Thursday, February 25, 2016

Make your own dairy-free/healthier coffee creamer

I don't know about you but when I eat/drink too much dairy I feel bloated. I still like my yogurt and have some dairy but try to avoid it as much as I can. A few months ago I cut down on creamer for my coffee. I love coffee with creamer but I only have it now on the weekends as a treat, ha!
So when I found a recipe in a blog called  "the clean plate" I was anxious to try it see how it tastes.
It is super easy to make too!
I really liked it specially with tea but putting a teaspoon or two in my coffee tastes so good too.


The recipe
1 can of full fat coconut milk
1/4 c. almond milk (optional)
1 shake of cinnamon
1 shake of sea salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  1. Blend all ingredients in a blender, vitamix, or magic bullet.
  2. Serve with coffee and store in the fridge                                                                                                                        
(from http://thecleanplatechef.com/2012/11/14/coconut-coffee-creamer/)




Let me know what you think!

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Those moments in my life when I've asked "why Lord"

During a very difficult time in my life some years ago I would struggle to trust God and I would ask Him, why God? why do I have to go through this terrible trial? I would tell him how I was missing out on so much because of this heart breaking time in my life and in my pain and selfishness I would resent how most of the people I knew were not going through something so hard as this. I would doubt Him and he would be so patient to speak to me through His word.
Over the years, God has shown me the beauty of His sovereignty over all the events in my life.

Those years that I thought I would never recover from so much suffering He meant them for good. Those lonely times, He meant them for good for it was in those moments where I felt his presence and a peace that would come to my heart, so indescribable. Like the Psalmist I would start asking, crying, doubting, but he would lead me to seek Him in His word and He would speak to me and reassure me that He was with me. At times, I still have those moments, I still cry out to him and ask why Lord? why this? but He never fails to show Himself to me like an amazing Father and friend.


These past couple of weeks I have been studying the life of Joseph in Genesis. He was robbed by his siblings so many years of being in his land, with his family, with his father who loved him. He was sold like a piece of merchandise and sent to jail for no reason. And yet, when after many years, he sees his siblings, He says "And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God." Genesis 45:7-8 
He recognized that God was the one ordaining all these hard events in his life because he (God) was in control and because He loved Joseph and He wanted Joseph to bring Him glory.
Instead of becoming bitter, He recognized that God lives, that He is higher and wiser than our ways.

Joseph's life brings glory to God in that He forgave his brothers and showed them mercy. 
I truly think this forgiveness produced in Joseph's heart was from God. After so much suffering and loneliness "caused" by his brothers rejection, he is able to forgive them and "kiss them" v. 15 this is really a supernatural thing.

In your loneliness and in your doubts, trust God's sovereignty. Trust He knows why and how and when. Trust that because His ways are higher than ours, it is good that He knows.
Trust that He is with you and that he has a sovereign plan, that all these days, months or years are not wasted, you are not losing out on something greater than having God with you, before you and in your favor.Trust Him that in your suffering he is making you more like his Son. Trust Him, if you are in Christ, he is with you and that's the best thing that we can have.
//  


