Culinary

Healthy Whole Wheat Homemade Cookies 🍪🎄🤶

Don’t these look yummy?! They are, especially with a warm cup of coffee or tea. I like to have tea or hot chocolate in the evenings sometimes.☕️

Ingredients

3 cps. All purpose flour (whole wheat or white, I used wheat)

2 eggs

1 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup white sugar

1 cup or more 😉 walnuts, chopped

1/2 tspn baking soda

1 tspn salt

1/2 cup, softened, butter

2-3 tblspns vegetable oil

First, mix the butter (softened, I usually melt it for 20 -30 seconds) and then add both of the sugar ingredients and the eggs all together until you have a smooth mixture.

Well – I actually just mixed everything together all at once! So you can do it that way too.

Mix all the ingredients together!

They won’t be smooth at first. You’re working with bread dough. You don’t want your butter completely melted either, the idea is for the butter to be ‘creamy.’ So don’t completely melt it. You will have to dilute the ingredient combination with water after you put it all in a bowl. I don’t recommend adding more than a cup of water – use your best judgment – also add a few tablespoons of vegetable oil (included in the list of ingredients above). This is how your cookie dough should look after you add the water to smoothen it.

As you can see, I rolled them into balls, each one about half of an inch apart. They should make at least two dozen cookies! It’s such a delicious combo with the sugar, walnuts, and flour, and they turn out great if you make them correctly.

Don’t be afraid to use your hands!!! Clean hands can take you much further than trying to beat the mixture with a machine or even with a spoon. First I used a wooden spoon, the mixture was still pretty powdery and not coming together well. Then I used my hands to mix the batter and roll them into cookie balls.

Put them in the oven at 350 F for at least 10 to 12 minutes. You want to use parchment paper or aluminum foil. If the bottoms or sides are golden brown, then they are done!

Voila! Now you can cut them into shapes. I’ll be honest. Making cookies homemade from flour is not the easiest. But the more used to it you get, the easier it becomes. Again, you can add water to smoothen the batter. Not too much though. Too much water will make them liquidy and they will not form. Here’s some more pics!

Best of luck!🤶

These turned out delicious!🤶🍪☕️🎄

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the books, Not Without God: A Story of Survival and Not Without God: Hope In the Storm. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. Zina’s written several hundred articles and has appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places.

Zina writes on faith and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and science and loves to help others. Zina has created notwithoutgod.net as well as the Not Without God series/brand. She’s written articles for healthcare and she’s the creator/leader of Writing Because I Can’t Not Write – For aspiring and seasoned writers.

Each week she invites one author and hosts free masterminds for the public while showcasing bestsellers and award winners. She also teaches a free Zoom course each week to assist the public with improving their writing. Zina’s been an educator for nearly twenty years and has taught multiple subjects to thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and parts of the world.

She’s been invited to speak at the Harvard University Faculty Club’s Business Expert Forum and holds a B.A. in English with a minor in History from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Zina says the reason she majored in English was not primarily to teach; it was to write. When Zina is not writing or teaching, she enjoys cooking, listening to music, exercising, or socializing.

Culinary

Eating healthy is the way to go!🌽

There’s nothing like cooking healthy food. I do sometimes eat out, but I try to minimize that as much as possible. Traditionally cooking healthy food is the best route you can take. I kind of threw this together, as you can see, before I would take much more care when I cooked and took a lot longer. But sometimes taking a long time to cook can be a waste. What I mean is, there is a lot to work on during the day, first and foremost, I have to take care of my health. Therefore, eating the healthier route and cooking at home is the best way for me to go. #cooking #healthyfoodie #livehealthy #bestrong #simplethreeingredients #meal #can’tgetawayfrompop #barbecuedchicken #corn 🌽😊

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the Best-selling-book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors can network and learn together. Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was published last year.

Culinary

Homemade wheat walnut cake!🌾🥮🌰

One of the things I love about making this cake is that you can just combine all the ingredients at one time and mix them. It doesn’t take a lot of preparation time; you mainly have to gather all your ingredients and mix. This is my own recipe.

Pics are in order, and here’s a trick! After I buttered the cake pans, I also added sesame seeds to them. That put some nice sesame seeds on the bottom of the cakes when I flipped them over!👩‍🍳

So delicious. I’m going to add the link of a previous post I wrote when I first made this cake. It went viral. As a matter of fact, if you search this cake my blog post comes at the top of Google. Here it is: https://notwithoutgod.net/2022/07/06/assyrian-chaldean-cake%F0%9F%92%9F%E2%98%A6%EF%B8%8F/

Keep in mind when you follow this recipe there has to be a good balance between dough and cake. What I mean is, your batter can’t be too doughy. If it is, you are making more of a bread. Remember, this is a cake. You can add an extra quarter to a half cup of vegetable oil to smoothen out your ingredients if needed. You can also add up to a half cup of water. First I recommend the water. A little vegetable oil won’t hurt though.

I am not a fan of vegetable oil and always cook with extra-virgin olive oil instead. However, when it comes to baking vegetable oil is sometimes needed. Be sure not to add too much water. There has to be a good balance, It will smoothen your batter out. Just make sure you are not making wheat bread!

Here’s a pic below that shows how your batter should look before the cakes are baked:

Also, keep in mind that if you have that even balance and do this right – you may even be able to add a little bit of extra whole wheat flour. It may be half of a cup to one full cup. Don’t get too carried away with extra flour because then the cake will lose its flavor. Here’s the recipe from my initial post, again: https://notwithoutgod.net/2022/07/06/assyrian-chaldean-cake%F0%9F%92%9F%E2%98%A6%EF%B8%8F/

A little extra flour will give you more cake!🥮Here are some more pictures below, and I’m going to try to add the pics that show the steps from start to finish. Refer to the recipe link I gave you in my previous post – I will also add the ingredients below. That will tell you how much of each ingredient to use in your cake. Enjoy it!🌾🥮🌰

Three cups of whole wheat flour. One and a half cups of sugar. 2 teaspoons of baking powder or baking soda. Three eggs. One cup of milk. Again, you can add up to a half cup of water to smooth it out. Also add a tablespoon of vanilla extract. Finally, don’t forget one whole cup of chopped walnuts. Very important. Again, a quarter cup of vegetable oil won’t hurt and will smoothen it.👩‍🍳🥮
This is how your cake batter should look.🥮
A nice trick is to add sesame seeds to the cake pans just after you butter them.😊
Voila!
Yumm!👩‍🍳🥮🌰🌾

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the Best-selling-book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors can network and learn together. Ask about her meetings if you are interested in attending. Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and diet and loves to cook and bake. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was published last year.

