Wherefore Art Thou?

I know that's what you've been asking. :)

I guess the holiday season took me hostage.  I've been busy cooking (as usual), making gifts with my kiddos, trying new recipes for sharing with friends and family, joining my family in some caroling, visiting, and making some great memories. In short, it's been a lovely Advent Season. :)

 

I'll post some specifics on new recipes and fun things we've done over the last couple of weeks. I've also been reading a fantastic book by Dr. Scot Stoll, titled Alive! that I can't wait to share with you.  The scale has been stubborn and holding itself still.  However, I haven't helped matters much with avoiding the workouts I was planning to get started on during this break from school. Please pray for me to commit and do what's right in that area.

 

I'm pretty sure I should have asked for some extra hours in my day on my Christmas list. ;)

Work It Off

So, last night we headed to the YMCA for Family Fun Night.

I admit, it takes everything in me to join in on group exercise.  Okay, full truth is it takes everything in me to join in on ANY exercise.  I'm just wired that way.  Lots of overcoming happens in my head if I want to be part of the Family Fun.

We did have fun.  We played some flag football and dodge ball.  Of course, it wasn't a major workout, but it was really great to hear my little girls giggle and squeal with delight as Mommy and Daddy chased and cheered for them.  The boys especially liked having a fast and furious Daddy on their tail. 

Everyone was famished, though, when they got home.  Dinner *was* pretty light, as I was trying to get us out the door quickly.  I made a vegetable stir fry that was apparently short on vegetables.  I served it over crunchy chow mein noodles for the children.  I intended to have brown rice, too, so they wouldn't have so many of the processed noodles, but I didn't make the time for the rice to cook. 

All of that led to hungry bellies after the gym.  I made up three blenderfuls of kale and fruit smoothies while someone else cooked up some peanut butter toast.  We munched away while David read our advent reading for the night.  Really, it was very sweet.

This morning the scale was up on first step.  I decided that since I had had that late night snack, which isn't my norm, I would get in a light Wii workout.  The fact that the house was quiet and I was alone helped in a big way.

Twenty minutes later and I'm down .4 pounds.  I'll take it.

Thanksgiving Menu

We spent the afternoon prepping food for our Nutritarian Thanksgiving Feast!  We've still got a few things to assemble and cook, including a cage-free, no antibiotics, vegetarian fed (is there any other kind of feed for them?) turkey. 

And, yes, I declare, by all of the powers vested in me, that serving the healthiest and highest quality turkey our budget can afford for Thanksgiving dinner qualifies as a Nutritarian meal.  I'm not sure we're all planning to eat it, but I'm grateful to serve it to our guests on this special day.

Here's our menu plan with links:

Vegetable Tray
Hummus (I'll post this recipe if it turns out)
Savory Bean and Spinach Soup
Turkey
Cornbread Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole (I altered this recipe; I mixed almonds and bread in the food processor and then mixed in dried, minced onion for the topping with some extra slivered almonds)
Sweet Potato Casserole (I altered this recipe; half the maple syrup, no sugar or butter for topping. I mixed pecans, dates, and flour in the food processor for the topping)
Green Salad (brought my guests)
Dinner rolls (brought by guests)
Apple Crisp (we made this recipe up. If it turns out, I'll post the recipe soon.)

Some pics of our hard work today

Continental Breakfast

This is the plan I use for breakfasts for the children each day.  I've been busy sharing this idea with friends, so I thought I should just put it all in one place for easy reference. :)

Saturday, I do a big day of baking for the week. I make a couple loaves of "sweet" breads and granola bars. I also make a couple of pans of baked oatmeal (one for Sunday morning and another for Monday morning).  Everything goes right to the freezer. Anyone snitching on Baking Day doesn't get their share for breakfast later in the week.

Now that I have a baked good for each breakfast during the week, my oldest puts out a continental breakfast buffet each morning. The children come down and make their plate with a bread, fruit, nuts, and side of *G-Bombed beans that cooked overnight in the crockpot. They love it and so do I.

No more cooking in the morning. Way less dishes, so the cleanup that used to take forever is going much faster. I think we even eat faster this way.

