Coconutty Almond Butter Dessert Bites

I just made no-bake Coconutty Almond Butter Dessert Bites that will knock your socks off!!!  It didn't take me as long as I thought it would.  They're simple, nutritious and soooo delicious! They're vegan and paleo friendly too.

I am recovering from lumbar spine surgery and one of my church members brought me these with a meal for my dessert. She was kind enough to print me the recipe. Yesterday I had enough energy to go to the store nearby and buy all organic ingredients, with the exception of the almond butter. It was $3-4 off on sale so I went for that one!

It is so simple! This would be a fun recipe for kiddos to help out with too.  Here are the ingredients you will need:

12 pitted dates
2 1/2 Tablespoons almond butter
1/3 cup of shredded coconut (toasted is the best)

First, pit and dice your dates and place them in a bowl.  I then put the shredded coconut on top of the dates, followed by the almond butter.  The recipe said to mix the ingredients and then form balls with a teaspoon, so I tried to mix it with a spoon and it wasn't that easy so I washed my hands again really well and mixed everything with my hands. 

Next, I placed a little bit of coconut on a small paper plate to roll them into after forming them.  This wasn't on the recipe, but I added it as I LOVE coconut and anytime I bake items like this you typically roll them into something.

The last step is to place them into the fridge or freezer to set.  I put mine in the freezer for about an hour so I can enjoy a few of them.  Then, I store them in the fridge.

The final step is to savor this deliciously decadent nutritious treat! 

Original recipe  modified slightly credit goes to AllRecipes.com.

Enjoy and post your comments below or on my Instagram.

Hugs & Aloha,

Jenny

Gingery Kale Egg Drop Soup

Want a quick, filling and budget-friendly yummy meal? It doesn't look like much, but my tastebuds are dancing with joy!

Bring to a boil 4.5 cups of chicken broth.  While that is stewing you add the following:
✔Hand torn lacinto kale  (without the spines)
✔Grate fresh ginger over the broth
✔ One can of drained garbanzo beans

✔On the size scramble 1-2 eggies
Finely dice green onion tops

Once the broth boils stir in one direction  whole slowly pouring the scrambled eggies into the broth. Turn off the burner and throw in the green onions and season with a dash of soy sauce.

Whala! Quickest dinner almost ever! Enjoy this budget friendly nutrish and delish soup.

One Pot Onoliciousness

Ono is the Hawai'ian word to describe delicious grindz  (food). Tonight I made a healthy, ono, affordable din dins. 

Ingedients:
✔ Coconut oil
✔ 3 summer squash
✔ 1 jar of spaghetti sauce (or home made)
✔ 505 Green Chili Sauce
✔ Lean ground turkey (I got mine from Costco and it was organic)
✔ 1.5 cups of garbanzo beans
✔ avocado

Tools:
✔ cast iron Dutch oven
✔ vegetable spiralizer (purchased from Amazon about 5 years ago)
✔ spoonula
✔ cutting board
✔ knife

First, I threw a tsp or two of coconut oil. Next, the whole container of ground turkey in with 3 TBSP of the 505 Green Chili sauce. I browned the meat and cooked it thoroughly. Next, I added the garbanzo beans and the jar of spaghetti sauce.

In between the stirring, I was cutting off the ends of the summer squash and spiralizing them into noodles with the largest noodle size grate.  I then threw the noodles in the Dutch oven, gave it all a good stir and put the lid on for 3-4 minutes.

I garnished the onoliciouness with avocado. I would have used cilantro too if I had it.

I hope you enjoy this affordable, healthy and yummy meal!

Hugs & Aloha,
Pineapple Jenny

Living One Spoon At A Time

Most people have no idea what true fatigue is. I thought I did until I was faced with acute and chronic pain, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome after a serious back injury.

Fatigue is like the elephant in the room. It's always there zapping my energy, it's like a silent leech. I type this as a healthy outlet for myself and to give hope to others.

I'm grateful for my faith in God, my Doctors, my family, my positive optimistic disposition, my amazing friends (new & old) and supportive colleagues. I'm also grateful for alternative therapies such as physical therapy, acupuncture (HUGE help), CBD oils, magnesium and the many alternative modalities I've encountered in the last two years. 

Today was a difficult morning for me, so I decided to live one spoon at a time. Sometimes you just have to put one foot in front of the other.

