Beyond the Bite

Get Beyond the Tick Bite and Eat Right For Your Life.

Recipe Index

Chewy Keto Vanilla Coconut Collagen Creamer Macaroons

Today’s recipe was inspired by the great folks at Vital Proteins.  After sending me some samples of their creamer, collagen bone broth (featured recipe coming soon), and beauty collagen for a giveaway, I decided to create a collagen-filled treat much like my Chewy Vanilla Cookie Bars.  If there is one thing I hate about macaroons, it is when they are like munching on air.  Does that make sense? Maybe not.  Let me explain…I’ve had many macaroons that have nothing to them.  Does that make sense? Probably not.  I’m not entirely sure how to explain myself.  All I know is there is nothing worse (in my mind atleast) than biting into a macaroon, hoping to taste a chewy, sweet cookie, only to bite into coconut-flavored air.  If I am still not making sense, well, atleast I tried. The point of saying all of this was that these macaroons are NOT tasteless puffs of air.  They’re rich in coconut, with a chewy texture that lasts longer than .02 seconds after biting into them.  They have a great vanilla flavor and are sweet (but not too sweet).  I personally love them with a cup of iced cold coffee (if my IC is allowing it), otherwise an herbal tea will do.  The best part of all of this? They are full of the good stuff (aka collagen).  If there were ever a treat you could feel good about eating, it is this one!

Vanilla Coconut Collagen Creamer Macaroons

Print Recipe

Yields 12

Ingredients

Process

  • In a food processor, pulse coconut flakes until shredded.
  • Add in swerve, vanilla, melted butter, and eggs, pulsing until combined.
  • Add in collagen creamer and puree until a sticky dough has formed.
  • Using your hands, roll dough into 12 like-size balls, placing each on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Bake the macaroons for 14 minutes at 350 degrees until just browned on the top and around the edges.
  • Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

 

Notes: Coconut oil (or) coconut butter can be used in place of the butter.  Coconut or maple sugar can be used in place of the Swerve. I have not tried making these with regular, plain collagen by Vital Proteins, so take note.

 

 

 

 

 

John 6:29 “Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.””

Chronic Lyme, Mast Cells, & Allergies + a Video

Today’s video is all about mast cells.  Mast cells, mast cells, mast cells.  They’re essential to our body but, when overactive, can cause serious health issues.  While I cover mast cells in the video, you can also learn more about another key factor in allergies called histamine.

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While I have been treating my overactive mast cells for many years now, things have not resolved 100%.  This is due to underlying, recurrent infections (yeast, epstein barr virus, and bartonella).  Of course, getting rid of these infections is not a piece of cake and they keep my immune system very inflamed.  In turn, my mast cells are always on edge.  While I have done many different therapies in the past, I currently am only taking chromolyn sodium (oral), d-hist (supplement), and doing urine injections once a week.  I’ve found that the longer I am on my bartonella treatment, the less often I react.  However, if the infection ramps up for any reason (full moon, treatment, sluggish detox pathways, etc…), things get much worse and I experience my throat closing much more often (a tell tale symptom of both bartonella and active mast cells).  To learn more, be sure to watch the video!

 

 

 

1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

2-Ingredient AIP “Flour” Tortillas (Coconut-Free)

HO-LY smokes guys! I am so so SO excited to share today’s recipe with you.  After creating my AIP-friendly empanadas (recipe coming soon), I decided to play around with my sweet potato dough and try out something I have been longing to try for awhile now: Tortillas.  As someone whose husband is Mexican, tortillas in the house is a pretty common appearance (mind you, they are corn tortillas).  However, since my husband starting eating primarily paleo/primal, the amount of tortillas eaten has lowered an incredible amount.  However, he sure does still love them.  Therefore, when I went to the store to buy more white sweet potato, I decided it was time to play around with a tortillas recipe.  At first, I wasn’t entirely sure how this recipe would work.  However, after making the dough, rolling it into little balls, flattening it with a rolling pin (a tortillas press would have worked FANTASTIC!), and slapping the dough onto a screaming hot pan, I knew I had hit the jack pot.  Not only do the tortillas get the burnt marks like normal tortillas, they actually puff up when you are heating them up.  If you have any experience with heating corn tortillas, you know that the air pockets that form are what tell you it is time to flip the tortilla on to its other side. Much to my joy and convenience, my husband happened to be home from work for a couple hours to try the tortillas.  While I was a bit nervous at first (he’s probably my biggest food critic – ever.), I was so happy when he came back with an empty plate for more.  Overall, the texture, taste, and consistency of these tortillas is unlike any paleo “tortilla” either of us have ever tried or seen.  Who knew you could make such a killer recipe out of two simple ingredients?!

AIP “Flour” Tortillas

Print Recipe

Yields 12-14 tortillas

Ingredients

  • 2.5 cups white sweet potato puree
  • 2 cups arrowroot flour
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • More arrowroot flour for rolling and shaping

Process

  • Roll dough into golf ball size balls
  • On a piece of parchment paper, press dough into a 6 inch, circle, similar to that of regular corn tortilla *Be sure to use plenty or arrowroot while doing this so it does not stick to the parchment.
  • Heat a dry skillet on medium-high until smoking hot.
  • Slap a tortillas on the hot skillet and allow to sit 20 seconds until firm enough to flip, then flip over and allow to sit on the skillet for 30-40 minute seconds until the tortillas puffs up.
  • Remove from heat and serve!

Notes: If you do not allow the tortillas to sit long enough for the first 20+ seconds, it will not puff up properly once turned onto the second side.

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

A Day in the Life of Beyond the Bite + a VIDEO

Hey ya’ll!  It’s Wednesday and I decided it was time to share the video I made for everyone last Thursday – A Day in the Life of Beyond the Bite.  There isn’t much to say about this video except for I hope it satisfies all your cravings of seeing what my real life is like (aka NOT that interesting).  A few notes I wanted to make about the video….My daily schedule is not always like this.  On Thursdays I am at school from 6:30am until 2:30pm and then home for the rest of the evening.  I mention eating a couple eggs with butter before working out and mention that it wasn’t enough.  For those curious what my eating schedule looks like, it is as the following:  Fast until the afternoon then eat eggs + butter – If I have already worked out, this snack is soon followed by dinner (the biggest meal of the day if I have been fasting).  If I have not worked out, this snack MAY be followed by a few more “snack” (i.e real food) items, then followed by a pause in my eating to work out.  If it sounds like I’m restricting calories – I’m not.  This is simply the nature of intermittent fasting.  While I technically have 6-8 hours to eat, I tend to end up eating my meals in a 4 hour time period.  This is mainly due to my schedule during the day and the fact that I don’t necessarily like eating RIGHT before bed.  I get all of the calories/macronutrients/micronutrients I need, just in a small time period.  I typically tend to feel best this way.  Of course, if I find myself hungrier than usual, I do change things up.  A note on my supplements…What I take typically varies month to month.  Not pictured is my low-histamine probiotic I take everyday, as well as my bartonella homeopathic treatment and diatomaceous earth.  Overall, that’s about it guys.  I don’t have too much else to say except for no judging please and don’t mind my semi-crappy videography skills (they’ll get better, I promise)