Culinary

Breakfast of champions!!

Today I made homemade potato wedges as you can see. Cooked in nothing other than extra-virgin olive oil, of course. Also spiced with paprika, thyme leaves, salt, pepper, and some kosher salt. Yum! These wedges were so good as a side to my eggs and fresh turkey slices. Of course only on wheat bread with a warm cup of coffee on the side.

Yes, potatoes are not the best for you, especially not on the glycemic index – however, they are delicious and you have to cheat once in a while. Hopefully the protein in the eggs and turkey will offset some of that.😊

I won’t be cooking again today, as you can see, this breakfast is enough. Follow me for more simple dishes with health tips. I love to cook and bake also!👩‍🍳

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the Best-selling-book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors can network and learn together. Ask about her meetings if you are interested in attending. Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was published last year.

Culinary

Here’s a health trick!🍃

Want to know how to increase your iron if it’s low? Here’s a health trick. Add a little side of spinach to ANY meal, that’s right, any meal! You are bound to get your iron levels up, especially if you do this every morning. You can add it to steak for dinner, eggs for breakfast, as I have here, or any other meal.

I can’t wait to dig in! Here I have two eggs, scrambled, with a few fresh turkey slices, as well as wheat bread and a nice warm cup of coffee.☕️ All cooked in extra virgin olive oil and spiced with some salt and pepper, of course.🫒😊👩‍🍳

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the Best-selling-book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors can network and learn together. Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was just published last year.

Culinary

Chicken lemon butter delight!🐥🍋🧈🥬🌱

Lunch today was sensational! It started out as a chicken lemon idea, of course, I had to add unsalted butter cubes to the top of the chicken. I had to dash it with kosher salt, black ground pepper, table salt, and thyme leaves. I added lemon slices to the chicken entrée. I added potatoes, I cut them into cube sizes, and put unsalted butter over the veggies in the tray as well. As you can see I did a healthy side of a mixed salad, topped with spinach, top whatever you can with spinach! The iron benefits are incredible. With some ranch drizzled over, a Coke on the side, and additional salt and pepper at hand – this dish was Fantabulous. #chef #foodie #connossieur #extravirginoliveoil 🫒 #meltedbutter #chickenrecipes #mediterranean #paleo #protein #health ⚕️👩‍⚕️👩‍🍳

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book(s), Not Without God: A Story of Survival and Not Without God: Hope In the Storm. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s also been featured on The Neil Haley (media giant’s) Show, The Intuitive Edge podcast, and on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’broadcast as well as Grace and Truth Radio World!

Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among many other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors can network and learn together.

Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was just published last year.

Culinary

Today’s entree 👩‍🍳⚕️🫒

From start to finish and into my stomach. No, this was not all for me. I didn’t even finish everything on my plate. 🤣 But take a look at what I just made. It was healthy and delicious. I have moved over from extra-virgin olive oil on top of the chicken breasts to unsalted butter cubes. 🧈 It cooks much better and is safer in the oven. I also dashed it with kosher salt, parsley flakes, black ground pepper, and table salt. I also added minced garlic pieces.🧄 With the potatoes cooking in the cubes of butter that melted and in the water, the spices and garlic only added some extra flavor. This was yummy good.😋 On the side, I have a cut-up Vidalia onion and a cut-up red pepper (both caramelized in extra virgin olive oil🫒), as you can see. I had to get my veggies and protein in before intermittent fasting begins. I also have a small side of Asiago cheese on wheat bread.🧀🥖 This was soo good! #protein #paleo #ketosis #fasting #mediterraneandiet #extravirginoliveoil #unsaltedbutter #health #realfood 🐣🥔🧅🧄🧀🥖🌶

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book(s), Not Without God: A Story of Survival and Not Without God: Hope In the Storm. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s also been featured on The Neil Haley (media giant’s) Show, The Intuitive Edge podcast, and on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’broadcast as well as Grace and Truth Radio World!

Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among many other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors network and learn together. 

Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She likes to write about health and diet also and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was published last year.

Culinary

Mediterranean chicken asparagus lemon delight!🍋🐤🫒

Lunch was fabulous. I had 3/4 of a medium chicken breast. A side of about 15 asparagus spears with half of a sliced lemon, salted, and a side of light Lays potato chips. Last but not least, I included 2 tablespoons of hummus with a Coke. This was yummy good.

I got in two vegetable servings, and two protein servings between the healthy hummus and the chicken. The meal was cooked in extra virgin olive oil, and first I baked the chicken at 420 F for about 25 minutes. I surrounded it with the sliced lemons on the oven tray and drizzled it with extra virgin olive oil. I sprinkled kosher salt and black ground pepper over the chicken also.

I steamed the asparagus and cooked the spears in extra virgin olive oil as well, of course. I also dashed the veggies with table salt, kosher salt, and black ground pepper. I added a few cubes of unsalted butter🧈 over the asparagus. It was so good.🫒🍋🌱🐤🧆🫒

Finally, I took the chicken out of the oven early and decided to finish cooking it in the pan with the asparagus. I also added the lemons.🍋 I wanted to combine all the ingredients together, and I really wanted the chicken to soak up the taste of the butter and asparagus, salt, and lemon combo.

Again, it was delicious all around! #mediterraneanfood #healthydiet #intermittentfasting #keto #paleo #healthyliving 😊👩‍🍳⚕️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book(s), Not Without God: A Story of Survival and Not Without God: Hope In the Storm. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s also been featured on The Neil Haley (media giant’s) Show, The Intuitive Edge podcast, and on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’broadcast as well as Grace and Truth Radio World!

Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among many other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors network and learn together.

Win a writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She likes to write about health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was published last year.

Culinary

Chicken broccoli medley🥦🐣🫒

This #dish is so yummy. It’s #chicken #broccoli medley, I added some #sharp #cheddar and #wholewheat #bread as you can see below. With a little #ranch on the side, this meal was delicious. Cooked in extra-virgin olive oil, with #koshersalt #groundblackpepper and a little table salt, of course. It’s healthy and tasty too! Of course I had to have some water on the side.😊🫒🥦🥦🐣 #mediterraneandiet #ketorecipes #protein #paleodiet #healthy #paleofood ⚕️🥦👩‍🍳

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s also been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast as well as ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

This is a healthy breakfast 🍳🍅🥩

What people don’t realize is how healthy eggs are. The myth is that eggs are not good for you because of the cholesterol. But dietary cholesterol is not the same as cholesterol in your heart. On the contrary, eggs are super good for you. My dietitian had told me that I should have two eggs every morning for enough protein intake. This is a very healthy breakfast, although the sausage is processed, ground beef would’ve been the better choice. Nonetheless, this is still a healthy breakfast. Eggs are good for you, meat is a ‘healthy fat’ and whole wheat bread with a cup of coffee is the way to go.🍳🥚🥩🍖🍗🌾☕️ #paleo #paleorecipes #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #paleodiet #health⚕️🍅🫒☕️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s also been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast as well as ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Tonight’s healthy meal!🍃🥕🐥

Today I made a single piece of chicken thigh. Yes, there’s fat on it. Don’t let the fat freak you out! You can see I surrounded it with veggies. A little healthy fat won’t kill you! It’s actually extremely healthy for you, contrary to popular belief. I seasoned it with thyme leaves, kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, and a little table salt. I have about one to two cups of peas and carrots surrounding it. I also added a half cup of water to the bottom of the pan while cooking and added “butter” flavored cooking spray to the bottom also. I baked it at 400 F for about 40-45 minutes. Cooking times can vary. You’ll have to check on it. I used a cake pan to keep it all together.😀 Butter has health benefits, so does meat and veggies are low carbs!!! I drizzled extra virgin olive oil over the veggies along with a little salt and pepper. I also have a cup of rice sprinkled with mini cubed potatoes and curry seasoning on the side. It’s a mini version of my ‘karee,’ dish, in other words, my tomato beef stew sauce that I like to put over my rice. Of course, this is a cup of brown rice—to have optimal health! Total calories: a low 502 (and I didn’t finish all the chicken) but this is not including drinks or condiments.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Italian Sesame Twist (w/a heart!) 💕🥖💕

Last night I made a yummy Italian Sesame twist! Actually, many cultures enjoy making bread like this.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted it a little sweet or salty, so I divided it and used salt on one side and sugar on the other. I also want to share the recipe in case anyone is interested in making it.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups white all purpose flour (plain bread flour has a higher protein content but you can use all purpose too)

1 tblspn active dry yeast or 2 (1/4 oz) packets

2 tblspns white granulated sugar

1/2 tspn salt

1 cup warm milk

2 tblspn melted butter (salted or unsalted)

First, melt the butter in a pan. Heat the milk. They can both stay in their pans for now. Combine the flour, the yeast, and sugar in a separate bowl. Whisk them together. Then add in the salt. The salt helps strengthen the dough and stops it from collapsing during baking. Make sure you mix the flour and yeast in well with the sugar, then add the salt. Combine all together.

Now, make a “well” in the center of your combination. This is where you add the butter and milk. MAKE SURE THE MILK IS NOT TOO HOT OR COLD. You can do this by sprinkling the milk on your hand before you mix it in. If the milk is too hot or too cold the rising of the dough will take longer. Here are some pics:

Use a spoon to mix and combine. Scrape up the dough on the sides. Then place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and USE CLEAN HANDS TO KNEAD for about 10 minutes or until the dough comes together. Continue to knead the dough ball with hands until the dough is smooth and elastic. It does not have to be perfect, but it has to have some elasticity to it.

Brush a seperate bowl with Extra Virgin Olive oil, classic olive oil, or butter. Place the dough ball into the new bowl and cover with a tea towel for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

The dough should double in size after 45 minutes. Get out your rolling pin and stretch. Cut the dough into three “ropes.” You can twist them with your hands, they do not have to be perfect, but just make sure they look like ropes!

Then, place down parchment paper and lightly grease the parchment, make a loose “braid” with the three ropes. Pinch the ends together and tuck. You can just roll the ropes with your hand, again. Crack an egg into a dish and brush the loaf with the egg. Sprinkle sesame seeds (I toasted my sesame seeds first. Just put them on high heat in a pan for a few minutes). Sprinkle salt or sugar on top, whichever you prefer.

Bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes but check on it make sure to not burn. The bread is done once it is golden-brown!

You can see I added a heart to the top of it. You can make a separate heart with the rope and seal it down with toothpicks. I hope you enjoy it!😊🥖💕

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Southwestern Egg Rolls!🧀🌶🫓

I want to share my recipe before I forget. Although I don’t have the note paper I wrote my recipe on, I think I can share the ingredients and what to do because I remember and have done it before. So, here it goes…😊

Ingredients:

2 shredded chicken breast pieces, 4 oz. each (optional)

1 can of rinsed black beans (15 oz)

A bunch of Green onions, about 6-8 bulbs, just cut off the tips and slice thin

1 tspn kosher salt

1/2 tspn chili powder (optional, I don’t like food that is too spicy, so I just sprinkle some chili pepper seasoning over the egg rolls to give them a nice look!)

