More from Grits & Gravy

Monday, January 14, 2013

a new breakfast casserole

I used to make a mean breakfast casserole full of yummy cheese but being that I have mostly given up dairy since beginning my #fitby30 journey, I have been on the hunt for an equally delicious replacement.


Thanks to the Paleo Effect I found something quite scrumptious. I actually enjoyed this more than my former go to dish, proving that healthy food can be just as good. I suggest serving this up during your next weekend brunch or maybe for a 'breakfast for supper' night. You will be glad you did!

I amended the original recipe a bit but you can find the Paleo Effect's version here.


Paleo Breakfast Casserole
1 & 1/2 - 2 sweet potatoes, grated
4-7 links of turkey sausage (I used al fresco's country style)
4 eggs
1/2 cup of egg whites
1 sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup of coconut milk (careful not to buy one that has too much added sugar)
Olive oil
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper

Makes 6-8 servings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop onion and turkey sausage. I cut up slices of the turkey sausage links and chopped them in the food processor to break them up.  Heat skillet and add olive oil. Saute onions and turkey sausage with a pinch of salt and pepper until onions are translucent and sausage is cooked.


While the onions and sausage are cooking. Peel and grate your sweet potatoes. Grease your baking dish and add the grated sweet potatoes, creating the first layer. Then add the onion and sausage to make the second layer.


Finally, whisk eggs, coconut milk, and egg whites with salt and pepper. Pour mixture over the other two layers. Bake dish for 45 minutes.

I enjoyed my serving with some sweet Florida strawberries. Delish.

Happy Eating!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

libra

I might have an abnormal love affair with my zodiac sign, I adore being a libra. The qualities most often associated with my sign are pretty true for me, even some of those less desirable qualities. When I was younger, my friend Laura and I would buy those books that had an entry for each day with your horoscope prediction. You know, before the internet when you had to buy books.

We would spend hours devouring that book while walking up and down our dirt road or locked away in our bedrooms. Laura and I would try to figure out what would happen in our lives and read each other passages. When things came to light, we would be excited and freaked out all at the same time. To this day, I still have a fascination with it all. I read my yearly horoscope prediction and pop in to get an annual reading from a family friend. Some of you may think this is crazy or sacrilegious but I remain intrigued.

{the positives}


{some less desirable, some I like}

You have read along as I have had a good bit of growth and development in my life: personally, professionally, and most certainly in my perspective on romantic relationships. As I read my yearly horoscope prediction for 2013, I felt comforted to know that there are some rewards coming my way for all of the hard work I have done these past several years. I did not need a horoscope to tell me that, my instincts are keenly aware, but it was sure nice to see it in black and white (true to my libra self).

My favorite passage stated,

"You have had enough lessons in love and commitment to last you a lifetime. Now you're ready to put those lessons to the test by pursuing your true calling and passion. No longer will you be satisfied with simply scratching the surface of life. You're prepared to go as deep as necessary to create something of lasting value. You want nothing less than the truth, and nothing short of profound meaning." ~ Courtesy of Shine from Yahoo

Hmm sounds like some of the things I have been writing about. If only an ounce of it is accurate, I'm in for what is sure to be a year full of some exciting things.

I welcome it all.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

happy 2013

As I've been thinking about this year ahead, I was stumped to identify specific goals that I wanted to achieve. I'm a goal setting queen but this year I just could not bring myself to set a list of things to accomplish in my personal life. I kept thinking about what experiences I wanted more of and how I just wanted to embrace the unknown in the midst of what is sure to be another busy year, or so my calendar already indicates.

"Be comfortable with your restless nature. Choose not to be settled."
~ Alexandra Stoddard,  You Are Your Choices ~

I took a yoga class Thursday night, followed by a bath with a hot cup of tea and piece of dark chocolate. Bless that little Dove candy because inside of that wrapper was the statement, "renew your sense of discovery". That was it. So simple. A list of things to accomplish did not appeal to me but intentionally thinking about experiences I wanted more of, and that those could lead to new discoveries seemed to be right where my heart was/is.


This year, I hope to have more.... bubble baths, candles, stationary to write notes, hours to devour books, evenings on the yoga mat, afternoons in coffee shops, uncontrollable laughter, smores by campfire, days on the water, long runs, food that warms my soul, learning, plane rides to fulfill my wanderlust, questions to feed my curious mind, people to meet, evenings that turn into morning, appreciation, and sobremesa, which in Spanish refers to the richness of the experience people have together over a meal.

Happy 2013! Let the discoveries begin. x.

"Funny thing about joy, is that you only really find it when you 
are too busy having fun to go looking for it"
~ Leigh, Standley, Curly Girl Design ~