SEO: 2018

Small Success Thursday

We survived the great internet famine of 2018, two days sans cable, phone or wi-fi. Here's yesterday's posting over at Catholicmom.com. Kids are busy catching up on all the binge screen watching they didn't get for 48 hours. Reclaiming Sunday.On a side note, I loved it. Thinking, there may be trees that fall in the future for another 24-48 hours.

At the Register

with a story about the Fellowship of the Prayers We See. It segways with another story I'm working on, which reminds me, we can bear almost anything when we do not shoulder it alone. Go check it out, and please share via twitter, facebook, email, etc.

Ketogenic Birthday Cake!

October is here which means... it’s my birthday month. I want to stay keto strong and in order to do that I will need a keto approved cake that doesn’t taste nasty and secondly is not filled with a hundred crazy steps. Not my style!

So after testing a few combinations, I am here to share the best of the best!

Ingredients

1/2 cup of almond flour - 280 Cal, 2 g Net Carb, 24 g Fat, 10 g Protein
1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder - 40 Cal, 4 g Net Carb, 2 g Fat, 4 g Protein
2 eggs - 154 Cal, 2 g Net Carb, 10.6 g Fat, 12.6 g Protein
3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract - 9 Cal, .4 g Net Carb, 0 g Fat, 0 g Protein
1 cup melted butter - 700 Cal, .0g Net Carb, 77 g Fat, 0 g Protein
3/4 swerve (or equivalent sweetener) - 0 Cal, 0 g Net Carb, 0 g Fat, 0 g Protein
Pinch of salt
Lily’s Chocolate Chips - optional
Stevia drops - optional for extra sweetness

How to Make your Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all of your ingredients in a box until all clumps are removed and the mixture is smooth. For me it was about 2 minutes of hand mixing.
Pour your mixture into a greased 5 x 8 baking dish (I used a butter spray). Add optional chocolate chips on top.
Bake for 22 minutes. Check with a fork that the cake is baked thoroughly - the fork after puncturing the cake will be clean when ready.
Let the cake cool before serving.

Tips - Sifting the flour, cocoa powder, and sweetener leads to a tastier cake.
Macros - you macros may differ slightly depending on the brand.
Whole Cake: 1,183 Cal, 8.4 Net Carb, 113.6 g Fat, 26.6 g Protein
1/6th of Cake: 197.17 Cal, 1.4 Net Carb, 18.93 g Fat, 4.43 g Protein

One More!

After a dry spell, three in a row. Here's my latest over at the Register, Today, Tithe Your Time. I hope you like it and share it, and I'll get back to writing more...

Surprise...at the Register Again

I submitted this piece a while ago, but tinkered with it after the fact which frustrates me from a writing stand point. That being said, you can see the original over at the National Catholic Register...and please share if you liked it. Pray Thy Will Be Done and Mean it.

Small Success Thursday

I realized I've been writing this thing since some time in 2009 I think...but it's Thursday so you get the link to Catholicmom.com and Small Success Thursday. Sometimes I think I'm just repeating myself, but other times, I remember, I'm writing these so that I can look back at some point (and I should) and know, there were blessings every day, every week, and they weren't just little things,

It's been a while

However, I have a piece over at the Register, which is an answer to both my melancholy mood of the prior post, and to the actual reality we live. Now is a Time to Go Deeper Into the Faith.

This is a Good Start?

The Administrative Committee of the USSCB released a statement outlining steps the Administrative Committee has taken to address the crisis.

Boy I feel better. Don't you?

Everybody got that? Remain calm.

The Bishops have released a policy and procedure paper.

If only we’d had a statement outlining the steps of how to handle when someone behaves in an illegal and/or immoral way.

LInk to Catholic Writers Conference Online Talk

Here's the link to the Catholic Writers Conference Online talk on freelancing. I hope you enjoy it.

Top 10 Ketogenic Cookbooks! Plus a bonus !

Pinterest is my number one source when I need a quick recipe, but the bread and butter (keto bread of course) of my recipes come from Ketogenic Cookbooks! Here are my top 10 with links to check them out yourself. Enjoy!!