1/2 tspn black ground pepper

1/4 tspn cayenne

1/4 tspn cumin (optional)

Mexican style shredded cheese (8 oz. package)

1 white onion (chopped into small pieces)

2 cups frozen corn, thawed (optional)

1 16 oz. (Vegan) egg roll slices, try to use about twenty slices of dough

First, you want to add 1-2 tbspns of extra virgin olive oil to a pan and add the black beans (make sure to rinse the beans well first) and add onions (both scallions and white, rinsed and chopped first, of course) over medium to high heat and mix often for a few minutes. Also add the kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne to the mix (and cumin if you’ve included it). After the vegetables look colorful and bright you know they’re done. The onions will also soften a bit. Don’t overcook. They will also cook when they’re fried in the egg roll. Set the mixture aside in a plate so it can cool.

Here are a few pics!

I decided to add chicken, but I precooked it. So I just added it to the mixed combination after all of it cooled. See below.

Now you have the filling! You just have to roll…🫓

I like to add a little bit of flour to a clean surface then place down my dough roll, but this is optional. The Dough slice already has some flour on it!

You only need 1-2 tblspns of the filling to add to the center of your egg roll. One is good. You don’t want too much filling, then it will be hard to fold the egg roll. Dab each corner with water you can use a brush or your finger. This helps hold the roll together.

First, bring the scoop of filling a little closer towards you and begin to roll the dough slice away from you, then, midway into the roll, fold the sides in and continue to roll (away from you). Also dab the corner/end with water to help it stick! Keep fingers dry.

It takes a little time to get the folding right, but once you do it will be a piece of cake!

Now you can begin to fry!🥘

I used classic olive oil—2-4 cups. It’s a healthier choice than vegetable oil. Folded side down when you fry.

The frying should take no more than 2-3 minutes. At first a little extra. But your last batch should fry up really quickly. Be sure to watch and flip. Don’t move your pan around. Keep it in place for safety. Be careful. Keep heat on high.

Set them aside to cool!

Voila! You have yummy Southwestern egg rolls! Cooking time: at least two hours due to the three phases. Cutting vegetables, making the filling and frying! Average calories: 250 per egg roll.🫓🧀🌶

Enjoy!😊

About Zina 

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Homemade Whole Wheat Raisin Cookies!🍪👩‍🍳❤️‍🩹

Last night I made some yummy cookies. As you know, wheat is a much better alternative to white. Wheat bread and wheat rice are better for you in terms of balancing blood sugar. If you’re going to have a grain, it should be wheat or a darker color, such as Rye. Rye bread also is rich in B vitamins (1, 2, and 3).

I will post some pictures below. I also want to share the recipe in case anyone would like to make them. They came out to 25 cookies all together. What’s great about making a large batch of cookies is you can refrigerate them for up to 1 week and then freeze what you have not consumed for 1-3 months.. I like to put each cookie in its own plastic baggy.

Ingredients:

3/4-1cup of unsalted OR salted butter, and partially melt the butter in a pan

1/4 cup of white sugar

1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

2 eggs

3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups of Whole Wheat flour (all purpose flour)

3/4-1 cup of raisins (I used mixed raisins of different kinds)

1/2 tspn of vanilla extract

1/2 tspn salt

1/2 tspn baking soda

AND, this recipe is so easy. STEP 1: basically MIX all ingredients together (in no particular order!). It is fun. Now, there may be excess flour that doesn’t want to mix in. So you will have to add about 1/2 cup to a full cup of water, a little at a time, to smoothen the mixture out.

You want the mixture to have a dough like form but to be smooth enough to scoop onto a cookie sheet. Use parchment paper for best results. Scrape up all the excess flour. You can scoop with a tablespoon, and set the cookies about 1-2 inches apart.

This should come out to 20-25 cookies.

Voila! You have Whole Wheat Raisin cookies! By the way, chopped walnuts would be great to add too but are not necessary. It’s optional. Some people like to add 1 cup of uncooked cooking oats. Oats are also great for helping to regulate blood sugar!

Bake at 375-400 F. You may have to go back and forth between the temperature. Check on them every 2 minutes. They only need 10-12 minutes. But cooking times will vary. When the outer rims are golden they are done. But don’t burn! Once you leave them to sit for at least an hour, they will continue to form.

Enjoy!🍪🍪👩‍🍳

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

“Food-Network inspired Oven roasted chicken!”🐤🧅🥔🥑🌱🫒

Tonight’s #dinner was fabulous, and I want to post it before I forget my recipe in case anyone wants to try it! It’s a Food Network-inspired #oven #roasted #chicken and I added a lot to it!🐤😀 First, I cut up my #veggies. I chopped two #potatoes, one onion, an #avocado, and a #lemon 🥔🥔🧅🍋🥑. Then, I put each to the side on their plates. I rinsed off my whole #chicken (it was a fresh young chicken, 5 pounds). Then I #rinsed it quickly on the inside and don’t forget to move anything excess or inside the chicken. Then I placed the chicken on the oven-safe plate. I melted two tablespoons, no more than 1/4 cup of #saltedbutter. After that, I added one tablespoon of #thymeleaves to the butter. Do not completely #melt the #butter 🧈 Then add the thyme leaves (1 tbsp) to the butter. You need a brush to dress the chicken. After that dash the chicken with #koshersalt and #blackpepper. Then, make sure to add cooking spray to your oven-safe plate under the chicken, or you can grease the bottom of the plate with butter if you have no #cooking spray. Add one or two cups of #water to the plate, so the chicken sits in a little water. You don’t want it sticking to the plate during the cooking process. After that, design your cut-up veggies all around. After that, I like to drizzle the whole thing with #extravirginoliveoil 🫒 but it’s not completely necessary. I also like to dash again but this time with table salt. Finally, squeeze part of the #lemon over it to give it that #zesty taste🍋🍋🍋. Yummy! You have chicken, lemon, thyme, potatoes, an onion AND an avocado! What more could you want?👩‍🍳😃🧅🥑🥔🌱 Cook at 400-425F for up to one hour. Cooking times will vary. Check on it every five to ten minutes. If the top starts to burn, you want to lower the temperature, and spice it with a little more salt (do not over salt!) you can always add more after it’s done. But if you make something too salty you can’t fix it. #Under-salting is always best! The kosher salt is really rich and works its way into it nicely so you don’t need much. Check on it every five to ten minutes, again, but mine didn’t need one whole hour. Your thermometer should read at least 160 F. Voila! It’s done!🥑🥔🌱🧈🍋🧅🐤

