Category: Uncategorized

Peanut Butter Cookies · Recipes · Uncategorized

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

jachancellorLeave a comment

Okay, so I have been sick the past couple of days.  Head cold.  I have been craving sweets since Wednesday.

So, we have peanut butter, sugar and eggs…so I decided to make cookies.

A dear friend who used to come from Spring Hill college for weekends and breaks had a gluten allergy.  She brought this recipe, and I eventually found it.


Ingredients

  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup creamy unsweetened peanut butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon gluten-free pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)


Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or splat-mat.

Beat together egg, sugar, baking soda and vanilla in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand-held mixer. Beat in the peanut butter. Stir in chocolate chips if using.Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet, pressing lightly with the back of a fork. Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly set. Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!!

Uncategorized · WLS

Chobani Flip

jachancellorLeave a comment

Oh my gosh y’all.  I am in love with Chobani Flips!  Well, three of them anyway. 
I love the Cinnabun Fun, Almond Coco Loco, and the Salted Caramel Crunch.  They are about 11-12 grams of protein so they are normally my afternoon snack.  Again, they are the perfect size, and satisfy my sweet tooth.

What is your favorite yogurt?  I need to try more of the Chobani flavors, but these are so very yummy!!

Blessings!

 

Recipes · soup · Uncategorized · WLS

Garlic & Onion Soup

jachancellorLeave a comment

Having a cold, running nose, head ache, fatigue the past couple of days, I was craving something comforting.  Soup.

With the gastric sleeve surgery soup can be complicated.  Liquid with solids are hard to process, for me anyway.  I wanted something smooth, not chunky like chicken soup.  I came across several Garlic Soup recipes that I found on Pinterest.  I combined or modified them.  Most used 5 large bulbs of garlic.  I only had 1 complete bulb so that is what I roasted.  I liked it, and it was comforting.  David liked it as well.  Subtle flavors.

I roasted the garlic I had in a baking dish with olive oil and covered in foil.  It sweetens the garlic, and adds a nutty flavor.
1 stick of butter, and 3 onions sliced and place in a Cassoulet.  Add salt and pepper.Saute until the onion is translucent.  Add 3 teaspoons of dried parsley, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon oregano and a bay leaf.  Add peeled garlic.Add 4 cups of beef stock.  Bring to simmer, and cook for about 10 minutes.Place in a blender (be very careful – liquid will be hot, or use an immersion blender), and puree.  Add back to the Cassoulet, and add 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream.  Bring to a simmer. Serve with sliced Parmesan.  It did satisfy my craving for soup.

Hopefully it will add in my cold recovery.

Enjoy!!

 

 

P3 · Uncategorized · WLS

P3’s and WLS

jachancellorLeave a comment

I am obsessed with P3‘s.  My favorites are the turkey or chicken breast with cheese and nuts.  Why?  They are the perfect size for my Gastric Sleeve…and for lunch at work.  I don’t have to think about what to pack.

They are super yummy.  I like the ones with cashews or peanuts.  I like having a crunch with the cheese and meat.  These satisfy my protein needs (one of many during the day), and they are really tasty (in my opinion).

Blessings!

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · thoughts · Uncategorized · WLS

Onderland – WLS

jachancellorLeave a comment

Okay – there is this place called Onederland.  I haven’t seen it in a very long time (like approximately 19 years).  I didn’t realize what it was that is until my Gastric Sleeve Surgery support group peers were posting that they had reached it.  Onederland: When your weight is under 200 pounds.


I have been at 202 or 200.6 for the last week.  I was really hopeful after our trip to St. Augustine that with all of the walking we did it would boost my metabolism.  I am not sure if that did it or if slow and steady wins the race.  But I will take it.

I reached it yesterday morning.   198.8.  Jump up and down, take it.  I don’t want to EVER be over 200 again.  This is such a milestone for me.  Honestly, Stephen (our youngest) hasn’t ever seen me this small.  My heavens.  Just typing that out is shocking to me.  It has been forever for me to see this weight.

My goal that I set with my doctor is 190.  I am eight/nine pounds away from goal. I know that I won’t stop here.  But I don’t know where I will end up.  I just want to be healthy.

So…what goals have you met?  Have you set any goals?  So now to beat my time in a 5k, right? Well, and to see 190 lbs.

Blessings!!

 

 

Couple Time · family · Uncategorized

Empty Nest

jachancellorLeave a comment

Sunday was a new beginning for Stephen.  We helped him move about 10 minutes away into a tiny room in a house with 4 other boys.  He is twenty. He wants to be independent.


I want to help in every step.  We have done our jobs as parents, and instilled in him good values.  Raised him to be mindful of money.  To be aware of peoples needs.  I want to guide him in placement of stuff.  Make sure he has everything that he needs.  Food. Clothing. His phone charger. Stuff.

I am partly sad about this…scared for him.  Excited for him.  He is close enough to have help if he needs it.  I doubt seriously he will need it.  He is so determined to make it on his own.  But we are here, and have made it clear that he is always welcomed to come home.

