Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops (or Chicken)

Packed with tons of flavour, gluten free, easy to make and a big hit!

• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Dried Basil
• Garlic Powder
• Oregano (or Italian seasoning)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cups Dijon Mustard
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (a few tablespoons)
• Lime juice to clean
• Pork Chops or Chicken

Directions

• Heat oven to 400 °F
• I use  stoneware or line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper
• In a  bowl mix together spices, mustard and oil
• Clean the pork chops (or chicken) with lime juice, then lightly coat both sides of meat with mustard mixture
• Press the grated parmesan cheese into both sides of the chops.
• Place the chops on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. The coating should be browned and slightly crispy and the pork should be cooked all the way through… ENJOY!!!!

YumO Sweet Potato Casserole

Served this for Christmas dinner and it was a hit! I used Splenda instead of sugar.

Ingredients

• 6 Sweet potato, cubed
• 1/2 cup Splenda
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

• 1 cup packed Splenda brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup chopped pecans (or to taste)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium high heat until tender; drain and mash.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a baking dish.
3. In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.

Cheese, Leek, and Asparagus Terrine

I resolve to LIVE, LOVE AND BE HAPPY…at all costs

As a Being of Light, I resolve to LIVE, LOVE AND BE HAPPY, at all costs, no matter what, with deep respect and kindness for all.. Only I can choose my path, and I choose this path of life, love and happiness! xoxo

A 7 Year Old Perspective of The Christmas Season

My Hannah is now 7 and came home from school this week to share with me her observations about Christmas. She shared with me some very wonderful stories of God’s love and how they are present in her life and during the Christmas season.

One of these stories included the Christmas wreath… the circle represents God’s LOVE, as it never stops. The wreath is green, like a pine tree. A pine tree always stays green, just like God’s love for us is constant and will never end.

My heart sang with joy and as I listened to her… We spoke about how God is present with us during Christmas and why we celebrate Christmas.

As a Mom, I can only share my perspective and my own personal relationship with God. I can pass along information and HOPE that they find their own personal relationship with Our Lord. It was such an joyous experience to learn that my daughter has now opened her heart and felt the power of His love within her.

Life for me is about learning and always growing. Neale Donald Walsh said, “You are never who you were in the last moment. You are continually creating yourself from the field of infinite possibilities. You are, in every moment, born again. And so is everyone else.” I am so proud of My Hannah and My Nicholas. I am now learning from them and learning from their experience and personal relationship with God and how He works in their lives.

So on this Sunday, a day I always dedicate to my family, I wish to say “THANK YOU!!!!” to My 16 year old Nicholas and My 7 year old Hannah. I love you and love that we grow closer as a family each passing day and you enrich my life is ever way.

Blessings,
Tasha

Yes… “for the soul is stronger…”

I came across this posting today from a FB posting from Archangel Metatron that I follow… it spoke truth to me and gives me strength as I often fight against ego. It’s my soul in which I continue to trust and will lead me to be a better person which I strive always to be.

The ego needs to define itself, to fight, to conquor, to battle, to win, to achieve, the soul however sits in quiet contemplation, it just is, it doesnt need anything to define itself for it is pure light, purity, divine…it is the ego that tries to conquer the soul…but does it not realise it will never win…for the soul is stronger, and sits and waits for the AHHH moment when we wake up and realise that we do not need to strengthen the ego..that the soul functions without it…if it would just give up the fight…for survival…the soul does not need to survive…it just is…all that is…..xx

….more from Archangel Metatron

The soul has one emotion..that of love, the ego well it holds so many, anxiety, fear, sadness, anquish, hatred, anger, frustration, jealousy, the list is endless….so over the next few days much may surface…as the ego feels the light getting stronger from within the soul….just allow yourself to be at peace within, become the watcher of what surfaces…for we are being cleansed, spiritually cleansed as we are lifted up on our ascension path, our light journey, feel the quickening 11/11/11 and then on 12/11/11 a period of calmness and then the days that follow there will be adjustments. just stand in your light and be kind to yourself…much rest, much time to relax and unwind…and adjust….and then you will see how strongly the connection has become…many changes, many new frequencies…behold the new dawning for mankind…it is upon us…xxx

My Gluten Free Oat Bran Pancake- Scrumptious and Kid Approved!

