Menu Making Monday

What did I learn during our month of "Vegetarian" Eating?

• I was much better at using all of our produce before it went bad.
• It gave me the opportunity to teach the children about what we get out of the food we eat and from where the essential vitamins and nutrients can be found while packing lunches.
• Vegetables cook faster and ultimately require less planning.
• Having a 31 day Menu really makes things sooo much easier! (see it here)

Soo, while I work on a 31 day Menu I will start off by joining in on "I'm an Organizing Junky's" Menu Plan Monday.(Here)

(Click on the meal for the recipe link)

Monday: Soy Chorizo and Potatoes (boil potatoes and then pan cook with the chorizo), beans & Rice.

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Island BBQ Sandwiches

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Thursday: Grilled Chicken over Spinach n Orzo salad with cranberries n almonds.

Friday: Skillet Grilled Burritos

Sat/Sun: Off :>...on vacation.

Thanks to "Aggie's Kitchen" for inspiring the recipes this week....head over for more great ones!

Holy Marshmallow Batman!!!

Can you believe these marshmallows!!! and the cute little boy who scaled the cabinets and hid behind the frig to eat them!

Just think...It will only take One to top a delicious cup of cocoa!

What else?

Gigantic Smores! (Check out S'more recipes here)

A What would gramma say"Waldorf Salad"...(recipe)

Imagion these on top of the Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes :>

I found this fun Campfire website with great recipes and camping ideas I thought I'd share here.

I guess we could top these with our own "Home-made" version?

BTW....I bought these at our local grocery store....

Day 31 of the New Years Resolutions...

So, How are you doing with your New Year Resolution/s?
Here is my list:

Eat Vegetarian for the Month of January (read about it here)
Finish what I start (Body Combat Cert., 1/2 Ironman, Digi-Scrappin')

Ok, the Eating Vegetarian was a piece of cake! It especially helped that I made up the 31 day dinner menu plan. It also helped that I found the most delicious Veggie Burgers at Costco to have for lunches. I don't know about you, but I love a "hot" lunch. (That sounds so Elementary School :>)

I did indeed finish the Body Combat Training and Video assesment....

still waiting to hear back on that one.





I am feeling shame to say that I cancelled my 1/2 Ironman....but, will do many other shorter distance races this year. I still have the Rock N Roll Marathon here in my town on my list. It is really a challenge to get in enough time training when you are tugging along a 3 year old.

I am totally going through a "phase" with the Scrapbooking. I got all of my pictures in order and put the "scrapped" ones in their own sub-folder and then started marking the whole folder with an "S" if it was completed. This works for me. I am a list maker and box checker! Here are a couple that I have done in the last few days.

Where am I !?

Ok...so, as you know I am a juggler of many things. With nine weeks left until my first "Half Ironman" of course I am spending alot of time training...running, swimming and cycling. I have also completed the last step in my "Combat" Certification, the taping, and now will wait for the final word on that. I have also been working on more portraits (of which I am sworn to secrecy...but will share at a later date!)

Speaking of art....I am sad that my new interest in the monthly challenge "Different Strokes from Different Folks" is on haitus.....but, I found THIS!!!

"The Virtual Paintout"..... a very neat idea where you are given a "Google" Map and you do a virtual search for pictures from that area to use as inspiration for a painting....Cool Huh?

I have been saving pictures that I think I would like to paint in a folder.

One of those folders is full of my "bucket list" photos of places I would like to visit or take my family at some point. Here are a couple of examples. This challenge fits right in with this idea. I am excited to get started.

Dream Home Time.....

This is one of my favorite times of the year....when I dream of HGTV coming to my house to tell me that I have won the always beautiful "Dream Home" ..... I am especially fond of this style...just having transplanted from the desert... I love a sigle story...open floor plan...just beautiful!!! Good Luck!!

31 Day No "Meat" menu

My focus this "Foodie" Friday is one of my families "Resolutions".....

click on the icon for more recipes.

Image via Wikipedia

Ok...so today "they" start...

My husband and I are both training for the upcoming Cycling and Traithlon Season and really aren't big "Meat" eaters anyway.

To my surprise however, my husband mentioned a resolution to not eat "red meat".

I have been trying to talk him in to a Vegitable based diet for years! I am not talking Vegan here....(no animal products at all)....Just plant based or Lacto-ovovegetarian....no chicken, fish or red meat for 31 days...then we'll introduce some fish and chicken.

Here are some things that I read about this kind of eating:

-

A large body of scientific literature suggests that the consumption of a diet of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and fruits, with the avoidance of meat and high-fat animal products, along with a regular exercise program is consistently associated with lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, less obesity and consequently less heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and mortality

-A major report published by the World Cancer Research Fund in 1997 recommended we lower our risk of cancer by choosing predominantly plant-based diets rich in a variety of vegetables and fruits, legumes and minimally processed starchy staple foods, and to limit the intake of grilled, cured and smoked meats and fish. These methods of preparing meat produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines which are carcinogenic (11).

