MENU PLAN Sept. 10-14. 2012

Well, I don't seem to post every week but I do feel like I am getting more successful at keeping with this meal plan and having dinners be homemade meals.  Breakfast and lunch consists of bagels, sandwiches, carrots, grapes, and bunny crackers or granola bars.  Some times they have eggs or cereal if we have time at home before heading out the door to take K to work.

MONDAY:
Roasted chicken and pesto pizza.
Pizza Crust:
http://www.roostblog.com/roost/herbed-flatbread-with-prosciutto-arugula-pesto-sheeps-milk-c.html
(I never got around to making the crust.  My oldest was sick all day.)

Basil Salad Dressing:
http://www.elanaspantry.com/basil-salad-dressing/
(Easy and delish.)

TUESDAY:
Taco Tuesday!  We will put the taco meat and spices in large peppers with cheese on top.  It has become a weekly staple.  X asks, "What is today? YAY!  I'm so excited it is Taco Tuesday!"  You never know what will make a child happy.

WEDNESDAY:
Tortellini- open package and boil.  Easy.

THURSDAY:
Thursdays seem to be my most unmotivated days to cook.  Needing to keep it simple but healthy.  Hmmm....

http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2011/04/recipe-grain-free-spring-quiche-with-an-almond-flour-crust.html
(I never made this.  I was sick all day.)
FRIDAY:
Homemade pizza.  Crust from Sprouts, peppers, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese...
(We are doing turkey burgers instead.)

August 26-Sept 1, 2012 MENU PLAN

MONDAY:  Roast Chicken using Walking J Recipe

1 whole Walking J Farm chicken
1/2 lemon
sprig of rosemary
pinch of thyme
pinch of sage
chunk of butter
salt & butter to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Wash thawed chicken and drain any liquid from inside.  Place on a rack in a roasting pan if you have one. Place the 1/2 lemon and herbs inside the cavity of the chicken.  Rub the outside skin with butter and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.  Add 1/4 inch of water to the roasting pan.  Bake for 20 minutes per pound or until the meat falls off the bone (if you have meat thermometer, stick it in a thigh).
Optional: you can brine the chicken the day you cook it by placing the whole chicken in a large bowl with 1/2 to 1 cup salt - depending on your palette.  Let sit in the brine all day.  Drain and follow the above instructions.
Result:  So tasty.  Makes the skin extra yummy.

Veggie Pancakes: http://weeklybite.com/veggie-nuggets-for-kids/  Subbed almond flour and ground flax.
Result: Next time, make this recipe without subbing ingredients to determine difference.  Kids like it with ketchup. 

TUESDAY: Taco Tuesday!

Add taco seasoning to the roasted chicken from Monday's dinner.  http://selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com/2011/08/tis-seasonings.html  Put in peppers with cheese on top.
Result:  I reacted to something.  Severe blisters/itchy lip, and itchy head for 10 hours. X prefers beef in his tacos not chicken.

WEDNESDAY:  
http://mamanatural.com/summer-melon-shrimp/ Result:  Delish!  Quick to make and a keeper.

THURSDAY: leftovers

FRIDAY: Costco pizza

Recipes To Try

PIZZA IDEAS
(1) http://realsustenance.com/grain-free-thick-crust-pizza-glutendairysoy-free/
(2) Garlic Bread- http://cookingcaveman.blogspot.com/2010/12/caveman-garlic-bread.html


STUFFING PEPPERS
(1) Tacos- http://allrecipes.com/recipe/kelseys-favorite-stuffed-green-peppers/

BREAKFAST
(1) http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2011/04/recipe-grain-free-spring-quiche-with-an-almond-flour-crust.html
(2) Granola- http://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/2012/gluten-free-grain-free-chocolate-granola-recipe/

DINNER
(1) http://mouthwateringvegan.com/2011/07/08/my-state-of-the-art-lasagne/

DESSERT
(1) http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/home_made_vegan_chocolate_hazelnut_nutella_spread/
(2) http://www.againstallgrain.com/2012/04/24/almond-flour-zucchini-bread-and-a-giveaway/

SEASONINGS
(1) http://selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com/2011/08/tis-seasonings.html

Meal Plan August 6-10, 2012

Monday 8-6-12: CHICKEN DAY
Roasted chicken in sandwiches.
http://southernfood.about.com/od/bakedchicken/r/bl30317b.htm

With roasted zucchini and squash.
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=312707

Tuesday 8-7-12: TACO TUESDAY
Tacos with homemade taco seasoning, grass fed beef, onions, peppers wrapped in seaweed.
http://selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com/2011/08/tis-seasonings.html