Quick & Easy Ketogenic Cooking: Meal Plans and Time Saving Paleo Recipes to Inspire Health and Shed Weight The amazing Maria Emmerich released this book in 2016, but is still more than relevant today! This was my very first Keto cookbook and was the reason I fell in love with Keto. She has constructed simple recipes that you will make your go to meals with.
Keto Made Easy: 100 + Easy Keto Dishes Made Fast to Fit Your Life Keto Connect finally released a book, and it is anything short of amazing! We all know this power couple from Youtube, and finally we have a book form of their recipes. Pictures for every recipe included, which is a must for me!
The Keto Diet: The Complete Guide to a High-Fat Diet, with More Than 125 Delectable Recipes and 5 Meal Plans to Shed Weight, Heal Your Body, and Regain Confidence Hey beginners!! Want to learn indepth information of why the Ketogenic diet is so helpful in returning to health? Read this book, she is so detailed and explains keto in a simplified manner. I learned the most about Keto from Leanne Vogel.
The Easy 5-Ingredient Ketogenic Diet Cookbook: Low-Carb, High-Fat Recipes for Busy People on the Keto Diet Stress free meals! Need I say more? Who wouldn't love 5 ingredient meals which saves you time, and helps you become healthy! Win Win!
Simply Keto: A Practical Approach to Health & Weight Loss, with 100+ Easy Low-Carb Recipes When it comes to following a diet we need easy! Simply Keto gives you the motivation and makes it fun to cook again!
Keto Comfort Foods: Family Favorite Recipes Made Low-Carb and Healthy By now you know how much I value Maria Emmerich, she is the queen of Keto!. Here is my favorite book of any of her books. These recipes make me feel like i am cheating but really I am eating healthy and losing weight. I contribute this book to losing 15 lbs.
The Keto Reset Diet: Reboot Your Metabolism in 21 Days and Burn Fat Forever Ready to follow a 21 day reboot ? Lose weight, become healthy, and don't starve! This book will equip you with the tools you need to reset your diet!
The Wicked Good Ketogenic Diet Cookbook: Easy, Whole Food Keto Recipes for Any Budget Besides being wicked good, this is a great book when it comes to making your ketogenic diet budget friendly.
Bacon & Butter: The Ultimate Ketogenic Diet Cookbook When people think Keto, bacon is not a short thought after!
The Complete Ketogenic Diet for Beginners: Your Essential Guide to Living the Keto Lifestyle Another beginner book that needs to be mentioned! Learning the Ketogenic Lifestyle meal plans, and recipes can happen all this is one book!

***************************Bonus Book that I promised! ***************************

The wonderful Maria Emmerich will be releasing a new book for recipes centered around our pressure or slow cookers! Who has an instant pot??? I love her books, and I am excited for this new book! Click the link below to pre-order now!
Keto Instant Pot: 200 + Healthy Low Carb Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker or Slow Cooker

What are your favorite books?? Did I name your favorite here?? Leave a comment!

Sherry's Musings on a Day Off about...Knowing and Not Knowing...

The internet is great for finding out just about anything about anyone provided you don't mind whether or not what you find out is true, only that someone found it.

In the midst of everything in the news, about the Supreme Court nominee, about the Church, about the President, about Congress, the raging debate is about what should be believed, and why and how one goes about establishing truth.

Keto Nachos - A Simple Weeknight Dinner

Ready for a delicious meal that you can make every week?? Keto Nachos are delicious and filling meal that will make delicious leftovers. Make your nachos as simple or as extravagant as you like.

Ingredients that served 6 adults

2 lbs ground beef (you can substitute ground turkey or chicken)

1/2 teaspoon of onion powder

1/2 teaspoon of garlic

8 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese - I use a little more to up my fats, and I buy blocked cheese and shred myself.

1 1/2 lbs of mini or regular sized bell peppers - I used mini for this meal

Optional Additions:

Shredded Lettuce

Chopped Onions

Diced Tomatoes

Variety of Other Cheeses

Sour Cream

Salsa or Hot Sauce

1) In a large frying pan, cook your ground beef.

2) Preheat your oven to 350.

3) For easier clean up, place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Wash bell peppers, and cut in half. Remove the seeds, and place on the baking sheet.

4) Place in oven for about 5 minutes.

5) Once ground beef is cooked thoroughly, distribute the ground beef over the bell peppers. Finally distribute cheese over the ground beef.

6) Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until your cheese is melted.

Scoop and add your desired toppings!

