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Heather's Dish

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About Joy

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Good morning y’all! Thanks so much for all of your sweet get-well wishes…they must’ve worked too because I’m definitely a lot better!

Yesterday the only thing I could eat (before dinner) was some Vegan Overnight Oats with Chocolate Banana Soft-Serve!

I’ll be honest, I tried overnight oats a while back and was NOT a fan of the cold oats, but this was INCREDIBLE!  Adding the banana soft serve made all the difference in the world, and I’ve now found my newest obsession 🙂

The rest of the day was spent sleeping and folding laundry while sitting on my bed, which I think helped me get better much faster (the sleeping, not the laundry).  Come time for dinner I was STARVING and super thankful that food actually sounded good!  I decided to make some Pineapple Salsa, a recipe that I’ve been making since a collegiate stint at a local burrito place (they’re now closed).  I gathered up all the ingredients!

Pineapple Salsa

  • 2 small cans Rotel Original, 1 drained and 1 with the liquid
  • 1 can of crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1 large red onion
  • 2 jalapenos (I seeded one and left the other intact.  The heat is all in the seeds and the membranes, so if you don’t want it to be spicy then remove all of the seeds and membranes from both jalapenos)
  • 1 bunch of cilantro
  • 3-4 Roma tomatoes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1-2 tsp garlic powder

Rough chop all of the fresh ingredients (tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, cilantro) and combine all ingredients in a food processor.  Pulse until desired consistency is reached.  It should look something like this:

And it will taste like HEAVEN.  Seriously, this salsa is the best I’ve ever had, and as a proud Texan-living-in-Colorado, I know my salsa.  Don’t worry; I’m expecting several marriage proposals after this one, but just so you know Nate’s already got my heart 🙂

We also had some Spelt Berry, Black Bean, and Edamame Salad, based on this recipe:

When I made it I didn’t have onions or wheat berries, so I used onion powder and spelt berries, and used some carrots in there for extra color and some sweetness.  Honestly it’s a little bland, but nothing that a little Pineapple Salsa can’t fix!  We each had a fajita-spiced (loosely based on this spice mix recipe) grilled chicken breast as well:

So good, and a perfect summer meal!  We each had some unpictured tortilla chips with our salsa as well 🙂

Dessert was a store-bought ice cream cookie sandwich, which was the perfect ending.

I’m happy to say that I was able to keep all of the food down, and it feels good to have finally eaten!

Joy in Faith

I’ve been holding off on this topic during the entire series because I wanted to make sure that I did it justice and was able to clearly voice my beliefs in a way that would help and bless all of my readers.  It’s also a difficult topic because I know that not everyone will agree with everything that I have to say, but it is something I believe everyone needs to hear!  Let’s just jump right in, shall we? 🙂

I grew up with an amazing family:  two parents who modeled a great love for one another, a great love for me, and a great love for God.  I grew up in the church, and felt that I had a firm understanding of who God is and what He meant in regards to my life.  When I was in 3rd grade, I “accepted Jesus into my heart” at a Methodist summer camp, which meant to me that I was saved from going to hell when I died.  From then on I defined myself as a Christian, and made every attempt to not “misbehave” for fear of tarnishing that reputation.

In 7th grade is when my disordered eating began, but I pretended nothing was wrong and never addressed the issues within my heart that were causing me to despise food.  In high school I took diet pills, but still never thought anything was wrong.  In college I took diuretics and over-exercised, and STILL never thought anything was wrong.  However, at one point (and I don’t remember the catalyst) I realized that my thought patterns and behaviors towards food were not healthy and were not God-honoring.  In the days following I decided to re-dedicate my life to Christ, but still had no firm understanding of what that meant.

You see, I knew how to go through all of the motions, but I had no idea what it meant to actually live out what God really calls me to do:  love Him with all my heart, mind, and soul, and then to love others as I love myself (Matthew 22:37-40).  I didn’t know how to do this because I didn’t know how to love myself.  At that point in time I’d learned to base my entire self-worth on my food intake and not on the woman that I was created to be.

I’ll be 100% honest here:  there is no turning point for me in this, but rather a lot of mini-turning points.  Just when I think I have it all figured out, I’m presented with a new way that I put myself above God and everyone else, and there’s an eminent downfall that follows.  And I’m still learning how to submit to His will for my life, one day at a time.  So how do I find joy in faith?