 

 

 

 

2 Timothy 1:13-14 “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

Keto Iced Bulletproof Butter Coffee

Is it too late in the summer to post an iced coffee recipe? Personally, I think it’s never too late. While I have been eating ketogenic for many years now, I had taken a break with my Bulletproof coffee due to Interstitial Symptoms from bartonella. However, my love for bulletproof coffee was spiked yet again on my honeymoon back in June when we visited the Bulletproof cafe in Santa Monica. I seriously have never gotten so excited about a Paleo/Keto-friendly restaurant. Not just because they were serving food I could actually eat and feel good about, but the food was actually quite phenomenal. Outside of the yummy food, my husband enjoyed a typical bulletproof coffee, while I sipped on the “No-Coffee Latte” (my version of this coming soon). Because it was so hot outside, my husband asked if they’d be able to make his Bulletproof coffee iced. Of course, they told him no, because the butter would not emulsify properly into the coffee. However, as a chef, I knew that there was a way around this as there are so many Different ways to brew your perfect coffee. The answer? Only heat a portion of the coffee, and only heat it very slightly. This small addition of heat allows the butter to mix in properly without clumping, while the remaining coffee, plus the addition of ice, make for an amazing iced coffee. Overall, this iced butter coffee reminds me a lot of an iced coffee frappuccino (without all the added junk). What’s not to love?!

Iced Bulletproof Butter Coffee

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 12 oz cold-brew coffee
  • 6-8 oz ice
  • 2 tbsp grass-fed butter

Process

  • Pour 4 oz of coffee into a sauce pot, place on the stove, and heat on medium heat until just warmed through.
  • Once warm, removed coffee from heat and place in a blender cup with butter, blending until frothy.
  • Once frothy, add in remaining coffee and blend until smooth.
  • Pour coffee over a mason jar filled with ice and enjoy!

 

 

Psalm 95:6-7 “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice…”

Lyme Life Unfiltered: Dealing with Die-off

The past 5 days have been exceptionally difficult for me.  After being on a new round of bartonella treatment for over a couple months now, this week was the first time I experienced significant die-off symptoms.  My symptoms began to flare at the end of last week, which made me realize that it was time for a treatment dose.  Of course, as anyone with lyme-related infections knows, treating the infection to get rid of symptoms is a catch22.  Instead of feeling relief from your symptoms, you inevitably feel a whole lot worse. On top of this, it was the full moon over the weekend (this is probably why the infection became active in the first place).   If you’re wondering what the fool moon and lyme have to do with one another, read this post here. All of this to say, the pat few days have been difficult.  While last week I felt very accomplished and on top of the world with everything I was getting done, by the time Sunday came I felt like a MAC truck had run over me.  I felt slow, sluggish, with delayed reaction time and an ache that radiated from my head to my toe.  I had to stamina, my head and eyes hurt constantly, I could never catch my breath, and the bottoms of my feet hurt tremendously.  What’s all this? Die-off. Bartonella die-off to be exact, and it something I deal with on a monthly basis, when exactly just depends on my treatment doses.

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Everytime I deal with die-off I feel like I’m going backwards.  It’s frustrating, to say the least.  However, over the years I’ve come to realize that I am not (usually) going backwards at all.  I am reminded that sometimes, in order to move forward, we first must take a step in the opposite directions.  Sounds silly, I know.  During times like these not only do the symptoms haunt me, so do the “what-ifs” and the unknown.  I don’t know if I’ll feel better in a day, a week, or a month.  There have been countless times where my symptoms just keep going, and going, and going, with no sight of relief in the near future.  It’s hard to not let myself get trapped by the pain, however, I must remember to keep my mindset in the right place.  Instead of remembering all of the times it took FOREVER to feel better, I do my best to remain optimistic that tomorrow WILL be a better day.  Of course, this is all easier said that done.  All of this brings me to today’s video, an unfiltered, “real life” look into my life dealing with Lyme.  It’s not glamorous or anything special, but I thought it needed to be shared as I know there are others going through similar things.

 

 

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

AIP Paleo Beef Cheek Tacos

We eat a lot of tacos in my house.  Beef tacos, egg tacos, chicken tacos, and so on and so forth.  If you can put it in a tortilla (or lettuce wrap), we’re eating it.  Today’s recipe is one that features a dish my family and I have been eating on a regular basis for some time now.  Before I dive into the specifics of the recipe, let’s just get one thing straight, beef cheek is amazing.  Never tried it?  You’re missing out.  Not only does it contain a TON of collagen and yummy fat, when cooked right, it becomes tender and succulent.  If you’re craving a fatty steak but don’t want to break the budget, go for cheek.  Beef cheek is about a quarter of the price than my all-time-favorite cut of beef: ribeye.  While my husband cooks a KILLER ribeye, eating them all the time isn’t really realistic at this point in life. Therefore, I decided to start experimenting with beef cheek.  I’ve made it a variety of different ways, however, this recipe is definitely the household favorite.  It’s simple, earthy, succulent, and just plain satisfying.  Not only that, but it is a meal that is perfect for when you are in a time crunch.  I can’t tell you how many times I have made beef cheek on nights where I am either too exhausted to cook, or simply don’t want to spend all my time in the kitchen.  Just set it, forget it, and once cooked, serve over my homemade AIP-friendly tortillas (coming soon) or, my personal favorite, on iceberg lettuce cups.  Enjoy!

AIP Beef Cheek Tacos

Print Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 2-2.5 lb beef cheek
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 oz Bragg’s apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cups homemade bone broth
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1.5 tbsp Mexican oregano flakes
  • 1.5 tsp ground garlic
  • 1.5 tsp granulated onion
  • Sliced red onion, for serving
  • Sliced pink radish, for serving
  • Avocado, for serving
  • Fresh cilantro, for serving
  • Fresh lime, for serving

Process

  • Cut beef cheek into like-size pieces
  • Place in the bowl of an Instapot and cover with olive oil, sea salt, ginger, oregano, garlic, and onion.
  • Pour in apple cider vinegar and bone broth, cover, and cook on meat/stew setting for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the Instapot bowl from the heat, chop into bite-size pieces and serve with red onion, radish, avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime!