Reworking the Blog, Getting Back to Work

It's a funny thing. When you volunteer to do something, it makes you rethink what you're doing and have done up to now.

Having done freelance writing for the past fourteen years...I realized how much time has passed, and how many errors I've made, and how most of what I learned, I learned via trial and error.

Things like: Don't bug the editor.

Why? Because if you bug them, you don't get

Small Success, Catholic Writer's Guild and More

Okay, this week, we had 4, count them, 4 Back to School Nights over the course of three days, so my brain is officially fried. However I did write the weekly feature, Small Success Thursday.

I also am part of a panel this weekend over at the Catholic Writers Conference Online. (We'll be discussing freelancing). If you'd like to know more, check them out over here.

Lastly, big news! I

Over at Aleteia Today

Discussing the wisdom of Saint Catherine of Siena.

What We Wish You'd Say...

I've read a lot of proposals, a lot of suggestions, a lot of apologies from Bishops/priests and a lot of commentary on the scandals of this past summer. For a time, I thought, there isn't an apology big enough, but I realized, what I really want, is for the religious of this Church, the ordained to take ownership, and to lead by their decisions and words, rather than proclaim what we should do.

Small Success Thursday Link Up

Here's yesterday's Small Success Thursday link up. Sorry it's a day late and almost two for that matter, but with school back in session, everything just take a little longer to get to in the course of a day. Small Success Thursday over at Catholicmom.com!

Lifting the Veil

A friend lamented how wrong everything feels, how hard it seems to be both online and in real life, to create genuine community, to make it last. It was reasonable, there’d been a real rift, and then a death. Everything hurt. When everything hurts, one of the first cries of the heart is why? Why does it have to hurt? Why does it have to be this way? The desire for the good (any good) to

Over at the Register Today

I have a piece over at the National Catholic Register, called "An Ounce of Prevention, A Pound of Cure." Talking to my mom, I lamented, there is just so much that keeps happening, it's hard to write, edit, and let the piece rest before having to hit send.

Thank God for Errands and Ordinary Time

The news hit hard this week. Fortunately, as much as my brain wanted to sit with the stories and consume article after article, sifting through the various perspectives to discern what's what, school starts tomorrow, and we still need hair cuts, lunch boxes, to put finishing touches on projects, and all the ordinary things of every day like laundry and oil changes and dinner.

Saints understood

1,300 Embraced Splinters

Over and over again, in everyday stuff and online, I find faces of despair. People have much to be angry over, and they're hurt they have to wrestle with this pain when there's so much that needs tending too. This great mess called life keeps getting somehow messier, and it's frustrating to people of good conscience, of good will, of good faith, to find themselves overwhelmed with the levels of

It's Thursday...

And I forgot to write a Small Success Thursday this week so there is no linky-love to Catholicmom.com this week. We did launch three kids to Graduate School, College One and College 2 this week, so there's that, but we didn't get to writing about it. I do have a column over at the National Catholic Register if you'd like to take a look-see. Thanks as always for stopping by, and see you next

Ugly Questions Unanswered

The deeper one reads, the harder it gets.

There have been some who sought to soften the impact or influence of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report, by disputing whether rape took place, pointing out media bias, and blasting the fact that this report includes some material inadmissible in court, and without the opportunity of those accused within the report, to dispute it. However, the sheer

This week's link up

I forgot to link up to SST, in part because what's going on in the Church, and the ordinary stuff of real life, took over too much time to sit and write even a link in sentence. Here's this week's offering, which I can't spend a lot of time on this morning because I have to take her to cross country practice.

We're Going to Have to Wrestle With This...

Lots of people say, "I'm spiritual, not religious." and it is because they fail to see the connection between the physical actions (in the sacraments and ceremony) and the deeper reality these physical signs, symbols, gestures and prayers, reveal. Faith without works is dead, as Saint James said. In the case of the Pennsylvania report detailing accusations, assaults, actual documentations and

Have a piece at Aleteia

Hey everyone, I have a piece over at Aleteia on Adoration. I hope you enjoy it.

August is my adoration month, where I try to go every day. I don't always make it, but I try. For those unfamiliar with the practice, this piece might help introduce you to the way to enter into this form of prayer. I'm hoping it makes it hard to find a seat at the local 24-7 chapel. How to Spend an Hour in

The Worth of It

How do you do it? Anywhere someone discovers we have ten kids, the question comes up. I understand. It's unusual. My flippant answer is "Some days, I don't." and that can mean house work, reading, exercise or getting a shower. I'm fairly certain the "it" they wonder about, is the work. It's true. There's always more to do, and as far as I know, I've never been finished. To do "it" would

Small Success Thursday on Thursday!

