Happy Holidays & Bring in the New Year!

Its the time of year that we lose sight of the real reason for this season. Running around shopping, dining and making sure to check your list twice and make sure you nice. I know that it is my busiest time of year at work where we make sure all our customers have the best food to serve for their special events or family dinners. We've all busted our butts all year long for one month of madness.

So today, December 24th it's time to slow it down and focus on the birth of Jesus Christ. He has blessed me with better health and family. My life has had some major ups and downs and I know that I couldn't have made it through without my faith.

I'm focusing the next 2 weeks on my family. Its funny how when you get older family becomes so much more important and you want to create new memories for your little ones. I wish all of you a joyful season and remember to stop, put down the wrapping paper and pray. Give thanks for all you have in your life, large or small, difficult or good. For if it's difficult, somehow someway it is a breakthrough to better days.

I will resume my writing after the holidays. It will be time to focus on good health again for it's a new decade with this new year. A decade of new beginnings...

God Bless You All

Chrisie

Savory Oatmeal

I had a funny thing happen over Thanksgiving weekend when I took the kids down to the local Walgreen's to pick up something to drink. When we were paying for our drinks I was asked by the cashier if I would like to donate to the Childhood Diabetes Foundation and if I did then I could select something off the table they had out front with a variety of baked goods. Now that might have enticed most people and they probably didn't make the connection but I couldn't believe they did that. All the items on the table were overloaded with sugar and it just didn't make any sense to offer sugar laden baked goods in exchange for a donation to help fund the fight against childhood diabetes. I was floored and made the comment to the cashier. She made a big frown to me when I made the comment and then the other cashier burst out laughing. Now I wasn't trying to be funny but merely trying to make a point. I had simply said "Are you kidding me? Don't you understand the reason behind childhood diabetes? Why would you offer a sugar fest of baked goods in exchange?" She didn't know how to answer that question. I had to explain to her that those foods were terrible choices in exchange for donations. She was mad and irritated. I think the baked goods were her idea. Oops.

I believe the reason we have so much of an issue with childhood diabetes is most people don't understand that eating the wrong foods, over processed and full of sugar is the number one reason we have an issue in the first place.

So this post is dedicated to the lady at the Walgreen's. Take your morning oatmeal and make is a savory dish. Think of your oats as any other grain. You can add a variety of sauteed vegetables and herbs. I used up some slow roasted tomatoes I had left over from the previous nights dinner and sauteed up some crimini mushrooms which are actually baby portabellos. I also added some fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil. Try steel cut oats and cook according to the package directions. Make sure to season it with salt and pepper.

A great switch from sugar oatmeal and very satisfying !