eggs

Breakfast of champions!!

July 1, 2023July 1, 2023 Zina Hermez

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!🍃

June 28, 2023June 28, 2023 Zina Hermez

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

Kufta-creation!🥩🍳🥖

February 11, 2023February 11, 2023 Zina Hermez

You can never have enough animal food on your plate! Take a look at my kufta-creation. Two pieces of Kuftas, less than 100 g in total, cooked with parsley flakes, and spiced in salt, pepper, a dash of cumin, allspice, chili pepper flakes, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and coriander!👩‍🍳

I also have two large sized eggs, scrambled, but spiced with only salt and pepper😊. On the side I have some delicious Asiago cheese (Santorini), flavored w/Rosemary and Olive Oil to go on a wheat bun, and a warm cup of coffee.☕️

This was so yummy good!😋 Again, you can never have enough animal food on your plate to keep you young and healthy!⚕️#healthyfat #paleo #keto #mediterranean #protein #intermittentfasting #ketosis #health #healthydiet #cheese #extravirginoliveoil #wheat #fiber #dietarycholesterol 🥩🥖🍳🌱🧀🫒👩‍🍳⚕️👩‍⚕️☕️

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

This is a healthy breakfast 🍳🍅🥩

December 7, 2022December 7, 2022 Zina Hermez

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

Italian Sesame Twist (w/a heart!) 💕🥖💕

September 11, 2022September 11, 2022 Zina Hermez

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!🧀🌶🫓

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 Zina Hermez

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.

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!🍪👩‍🍳❤️‍🩹

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022 Zina Hermez

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

Culinary

The importance of fasting for health ⚕️☕️👩‍⚕️

August 24, 2022August 24, 2022 Zina Hermez

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

Culinary

A healthy breakfast meal 🍳🥩🥖☕️

August 22, 2022August 22, 2022 Zina Hermez

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

Culinary

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

August 20, 2022August 20, 2022 Zina Hermez

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

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

August 5, 2022August 5, 2022 Zina Hermez

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!🍪☕️🌰

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

Red meat for health 🥩⚕️🧅🌾

July 24, 2022July 24, 2022 Zina Hermez

Did you know that eating meat promotes a healthy lifestyle? When you eat lots of protein, you’re able to burn off 20-25% of it, and you don’t even need to exercise! As a matter of fact, you can live a sedentary life and still lose weight as long as you eat right! Do not fear red meat. I tend to follow a paleo and Mediterranean-style diet. Think back to the caveman, obesity did not exist during their time. We didn’t have the faulty guidelines we go by now. Vegetable oil packaged foods are not good for you, six grains per day (as recommended on the USDA food pyramid is not good for you), and fruits are not healthy and okay in abundance because they grow on plants and trees. They contain a lot of sugar. Did you know that in NY City you cannot send your child to school with whole milk? Did you know that they’re given pizza and donuts, though? Saturated fat is not all bad and doesn’t cause heart disease. Therefore, red meat, even bacon, is OK. I have lost around thirty pounds since last year in November. When I first started I was on a strict diet—eating only 1,200-1,300 low calories per day. Now I’m eating up to 1,800-1,900 calories and still maintaining the same weight! And it is not because of more exercise! I make sure to get in meat at least one 4-6 ounces two times per day with a side of veggies. I have two eggs for breakfast every morning. I still get in some sugar and snack (within limits). Eating protein each day once to three times per day promotes health. The nutrients in red meat are vital for me. Iron, B1, B12, Vitamin D, and other nutrients are crucial. You can’t get them the same way anywhere else.🥩🥓🍗🍖

About Zina

Culinary

Homemade Whole Wheat Walnut Cake!🥮🌾🌰

July 20, 2022July 21, 2022 Zina Hermez

Baking has always been a favorite past time since I was a kid. At home they’d call me ‘Betty Crocker.’ As an adult I’ve grown more into the baking art and really enjoy embracing my ethnic side with the foods I make!🫒

They said it couldn’t be done, but I did it. Homemade wheat walnut cake from scratch! It’s never been done without white flour as far as I know. Mom was proud. I altered this traditional recipe to make it healthier. It is delicious! Even more delicious than the all-purpose flour version.