 

 

Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”

 

 

My Chronic Lyme Experience with a MediPort

In today’s video I decided I wanted to talk about the little round thing underneath my skin on the right side of my chest. Aka my port.  Otherwise known as a “MediPort,” this device is in the shape of a circle, with a catheter connecting to one of my main arteries.  It sits right below the surface of my skin, with a septum (I like to think of it as a cork) that you then stick the IV needle into.  I have had my port since August 25th of 2014.  I know this because I post this recipe for Paleo Egg Mcmuffins, a recipe I made for my dad since we had to drive early to NY to get my port implanted (please excuse the poor image quality for this recipe!).  Overall, my experience with a port has been pretty smooth.  The most difficulties I had with it were when it was first put in, as my right arm decided it didn’t want to move or function properly.  I’ve never had an infection, and the majority of discomfort I experienced with it occurred around surgery.  Aside from this, I experience(d) very few “phantom” pains, and quite honestly, forget it is even there most days.  When I first got my port I averaged about 100 lbs.  I weigh much more than that now, and have gained quite a bit of muscle in my upper body.  For this reason, my port has become less obvious to the eye, and typically is pretty hidden from view.  That being said, when I first got the port it was a site for sore eyes.  Many individuals would stare at me like I had an alien attached to my body.  However, in the end, it was so so worth it.  IV’s became a lot easier and I stopped dreading the once painful search to find a vein in my arm that wanted to cooperate for the day.  It is for these reasons I say that getting a port was “the best thing that happened to me” while dealing with Lyme.  To hear more about my experiences with a MediPort, be sure to check out my Youtube video below!

 

Psalm 119:14 “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”

Workout of the Week: Bodyweight Leg Burner + VIDEO

 

What’s up guys! I finally got my Youtube channel up and working again (well sorta, still some kinks to work out, and some videos to re-do, but we’ll get there), and decided it was time for another quick workout video. Today’s is all about the legs.  Because, well who doesn’t love strong legs?  All of the movements are pretty basic, and do not require any equipment (just omit the resistance band for regular jump squats and you’re set).  It’s a perfect little burner that will get your heart rate up without completely demolishing the rest of your body.  Depending on where you are in your health, you can always increase the work load to 5 rounds instead of 3.  That being said, my goal with these workouts was to make working out for those with a chronic illness LESS daunting.  I was planning on posting a video all about my experience + tips on exercising with Lyme, however, we are still having some technical issues with that one.  I’ll get behind the camera soon to answer all your questions, but in the meantime, enjoy your Saturday workout!

Be sure to like and subscribe for future content!

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 “But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

Autoimmune Paleo Protocol Pizza Crust, No-mato Sauce, & Mozzarella Cheese

 

 

 

Hola folks! I’m excited to finally launch Beyond the Bite’s Member Club with ya’ll.  After a complete blog re-design, and a few new additions, I figured there was no better time than now to start! In the near future.  If you haven’t learned already, being a member will open up a variety of exclusive content for your viewing.  Also included will be extra special giveaways, video tutorials, and more!

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Today’s recipe was inspired by all of my faithful followers over on Instagram.  While I have not necessarily been sharing 100% AIP compliant recipes, I figured I owed ya’ll one.  So here it is! The no-mato sauce is derived from my Sloppy Joe’s recipe, while the mozzarella is a variation on the beloved zucchini cheese.  I have to be honest, I was first a bit skeptical about how all of these alternative recipes would come together to make something that even somewhat resembled a pizza (especially as someone who isn’t a big fan of beets).  However, I am here to tell you today that after baking in the oven the pizza turned out smelling and tasting similar to that of a “real” pizza.  The cheese and sauce lend a nice tang like a typical tomato sauce would, while the crust has a good garlic-y after taste.  Overall, as someone who cannot eat pizza and has not in years, I was not disappointed. I don’t believe you will be either!  Please enjoy the video tutorials posted below, and as always, stay tuned for some new great content!

 

Psalm 149:4 “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.”

My Journey with the Autoimmune Protocol + a Video

I get asked a lot if I still follow the Autoimmune Protocol.  Therefore, I decided it was perfecting timing to make a video capturing some of my journey on the AIP. While I currently eat a modified AIP + Keto diet, this was not always the case.  Many years ago when I was introduced to Paleo/Primal eating, I realized that not all of the “Paleo approved” foods settled well with my body.  The most obvious contenders were nuts, seeds, and nightshades.  It was from there that I found AIP, of which I stuck to for many years.  On top of eliminating foods, I also get quite a few questions regarding pain management on the AIP, as NSAIDS and other pain killers are prohibited.  I will be talking about this is very soon in a future video, but for now, here is a just a snippet into my life on the Autoimmune Protocol.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or direct message me on Instagram (More likely I will respond here as I am very active on IG).  Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel for more content!

 

 

 

Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

My Major Treatments for Chronic Lyme + Video

It’s been a long time coming.  Honestly the amount of treatments I have done, whether medicines, herbs, injections, IV’s, etc….is such a great list I cannot remember all of them.  I truly wish I did so I could share it with anyone on a similar journey as myself!  However, the major ones that I do remember I will cover in the video below.

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It is also important to take note that on top of all the treatments, ruling out food allergies, histamine intolerance, and finding the best way to heal my gut from SIBO and other infections has also been incredibly important.  I certainly would not be where I am today if it were not for the innumerable elimination diets and specific protocols (Paleo, AIP, strict SIBO diet, etc…) that I did throughout the years of being ill.  While my illness is not as “severe” as it used to be, I am still receiving treatments, taking supplements, and eating according to a combo of AIP & Keto.

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Most all of the discoveries in my health were done through a variety of functional medicine doctors.  Some were endocrinologists, some were neurologists, and some were just straight up FMD.  I also saw a variety of holistic doctors.  All had an important role in my journey and all had a special impact in where I am today.  Some of the treatments I mention had a substantial gap in between then.  This is due to the fact that, as in many other cases, healing from Lyme is not necessarily a time-effective endeavor.  For awhile, a specific treatment would work, however, after X amount of days (or) months, it would randomly stop working.  It was then our job to find the “next best thing” specifically for my body, and take it head on.  There were also many months were I found myself at a standpoint in healing.  However, there was one major treatment that helped me break through that wall. Stay tuned to learn more! Note: While there are a few others, many of the treatments mentioned were to fight Lyme and co-infections.  I included a few exceptions simply because they were vital in my healing.