Voila!🐤🥑🍋

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

The importance of fasting for health ⚕️☕️👩‍⚕️

You need to cut 500-1,000 calories per day to lose weight and it would average one or more pounds a week. It averages at least a few pounds of weight loss per week, actually! I know because I’ve done it before and was on a losing weight streak for months! I’m going back to my intermittent fasting plan again. I’m good with eating meat so that keeps my calorie intake in check because you naturally burn meat calories off—but I need to go back to fasting after 6:30 pm, anyway. It also gives your body a break, insulin rises every time you eat. So here I’m having a ‘honey vanilla chamomile tea.’ It is next to 0 calories and so yummy!☕️ The nice thing about intermittent fasting is you can still have black coffee, sugarless tea, and water in the evening to curb your appetite. It works! #intermittentfasting #tea #healthylifestyle #redmeat #diet #health #mediterranean #paleo #fastingforhealth

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

A healthy breakfast meal 🍳🥩🥖☕️

The benefits of #redmeat and #eggs for #health is priceless and I can’t emphasize it enough. The vital #nutrients your #body needs are contained in these two foods. Don’t get me wrong: #vegetables (and other low carbs) are helpful. #fruit can be beneficial (yet, quite sugary at times), nonetheless, no matter how many fruits and vegetables you decide to eat, red meat and eggs are still the #best. You can have 5,000 eggs and it will not harm you. Dietary #cholesterol does not affect cholesterol levels in your #heart And the #protein contained in #eggs is valuable. The #vitamins #nutrients and #iron contained in red meat is vital. It’s not that you can’t get your source of #protein any other way. But it’s so easy with eggs and meat. Think #paleo #diet Think caveman days. Think to when there was no such thing as #organic or #lowfat or 2 % #milk , or fat free. Think real #food That is what will keep you #healthy and strong. Here we have two #kofta pieces: 222 calories. Two eggs (large) 160 calories. A half of WHEAT bread:🥖 102 cal. And coffee cup ☕️ 67 cal. w/cream and sugar (8 oz). Total: 551 calories (probably less!).

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

I’d like to be a “culinary queen!”👸🍅🥮👩‍🍳

This is how it looks when I decide to ‘whip something up’ really quickly!😂👩‍🍳 I had a little family company over yesterday and planned it just the night before. All @authenticmeals #original #cooking and my very own #recipes !!! Ka’ree as the main #meal accompanied with #brownrice, of course! The main dish—and #homemadewalnutcake for dessert. This time I added #toasted #sesameseeds to the top of the #cake to add a twist! Yummy. We also had #homemadewheatchocolatechipcookies! #coffee and few other things!🍚🍛🌾🍶🍪 #mediterraneandiet #paleo #protein #keto #homemade #diet #cook #baking #entertaininginstyle #fresh #food #foodie #tomatostew #beef #protein #health ⚕️🍅🧅🥩

Finally, when a baby terrorizes your living space!💕😂👶 It’s OK.🙆‍♀️🙅‍♀️ We just cleaned it right up!😂♥️😃

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Today’s healthy lunch!🐤🥔🌾

This is a pretty healthy concoction for a late lunch today. The worst part: is potatoes. Potatoes are a ‘starchy vegetable’ and not the best choice. But they are yummy and by far not the worst thing you can have! They’re still a vegetable. I added brown rice (definitely the best ‘grain’ choice)! I try to steer clear of white bread and white rice. Wheat and brown are always the way to go! I did add a tablespoon of butter (unsalted) to the potatoes! Yummy. And contrary to popular belief: the chicken with skin is not bad for you. It’s what we call a ‘healthy fat.’ ALL saturated fat is not bad. You don’t constantly have to have Turkey or veggie burgers. A little skin on your meat won’t kill you. You can always tear it off, anyway. Think real food! Do away with ‘skinny meals,’ low fat, and fat-free. Those are not healthier choices. Low-fat cheese is not healthier than whole milk or cheese. Low-fat milk doesn’t benefit you greatly over regular milk. They are not making you skinnier. They just make you hungrier because of their added alternatives. Don’t miss the vital nutrients your body needs. The lemon was for squeezing over the rice and chicken and potatoes! I love the zest of the lemon and the taste of it with some added salt!🍋 Total calories: (roughly) 590 without adding drinks or condiments.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Ka’ree recipe and images! #tomatobeefstew #withcurry🥩🍅🥔🧅

Yesterday night I made Ka’ree, a very traditional meal. The best way I can describe Ka’ree is it’s a tomato (beef or chicken) stew to which some spices and veggies are added. When I was younger, my mom made this type of ethnic dish, (beef stew) around once to twice a week. One of my favorites has always been Ka’ree. I love the deliciousness of the curry, the hidden spice in the potato and what it adds to the tomato sauce, as well as the tender beef (or chicken) that shreds into the heated stew.

Ingredients

0.75-1lb chuck roast or chuck beef steak or chicken

4-5 large potatoes

an onion, medium-large sized (chopped)

6oz tomato paste

15oz tomato sauce

4-6 cups of water (for sauce)

2-3 tbsp of curry spice

1 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsns lemon juice

1 tspn dried lime (or Noomi Basra)–this is optional

1 tbsp oil

Kosher salt or table salt (I like to use a little of both!)–1 – 2 teaspoons

Black pepper–1-2 teaspoons is fine

chopped garlic cloves (no more than 2-3 chopped cloves, or it may be too hott)

2-4 cups cooked brown rice or long grain wild rice (I steer clear of white)!

First, you cook the meat: Cut the meat into cubes ( I used beef chuck steak) and you set it aside. I also used extra virgin olive oil (2 tbspns) and dashed the meat with Kosher salt and ground pepper to cook.

Oh, I also included the chopped garlic cloves before I started cooking!🧄

Voila! Should take no longer than 15-20 minutes. Make sure meat is tender (heat on high) you can add water.