It happens sometimes. Here's the link to my weekly piece over at Catholicmom.com. Hope your week was full of Small Successes.

Today, I'm at Aleteia

The goal for this year was to hit six pieces a month. Last month fell short, and this month started slow. However, today, I have a piece over at Aleteia.

I called it, "One Thousand Second Days" but that seems obscure if you don't already know what the piece is about so it's titled, "Seven Spiritual Lessons to Learn With Your Sneakers On.

For those interested, I've been working out with

Over at the Register today

What I wrote the other day, the National Catholic Register picked up for publication. I'm very touched. On another note, I do want to remind everyone, you can watch Bishop Barron's series, Catholicism for free at the link embedded. It's a reminder to all of us, why we stay, because being Catholic is so much more than the exercises and prayers and obligations, it is all of that as manifestations

Sometimes We All Need Reminders

Woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I'd somehow flunked a quiz. Writing/publishing's been slow. Weight's remained steady despite exercise (Consistently) since July 4th. In short, life felt rather like a dog day of summer. I'd fallen asleep after rereading "A Horse and His Boy," by C.S. Lewis, and in that early hour of the morning, the chastening of Bree, the War Horse struck home.

A Quick Chat About Intermittent Fasting!

A great tool in weight-loss is using an idea called Intermittent Fasting (IF). In the simplest terms it is skipping meals with intention. The most popular form of using IF is following a 16:8 rule, which means in a 24 hour time span you will only have an 8 hour window to eat.

So why would I want to skip a meal? Are there benefits?

The most popular reason of using IF is to help with weight-loss and tightening loose skin. I for one love the fact that I am meal prepping less because I don't need to eat as much food. Also, less food means less money that needs to be spent!! Who doesn't love that???
Being diabetic myself and using IF has helped me lower my A1c / glucose levels. My personal results in following the ketogenic diet and IF - my A1C lowered from 7.4 to 5.7 in three months!

The hardest part? In my journey, the hardest part was the initial start of IF. Going from eating multiple meals a day to only 1 maybe 2 was hard psychologically. Ketogenic made this transition easier because with eating high fat I was naturally becoming less hungry, and being full faster.

I would highly recommend though, if you have had an eating disorder to talk with a nutritionist or doctor before trying out IF.

Disclaimer - These are the tools that I use for Keto Success. I am not a nutritionist, please meet with your doctor before following any plan!

The Reason to Stay

“Lord, to whom would we go?”
It is the reason I stay. I've read enough of the reports and the findings to feel beyond sad. I read it because it's important to know, even as it hurts.

If the Church were merely a worldly institution, a club with rules and
regulations, I’d be demanding all the money I’ve given, all the time, all the
work paid back with interest for the abject failure of so many

Small Success Thursday, maybe don't climb every mountain

Went on vacation this past week, so blogging has been lighter than usual. However while on vacation, we hiked up a mountain. The guide said the trail could be described as "Moderate." Moderate sounds so reasonable. Surely we who are not totally unfit can handle a "Moderate" trail. Moderate sounds urbane, rational, modern, smooth. Moderate is a relative term.

A 1.9 tenths of a mile trail

Have a piece over at the Register Today

I know blogging has been light, however, I do have a piece over at the National Catholic Register.

Please share this book review so that more people discover this saint's wonderful writings as translated by Victoria Schneider. I have a link to Scepter Press if you'd like to purchase the book, The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle, Saint Manuel Gonzalez Garcia. I highly recommend it.

Small Success Thursday Link Up

This week's SST will have to hold you through next week. I won't do an SST for next week, as Catholic Writer's Guild is online this week and so it's not possible.

Because the Schedule is Driving Me Batty

Today, we had summer school I, summer school II, pick up from Summer School 1, Pick up from Summer School II, drop off for Driver's Ed. Drop off for Conditioning. Pick up from Driver's Ed. Pick up from Conditioning. Drop child off at the Metro. Drop kid off at the gym (note, not me), and later, pick up kid from gym, and later still, pick up kid from metro. My youngest son's favorite movie?

