The Best Asparagus You've Ever Had

Want a "quick 'n easy" yet healthful vegetable dish for your repertoire? Then this is the one.

Start with a clean bunch of vitamin-packed asparagus, perhaps my favorite vegetable of all time. I try not to buy the very thick ones, though. The thinner, the better. Trim off approximately one inch from the bottom and then halve them. Actually, the spear-end should be just a little bit longer, because it will cook faster. Basically, you want to even the score.

Because that's only fair.

How I Send Real Food When My Kids Are on the Go

If you've been wondering about our bodacious lunchboxes seen in my previous post, I'm here to tell you all about them. Perhaps you too have had difficulty finding a SAFE way to send lunch for your kiddos, what with all the scary plastic chemicals that leach and off-gas on and around your food. Yuck! Well, after much searching and REsearching last year, I finally ended up with what I think just may be the best lunchbox ever: the PlanetBox.

There are three styles. We have the PlanetBox Rover, because my children like a little bit of everything in their lunch meal. This Bento box style is right up their alley. (See how they love Muffin Tin Meals here and here and here.) The Rover has several dividers, like a real lunch tray, which gives me more options for sending a variety of food...withOUT having to send fourteen little plastic baggies per child! I love that they can be personalized with cool magnet sets that go on the outside of the tray. I love the durable carrying bags, which come in several colors. AND I love that the trays can go right in the dishwasher!! No fuss.

Now, they are NOT cheap. Especially when you are buying for multiple children.  :ahem:  However, they are durable and will last much, much longer than the boxes you might buy at Wal-Mart. I fully intend to see my grandchildren toting these suckers around one day. Your child won't grow out of them, either. These are easily sophisticated enough to be carried by adults! Which means I guess I'm going to have to stop carrying my metal Strawberry Shortcake box with the ruby red handle and the matching thermos...(dates me, doesn't it?)

Necessarily Rewinding: Part 1

Here's the thing about blogging. It is very much a habit into which one must GET. This is especially true when sitting down to "journal" about life's happenings does not come naturally to you. Well, SOMEhow I managed to get myself into that habit--in 2008. I had a lot going on that inspired me at the time. And...I was enamored with the trend, I'll admit. It turns out it was a lot of fun. Of course, there were times I got behind and struggled to keep up with the various blogging commitments I had made for myself, but I did okay.
UNTIL..........

....we decided to put our kiddos in school. Whoa. School proved to be a schedule that I was not cut out for. So, for that reason and many others, we didn't keep them there long. But right on the heels of their coming home, we then decided to put our house back on the market..:eeeeek:....then we sold it.....then we moved out....then we became (literal) gypsies....then we moved into a rental home. And because of ALL THIS, I just couldn't do it any.more. I want to catch up. I have missed blogging and sharing our lives with others. I have missed having an online photo journal to look back on. So........


we must REWIND!!


Project 365: Week 34 "first week of school"

Monday, August 20, 2012

The Big Day:

It sure is earrrrrly...

First Day of "Real" School

Raw Milk and Food Freedom

Okay, y'all know I'm pretty crunchy. Right? I mean, I make my own laundry detergent...and I frequent the farmer's markets, and many other things you may not be privy to...like the fact that I won't use hand sanitizers, chemical cleansers of any kind, or medications (at least, when I can avoid them)...or the fact that I use homemade shampoo...and...homemade deodorant. (It's true.) You might have even tried my fave, quite-crunchy granola! ;)

But probably the crunchiest of all the things I do is drink fresh milk, aka "raw milk." Gasp! Yep. I drink it. And I give it to my kidlets to drink as well. And I am at complete peace with that. Because it is the way God gave it to us. It has not been stripped of all its great qualities. It has not been tampered with. It is purely awesome. I may or may not discuss this further at some point, but for right now I just wanted to mention that I'm bringing my kiddos with me tomorrow morning to show my support of House Bill 1536, which would allow small farmers to sell up to 500 gallons of raw milk (either goat's or cow's) per month to consumers at their farms. That would be sooooo nice...seeing as how THAT would be constitutional.

