Fall is definitely here... we have rainy weather with cool temperatures today. It makes me want to tuck in with a soup or stew! I have mentioned it before, but I LOVE fall! It gives me the chance to get back into the kitchen and layer on the flavor and it is officially crock pot season (although if you follow this blog, you know that I am a year round crock pot fanatic!
My menu plan shifted a little bit this week. My hubby found a BOGO deal on ahi tuna, so we will be grilled that tonight. The little guy will eat a grilled pork chop and we will compliment it all with rice and broccolini (I found fresh organic broccolini at Costco today! $5.79 for a huge bag! You'll see it on my menu again later this week). In terms of highlights from last week, the quinoa burgers turned out fantastic - extremely easy!
Last but not least, I am SO excited to reveal some news about a new partnership that I have engaged in with a mentor of mine. I am excited to take my passion for menu planning and for helping people elevate wellness through nutrition and food to the next level! Stay tuned!
For more menu planning inspiration visit http://orgjunkie.com/blog.
Menu for this week:
Monday: Oven roasted chicken with crock pot squash (sub coconut oil for butter if dairy-free) and salad
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner! Quinoa pancakes, bacon and fresh fruit
Wednesday: White Chicken Chili (leftover chicken from Monday!) with side of broccolini
I am going to give this a shot with coconut milk and coconut oil for milk/butter... we'll see how it goes. As is, it is a really delicious recipe!
tip: this is good leftover, so if you make it the night before, just stick the pot in the fridge after it's cooled and warm it up on Wednesday evening!
Thursday: Winging it
Friday: Pizza night
Saturday: Out to dinner
Sunday: Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Squash (don't know what "Kitchen Bouqet" is? Assume it's just a spice blend. I'll use sage and rosemary with salt and pepper. Sub in coconut oil for butter if dairy free!)
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Menu Plan for 9/12/11
I hope everyone had a good first week of "back to school" or whatever transitions you may have been in last week! This week is our transition week. Lots of new things for my little guy - new child care at our church, a new Kindermusik class (which he LOVES so I am excited for that!) and we are going to meet a new pediatrician as well. With all of Ben's health issues (food allergies, environmental allergies leading to asthma, etc.) we were looking to find someone who was more in line with the integrative approach that we are taking for him, which includes not only western medicine but a traditional, whole foods diet, supplementation, homeopathy and chiropractic care. Through a referral, I am hoping that this new ped will be a good fit. I never expect to find someone with western training who will be completely in line with everything we are going, but our current ped is basically against anything we do outside of her care which has been very discouraging. I'll keep you posted on our meeting this week!
We will also be packing lunches for the little guy starting this week when he goes to his "school." I am using a lunchbox (Bento box) I found here - I will keep you updated on new and creative ideas for packing lunches, and would love your ideas as well. Thanks for a friend who led me to This Lunch Rox which is an amazing blog written by a working mom who makes incredibly creative lunches for her kids. Definitely inspirational! She keeps kids with food allergies in mind when she writes her posts. I am excited to follow her.
Here is our plan for this week! Check out OrgJunkie's blog for more menu planning inspiration - look for "allergy free" labels on the linked plans!
Monday: Rosemary Sage Pork Chops with Saffron Zucchini and Herb Cous-Cous
Tip: The Cous-Cous recipe sounds fancy but it is really easy - definitely something you can/should make the night before! Add any protein to this side dish and you've got a great well-rounded dinner!
Tuesday: Crock Pot Chili (missed on Sunday due to BBQ... and it was too hot for chili!) with green bean side
Tip: Prep the night before, plug it in and go!
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Quinoa Burgers with roasted carrots
Tip: I'll make this easier by using already ground spices (yep, grinding my own spices is where I draw the line! :) - we'll use the egg replacer and no soy sauce - just add a little extra salt for flavor. May add some garden fresh herbs for additional flavor!)
Friday: Wing it!
Saturday: BBQ with neighbors... Grass fed burgers and brats, salad, corn on the cob
Sunday: Oven Roasted Chicken with crock pot squash (this is the best recipe I have used - back to oven roasting due to cooler temps!) Replace butter in squash recipe with coconut oil or ghee for dairy-free.
