Joy In Our Journey
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            • Memorizing New Testament Books and Their Meanings
            • Proverbs 31:10-31
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            • Contentment and "I'm Bored" phrases
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        • Some Thoughts...Family Bible Time
        • Running Away...with permission
      • Young Adults (Teens) >
        • Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss
        • Deeper Roots: Discovering Our Amazing God
  • Frugal Family Trips to Washington, D.C.
  • Home
    • Disclosure Policy
    • About Me
  • What's New! (Blog)
  • Low-Carb Lifestyle!
    • Trim Healthy Mama-inspired Grocery Lists
    • THM-style Beverages >
      • Mock Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos
    • Family Favorite Recipes (Not Low Carb) >
      • Snacks >
        • Delicious Homemade Gooey Granola Bars!
        • Healthy Peanut Buttery Treats
      • Soups and Stews >
        • Jamaican Seafood Chowder
        • Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
      • Salads >
        • Red Cabbage Coleslaw
      • Main Dishes >
        • Beef >
          • Beef Stroganoff
        • Chicken >
          • Chicken Fiesta
          • Chicken Nachos
          • Marinated Zucchini and Chicken Sandwiches
          • Chicken or Turkey Enchiladas
          • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
          • Green Chili Chicken Lasagna
        • Lamb >
          • Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder
        • Seafood >
          • Chilled Quinoa and Salmon Salad (E)
          • Shrimp and Zucchini Tostadas
        • Pasta Recipes >
          • Baked Lemon Pasta
          • Paccheri (Pasta) with Cauliflower and Tomatoes
      • Desserts >
        • Cookies >
          • Free Christmas Cookie cookbook download!
          • Healthier Gingerbread Man Cookies
          • Healthier Holiday Cut-Out Cookes
          • Maple Leaf Cookies - YUMMM!
        • Donuts
        • Frozen Desserts >
          • Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
    • Recommended Ingredients and Foods >
      • Inspiration Mixes - Gluten/Dairy/Caseine/Wheat Free and delicious!
      • Organic Maple Syrup
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Curriculum & Product Reviews >
      • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews >
        • Art >
          • ARTistic Pursuits
          • Simply Draw!
        • Grammar >
          • All About Homophones - (Marie Rippel)
          • Time 4 Learning
          • Daily Grams
        • Handwriting >
          • Cursive Handwriting - New American Cursive
        • History >
          • The Mystery of History >
            • MOH vol. 3 Audio MP3's
          • Tapestry of Grace History
          • U.S. History >
            • America, The Last Best Hope (William Bennett)
          • Winter Promise
        • Latin >
          • Latina Christiana, by Memoria Press
          • Visual Latin
        • Literature-based Unit Studies >
          • Beyond Five in a Row
          • Further Up and Further In by Diane Pendergraft
        • Logic and Reasoning >
          • Building Thinking Skills (Critical Thinking Skills Co.)
        • Math >
          • Math Mammoth
          • Math Tutor DVD.com
          • MathRider: Horselovers' Math Facts Software Game!
        • Music and Composers
        • Online Educational Courses >
          • Aleks Online Courses
        • Science >
          • Apologia Science >
            • Apologia Science's Notebooking Journals
            • Zoology 1 - Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
          • Science Weekly newsletters
        • Spelling >
          • Phonetic Zoo (by IEW)
        • Writing >
          • The Write Foundation: Level 2 - Paragraphs
          • WriteShop's StoryBuilders
      • Homeschool Product Reviews >
        • eBooks >
          • College Success Begins at Home (TOS eBook)
          • Dreams and Designs—Homemade Supplies to Complement Your Homeschool
          • Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!
          • The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner
        • Online Educational Website Memberships >
          • KB Teacher
        • Science >
          • Polymer Crystals
    • Driver's Education for Homeschoolers
    • Foreign Language >
      • Latin >
        • Christmas Songs in Latin
        • Latina Christiana (Level 1) >
          • Latina Christiana Level 1 Lesson Links >
            • Charts and Helps
            • Year One Sayings
            • LC1 Intro and Lesson 1
      • Latina Christiana (Level II) >
        • Latina Christiana Level 2
        • LC2 Intro and Lesson 1
    • Forms and Charts >
      • "Week At A Glance" Planner
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
    • Free Audio Books to Download
    • Free Homeschool I.D. Cards!
    • Government and Civics
    • Handwriting
    • History: Classical / Chronological >
      • The Mystery of History, by Linda Lacour Hobar
      • The Middle Ages (MOH vol. 2)
      • Ancient History (MOH vol. 1) >
        • Ancient Rome >
          • Roman Architecture
          • Roman Houses
          • Roman Town (software game by Dig-It)
          • Roman Trade and Commerce
    • Language Arts
    • Science
  • Free Printables
    • Holidays >
      • Christmas
  • Book/DVD/Audio Reviews
    • Children's Movie/DVD Reviews
    • Other Product/Company Reviews
  • Home & Family
    • Frugal Living
    • Gardening and Herbs
    • Marriage - God's Way
    • Life at Home
    • Godly Kids & Teens >
      • Godly Womanhood
      • Sharing God With Your Children
      • Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home >
        • Keepers At Home - "Beginning of Club Year" Helps
        • Keepers At Home - "End of Club Year" Helps
        • KAH Skills >
          • Bible Memory >
            • Memorizing New Testament Books and Their Meanings
            • Proverbs 31:10-31
          • Cake Decorating
          • Card Making >
            • Stitched Cards
          • Computers
          • Character Studies >
            • Contentment and "I'm Bored" phrases
            • Willingness
          • Decoupage
          • Hospitality
          • Library Skills and Literature Pins
          • Sewing >
            • Beauty and the Pig - Goldie Doll
            • Edwardian-Style Aprons
            • Paper Piecing
      • Children >
        • Bible Study Bookmarks
        • The Church History ABCs (for kids!!!)
        • The Lord's Prayer - copywork
        • Some Thoughts...Family Bible Time
        • Running Away...with permission
      • Young Adults (Teens) >
        • Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss
        • Deeper Roots: Discovering Our Amazing God
  • Frugal Family Trips to Washington, D.C.
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The Anticipation of Easter Sonrise