I have to be original and think of healthier methods. I hope I see posts from people in the future who have swapped the all purpose white or self rising flour for whole wheat cakes.

I altered the recipe a bit. Since it’s a foreign food, I was able to locate a few people who made this and one even attached a video. I didn’t follow the exact measurements. The better you get with baking the more you just know what to do.

Here is my own recipe:

It contains 3 and a 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour, 3 eggs, two teaspoons of baking powder, crushed walnuts (as many as you’d like :), a cup of whole milk, a cup and a half of sugar, a cup of butter, a tablespoon of vanilla extract, and I add a little water to make it more of a liquid form. You don’t want the cake mix to seem like dough. You are not making bread, you are making a cake. That’s why I add about a half cup or less of water. You basically mix them all together. I add a little extra flour (about a cup or two) to make two cakes each time. You can slice and freeze the cakes for up to a month. You bake at 350 F for a minimum of 30 minutes. Baking time can take up to an hour. Once your toothpick comes clean you’ll know it’s done.😊🥮☕️

Oh, and it might not be a bad idea to add about a 1/2 cup of vegetable oil into the mix.☺️ It will help the cake to keep that liquid form.

#wheat #wholewheatflour #diabeticfriendly #cake #betterthanwhite #assyrianchaldean #yummyfood #walnuts #tchai #tea #coffee #cake #mediterranean #style #foodie #conossieur 🥮☕️😀

About Zina

Culinary

Happy Forth! Eat well!🌟🇺🇸🌱

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022 Zina Hermez

Happy Fourth of July!☄️ There is a war in America. It’s a war on food. This was my breakfast today. We are taught to not eat animal products and that vegetarianism or being a vegan is healthier! Simply not true. No evidence supports the idea that eggs, cheese, or red meat cause cancer or even heart disease; on the contrary, people who gravitate towards ‘low fat,’ no sugar, sugar-free, low protein, and more of a plant-based diet have been proven to get sicker. High fructose corn syrup is widely used; and it’s even worse than sugar. Sugar is ok in moderation, in my opinion. Too much of anything is not good. Mostly all processed food contains high fructose corn syrup. Vegetable oil is another item widely used that’s not good for you. I only use extra virgin olive oil unless I’m making a cake mix that calls for vegetable oil. I don’t eat out at restaurants much. The way food is cooked in most restaurants is with vegetable-heated oils and not healthy for you. My idea is to reduce carbs (I’m in a constant struggle with myself to stay away from snacks, but I do snack a little!). Again, we have to find that balance. The point is, when you gravitate more towards protein/nutrients in healthy ‘fat’ through meat/poultry/fish, etc. you eat less because your body feels fuller. There is iron, B1, B12, and a whole bunch of other vitamins in meats. It’s incredibly healthy! You can even turn around diabetes. The other thing I do is fast more in the nighttime hours. I eat very little and do not eat dinner late at 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 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

Don’t gravitate towards sugar!🍥

March 18, 2022 Zina Hermez

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

Intermittent Fasting (benefits) & Calorie restriction! #health⚕️

March 15, 2022 Zina Hermez

I have been decreasing my amount of breakfast lately: for example, instead of having two eggs for breakfast, I am only having one. I don’t add ground beef every day, as a matter of fact, sometimes I skip breakfast altogether. Some of this is to continue to maintain my low calorie intake of 1,440 calories or less per day. Some of the reasons I’m decreasing is also because of the benefits of fasting or reducing food. Fasting has been proven to improve our health greatly. After eight hours of fasting, your body naturally goes into “ketosis,” so intermittent fasting is like doing “keto” without following a keto diet.