We will also be packing lunches for the little guy starting this week when he goes to his "school." I am using a lunchbox (Bento box) I found here - I will keep you updated on new and creative ideas for packing lunches, and would love your ideas as well. Thanks for a friend who led me to This Lunch Rox which is an amazing blog written by a working mom who makes incredibly creative lunches for her kids. Definitely inspirational! She keeps kids with food allergies in mind when she writes her posts. I am excited to follow her.
Here is our plan for this week! Check out OrgJunkie's blog for more menu planning inspiration - look for "allergy free" labels on the linked plans!
Monday: Rosemary Sage Pork Chops with Saffron Zucchini and Herb Cous-Cous
Tip: The Cous-Cous recipe sounds fancy but it is really easy - definitely something you can/should make the night before! Add any protein to this side dish and you've got a great well-rounded dinner!
Tuesday: Crock Pot Chili (missed on Sunday due to BBQ... and it was too hot for chili!) with green bean side
Tip: Prep the night before, plug it in and go!
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Quinoa Burgers with roasted carrots
Tip: I'll make this easier by using already ground spices (yep, grinding my own spices is where I draw the line! :) - we'll use the egg replacer and no soy sauce - just add a little extra salt for flavor. May add some garden fresh herbs for additional flavor!)
Friday: Wing it!
Saturday: BBQ with neighbors... Grass fed burgers and brats, salad, corn on the cob
Sunday: Oven Roasted Chicken with crock pot squash (this is the best recipe I have used - back to oven roasting due to cooler temps!) Replace butter in squash recipe with coconut oil or ghee for dairy-free.
Breakfast and Side Dishes!
I have been digging deeper for great breakfast and side dish ideas to keep things fresh on my weekly menus and have come across some great blogs, recipes, etc. in the process. I want to share them with you to pass on the inspiration. Note that most of these are new recipes, so I have not tried them but they seem like no-brainers! I will be trying all of them in the coming weeks and will let you know if I have any tips or tweaks!
If you have eggplant for your garden or the farmers market, check out this Eggplant recipes site for some inspiration. I did make the Eggplant dip already - creamy and delicious. I just made it all in one pot after roasting the eggplant and use a hand blender to puree it. Super easy.
With fall knocking at the door, it means that it is apple season - yay! Check out this crock pot applesauce. Great to make on the weekends... it will leave the house smelling wonderful! Great for breakfast or a side dish (bonus!)
These crock pot potato wedges are also a great weekend addition to grilled meats and veggies.
I LOVE quinoa and I especially love the idea of making it for breakfast - thanks to "This Chick Cooks" for the idea (cute blog, too!)
I've been looking for a good overnight crock pot oatmeal recipe, and this one caught my eye because of hour easy it looks! For dairy free, with coconut milk instead of half and half... and add a tablespoon or two of coconut oil right before serving for added richness. Play with the combination of dried fruits, too! This gluten free/dairy free version also looks delicious and interesting.
I know many of you have kids with food allergies at home. This site, in general, is a great resource for recipes and tips for living with food allergies on a budget. Check out Frugal Food Allergies!
This post is linked to:
Real Foods Whole Health Fresh Bites http://www.realfoodwholehealth.com/2011/09/fresh-bites-friday-september-16-2011/
If you have eggplant for your garden or the farmers market, check out this Eggplant recipes site for some inspiration. I did make the Eggplant dip already - creamy and delicious. I just made it all in one pot after roasting the eggplant and use a hand blender to puree it. Super easy.
With fall knocking at the door, it means that it is apple season - yay! Check out this crock pot applesauce. Great to make on the weekends... it will leave the house smelling wonderful! Great for breakfast or a side dish (bonus!)
These crock pot potato wedges are also a great weekend addition to grilled meats and veggies.
I LOVE quinoa and I especially love the idea of making it for breakfast - thanks to "This Chick Cooks" for the idea (cute blog, too!)