4/20/2014

0 Comments

 
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    I anticipate Resurrection Sunday all year long.  When I saw the movie, The Passion of the Christ, a few years ago, it shook me to the core. 

   
I've believed in Jesus Christ's resurrection since I was a young child, and I hold great faith in that.

    Now that I spend a lot more time thinking about Christ's horrifically painful death on that wooden cross, I am so grateful for the immense suffering and sacrifice He made for me.

    And I look forward to Easter every year, so thankful that we are again reminded of who Christ is and what He has done for each and every one of us.

    Debbie Fortnum is a Canadian artist that spent some of her childhood years in southwestern Oregon, where I live.  She is a beautiful pianist and vocalist - and has led meaningful times of worship in many services. 

    Debbie's "Easter Morning Sunrise" song, in her The Beautiful Piano album, is amazingly haunting and beautiful.  I think you'll love what you hear, on the video below, and imagine yourself going through some of the disciples' hard times as their leader passed away on that cruel cross.  And then, imagine the resurrection!  It's a beautiful song:

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You won't want to miss my FREE Trim & Healthy low carb-style recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!


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Low Carb Quick and Healthy Waffles

4/18/2014

7 Comments

 
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Some content includes affiliate links, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!


    Yummm...the smell and crispy crunch of homemade waffles has been something I've really missed.

    When we switched to a low carb eating plan, traditional waffles were no longer on plan. 

    But I love 'em!  Especially with peanut butter and syrup!  Yum.  ♥

    Inspired by the Trim Healthy Pancakes in the new book, Trim Healthy Mama, I was determined to come up with a healthy, low carb version of waffles that would not only be nutritious, but also delicious.

    And that sounds like poetry...or an advertising jingle.
    "Nu-tri-tious and de-li-cious!"  Okay, laugh at me if you want.  That's just where my mind wandered.  ☺

    Here's the recipe we've made numerous times, that is quite tasty!  Not only that, it's super speedy to mix up!  The best of both worlds. 

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Serves 4.

  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats, uncooked
  • 2 cups 100% liquid egg whites or 14 egg whites
  • 2 cups nonfat or low fat 1% - 2% cottage cheese
  • 4 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder
  • 4 tsp. Trim Healthy Mama Sweet Blend (*see below for other sweetener alternatives and         measurements)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. salt (I prefer Redmond RealSalt with its full mineral content)
  • 1/2 tsp. glucomannan powder
  • coconut oil spray
  • butter

    Heat waffle iron to medium or medium high.  The level of heat may take a little bit of experimentation on your part, depending on what type of waffle iron you own.  Blend old-fashioned oats in blender until powdered.  (Higher end blenders will do this quickly at high speed; for lower end blenders, pulse at low speed until well blended.) 