In case you might like to support such a bill as well, here is a list of House committee members to call (first thing in the morning) or email (right now):

Members of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development     

  

Shepherd, Matthew J. (R-6) - Chair

870-862-2087, matthew.shepherd@arkansashouse.org 

  

Steel, Nate (D-19) - Vice Chair

870-845-1870, nate.steel@arkansashouse.org 

  

Ballinger, Bob (R-97) 870-423-1035

bob@bobballinger.com 

  

Branscum, David L. (R-83) 870-448-2408

davidlbranscum@hotmail.com 

  

Douglas, Charlotte Vining (R-75) 479-632-2187

douglasforarkansas@yahoo.com 

  

Douglas, Dan M. (R-91) 479-619-9231

dan-douglas@sbcglobal.net 

  

Edwards, John Charles (D-35) 501-378-5500

jcedwardslaw@aol.com 

  

Eubanks, Jon S. (R-74) 479-438-0533

Jon.Eubanks@arkansashouse.org 

  

Gillam, Jeremy (R-45) 501-729-0042

jeremy@growing45.com 

  

Jean, Lane (R-2) 870-234-5433

l_jean@sbcglobal.net 

  

Jett, Joe (D-56) 870-276-5319

joe.jett@arkansashouse.org 

  

Lampkin, Sheilla E. (D-9) 870-723-6449

Sheilla.Lampkin@arkansashouse.org 

  

Leding, Greg (D-86) 479-966-9201

greg@gregleding.com 

  

Lenderman, Homer (D-53) 870-926-7914

homer.lenderman@arkansashouse.org 

  

Linck, Kelley (R-99) 870-404-2741

kelley@kelleylinck.com 

  

Magie, Stephen (D-72) 501-327-4444

stephen.magie@arkansashouse.org 

  

McCrary, Walls (D-14) 501-676-2317

ewmccrary@sbcglobal.net 

  

Meeks, Stephen (R-67) 501-314-9250

Stephen.Meeks@arkansashouse.org 

  

Ratliff, James (D-60) 501-454-5200

jamesratliff3468@yahoo.com 

  

Thompson, Tommy (D-65) 501-208-2007

tt4rep@att.net

Or SHOW UP tomorrow morning and show your support that way! 
  

WHEN:    9 a.m. Friday on April 5, 2013 

 

WHERE:  Arkansas State Capitol

                  Room 138  Arkansas House
                  500 Woodlane Street 

                  Little Rock, AR

Project 365: Weeks 13 & 14 "it's spring!"

Sunday, March 25, 2012

It was so nice out, we took a walk to the playground late this afternoon.

Saylor, for some reason, enjoys riding Gabe's bike instead of her own sometimes. She was struggling up this hill.

Atticus (aka, The Superhero) immediately offered a solution.

Hilarious.

Project 365: Week 46 "fender, food, and fun"

Sunday, November 6, 2011

I didn't take a real picture today. We even had a friend for lunch, but as usual, I was having too good a time to remember the camera. Once it got dark, though, we went for a little stroll through the neighborhood. I had my phone with me and tried to get a shot of Saylor, because she still asks to hold my hand. Awww...

I know. It's hard to tell much about it. Just imagine it's a painting using pointillism in some trendy gallery.  ;)  It's all about perspective, my friends.

Project 365: Week 35 "first week of school"

"Week Six" with no camera. Boo hoo!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sittin' around this afternoon watching old circa 1967 episodes of Spiderman on Daddy's Netflix app. By the way, what a dumb show!

Project 365: Week 34 "helpers, learners, and players"

"Week Five" without a camera. (And counting...)

Sunday, August 14, 2011

This is a common scene on Sundays right after church. The kids love seeing their little friends and "hanging out" while the parents catch up.

Soaked Whole Wheat Muffins

So...you've soaked some flour, milk, and raw apple cider vinegar, huh? What can you do with it? First, get a cute helper to unveil the happy mess.

Making Memories: Blueberry Picking in June

al f

It's Wordless Wednesday!

Monday Needs a Menu

Monday
Breakfast: Leftover muffins, kefir smoothies
Lunch: Hummus, chips, cheese, grapes
    To do: Soak flour for crackers
Dinner: Pancakes, scrambled eggs, fruit

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cheese toast, bananas
    To do: Soak batter for waffles
Lunch: Peanut butter sandwiches, fruit  (Saylor and Mommy going out with friends.)
    To do: Bake crackers
Dinner: Black bean burgers, sweet potatoes

Wednesday
Breakfast: Soaked waffles, fruit
Lunch: Cheese, crackers, fruit, hard-boiled eggs
Dinner: Something in the crockpot
    To do: Soak oats for granola

Thursday
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, toast, sausage
Lunch: Bean burritos, carrots, fruit
    To do: Make pizza dough
Dinner: Creamy tomato soup, bread
    To do: Bake granola

Friday
Breakfast: Yogurt with granola and fruit
    To do: Bake granola
Lunch: Four-cheese toasted sandwiches, asparagus
Dinner: Pizza

Sat./Sun.  Whatevs

Monday Needs a Menu

Monday
Breakfast: Cinnamon bread, fruit
Lunch: Tomato soup, cornbread
Dinner: Daddy's cookin'!

