NATIONAL BLUEBERRIES MONTH

One of the best things about summer is an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables.  July is National Blueberries Month!  Join me as I search for the best blueberry recipes available.  As a general rule, fruits are off-limits or should be eaten sparingly when you’re diabetic.  Blueberries are fortunately one of the lower carbohydrate fruits.  One half cup of fresh blueberries is only 9 grams of carbohydrates!  It’s also 2 grams of fiber and 42 calories.  One half cup of unsweetened unthawed frozen blueberries is only 7 grams of carbohydrates!  It’s also 2 grams of fiber and 40 calories.

I’ll be sharing a low-carb blueberry recipe every day for the next 6 days, so we can all enjoy some yummy food without feeling guilty about it!  Yay!  I’m on board, how about you?

I love to eat a blueberry scone with a nice hot cup of cinnamon tea.  When I saw how many carbohydrates a regular scone made with traditional ingredients was, it broke my heart!  This recipe uses a combination of almond and coconut flour instead of all-purpose flour.  When I saw this recipe, I wondered about the use of molasses, but it’s only 1/2 teaspoon.  It didn’t appear to raise my blood sugar at all.

LOW CARB BLUEBERRY SCONES

Makes 12 scones, 5g carbohydrates each

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 C. almond flour

1/2 C. coconut flour

1/4 C. Splenda

1 Tbs. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 C. butter, chilled

1 C. blueberries, fresh or frozen

1/2 tsp. molasses

1/3 C. heavy cream

1/3 C. unsweetened almond milk

2 eggs

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix flours, Splenda, baking powder and salt.  Cut butter into dry mix.  Add blueberries and stir to coat berries.  In separate bowl, whip together molasses, cream, almond milk and eggs.  Slowly pour wet mix into dry mix.  Stir until dough forms.  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into a ball and flatten into a circle.  Cut each dough circle into 6 triangles.  Bake triangles for about 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees.

Sometimes I just get a craving for scones and tea.  With this recipe, I can satisfy that craving and still keep my carbohydrates in check.  Works for me!  🙂

 

 

 

 

IRON SHARPENS IRON… FRIENDSHIP

My group on facebook, A Second Helping of Wellness…  with a Dash of Humor & a Pinch of Faith – https://www.facebook.com/groups/asecondhelpingofwellness/ has come through again!  Last Monday I asked them to share their best shopping tips with my blog readers.  In this economy we all need help – at least I know I do!

•  Coupons! Always coupons! And if you have a coupon that doesn’t have a specific size and it’s not on sale, always get the smallest one. It saves you more per ounce.
• Beware of freebie sites on the internet.  Once I joined one of those and requested a few things and my computer ended up with all sorts of problems.  Is getting a virus on the computer worth getting a few freebies sent to my door?  No.
• Be cautious about where you get coupons online for the same reason.  Some sites are notorious for either swamping your computer with spam or sending viruses.  Again, weigh your options and you’ll find it’s not worth the grief.
• Keep in mind that Walmart has price matching.  If you see an item advertised elsewhere for less money, clip the ad and take it in to Walmart.  When you check out, show the cashier the ad and they will honor that price.
• Try RedLaser to scan bar codes while you shop.  It compares prices at nearby stores so you can find the best deals.
• Do you make several trips to the pharmacy?  Next time take a look around while waiting for the medicine.  Often the prices on nonperishables like crackers are lower than grocery stores.
• Staple items like cereals, flour, rice and coffee are often less expensive at Supercenters like Target or Walmart.
• There are cooking websites that allow you to type in the ingredients you have on hand.  The sites generate recipe ideas using only those foods so they don’t go to waste and you don’t have to make an extra trip to the store.

Allrecipes.com

Myrecipes.com

Delish.com

• Remember that frozen foods are just as nutritious as fresh.  When your favorite vegetables and fruits are out of season, you can find them at the frozen food aisle.
• If you go to a farmer’s market just before it closes, the sellers might be willing to negotiate prices on items they don’t want to haul back home.
• Sales run in six or eight-week cycles.  Scan circulars for deals on foods that won’t expire, and buy enough to last a month or two until the next sale.
• A lot of times, I see something I really like in store, but can’t afford. I go on Ebay and often find it for a fraction of the cost, even with bidding wars. Eg: Lacoste polo shirts usually $90+ in store ~ I can find them for around $15 including shipping for like new, pre-owned on Ebay.

So you see, it really is possible to save at the store if you can wind your way around all the hype and see your way clear to the common sense ways of saving at the grocery store.  🙂

A COMMENTARY FROM THE HEART

When I feel frozen in my failure, I just try to imagine my Father running down the road to meet me. I look in his eyes—brimming with acceptance—and remember that it isn’t about my failures, it is about His love. It is about being God’s beloved daughter, who is always welcome Home.  – Sandi Patty

Have you ever felt frozen in your failure?  Boy I sure have.  It’s a miserable, uncomfortable feeling, especially when you start to believe other people’s assessment of the situation.  When you begin to believe the popular opinion that nothing will ever be right again because you have messed up so badly.

I was very close to shutting this blog down permanently because I came under some harsh criticism about it.  Personal attacks concerning my ability to write and the lack of interest I apparently generate left me crushed and ready to quit.  I felt frozen in fear when it was time to write again.  I want to grow thicker skin – I’ve asked God to help me.  I don’t understand how we can be commanded to be tenderhearted, yet need thick skin at the same time.  And what of these tender hearts of ours?  We are to guard them.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  – Proverbs 4:23

God provided a wonderful boost to my self-esteem.  I was shown a comment that turned everything around.  You know, God is never early but He is certainly never too late.  His timing and His provision, be it physical, mental or whatever – is perfect!

I also saw this posted on facebook yesterday – and I will probably never forget it:

You will never please everyone – you are not pizza!

Well, doesn’t that just about say it all?  Even though I’m not pizza, I hope something I write blesses your heart or helps you along in life.  We are here to help one another I believe, in any way we can.

Have you felt frozen in fear after a failure, mistake or sin?  You don’t have to feel that way forever because that’s not how God wants us to feel.  He wants to help us get back to feeling happy and free in Him.  God knows we won’t get it right every time, but we don’t have to live life frozen in fear.

There is an answer for failures, mistakes and sins – His name is Jesus.  Pray to Him today and ask Him to help you.  He knows what you need and will provide just the right balm to your sad and aching heart, sad with grief.

Keep going.  Keep doing what God has called you to do.  The only one who can tell you to quit is God – don’t let people get you down and keep you frozen in fear.  Wink!  😉