Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

It would be the understatement of the year to say that I love chocolate. I ADORE chocolate! However, I am a diabetic, so I have had to do a little extra looking to find cookies with high chocolate content but low carb content. I am proud to say that I have found such a cookie! :) These are so good (whether or not you're diabetic)!

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup ( 1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Sugar substitute equal to 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons skim milk
- 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- In medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, and sugar substitute until well blended. (That should take about 3 minutes.)
- Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
- Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Alternately add milk and flour mixture to butte and sugar mixture, beating until well blended between additions.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Press flat.
- Bake 7 to 9 minutes or just until set.
- Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool completely.

Nutrition Information: (Per cookie)                        
- Calories: 50
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fat: 3 gram
- Carbohydrate: 5 gram
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
- Sodium: 50 mg

Exchanges:
- 1 vegetable
- 1/2 fat

Peace and Rain

TWO DAYS IN A ROW! Two days in a row it has been cloudy, rainy, and even thundering a little. I love cloudy days...with a passion! These types of days energize and motivate me to get things done. When I wake up in the morning, look out my window, and discover that the sun in nowhere to be seen, it makes me even more excited than usual to face the new day ahead.



Cloudy days are the perfect opportunity to spend the day indoors, unless you like to dance in the rain as I do. :) Probably my favorite part about these dark, exciting days is when I sit in my favorite chair, with my cozy blanket, sipping on my warm, fresh cup of coffee. Usually I have my bible or my current pleasure book (in this situation, The Hobbit) in hand. When small lights and candles are lit all around, it gives me a sense of peace and comfort.


" Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6-7

These are one of my favorite verses. What an amazing promise to us! God gives us the freedom to make our "requests made known to Him." No matter what we are facing today, whether it be stress, fear, or uncertainty, He offers us peace to "guard our hearts and minds." To me, cloudy days are a reminder of that promise. God has given me that sense of peace right when I wake up and look out my window. Thanks be to God for the gift of peace and the blessing of rain!

Low Glycemic Food List

Shortly after returning home from the hospital after discovering that I had diabetes, I did a lot of research into the disease and important foods to incorporate into my "new" diet. I came across this list of low glycemic foods. These things are helpful to keep in mind for those who are diabetic because it can help improve glucose control. This is because all of these foods take a longer time to digest, so the blood sugar levels rise slower than with other foods.
* This article/list was written by Dominique Brooks in 2010. However, most of the information comes from the American Diabetes Association.


Whole Grains
- Causes blood sugar levels to rise more slowly because they contain significant amounts of fiber
- Pasta and converted rice also have a low glycemic index
- Examples: barley, bulgar, and rolled oats

Foods with Protein
- Beans (Ex: peas and lima beans) are high in fiber and protein
- Lean meats and fish have lower glycemic values

Vegetables
- Most vegetables contain fiber
- Selecting fresh or raw vegetables may offer additional benefits for people with diabetes
- Examples: spinach, turnip greens, zucchini, okra, brussel sprouts, and eggplant

Healthy Fats
- Monounsaturated and omega-3 fats
- When consumed in moderation, these foods offer additional health benefits
- Examples: olive oil, flaxseed oil, fish, and nuts

Dairy Products
- Low-fat or nonfat
- Examples: Skim milk, low-fat yogurt (with or without fruit), low-fat cheeses, sour creams, and cottage cheese

Count It All Joy

The bible tells us again and again to be joyful; joyful in...

~ Our Relationships

   - "For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you."                                                                             Philemon 1:7

~ Activities We Participate In
   - "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

~ Serving One Another
   - "For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful." Deuteronomy 16:15

~ Our Lives
   - "Nehemiah said, 'God and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

   ~ Our Heavenly Father
   - "Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!" Psalms 47:1


One of my favorite quotes is as follows:

~ "Joy is that deep settled confidence that God is in control of every area of my life." - Paul Sailhamer

God gives us such an amazing gift: that is that we have the freedom to be joyful in all situations-no matter the circumstance. This doesn't mean that we are laughing and smiling every moment of every day, but it does mean that deep in our hearts we have a contented joy that comes from Jesus Christ alone. This gives us the confidence to face each day with the knowledge, hope, and excitement that comes from following in our loving Father's footsteps along this, our lifelong journey.

Golden Peanut Butter Cookies

Today I tried this new recipe. These cookies are so good! They don't taste at all like diabetic cookies and they are quite healthy. Enjoy one or two on these nice sunny days!


Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 3/4 cup oat flour
- Sugar substitute equal to 1/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2/3 cup peanut butter ( I use all natural Smuckers peanut butter)
- 6 tablespoons margarine or butter
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar ( I used 1/4 cup brown sugar substitute and 1/2 cup regular brown sugar)
- 1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine the flours, sugar substitute, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl and stir to mix well. Set aside.
- Combine the peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer to mix well. Beat in the egg substitute, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and beat to mix well.