After you’re done cooking set the meat aside. Now, use the same pan to carmelize the onions. Just cook them in an additional tblspn of extra virgin olive oil (classic olive oil is ok too) until they turn slightly brown. Try not to use vegetable oil; not the healthiest choice by far.

Cooking time to slightly carmelize onions should be no more than 5-10 minutes!

Next you add the curry (2-3 tbspns), salt, pepper, and tomato paste TO THE ONION MIX. Use the same pot (use a big one). The stew will eventually rise. AFTER you add the curry, 6 oz. tomato paste and 1-2 tspns of salt and pepper (each) to the pot, the pot will start to burn a little. The ingredients will brown. That is OK. It’s normal. See below.

You can see that once I added the tomato paste, curry, salt and pepper I mixed them together some (you can just add a dash of salt and pepper). After this you have to add the tblspn of vinegar. Be careful. It will smoke. Also have all ingredients ready to go at this point you have to work fast. As soon as the vinegar makes this mixture bubble, add the TOMATO SAUCE, 15 oz. can. This will stop the splash from the vinegar!🥫

Here I have added the tomato sauce and 4 cups of water. No more splash keep heat on high here.

Finally, add the potatoes and beef to combine all together. Add everything slowly, the water, little by little, gently add beef and potatoes. Combine all together.

You can even add an additional 2-4 cups of water depending on how much stew you want to have. You can use more salt and pepper. Table salt is fine to use at this point. I used kosher salt when I cooked the meat. Spice it how you would like, but don’t make it too salty. Keep in mind if it is under salted you can always add more later. You don’t want to use too much salt and ruin all your hard work!

Keep on high throughout let it come to a boil. Than reduce heat to medium high. Cover with a lid. Let it cook at least twenty minutes. Stir in between. Check on it. Once the potatoes are tender the stew is done. This can take anywhere from 40 min.-1 hr. You have to check on it regularly. Stir. Take a potato out, cut it with a fork, see if it’s tender (cooked), taste it, spice a little! Lol You get the idea. Be safe. And prepared. 🍅🥩🥔🧅🍛🧄

Oops… and I almost forgot—don’t forget to cook the rice! Ka’ree is put over a bed of rice. Here I have cooked 4 cups of brown rice.🍚🌾 And below is also a photo of the finished product! Have fun! There will be lots of leftover!😄

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Whole Wheat Flour Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies!🍪🍪👩‍🍳

Yesterday night I made homemade whole wheat chocolate chip walnut cookies and they are sooo delicious! Yumm! Since whole wheat is a much better alternative to white flour, I would like to share my recipe to put a health spin on baking. The next time you make homemade cookies, you may want to try whole wheat flour yourselves! It is better for you than white flour. 🍪🍪☕️

This recipe calls for:

3 cups of whole wheat flour

2 tspns baking soda

16 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white granulated sugar (optional)

3/4 tspn salt

2 eggs

2 tspns vanilla extract

8 ounces of chocolate chips

2 cups crushed walnuts

First, you whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Put in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, sugar(s), eggs, and vanilla, and these don’t need to be too well blended just combine. Oops, don’t forget to add the walnuts and chocolate chips also!

Then, add the flour mix from the separate bowl. Now that all ingredients are in one bowl, use a wooden or regular spoon to combine and mix them together.

The mixture may seem a little dough like and hard to combine at first. Here’s the trick: add up to a half cup of water (as much as needed but not too much!) to moisten the combination of all the ingredients. Use your hand to knead. Put the mixture into cookie dough form.

You can even add extra flour and extra water to the combo mix to make more cookies. I added 2-3 cups extra flour and a little more water! It came out to 43 cookies!

Scoop the cookie dough (1-2 tablespoon sizes) onto oven trays covered with parchment paper, and bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 F. Then move the trays around to rotate cookies, bake for an additional 8-10 minutes. The edges should be golden brown!🍪👩‍🍳

Then let them cool on oven racks for at least an hour. Refrigerate. You can even freeze them for up to a month!🍪☕️🌰

Mixture of the second bowl.
All ingredients combined.
After adding water and kneading.
Cookie dough!
Voila!
Me while baking last night!👩‍🍳☕️🍪

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Tabbouleh and Meat pies!🫓🌿🍋

I made these wonderful meat “pizza” and tabbouleh pies yesterday! The taste was fantastic! I added a hint of citrus 🍋 to each one and combined with the parsley, tomatoes, yellow peppers and onions. Yummmmm! That’s all I have to say. I made the dough from scratch and enjoyed it! I also love to embrace my ethnic side! #mediterranean #health #food #foodie #paleo #keto #tabbouleh #diet #weightloss #healthnut #connossieur #food #traditional 🧅🌿🫑🥖🍅

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Chicken Tikkas!🌶🍡🐤🧅

It’s what’s on the menu! Healthy! It’s Mediterranean! Paleo! Keto! And everything healthy you can think of. Downfall: the starchy potatoes.🥔 Nonetheless, still a very balanced meal. Here’s a secret: I didn’t have skewers so I substituted them with toothpicks! Very lightly salted with some pepper. Cooked chicken in extra virgin olive oil.🫒 Also a diabetic-friendly meal!⚕️

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Yesterday’s dinner was delicious!🥩🍜🥔🧅

I did it again! Today I even had leftovers!😀 I can’t stress enough that meat is good for you. I have lost weight by adopting this method. Having at least one 4-6 ounce meat/poultry/fish per day along with a side of low carb veggies can really improve your health. Red meat is ideal for me because at times I can be mildly anemic. The health and nutrition provided by following this plan: a paleo, or even Mediterranean style plan is priceless! I have lost weight and am now fitting into pants I haven’t worn in years! Of course limiting snacks and sugar helps along with fasting in the evening/near bed time hours. I am not one to eat dinner at night. This top sirloin fillet was cooked to perfection and the asparagus and Asian style noodles made it so yummy. I also worked in potatoes and onions. Yumm! I love the feeling after I’ve just had some good nutrition.🥩🍜🧅🥔🌱

Cookin’ in my kitchen!🍃😃

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Mornin’ Breakfast☀️🍳

Heart-shaped eggs w/kuftas and a side of cut up potatoes and onions!