Tuesday
Breakfast: Scones, scrambled eggs, fruit
  To do: Soak oats
Lunch: Peanut butter sandwiches, carrots
Dinner: Pasta with Italian sausage, feta, olives; salad

Wednesday
Breakfast: Baked oatmeal
Lunch: Fruit, cheese and crackers, pickles
Dinner: Black bean burgers, baked sweet potatoes
  To do: Make ice cream

Thursday
Breakfast: Kefir smoothies, scrambled eggs, toast
Lunch: Apples w/peanut butter
Dinner with friends tonight! Taking homemade ice cream and ??
  To do: Soak rice, prepare tomorrow's dinner for crockpot, make two kiddie lunches

Friday
Breakfast: Leftovers or something from the freezer
  To do: Turn on the crockpot
Lunch: At "camp" today.
Dinner: Moroccan chicken and veggies over brown rice

Saturday: No clue

Sunday: No clue

:)

Link up, PLEASE!

The Way Boys Eat

Last week we were without Saylor ALL week. (She had princess tea parties and other special girly events to attend with her Mimi.) So we had a muffin tin meal. It had been a while.

We had raw Colby cheese, grapes, baby carrots, chips, hummus, and a leftover birthday cupcake. (Mommy needed them gone was feeling the need to spoil her precious boys.) This post is linked up at Muffin Tin Monday.

Monday Needs a Menu

Monday


Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, fruit, cheese


Lunch: Crackers with cottage cheese, fruit, milk


Dinner: Spaghetti




Tuesday


Breakfast: Yogurt parfaits


Lunch: Peanut butter sandwiches, fruit


Dinner: Black bean burgers, baked sweet potatoes


  To do: Soak oats for granola and batter for waffles




Wednesday


Breakfast: Soaked waffles, fruit


Lunch: Pasta leftovers


Dinner: Fish cakes with chipotle sauce, broccoli with cheese sauce, steamed carrots


  To do: Bake granola




Thursday


Breakfast: Egg in the nest (egg fried in the center of a piece of toast with circle cut out of it), fruit


Lunch: Apples with peanut butter


Dinner: Peasant stew


  To do: Make kombucha




Friday


Breakfast: Sauteed apples (with butter, cinnamon, and Sucanat), scrambled eggs


Lunch: Tuna sandwiches, pickle, fruit


Dinner: Pizza




Saturday


Breakfast: Soaked granola


Lunch: Picnic with community group


Dinner: TBD




Sunday


Breakfast: Granola with applesauce


Lunch: It's Mother's Day!! I'm sooooo not cooking.  :)


Dinner: Easy bean burritos

Pineapple Cheeseball

Here's an easy "real food" appetizer (or easy lunch idea):


Pineapple Cheeseball


16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
2 Tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
1 Tablespoon Real seasoned salt (I get mine at Azure Standard)
2 cups chopped pecans, divided


Mix together the first five ingredients plus 1 cup of the chopped pecans.

At this point, I scrape as much off the sides of the bowl as I can to form a somewhat spherical mound in the bottom of the bowl. Then I cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least an hour. Once the cream cheese has firmed up a bit, I carefully add the remaining pecans, pouring with one hand and with the other, pressing them into the cheese. I also save some for the bottom once I've removed the cheeseball from the bowl.

The pecans that fall to the side in the bowl get mushed into the cheese as I form the ball with my hands. I then turn it upside down in the bowl and add the last of the pecans. Keep refrigerated.

I like this cheeseball best with good, sturdy crackers. If you haven't tried these homemade soaked crackers, they're worth a try. My kids adore them!! Just be sure to roll them reeeeally thin. And I add quite a bit more salt than the recommended amount. Just 'cause I like salt. Enjoy!


This post was originally posted at Real Food in Little Rock and is linked up today at Works for Me Wednesday and Real Food Wednesday.