  • The biggest thing is to remember that God’s plan for my life is greater than anything I could ever imagine. I think it’s important to understand that I’m not preaching the “health, wealth, and prosperity gospel” here.  Just because God’s plan is great doesn’t mean that I’m going to be a gazillionaire next week, have ripped 6-pack abs, or a closet full of designer jeans that is the envy of all of my friends.  It means that I am gifted in certain areas, and that God will use those gifts for His glory…which is my wish as well.  As I said in this post, my hope is that this blog and my life will be used to change the world, one person at a time.
  • God is for me. I remember my friend Stephanie saying those very words about a year ago and coming to the realization, for the first time, that God is not some cosmic deity just waiting for me to screw up.  His will for my life is to follow wholeheartedly after Him with a full understanding that He loved me enough to send Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.  If God would do that thousands of years before I was born, it’s silly for me to think that I’m in this struggle of sin and life alone:  God is with me and God is for me.  And He’s with you and for you too.
  • I am loved. I’ll be the first to admit it, but I’ve had a very privileged life.  Any hardship I’ve faced has been because of something I’ve done to sabotage myself.  However, for some reason I never felt like God loved me enough to keep me from myself.  Thing is, I had to go through the crap to fully understand the full scope of the love that God (and my family and my friends) has for me.  It brings me unlimited joy to know that, despite my issues, I am unconditionally loved and adored.
  • Love others. I’m slowly learning to love myself, but that doesn’t mean I can’t love others.  I try to show love to others daily through my words and my food.  Showing love to other people brings joy that nothing else can, and it means that God is working through me to change the world, whatever that looks like.

I don’t know if I’ve clearly explained my beliefs, but if you have any questions at all please feel free to ask me.  What it all comes down to is I’m willing to let God use me for good in this world, and even though I get in the way of that many times, I’m thankful for His forgiveness and love in my life.

I love you all and I am so thankful for every single one of you!  Happy Wednesday 🙂

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Comments

  1. Keely (Sky Blue) says

    June 28, 2011 at 12:39 am

    Thank you for this awesome post! I love to read the perspective of other believers it is so refreshing. This really blessed me…thank you.

    Reply
  2. Nienke at Revel says

    June 29, 2010 at 6:03 am

    Aw I love this post! You have a great gift for putting your thoughts into words. Thanks for the reminder to (as Therese says it) “let go and let God” 🙂

    And I agree with you that our growth doesn’t always happen with a bang, but rather in a series of small events and realizations. I guess God knows that’s the best way for some of us to learn?!

    Reply
  3. Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    June 23, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    Those oats look so delicious. Never tried overnight oats with banana soft serve, but that sounds extra delish.

    Glad you’re feeling better!

    Jenn

    Reply
  4. Emily says

    June 23, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    Thanks for the reminder that God has a plan for me. I definitely struggle with this a lot. I truly believe that God is in control and has a plan. As I go through these possible job and life changes, it’s so good to have reminders of this. Thanks for the great post!

    Reply
  5. Kailey@MissionHealthy says

    June 23, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    I love how this post relates to God. It’s nice to read other believer’s posts! I am still struggling to let God control me but I know that he has great plans for me and I just need to let him sit in the driver’s seat and take control 🙂

    Reply
  6. Katie @ Health for the Whole Self says

    June 23, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    Beautiful post, Heather. I think that so often we struggle because we cannot comprehend just how great God’s love for us really is. My brain hurts just trying to think about it! But if we can just begin to grasp how deep that love is, it opens the door for self-love and love of others.

    Reply
  7. Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries says

    June 23, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    What a beautiful post!! 🙂
    Not to mention your overnight oats and that dinner look GORGEOUS!

    Reply
  8. Lori says

    June 23, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    I really enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing your faith. Glad to hear you are on the mend.

    Reply
  9. Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says

    June 23, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Mmm…banana soft serve in overnight oats sounds like a purely genius idea. Love it! 😀

    Reply
  10. paijery says

    June 23, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    Glad you’re feeling better! All your food looks amazing! I’ve never even heard of spelt berries – are they a lot like wheat berries? I LOVE overnight oats but have yet to try them with banana softserve 🙂

    Reply
  11. Anna says

    June 23, 2010 at 11:51 am

    I’m so glad you’re feeling better! That salsa sounds awesome!

    Reply
  12. lizzie says

    June 23, 2010 at 11:30 am

    Very well written and oh so true…love your blog

    Reply
  13. Therese says

    June 23, 2010 at 11:23 am

    This is a pretty deep and awesome post.

    My mom always said to me, “Let go and let God.” So simple yet so hard to do! The second I stop obssessing over everything in my life and just turn it over to Him, things start to work themselves out. If only I wasn’t so stubborn all the time!