I've been looking for a good overnight crock pot oatmeal recipe, and this one caught my eye because of hour easy it looks! For dairy free, with coconut milk instead of half and half... and add a tablespoon or two of coconut oil right before serving for added richness. Play with the combination of dried fruits, too! This gluten free/dairy free version also looks delicious and interesting.
I know many of you have kids with food allergies at home. This site, in general, is a great resource for recipes and tips for living with food allergies on a budget. Check out Frugal Food Allergies!
This post is linked to:
Real Foods Whole Health Fresh Bites http://www.realfoodwholehealth.com/2011/09/fresh-bites-friday-september-16-2011/
Monday, September 5, 2011
Menu Plan Week of 9/5
Happy end of summer, everyone! There is something a little sad about this but when it comes to cooking and meal planning it is an exciting time. Soon, apples, squash, pumpkin and wonderful flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves will be part of my meal planning repertoire. Right now, all of the local fresh fruits and veggies are in season. Soups and stews will be back on the menu, too! For me, this is the best time of year to be in the kitchen!
This week I will make my first batch of chili (yay)! Definitely try this recipe, I have tweaked it over time to come up with the right combo of seasonings (not very spicy so that my little guy likes it!)
Many of us will be going back to packing lunches this fall! Here is a great blog post from Real Kids Each Spinach with some great tips to keep you organized. This is a blog I recently ran across - LOVE it! For more menu planning inspiration go to http://orgjunkie.com/blog.
Monday - Leftovers from our weekend BBQs!
Tuesday - Mexican quinoa with the fixings (guac, salsa, zucchini)
Wednesday - Pizza night (we are going to try dairy-free/soy-free cheese for my little guy, on top of homemade allergen-free crusts)
TIP: Puree zucchini into the pizza sauce for great texture and flavor, and additional veggie power!
Thursday - Crock pot pork tenderloin, green beans, rice
TIP: Prep the pork in the crock pot the night before - marinates overnight which makes it extra flavorful! Plug in and go in the morning!
Friday - Dinner with my in-laws
Saturday - May be out? Otherwise, winging it!
Sunday- Chili! (see bottom of the post linked here for the recipe!)
This week I will make my first batch of chili (yay)! Definitely try this recipe, I have tweaked it over time to come up with the right combo of seasonings (not very spicy so that my little guy likes it!)
Many of us will be going back to packing lunches this fall! Here is a great blog post from Real Kids Each Spinach with some great tips to keep you organized. This is a blog I recently ran across - LOVE it! For more menu planning inspiration go to http://orgjunkie.com/blog.
Monday - Leftovers from our weekend BBQs!
Tuesday - Mexican quinoa with the fixings (guac, salsa, zucchini)
Wednesday - Pizza night (we are going to try dairy-free/soy-free cheese for my little guy, on top of homemade allergen-free crusts)
TIP: Puree zucchini into the pizza sauce for great texture and flavor, and additional veggie power!
Thursday - Crock pot pork tenderloin, green beans, rice
TIP: Prep the pork in the crock pot the night before - marinates overnight which makes it extra flavorful! Plug in and go in the morning!
Friday - Dinner with my in-laws
Saturday - May be out? Otherwise, winging it!
Sunday- Chili! (see bottom of the post linked here for the recipe!)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Menu Plan Monday Week of 8/22
Happy Monday! After a very relaxing weekend, we have just a few more days before we head back to Milwaukee for a long weekend! There is always a fine line when it comes to grocery shopping during weeks like these - making sure we have enough food to get us through but that nothing goes to waste! Planning is obviously key to this! (And to avoid any or all take-out meals, which are not really an option for us anyway!)
I also want to provide you with the link to this amazing baked oatmeal recipe (via Just One Bite) that I have made twice and my family cannot get enough of it! As it says in the recipe, it is worth doubling the recipe. It is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner! :) Here is the link. To make this allergy friendly, I sub in Ener-G egg replacer, plain coconut milk for milk and coconut oil for the butter. I do not add any nuts (but it would be SO good to make it with nuts - one of these days I'll make two separate batches so my husband and I can try it that way!)
Last but not least, I saw this link via Fresh and Natural Foods on Facebook for a Blueberry Basil Quinoa Tabouli and I am making a batch of this for lunches this week. YUM!
