Sorry!

I can't keep things straight, sorry if you got my personal post on here!  I try to keep that stuff private and keep this blog on topic... but when children are getting impatient and you are trying to hurry... stuff happens :)

Random

Just some stuff floating around in my head.

By the way, if you like to see what we eat, go here.  That is where I post that stuff these days.

My recent sewing/craft project: this summer bag made from a clearance pillowcase.  If it gets destroyed from being thrown around this summer, I won't care too much.

Here are Martha's directions for making it.

Some movies I've watched lately that I didn't expect to like, but did:

• Warrior (cliche, but I still liked it once it got past the first few minutes)
• The Rebound (the kids made me laugh out loud)
• Crazy, Stupid, Love (sad, hilarious, hopeful)
• The Vow (expected to hate it because my sister thought it was terrible but I wouldn't go that far... Channing Tatum actually acted in this one instead of just clenching his jaw)

They are not family-friendly, just to warn you.

Do you like the modest, retro swimsuits from modcloth?  Check out this one-piece ....from WALMART. 

Yes, I just said Walmart!  It is not really the right cut for me, I think I would need longer legs to wear it, but it is so cute, so reasonably priced, and gets hundreds of rave reviews!  Too good to not share.  Just in case it is right for someone reading out there.

That's it for now.  Summer's here!

On Veterans and Their Mothers

Before I had my little boy, a friend told me she watches every war movie differently now that she has sons. Every soldier is someone's little boy.  This must read tear-jerker from Sarah echoes that thought.

Plastic Spoon Wreath

Think I could make one that would turn out as cute at this one?  I might have to try and see.

Well, that was short lived! :)

I already miss having a blog to keep my recipes organized.  And I like to be able to share them, if people are interested.  Sooo, I just started a new blog. Kinda in place of this one (although I will keep this one up).  Yup.  A little more focused, simple, and straightforward.  Pretty utilitarian, nothing fancy.  I don't want to annoy anyone here with my constant "paleo" talk, but since that is what we are into right now, that's what it is going to be about.  If you are interested in following it, please join me over at Practical Paleo!  I'd love to have you visit. :)  And if I don't post anything for weeks, you'll know it is just because I am busy.

Drum Roll

I am going to give this blog a rest for awhile.  For the summer, and probably through the fall.  I will be taking a class this fall, on top of my part-time work schedule.  While I know that is not nearly as much as some folks accomplish, I have to carve the time to study out of somewhere, ya know?  So, my computer leisure time is going to be the first thing to go.  And I think we'll just start it now.  I will still be reading blogs for fun -when I can- and still updating my more private family blog.  I reserve the right to pop in here if I feel like it to share some links to recipes and such that I want to remember.  Because I will still be cooking for my family, after all.  But I don't want to feel any obligation to keep up with posting.  This blog is in need of a facelift, streamlining, etc., but that's just not what I want to spend my time doing right now.  So, I am just going to let everything sit for awhile... as a reference for myself and anyone else who happens to find something valuable or helpful somewhere in the archives.  Thank you to the kind souls who read my sometimes self-absorbed thoughts and ideas, and for stopping by with comments and encouragement now and then... I just wanted to explain myself so you don't think I up and vanished on you! :)

This Week

The results of my grocery shopping today:

Aldi $24

not the mixer :)

Deals: tomatoes, bell peppers, onions

Hy-Vee $34

Deals: bell peppers, lettuce, strawberries, grapes

Some non-paleo splurges for the weekend (eating with friends) include the chips, string cheese, and frozen rolls.  I even bought deli roast beef, which is something I rarely do because it is so expensive (and processed).  I mean seriously, at $6 a pound, I might as well buy steak.  But if I am going to buy deli meat (for convenience sake), we like roast beef :)  The cake mixes were on sale and I can use them when I make treats for church or something.

Other stuff I like:

I want to try this salad dressing.

I like Megan's tip for using a cake pan when traveling with little children.

This rhubarb oatmeal pie looks not-too-complicated for me.

I am going to read this book soon.

Have a good weekend!

Menu Plan 6/13/11

Wow, it is past time to re-do my blog header for summer, huh?

I went to Costco last week for some staples such as olive oil, almonds, frozen vegetables, Kerrygold butter, etc.  I hope to go to Aldi early this week for some fruit (on sale: watermelon, grapes, cherries, strawberries, and blueberries).  I also might swing by Price Chopper.

Over the weekend, we had chicken and broccoli salad, hot dogs/hamburgers, etc.

Breakfasts:

Eggs, Homemade Turkey Sausage, Fruit

Smoothies

Banana Almond Pancakes

Milk

Lunches:

Leftovers from the previous evening

Dinners:

Hmm. I'm feeling anti-recipe this week.  Just want to keep it simple by throwing some meat and veggies in a pan to cook.  So, here's the selection.

Monday - Ground beef, onions, peppers, avocado, salad

Tuesday - Sticky chicken in the crock-pot, salad, leftovers for soup

Wednesday - Salmon burgers, peas, carrots

Thursday - Pesto chicken, zucchini

Friday - Uncured hot dogs, sweet potatoes, homemade coleslaw

Saturday - Out to eat

Sunday - Cashew chicken, green beans

Happy Sunday!

Menu Plan 6/6/11

Breakfasts:

Pumpkin Paleo Muffins

Eggs and Fruit

Coconut Milk Smoothies

Lunches:

Tuna Salad with Avocados

Various Chicken Salads

Fruit

Dinners:

Monday - Cashew Chicken Stir Fry (didn't have on Sunday)

Tuesday - Grilled Sausage and Veggies; Bible study dinner for me

Wednesday - Turkey Chili, Carrots & Celery

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad

Weekend: TBD

Drinks: the usual, real milk or water

Sometimes, especially in the summer, my daughter and I like to add in some True Lemon, to add a little flavor to the water.

I've found that our experience eating grain-free, legume-free, and (pasteurized) dairy-free seems to be similar to Katie's at Kitchen Stewardship - the stuff my family eats the best is just the normal meals, minus those certain items.  No fancy imitations or replacements.  Keeping the menu plan favorites, removing the unallowable items, and adding in more of the healthy, allowable foods is what works best for us.  It is really quite simple.  More thought and planning in regards to the shopping because we are eating more fresh food, but quite simple when it comes to the actual cooking.

P.S. I'm loving the ice cream maker!  We were at the lake over the weekend, and I made a batch of this chocolate stuff (super easy, way chocolatier and way richer than I predicted), and some standard vanilla (which was actually my favorite of the two, made with real cream and milk!)  Of course, ice cream is not exactly paleo (even homemade)... We had several "treats" this weekend on our excursion ;)

Have a great week!

Coconut Milk Smoothies

Hey!  A friend recently asked for my coconut milk smoothie recipe, and it made me realize I've never shared it here!  Thanks for the idea, Mon!  Hope you don't mind if I let others in on the concoction as well ;)

This is totally not a precise method, but it is what I do... It fills a whole blender pitcher and is a good amount for our family.  The coconut milk makes it pretty filling, for a smoothie.

Dump in the blender: 
1 can of coconut milk (I use the full fat stuff you can buy with the Asian food at Supertarget for like $1.50)
About 1/4 a can of frozen orange juice concentrate (helps cover up some of the coconut flavor)
Blend.

Then add:
Frozen banana chunks and blend.

Then add frozen strawberries, blending a few at a time. I usually have to stop and stir things around because the pitcher is pretty full. Sometimes I add some water to thin it out a little bit.

(I usually use about equal amounts bananas and strawberries, but you could use whatever you wanted obviously.)

That's it. Enjoy!  I'm sure blueberries and other fruit would be good, too!