Over the last year I have finally come to terms with being “gluten sensitive” which means that I have been watching what I eat (and sadly no more beer). Having gone without gluten for so long I can clearly see how this sensitively affects my overall health and my body. A dietitian explained to me what is happening when I ingest gluten- she said that it was like a anaphylactic shock happening to my organs inside. Although I couldn’t see the effects on the outside I could imagine that my organs were swelling in reaction to the gluten. Now that I am used to eating a gluten free diet (mostly- it takes a lot of patience and practice) whenever I do introduce it into my diet I can feel the immediate difference. Within 10 minutes my tummy will bloat and become hard, I get a headache, I feel sluggish and overall just “yucky!” (for lack of a better word! LOL) Not to mention a 3-6 pound weight gain!

My new miracle ingredient is OAT BRAN- “Oats do not contain gluten, but you can assume all oats are contaminated with gluten (because they are cut on the same mills as wheat and other gluten grains) unless they are certified gluten free.” However I am not celiac I only have a sensitivity so I chose oat bran from the natural organic section and have no problems with it.

For the past 6 months every morning I have an oat bran pancake for breakfast which is very filling and extremely tasty. My kids love it and I’ve now given the recipe to my friends as they too have found how easy and healthy this recipe is… yes, the best part is that it’s HEALTHY!!!!

Oat Bran Pancake

The ratio is 2-2-1… to make larger or smaller quantities just adjust the ratio.

2 tablespoons oat bran

2 tablespoons vanilla yogurt
- I use non-fat vanilla yogurt as its sweet and less calories . I also sometimes use greek yogurt for the added protein but don’t find it as sweet and it does change the texture a wee bit.

1 egg

Mix all the ingredients together and cook for about 3-5 minutes (solidly formed) then flip and cook for about another 2 minutes. (I use a George Foreman grill to make mine, but it can be made in a frying pan as well.)

Variations on the recipe:

* I also put in 2 teaspoons of Splenda as it’s a real tasty treat but it’s really not needed.  My 7 year old picky little eater loves this and I make them in advance and heat them up in the morning so that I can take it to go with me while running her out the door for the morning bus.

**If you are looking for a savory flavour you can substitute the yogurt with sour cream and use some spices & garlic and it’s just as tasty.

I now use oat bran for breading chicken, in my meatloaf’s,  breading on top of casseroles, filling in hamburgers, etc etc. I find that gluten free products can often be pretty lack lustre of taste so I am really excited about this 1 recipe using oat bran.

***P.S. If anyone knows of a tasty (and not cardboard) gluten free pizza dough recipe PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send it my way!

I am only one…but still I am one

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
- Edward Everett Hale

Apparently, I have fell short in my challenge my friends but I have learnt that only failure happens when you give up, and I am never one to give up (especially on a personal challenge). With that said I am back and blogging and thanks for much for all your wonderful emails “again” to get me back to blogging! Yes, I’ve missed you too!!!

So much to catch up, but what I’d like to share is a couple of very important moments that have been very special to me so far….

* My chemo ended February 2011 and I am healthy and very much looking forward to an incredibly blessed future with my 2 amazing children!

* Two years ago, I started a journey that along the way challenged me greatly… I am happy to report that I graduated from my program Recreation and Leisure Services and happily pursuing my dreams!

Life is a blessed moment and should be lived fully and completely and I am lucky enough to have the chance to fulfill my dreams, be an amazing Mom to My Nicholas and My Hannah….

From my school internship, I have found Canadian Friends of Pearl Children where I am seeing how one person can truly make a difference in the lives of orphaned children in Uganda. My son Nicholas who is only 16 directed and edited this video and I am so proud to share it with you!

All my love!
Tasha xxoo

What did you do for Family Day?

Yesterday it was Family Day in Ontario, which I spent with my 2 children curled up on the couch watching some great movies. It was cute on Sunday afternoon, when my 6 year old Hannah looked up at me wondering what we’d do for Family Day- she pointed out that “we already did stuff today and yesterday as a family.” I reminder her that every day is Family Day in our house, where she just smiled and laughed and went about drawing more caricatures on her sketch pad. On Monday, I sat us down to watch the incredible true story of “Secretariat.” It was my second time watching it, and I cried once again with sheer joy and inspiration many times throughout the movie!

I love watching a movie where there are insurmountable odds to overcome. Penny and Big Red triumph over all adversity to win the race and win the fight. This true story inspires me to press on and never give up. Penny eloquently states, “I will not live the rest of my life in regret” This is a true statement that speaks truth, and should be listened to very closely for everyone!

