Simple Family Meals

How Rating Your Recipes Makes Life Easier and More Fun!

~ Midwest Storyteller
Food Freedom with Coach Barb www.midweststoryteller.com

[NOTE:  I openly disclose on this blog that as a certified lifestyle coach through Trim Healthy Mama, I may receive financial benefit from those who desire to enlist my services privately or in a group setting.]

I’m dedicating this post to Smuffy.  I’ve lost count of the times he’s told me we really needed to rate recipes.  He enjoys the food on the Trim Healthy Mama plan, but just like the rest of us, he likes some things better than others.  On the other hand, some are just not his cup of tea at all.  He’s been recommending for some time now that I come up with some type of rating system so that he can tick the boxes at any given meal to let me know just how well he likes what’s set before him.

I’ve found the cookbooks from Trim Healthy Mama to be fantastic.  Aside from some old family favorites that already fit the plan or just needed a little tweaking, I cook almost exclusively from these books now.  There have been very few that I would have given a low rating and just because I like being honest and saving you time and effort, I’ll mention just a couple.  Brown Rice Crispy Treats – I followed the recipe to the letter and even I, who hate throwing anything away, had to admit they were icky and chuck them over the back fence.  I’m open to suggestions from anybody who can show me how to save that recipe, but I think I’ll taste yours first.  Then there was Slender Slaw – oh, dear!  Perhaps it’s cultural and it’s just an Aussie thing for Serene and Pearl, but I got my exercise in on another trip to the back of the property with that one.

Then, there are the winners.  There are tons of recipes in the Trim Healthy Mama cookbooks that are just fabulous!  I’m addicted to Cry No More Brownies and the Superfood Mounds – oh, my goodness!  Then, there are Two Minute Truffles, Dreamy Chicken Lazone, Cheeseburger Pie, Lazy Lasagna, Queso Chicken Bake.  I could go on and on.

However, Smuffy says we need a system so that we can create a notebook full of winners that he’s happy to dive into any time.  Did I mention the Philly Cheese Meatloaf or Melissa’s Amish Broccoli Salad or Just Like Orange Juice or The Shrinker?  This is making me feel all peckish.

Anyhow, we borrowed the general idea for our rating system from one that was used at an annual benefit for the area food bank where soups are judged and the winners are awarded “golden ladles”.  If I might mention it, I am the recipient of six golden ladles and my #1 favorite is a recipe I invented, Creamy Leek Soup with Chicken and Sweet Potato.  In fact, that soup has won three of my golden ladles!  Try it here and I dare you not to love it!  There’s a free printable waiting just for you.

There are several aspects of food that determine whether or not a person will like it or even want to try it.  We decided to include a ranking on a scale of 1-5 on whether or not we are pleased with each.  Is the appearance pleasing?  What about the aroma?  How does it actually taste?  Mouth feel is an important consideration, so we included a category for texture.  Finally, we asked for a ranking on what we considered the greatest compliment – whether or not we’d order the dish in a restaurant.

So, thanks to Smuffy’s nudging, here’s the rating chart –

Coach Barb's Recipe Rating www.midweststoryteller.com

I’m including a free printable so that you can easily print these out four on a page, cut them apart and keep a stack near the table so that friends and family can have fun with the rating system and you can develop a great collection of winners.  Create a notebook or just slap a sticky note on the page in the cookbook so that you know which recipes you can always fall back on.

I have a funny feeling that anything that does not score 3.5 or above on Smuffy’s card will probably be frowned upon from now on out.

Don’t forget your free printable !

Coming up, I’ll be sharing healthy recipes, letting you know how we’re rating them and providing notations concerning recipes that have already appeared on the blog and whether or not they fit the Trim Healthy Mama plan.  I’ll be making recommendations from THM recipes and providing lots of information on my Food Freedom Facebook page where I’ll share THM knowledge, recipes, tips and all sorts of other goodies.  Please “like” and “follow” at https://www.facebook.com/Food-Freedom-THM-Certified-Lifestyle-Coaching-100703354727086/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Most of all, Happy Eating!

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How’s That Workin’ For ‘Ya?

~ Midwest Storyteller
Food Freedom with Coach Barb www.midweststoryteller.com

I fully disclose that as a Certified Lifestyle Coach I do, at times, receive monetary compensation as such. See The Fine Print on the “About Me” page of this blog.

Here we are, Dear Readers, over halfway through January 2021.  So far, I’d venture to guess that most of you who sighed with relief at midnight on December 31, 2020 are just a shade disappointed.

Having mentored people with their health for years and being an avid observer of human nature, I think all we have to do is turn on the news lately and within thirty seconds we’ve decided we’ve had our fill of human nature.

In January, you’ve probably observed a common occurrence in either your own life or someone else’s.  We muddle along through the holidays, stressed and for most of us, over-blessed, promising ourselves that, come January 1st, things will be different.  “Enough of this nonsense”, you say, vowing to lose weight, get organized, take better care of yourself, serve your community more, keep in closer contact with the ones you love – the list goes on and on, doesn’t it?

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – I can’t fathom why they ever designated January 1st as the beginning of the new year!  It makes no sense, at least for the Northern Hemisphere.  Just when the Good Lord offered us hibernation time and a nice, long rest, the calendar screams at us to jump up, get going and conquer the world and all our shortcomings.  Oh, please!

