So this Sunday, I did something I have been wanting (and trying) to do for almost three years now.  I ran a half marathon.  After two failed attempts (one case of Salmonella and one move to Florida), the third try was the charm!  I ran and completed the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  I had been excited for this race since August 6 when  signed up (hey, this race sells out and I was not about to miss out).  Training was a breeze (if you don't count being out a month for vertigo and a week for IT band issues) and I knew the distance would be no problem.  The things that DID make me nervous, however?  IT Band acting up (it happened), my feet hurting because my shoes weren't tied right (I had them perfect, ok?), being so tired from waking up early, etc.

My mom flew in to town to come watch!

The race started at 5:35 AM...Yes, AM.  They recommend being there by 4 AM.  They warned about bad traffic and road closures. So, the resulting decision was to leave the hotel at...3 AM.  Meaning, I was waking up by 2:30 to get my things together, drink coffee, and eat something.  Well, wouldn't you know it, there was no traffic, parking was a breeze, and we arrived at 3:30 AM.  However, it turned out to be a HUGE blessing because at 3:45, Mom and Casey dropped me off at the entrance to where the runners wait before heading to the corrals.  As soon as they turned around, the masses came flooding into the common area.  Mom and Casey rushed to the entrance to Magic Kingdom (to get a good view of me running by) and managed to be first in line to enter.  Me, well I went through the tent, fully expecting to be on the road to the starting line, only to find a holding area for all of the runners.  At 4:00 they finally opened the gate and we began the mile long walk to the corrals.

Walking to the main area

All of the runners in the corrals behind me

Because I had run a 10K the previous May and had a decent time, I was placed in corral B which would start at 5:42 (after Corral A cleared out).  Because we got there so ridiculously early, I was at the front of my corral--which meant when Fairy Godmother yelled "GO" and the fireworks went off, I was running, not walking.  I had stopped running the Wednesday before the race and OH did it feel good to run.  In fact, I was so excited to be running again that I had to continually watch my Garmin to make sure I didn't go too fast.  Eventually I managed to slow from 9:10 to 9:22 for my pace, but that was as slow as my body wanted to go.  The first five or so miles were fantastic.  My pace held steady, my breathing was normal, and the temperature was cool with a light breeze.

Then Magic Kingdom happened.  I had just passed Mom and Casey at mile 5.6 (they almost missed me!) and was so caught up on staring at the castle that I did not notice the sharp turn in the course.  I turned hard to follow the crowd and felt it...my knee.  Pain.  Heat.  My IT band was not happy with the sudden turn.  The moment it happened I began to pray HARD.  I told God I would be ok if it hurt for a week or weeks after the race, but to please let me finish the race on time.  I was aiming for a PR (2:00-2:02 finish time) and wanted it so badly.  So each time it flared and tightening, I prayed.  When it stopped hurting, I thanked Him.  And, wouldn't you know, it helped.  It didn't get unbearable until I was 0.5 miles from the finish line and when that happened, I would stop, stretch, and run, trying to put all of my weight on my other leg.  And I managed to cross the finish line at 2:07:35...and promptly begin limping the moment I crossed it.

Crossing the finish line--FINALLY

Ice bag in hand and relieved to be done

All in all, I loved this race.  It was entertaining at every moment thanks to characters on the sidelines, volunteers cheering us on, the runners' costumes (the men went ALL out too), or choirs singing us on.  It was extremely organized.  The volunteers were helpful.  And the starting was efficient...especially when you consider that 24,000 people supposedly ran it.  I would HIGHLY recommend this race to anyone--especially if it will be your first half marathon.  The only thing I would change--I would go more "all out" with my costume!

So, here's some pictures of the race and be expecting a food post in the next couple of days!

My niece Elley saying "Good job Camillionaire!'

SO proud of this.

Fireworks as Corral A begins

I can have one of these on my car now :)

Food Tour: Memphis, TN

Guys, I am so excited about this blog post.  You have no idea.  Seriously.  I went to my hometown to visit family and a couple of friends this past weekend.  Usually when I go back, I end up going to the same old places to eat—the favorites.  After all, they are the ones I miss most when I am here and not there.  I’m talking things like a Huey Burger from Huey’s, an Avocado BLT from Booksellers Bistro, pizza from Memphis Pizza Café…those places.  Memphis, TN is becoming a big place for good, local, and even unique, food.  Bloggers are blogging, critics are loving, and Guy Fierri is driving by.  Naturally, being the foodie I am, I have been keeping a food “bucket list” of all the places I want to try when I visit.  Well, Casey and I have been married fourteen months now and have visited Memphis five times collectively…Had we been to any of these places yet?  NO!  I put it off.  But no more!  I promised myself this past visit to Memphis, I would go to a place on my list every day.  And did I?  You betcha!