The Fruit We Should Be Serving...

Early in his papacy, Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy from December 8th, 2015 to November 16,2016. I’m wondering if he’d consider a Year of Mercy Part Two, because I’m not sure the first one took.

First, a confession. I am a terrible sport in games. I struggle with getting irritated when I play poorly, which makes me play even more poorly. I get rattled, and I forget in those

At the Register Today

This week, practice asking God, "What do you want me to do?" and stand back to hear Him speak. Every once in a while I remember, this relationship is a two way thing, and not all about me and my wants, and it is in that rare moment when I stop talking, that God answers. As such, I have a piece over at the National Catholic Register, "We Have Been Given Freedom in Order to Really Love God." Memo

The Unexpected Break in the Blogging...

This week, my computer died. So here's link ups to the past week's work. Will get back to posting and writing now. This doesn't mean I haven't been busy. This week:

Leticia Velasquez invited me on her WCAT radio show, Living the Gospel Life. We had a great time swapping stories about our children who have Down Syndrome, and the Gospel of Life.

Here's this week's Small Success Thursday

My Favorite Zoodle Recipe - Chicken Alfredo over Zoodles - 5 Ingredients!

I make this on a weekly basis, it is so EASY and I love how it tastes, did I mention it is Keto Approved?? Most of the ingredients I bought from Costco, and it was ready in about 30 minutes. Also before you think I tricked you, this really is a five ingredient meal! Apparently you dont count salt and pepper!! Enjoy and share!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of Chicken - I use a rotisserie chicken from costco
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 cups of parmigiano reggiano shredded - also from costco!
2 tablespoons of butter - I used kerrygold butter
4 medium to large zucchinis (optional - peel the skin off the zucchini - I did it for this tutorial)
1 or 2 tablespoons of garlic - I love garlic so I put 2 tablespoons
pink himalayan salt
pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Spiralize your zucchini. If you choose to peel the skins, peel them first! Lay out on a paper towel and sprinkle a little of the pink himalayan salt over the zoodles. This will help pull the moisture out of the zoodles. Set your paper towels aside.
Heating a pan on medium heat, let your garlic heat up for a minute or two.
Add your heavy whipping cream, parmigiano reggiano, and butter. Stir every 2 minutes or as you feel it needs stirring. If the sauce starts to boil, sticking to much to the sides of the pan, lower the heat just a little. The main part of this step is to mix your sauce and have it combine. I like to taste my sauce while its heating. At this time I may choose to add more cheese or heavy whipping cream, feel free to do the same.
While your sauce is heating, you can shred your chicken if needed. If already shredded, skip this step. I shred the whole chicken from costco and save the other pieces for another meal.
After about 20 minutes, test your sauce to ensure it is heated to your liking. I aim for warm to mildly hot. Moving the heat to medium - low (if not already), add the chicken to the pan.
After about 3 minutes, add the zoodles to the pan, and fold the ingredients together. Salt and pepper further to taste.
Enjoy :)

Alternatively I have also made with meatballs and loved this as well. Also, adding mushrooms will add a great low carb bulk to this yummy meal. Share any tips here:

Over at Aleteia Today

One of my writing goals for 2018 was to break into new markets, and shore up my work at older ones. Here's a piece I wrote for Aleteia on 10 Easy Ways to Create Summer Memories. Going out today to play with them.

Over at the Catholic Exchange today...

Something new for you. I've been published for the first time over at the Catholic Exchange. Here's my first piece, The Unexpected Graces of Offering Dailly Prayers for Others. Please go take a look, and share if you like it. Thank you!

Small Success Thursday

Hey, I'm posting on Thursday...about Small Success Thursday. As a bonus, I can report this is day seven of willingly submitting myself, or submitting my will, to exercise. Running Downhill.

At the Register

After a long hiatus, (a week), I'm hitting the hey, I'm a writer who sometimes gets published trail again. My latest is inspired by real life. Your teens will always be your babies. It's true.

Keto Beginner Tips

Starting out can be really scary! We learn the most by trial and well let’s face it, mostly error! Here are only some tips to get you going in the right track:

1) in the first days stay under 20 carbs and eat as much of everything else, try for more fats. Once your body adjusts you will gradually start eating less and then focus on you calories, and other macros. You may want to start a food log!