Durante una epoca muy difícil de mi vida algunos años atrás a menudo dudaba y le preguntaba A Dios, ¿porque Señor, porque me toco esto a mi?  Como el salmista muchas veces yo venia a Dios diciendole mis dudas, pero El era fiel de llevarme a Su palabra y mostrarme en ella cuan real es el y como el quería revelarse a mi como mi consolador, padre, amigo, y Señor. Estos días he estado estudiando la vida de Jose en Genesis y me ha maravillado ver como Jose reconocia la Soberania de Dios. Ninguno de los eventos de su vida se había escapado de las manos de Dios. El tenia control absoluto de cada uno de los sufrimientos de Jose. Por el odio de sus hermanos Jose fue robado de tener una vida "normal" en su tierra, con su padre que lo amaba, con sus hermanos. Pero Jose reconocía la soberanía de Dios en Genesis 45:5 "Ahora pues, no os entristezcáis ni os pese el haberme vendido aquí; pues para preservar vidas me envió Dios delante de vosotros."  y en Genesis 45:7-8 "Y Dios me envió delante de vosotros para preservaros un remanente en la tierra, y para guardaros con vida mediante una gran liberación. Ahora pues, no fuisteis vosotros los que me enviasteis aquí, sino Dios;"  y Dios uso todo esta tristeza en la vida de Jose para su bien y para que Jose diera gloria a Dios.
 Es maravilloso ver como Jose glorificó a Dios en la manera que el perdonó a sus hermanos y les dio gracia, amor y favor (v.15) Y besó a todos sus hermanos, y lloró sobre ellos; y después sus hermanos hablaron con él."
En los dias, meses, o años de dolor, sufrimiento, soledad, y llanto de tu vida confía en El, confía que El sabe y sus caminos son mucho mas sabios que los nuestros. Confía que no te estas perdiendo de algo o de alguien mas grande e importante que tu Padre Eterno, confía que si estas en Cristo,  El esta a tu favor, contigo y va delante de ti. Confía que El usara todo este tiempo que parece perdido para Su gloria y tu bien pues conoceras mas profundamente la presencia de Dios, su paz, su gracia y su gozo inexplicable. Confía que en tu sufrimiento El te esta haciendo mas como su Hijo.
El esta contigo!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Praising God this morning!!! Psalm 8

Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
    Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
    to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[b]
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.


Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!


Salmo 8

¡Oh Señor, Señor nuestro,
cuán glorioso[a] es tu nombre en toda la tierra,
que has desplegado[b] tu gloria sobre los cielos!
Por boca de los infantes y de los niños de pecho has establecido tu fortaleza,
por causa de tus adversarios,
para hacer cesar[c] al enemigo y al vengativo.
Cuando veo[d] tus cielos, obra de tus dedos,
la luna y las estrellas que tú has establecido[e],
digo: ¿Qué es el hombre para que de él te acuerdes,
y el hijo del hombre para que lo cuides[f]?
¡Sin embargo, lo has hecho un poco menor que los ángeles[g],
y lo coronas de gloria y majestad!
Tú le haces señorear sobre las obras de tus manos;
todo lo has puesto bajo sus pies:
ovejas y bueyes, todos ellos,
y también las bestias del campo,
las aves de los cielos y los peces del mar,
cuanto atraviesa las sendas de los mares.

¡Oh Señor, Señor nuestro,
cuán glorioso[h] es tu nombre en toda la tierra!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

My power bowls for a power lunch! 😛 * a vegetarian option and a non-vegetarian option

My lunches consist of meals packed mainly with fiber and protein.
I like easy, tasty meals so I came up with quinoa bowls that fill me up
and are so delicious and light!



I cook a cup of quinoa (as directed in package)  and when its done I
add a can of organic garbanzos, 3/4 cups of frozen edamame,
1/2 cup of green peas to the pan. I put half a tablespoon of coconut oil, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, turmeric (optional), and a little curry powder.

When the frozen edamame is thawed in the pan I mix it all together and leave ir for 5 minutes in low.


Then when I serve it in a bowl I add a little bit of fat-free feta cheese, half an avocado, and some cashews. I'll add some chopped cilantro if I have it ;)

Boom. Your healthy lunch is ready and you will have extra for 2 more days!


** For the non-vegeterian option I put 3 breasts of chicken on the crock pot and sprinkle salt, pepper, and a little paprika, and chili powder. Cook for 6 hours on low and shred when they are done.
Put the shredded chicken over your quinoa bowl.





Monday, February 15, 2016

Breakfast: A new alternative to my PB & Jelly sandwich

I wake up every morning craving breakfast, its my favorite meal of the day!
But I found that what I was having for breakfast every day had too much sugar.
We all need a well-balanced breakfast with protein and healthy carbs, fiber
and good fats. This helps to give us energy and decrease cravings during the day.

So I replaced the jelly on my peanut butter/jelly sandwich with a few slices of apple and put natural peanut butter on a whole-wheat muffin which I scoop (take the bread out)  and toast.

The shake I drink every morning has half of a banana, unsweetened almond milk & 1/4 cup of oatmeal.

Of course, I always drink 1 or 2 cups of water before eating in the morning.

Try it :)