- Shape level teaspoonfuls of the dough into balls and arrange 1-1/2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each cookie to 1/4 -inch thickness by crisscrossing the tines of a fork. Dip the tines of the fork lightly in sugar between each cookie if desired.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the bottoms of the cookies are golden brown. Remove the cookies and let sit for 2 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 40 cookies.


Nutritional Information: (Per Serving: 1 Serving = 1 Cookie)


- Calories: 77
- Protein: 2 grams
- Sodium 82 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Fat: 4 grams
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 grams
- Dietary Fiber: 0.9 grams
- Carbohydrates: 9 grams
- Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

" Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth." ~ Psalm 50:2

Restoration

My topic for today is God's restoration of our lives. Let's start with the dictionary definition of the word, restoration:

- The act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.
- The state or fact of being restored.
- A return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.
- Restitution of something taken away or lost.
- Something that is restored, as by renovating.

In our busy lives, we all have times when we wish that the clocks could stop ticking long enough so that we could simply breath. Our lives are not only chaotic and busy, but, in many situations, they are also laced with pain and grief. Every person has a different story, but one thing remains the same: no life is perfect and no life is easy. God didn't create it to be that way. In spite of this, God gives us a promise that in the midst of all of the chaos, we can stop and come to Him.

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~ Matthew 11:28

In this time, He restores our soul. He renews our lives with His amazing love and strength. Psalm 23:3 explains very well what I am talking about. I have three different translations so that we can take a look at this well-known verse from a new angle:

"He restores my soul."

"You refresh my life."

"You let me catch my breath." 

God takes our lives stained with fear, doubt, stress, anger, bitterness, and depression and restores them. He reestablishes us as His children, no matter what our back story is. He returns us to an unimpaired condition. He renovates our lives so that we can be used by Him for His glorious purpose. 

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you." ~ 1 Peter 5:10

A Bright Sight

I'm just sharing some pictures today. I love looking at the amazingly beautiful creation that God has made for us to preserve and enjoy. I hope it brightens your day!


"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it." ~ Psalm 24:1






"What great deeds are done by His hands." ~ Mark 6:2



"The earth is filled with the Lord's glory." ~ Habakkuk 2:14






"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" ~ Psalm 118:24

Eating Right

Eating healthy involves eating natural foods. For diabetics, it is very important to incorporate those natural nutrients into the diet. This is because it can be very helpful in managing your blood glucose levels. Here are some foods that should be in your diet:
*Note: The following information is written by Dr Susan Jewell. I found it extremely helpful in planning meals, so I hope it will be the same for you.

Vegetables and Soy Protein: 

~ Provides body with essential minerals and nutrients to help manage and control blood sugar levels. 

~ Maintains proper bodily functions and biochemical reactions. 

~ Leafy, green vegetables (Ex: spinach, broccoli and brussels sprouts) are excellent sources of potassium and magnesium, low in carbohydrate content, and have few calories. 
~ Soy plant products (tofu, soy milk, tempeh) are natural high grade proteins that can be easily absorbed into the body. 
~ Vegetables and some soy products have a low glycemic index, a beneficial health indicator for diabetes.

Magnesium:
~ Important for the regulation of insulin in the body and controlling blood sugar levels.
~ Diabetic patients should increase their daily intake of magnesium rich foods such as spinach, oats, cashews, whole grains, bananas and green leafy vegetables.

Fruits:~ Provides essential minerals for a healthy body and are low in calorie and carb content.
~ Cranberries, pomegranates, apples, citrus fruits, bananas, papayas, and oranges have high nutritional content and a low glycemic index.

Herbs and Spices:
~ Some possess anti-diabetic properties which can help to manage and reduce some of the symptoms of diabetes.
~ Herbs like garlic can lower blood sugar levels.
~ Cinnamon contains natural active ingredients with insulin-enhancing activities and antioxidant effects.
~ Tumeric and gooseberry can increase the activation of pancreatic cells to increase insulin production.

High Fiber Foods:
~ Can reduce the symptoms of diabetes because it can lower the requirement for insulin in the body and help create a slower release of glucose in the blood.
~ Foods rich in fiber include: chickpeas, oatmeal, beans, barley, and peas.
~ Natural fiber foods like corn and lentils can also help to reduce blood sugar levels.
~ High fiber foods contain chromium, which is important for vital biochemical reactions in the body.

The Beautiful

Today is a wonderful day to celebrate and remember all that has happened in this country, the United States of America. There are certainly many things to be proud of as we look back at the history of this place we call home. But this day is also a day to look to the future. What would we like to change about our country? What could be different? How are we going to change those things?

Many countries look to America as a strong nation to set a good example in leadership and kindness. Does this country fill those expectations? Is America truly concerned with the issues going on in other places in the world? Today, 16,000 children will die in the world simply because they do not have enough food. How often do we see that on the news?

