Hash Browns, Turkey Sausage and Egg Muffins

I love breakfast, who doesn't? Well, you should. It's a very important meal of each day. I came across this recipe and I just have to share.  Originally, it was in Clean Eating Magazine's November/December 2012 issue. I've made it with both the frozen shredded potatoes and the refrigerated shredded potatoes that are usually found near the cold juices and eggs in the grocery store.  I like both chicken sausage and turkey sausage. By all means, use what you like.  Just remember to keep things "healthy". 

Make these on one of your "cooking" days and just store them in the frig for grab-n-go mornings.

Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

  

1 1/2 lb shredded potatoes 

  

1/2 tsp sea salt 

  

1/2 tsp pepper 

  

Olive oil cooking spray 

  

3/4 cup grated low-fat Swiss cheese 

  

3 ozs. chicken (or turkey sausage), cooked and diced

  

3 chopped green onions 

  

3 large eggs 

  

3 large egg whites 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Spray muffin tins (12 ) with cooking spray.

Transfer the shredded potatoes to a colander and press firmly to get out all the excess water. You can skip this step if you're using the refrigerated version.  They tend not to have a great deal of moisture.

Transfer potatoes to a large bowl, and add 1/2 of the salt and pepper. Mix.

Add about 1/3 cup potatoes to each muffin cup. Press the potatoes into the base and up the sides of each muffin cup. Making a little nest.

Bake until the edges on the potatoes are golden brown. About 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 F.

Lightly mist the muffin tins around each potato muffin cups with cooking spray.

Divide the cheese among the potato “nests” followed by sausage and green onions.

In a bowl mix eggs, remaining salt and pepper. Pour into the nests, and spread the remaining cheese on top.

Bake for 12-15 minutes. Or until eggs and cheese are melted. Cool in a pan for 10 minutes before serving

Fun with Grace and Elegance

You can truly gauge how fun your exercise routine is when you are asked to share it with a group of little and not-so-little girls. Grace and Elegance is a local group that instills many basic fundamentals in the development of lovely young ladies.  Part of their mission statement is to empower young women with a purpose to succeed and overcome odds.

 

Eating healthy and exercising is also a part of the guidance from the volunteer leaders of this group. 

We had fun! Talk about the energy level being high! I truly enjoyed their enthusiasm for learning. Of course, I had to bring in the balloon game. Can’t be around a group of kids without playing with balloons.  We talked about good foods and bad.  Then, they were so very anxious to do Zumba.

When we got started with Zumba, their faces lit up and we had a party. You would have thought that they would have tired me out.  Funny thing, they were so cute, they raised their hands and asked for a break…LOL!

I had to share.  Our children are wonderful and it is worth all of our efforts to continue to work together to help guide them into becoming healthy, beautiful and smart women (and men). 

Life with a Goiter - Part 2

Many thoughts went through my mind. Such as, "gray" areas, well there are many shades of gray, right? What impact will this have on me? Should they just go ahead and remove the whole thyroid gland? Who knows what else may be wrong? Better to be safe than sorry later. Does this "gray" mean a higher chance of cancer? What if my voice changes?

First surgery - Removed left nodule. 

The most important thing was to just take it day by day and prepare for surgery. They wouldn't have any concrete information until they went in and removed the left side. I have to admit, I did wonder just how long did this questionable area exist.  Apparently, ultrasounds and blood work are not the only things that should be used to monitor situations like this. Who knew?

So, my family and I had our "let's talk about the surgery" meeting with my doctor.  She shared with me that they'll remove the left side, send it off for testing and how she really didn't feel there would be any concern with removing just the one side. She favored for me keeping the right side and that I wouldn't have to worry about taking thyroid medication the rest of my life. 

Inside I felt that maybe it would be best that they removed the whole thing. Might as well, there was just too much uncertainty.  Before I knew what happened, my mouth opened and those exact words came out. She felt why remove it if there's no need. At least let us be sure. Then, I asked how long does it take to get the results? UGH!!! I was told the results were not immediate. Which we discussed that there would have to be a second surgery, if the results were positive for cancer. 

She and I went back and forth. She favored keeping the right in and I favored taking the whole thyroid out. Don't get me wrong, I understood her view completely, but I just didn't see waiting to see and having another surgery.  My family and I discussed and we all agreed to just remove the one side.

The surgery went well. It was interesting not being able to talk. Not to say I talk a great deal...LOL. The goiter was a pretty nice size. I failed to mention that it was interferring with my esophagus.  My doctor had informed me that it was starting to expand down into my chest. That explained a lot of the coughing and always clearing my throat.

It was now time to wait and wait and wait. That part was the most difficult part. A few days before I could resume my regular activities, I received a call from the doctor's office. She wanted to see me as soon as possible. As you may have guessed I was starting to not like seeing her office number come up on my phone. I just broke down and cried. I just knew it wasn't good. 

I went to the office with my family. I wanted them with me. My mom was caring for my grandmother, otherwise I would have had her there too. We all sat down and she let us know that I have thyroid cancer. Damn! You hear cancer and your heart truly sinks. 

The second surgery was scheduled...(Part 3 to come).