    Reply
  14. Esther says

    June 23, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Thank you for this post! It is uplifting to my heart & soul!

    Reply
  15. Jessica @ How Sweet says

    June 23, 2010 at 9:54 am

    I love banana soft serve in WARM oats, but have never tried it in overnight oats because I don’t like them. But now I really want to try it!

    So true about your joyful paragraph as well. I NEED to trust God on certain things. I am such a control freak that it is very hard sometimes.

    Reply
  16. Becki @ HikeBikeEat says

    June 23, 2010 at 9:51 am

    I tried overnight oats a week or two ago and was completely disgusted by them :(. I’ll have to try adding some soft serve if it made you like them. Trying to have an open mind!

    Reply
  17. kelsey@snackingsquirrel.com says

    June 23, 2010 at 9:45 am

    holy yum that dinner looks fantastic!!! and truly the best overnight oats and softserve ever posted and probably ever made in the entire world!! im speechless!! <3

    Reply
  18. Kara @ MyWellnest says

    June 23, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Glad to hear you’re feeling better! I’m passing on your salsa recipe to my husband (the salsa maker in the house) 🙂

    Reply
  19. Lindsey @ Foodie on the Rocks says

    June 23, 2010 at 8:51 am

    haha, great minds think alike!
    https://eattravelclimb.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/love-mondays-off/
    i hate being sick and not being able to eat. i mean it’s my favorite thing to do in the world :).

    Reply
  20. Heather says

    June 23, 2010 at 8:15 am

    Glad you’re feeling better and can keep the eats down 🙂

    Reply
  21. Kelly says

    June 23, 2010 at 6:58 am

    Hey pretty lady! Great post! I wish I was better about trusting God in my life. Unfortunately, that requires letting go of the perceived control and even though I know I truly have no control I still can’t seem to let go of the belief that I do. Does that make sense?

    Reply
    • Heather says

      June 23, 2010 at 7:34 am

      That totally makes sense! And it’s not easy, and I struggle with it every day. But when I don’t and I really let Him take control, that’s when things turn out better than I could ever imagine!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Kitchen Adventures « Heather's Dish says:
    June 27, 2010 at 6:24 am

    […] lunchtime I had the last of the pineapple salsa and a handful of chips, even though I wasn’t […]

    Reply
  2. Happening Right Now « Heather's Dish says:
    June 25, 2010 at 5:52 am

    […] I say “inspired” because this was yet another instance where I didn’t have all of the ingredients the recipe actually called for, so I made do with coconut flavoring and toasted coconut on top rather than the full gamut of amazingness the Jessica recommends   Still delicious though!  For lunch I prepared some leftover spelt berry salad topped with pineapple salsa: […]

    Reply
  3. I’m Really Italian Now! « Heather's Dish says:
    June 24, 2010 at 6:02 am

    […] Recipes The Joyful Kitchen VII […]

    Reply

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Just a couple quick reminders: ⭐️ healthy doe Just a couple quick reminders:

⭐️ healthy doesn’t have to be hard
⭐️ you’re allowed to “mess up”
⭐️ you’re allowed to be multidimensional
⭐️ don’t overcomplicate it 
⭐️ YOU ARE CAPABLE 

I have so many thoughts swirling around in my head these days, and half the time I don’t know which way is up. But I do know this: focusing on simplicity is the name of the game this year for me. It starts with the things I can control: my food intake, moving my body, my thoughts, my actions. The rest will stem from there!

Does anyone even do a word of the year anymore after 2020? If you do I’d love to see you share it below!
“I’m angry with God.” With those 4 words my “I’m angry with God.”

With those 4 words my Daddy forever changed the way I saw God. A pillar of fire didn’t come from the sky, the ground didn’t open up and swallow him whole, we didn’t get in a car wreck on the way home from piano lessons. And my Daddy never turned his heart from God; a short 20 minutes later we sat down at the dinner table and he praised him through prayer before we ate dinner. 

He taught me that when we are sad or frustrated or anxious or angry or feel that surely the weight of life will kill us - God is big enough to handle those feelings. Not just handle them, but walk closer than our breath through them. He cares, he’s there, and he even wants us to tell him. The more I think about it the more I see that my dad sharing his anger with God was the most honest display of faith I had seen up to that point.

The other day I uttered those same words in front of my boys, “I’m angry with God.” Just like me, they looked around to see where my smiting would come from, likely shocked (as I was) when it didn’t come. And just like me, they will see their parent praise God even in the midst of a firestorm of emotion. 