   
Add remaining ingredients except coconut oil spray and butter to blender.  Combine well; let sit for 1-2 minutes to thicken slightly.

    Lightly spray entire cooking surface of
waffle iron with coconut oil spray.  Pour batter onto hot waffle iron until surface is half filled with batter.  Close waffle iron and heat to desired level of doneness or until golden brown to dark brown.

    Remove waffles from waffle iron.  Place waffles on serving platter or plate and store in warmed oven, if desired (200° F) or serve immediately.  Before pouring additional batter from the blender, lightly spray entire cooking surface of waffle iron again with coconut oil spray.  You'll need to grease the waffle iron each time before you pour any new batter onto it.
  If you forget to grease the waffle iron one time, you'll probably never forget again.  It's time consuming to have to clean out that waffle iron when the oil has been forgotten!

    Since this is an E ("Energizing") meal, you'll want to eat no more than 2-3 squares of waffles at a meal, and be sure to top them with only a tiny amount of butter, if you use it at all.  These are delicious topped with Polaner All-Fruit Jam with Fiber or homemade fruit syrup that doesn't contain sugar in any form.


*4 tsp. THM Sweet Blend is the same as:

  •  4 "doonks" THM Pure Stevia
  • 3/16 tsp. other stevia sweeteners
  • 6 tsp. Truvia or homemade "Truvia"
  • 6 packets Truvia or stevia
  • 1/4 cup erythritol/Just Like Sugar/ xylitol
  • 1-1/2 tsp. liquid stevia

Download and print off the free printable recipe page for your recipe binder!

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Just click on this waffle recipe graphic to download and print the new recipe off.

Have you seen the FREE printable Trim Healthy Mama grocery shopping lists I have available?
Check them out!

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You won't want to miss my FREE Trim & Healthy low carb-style recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!


7 Comments

Winners of Trim Healthy Mama stevia products announced!

4/15/2014

0 Comments

 
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    Trim Healthy Mama is such a popular eating plan because it's radically changing the way people eat, causing a lot of weight loss and disappearance of many medical problems.  Even those eating Paleo or low-carb are having dramatic changes in their health when they stop eating flour and sugar.

    I had no idea that over 5,000 of you would enter my giveaway for the new Trim Healthy Mama stevia products - wow! 

    Thank you all for taking a minute or two to visit Joy In Our Journey and enter the giveaway.  It was so hard to know that I could only select two winners of this fabulous new sweetener. 

    You'll find the winners listed here. 

   
If you weren't randomly selected as a winner, I highly recommend the new Trim Healthy Mama (THM) Pure Stevia, Erythritol, and Sweet Blend products.  They are truly wonderful in their taste.  I'd buy them alone, just for the level of purity in the products, and the taste in my baking and cooking.  But also, these are so much more pure than other products on the market, that it takes a lot less Pure Stevia or Sweet Blend to make foods deliciously sweet - so even if you are paying shipping to purchase these products, you'll use a lot less than you would with other stevia products on the store shelves and online.

    I hope to host additional giveaways of THM stevia products in the future, so stay tuned!

    Also, if you haven't yet downloaded my new Grocery Shopping Lists for Trader Joe's and for any store, they're available here for anyone to download, print, and use for their own personal use:
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You won't want to miss my FREE Trim & Healthy low carb-style recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!


0 Comments

Storing Trim Healthy Mama Pure Stevia Extract

4/10/2014

10 Comments

 
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    The new Trim Healthy Mama (THM) Pure Stevia is an amazing natural sweetener.  ☺

    THM Pure Stevia is not
an artificial or chemical sweetener; it is made from the non-bitter, naturally occurring, sweet component of the herb stevia - a glycoside called Rebaudioside A. This naturally sweet component is isolated from the stevia leaf using a gentle water extraction process, with no bleaching involved.  The THM Pure Stevia Extract is also so minimally processed, it has not even been granulated, which means it remains as a fine white powder – like a dust, which is unusual for stevia products, because most stevia is overprocessed.

    In the last few months of using THM Pure Stevia and now the THM Sweet Blend, I've found that I've needed to adjust how much stevia I use in foods.  THM's Pure Stevia and Sweet Blend are much more sweet than other stevia I've used over the last several years, so I find that I'm using a lot less than I used to.