Here is our plan for the week!
Monday: Pasta with meatballs, salad
tip: I use two pounds of beef and bake all of the meatballs, once cooled I freeze them in a Ziploc for another no-fuss meal!
Tuesday: Coconut Chicken Tenders (no egg, sub-in olive oil) with green beans and potato wedges
tip: slice chicken breasts into strips the night before; mix flour, salt and pepper in a storage container and shredded coconut in another so they are ready for assembly!
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Beans and Rice with Grassfed Beef Kielbasa, roasted veggies
Friday: Off to Milwaukee!
For more menu inspiration, visit Orgjunkie's blog!
I also want to provide you with the link to this amazing baked oatmeal recipe (via Just One Bite) that I have made twice and my family cannot get enough of it! As it says in the recipe, it is worth doubling the recipe. It is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner! :) Here is the link. To make this allergy friendly, I sub in Ener-G egg replacer, plain coconut milk for milk and coconut oil for the butter. I do not add any nuts (but it would be SO good to make it with nuts - one of these days I'll make two separate batches so my husband and I can try it that way!)
Last but not least, I saw this link via Fresh and Natural Foods on Facebook for a Blueberry Basil Quinoa Tabouli and I am making a batch of this for lunches this week. YUM!
Here is our plan for the week!
Monday: Pasta with meatballs, salad
tip: I use two pounds of beef and bake all of the meatballs, once cooled I freeze them in a Ziploc for another no-fuss meal!
Tuesday: Coconut Chicken Tenders (no egg, sub-in olive oil) with green beans and potato wedges
tip: slice chicken breasts into strips the night before; mix flour, salt and pepper in a storage container and shredded coconut in another so they are ready for assembly!
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Beans and Rice with Grassfed Beef Kielbasa, roasted veggies
Friday: Off to Milwaukee!
For more menu inspiration, visit Orgjunkie's blog!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Homemade Frozen "Go-Gurts"
Thanks to A Nourishing Home's recipe for push-pops, I purchased silicone push-pop molds from Amazon (here) and got to work! I used the recipes posted via the link above as inspiration for my own "go-gurt" recipe below.
The silicone molds work really well and are very easy to use. The tops fit tight. For my 22 month old, it is a bit difficult for him to push and hold the pop up. I run warm water over the mold, pop it out and then turn it upside down (narrow side up) and wrap a little napkin around the bottom for him to hold it with. It stay really frozen while he eats it, so it does not drip at all. I just have to push the napkin down a little bit right at the end. This is an awesome treat that you can feel really good about (I have to admit, I love them, too!)
Mix and match fruits and veggies for various combinations! Take a look at the recipes that A Nourishing Home created for lots of inspiration. She has a ton of Popsicle and push-pop recipes on her Facebook page!
You will see I use strawberries in my recipe. A quick tip - I buy them fresh (organic) at Costco. As soon as I come home with them I wash them, dry them and thinly slice them. I split the total amount in half and add to two separate zip top bags. I lay the bags flat in the freezer and use them for smoothies, these "go-gurt" pops, oatmeal, or for eating straight out of the bag! (Very easy for a toddler to eat a thinly sliced frozen strawberry!)
Frozen "Go-Gurts" (Dairy Free)
1/2 cup frozen organic strawberries (approx. 5 whole large frozen berries)
1/4 cup frozen organic raspberries
1 cup cultured coconut milk (see photos below so you know what you are looking for!) or other dairy liquid (plan drinkable yogurt, whole milk, etc).
2 tbsp. raw honey
1 tbsp. ground flax
Add all ingredients to blender, blend until smooth. Add additional liquid if needed in order to obtain smooth consistency.
The silicone molds work really well and are very easy to use. The tops fit tight. For my 22 month old, it is a bit difficult for him to push and hold the pop up. I run warm water over the mold, pop it out and then turn it upside down (narrow side up) and wrap a little napkin around the bottom for him to hold it with. It stay really frozen while he eats it, so it does not drip at all. I just have to push the napkin down a little bit right at the end. This is an awesome treat that you can feel really good about (I have to admit, I love them, too!)