Some recipes on our normal rotation:

Orange Berry Muffins

Banana Blueberry Bars

Pumpkin Pie Squares

Banana Bread/Muffins

Zucchini Bread

Make Ahead pancakes

Granola Bars using this recipe, minus the oil and coconut, pressed in a parchment paper lined pan. I sometimes add peanut butter and chia seeds.

So, this week's breakfast menu looks like this:

Monday: Baked oatmeal that is topped with crushed walnuts, fruit, Gbomb beans
Tuesday: Zucchini bread that has crushed walnuts in it, fruit, Gbomb beans
Wednesday: Banana Bread, walnut pieces, fruit, Gbomb beans
Thursday: Zucchini bread with walnuts, fruit, Gbomb beans
Friday: Granola bars, fruit, gbomb beans

*Gbombs is an acronym for Greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, seeds/nuts. I use the term to mean that we've dressed up the beans to fit the acronym as much as we can. We add onion, mushrooms (chopped VERY finely ), and greens (kale or collards or spinach). They all love their beans and greens in the morning.

Still Hangin'

I didn't even step on that scale this morning.  Too busy getting the day going.  So, I'm still teetering in wonderland...wondering if I'm in that next decade or not. ;)

My skirt was still looser fitting today than when I first bought it.

I ate well today. Really well.  Starch heavy at dinner, but it was comfort food at it's finest.  Ultimate Vegetable Loaf, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, corn, and mixed vegetables.

Happy sigh. 

Lunch was a large salad with my new taco salad topping. Onion, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, chard, and a bit of cilantro tossed in with pinto beans and corn.  Love that topping. I forgot to add in the home made taco seasoning, but it was still delicious. 

Breakfast was my new love, Chocolate Green Smoothie.  Creamy, chocolatey, and much easier to get down than the chewing that needs done with my breakfast salad.  Still, I need to not leave that behind all together. ;)

I ran out of non-dairy milk for mixing up the potatoes tonight. The local stores had only vanilla flavored non-dairy milk available. So, I had to give in to the moment and get some regular low-fat milk.  I didn't add much to the 'taters and I didn't eat much of them either. Still, I'm already itching in my poison ivy target spots tonight at bedtime.  I haven't had that issue for over a month. Crazy.  I'm not saying it's definitely the dairy. I'm just saying, it's an interesting coincidence.

Heading out tomorrow for a Girls' Day with my mom and oldest daughter.  We're going to do some thrift shopping, antiquing, and my first ever trip to Trader Joe's.

I am Giddy. How am I going to get to sleep??  The gym looms on my morning horizon, so I need to find a way fast!!

One More At the Table

My mom is visiting with us for 10 days!! I've been busy getting ready for her arrival and now we're busy enjoying her company.

I was a little nervous having her come and stay, wondering if our diet choices would leave her uncomfortable or feeling poorly.  So far, all is well.  She's been so helpful to me in the kitchen. I sure wish I could have her here everyday!  Having an extra pair of already trained hands in the kitchen is such a blessing!

These two (my mom and my oldest) are the BEST kitchen helpers!!

Last night I made a variation of a new recipe, Southwestern Black Bean and Quinoa Casserole.  It turned out lovely and everyone liked it.  I was excited to cook up some quinoa.  I don't think I've used it before.

 

I used a veggie cheese product on about 3/4 of the pan.  Most everyone said it wasn't really needed so I think I'll just skip it next time.  I didn't think it was worth the cost and ingredient list. It drives me crazy how "vegan" foods can be so ridiculously processed and unhealthy. 

My weight hasn't dropped much in the last few days. I'm sort of plateaued again, which makes sense, I guess, since this was O week.  I keep forgetting about that.  I do feel like the new skirt I bought is fitting a little less snugly, so that makes me happy. :D

It felt SO good to hear my mom say how great I am looking right now. She really focused on my face and how different I look. Then, she mentioned that I look great from behind, too! Wow!! First time I've heard that one. :D

I haven't gotten in much exercise lately. But, I'm out of my funk I was battling last week. I was so stuck in carb-heavy-swamp that I didn't think I'd ever get out.  Back on track and feeling really great about it.

I also started making up some green smoothies this week for myself and the youngest children.  I'm finding it an easy way to get in my greens when I don't have time to fix up my breakfast salad. I love that I'm seeing my 1.5yo and my 3yo guzzle their greens each day. Woohoo!