    Because THM Pure Stevia is such a fine white powder, it's a bit more challenging to store for repeated use.  The bag in which it comes may not be convenient to zip and unzip repeatedly for everyone; some people would prefer a "shaker" type of storage container for their pure stevia extract.

    I've used three different methods of storing my THM Pure Stevia.  Now, in case you think I'm just a bit schizophrenic about storage containers, I've been using THM Pure Stevia for the last six months, as a beta tester.  ☺ Thank you, Pearl and Serene!
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    This has given me some time to experiment with a few different containers for storing my THM Pure Stevia.  I've used the following so far:

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RSVP Glass Ball Spice Bottle
  • Stainless steel lid
  • Plastic shaker insert
  • Jar rests upright or tips forward







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Progressive International 1.5 Cup Mini Keeper
  • Built in shaker, integrated leveler for precise measuring; measures 2.5 x 4.25 x 3.75 inches high
  • Stores 1 pound box of baking soda
  • use for herbs and spices
  • Lid opens with one hand; silicone seal provides airtight protection; 1.5 cup capacity
  • Includes 9 pre-printed spice labels
  • BPA free tested; dishwasher safe


 

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RSVP Clear 3 oz. Square Spice Jar
  • Screw-on chromed steel lid
  • Plastic shaker insert, Standard size spice jars
  • Dimensions: 4" x 1-3/4" dia.

    Or, use an empty spice jar of your own, like this Spice Islands spice jar.
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    Now that you can clearly see the three containers I've used to store THM Pure Stevia, let me share with you how they've worked:

 
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RSVP Glass Ball Spice Bottle
    I started out quite a few months ago with the RSVP Glass Ball Spice Bottle, which I purchased while visiting Bob's Red Mill's factory store for this purpose.  I like using glass for food storage, but I also wanted a "shaker" at the top of the jar.  This particular jar I purchased has a rubber/plastic shaker insert in the glass jar opening.  While I do like it, the THM Pure Stevia does tend to clog up the holes of the shaker insert.  It's also a bit messy to get the shaker insert off and on the bottle, although it's easy to clean up any excess pure stevia that falls onto the kitchen counter.

 

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Progressive Int'l 1.5 Cup Mini Keeper
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Click photo to see enlarged version
    When the new THM Pure Stevia became available for sale in April 2014, I decided to investigate other containers for its storage and use.  I was hoping to be able to scoop out "doonks" of stevia as well as shake it from the same container.

    I found this
Progressive International 1.5 Cup Mini Keeper locally.  What appealed to me is that it has one side that opens up for measuring with teaspoons or a "doonk"/spoon, like that found in the THM Pure Stevia bag, but it also has a shaker side that's easily accessible.

    I actually took a piece of duct tape and covered up all but one row of shaker holes.  See that fancy work there?  ☺ 

   
(Click on the photo to see an enlarged version of what I did with the duct tape.)

    I figured out right away that even though this isn't a large container, it easily stores one or two small 1-oz. packages of the THM Pure Stevia.  However, the "doonk" (or tiny 1/32 spoon) doesn't store well inside, as it gets easily buried.  I would waste too much stevia extract if I had to dig around for the spoon all the time.  I also found that it was a bit harder to control how much THM Pure Stevia I was shaking into my foods and recipes.

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RSVP Clear Square Spice Jar
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Spice Islands empty, repurposed spice container (glass jar)
    My third - and final - option has been a glass spice jar that looks similar to this RSVP Clear Square Spice Jar.  My version is actually a clean, empty Spice Islands spice bottle that I'd saved.  If you click on the Spice Islands photo, below, you'll see a larger version of this photo.  I took a small piece of duct tape and covered up all but three of the holes on the underside of the shaker insert.

    The repurposed Spice Island spice jar has actually worked the best out of the three containers I've tried so far.  I'll use the other two shaker containers for other things, but this jar doesn't seem to get clogged up to the point that it no longer shakes Pure Stevia. 

    After putting 2-3 shakes of pure stevia into a protein shake or food that I'm making, I gently tap the glass bottle on the counter.  This resettles the pure stevia and enables all of the stevia to settle down in the jar, away from the plastic shaker insert.  For some reason, this has been my best option so far. 

    I love sharing more frugal ways to do things around the house, so if you're looking for a shaker container in which to store your new THM Pure Stevia, I recommend buying the least expensive spice from the Spice Islands spice section in your grocery store, or another brand that has a glass bottle with a shaker insert.


