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Spring Break

Posted in: Children | Personal

It’s spring break here in Clovis.  Adam has been studying for Tsgt, the wind has been howling and we’ve not done a whole lot.  The outside temperature is rising steadily though and that makes me happy.  Supposed to up to 84 this weekend. It’s all about the little things right?

 

Ronan was running around naked posing as batman the other day:

and giving me all sorts of cheesy smiles the day before that:

We went to the first photography meet-up of 2013 today and surprise, surprise…it was windy. We had an awesome turn out though, lots of kids, lots of smiles, and lots of wind. I did manage to snag this shot of Ava though.  I really like it.  It’s not the typical thing that I shoot, but I saw those cool circle shadows and asked Ava to pose for me (she kept smiling, so I asked for a serious face):

Tonight after bathes the kids went out to draw on the sidewalk:

Ronan insisted he wear The Incredibles suit (that is 3 sizes to big for him).   He is great at giving me the weirdest face ever:

 

of course…no post is complete without our weekly Instagram collage

 

Ava freezing in the back yard

Homemade Granola

Energy Bites

Stand here and pose with your sister

Don’t eat GMO’s

 

 

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Apple Chips

Posted in: Clean Eating | iPhone Photography | Recipes

I tend to only do the recipes on Pinterest that have minimal steps involved.   Maybe I’m lazy, or maybe I’m just a mom that tries not to spend the ENTIRE day in the kitchen.  If I had a better kitchen, maybe I’d be into that but I have a small kitchen and when you add in the dog under your feet and a 3 year old swinging on the refrigerator door it makes me want to leave that room ASAP.  I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.  I’ve been too lazy to get out my big camera lately, so bear with my grainy iphone photos.

 

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 225.

 

Step 2: Slice apples (on a mandolin slicer, but don’t cut off a finger) I used the second option on my slicer for a thicker slice after getting floppy slices like you can see here from my first attempt.

 

Step 3:  Place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.   Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Step 4:  Bake for 70 min.

 

These were gone in about 30 seconds (literally), so use several apples if you want to actually save these for a later date.

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Clean Eating

Posted in: Clean Eating | Personal

I tend to fall into my hobbies and not find time for anything else.  Maybe you noticed? When I find something I have passion about I like to dive in and learn until I feel like I know the ins and outs of it.  I did the same thing when I started photography 4 years ago.   Clean Eating is a very new passion of mine.  I’ve played around with it for a few years, but I kept falling off the wagon because I didn’t do the research to fully send it home to my brain that THIS IS what I need to do for myself and my family.

When I read books about food my blood pressure skyrockets and my passion for truly voting with my wallet runs deep.  It’s such a cluster$#%& of issues though.  You finally cut out wheat or start eating grass fed meat, but then you hear about GMO’s and the kind of havoc they can wreck on your body.  Basically, it’s time to start over.  It’s time to take things slower, quit your second job and get back to basics.  It saddens me that I don’t know anything about growing my own food.   Both sets of my grandparents had HUGE gardens when I went to visit as a kid, and sometime between then and now that information stopped being passed on. I’m not blaming anyone, but I really do just want to know how to do it.  Is it just dirt, water and seeds?  I will be finding that out soon as I grow my own non-GMO seeds this spring.

 

So here is to my first 3 weeks of CLEAN eating and being wheat-free.

 

iPhone Imagery #pictapgo

Flouride Free Toothpaste

Big Lots Deals

Cashew Waffles

Happytizer

Chemical Garbage

Spaghetti Squash

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Philly Cheese Steak Peppers

Posted in: Personal | Recipes

OMG!  YUM!   That is all I have to say about this!  I really thought I might die at the thought of giving up wheat, but the more recipes I try, the more I”m convinced that this isn’t the end of the world.  I found this on Pinterest via my friend Carol and I have to SHARE it with you! SO So Good!!

 

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers
INGREDIENTS
8 oz. Thinly Sliced Roast Beef/Steak
8 Slices Provolone Cheese
2 Large Green Bell Peppers
1 Medium Sweet Onion
6 oz. Baby Bella Mushrooms
2 Tbs. Butter
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 Tbs. Garlic – Minced
Salt and Pepper – to taste
DIRECTIONS
Slice peppers in half lengthwise, remove ribs and seeds. (If you don’t like a strong peppery taste, par-boil the pepper for 15 min first).
Slice onions and mushrooms.  Saute over medium heat with butter, olive oil, minced garlic and a little salt and pepper.  Saute until onions and mushroom are nice and caramelized.  About 25-30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400*
Slice roast beef into thin strips and add to the onion/mushroom mixture.  Allow to cook 5-10 minutes
Line the inside of each pepper with a slice of provolone cheese.
Fill each pepper with meat mixture until they are nearly overflowing.
Top each pepper with another slice of provolone cheese.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese on top is golden brown.
Serve and Enjoy!!
Makes 4 servings –  6 net carbs per serving
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Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted in: Personal | Recipes

I’ve recently read the book “Wheat Belly” and we have come to the conclusion that wheat is no longer something we want to consume.  We have purged it from our diet.   Ava is having a VERY hard time with it.   She laid around the house for nearly 5 days and didn’t want to eat anything.  I totally felt her pain.  Day 2 I wanted to curl up in the fetal position and have someone wake me up in 30 days.  Wheat is/was an addiction and it takes a whole lot of will power to give it up.  The book recommends not eating other grains as well, but if you only are ready to give up one, give up wheat.  All other grains should be consumed in no more than 1/2 cup at one serving.  It’s very doable after that the first couple of days.   Dealing with your blood sugar being in the dumps is tough, but your body DOES readjust to it.

With that said, here is a recipe that my sister in law shared with me a few years ago .  She has the most pristine diet ever, but allows her self some sugar from time to time.   These are considered “clean” and have only 6 ingredients.  When I made them it was 5 because I didn’t add salt.

 

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup unsalted almond butter, stirred well
  • 3/4 cup Sucanat
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 3 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa or greater), broken into small pieces

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, stir together first 5 ingredients until blended. Stir in chocolate.
  2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool for 15 more minutes.

 

Here is a quick instagram shot I took of my final product. I also need to add that these are kid/husband approved.  They are soft, and taste better than you’d think.

 

 

 

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