I will be the first to admit that there are so many times when I don't want to focus on issues such as these. After all, what can I really do? But God has called each and every one of us to look out for one another, whether in America or in Malawi. So God answers that question of doubt by saying that He can perform miracles through us if we would only allow Him to do it.

Our founding fathers of this country had an amazing amount of faith in our Lord and they expressed it openly. Here are some of the things they said:

~ "While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." -George Washington

~ "Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshiped." -Benjamin Franklin

~ "As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see." -Benjamin Franklin

They founded this country with the intentions that it be a community who strives to serve God in every situation. These men knew that that is how a country becomes great and looked up to; not for the deeds that are done, but for the glory that is given to God! Is our country striving to give God all the glory? Are we performing deeds that would give God glory?

Today is a day that we can look to the future and decide what we want to change about this country, our home. For, if we don't change what isn't right, who will?

Exercise: A Daily Routine

For diabetics, both type one and type two, it is important that exercise is a part of the daily routine. But this is essential in everyone's lives as well. It can be difficult and even dangerous to do a lot of strenuous moving outside during these hot summer months. However, it is still imperative that exercise is performed. Here are some helpful tips that I read about that have helped me. (This is not all my own ideas or writing.)

Use a Pedometer

You can use a pedometer to track how many steps you take each day. Experts suggest you build up to 10,000 steps a day (5 miles).

Here’s how to start:

~ First, check how many steps you do now. Wear the pedometer for a week or two. Find out the average steps you take each day

   ~ Once you know your starting point, try to up your daily average by 500 steps every couple weeks.

~ Before you know it, you’ll hit 10,000 steps a day!

Quick Tips

~ Stretch for 5-10 minutes before and after every walk.

~ Keep a good posture. Gaze forward, not down at the ground, with your chin level and head up.

~ Stay hydrated by drinking 8 ounces of water before you begin your walk.

~ Wear shoes designed for walking for greater comfort and injury prevention.

~ Your walks don’t have to be long and strenuous to be beneficial. A walk to the store or through the mall counts too.

Be Safe: Don’t forget: important

~ Wear your diabetes I.D.

~ Check your blood glucose before exercise (If it’s too low (under 80 mg/dL), eat a piece of fruit, a few crackers, or glass of milk.)

~ Check your blood glucose after exercise 

~ Carry a snack to eat if you’ll be active for a few hours.

Did You Know?

By walking just an extra five minutes a day you can burn an additional 24 calories per workout. That may not seem like much, but over the course of one year it adds up to a total of 8,760 additional calories burned.

"You were bought at a price [Jesus death on the cross]. Therefore honor God with your body." ~1 Corinthians 6:20

Treating Yourself to Summer!

For diabetics and non-diabetics alike, summer can be a difficult time to eat healthier. There are so many picnics, bonfires, potlucks, get-togethers, and so forth. It can be hard to say 'no' because, after all, it's summer, right? It's a time to relax and have fun...not think about good vs bad food. But I have been coming up with some options for myself that might work for you as well. (Some of these ideas are centered around a diabetic lifestyle and some are not.)


~ "Sticking" to Portions: I love fruit so much! And this is a food that is a necessity for any healthy lifestyle. However, unfortunately it has carbs. So here's an idea to make sure that you aren't overdoing it on the fruit carbs when entertaining guests for a summer get-together. Instead of making a fruit salad in a large bowl, when it can be easily overeaten (and overcarbed), put together Fruit Kebobs! Put the amount of fruit that is your carb serving on each stick, then enjoy! It is also a fun and creative way to serve a meal also. (This idea can certainly apply to meat, potatoes, vegetables, or other foods that you can put on a stick. :) )

~Cool and FREE: There are so many ways to stay cool in the summer and not consume carbs or fat. Obviously, if you go to the store, you can find sugar-free popsicles which is a FREE FOOD! But eating sixteen of those a day can get a little old and boring. Here are some options that you can do from home to mix it up a little bit.

  - Coffee: I'm am avid coffee drinker. Iced coffee is a great way to cool down in these hot summer days. It's simple: Glass full of ice, pour coffee on said ice, add creamer to said mixture, stir, and enjoy. Another option is as follows: Get some popsicle making containers, pour coffee with creamer into the container and freeze. It's a tasty treat that will cool you down and give you the much needed coffee fix! 

  - Popsicles: While store bought popsicles are good, they do contain a slight amount of carbs so you can just sit with the whole box and eat them all. Here's a way that you can eat as many popsicles as you would like without worrying about counting any carbs. Mix together your favorite flavor of a sugar-free drink mix. Put that mixture into the popsicle making containers that you have. Freeze and enjoy. (Fun tip: Make a few different flavors that would taste good together and make layered popsicles!)


There will be more ideas to come on this subject. But meanwhile, enjoy these summer days and stay cool!