Steak for Dinner!

Iceberg steak, that is. ;) 

My 9yo thought I was so clever serving "steak" with pasta.  For the first time in a while, my picky girl devoured her dinner!!

 

 

Some cuties wanted in on the fun of taking pictures of their dinner plates.  Oh, to be like Mommy. :) 

 

We actually used KNIVES at the dinner table! I don't even know how long it's been since we've done that. 

Well, *some* of us used knives. :)

I was reminded of one of our favorite documentaries we've watched recently, Forks Over Knives.  It's a fascinating film that deals with whole food plant-based diets.  It's a look at other cultures that thrive on this lifestyle of eating, the history of the food pyramid in our nation, and a summary of an amazing source of scientific data called The China Study.  I think this is a film that every family should watch and see what they can glean from the information given.

What have you Nutritized today?

I finally got to making this recipe for dinner. It's been on the menu for over a month, but something always comes up to bump it. 

I changed it a bit (see recipe below) to fit our preferences, ingredients I had on hand and to boost the nutrient value. I affectionately call that, Nutritized.

It's simmering now and I think it's going to be a winner with at least a few of us.  I'll serve it over or along side baked potatoes for the family. I'm having mine over steamed broccoli.

Spiced Chickpea Sauce

1 onion, diced fine

3 large white mushrooms, diced fine (so my children don't notice)

1 heaping TBS minced garlic (non-oil kind)

1 TBS ground cumin

2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp (or so) red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp ground cloves (only I didn't have those so skipped it)

1 TBS paprika

1 28 oz can stewed tomatoes

1 6 oz can tomato paste

2 cups no-salt vegetable broth

1/2 bag of frozen spinach

1 28oz can chickpeas, rinsed

Saute onions, garlic, and mushrooms in water or vegetable broth until soft. Add seasonings and mix. Add tomatoes, paste, and vegetable broth. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer. I mashed the tomatoes at this point to make it less chunky. (I have many in my family that will appreciate that effort.) Add spinach and chickpeas. Continue to simmer for at least 15 minutes. Add more vegetable broth if desired.

To serve, place a slit on the top of a sweet potato (or white potato, your choice) and gently squeeze to open. Removed part of the insides, if desired, and reserve or mix in with chickpea sauce. Ladle sauce over potatoes. (I didn't remove anything. I just split the potatoes and let the children choose if they wanted the sauce on the side or on the potato. They all chose the side but most were mixing it in with their potatoes after they tasted it.)

In looking over the recipe, I could have increased the seasoning by quite a bit. However, the flavor was fine for my family and I wanted to be cautious of over-seasoning it on the first run. :)

Report:  Everyone thought it was good. Even my non-bean eater went back for a big, healthy second helping. I just had one 7 year old chickpea dissenter.

Nutritarian Birthday Feast!

My oldest daughter turned 16 yesterday.  We had some fun shopping, then stopped for an express lunch in the van.  Instead of fast-food, we went to the local grocery store and built three huge salads for David, myself, and our daughter. Grabbed a loaf of bread, jar of peanut butter and jar of all fruit for the other children.  We were all excited to have good stuff to eat and cheap for on the road!

After that we ate our way through the apple orchard while we picked to fill our bucket of fresh apples.  Now, that's some healthy fun!

We cruised home for a Taco Bar night.  We tried something new by baking corn tortillas in the oven like this, making some great taco shells for our filling of black beans mixed with onions, garlic, mushrooms, collards, and seasoning, brown rice mixed with mixed vegetable medley, dried onion, garlic, and more seasoning, and of course, a giant fresh salad and salsa.  Everyone was quite happy with the birthday girl for giving us an excuse to eat such yummy food. :)

The best part of the meal came at the end, of course. She was so excited to plan out her birthday dessert, Nutritarian style.

She chose Dark Chocolate Nice Cream mixed with Raw Brownie Bites.  We called it Live by Chocolate Nice Cream. (spin off of our old favorite, Death By Chocolate Ice cream).

 

 Delicious!!  She truly is a genius.

 

I always tease my children that their birthday is also MY birthday. After all, who did all the work, right?  ;)  So, I was pretty happy to see the scale down half a pound this morning. I'm calling that a belated birthday gift to me!