    Have any of you been able to try out the new THM Pure Stevia or THM Sweet Blend yet?  Just remember to use less than you would normally use, and you should taste a very pleasant sweetness, especially if you're already used to the taste of stevia. 

    If you are already using the THM Pure Stevia, are you keeping it in the zip-style bag, or are you storing it in another container?  Your comments will help future readers, so thank you for being a part of Joy In Our Journey's community!
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You won't want to miss my FREE Trim & Healthy low carb-style recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!

     In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more.   I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!

10 Comments

Venison with Creamy Low-Carb Mushroom Soup Gravy (slow cooker)

4/4/2014

0 Comments

 
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Some content includes affiliate links, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!

    I know a lot of you gals are eating low-carb diets or following the Trim Healthy Mama eating lifestyle plan.

    Some of our guys are all in - convinced that the THM or low-carb eating plan is for them, and they're losing weight and gaining all these amazing health benefits right alongside us.

    Others balk at any changes in the meals they're served.  ☺  Or downright refuse to eat any new recipes.

    My good friend, Serena, gave me a recipe years ago for delicious Venison or Elk with Mushroom Gravy.  When she invited us over for dinner one day, we enjoyed this so much!  Yum!  What I loved about it was that it took me 15-20 minutes of preparation time in the morning, and then the crock pot did the rest until our dinner was ready!

    We started using Trim Healthy Mama in our home in January 2013.  Since that time, I've neglected to make Venison with Mushroom Gravy - even though it's one of my husband's favorite recipes - because of the off-plan ingredients found in cream of mushroom soup.

    This morning, realizing that I still had at least 10 lbs. of venison packed up in my freezer, I decided that today was the day that I served my husband one of his favorite MAN recipes:  THM-style.  ☺

    If you don't have any venison or elk, feel free to use stew meat or 1/2" thick sliced beef roast.


    Homemade low carb, gluten free cream of mushroom soup actually takes very little time at all to prepare.  The neat thing is that it makes a big batch, 6 cups' worth, so there's enough to use for now and freeze for later.  That's the best of both worlds!

    I filled my 6-quart crockpot (here's my favorite crockpot in the whole wide world!) about half full of thawed, browned venision, but I didn't think to weight the meat to see how much I added.  I'm going to make an educated guess and say that I used 3 lbs. of venison for this crowd-pleasing meal.  Feel free to cut yours down in half for a more manageable recipe for a smaller family.  We're not a large family, but we love leftovers! 


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A delicious, man-pleasing recipe that uses no flour or gluten and is low carb!
  • 3 lbs. thawed venison, elk, stew meat, or beef roast
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 6 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 lb. sliced mushrooms
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp. sea salt, or to taste (I like Redmond RealSalt)
  • 1 tsp. pepper (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp. glucomannan powder (or if not low-carb, arrowroot powder or corn starch)

   
    Place coconut flour into a shallow dish or plate.  Add 2 Tbsp. coconut oil to 12" frying pan on medium heat until oil shimmers.  Coat both sides of wild game or stew meat or sliced beef roast in coconut flour; place coated meat into hot oil in frying pan for several minutes until both sides are browned.  As meat finishes browning, remove from frying pan and place browned meat into large crockpot (4 quart or larger).  You will probably need to add additional tablespoons of coconut oil with each pan of meat that you brown.

    While meat browns in the frying pan, begin making Low Carb Mushroom Gravy:
  In a large 6-quart pot or dutch oven, heat butter over medium heat until it begins to brown and becomes fragrant, 3-4 minutes.  Add chopped sage and cook for one additional minute.  (Turn down the heat if the butter begins to burn.)

    Add sliced mushrooms, diced onions, and chopped celery ribs, stirring well.  Saute until mushrooms and vegetables are tender and lightly browned, 4-5 minutes.  Pour broth into pot and bring to a simmer.  Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, letting flavors blend. 

    Transfer broth/vegetable mixture to food processor or blender.  Caution:  this is hot, so handle with care.  Blend or puree broth and vegetables until smooth.  Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired.

    When all of the browned meat is placed into the crockpot, pour blended broth/vegetable gravy over meat.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.  Just before serving, sprinkle 1/2 tsp. glucomannan powder over gravy in crockpot; whisk well.  Whisk in 1 cup heavy cream; add additional salt and pepper, if needed.  If needing thickening, sprinkle additional glucomannan and stir well.  Serve immediately in soup bowls, or over Dreamfields pasta (follow directions on box) or cauli-rice (recipe for cauliflower rice not provided). 