Mix and match fruits and veggies for various combinations! Take a look at the recipes that A Nourishing Home created for lots of inspiration. She has a ton of Popsicle and push-pop recipes on her Facebook page!
You will see I use strawberries in my recipe. A quick tip - I buy them fresh (organic) at Costco. As soon as I come home with them I wash them, dry them and thinly slice them. I split the total amount in half and add to two separate zip top bags. I lay the bags flat in the freezer and use them for smoothies, these "go-gurt" pops, oatmeal, or for eating straight out of the bag! (Very easy for a toddler to eat a thinly sliced frozen strawberry!)
Frozen "Go-Gurts" (Dairy Free)
1/2 cup frozen organic strawberries (approx. 5 whole large frozen berries)
1/4 cup frozen organic raspberries
1 cup cultured coconut milk (see photos below so you know what you are looking for!) or other dairy liquid (plan drinkable yogurt, whole milk, etc).
2 tbsp. raw honey
1 tbsp. ground flax
Add all ingredients to blender, blend until smooth. Add additional liquid if needed in order to obtain smooth consistency.
 |
| Recipe above, blended |
 |
| Stand molds in a tall glass, pour mixture into measuring cup to easily pour into molds |
 |
| Once sealed, place glass into freezer overnight. Enjoy anytime you (or your little one) is looking for a cold treat! :) |
Menu Plan Monday Week of 8/15
We just returned from a great weekend up north with family. Two weeks and then another trip out of town to Milwaukee for more family fun - and THEN we will be home for quite a few weeks in a row. Phew! It has been a crazy summer! I am proud of the strides my family and I have made from a cooking and food perspective and look forward to having time this fall to dig even deeper into the traditional foods approach to eating. I have also done a lot of work to figure out how to shop on a budget while eating almost 100% organic (You ask - Is that even possible?! My answer - YES!) More to come on this...
Here is our menu plan this week!
Monday - Out! (A "walking date" with a friend around Lake Calhoun, then Chipotle!!)
Tuesday - BBQ Chicken Breasts (you must check out this recipe - looks amazing!), rice, green beans
tip: brine them the night before, take out of brine and refrigerate until you are ready to rub/cook them. Prepare rice in advance and refrigerate or freeze in family-size portions until ready to use.
Wednesday - Beef Roast sandwiches (frozen leftovers, yay!), kale chips, pasta
Thursday - Mexican Quinoa with all the fixings
tip: this is great leftover - you could even prep it Wednesday night and warm it for dinner on Thursday, would work great that way!)
Friday - Date night in (i.e. easy dinner for the little guy, take out or easy grill out for us after bedtime!)
Saturday - Maple Dijon Turkey Burgers (from Cooking Traditional Foods), potatoes and green beans
Sunday - Crock Pot Pulled Pork, (I've tried this one, it is awesome!) corn and black bean salad, peas
tip: prep crock the night before
Go to Orgjunkie's blog for more menu inspiration!
Here is our menu plan this week!
Monday - Out! (A "walking date" with a friend around Lake Calhoun, then Chipotle!!)
Tuesday - BBQ Chicken Breasts (you must check out this recipe - looks amazing!), rice, green beans
tip: brine them the night before, take out of brine and refrigerate until you are ready to rub/cook them. Prepare rice in advance and refrigerate or freeze in family-size portions until ready to use.
Wednesday - Beef Roast sandwiches (frozen leftovers, yay!), kale chips, pasta
Thursday - Mexican Quinoa with all the fixings
tip: this is great leftover - you could even prep it Wednesday night and warm it for dinner on Thursday, would work great that way!)
Friday - Date night in (i.e. easy dinner for the little guy, take out or easy grill out for us after bedtime!)
Saturday - Maple Dijon Turkey Burgers (from Cooking Traditional Foods), potatoes and green beans
Sunday - Crock Pot Pulled Pork, (I've tried this one, it is awesome!) corn and black bean salad, peas
tip: prep crock the night before
Go to Orgjunkie's blog for more menu inspiration!
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