I am very happy about David and I being alone.  Alone in the house only able to blame each other for the dirty dishes or not taking out the trash.  We are happy alone together.  We enjoy one another just being in the house.  Just doing chores so to speak.  We encourage one another.  We are grateful for what the other one does.

Empty nest, but excited for our and Stephen’s new journey.  Oh, and I am excited about my future craft room.

Blessings!

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Bolthouse Farms · Uncategorized · WLS

Bolthouse Farms and WLS

jachancellorLeave a comment

Every morning I enjoy a Bolthouse Farm Protein drink to kick start my protein intake.  I am in love with the Blended Coffee Protein Shake.  They have other flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and mango, but I prefer the coffee because I don’t find it as sweet.

I have to have 90-100 grams of protein a day since I had my gastric sleeve surgery. It can be hard to get in that much protein.  I normally try to eat my protein first, then a vegetable or fruit.  Shakes are a good supplement.  One of the Bolthouse 15 ounce shakes is 30 grams of protein. Yay!

Today, as I was enjoying my shake, Abigail joined me.

I tend to buy out the store when I find the coffee shakes in stock. I normally find them at Publix, Wal-Mart, and Target.  I have checked out the Bolthouse site for direct shipment to no luck.  I am in love with these shakes (not a paid endorsement-strictly my opinion).

Blessings!

 

Dixie Chicks · friends · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized

Seasons and Friendship

jachancellorLeave a comment

Can I sail through the changin’ ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Friendships are hard.  One changes at different times.  Grow together, and grow apart.

I love this season of my life.  I like change.  But I also hurt.  I want to be acknowledged. Not to always be the one to acknowledge.  Selfish I know.  I don’t want to waste my time (as precious as time is) on constant take.  I need give too.  We all do.

What season are you in?  Do you have certain friends for certain things?  Do they get jealous when you spend time with other friends? Do they ignore you, snicker when you talk in a group?  Too much judgement these days in the world in general.  I don’t like to get on social media these days.  Too much hate.

“Don’t be too confident when he/she tells you they like you.  The real question is …until when?” – unknown.

Blessings!

 

 

 

Couple Time · friends · The Tini Martini Bar · Uncategorized

The Tini Martini Bar

jachancellorLeave a comment

So I talked about our trip to St. Augustine yesterday.

One of the wonderful highlights of the trip was girl time at The Tini Martini Bar while the boys went to the Fort and Pirate Museum.img_4306We all got a different martini.  B got Salted Caramel Tini (Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka, creme de cocoa, Godiva white chocolate liqueur and a pinch of salt); J got the Cinnamon Bun Tini (Three Olives Vanilla Vodka, Kahlua, RumChoto); and I got the Dark Chocolate Tini (360 Double Chocolate Vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, and creme de cocoa).
All were good, but all of us really liked B’s the best.  We ended up getting a second round of the Salted Caramel Tini’s.

So much fun, just chatting, people watching, and relaxing.  This is a great place to do all of that while enjoying the sailboats, water and drinks.

What is your favorite thing to do with your girlfriends?

Blessings!

 

Couple Time · friends · thoughts · Uncategorized

Couple Time

jachancellorLeave a comment

David and I enjoy mini trips with two other couples that we travel with really well.  None of us has to have our way.  We are all very gracious with one another.  I really find that is the key.  If someone doesn’t feel well, we all understand.  If someone really wants to do a side adventure, we all go, or just let them go.  Comfortable with one another. Encouraging to one another.We traveled this past weekend to St. Augustine, Florida.  It is a good six hour drive for us. One of the couples lives in Tallahassee, so we “picked” them up on Friday.  Each couple takes turns for our destination, chooses the place to stay (3 bedroom, 3 bath), and tries to accommodate the date with everyone’s work schedules.  A&J were in charge this time, and we ended up staying at Cinnamon Beach on the Palm Coast South of St. Augustine in this beautiful condo on the beach.
We each plan an evening meal or snacks.  I ended up taking Egg Rolls (yes, again), BBQ meatballs, and nut clusters.  A&J brought chicken fajita to cook, and breakfast quiches.  J&B brought homemade chicken salad that I am still waiting on the recipe. We all take a part. Grateful for what each couple contributes.  Help with clean up and trash.

Our evenings are spent just hanging out and enjoying each others company.  Saturday and Sunday we spent driving into St. Augustine.  The boys enjoyed the history, pizza, jail, Fort, and pirate museum.  The girls enjoyed the shopping, Flagger College (Tiffany Stained Glass), the Lions Bridge, city gate, The Tini Martini Bar and people watching. Again, just being able to say “I want to do this” and all of us say “okay” is a huge thing.I love these peeps.  I get to be myself in all times: anxious, panicked, happy, giddy, goofy, gas pains, and just plain happy.  It was a good trip.  I want to go again tomorrow.  But we will wait just a bit for everyone’s budget to recover.

Blessings!