-Data from the NHANES study revealed that consuming fruit and vegetables three or more times a day compared with less than once a day was associated with a 27% lower incidence of stroke, a 42% lower stroke mortality, a 27% lower cardiovascular disease mortality, and a 15% lower all-cause mortality (25).

Read More Here.and there are some guidlines and recipes here at the American Dietetic Association website.

I am a planner, so I came up with a 31 day Menu of Recipes that I know my family, especially the children could tolerate.

Click on the item for the recipe.

1. 
   
   Vegetarian Chili


2. 
   
   Stir Fry( Whatever Veggies are on hand)


3. 
   
   Veggie Lasagna


4. 
   
   Portobello Mozzarella Sandwich


5. 
   
   Stuffed Sweet Potatoes( your favorite baked potatoe w/ sweets)


6. 
   
   Cuban Black Bean Soup


7. 
   
   Veggie Shepherds Pie


8. 
   
   Veggie Tortilla Soup


9. 
   
   Frittata


10. 
    
    Green Chile Enchiladas


11. 
    
    Eggplant Pamagian


12. 
    
    Stuffed Peppers


13. 
    
    Onion Soup


14. 
    
    Stuffed Shells


15. 
    
    Veggie Burritos


16. 
    
    Caramalized Onion BBQ Pizza(hold the chicken)


17. 
    
    Mushroom Stroganoff


18. 
    
    Green Pea Spinach Tortallini


19. 
    
    Garden Fresh Pasta Salad


20. 
    
    Ultimate Fried Rice


21. 
    
    Black Bean Tostadas


22. 
    
    Deep Dish Skillet Pizza


23. 
    
    Cauliflower and Pea Risotto


24. 
    
    Meditteranian Pressed Picnic Sandwiches w/ Sweet Potatoe Fries


25. 
    
    American BBQ Tacos


26. 
    
    Baked Quinoa and Cheese


27. 
    
    Black Bean and Corn Chilaquiles


28. 
    
    Veggie Pot Pie


29. 
    
    Veggie Fajitas


30. 
    
    Cheese Enchiladas Mole


31. 
    
    Spagetti (sauce is loaded with veggies..peppers, onions, mushrooms, carrots)

So...there it is. Good luck with your New Years Resolutions ...let me know if you try any of these recipes or have any to share!!

What do you do with your Christmas Cards?

Every year I save our Christmas cards....Partly out of guilt and the other part of me thinks that one day I will get it together enought to "CREATE" something.

Here is a great idea...that may solve all of those "issues".

The St Jude's Ranch Recyled Card Program!

http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php

Check it out! Let me know what else you do with your cards too.

Here are some other ideas that I found:

1. Gifts Tags for next year. You can cut out the front of the card (make creative shapes by following the design on the card), and then write your "To" and "From" on the back. Cut out the main picture- like Frosty the snowman, or Rudolph and then just punch a hole in it to tie on to your packages.

2. Post Cards. I am not sure if many people use postcards anymore, but if you do, cut your old Christmas cards in half keeping the picture side. This is not only a pretty suggestion, but postcards are cheaper to send then regular cards so it may save you money too.

3. Donate them for craft projects. After some research I found out that many schools, senior centers and other programs use old cards for craft projects. Contact your local library, school, senior center, church, boy scout or girl scout chapter to see if they would want them.

4. Gift Bags for next year. Cut off the front part and paste them on regular brown shopping bags (the ones with the handles) to use as gift bags for the following Christmas. I thought it was a great idea, if you have the time. This is earth friendly, recycles old brown grocery bags and Christmas cards at once!

5. Scrap booking Embellishments. Some cards are so pretty, why not save the best parts of the cards for scrap booking. Gold and scalloped borders look so nice around pictures and you can use your fancy scissors to cut out the other shapes and decorative items for your holiday scrapbooks.

6.Table Place Cards. If you either cut out strips or just use cards that will fold nicely, you can make table place cards for your next holiday dinner. Just get a paint marker to write out everyone's names on the front of each one.

7. Have the kids make tree ornaments. Get some lace, beads, ribbon, or whatever scraps you have around the house. Get some of Alene's Tacky Glue and glue the inside to the outside that way they will not come apart. They are super thick and then add some lace around the edges, or decorate however you like. Maybe get some glittered glue and highlight some areas to make it look like it is sparkling. Let the kids be creative! Put a hole on the edge and make original tree ornaments out of them.

(Ideas from "Butt you don't look sick" )