Breakfast should be nutritious and good for you. I have two eggs for breakfast just about every morning because of the benefits of the eggs and the protein. This morning I made heart shaped eggs.💕🥚 The nutrition is priceless. Do away with the myth that the egg yolk is bad for you. The yellow yolk is not bad; on the contrary, it provides a variety of benefits. There is no evidence that dietary cholesterol raises blood level cholesterol. Animal products can be really good for you. Red meat (beef) does not cause inflammation; red meat reduces disease because it has a variety of benefits including iron and B1, B12, and B16 vitamins. Therefore, I made these amazing little “kuftas” on the side, and each one is only 67 calories. They were spiced to perfection and yummy. I also had my low carb side of veggies (mixed with a little extra virgin olive oil), and lightly salted with pepper.🥔🧅 With a cup of coffee, today’s breakfast was delicious!☕️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Super Healthy Dinner!🥕🥖🐤

Today I’m in charge in the kitchen. So you know what that means, there will be a ‘meat’ of some sort with colorful veggies. Oh, and here’s a tip: use ketchup instead of any white creamy stuff (such as Ranch, etc.). Ketchup is so much lighter in calories. I’ll admit, I did accompany this healthy meal with a small coke (90 calories only). No matter how healthy I eat and no matter how much I strive to make more of my meals—a little side of coke each day is something I can’t give up! And I will admit, I do enjoy a little dessert often. I also added a slice of American cheese to that loaf of wheat bread, 80 calories. Cheese is actually healthy to snack on. All in all, I will “guesstimate” this meal is at about 490 calories, and that is not too bad at all with a healthy balanced breakfast. I’m working to maintain 1,440 calories or less per day. With a healthy meal like this I should be OK.👍 #mediterranean #paleo #keto #diet #health #foodie #healthyfood

Side note: proteins such as meat/poultry/fish help you feel fuller and eating earlier in the day curbs your appetite so you eat much less in the evening hours.😊 #intermittentfasting #16:8 #fastingforhealth #diet #weightloss

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the popular, Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

It’s what’s for dinner!🥩🌽🌾

The steak and sides turned out fantastic! First I rubbed both sides with a dash of kosher salt and ground pepper. Then I pan-seared using 1-2 tablespoons of heated olive oil along with a tablespoon of unsalted butter. I flipped the steaks(s) every 3-5 minutes until well cooked. Note: I also added a half cup of water to keep the steak moist and prevent it from burning to the bottom of the pan. Then I moved over the steaks and put them on to the oven-safe plate and added the just rinsed frozen vegetables. I spilled the veggies over the steak in the oven safe. I first coated the plate safely with non-stick cooking spray. Again, I added a cup of water to the bottom of the oven safe. I cooked at 400-425 F for 25-35 minutes and then used a thermometer (steak has to be cooked to at least 145 F) to ensure they are cooked. I even splashed with a hint of wine and added barbecue sauce. I accompanied with brown rice and the veggies. Yummy! This was so delicious!

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the well-known and popular, Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

#Kleicha The National cookie of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)🥖👩‍🍳

Yesterday was fun! As much as I love to cook and bake, you would think I’d already made home made dough before, but yesterday was the first time. I made a traditional cookie called a “kleicha!” I made many, actually. So I have lots to store and freeze up for later. I grew up on these types of foods, so I really enjoyed the art of baking and didn’t mind putting forth the effort into making them. There were three phases: making the dough, filling, and then fill and bake.

Did you know that yeast is good for you? Just one tablespoon of yeast has protein, and high levels of iron, phosphorous, and B vitamins. It’s quite nutritious.🥖👩‍🍳 #bread #yeast #healthyliving

Well after I made the dough, then I had to make the filling. Here it is below: I made ‘walnut kleicha.’ Allspice, sugar, and even some coconut are included!🥥

After that, I had to cut, crimp, fill, and fold. By the time I was done I had about 50 kleicha (cookies)!

Oh, I forgot to mention that I had to brush on the egg wash to the top of each cookie!

Then, FINALLY, bake at 375 F for a total of 25 minutes. Be sure to remove midway from oven and add another layer of egg wash, you can crimp your kleicha again, and then return your tray to the oven so they can fully bake! You want the color to turn into a deep golden brown.👩‍🍳🥖

Here are a few pics of the finished product:

They came out delicious and are perfect to accompany with a cup of tea or coffee for dessert! These cookies are especially made around Christmastime or other major events/holidays.🎄 They are presentable and nice to add to the table if guests are over and a delightful treat! I hope you enjoyed my pics.😃👩‍🍳

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

The Importance of Fasting for Health!⚕️

Intermittent fasting will get rid of any type of inflammation you have associated with -itis. Tendinitis, arthritis, colitis, etc. It will improve your skin, hair, nails, and organs. It increases fat burning and promotes anti aging. It is more effective than exercise! it helps with brain cells and improves cognitive function. It can kill cancer cells and reverse diabetes. The less you eat the better, and an 8 hour OR LESS window of eating would be ideal. I tend to do the 16:8. I eat during the hours of 10 to 6 and stop from 6pm and on. Giving me 16 hours of no food! Your body naturally goes into ketosis and stops burning carbohydrates for fuel. It will burn fat (it starts to burn it’s own fat), the right kind of fuel. Every time you eat you trigger insulin and the more times you eat in a day, the less chance you have of losing weight. Snacking is the worst thing you can do.:) I will attach Dr. Berg’s video. It just reinforces what I already knew. Intermittent fasting is the way to go! https://youtu.be/xF0OJh19Ubw

I had breakfast this morning and packed my lunch because I knew I’d be out. Here it is. Just to give you a sample of my ‘health meal.’🍅🐤🌾🍋 #brownrice #bakedchicken #tomatoes #lemon

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Don’t gravitate towards sugar!🍥

The idea that you have to completely cut out sugar or carbs in order to lose weight is a myth. Carbs are in almost everything. We have ‘good carbs’ and ‘bad carbs.’ A banana has carbs, but they are a ‘low carb.’ As a matter of fact, the idea that a ‘plant based diet’ is the key to losing weight and health is a myth also. The food pyramid should be flipped upside down. It’s no wonder diabetes and heart disease are two of the most prominent diseases in this country. We are conditioned to gravitate towards sugar and taught that butter, milk, and meat are ‘bad for us.’ We’re taught that egg yolk is dangerous; however, new findings have reported that you don’t get high cholesterol from dietary cholesterol such as eggs, red meat, and ‘fatty’ dairy.