WEDNESDAY 8-8-12: PASTA DAY
Pasta in garlic butter and basil.  (Substitute pasta for yellow squash spaghetti squash, or zucchini)
http://www.food.com/recipe/garlic-spaghetti-sauce-10808

THURSDAY 8-9-12: NEW RECIPE DAY
 BLT

New Recipe: Lemon Bars for dessert
http://fastpaleo.com/coconut-lemon-bars/

FRIDAY 8-10-12: PIZZA DAY
Eggplant Crust Pizza
http://www.healthylivinghowto.com/1/post/2012/08/vegetable-pizza.html

Hooked on No 'poo

Back in college (2001) I volunteered at a natural foods store and read a sign in the back of the store stating sodium laureth sulfate in shampoo is bad for us.  Click here to read about SLES  It is a really random memory but that is when my thought of finding a shampoo alternative began.  Sooo..........9 years later I made my first batch of no'poo.
I became inspired to make my own no'poo because a few of my friends have made theirs with good results.
Click here for the full scoop: http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=935

RECIPE for SHAMPOO:
1 part baking soda to 3 parts water
Apply on dry scalp (not hair) for 3-4 minutes and rinse.  If you apply baking soda to hair it may dry it out.

I made it into a paste and put it on the roots of my dry hair.  I then added extra water to the left over amount and poured it on my hair.  I have really long hair so I first washed the roots and then the long part.  Applying the mixture is not fun for me.  I do not like the texture on my scalp.  But when I rinse it off my hair instantly feels so fresh and soft.  I absolutely LOVE the end results!!  My friend boils her mixture so the baking soda dissolves.  I have not found that technique helpful but want to try and try again.......

RECIPE for CONDITIONER:
1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water
1/2 t vanilla
1 cinnamon stick
Apply to hair (not scalp) for 30 seconds then rinse.  If you apply vinegar to scalp it may cause it to get greasy.

The biggest question I get: "Does your hair smell like vinegar afterwards?"  The answer, "No."  I am sensitive to vinegar so I won't be using the conditioner anymore.  But I do like what it does to my hair.  I also applied regular conditioner to my hair because I have so many tangles.

Here is another link with recipes for more no 'poo.
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/beauty/hair/shampoo/rs_herbalshampoo.html

What I'm hoping to try in the future:
*Conditioner options: lemon juice, olive oil, avocado oil
*Turn shower water COLD before getting out to reduce tangles
*Use less baking soda or vinegar and more water per solution mixture.
( ex: 1 part baking soda to 8 parts water)

I love my no 'poo and will never go back to regular shampoo.  It is SOOO much cheaper and safer to make your own.  HAVE FUN! Let me know how it turns out.

2 Recipes for Pumpkin/Squash

I bought a big pumpkin squash type thing at the El Presidio Farmers Market.  A local high school grew it and I bought it for $7.  We have got about 50 cups of goodness from it plus the seeds.  AMAZING!  That is a huge savings of money and it tastes soooo good.  I'll stop talking about all of its goodness since you aren't here for me to share it with.

RECIPE ONE:

We have made umpteen pumpkin pie ice cream smoothies with it.  Here's how that goes:

In Vitamix, put 2 cups frozen pureed pumpkin. Sprinkle in nutmeg, cinnamon, and pecan meal.  Add milk or your dairy alternative.  We use soy or almond milk.  Depending upon how much dairy you add will determine if it is the consistency of ice cream or a smoothie.  Blend on high and drink up!!!

No guilt here because we don't add sugar.  Learning to appreciate the real flavor of food instead of dumping sugar or salt on foods is a great way to be healthy.  And by calling it Ice Cream I trick my brain into thinking I am eating dessert.  Works every time.  We love letting the 3 year old eat "ice cream" for breakfast.

RECIPE TWO:

For dinner I made a pumpkin sausage dish.

* 2-3 cups pureed pumpkin or squash

*onion chopped

* eggplant in cubes

*jalapenos 

*1 cup chicken broth

*1 cup sausage

I sauteed the onions and sausage until onions were soft.  Then I added everything else until it was soft and hot.  You can serve it over rice, quinoa or your favorite grain.  I did not serve it over anything because I follow the Food Combining Principle from the bodyecologydietcom.  Food Combining Principle states:  Thou shalt not combine protein with a carbohydrate/starch because your body will have difficulty digesting it. 

Ok, I worded the principle but you get the idea.  Our body uses different enzymes to digest watermelon and steak.  Also, the amount of time our body takes to digest these foods is different.  If you combine protein and carbs your body will not digest them fully which means you will miss out on all the nutrition.  Read a better description about it here.

http://www.bodyecology.com/archive/principle-food-combining-meat-without-bread.php

Time for me to go make another pumpkin smoothie.........