not be spiked. Perfect for diabetics!

Hello breakfast, lunch or dinner!

It really is almost too pretty to eat! ALMOST.

My husband actually treats this dessert like gold! He will savor it for a couple days (which is a long time for him to keep his favorite foods without eating them), hiding it away from the kids, and sneaking a slice whenever he can. I think my cheesecakes are one of his favorite things I make.

Berries Everywhere!

Did you know that berries are actually really good for you? Heck yea! Here are stat on some of my favorite berries:

Strawberries

One cup of strawberries (about 8 berries) has 50 calories, 3 grams of fiber and more vitamin Cthan a medium orange. They’re also an excellent source of fiber, folate and potassium. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ranked strawberries third out of more than 1,000 antioxidant-rich foods. Strawberries also contain anthocyanins, which may help protect the nervous system and blood vessels.

Studies have shown that strawberries can help protect against several types of cancer, including breast, colon and leukemia. Research has also found that strawberries help decrease inflammation and control type 2 diabetes. In addition, one study found that eating 8 strawberries a day for 8 weeks helped lower homocysteine levels, a leading risk factor for heart disease.

Blueberries

One cup of these fruits has 84 calories and close to 4 grams of fiber. Blueberries are a rich source of antioxidant vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. Research has found that blueberries may help prevent prostate cancer and protect against heart disease. Animal research has also found that blueberry extract may help improve memory, balance and coordination—potentially promising for those with Alzheimer’s disease.

Raspberries

One cup of raspberries has 70 calories and is an excellent source of vitamin C. The serving is also a good source of fiber, phosphorus and selenium. Raspberries contain anthocyanins (mentioned above) and another phytochemical called quercetin, found to help slow cancer growth.

As with the other berries, studies have shown that raspberries may be useful in preventing esophageal and liver cancer. Raspberries have also been shown to help control blood sugar in diabetics and help prevent liver damage.

Blackberries

One cup of blackberries has 62 calories, 8 grams of fiber and is an excellent source of vitamins C and K and manganese. Blackberries have been found to have the highest amount of antioxidants – higher than the other 3 berries mentioned above! They’re also bursting with all types of phytochemicals, which have been shown to help fight or prevent cancers like liver, colon, lung and esophogeal. Blackberries also contain quercetin, an antioxidant that may help decrease the risk of heart disease.https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/2013/07/the-health-benefits-of-berries

The Recipe

Neeedless to say..this cheesecake is not only nutritious for you, but it is absolutely delicious! It is a favorite around here, and I would love to share the “love” with y’all!

So, pull up a chair and a good napkin, and let me share this beauty with you! Hope you enjoy it as much as my husband does! 😉

God Bless!

-Z

Zaneta Francis

Triple Berry Cheesecake

Sugar-Free, THM-S, Keto

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Ingredients

For the crust:

2 cups almond flour
1 stick melted butter
1/8 cup flax meal seed (optional)
1/2 cup gentle sweet (or favorite sugar-free sweetener)
2 Tbs brown sugar substitute (or 1 tsp molasses)

For the Filling:

2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 8 oz. blocks of cream cheese (softened)
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup gentle sweet
1 tbs super sweet

For the Berry Topping:

3 cups frozen berries (I use blackberries, blueberries and raspberries)
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
3/4 gentle sweet
2 tsp xantham gum
1 cup water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
place all the crust ingredients in a bowl and mix together until crumbly
put all crust ingredients into a greased springform pan
flatten down to make the crust firm
bake for 10 minutes or until edges are golden
let cool completely
----Filling-----
Whip the heavy cream in a stand mixer
Add vanilla
Once cream is thick, add in the softened cream cheese and sweeteners
Mix until creamy
Add to the cooled crust and use spatula to smooth
place in freezer for at least an hour
---Berry Topping----
About 30 minutes before you are ready to serve the cheesecake, place the berries and water into a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer on medium high
Allow berries to simmer in the water
Add in the vanilla, pinch of salt and gentle sweet
Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring regularly
once the sauce is dark and sweet, turn the heat to low and add in the xantham gum.
Stir until resolved
Let berry sauce cool
Add to cheesecake
Serve with whipped cream or alone
Enjoy!