FREE printable recipe ~ Venison with Creamy Low-Carb Mushroom Gravy

Click on the recipe, below, to download and print out your own copy of the recipe!
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Best tasting THM Pure Stevia and Sweet Blend GIVEAWAY!

4/2/2014

686 Comments

 
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NOTE: I am not an affiliate with Trim Healthy Mama, and this is not a paid endorsement. Your purchase of the new THM Stevia products will not benefit me personally.

    Like many of you who are following the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan or a low-glycemic or low-carb diet, the sweetener aspect of eating this way has been a bit tricky for me.  And I do love sweet treats.  ♥

    When Trim Healthy Mama was originally written, the authors recommended NuNaturals Pure Stevia Extract as one of the best stevia products to use with their plan because of its purity and taste.

    Unfortunately, in April 2013, NuNaturals changed the formulation of their Pure Stevia product.  My family couldn't get used to the change in taste and level of bitterness...and we're not very fussy.
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    People can grow their own stevia plants, and dehydrate and grind up the leaves, but it will still have an unusual aftertaste that takes some time to get used to.

    When the NuNaturals version of stevia was no longer an option my family could use, we chose to use several other stevia/erythritol options...but didn't really love any of them.  If our bodies could have tolerated xylitol, we would have used that, too.  We weren't too happy about using Truvia, because it's most likely made with GMO corn products, and it is highly processed.  :(

    Over the last year, we have anxiously been awaiting the new Trim Healthy Mama Stevia products.  I'm very excited to let you know that these products are now available!

    Pearl and Serene sent me some of their new sweeteners so I could give them a try.


   THM Stevia sweeteners are available in three different varieties, for various uses:

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THM Pure Stevia Extract
    The THM Pure Stevia Extract IS NOT an artificial or chemical sweetener; it is made from the non-bitter, naturally occurring, sweet component of the herb stevia - a glycoside called Rebaudioside A. This naturally sweet component is isolated from the stevia leaf using a gentle water extraction process.  No bleaching is involved in this process.  The THM Pure Stevia Extract is also so minimally processed, it has not even been granulated, which means it remains as a fine white powder – like a dust, which is unusual for stevia products, because most stevia is overprocessed. 

   
The THM Pure Stevia Extract comes in two sizes:  1 oz. and 4 oz.  The 1 oz. bag will actually last quite a long time (2-3 months of daily use for my own family), because such a tiny amount (a "doonk") is used at one time.


    How is THM Pure Stevia best used?

    It contains a tiny "doonk" (spoon) to sprinkle very small amounts of stevia in your foods and beverages.

    Based on my 15 months of experience in using stevia products, the THM Pure Stevia would best be used by adding it to beverages and anything needing sweetened but not needing the bulking action of sugar.

    For example, I wouldn't use this as the only sweetener in most baked goods (cakes, cookies, etc.), but it could be used in combination with the other THM sweeteners (THM Erythritol or THM Sweet Blend) in baked goods.

  • sweeten a cup of coffee or tea
  • sweeten a cup of yogurt
  • add to fruit syrups
  • 1/2 tsp. = the sweetness of 1 cup sugar
  • sweeten protein shakes
  • and more!

    When opening the bag of THM Pure Stevia, tap it on your counter a few times. Then, zip the seal before opening the bag, because the powder likes to "plume" a little when first opened. You’ll find a tiny spoon (1/32 of a tsp.) inside the pouch. This is your “doonk” spoon. When adding the powder to your drink or recipe with your doonk, turn spoon downward and gently tap it on the side of your glass or bowl as you empty it out. This will allow the stevia to flow out of the spoon.

    Don’t put the doonk back in the pouch, as you’ll have to dig around in the white powder to find it. Find your doonk its own special home somewhere else in your kitchen. ☺

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My next blog post in a couple of days will be about how I've chosen to store my THM Pure Stevia extract.  Since it is so pure - and isn't granulated - I'll be sharing with you two new options I've discovered have worked well for me. 

    So hold on, and this info. will be available for you, soon!

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THM Erythritol
    THM Erythritol is a delightful tasting sweetener that has zero impact on blood sugar levels.  Even "purists" will love the fact that THM Erythritol does not contain any Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), nor is GMO material used in its production.