 

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Psalm 112:5 “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”

2018 Blog Update & News

Hey everyone, I wanted to drop in real quick and post about some changes that will be coming to Beyond the Bite.  I just recently got married and have found myself to be in a big transition period in many areas of my life.  Since the blog has always been a place for me to share my journey with Lyme and connect with others, I decided it needed to come along with me on during this time of transition. Come August I will be back at school to complete my degree and apply for PA school.  You may have seen me mention it in the past, but it is my dream to have and (or) work in a facility that uses both food and medicine to help treat individuals and their health complications.  During the years that I was sick in bed, sitting on the couch, or staring at hospital ceilings, I made lists of all the things I was using to heal and thus have at the future facility.  I’ve been set on achieving this goal ever since and began my journey towards it with the completion of culinary school.  From there I began my personal chef business, A Clean Slate.  While I helped many people heal through the power of food, it is now time for me to continue towards this ultimate healing facility through becoming a PA.  Though my husband has an amazing and flourishing functional fitness gym, Fit Force USA, I am going to be honest and say that without a second source of income, the continuing of treatment for my Lyme is a bit difficult. Therefore, because I will not be cooking as much for A Clean Slate, I have decided to move forward with Beyond the Bite as more than simply a blog, but a business. Of course, having the funds to pay for treatment and school is one reason I am doing so, however, it has always been on my heart to really pursue the growth of Beyond the Bite’s community, so that is what I am going to do.  Soon, the blog will be updated and it will have a whole new fresh look and feel to it (note: if you are having trouble accessing certain pages, this is why).  Along with this change will come the launch of my new Beyond the Bite Membership Club.  Becoming a member will mean you have access to exclusive content, recipes, video tutorials, behind the scenes, and even consults and personalized meal plans.  It will be a place of great fun, support, and inspiration. I cannot wait to start growing this community bigger and bigger to connect more and more individuals like yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

My Paleo Ketogenic Vanilla Wedding Cake with Vanilla Buttercream

The recipe that I am sharing with you today is a great example of where I am currently in my healing journey. No, it is not 100% AIP compliant, and no, it is not “coconut free.” However, on June 2nd I had the joy of marrying the love of my life, and when the wedding venue said they’d accommodate my dietary needs, I knew exactly what I had to do: create a new recipe. Now, if you’re like myself, the all-time chef/baker of the household, rarely, if EVER, will anyone bake something for you. Most days, I’m the one in the kitchen taking dessert requests, not the other way around. While baking is completely therapeutic for me, I find that being around all of the ingredients and having to taste test things before they are finished, somewhat dampens any excitement to eat the final product. This may just be me, who knows. Needless to say, when I found out I would be served a cake that fit all my dietary needs, I was ecstatic! While most all allergen friendly desserts make my stomach a little, well let’s just say, bloated, I decided that YES, I was going to eat cake on my wedding. Heck yeah. It’s my wedding, and it only happens once. Hence, today’s recipe was born. Nonetheless, I don’t wanna look bloated in my wedding dress! After all, I spent a whole weekend looking at Wedding Dresses in Atlanta. I needed to look my best! Though I was a bit nervous eating a baked good that I didn’t actually bake, the cake actually turned out quite well. Was it because it was my wedding night and I was on cloud 9? Possibly. However, I can definitely say I ate my fare share of it when we got back to our hotel room that night. Sadly, it had to stay there, as we were flying out to California the next morning. However, this may have been a good thing, as I would have certainly finished it off on the plane ride over.

Vanilla Wedding Cake

Print Recipe

Yields: 1, 2 tiered mini cake

Cake Ingredients:

Buttercream Ingredients:

Process

  • For the cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl, then slowly whisk in wet ingredients.
  • Grease and line 2, 6 inch cake pans with parchment paper.
  • Pour batter in prepared cake pans and place in preheated oven, allowing to bake for 35 minutes.
  • Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before placing in fridge to cool completely.
  • For the frosting, cream butter until completely smooth.
  • Beat in salt, coconut oil, coconut cream, and vanilla until combined.
  • Slowly add in powdered Swerve and beat until smooth and fluffy.
  • Once the cake is cool, remove from cake pans and frost accordingly.

 

 

Psalm 119:7 “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.”

My Journey With Lyme & Fitness + New Weekly Workout Videos

Two or three workouts a day? Yep, I was that girl. I didn’t workout to burn calories or lose weight. Who cared about those things? All I was interested in was how different methods of training could improve my performance in tennis, lacrosse, and anywhere else for that matter. I loved the way it made me feel, and truly, I just loved being strong. Some of this is because ever since I can remember (quite literally), my mom has always been one to workout. Whether it was getting up at 5 AM to go attend a spin or Pilates class before my dad went to work, or doing the Nordic track and step aerobics in the living room, she was always on the move. Simply put, movement is in my blood.

That being said, I was not exactly the most athletic pre-teen. I was tall for my age, what some would consider “full,” but not necessarily “fat,” and just overall not entirely comfortable in my skin. Though I had been skiing since I was five, had dabbled in gymnastics (no bueno for a tall chick), and rode horseback quite often, it wasn’t until I reunited with my love for tennis that things started to change. I began having St Louis Tennis Lessons regularly and wow, I felt the difference! My coach, in a nutshell, was a beast. She was one of those women who have multiple children, works full time, is involved in pretty much everything you can think of, teaches tennis all day, oh yeah, and runs marathons “on the side.” I mean, who does that? Not many. While some may find it a bit crazy, I found it inspiring. I started reading tennis blogs and following online workouts, like the workouts on r racquets, and I got so involved. Doing something tennis related was the highlight of my day. From there, my love for fitness only grew. My goal of becoming the best at what I did was quickly turning into a reality, until one day it all came to a screeching halt.

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In 2011, after a week off at summer camp, I decided it was time to get back on track with my workouts. Taking it easy, I went for a mere two-mile run. Yet as I neared the driveway to the beach house, I started seeing black spots in the corners of my eyes. By the time I made it to the shower those spots were closing in on me, and by the time I made it to my bed, my world had turned completely black. Along with the blackness came full-fledged bodily pain, extreme exhaustion, brain fog, and the inability to see straight or talk clearly. Though I was certain it would all pass in a matter of days, it only got worse. Fast forward a few months and the verdict was clear, Lyme Disease had unknowingly taken over my body. One of the first major conditions that presented itself was autonomic neuropathy, causing me to have zero blood pressure. From there, I spent my days in bed, crawling to and from the bathroom, unable to see what was in front of me. If I wasn’t in bed, it was because one of my parents had carried me downstairs to the couch. I went from being the girl who did three workouts a day, to the girl who had to be assisted in attempting to walk across the hallway. With both arms gripped around my mom’s waist, it was a good day if I was still conscious by the time we got to the end of the hallway.