Why? Because God is good no matter what. My life feels like it’s crumbling before my eyes and I have no way of stopping it...but He is still on his throne. I will praise him no matter the circumstances because he has been good to me. I will write his word on my windows as a constant reminder that this life of mine is dedicated to his glory.
For someone who loves words so much, I really don' For someone who loves words so much, I really don't have many of them right now. 
.
On December 26, 2020 - after over a decade of fighting Corticobasal Degeneration, a rare progressive neurological disorder - my incredible, near-perfect Daddy left this world and has made his home with Jesus. Ever since then I've been struggling to find the words to pay homage to the most amazing man in the world. How do you sum up the life of someone who has impacted so many for good? How do I ever share how the little day-to-day expressions, smiles, words, wit, strength, grit, grace, humility, hard work and love have been woven into my very being? One of the last things I told him before he left was that there truly are no words yet for the kind of love he shared with me, my sister, and our beautiful mother. He was truly one-of-a-kind in every way, and we are so blessed because of the way he poured himself out for us. 
.
Daddy, I love you so much. The only thing that's softening the pain of your absence is knowing that those very last words I said to you - "I'll see you soon" - will come true because I know you'll be waiting for me in Heaven. My very own Daddy - you are always with me. I love you beyond words.
Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! 

As we move into goal setting for the new year, may I suggest starting with your physical health? Not to fit the bikini body mold that society normalizes, but to actually BE as healthy as possible. When everything hit the fan for me this year I dug into two things that have been integral to creating positive growth and a healthier mindset: 

1️⃣ my relationship with God
2️⃣ my physical health

What that’s looked like for me on the health front: holding fast to my commitment to whole food nutrition, grace for the days when I choose otherwise, pushing myself to lift heavier in workouts, and taking up running again. 

What’s happened as a result? When I push myself physically, when I choose to practice discipline to do what I know is best for my body, it makes it infinitely easier to choose that same healthy discipline in every other area of life. You want to dominate your goals? Start with your health!
Remember when I blogged about food? 😂 Gosh the Remember when I blogged about  food? 😂 Gosh the past few months have been nuts. I’m still over here figuring out how to eat well without sacrificing my life in the kitchen, and this is a bowl I couldn’t NOT share with y’all. The best thing is that everything is almost always on hand in my fridge, it’s packed with nutrition, and tastes AMAZING!

In the bowl:
-rice mixed with Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce
-broiled shredded Brussels sprouts
-chickpeas
-baby  arugula
-grilled chicken breast
-Romesco sauce (from Trader  Joe’s but I usually make my own)
-a little  tzaziki sauce

This meal has been on repeat all week, only changing the rice for riced cauliflower and omitting the chickpeas on low carb days. YUM! I find that if I have a variety of roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and a few different sauces on hand I can almost always come up with a great bowl for almost any meal!
It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday y’all! Almost 4 years ago I took a leap of faith and said yes to this job in an effort to create another stream of revenue. I had NO CLUE that it would change my life for the better in almost every way, that it would reignite my passion for health and community, that it would provide in so many beautiful ways. But it has, and I am so thankful to all of you who have trusted me and supported me along the way. 

When you shop with a small business you are literally a hero in their eyes, validating and supporting and protecting them. You guys are my heroes, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ 

#smallbusinesssaturday #happydance
Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t feel it, these are truths that I’m holding for you. ❤️
3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day: 3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day:

1️⃣ SMILE! Even if you don’t feel like it, smiling (even forcing it to the point of feeling weird) has actually been scientifically proven to improve mood, lower stress, and boost your immune system. I actually recommend doing it awkwardly around other people because it’ll make them smile too 😉

2️⃣ GRATITUDE! Right now, before you talk yourself out of it, say or write 3 things you’re thankful for. Big, small, or in between. In this moment I’m going to say sticky notes, my Le Creuset Dutch Oven, and the Hamilton soundtrack. BOOM!

3️⃣MOVE! Get up off your tush, right now, and move your body. Walk around your house, do some jumping jacks, lock yourself in the bathroom and do a little dance, whatever. This isn’t about looking cool, it’s about giving yourself a better day. 

Things are hard, ambiguity and uncertainty isn’t fun, but we can control ONE THING: ourselves. Praying that you choose to gift yourself a little bit of happiness today! 

Now, tell me below, what’s one thing you’re thankful for RIGHT NOW?
HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog 😂 Who else feels me here? 🙋🏼‍♀️ #dogdays #2020mood
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