    Erythritol is the only sugar alcohol which has a zero glycemic index reading and zero calories per serving. Other sugar alcohols, like maltitol, sorbitol, and xylitol are often used as sugar substitutes because they provide a sweet taste yet do not raise blood sugar to the same extent as sugar does. However, many people have trouble with gas, bloating, and diarrhea when eating these sugar alcohols. Erythritol is much easier to digest, and its high antioxidant levels help to fight free radicals in the body which are responsible for the aging process.
    THM Erythritol can be used alone or combined with THM Pure Stevia in recipes.  It provides the "bulking" action in recipes that need 1 cup of sweetener, for example, so the THM Erythritol is great for baking!

    You can also combine THM Erythritol with THM Pure Stevia to make your own homemade "Truvia"; see directions on the chart below for the "Homemade Sweet Blend Recipe".

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    THM Sweet Blend is the perfect combination of two natural sweeteners:  THM non-GMO erythritol and the organic THM Pure Stevia. Both are diabetic friendly, certified Kosher, offer numerous health benefits, and have no impact upon blood sugar.

    The THM Sweet Blend looks and acts similar to regular sugar (although it is a little sweeter) without the negative health and weight consequences. It is heat stable and offers bulk to your baked goods, so you’ll love it for baking, along with all your other sweetening needs.

    It's also a great product to use with recipes using baking cocoa, which can often be difficult to sweeten with alternative sweeteners and still taste good.



    There are many stevia blends on the market, but unfortunately, the majority of them use fillers that won’t do your health or waistline any favors. Stevia that is blended with sugar, dextrose, fructose, or maltodextrin can raise your blood sugar and slow weight loss.

    Stevia takes a while to get used to using, for most people. 
Keep in mind that if you have never used stevia extract or stevia products, there will be a period of adjustment to the taste...although the THM Stevia is far better tasting than anything else I've used so far!

    For my own family, it took us 6-8 weeks to adjust to the taste of foods made with NuNaturals stevia so that we couldn't taste the "aftertaste" anymore.  Even though the THM Stevia products taste wonderfully, you may possibly have an adjustment period where your body is adjusting away from using sugar as its sweetener source, and switching to using stevia and erythritol exclusively.  This is normal.


    Also, the THM (Trim Healthy Mama) Stevia sweeteners are definitely sweeter than other stevia products on the market, which is nice!  You'll use less of it each time, saving you money in the long run.


    I thought it would be helpful to provide you with a THM Sweetener Conversion Chart.  This is being shared with the permission of the Trim Healthy Mama authors, Pearl and Serene.  Just click on the graphic, below, to download and save/print your own THM Sweetener Conversion Chart:
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It's time for a giveaway of THM Stevia products!

   To enter this giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter widget below.  (Email subscribers may need to click back to the original post to enter this giveaway via the Rafflecopter form.)

    Two winners will be selected in this giveaway:  one will win a 1 oz. bag of THM Pure Stevia Extract, and the second winner will win a 1 lb. bag of THM Sweet Blend!

   
The giveaway ends on Friday, April 11th, 2014 at midnight (Pacific time)...

    ...and please read the requirements, below, for entering this giveaway.  ☺   I will be validating the winning entries to make certain they are legitimate entries.    U.S. entries only, please.  Thanks!


Entrants must be 18 years or older; only U.S. residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.

I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).

I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid.  In the past several months, multiple potential winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription.  An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive.  That will validate your entry.  Thank you!   :)
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
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You won't want to miss my FREE Trim & Healthy low carb-style recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!

    I received two bags of THM stevia for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while using these sweeteners.

     In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more.   I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!

686 Comments

Sincerely Yours: A Novella Collection

4/1/2014

6 Comments

 
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Some content includes affiliate links, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
    Four unexpected letters. Four intrepid women. Four lives changed forever.

    That's Sincerely Yours.


    Spanning a century and a continent, these romantic novellas will lead you on a journey through the landscape of love. Four young women find their lives altered after each receives a letter that sets her on a new path. From a Hudson River steamboat to a lush drawing room, from a carousel carver's workshop to a remote hospital, you'll be swept into the lives of women who are making their way in the world and finding love where they least expect it.

Moonlight Promise by Laurie Alice Eakes
Camilla Renfrew is a highborn English lady fleeing false accusations when she runs smack into love on a steamboat bound for the new Erie Canal. But can this unexpected attraction survive the treacherous journey?