Actually, it doesn’t impact ‘bad’ cholesterol or your ’LDL’ at all.

Here is a sample breakfast of mine:


Here is a sample dinner:


I have lost weight and found my journey back to health by incorporating either meat, poultry, or fish twice per day. I have a side of veggies and one egg every morning. I stick to a calorie restrictive diet and home cook my own meals. Eating this way w/a healthy snack each day makes me feel full. I’m getting enough nutrition and iron to sustain me. I don’t have to gravitate towards sugar. Follow me for more tips on diet and health or let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help!

Oh, and please spare me with the ’lowfat’ and ‘nonfat,’ reduced ‘fat’ stuff. Please don’t offer me protein ’shakes’ or ’skinny meals.’ That stuff is packed with things that are unhealthier than ‘fat’ or sugar. I steer clear of those products. Real food balanced with the right portion sizes is the key. We are taught to over eat.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

My signature breakfast!🍳🥩🍞


This has been my breakfast of choice the last few weeks and I’ll tell you why. Red meat is good for you and contains vital nutrients: like Iron, for example. I tend to be anemic at times so this is important for me. A lot of rumors around eggs say that the yolk of an egg is bad for you and raises your LDL (bad cholesterol), but a recent study just done by Harvard University points to this info.:

“Since then, however, research has shown that most of the cholesterol in our body is made by our liver-it doesn’t come from cholesterol we eat. The liver is stimulated to make cholesterol primarily by saturated fat and trans fat in our diet, not dietary cholesterol. But a large egg contains little saturated fat-about 1.5 grams (g). And research has confirmed that eggs also contain many healthy nutrients: lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for the eyes; choline, which is good for the brain and nerves; and various vitamins (A, B, and D). In fact, just one large egg contains 270 international units (IU) of vitamin A and 41 IU of vitamin D. One large egg also contains about 6 g of protein and 72 calories.”

So as you can see, eggs have many health benefits. Even the yellow part (yolk) does. Here is a link to the full report written by Harvard in case you’re interested: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/are-eggs-risky-for-heart-health?fbclid=IwAR0p8dZTxYFSKuhAFfA-GyxDwrS5VHCIjfdQ8uZUfHHJF1TtHx6xU3cluFM

I’ve also included half of a yellow chopped sweet onion to get a serving of my veggie group in. And I have a slice of wheat bread to get in a healthy grain.

I have my cup of warm coffee (w/limited cream and sugar). 50 calories. With the others, two large eggs, 140 calories, wheat slice, 80 calories, and half chopped onion, 14 Cal., oh, and a half of angus beef patty chopped up, 86 calories. (2 oz.) that brings me to a total of: 370 calories. A low calorie breakfast that provides many health benefits. #paleo #paleodieting #redmeat #eggs #health 🧅🥩☕️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Culinary

Hooray! At my weight goal (it feels dreamy)!🎊🎈💭

Hallelujah! I’ve been this low but it’s been a couple years. This scale looks different from this time last year. I’ve lost 30 pounds or more!!🎉🥳🎈I’m not short and carry muscle. It feels good to have slimmed down. I’m still going for ten more!

#weightloss #goals #healthylifestyle #fitnessmotivation #paleo #mediterraneanchallenge #diet #healthy-living #goingfortenmore 😃🙏🎊

Do I look happy?😁🥑


Now I can scratch that off my bucket list. I am going for ten more or maybe even 15! But I wont stop on this journey of eating great food for health.

I just created a Facebook health page, please visit it and like it as well: https://www.facebook.com/Zinas-Healthy-Tips-to-Maximize-Health-112061191416124/


I have created this page in honor of my beloved father, Yacoub Hermez. Rest in heaven, Babba! (Jul 01, 1932-Nov. 23, 2019)☦️⚛️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT




Culinary

Today marks one year since I began my ‘diet’ journey!🥑

This picture popped up today in my Facebook memories. It was my photo from last year. Yes, intermittent fasting is great but it’s not enough! I mean, it’s enough to maintain your weight, to repair cells and to reduce some inflammation. But it’s not enough to lose weight! I mean, you can lose ‘some weight,’ but since last year I have incorporated the Mediterranean Diet. I started out with a restriction of 1,200-1,300 calories per day last November and had Greek Yogurt for dinner often. In a matter of weeks, I lost 25-30 pounds! Fast forward to today! I have learned so much more about food. The importance of eating red meat, how vegetable oils (and most restaurant food can be toxic), how the Food Pyramid we go by includes too many grains. I learned a lot of things about diet through this journey. As of yesterday, I switched over from the Mediterranean to more of a Paleo-diet. Or, ‘caveman’s’ diet, as they call it. The cavemen were healthy and diabetes and heart disease didn’t run rampant in their day. Today we have too many grains and too much sugar and packaged/processed food. Just study the grocery store next time you are shopping. The latest studies even show that fruits and vegetables don’t have all the benefits we believe them to have. They have some benefits and are low in calories. They make you feel full. But I’m switching to more of a Paleo style diet. I have a tendency to be low on Iron and anemic. The Iron that you get and other sources that come from a Paleo diet will be good for my health! I looked great in this picture and felt better, but the truth is–after four weeks of intermittent fasting I had lost very little weight. In this day and age, with the food that is out there, more is needed than just Intermittent fasting. We have to be aggressive at taking care of our health!

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm has just been released, on Jan 24! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT