Coconut: How Do I Love Thee?...

This drawing is entitled "Coconut Dreams"... it took me a sec to get it, but gave me a chuckle when I finally did. :)

And miss thee!!

What I wouldn't give for my new favorite night time crunchy snack right about now!? Coconut is so good for you, yet it isn't on protocol. So my recently acquired habit of buying 2 coconuts every few days (& my kids' hysterical laughter at my efforts to find the easiest way to crack one... it's seriously a show they gather to watch around here) must wait for another month or so.

Young coconuts are the bees knees! They aren't found at most grocery stores, but are worth the trek to Whole Foods or (if you're lucky enough to have one in your area) Trader Joes. The juice, of a young coconut is packed FULL of electrolytes & the meat is naturally fat-free & is really delicious.

This ends my (not) paid plug for the consumption of coconuts. :P

P.S. I'm down another 3.4 lbs. as of this morning! :D

Persistence

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do - not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do is increased."

"I realize it takes a constant effort on the part of each and every one of us to make a success of our lives. It requires no effort at all to roll down the hill, but it does require an effort to climb the hill to the summit."

"I feel that we should learn never to become discouraged. ...I believe when we determine within our hearts that by and with the blessings of God our Heavenly Father we will accomplish a certain labor, God gives the ability to accomplish that labor; but when we lay down, when we become discouraged, when we look at the top of the mountain and say it is impossible to climb to the summit, while we never make an effort it will never be accomplished."

~ Heber J. Grant

Right now, my mountain is this weight that needs to come off. I know I cannot climb this mountain alone. I need to work on remembering this & then the moments when I feel discouraged, I can take heart in knowing I am never alone.

My new loves

I can't get over how much I really love apples. And asparagus. I wonder if they taste good together.

Today I made an omlet for brunch with 1 egg + 2 egg whites, asparagus spears, some salt, pepper, & onion powder, & a bit of salsa on top. Can I just say how absolutely delicious this was!? YUMM-O!!

Also, I decided to give the soup bidness another shot after taking a friends advice on another brand of broth & finding the sodium content to be much lower than the "low sodium" version of the big name brands. I made some more of that delicious asparagus chicken soup. I put a little too much cayenne in, but it was still delicious!

Since I rarely measure anything, I'll give approximates for the ingredients.

3.5 oz. chicken, cooked & cubed

3/4-1 c. fresh, cut asparagus spears (about 8 spears)

1 c. chicken broth

1 c. water

1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp. Italian spice blend

1 tsp. red curry powder

1/4 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chopped garlic

1 tsp. chopped onion

Dash of cayenne pepper

Simmer spices & broth mix for 20 min. before adding chicken & asparagus. Simmer for another 3-5 min., remove bay leaf, & serve. This portion is for 1 serving.

Very filling & yummy! Enjoy! :)