Gibson’s Donuts
So, I landed in Memphis at 7:40 AM.  By the way, for those of you who were wondering, that means my flight left at 6:30 AM, which means I woke up at 2:45 that morning.  Because I know you were wondering.  Traditionally, as soon as my mom picks me up (and Casey if he comes long), we head to Gibson’s Donuts.  If you are ever in town, you HAVE to go there.  It is one of those nondescript, hole-in-the-walls that looks like it COULD be decent, but in reality, it’s the best food you will ever put in your mouth.  Gibson’s makes their donuts fresh throughout the day and never re-uses day old donuts.  They’re open twenty-four hours a day, so beginning at 11 PM, donuts at 6 for $1.  Needless to say, they run out fast.  For college kids, this is the place to hang out and study late at night.  AND I have even seen a group of elderly people come in a midnight to enjoy a few amazing, cheap donuts.

Recommendations:  Plain Glazed (it is that good—better than fresh and hot Krispy Kreme), Old Fashioned, or the Blueberry Cake Donut.

The Elegant Farmer
This place was the one I was looking forward to and dreading the most.  The vegetarian options were limited to three or four options, which made me nervous, but Guy Fierri came here for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so it HAD to be good, right?   We arrived and were greeted by the very friendly (and funny) host, and soon seated with a “right this way sweet potato” and a smile.  The waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and quick.  We never once had to ask for a refill, he had tried everything on the menu, and seemed to know everyone who came in.  My mom and I both elected to try the vegetarian plate and we also split a cup of Sweet Potato Curry Soup.  Out of all of the places I went this weekend, this one stood head and shoulders above the rest—and that’s saying something.  The roasted root vegetables were perfectly seasoned with a little olive oil, garlic, and pepper and the natural flavors of the yellow peppers was amazing.  The corn bread pudding was different than I was expecting.  I thought it would be like sweet corn bread made into bread pudding but it was grainer, more solid, and had a hint of a taste of parmesan cheese to it…but it wasn’t bad at all!  Me being me, I am a bread lover.  And my favorite thing was the dinner roll.  It was soft, buttery, and had a slight sweetness to it that just amazed me.

Recommendations:  The Vegetarian Plate (Sauteed Asparagus, Roasted Root Vegetables, and Corn Bread Pudding)

Trolley Stop Market:
This is another one of those ones on everyone’s (it seems) Memphis Must bucket list.  While they do have other menu items, pizza is the “must” for this restaurant.  The location is downtown on one of the streets that has trolleys running up and down it.  Fitting name, huh?  Anyways, the atmosphere is laid back and the dining area is fun to look around.  They have shelves and fridges all around with local art work, meat, jewelry, clothing, you name it.  The pizza we ordered was incredible:  Margherita Pizza with fresh blobs (I like the word, ok?) of mozzarella, basil, incredible pizza sauce, and whole slices of tomato.  I could have eaten a lot more than I did but we also got breadsticks (which in reality, was pizza crusts), hummus with fresh, soft, warm pita bread to dip, and chocolate mousse cake.  I say go here just for the environment itself, and the location, but it helps that the food is great enough to draw people in too.

Recommendations:  Marghertia Pizza, or any of their pizzas really.  The selection is incredible and they can do custom by the slice too.

Young Avenue Deli:
I still find it amazing that I never made it here when I lived in Memphis.  Everyone I met loved it, all of my graduate school classmates went there regularly, but somehow I never went.  But no more!  I have been to the goodness that is Young Avenue Deli.  The list of 101 Things to Eat in Memphis recommends this place, and its sweet potato fries…which is awesome because I happen to have an undying love for sweet potato fries.  I met a friend there and singled out three options, then asked the waiter which was best.  After getting over his “huh” when I gave him like four options, he chose the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich for me.  I was a bit “meh” about it, mostly because the cheese was feta, but I was pleasantly surprised at the taste of the cheese (I don’t think feta melts though, so maybe it was a different cheese), the marinade of the mushroom, and the overall goodness of the sandwich.  Oh, and those sweet potato fries?  Crispy, cinnamon-sugary goodness, my friends.