The months proceeding were extremely trying times, as I found a great deal of my identity in fitness. Yet after having no blood pressure and a compressed celiac artery that left me a mere 83 lbs at 5’8, it felt as though everything I had come to know and love had been stripped from me. Eventually, a long while later, after a variety of medications and treatments, I was able to reunite with fitness. With daily stretching sessions, rebounding on a mini trampoline, short walks, and the use of two yoga DVD’s that my aunt gifted me, I was able to start my new “workouts.” This is where the learning process between exercise and my Lyme-struck body began, something I am still perfecting to this day.

~~~~~~~~

So here I am today, with a wealth of knowledge about exercise and my body that only could have been learned through dealing with the Lyme. All of that to say, I now believe that exercising with a chronic illness should be done in a fashion as to not be a burden to the body, rather to be a form of support and an avenue of healing. I believe exercise in and of itself is one of the most powerful tools that can be used to do so. You may ask why I was (and am) so persistent on doing some sort of physical activity every day. The answer is simple: it is a form of therapy. Doing those yoga videos and walking on that treadmill was not simply to burn calories. No, they were a form of pain management. Finally, I had found something that, for just a small portion of my day, was able to distract my mind from the chronic pain. I know some people who find relief from their medical marijuana and that some of you reading might benefit from the information that can be found at this link, but I’m not sure that this is the option for me. It turns out that, for me, exercise was not only (and still is) mentally healing, but also emotionally. While not everyone may be a workout “freaks” like I used to be, it is for this reason I find physical activity to be essential for anyone to healing from a chronic illness.

Now in days, I am blessed to say I can make it to my husband’s functional fitness gym every week. Some days I am one of the strongest females in the class, yet others I decide I am simply there for movement therapy and thus take easy and do not push my limits. Because it is my nature to want to be the best at what I do, I have to remind myself that it is OK to miss a day, not to be the strongest, fittest, or fastest. Cutting myself some slack is something that I am still mastering. Overall, balancing exercise and chronic illness can be extremely tricky. However, it forces you to be more in tune with your body, and for that reason, is something that will benefit not only the present but also the future.

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The fitness videos I will be posting will be quick, simple, and able to be modified for varying strength levels. I remember being so sick and so weak, that even the “beginner” workout videos I found online were simply too hard for my body. I have kept this in mind when planning the workouts, and aim to start with the easiest movement variations possible, while then including those that require more skill and strength. You will notice that many of the videos also focus on core strength. I believe this is an essential component of overall bodily strength and stature. When dealing with chronic pain day in and day out, it is very easy to let our shoulders slump, our posture diminishes, and our spine is out of alignment. Focusing on our core in a variety of different exercises helps minimize these issues. In the end, I hope that sharing these videos will both help, encourage, and inspire everyone that they reach. While it may seem like a daunting thing at first to tackle, just remember to never be afraid to push your body’s limits here and there. It may take some time to figure it out, however, this is truly the only way we learn and grow as individuals.

Be sure to like and subscribe for future videos!

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”

Chronic Lyme Disease & Keto + a VIDEO

 

 

 

I get a great deal of questions regarding my journey with the ketogenic diet, which is why I decided it was time to start doing some videos to catch everyone up on my life with Lyme. Though I have tried a variety of different diets and treatments for Lyme, the ketogenic diet is something that has stayed.  Overall, it has truly been essential in my healing.  In today’s video I cover three of the most frequently asked questions regarding keto, so be sure to tune in and check it out!  While you are there, make sure to like and subscribe for future content, and if you have any other questions, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.

For more info, see my keto recipes & resources

 

Subscribe to Beyond the Bite

 

 

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

Bartonella, IC, & Alkaline Coffee

 

You may be wondering what Bartonella, a lyme co-infection, Interstitial Cystitis, and amazing coldbrew coffee have to do with one another? The answer is, well, not entirely much, at least at surface level.  However, if you deal with a chronic illness or health condition, and (or) LOVE coffee, this post is for you.

B is for Bartonella 

First, let’s start with the cause: Bartonella. Similar to Lyme itself, co-infections (Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Mycoplasma, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasma, & Tularemia) can wreak havoc on any part of the body that they want. Bartonella, a gram-negative bacteria that has two cell walls (aka double the protection against anything aimed to kill it), is known to target individual’s bladder.  In doing so, this bacteria causes extreme inflammation, typically leading to a condition known as Interstitial Cystitis.  By Western Medicine terms, this is one of those “IBS” diagnosis.  Aka they do not usually know a cause, and do not necessarily have something that will “cure” the issue.  For many like myself, individuals with bladder inflammation are referred to a urologist, who then officially diagnoses them with IC.  Typical “treatment” for this condition is an elimination diet of all aggravating food and beverages, a long with a lengthy list of medications one can try in hopes to ease the inflammation in the healing process.   While I can not speak for all IC individuals, based off of my personal experiences, lengthy internet research on personal blogs, online threads, and medical articles, these, and other “treatment” options do not prove to be very useful.  According to the Interstitial Cystitis Association, 3-6% of women (a # not including men) in the U.S. struggle with IC. This may not seem like a lot, however, if you are one of these 3-8 million individuals, this is far too big of a percentage.   In a nutshell, IC is otherwise known as “painful bladder syndrome,” a condition where one experiences constant bladder and pelvic pain, as well as pressure. It feels like a bladder or urinary tract infection, but sadly (yes sadly, those things are treatable), it is not.  Overall, your bladder hurts, like all the time, a hurt you can never seem to get relief from.

My Experience 

While not everyone with Interstitial Cystitis has an underlying Bartonella infection, in the world-of-Lyme, there certainly are a great percentage of folks that do.  Personally, I struggled with symptoms for almost a year before my functional medicine doctor and I pinpointed Bartonella as the cause.  For this reason, the elimiation diets, medications, and all the bladder supporting herbs and supplements in the world never helped the awfulness that is IC.   It was not until I started a homeopathic treatment to target the co-infection that I started seeing a reduction in my symptoms.  Fast forward to the present, I am still currently on this homeopathic treatment through my functional medicine doctor.  I did two full rounds, and due to my body not handling it very well (more like, at all), my doctor has decided to put me back on round one, before moving up to the higher dosage.  My hope and prayer is that the longer I am on this, the less my symptoms will be present.  Some days I have no pain, some it is on and off, and some it is blatantly there, for no apparent reason.