As of today, I have set my “eating” hours from 10 am to 6 pm. That will put me at a 16:8 plan. Eight hours of eating and 16 hours of no food. Again, after 8 hours of no food, your body naturally goes into ketosis and stops buring carbohydrates for fat. Instead, it burns fat and makes things called ketones, which it can use for fuel. That’s what we weant. Ketosis is a word you’ve probably seen while you’re looking for info. on diabetes or weight loss. Typically I have breakfast and lunch with a snack in the evening. I would like to get to the point where breakfast and lunch are cut by 200-400 calories each time.

I achieved that. The picture I posted above is of my breakfast. I had one egg: 70 calories. I had almost half of a sweet onion: that is about 18 calories in the picture above. I had a third of a Roma tomato: again, only around 8 calories. I also had a slice of split top wheat bread: 8o calories. With coffee (with limited cream and sugar), that is 50 calories. That’s a low 224 calories. As you can see, by taking out the regular 2 oz. beef and extra slice of wheat (or second egg), I have cut my calories significantly. However, I will incorporate ground beef maybe for lunch or tomorrow. The benefits of ground beef are incredible. Red meat provides iron and other nutrition. I have been anemic before and don’t want to get back on iron pills, so having red meat several times per week is important for me.

About Zina

Culinary

My signature breakfast!🍳🥩🍞

February 28, 2022 Zina Hermez

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

Culinary

Paleo-Diet 101!🍳🍖🫒

February 19, 2022 Zina Hermez

It HAS TO be Extra Virgin Oil! I’ve had enough of the Mediterranean! Now I’m moving on to bigger and greater things (although this dish is kind of Mediterranean!)🤣

This morning I had two eggs for breakfast, scrambled, 140 calories. It’s OK to eat eggs! I also had a 4 oz. (angus) beef Patty, chopped up! Well, actually I ate about 3.2 oz. (192 calories). Meat is good for you and healthy.

I also had two 1/2 slices of split top wheat bread 🍞 on the side (70 calories) and about 1/2 of a chopped sweet onion 🧅! 8 calories. Yes, I eat raw onions! I just rinse them off before I do.

Oh, and of course I had a side of coffee ☕️w/limited cream and sugar, 50 calories! That is a total of 460 calories (red meat may be a little higher in calories, but the benefits of red meat are priceless!). Red meat contains Iron and other vital sources that we don’t get in other food! It was a yummy breakfast!

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

Culinary

Today’s breakfast!🍳🍖🍞☕️

February 8, 2022 Zina Hermez

Its incredible how we are steered in the wrong direction when it comes to food in this country. For example, we are taught that red meat is not good for us. When the truth is just the opposite.

This morning I had ‘koftas’ with eggs for breakfast. The above info is the research I found when I googled ‘kofta.’ Here is a picture of the breakfast below:

This breakfast equaled a total of: 426 calories and that is not including the coffee I had with it. Each piece of kofta kabob is a total of 73 calories.

Recently I learned about about an author and science journalist who teaches heavily on this subject. Below is the link to her video. She is brilliant.

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 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

Culinary

The ‘Mediterranean Delight’

November 12, 2021 Zina Hermez

I started a 1,200 calorie per day plan accompanied with the Mediterranean Diet recently, and a friend suggested I call it the ‘Mediterranean Delight’ instead of a diet. I hate the word, ‘Diet.’ Lol On this plan you are allowed up to 4 proteins a day. A serving size is considered 3-4 oz. of meat, poultry, etc. and that is the size of a ‘deck of cards.’ I actually was having one egg every morning, but my doctor recommended two eggs for breakfast so this is about 1.5 scrambled eggs here. You are allowed 2 grains/bread per day each consisting of 100 calories, preferably dark (wheat) bread so I added this little bun. Finally, I added these delicious koftas which will put me at about two proteins so far between the eggs and meat. You can see I am having a warm cup of coffee with limited cream and sugar. Obviously, I have not started on fruit servings and vegetables along with nuts, seeds, etc. If you are looking to lose a little weight, I recommend the Mediterranean Delight (diet). Search it on google for a complete guide of servings and how much of each food group you can have per day. You won’t regret 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 been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written hundreds of articles and has taught thousands of students. Additionally she’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She is a major foodie and loves to help others. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Linked In, or Twitter.