Recommendations:  I highly recommend the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich, and my non-vegetarian friend Ally recommends the Chicken Salad Sandwich, saying it is the best she has ever had.

Tazikis:
New to Memphis, this greek restaurant is already gaining fame among Memphians and foreigners alike.  Part of a chain, this restaurant still manages to provide good, non-chain tasting, quality food.  My dad, stepmom, sister, and grandparents and I met here for dinner on a Saturday night.  While the place was loud and hard for my grandparents (and me) to hear, the food made up for it.  The majority of us tried gyros of different types:  chicken, lamb, pesto chicken, and veggie (I bet you can’t guess which was mine).  All of us were impressed by how good it was.  Mine came with cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, greek salad dressing, greek slaw, onions, and a couple of other veggies.  While it is easy for all veggie wraps and sandwiches to not be as good, this one was better than any veggie wrap I have ever had.  The dressing was flavorful and bold, the veggies were crisp and fresh, and the gyro bread was soft and tasted fresh baked.  After eating, my dad (being the sweet-aholic he is) bought us all Baklava to share and, while it was good, it still did not stand a chance compared to the gyros.

Recommendations:  Village Veggie Gyro, Lamb Gyro (according to my dad), and Chicken Gyro (based solely on how much my grandfather seemed to enjoy his)

Muddy’s Bake Shop:
I save this one for last because it is near and dear to my heart…an obsession…a love…a…well you get the point.  Muddy’s came to Memphis when I was in college, but once I discovered it, I was there every chance I got.  The cake is scratch made, the icing is superb, and the cookies and pies?  Well, they are every bit as good.  The shop/bakery is decorated uniquely and “cutely” and matches the personality of its owner and employees perfectly.  Never will you see an angry person behind the counter nor in the line waiting.  The line often goes out the door, even at two o’clock on a Saturday (when I was there), but no one minds waiting.  Their mission is:  to delight people with delicious treats and a smile while being a good neighbor to our community, the environment, and our animal friends.  They use eggs from cage-free or free-range hens and their milk is organic.  They are also a part of Project Green Fork (go check the website out, seriously) and do not accept tips.  Instead, they have a jar in which people can put money to go towards the local non-profit for the month.  I could go on and ON about Muddy’s (and I often do to friends, coworkers, and anyone else who will listen) but for now, food.  I usually get the same thing every time at Muddy’s but this time, I thought I would be adventurous…so I got the same cupcakes I usually do PLUS a new one AND a piece of pie.  Cocoa Chanel Pie I am pretty sure.  All I know is I saw something gooey and chocolately and said “I want that chocolate pie right there”.  I fully intended to eat it later and only try one little bite at the shop…but within five minutes it was GONE.  It was the best pie I have ever had and the most I have ever “mmm’ed” and “wow’ed” and “yum’ed” over a piece of pie.  Go there.  Eat it.  Thank me.

Recommendations:  Plain Jane, Prozac…these two are my have to have them every time cupcakes.  If you like peanut butter, try the Tomboy.  If you like fruity things, Razzle Dazzle is another favorite of mine.  For cookies, try the oatmeal coconut or the sweet n’ salty cookies.  For pie, do I need to remind you about the Cocoa Chanel?

Now, my hope is that after reading how much I love food and I love Memphis food, you are booking a flight to Memphis right now.  Seriously, go.  Do it.  I am so glad I finally decided to give my food bucket list a try and I can’t wait for the next visit so I can try some more.  Well, more plus go to my usuals (Muddy’s and Gibsons and now The Elegant Farmer).  Happy Tuesday everyone and, as always, comments and feedback are welcome! :)

Vegan Sloppy Joes for the win!

So I am three weeks into the vegetarian (trying to make my way to vegan) lifestyle.  I gotta be honest with you...I don't know that I will go back to my carnivorous ways.  I notice a difference in my body, my energy, and especially my bounce back from exercising and running.  Before I tried this, it took me a good half-a-week to recover from a long run but now, I am able to get back at it 1-2 days later--which, let me tell you, is a HUGE blessing since my half marathon is a week and a half away.

Do I miss meat?
Oh, yeah.  I do from time to time...in fact, I had tacos WITH BEEF on Friday night.  I fully intended to substitute sauteed mushrooms and black beans for it but when provided the chance to use that extra cooking time for a training run (did I mention I am so nervous about my race?), I chose that instead.  And let me tell you.  I can tell when I have eaten meat.  I get tired, grouchy, and my stomach hates me. Like seriously.  It's not like indigestion hate...its like bloating, stabbing pain hate.  Which makes me think, Ripp (from Engine 2) is so right.  Our bodies weren't made to handle lots of animal protein and by products.  Especially four tacos plus a few fork-fulls of taco meat.

Do I plan to ever eat meat again?
Yeah.  For sure.  There are just times when you have to let yourself be lax.  If you are super strict all of the time, it can develop into an obsession which can then develop into an eating disorder.  And none of us wants that.  So, yes.  I will eat meat every now and then but try to limit it to once every other week or once a month if I can.

Is the vegetarian food really THAT good?
Let me tell you.  I dreaded it for a while. I was wondering how in the world I would 1) find GOOD recipes and 2) find a big variety of recipes.  But people, the resources are out there.  Chocolate Covered Katie's website introduced me to some pretty good Lentil Sloppy Joes (recipe at the end of the post).  And I have found myself experimenting.  And the good news is, taste buds adapt.  Before, a piece of wheat or multigrain bread was just...bread.  But now I taste it and I taste the earthiness and the different flavors to it and OH is it so good.  In fact, I ate just toasted multigrain/wheat bread every day for a week because I enjoyed it so much.  So, while it may be difficult at first, once you are adjusted it is easy and tasty!

And now, for a recipe.  I LOVE sloppy joes.  I see Pinterest pins for recipes and I see that can of sloppy joe sauce at the grocery and I drool.  But knowing how my body reacts when I re-introduce meat to it, I have not caved in.  Besides, if I am going to have meat, I am going to go all out--I am talking steaks, or a fancy chicken dinner, ya know?  Well, ONE pin caught my eye and I clicked on over to see I had all of the ingredients except lentils.  So, I planned to make it this week.  And boy, it did not disappoint.  Even the husband liked it...although he did ask that we start making new names for things so he doesn't get his hopes up.  So, we call these Sloppy Jeffs. :)

Note:  I could not find canned lentils, so I bought a bag of them and cooked them per the instructions on the package.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

Sloppy Jeffs (or Joes)

• 2 15-oz cans lentils, drained and rinsed (about 3 cups cooked lentils)
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1-2 stevia packets, or 3-5 tsp sugar or sweetener of choice, or to taste
• 14 oz tomato sauce (I used no-salt-added)
• up to 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp soy sauce (or soy-free alternative)
• optional: 1/2 an onion (diced) and 2 tsp oil

If making these on the stovetop: sauté the onion and garlic in the oil until onion is translucent. Add lentils and spices, stir, then add all other ingredients and cook uncovered (stirring occasionally) until thick like sloppy joe filling. If making this in the microwave: add all ingredients to a large microwave-safe dish (minus the onion and oil, which you won’t use with this method). Microwave until it boils, stir, then repeat the process until it is thick like sloppy joe filling. Makes about 5 cups.

Per her website, a 1/2 cup of the filling is about 81 calories.

A Little Lunch Break Posting: Grilled Caprese Sandwich (AKA The Queen Kelprese)

My coworker, Kelly, is a genius.  Can I say that?  Is that ok with you?  Because it is the truth, after all.  She has been budgeting and, as a result, has been making cheap, budget-friendly but also waistline friendly, meals.  One day at work, as we stood taking a brain break from staring at our computers for hours on end, she talked about an idea for a sandwich she had had.  Sourdough bread, brushed with balsamic vinegar, topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.  I was drooling.  So, I decided to modify it and try my hand at my own version.  She said “Ok” so long as I named it after her.  The name she decided upon?  The Queen Kelprese, after her. 

Now let me just forewarn you.  You will dream about this sandwich.  It tastes better than it sounds.  It is super easy and fast to make.  Its gooey, and sweet and savory at the same time.  It tastes fresh.  It’s filling.  Its wonderful.  The man enjoyed it too, but I don’t know if he liked it as much as I did.  I couldn’t hear him over my exclamations of “oh my gosh” and “this is so good!” and “mmmmmmmmmmm”.  Have I mentioned how much I love food?  Because it’s a lot.  Really.