Lessons in Love by Ann Shorey
Marigold Montgomery Bentley writes marriage advice for Kipler's Home Weekly even though she is single. Everyone assumes from the initials that "M. M." is a man. When the editor asks to meet Mr. Bentley, can Merrie come up with a ruse to keep her writing job?

One Little Word
by Amanda Cabot
Lorraine Caldwell will lose her family fortune to a reckless cousin if she doesn't marry quickly. When she learns her long-lost brother is alive, she hopes she's found the answer to her problems. What she finds instead is a mysterious carousel carver who turns her life upside down.

A Saving Grace by Jane Kirkpatrick
Grace Hathaway must rescue a dear friend from a remote and notorious clinic that promises healing but delivers only heartache. In a place laced with deceit, where lives hang in the balance, whom can she trust to help her?  Jane Kirkpatrick is having a special giveaway on her website!  Please sign up to win, HERE! 


About the authors:

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Ann Shorey is the author of the At Home in Beldon Grove series, Where Wildflowers Bloom, When the Heart Heals, and Love's Sweet Beginning. She has also published selections in the Cup of Comfort series and in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul. Ann and her husband make their home in southwestern Oregon. Learn more at www.annshorey.com.
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Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of Lady in the Mist, Heart's Safe Passage, A Necessary Deception, A Flight of Fancy, and several other novels. She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian. Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.
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Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, Christmas Roses, Summer of Promise, and Waiting for Spring. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers Best. She lives in Wyoming. Find out more at www.amandacabot.com.
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Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the coveted Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have been finalists for the Christy Award, Spur Award, Oregon Book Award, and Reader's Choice awards, and have won the WILLA Literary Award and Carol Award for Historical Fiction. Many of her titles have been Book of the Month and Literary Guild selections. You can also read her work in more than fifty publications, including Decision, Private Pilot, and Daily Guideposts. Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.


Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Julie:


    These four short stories are each very different from the other, but each is unique in its setting and subject.  “A Moonlight Promise” by Laurie Alice Eakes is an adventure, romance, and mystery taking place in October 1825 on East River, between New York City and Albany, New York.  Steamboats on the river were popular and the Erie Canal was ready to open just as this story takes place.

    Camilla, recently arrived from England, is attempting to get to Albany to join her friend, Joanna, who is heading west.  Camilla has a complicated past and is running from her previous life of wealth and protection to an unknown future.  Nathanial is the young steamboat captain whose boat is the last to leave for Albany as Camilla desperately boards his boat in spite of his threat to take her back and leave her at the dock. He finally relents and of course, becomes attracted to her.  There are villains and heroes in this story and it is exciting to the very end.

    “Lessons in Love” by Ann Shorey is a story set in Chicago in 1858; it involves a young single woman, Merry Bentley, who has set her life goal as being a writer (in a time where women are not highly thought of if they have or desire a career outside of home and marriage).  She has accomplished obtaining a job for Kipler’s Home Weekly where she writes articles on Christian marriage and family; the editor of this magazine assumes she is a man since she only signs her articles a M.M. Bentley.  This leads to many complications which make it difficult for Merry to maintain the Christian integrity she so wants to present.  She is sure the editor will not accept her articles if he knows she is a woman.

    Merry has a piano teacher, a nice Christian man, who tries to help her in her efforts.  The story becomes even more complicated with the two of them involved in secrecy and subterfuge; it is interesting to the end!

    “One Little Word” by Amanda Cabot is set in May 1892, somewhere near New York City; a nice little romantic story with many facets.  A young woman is faced with losing her inheritance unless she marries a cousin she detests---and soon!  A young man from England is set on completing his goal in America and returning to England to fulfill his parents’ wishes.  The two come together in a most unexpected way and make this an exciting and wonderful story.  Carousels become an important part of the story and make it even more fascinating to the reader.

    “A Saving Grace” by Jane Kirkpatrick
is a short story set in 1911 in Washington State, actually relating to real places and events of that time.  A mysterious, insidious tale of people going into an institution where they could overcome physical “ailments” as diagnosed by the woman doctor in charge, who happens to have a very strong personality.   Some died in their struggle to overcome their “ailments”.

    This is a story of a woman attempting to rescue her good friend from a desperate situation and the help she received while accomplishing her task.  An eye-opener of a conclusion awaits the reader.

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You won't want to miss my FREE Healthy & Trim low carb-style recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!

   I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading these books.

     In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more.   I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!

6 Comments
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    ​​Hi!  I'm Julieanne!
    You'll find me in the kitchen
    ​trying new 
    Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters. ​


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