2) try not to do crazy recipes, stick to simple foods.

3) If you mess up or realize something had more sugar than you thought, it’s ok. Learn then keep going. But don’t throw the day out the window and splurge.

4) have Powerade zero on hand at the very least to replace electrolytes, or any other electrolyte replacement!

5) sorry no fruits except for avocados, lemons, small amounts of berries.

6) intermittent fasting won’t be easy / natural until you are fat adapted and aren’t as hungry. I forget to eat at times. So wait for now until you get to that point.

7) start with simple breakfasts - eggs, bacon, and avocado

8) start with simple lunches and dinners - salads with chicken, steak or fish. Always you dressings.

9) there are many variations of keto. Strict Keto, and Lazy Keto are the most popular. Do what’s best for you and your lifestyle 🤗

10) carbs minus fiber minus sugar alcohols = net carbs! We are allowed 20 net carbs. Too much sugar alcohol can have a not so great affect for you when it comes to the bathroom. Be careful on eating too many sugar alcohols.

Once I got the hang of it keto turned from a

.....To my new way of eating!!

These work for me, although they may not work for everyone!! Share yours here!

Disclaimer - These are the tools that I use for Keto Success. I am not a nutritionist, please meet with your doctor before following any plan!

The Ten, No, Twelve Stages of Writing a Column*

*Not inspired in any way whatsoever by real life. Any similarities to the writing process for anyone (living or dead) is purely coincidental. Really. 12) I have an idea. Oh. That would make a good column. I should write it down.
11) Writes it down. Oh, and I should add that and that and maybe tie in this...--Good idea brain. Writes down more. Wait...developing it too much before I get to the

Small Success Thursday!

We interrupt this bout of summer to post a blog contribution. Yes, I'm linking to Small Success Thursday at Catholicmom.com.

It's My Birthday

Hello everyone. It's July 3rd and I'm fifty-two.Part of enjoying the birthday is counting 52 blessings and/or big events from the past 52 years.1966 Born...and survived it. Yay!1967 Got to come home from the hospital. Yay!1968 Started talking. Never stopped.
1969 Became a big sister.
1970 Remember going to the Neuman Center, and mass.
1971 Became a big sister again.
1972 Learned to

100% Vegan Keto Fudge

Keto and Vegan have come together to make this delicious and EASY treat!! There really isn't an easier recipe that mixing something in a bowl and placing it in the fridge! This recipe has a coconut flavor, I will give some tips at the bottom to alter that.

Here is what you will need:

3 Tablespoons Sweetener - I used Swerve
3/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/3 cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk
2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
3/4 melted Coconut Oil
1/3 cup of Lily's Chocolate Chips.

Mix all of the ingredients, except the chocolate chips in a bowl.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips, in about 20 second increments until melted.
Combine the chocolate chips with the rest of the ingredients.
Pour into your molds, and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

That's really it! For some variation you can use extracts like raspberry, or strawberry! I recommend 1/2 teaspoon.

What to Do?

There's an issue when you write things for publication. Read the comments. Don't read the comments. I have learned, no matter how hard I try, if I read the comments, my ego shall be bruised. My brain will be frustrated, and my writer's heart will want to try and write again to explain whatever it is. However ignoring what is written means I don't learn what I need to know to grow as a writer

Over at the Register Today

with a piece I wish wasn't inspired by the news and real life. It is a sin to be scandalized by sin. I'm not, but I'm still sad about it because the world needs more saints.

Small Success Thursday ON THURSDAY!!!

Yes, it's under the wire but it still counts! So, go celebrate Small Success Thursday even if it's not Thursday by reading and sharing This Week's column, "Recognizing your blessings" at Catholicmom.com.

Who Says You Have to Cook to be Keto?

For those who don’t like to cook, let’s give tips to make your life easier.While paying closer attention to the ingredients if you are Strict / nutritional Keto (where ingredients matter), here are some of my favorites:

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Scramble

Hard boiled eggs (found near the raw eggs)

Pre-cooked bacon

Rotisserie chicken

Pre-cooked burgers

Pre-cooked chicken (breast, wings, etc)

Meatballs

Beef jerky

String cheese / cubed cheese etc

Salad bags, pre-mixed or like a bag of spinach and you can add what you like

Pork rinds

Whisps

Almonds / Walnuts

Pre-made guacamole

Riced Cauliflower Steam Bag

cauliflower mashed potatoes (freezer)

Steam bag of veggies like broccoli

Lily’s chocolate bars

Sugar free jello (make sure this follows ur version of keto because of the ingredients)

Dining at fast foods:

In n out or burger joints - order protein style aka bunless

Italian - salads, fish, chicken

Mexican - fajitas with veggies
Steak Houses - steak, steamed veggies with butter

Some items may or may not work for you. Always do what is best for you. Add your favorites in the comment section below!