Now, after all of my gushing and fanfare and ramblings…I present to you my creation!

Grilled Cheese Caprese Sandwich (AKA The Queen Kelprese)

INGREDIENTS
1 loaf of bakery style bread (don’t be skimpy and buy Wonderbread or whatever)—I used Publix’s Italian bread from the bakery

2 large, vine ripened tomatoes, sliced into whatever thickness you prefer (I like mine on the thin side)

2-3 basil leaves per sandwich (I usually buy the packaged bag of fresh basil that hangs in the case with the herbs

Fresh mozzarella (for 3 sandwiches, you will only need the small, baseball sized ball from the deli case), sliced into thin rounds

Balsamic Vinegar

Butter

DIRECTIONS
Turn a skillet or griddle onto medium heat.  Coat both sides of each slice of bread with however much butter you want (I go on the lighter side, but some people prefer medium to heavy).
Put all of the slices on the skillet to brown.  Once browned, flip them over.   Top half with the mozzarella, tomato, and basil, and then drizzle with balsamic vinegar.  Put the other halfs of the bread on top (browned side inside) and press.  Once the bottom piece is browned, flip so the top half can brown.  Once complete plate and drizzle with a little more balsamic vinegar and serve.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!  But, who are we kidding.  I enjoy food more than most normal people.  :)

The Life Changing Burger (Is that dramatic?)

New York Times Veggie Burger

So my husband loves meat.  He is a meat, potatoes, and vegetable meal kind of guy.  Just vegetables do not a meal make.  So I knew if I were going to get him to stick to his commitment of one month vegetarian (dinner time only for him), I would have to make some pretty hearty, tasty, MANLY meals.  And it has not been easy.  There have been more misses than hits but this recipe I am going to share with you was a big hit—for him and me.  He loved the flavor and I loved how easy it was to make. 

It makes eight so I shared leftovers with my coworker and after having it herself and other people seeing her eat it, I have had requests for recipes.  Every person who tried this LOVED it.  And, while I would love to take credit for coming up with this delicious, vegan, TASTY burger, I cannot.  This is a recipe from the Engine 2 Diet book.  I knew this book would be helpful in coming up with meals because, after all, this book was written by a firefighter and contains meals he and his firefighter (aka manly men) friends enjoyed.  Sure enough, Casey loved it so much he had TWO!  And he had one the next day for lunch.

You can really experiment with these, too.  You can try different toppings.  You can try making the cooked burger into a quesadilla filling by chopping it up.  You can make a wrap or lettuce wrap out of it.  And you can even experiment with spices.  Casey and I decided to try that next time.  I am thinking avocado for a topping on mine next time, for sure.  Maybe some mango salsa (a restaurant nearby puts Mango Salsa on their black bean burgers and it is GOOD).  Who knows!  The point is, have fun in the kitchen with all the time you will save with these being so daggum easy!

New York Times Veggie Burger

INGREDIENTS
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can tomatoes with zesty mild chilies, drained
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 green onions, chopped (I used ½ chopped Vidalia onion)
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup parsley or cilantro (I used ½ cup loosely packed cilantro)
2 cups quick rolled oats
8 whole grain buns
Fresh veggie toppings and healthy condiments

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450º. Process the first seven ingredients using an immersion or a regular blender or food processor. Remove contents into a large bowl and stir in the oats. Form into patties (*I made patties flat so they would cook more evenly), place on a sprayed baking sheet, and bake for 8 minutes (**if you did not use Quick Oats, bake for 16 minutes). Turn oven up to broil and cook for 2-3 more minutes, until the tops are nicely browned. Toast the buns and pile on your favorite toppings.

Going Vegetarian!

First of all, let me say that this blog will NOT be completely about my vegetarianism and recipes.  I also want to use it as a space to share life, learning, and everything in between with you, my readers.  I am so incredibly blessed in life and I want to share with everyone the things I am learning, experiencing, and seeing.  With that...on to the first post!