The spirit of Big Red (Secretariat) is awe inspiring- since I was a little girl I’ve been hypnotized by the beauty of horses. When I was 4, I followed a big red ribbon to find at the end of it, my very own horse, whom I named Timmy- how I loved Timmy! My whole life I’ve watched horses play and interact with each other and the humans that they love and I’ve always thought deep down that they can communicate almost telepathically (reading minds).

Not only is the horse seen as the underdog, but his owner Penny Chenery Tweedy is “just” a housewife whose voice is also not heard. Her place is in her home, raising her family and taking care of the house and her husband. As a woman watching this story it inspires me beyond measure! This movie, fits with the theme of my personal life, that “anything is possible” and she proves this by doing the impossible and her story is set in the books of history. Penny says, “This is not about going back. This is about life being ahead of you and you run at it! Because you never know how far you can run unless you run.”

This is a move worth watching, over and over again! It’s truly inspirational… I loved when her brother who was an economics teacher at Harvard told her that it’s impossible to raise $6Million, it was Penny that creatively thought outside the box, raising $6.8 million and went on to win the Triple Crown with Secretariat!

This is Secretariat’s historic 1973 Belmont Stakes victory, where he won in a matter of 2 minutes, 25 seconds making him The Triple Crown winner. “ I’ve run my race.  You run your’s.” – Chenery speaking to Secretariat the evening before the Belmont Stakes.

… and did he ever run his race!

Elvis!!!! A special memory….

It’s no surprise how much I love music… I’ve been in love with music since I was a very young girl. My Dad born in 1943 (war baby cohort group) and my Mom was born in 1951 (baby boomers cohort group) so I was introduced to many different styles and eras of music. I was born as a GenX baby and lived through the 80’s but it was the 90’s (Skid Row, Bonjovi) that impacted me.

My Dad always had music playing in the car and some of my favourites included The Tennessee Waltz, Hank Williams Sr. and Jr., A LOT OF ELVIS, old country (and later on new country)… my Dad never thought he had a good voice but growing up I loved hearing his deep voice sing to a country song or an Elvis song, as I was Daddy’s Little Girl… 33 years later I still am and adore my Dad so much- he taught me about many things!

My Mom would talk about The Beatles and used to show me her albums, but I gained my respect for classical and theatre from her and it was through my Mom’s prodding that I fell in love with singing.

As a teenager I fell in love with 70’s rock and roll… Music is timeless, and I feel that it’s a window to someone’s inner soul. It can transport you back in time, reliving certain emotions (good and bad) and music can speak and communicate if you are listening….

In the winter of 2002 my Dad fell from a truck landing on his feet, shattering the ankle bone in his foot. My sister and I rushed to the hospital listening to the doctors talk about his age vs surgery and hoping the bone would fuse together to allow him to walk again! To say the least we were in SHOCK… I remember my sister and I taking my Dad home from the hospital in a cast just before Christmas, bringing him to our house to heal and take care of him. It was a bad night indeed.

As we were preparing to have Christmas at our house, I was setting up my bedroom so that my Dad could sleep in there as it was on the same level as the bathroom. I didn’t want him to get bored so as part of his Christmas present, I researched old, rare and never before videos of Elvis, as I knew Elvis was my “Dad’s” favourite artist. During hours upon hours of watching videos, listening to interviews, watching movies and looking at news articles, I went from really liking Elvis as my Dad’s favourite artist, to falling in LOVE with everything about Elvis!!! He is the perfect example of why I love music… when he sings he is transported within the song and sings with such emotion and heart that I’ve never seen another artist be able to compare; I guess that is part of the reason they call him the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis is timeless and unique and so many artists, including Lennon and McCartney (and many more) talk about how Elvis influences them along with music itself.

Since the making of that Christmas gift for my Dad in December 2002 I’ve been a HUGE Elvis fan! There was a specific performance that caught my attention, which illustrates exactly the passion and love Elvis has for music. Whenever I am in a down mood, or need to find inspiration, I remember this video and turn it on.. It also reminds me of how amazing my Father is… with time and a lot of work my Dad was able to give up the crutches and cane and start walking on his own…. he is a true hero and I am so luck that he is My Dad!

On the video it’s a live version of American Trilogy (my top fav song!), at the time lapse of 3:29 Elvis (with his back to the crowd) begins to “feel” his way back into singing and continues to bring me to tears each time I watch it (of course with a SMILE on my face!)

Special shout out today: I love you Daddy!