At the Register Today

Writing about the Rosary, because every time I stop, I get reminded to start again. The Rosary is also, a Thank you note.

And if you need me, I just read my piece...going to go find my purse and get to work saying a thank you.

Keto Costco Ultimate Shopping List

I love Costco for Keto friendly foods! Bulk size and alot of the time you pay regular sized prices! It may be a big bill up front, but in the long run you will save. I would say that’s a win-win! This is going to be an extensive list, but because products are ever changing and sometimes available for certain times, all of these may not be there when you go. Some pictures also have prices, which may be different at your store!

Here is a picture of my haul my patient husband and I did! Total spent was $100!

Before we get started you will need to know what type of Keto you follow. Check out this link: What type of Keto are you? These items will all fit under the Dirty Keto definition, but not all will fit under Strict Keto. If you are Strict Keto please check your labels in regards to the ingredients so that you only buy for the plan you are on.

First I am going to list my top 10 Costco must haves:

EGGS! This is the number one item I recommend for Keto. They are great when it comes to macros, and eggs fill you up and keep you full longer. 60 eggs at $8.79 is a spectacular buy.
Rotisserie Chicken! At $4.99 who can beat the taste and price! An already cooked chicken is a time saver on busy nights. I love shredding up the chicken and mixing it with zoodles and homemade Alfredo sauce.
Kerrygold- they only have salted but I’m not a complainer!! This is a grass-fed butter that is so good I’ve heard of people eating it straight!! its a great place to stock up for only $8.99!
Garlic - if a recipe calls for a tablespoon of garlic, I’m adding 3! With benefits like fighting cancer, lowering blood pressure, aiding in weight loss, helping with symptoms of dementia, and so much more, I try to ingest as much as possible. With already minced garlic, and an organic version for both under $5.00, this is a must have!
Organic Spring Mix - This is a huge container of greens for only $3.99! I was able to portion this out to 5 large salads for my meal prep!
Wholly Guacamole - let's face it avocados go bad really fast. These pre-portioned refrigerated cups of guacamole will help you get your fats in for under $10.00!
Coconut Oil - my costco has this product under $17.00 for this HUGE container of coconut oil. An 8 ounce jar of this at other locations is about $8.00. This for me is a staple for Keto!
Almond Flour - 3 lbs for $11.89 - this is a big savings!! Almond flour is used for fat head dough (pizza dough, chips, pastries and more!!) and as a substitute for bread crumbs. If you are allergic to tree nuts you will want coconut flour, I don't think that costco sells this YET!
Bacon - Everyone's favorite Keto item! Bacon! When shopping at costco you will get 4 packs for $10. They have regular and lower sodium versions, I get the regular as salt is important for me!
Cheese Whisps - I use this to replace chips when dipping into salsa or guacamole. Alternatively you can make you own - here is the link!

More Items to consider!

Almond Milk - Unsweetened
Heavy Whipping Cream
Cream Cheese
Sour Cream
Cheese - I prefer the blocks and grate them myself because shredded cheese has extra chemicals in it.

Mozzarella - I buy this one for Fat Head Dough!
Sharp or Mild Cheddar / Monterey Jack / Slices, ETC

Other Items to Check Out

Multivitamins / Vitamins - meet with your doctor to find the right vitamins for you!
Collagen - this weekend there were samples of the collage mixed with lemon and water. There was absolutely no taste.
Zip-lock Storage Bags - great to use when it comes to storing leftovers or portioning out food for the freezer or meal preps.
Keto Cook Books - I have seen a few Maria Emmerich books there!!
Basic Cooking / Baking Supplies - with a great return policy I feel assured that if the product isn't to my liking or doesn't work, I will never have a problem returning for another.

Phew!! That was a long one! If you have any favorites that I have missed, list them below in the comments!