So, there it is…Bartonella and Interstitial Cystitis.  But wait, what does coffee have anything to do with this?  Well, as many of you on healing diets know, coffee is a no-go.  For some the reason may be the caffeine, for others it may be the acidity and how it affects their gut.  As someone who had to take coffee out of their diet due to neurological damage from Lyme, it was extremely exciting to be able to re-introduce it after a lengthy trial with AIP (the autoimmune protocol).  However, once the IC symptoms hit, coffee (along with anything acidic in nature) was like repeatedly sticking hot, stinging needles on my abdomen.  Even typical coldbrew coffees that claimed to not be acidic, still caused my bladder to flare. It was a sad day, but I found myself swearing off my beloved coffee forever.  For those of you who love coffee, you know how truly hard this can be, even after the caffeine withdrawls wear off.  While I knew it was, in quite a few areas, best for my health, not having my daily cup of coffee was hard.  I never thought I’d be able to truly enjoy it again (aka without pain), until one day on vacation when my husband stumbled across a gem at a quaint Italian deli in Newport, CA.

Created by a man who had dealt with health issues that kept him from enjoying coffee, this coldbrew is not just ANY coldbrew, it’s alkaline.  Say what?! Yep, Alkaline Coffee Company coffee is completely non-acidic.  When I first tasted the coffee I did so simply to compare it to all the other coldbrew I had.  It did not have an ounce of bitterness, and it was smooth, oh so smooth, like I was not even drinking coffee.  After looking at the label I realized that was because it had a PH of 8 (anything less than 7 is considered acidic).  Sounds crazy doesn’t it?  I was skeptical at first that it was truly alkaline.  However, I knew if it wasn’t, my bladder would definitely tell me.  Turns out, my highly sensitive body did not flare, one bit, and I am overjoyed to say I was able to enjoy, actually ENJOY my first cup of coffee in almost a year.  Not only was the coffee non-acidic, it did not do a job on my nervous system. While I felt happy and alert, I did not get jittery or spacey like most coffees make me feel.  Due to such a positive response from my overly-reactive body, I reached out to the company to see if they sold their coffee outside of So.Cal.  Sadly, because the business is growing so quickly (not-so-sad), they are only able to sell in the close vicinity of their production center.  Despite this, I am here to say, if you live in California, or for goodness sake, even near CA, you must make getting a hold of this coffee a priority in your life.  If you are like my husband and do not have a chronic health condition, your body will still happily benefit from this amazing beverage. 

 

Disclaimer: No, I am not getting paid to write this, it just really is that great.

 

 

 

Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

What Beating Lyme Looks Like

It has almost been 4 years since launching Beyond the Bite.  I originally began my blog to keep family and friends updated with my current health situation and treatments.  When I started Beyond the Bite I was what I now term “really sick.”  While I am still technically “sick,” I am definitely not as “sick.”  However, the variety of health complications that have occurred over the past 6 months have had me thinking… If I am still not completely healthy after years of intensive treatment, what does beating chronic Lyme Disease even mean? What does it really look like?

The “Curable” Incurable Disease

Chronic Lyme Disease – It is one of a few diseases considered both an autoimmune and neurological illness.  Whether it is “curable” or not remains a debate.  Individuals like myself, who aim to remain optimistic about their bodies, choose to believe, in a sense, it is curable.  That being said, while my body is light years ahead of where it was even just two years ago, things are certainly not 100%. There are good days, and there are bad days. There are days where I say to myself “wow, I really am defying the odds, I really am beating this awful disease.” And then there are the not-so-fantastic days.  The days where brain fog is so dense I can hardly see straight, and the pain that radiates from inside my bones makes me want to curl up in a fetal position, fall asleep, and never wake up.

Since I can remember, my treatments have changed every 3-6 months to treat something different in my body. It’s the same old story…Once I finally get one condition under control, another, entirely new issue pops up.  Just in the past 6 months my once doormat bartonella co-infection has become very active and ugly again.  On top of that, I developed new infections, and was also officially diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, yet another disease deemed “incurable” by conventional medicine.  So does it currently feel like I’m beating Lyme? Not one bit.

Yet somehow I still manage to “do life.”  I run my own business, workout, am in a serious relationship with my soon-to-be husband, enjoy outings with friends and family, take care of the kids, shop, clean, shower, and do practically everything that a “normal” person does. In perspective,  there were many years where all of these things were not only impossible, but tiring to even think about.  So, when I look at life in this light, the answer is clear.  Am I beating Lyme? You betchya. Does this mean I don’t ever get weary, beat down, discouraged, hopeless, depressed, frustrated, and angry? Not at all.

Yet still, this illness, does not define me, and while everyone’s journey looks different, this is what beating Lyme looks like for me.  It’s not pretty. It’s not fun. And sometimes, it sure doesn’t feel like I’m beating it. However, there is a difference between feeling defeating, and actually being defeated.  To fully accept defeat is to give up, give in, and not go on to see another day.  But to overcome!  That is to take one more step, it is to breathe one more breath, and it is to get up one more morning, even one you do not wish to meet.  While you may be in the trenches, the reality of the situation is you are here, and therefore you are choosing to overcome. When you choose to overcome, you become stronger, and in the end, will most certainly beat whatever obstacle it is that lies in front of you.

 

 

Jeremiah 17: 7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Brussel Slaw with Honey Mustard and Almonds

Hey friends! I know, I know…long time, no see. As you must have guessed, life has been PRETTY busy.  That being said, I’ve never forgotten about ya’ll, and think about posting on the blog almost daily.  Aside from all of the things that consume my day as I learn the ropes of true “adulting,” the main obstacle I have faced when wanting to post on here is that I have absolutely zero new pictures of the food I have been creating lately.  My handy-dandy camera has been stashed in the back of my car, and, well, hasn’t moved in months.  It’s not that I don’t WANT to take pictures of my food, it’s just that it seems like there is no time.  Today, however, as I am stuck home due to my car being in the shop, I decided I had no excuse but to sit down, give myself a half of a hour, and quickly share one of the many favored recipes I have made for my meal prep service (A Clean Slate LLC).  As a chef, I am creating atleast 3-5 new recipes  a week. The problem is, most of them are stored in the amazing file box that is my brain, hardly ever making it down on paper.  For this reason, the amounts for mixing this recipe are not exact.  Instead, I need ya’ll to channel your inner chef and use your sight and taste to determine the best consistency of the slaw.  Overall, it truly is such a simple recipe.  With a homemade honey mustard dressing, a little black pepper, slivered almonds, and brussel sprouts easily shredded in your food processor, this slaw couldn’t come together any quicker.  If you are not so sure about brussel sprouts, especially RAW brussels, this recipe has been known to convert many folks who thought they would never touch (let a lone love), a brussel sprout again.  So go ahead, channel your inner chef and enjoy this light, refreshing, yet very satisfying dish.

