From the Kitchen to the Page: Ginger-Teriyaki Beef Strips

This picture belongs to The Immortal Soul.

This is a little dish I whipped up out of boredom one night. It went over well with the kids, especially the picky one.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c worchestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1/4 tsp red curry
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp. Grillmates Peppercorn & Garlic marinade, dry (from the packet)
• 1 lb. steak strips
• 1 c uncooked brown rice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 c onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp garlic, minced (or 2 cloves)
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 pack Splenda
• 1/4 tsp. Grill Creations Kansas City Style Steak Seasoning
• 1 tbsp Amaretto (Di Saronno is a nice choice)

  Optional:
  1/8 tsp fiesta lime seasoning

Directions:

1. In a medium container, mix worchestershire, mustard, curry, ginger, and Grillmates seasoning. Place steak strips in the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes (you can also prep this beforehand and leave refrigerated until dinner time).
2. Cook rice according to package directions.
3. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until tender. Season with pepper, fiesta lime (if using), and steak seasoning. Place steak strips into the saucepan and blend in cinnamon, amaretto, and Splenda, cook 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or to desired tenderness. Serve over rice.

 

What You Can’t See: Post Partum Depression (Guest Post)

Today, I bring you the story of my wonderful friend, Jessica. She suffers from PPD, and now Bipolar Disorder. This is her story:

I remember the day that she was born. My beautiful little Diva.

You would think it would be the happiest day for me. My first daughter, the one who is supposed to be my life long best friend. That was not the case, I was angry and fidgety. I felt like something was wrong with me – but I just shrugged it off.

That’s something I’m good at…shrugging things off. “I’m just too tired. I just spent 59 hours in labor. Mr. Man (my husband) is not meeting your needs. Of course you would be this angry” – I kept making excuses; but I knew. Something wasn’t right with me.

Several weeks went by and I just wasn’t connecting with my new daughter – let alone my family. I was accusing my husband of the most fantastical things; yelling at my son for the most minor offenses and angry at my daughter. This poor defenseless creature? I was so mad at her. She came into our lives and ruined it. She ruined our perfectly happy life. Then those small thoughts started to creep in: “why did we have another child again?” Of course, I would shush those thoughts. I mean who thinks things like that? Only monsters do. I’m a mom. I love her. Right?

I was so confused.

Then came the night. Oh the horrific night that clarification finally came. I hate writing about it – but it needs to be said to help someone else.

You see, my daughter? Was two things. A horrible sleeper and a screamer. You know those scream cries? The ones that tear at your heart and make you second guess everything you do? Including breathing? Those were her only cries. Oh – I hated the way she cried. I felt like she was judging my horrible skills as a mother; and I was failing miserably.

One night, no matter what I did she cried her judgmental screams of injustice. By the time I finally got her to sleep, it took me forever to fall asleep myself. That night, I had only slept maybe 30 minutes when around 2 am – she started screaming again. Frustrated I sat up and yelled at her, lying defenseless in her bassinet “SHUT UP!”.

The rage that surged through me? I cannot put into words. I hated her so much. I picked her up quickly, hating that I said that to her – but not caring at all. I mean after all I didn’t mean it – I was just tired. I picked her up quickly….without supporting her head. She cried louder. She was only 6 weeks old.

I sat on my bed and cried and cried. I hated this beautiful little girl with such an unbelievable hate. I knew. I knew I needed help.

I went to the doctor and I sat there keeping my mouth shut. Praying hard that no one would know why I was there. You should just leave this office. You’ve been fine today, you got sleep. That’s all you needed was some sleep. My phone beeped with a message from my friend: Don’t you give up. I’m proud of you for getting the help you need. You are a great mom for doing this but don’t you dare leave.

I smiled. Definitely glad to have a friend who’s gone through this before. I shifted in my seat as I watched another pregnant woman called back into the ob’s office.

Almost time. I took a deep breath.

I should just leave; I can’t tell anyone what happened. It was probably just my tiredness, me being a hypochondriac or something. I’m fine. I should just go. I grabbed my things to leave when the nurse called my name.

Walking back, the nurse was quiet. We sat down and I held it together. They are gonna tell you you’re fine Jessica. Just go through the motions. $25 down the drain Mr. Man’s gonna say.

 

The nurse took notes, my blood pressure and left the room. Moments later the doctor walked in and I lost it. I told her everything. How I hated being a mom, how I was so tired, how I couldn’t sleep, how I was mad at everyone, how I felt nothing toward the baby or my family, how I dreamed of hurting her (but did nothing). Then she said it, the words I will forever change my life.

You have postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety disorder (PPA).

It was as if she hit me with a cinder block. I fell in a heap, crying hysterically. She prescribed medicine and I got help.

I write not just to tell my story. I am writing to help give a voice to those women out there who know there is something wrong. Who know that what they are feeling; is not normal for them. Who know they shouldn’t be this angry. Who know they shouldn’t be this anxious. I want to plead with you to get the help you need. There are millions of women across the globe being diagnosed with a postpartum mood disorder – daily. You are not alone. Having a mood disorder does not mean that you are less of a woman, does not mean you are less of a mom, and it definitely does not mean that you are less of a Christian. It means – that God has chosen you to go down this path for now. What that reason is – only God can tell ya.

After recovering from PPD/PPA, I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder. There are days that I just want to – give up. I want to just crawl into a ball and push out the world. But I cling onto the promise of the bible. Like Psalms 145:14 – the Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.

You will stumble; you will fall – that’s part of life. I do it daily. But as long as we keep God on the throne, He will hold onto us.

 

How Pinterest and Diabetics Get Along

Yesterday I shared the invisible illness of diabetes. I shared the importance of making dietary changes. I feel your frustration in thinking you’re going to be stuck with foods you don’t like.

THAT’S NOT TRUE!

I have, at this current moment, 42 diabetic and YUMMY recipes on my pinterest board. There’s tastebud teasers such as these:

Low Carb Breakfast Lasagna

3 Cheese Manicotti

You can even have your cake AND EAT IT TOO!

Tiramisu

 

There are so many unbelievable recipes out there to try. I subscribe to daily emails from Diabetic Living online, which is chock full of recipes for every occasion, including holiday baking, and Lifescript, but there are many others out there to suit your dietary needs.

In addition, there are some wonderful support groups on Facebook like Living with Diabetes. You just have to look around. Beware the fad diets as a healthy diabetic is a low carb diabetic. Always remember that too much of something is never a good thing either (like fiber. Don’t fall for those double fiber breads. They are synthetic fibers, not natural ones. Go with 100% whole wheat and sugar free instead. Nature’s Own has a delicious one!)