Would anyone like to join my movement to have the new year moved to the first day of spring so that we could all get a little more excited about it?  I know, I know, it’s a brilliant idea!  That’s probably why people in high places never thought of it.

Anyhow, here we are and we seem to be stuck with it for now.  This brings me back to my original question:  “How’s that workin’ for ‘ya?

One thing I stress in lifestyle coaching through Trim Healthy Mama is the concept of “tip-toeing in”.  I would far rather see someone read a couple of chapters in the Trim Healthy Mama Plan book then choose three simple recipes to fit the plan that they can make in the coming week than I would to see them do a complete pantry makeover, call a family meeting on how things will change and then wear themselves out making sure every bite that goes into their mouth is perfect!

Speaking of perfect bites, let me pause to point out that “sticking to plan” with THM does not equal suffering, as evidenced by this beauty I made last week! 

THM Philly Cheese Meatloaf

“Loaded Philly Cheese Meatloaf”, page 216 Trim Healthy Table, declared by Smuffy to be the best meatloaf I’ve ever fed him.

Here’s a little nugget to chew on.  Repentance is better than goals.  Goals involve setting a bar and then trying to measure up to it.  Repentance simply involves realizing the road you are traveling is headed in the wrong direction, then turning around and going the opposite way – to a better place.  (See how I did that – I’m so clever – note the heading of this blog.)

I want you to feel blessed today and not condemned.  If you’re halfway through January and all those new leaves you vowed to turn over are still stuck together, just take a deep breath, take another step on the right path and find joy on the way to a better place.  Then, perhaps when someone asks, “How’s that workin’ for ‘ya?”, you won’t have to hang your head and sigh.

If you’re wanting to make your journey with Trim Healthy Mama joyful, choose three recipes that fit the plan and make those this week.  Ask yourself some questions about the rest of your meals and snacks and make sensible tweaks.  Let 2021 take you to a better place step by step.

I like to make out a menu plan on weekends, but I only plan out four items.  I enjoy my “pleasant ruts”, so I already know what breakfasts will probably consist of.  I share complete weekly menus in my coaching sessions, but I’ve been on the plan long enough that lots of meals are “freestyle” now.

I thought you might like to see what a recent plan included.  We have our main meal at lunch because that’s what Smuffy prefers and supper is freestyle.  You’ll have your own plan for your own household.

I take it for granted that each of these main dishes will be served up with quick-fix non-starchy veggies, salads and other sides and that snacks are ready to grab.

If you need support in your journey, head to the Contact Me page and let me know.  I’ll give you all the info on group sessions and private coaching, which can be done in person or by phone.  Share with friends and let’s see how many are ready to get Trim & Healthy!

For info on getting started and a few questions you can ask yourself about getting started, click here. For coaching pricing, click here.

It’s a great way to come out of social distancing a better person.

Have the events of the last several months caused you to re-think how you are fueling your body so that you can build your immune system?  Leave a comment and tell me your thoughts.

Creamy Leek Soup with Chicken and Sweet Potato – an Two-time Award Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller

READERS TAKE NOTE: This soup recipe was posted prior to my eating according to the Trim Healthy Mama plan or becoming a THM Certified Lifestyle Coach. It would qualify as an “S Helper” or a “Crossover” depending on the amount of sweet potatoes you add or the amount of soup you consume. Keep that in mind when planning your meal. This one is WORTH IT, so at least have it for special occasions!

Bowl of Creamy Leek Soup midweststoryteller.com

For those of you who read my earlier post about this fabulous soup but never took the time to stir up a batch – this is for you!

Each year for the last six years, I enter a soup in a contest that our church sponsors for the benefit of the area food bank. Soups – LOTS of soups – are judged (rather scientifically, I must say) on taste/flavor/texture, appearance, Originality/Creativity, Appeal (Would a wide variety of the general population want to try this soup?) and Aroma. “Golden” (but most certainly not food safe) ladles are awarded to the top five soups. Then, the soups are served to the throng of two hundred or so salivating soup lovers at $5 per cup for the winners and $1 per cup for all the others. I’ve taken home five golden ladles so far.

So, what can I say? I am some sort of Soup Queen, I suppose. Just don’t ask me to make gravy. I mean that – never let me make the gravy!

This year, I decided to re-enter my soup that won five years ago. I invented this soup just after I made changes to my eating plan that included getting all sugars and grains out of my diet, so if you are looking for gluten-free recipes that won’t make you feel that you are missing out on a thing – this one’s for you! It’s a winner twice over for a very good reason. It is fabulous!

The original post gives detailed instructions on how to make Creamy Leek Soup with Chicken and Sweet Potato here, and it also offers a free printable recipe so check it out and, by all means, make a batch!

I did have a friend tell me that she used a substitute for the cream to accommodate her dairy-free diet and still her husband said it was the best soup he’d ever eaten in his life!

Here I am, honored to stand with the other winners (minus Larry, who somehow wandered off just before the announcement).

All the great recipes on my Food Freedom page come with free printables, so you can put them all in a notebook and try them out soon. I do my best to offer you healthy recipes that won’t make you feel deprived or overworked.

We are due to have a high temperature here tomorrow of 4 degrees. Sounds like soup weather to me!

Happy cooking!