Brussel Sprout Slaw with Honey Mustard and Almonds

Ingredients

  • 8 oz extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 oz apple cider vinegar
  • 4 oz pure honey
  • 4 oz dijon mustard
  • 4 garlic cloves (or) 2 tbsp granulated garlic
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 tbsp black pepper, ground
  • 1 lb brussel sprouts, shredded

Process 

  • Place olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust taste according to your liking.
  • Trim the bottom of the brussels, cut in half, and place through a running food processor fitted with the shredding blade.
  • Transfer shredded brussel sprouts into a large mixing bowl.
  • Toss the black pepper and slivered almonds in with the brussels until evenly distributed.
  • Pour in prepared honey mustard dressing and toss until the brussels are fully coated, with a distinct honey-mustard flavor when tasted.

 

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.”

My Favorite Nashville Paleo-Friendly Restaurants

Being a chef, I love to cook. Obviously. However, just like with anyone, there comes the day(s) that I don’t want to cook. No, I don’t even want to step foot inside the kitchen. This goes well, until I’m hungry, and then I am caught in a predicament. If I cook, I know the food will be good. It will be what I like, and I am sure that my body will not adversely react to it. On the other hand, I’m so tired of cooking that anything that I might whip up sounds terribly bland and unappetizing. Most days, unless my fiancé, the one and only Chef Mez decides to spoil me with one of his amazing dishes, this leaves me with only one other option….go out. Going out to any restaurant with the amount of food allergies I have (see previous posts on MCAD) is quite challenging. In fact, more times than not I’d rather choose eating “in” then going “out” simply because I can almost guarantee I’ll feel better afterwards. But, as they say, sometimes you just have to “live a little,” and this is when, yes, I “go out.” Since moving to Nashville, TN, I have had the privilege of tasting some fantastic food. Due to being such an up and coming city, many restaurants are sensitive to people’s dietary wants and needs. While there are a few posts out there on Google search about Paleo restaurants in Nashville, I decided I’d write up a post for all of my personal followers. So, without further ado, here are some of MY top picks for paleo-friendly restaurants in Music City.

5th and Taylor

I’ve been to 5th and Taylor for a few different occasions, including both dinner and Sunday brunch. This lovely restaurant is located in what is known as Germantown in downtown Nashville. Outside of the outstanding food and service, 5th and Taylor has an amazing atmosphere that will draw you in the second you walk through the doors. Once arrived, simply let you server know that you are gluten-free (or) celiac, and they are certain to guide you towards which items are naturally gluten-free on the menu. Some servers have even gone so far as to bring me special sides, while also volunteering to speak to the chef about seeing what substitutions could be made in selected dishes. What I also love about this restaurant is that 5th and Taylor also sources many of their meats from local farmers. Some of my favorite dishes include the bacon wrapped quail appetizer, grilled romaine salad, leg of lamb, and the duck’am, served with pears, smoked cabbage, and red wine gravy. I also highly recommend the mixed grill entree, which features venison, andouille sausage, and an amazing duck confit that will have you licking your lips with satisfaction. In the end 5th in Taylor is certainly upscale, yet with a relaxed atmosphere perfect for a special date night.

Butchertown Hall

Much as the name implies, Butchertown Hall is one of the more meat-centric restaurants in Nashville. It is located in East Nashville, not too far down the road from 5th and Taylor itself. It too sources many of its meats from local farmers, making it that much more tasty. That being said, Butchertown is certainly able to set itself apart. While not all items are gluten-free, servers are very good at accommodating one’s needs. The atmosphere is fun, business casual, and laid back. It is a bit louder than some restaurants, so if you are looking for an intimate date night, I’d seek somewhere else (see above). However, the food itself should give you all the reason in the world to come back. After a few visits, I can easily say that the oak-roasted marrow bones are my absolute favorite on the menu, while their 12 oz ribeye is in a close second. They have a great salad selection, and a variety of “street plate” entrees featuring a variety of their wood smoked meats, including brisket, sausage, turkey, and more. I’ve also ordered one of their taco plates, with lettuce cups substituted for the tortillas. Overall, If you are looking for a fun place to bring your paleo & not-so-paleo friends, Butchertown is your place. I certainly can’t wait to go back and I only wish they had something like the loyalty program that can be found here https://revelsystems.com/features/loyalty-programs/ in place!

Steadfast Coffee

Steadfast coffee isn’t just a cool, Nashville-hipster coffee joint in East Nashville. Nope. While they do serve exceptional coffee (and might I just recommend the “Atlas”), they also have a small kitchen in the back where they prepare surprisingly delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. What I love about Steadfast is that the chefs are always very innovative, and easily break the mold for standard coffee-house fare. The atmosphere is very family-friendly, relaxed, and perfect for those looking to sit in a nook and do computer work (as I’ve been here many times to grab an iced coffee and do just that). Though the menu does contain a number of sandwiches, the chefs are typically willing to accommodate any of your requests, including putting what would be a sandwich, on a bed of greens. Because it is such a small joint compared to a regular restaurant, you are practically guaranteed satisfaction, as everyone from the baristas, to servers, and chef are all very tight knit. Though their menu changes seasonally, some of my favorite dishes include the green salad and poached eggs with crispy leeks (yes, you heard me right, and they’re amazing). In the end, if you are looking for a good cup of Joe and somewhere to grab a quick BUT truly delicious bite to eat, stop in to Steadfast. They’ve got you covered.

AMOT Eatery

I had the pleasure of dining at AMOT, which stands for “A Matter of Taste,” for my birthday last year. Unlike the previous restaurants I have mentioned, AMOT is a 100% gluten-free facility. It is located in East Nashville (surprise, surprise) and has a calm, cool, and collected type of atmosphere. The servers are great with letting you customize your dish to specific dietary needs. Overall, with a bright and airy feel, this place is one of those where you can really sit back and relax, no matter who you are with. Though I went for brunch, they have just recently come out with a dinner menu. Because AMOT is 100% gluten-free, it is a restaurant you can feel completely safe and at home in. On the other hand, their dishes certainly don’t TASTE “gluten-free,” making it a place all individuals are sure to enjoy. In the end, I’ve only been to AMOT once, but it is certainly a place I look forward to going back to.

 