Journaling and reflection has proved a VERY healthy outlet for me too. I can remember in the beginning (when my sacrum was collapsing, I had a hematoma and newly herniated discs and one painful disc extrusion) that I was in so much pain that I couldn't even formulate written phrases. So I gave myself permission to celebrate what I could and couldn't do....I made a good 'ol fashioned list. I drew a line down the paper and I put "I can" in one column and on the other column I put "I can't". I gave myself permission to celebrate what I could do (including get mad or cry) and I wrote basic things. You see at that time I literally couldn't put my underwear on. I had to use a dressing stick.  Although that was hard to admit, it allowed me to accept where I was and now it allows me to celebrate how far I've come.

The biggest challenge is that although I don't look sick, I have several chronic conditions. Most days I do my best to push through it, but it wears on you. 

Why the spoons you ask?  Well Christine Miserandino came up with a great theory, called "The Spoon Theory".  Here is a wonderful article on what it's like to experience a chronic condition which explains "The Spoon Theory". Thanks for reading!

Have an aloha filled day!

DIY, Give it a Try!

Today I made my own anti-bacterial foaming hand wash. I used my doTERRA OnGuard foaming soap dispenser. All of the igredients I used are items I had on hand in my home already, which are listed below.

✔Dr. Bronner's unscented liquid castille soap
✔ distilled water
✔ doTERRA OnGuard CPTG Essential Oil

I eyeballed this recipe based off of aome other info I read online. I put about 2 TBSP of Dr. Bronner's  (I'll use less next time), 10 drops of OnGuard and then I filled up with distilled water almost all the way to the top (to allow room for the top).

The result is wonderful hand soap that didn't cost me a thing extra, because I had all these goodies on hand. My next adventure will be dish soap for hand washing dishes.

Happy mixing!

Aloha.

It's Back

On Good Friday I spent half of my day in the emergency room. One of my spinal epidural steroid injection sites got infected with cellulitis. That was 11 months ago.  I missed Easter and spent all weekend in bed.

Alas, here I sit with the same infection at the same site, maybe 4mm shifted. It's now Monday and I'm back in the E.R. on my third type of IV antibiotics. I'm fearful yet I have moments of calm. I'm waiting for a contrast MRI to make sure there isn't infection in my limb or spine.

I'm so tired of being in pain everyday I could puke. I don't know why God continues to allow all of these painful and expensive things to happen in my life.  I don't get it, but I trust Him. 💓 💓 💓  I can say that I've learned to ask for help, that it's ok to say no without explination. I've learned who my friends are. I've seen God sustain me when I know I can't get out of bed. I've experienced grace and mercy here on earth. I've seen the good in people.  I've seen people be insensitive and judgemental.

Most of all I cling to this verse, hoping God wI'll usee me.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18 NIV

http://bible.com/111/rom.8.18.NIV

Cultivate Gratitude

Over the past week I have been encountering many situations that require perspective, prayer and reflection.  When we widen our lens and view in life and consider the fact that we have a say in how our day goes.  We have a say in how we react to what occurs throughout our day.  We have an opportunity every morning when we wake up to say I choose to be happy. I choose to make tomorrow a great day.  Stress is merely a perception.

Personally, scholarly, financially, relational lyrics, healthwise and professionally I have had some crazy days lately, but yesterday I took a walk when I was feeling like a teapot that was about to whistle.  I sat down, grabbed my cell phone and looked up positive quotes on Pintrest. I took some deep breaths in and out and I thought about basic things that God has provided me with. Food, shelter, clean water, a job, family and friends who love me.  I struggle with anxiety and depression, but this week has been a tough one and I lost my sunshine a little bit. However; I'm a from believer in putting on the right bandaids to cope until you don't need them anymore. Do what you love! Color, go for a bike ride, do yoga, journal, call a friend or ask a friend to go on a walk with you.

Life is full of ebb and flow. No one ever said it would be perfect. There are so many things going on globally, nationally and locally. If we focus on all of the negativity the media feeds us, it is easy to get bogged down. Seek balance.

I challenge you to put on the bandaids. Seek balance. Make time for you and practice self love, it is not selfish to take care of yourself spiritually, physically, and emotionally.  Find your constants. Constants are things you choose for you like every day I will ____________(fill in the blank).  

Hugs & Aloha,

Pineapple Jenny