Going vegetarian seemed easy at first.  Really and truly, I didn’t eat much meat to begin with.  Mostly just chicken mixed in with stuff and the occasional tuna melt…oh and pigs in a blanket.  THOSE made it in my belly at least once a week.   But other than that, I preferred vegetables, bread,  Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or brownies.  So when I watched the documentary Forks Over Knives and learned the health risks that come not only with meat but with animal products in general, I wanted to give it a try.  I am all about treating my body like a temple—that IS what God calls us to do after all.  I try and limit my junk food intake (AKA brownies and my newfound obsession with ruffles potato chips).  I eat healthily and try to eat only whole wheat products.  I run four to five times a week and work on my core to avoid back and hip problems.  You get the point.

So, when I learned that the countries who consume the most animal by-products (meat, cheese, eggs, milk, dairy…basically anything coming from something with a face) are also the countries with the highest incidents of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, etc. and that those who consume little to none at all have none of these health problems, I was convinced.  I wanted to take care of my body and hit “reset”.  I did my research by watching Forks Over Knives again, buying their cookbook, and buying The Engine Two Diet.  I HIGHLY recommend The Engine 2 Diet.  The author not only lays out the diet, but explains the scientific research, case studies, health related facts, and combats myths against vegetarianism and a plant-based lifestyle.  BUY IT NOW.  Please.  :)

My wonderful husband has agreed to take part in this lifestyle change with me during dinnertime.  He can have meat at lunchtime, but (in the words of a friend) at dinner, “he’s mine!”  We have had some hits and one or two misses so far, but all-in-all, he has been a trooper and is willing to try most anything.  So far we are twelve days in and I have only slipped ONCE and had a piece of catfish.  Hey, don’t judge.  Fred’s buffet is an Achilles heel of mine…actually ALL buffets are.  But I have found my desire for meat is waning, as is my desire for sweets.   It is amazing how much better all-around you feel once your body begins to adapt.  I have more energy, I feel lighter but fuller at the same time, I don’t feel groggy and sluggish…And my runs are going better and I feel stronger.  In the words of Rip, the author of Engine 2 Diet, there is a reason hippos, rhinos, and elephants are some of the strongest animals—they are herbivores!

Some changes I have noticed since starting the vegetarian/mostly-vegan lifestyle:  My energy has increase (at work and on runs).  My hair is healthier looking and feels softer and stronger.  My digestive issues are improving—a BIGGIE for me since I struggle with diverticular disease and IBS (it doesn’t take much to make me sick, food wise).  My cravings have changed.  It used to be, when I got home from work, I would grab something sweet to snack on before my run (i.e. leftover homemade cookies, brownies, cake, Oreos, candy…you get the picture).  Now, when I get home, I want veggies, pita chips, whole wheat bread, and fruit.  *Note to self: STOCK UP ON MORE! :)  My stomach gets sick when I overdo it on sweets now—used to be I could eat literally a quarter pan of brownies with ice cream and still feel ok but now it’s too sweet and rich for me.  My palate is changing!  I don’t have headaches as much anymore and I don’t depend on coffee as much throughout the day.

I WILL admit…I went through withdraws about a week in.  I never crave steak or fish, or even chicken really.  I don’t crave much other than random things like cheese-its, a Chick-fil-a sandwich, pizza, or wings.  But a week in I HAD TO HAVE MEAT.  I wanted Taco Bell (which grosses me out usually), I wanted a Big Mac, I wanted a STEAK.   I also had some weird symptoms which, after doing research, I found to be withdrawals.  I had headaches for a couple of days, my stomach was NOT happy with me, I was constantly bloated, and I felt ill all around.  I also didn’t sleep well the first couple of nights.  Turns out, these are symptoms of withdrawal from dairy and meat—lots of other people doing this challenge experienced it too!  But now, I feel great!  Cheese grosses me out, my taste buds prefer almond milk, I don’t crave meat much (although typing about pigs-in-a-blanket made me want one).

Ramblings aside, I promised myself I would go vegetarian for at least a month.  I want to try being completely vegan by the start of week three in…oh dang…three days.  And then, at the end of the month, I will decide how to proceed.  I may eat a meat/animal by product type food once a week, every other week, or never.  We will see.  Basically, the point of this blog is to chronicle my journey on this new life path I believe God will bless (after all, our bodies are His temple and not taking care of the bodies He gave us is sin), as well as to post LOTS of yummy, healthy recipes.  I have posted pictures on Facebook and had people ask me for recipes so I wanted one place people could reference for that.  Also, I want to share facts about this eating plan, as well as research done on its benefits and the danger of excess consumption of animal by-products.

So, with that, have a fantastic Friday and I will post a recipe this weekend!