For more good eats around Music City be sure to follow me on Instagram @Beyondthebite4life (or) @acleanslatecatering

 

 

 

Psalm 121:7-8 “The Lord will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

A 2017 Update: My Life and My Future

Life has been ever changing since I moved to Nashville.  I never thought I’d see the day I was so busy I’d hardly be able to post on here.  However, after it being almost a month since my last recipe, I decided I owed all my faithful followers yet another personal update.  Afterall, being able to serve and help ya’ll is one of the reasons why I went to culinary school in the first place, which is why this special story is one I think I should share. I first wrote those post many months back.  However, with such a busy schedule and may new recipes to post, it got lost back in the drafts.  Needless to say, it remains just as important as ever.  That being said, If you are not one that is very interested in my personal life, then feel free to skip on over. Though I initially wrote it as part of my Chronic Lyme & Functional Fitness series, I decided it needed to stand on its own.  So, without further ado, here is one of the main reasons why my life has gotten undoubtedly busier, better, and brighter than ever. Here is the story of how I met my fiancé.

Busier

I started culinary school the fall of 2015.  Fast forward to May, 2017, and I am officially graduated and neck-deep in cooking for my new business, A Clean Slate.  A great deal has changed in my life since the start of school, the beginning of last year’s spring semester being where much of that change began.   April 5th was the beginning of my spring semester, the first class being American Regional cuisine.   The routine was the same as always.  Get to school 20 minutes early, put my belongings in the locker room, put my neck tie and non-stick shoes on, high-tail it to the classroom, talk to the chef about getting a stool to sit on, get my apron and cap on, take my knives out, and line up for attendance.  As always, about a quarter of the classmates were late, which is no surprise (me on the other hand, am way to type A to ever let that happen). As Chef went down the name list in alphabetical order, he got to letter “M” and paused…Robbie? or should I say Chef Mez?  Where is he?”  Two minutes later, the so-called “Chef Mez” came rushing in the door, all suited up in his uniform and ready to roll.

Better

Now, if there is one thing you should understand before I go any further, it is that going to an art institute means there are some, well, interesting people.  Some of the classes I have been in have been a motley crew to say the least.  So, when it’s the first day of class, the first thing we students do are, 1. look for familiar faces 2. naturally gravitate towards those that seem like they have their crap together (aka this means there is a lower likelihood you won’t be forced to clean their dishes while they sit in the corner and Snapchat), and 3. look around for any normal, attractive looking people.  OK, maybe I’m just a bit conceited and number three isn’t true for everyone.  But heck, I am at school, right? If there is an attractive person in my class that ends up being a bomb cook and is genuine inside and out, well, then it’s almost a done deal (just joking of course, or maybe not? I promise I’m not that shallow). So, with all that said, you can imagine where my mind went when the infamous “Chef Mez” walked into class. Of course, it truly was a rough day. I was emotionally drained, in pain, tired, my eyes were swollen, and I was just there to cook, all business, no time to mess around. It was game time folks. No nonsense.  After lineup, the individuals at my table set up shop and we started cooking.  I was focused as heck, with not much more thought about the mysterious “Chef Mez” over at the table to my far left.  However, apparently the same could not be said on his end. The next day, my interest was peeked again.  Not because Chef Mez was late (though he was, again, haha, but for legitimate reasons I must say), but because Chef kept mentioning how Robbie knew about the health benefits of certain foods we were using that week.  “Robbie should know, this grain has good fiber and protein content.”Yeah, if you need to go the bathroom, this is where it’s at” Chef Mez joked.  Of course, no female in the room really laughed at his potty joke.  I on the other hand, couldn’t help but giggle because who are we kidding, bowel movements are a true gift from God when you battle a chronic illness (TMI? Oh well)

Brighter

As I said earlier, this man was very mysterious.  He looked like he was always on a mission, was quick on his feet, and seemed like the type of person that, if something went wrong in the kitchen (or anywhere for that matter), could handle it.  It was clear from the beginning he was a very capable person, not to mention an amazing chef. I could tell by his cooking style that he thought outside of the box, and as one who lives by this moto, it was very attractive.  Add that to the dark complexion and muscles, and I was sold. Again, kidding, but you know what I’m saying. To be honest, I didn’t think of him as someone who would notice me, maybe because (despite my comments above), I wasn’t really in the mood. Finds out, this came across in my facial expressions greatly,  a look later to be deemed my “blue steel” face.

My Life

 Fast forward a week later, while I am browsing on my Beyond the Bite Instagram, I notice I have a few new followers, one being “chefmez.”  I looked at his pictures and thought, man, this guy really looks familiar.  Then it hit me, this has to be the guy from American Regional class.  But is it? I honestly hadn’t thought too much about him since the ending of our class the past week.  What did strike me though, was that somehow, he found my blog. If you know me personally, you know that two of the big keys to my heart are 1. lamb (of course, duh, it’s amazing) and 2.  a guy actually takes the times to learn about my past and read my blog.  Of course, he didn’t know this, but what truly caught my eye was the Bible verse in his IG profile.  I also saw that he owned a gym and was big into fitness, which made all the previous comments by Chef tie together and finally make sense.  I can’t deny I thought it was really neat that he, somehow, found my blog (not such a coincidence after all, I later found out). The next day, he messaged me, which began the very beginning of one of the most important, challenging, blessed, and amazing relationships of my life.

My Future

Since meeting Robbie over a year ago, we have jumped many hurtles together, in both my life and his. His love for me and genuine care for me has shown through even since the beginning of our friendship.  Though he has undoubtedly been blessed with charm and good looks, it was his work ethic and drive that initially caught my attention.  My father has always been my standard for the men I choose in my life, and when I compare Robbie and him,  they are astonishingly similar.  He is a rock to me when I feel unstoppable, and on days when I feel like my body and its condition is going to be the death of me.  He points me to the One that is higher than I, is my biggest inspiration in life, and continually pushes me to be the very best version of myself I could ever be.  We’re both very passionate people, and for that reason we’ve always challenged each other in our weaknesses, both external and internal.  Yet it is through this that we have grown as individuals and as a couple.  It is easy to say that my love for this man stretches and grows with every day that passes, and I could not be more proud to call him my future husband.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”