A Productive Saturday!

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I have been trying unsuccessfully to get some things in the freezer. I am happy to report that this Saturday I was able to get some things done! It was exciting to be able to try some new recipes that I have wanted to try for a while

Here is what got done today:



1 1/2 dozen banana chocolate chip muffins (I'll be sharing this recipe tomorrow!)

These are pita pockets. I used this recipe, but I added one cup of whole wheat flour. The last time I made them with only white they were softer and shaped a little better ;) The boys liked them though. I need to work toward making them 100% whole wheat.

For lunch we ate those pitas filled with these Chick Pea Patties from Dreena Burton's book Eat, Drink, and Be Vegan. Chuck and I really enjoyed them. I think the boys just tolerated them.

I have been wanting to make tortillas for a while since the boys love them. I tried today and they didn't come out half bad. I wish they were a little thinner. They taste great, but might be hard to roll. I am looking forward to experimenting with them a little more. Making them thinner and wheat wheat.

All of my boys LOVE applesauce! I like to make it in the crockpot if I can. I was able to make one full crock, which turned out to be 3 containers, 1 for lunch, 1 for the fridge and 1 for the freezer. Love making this in the crockpot, makes the whole house smell wonderful.

I was also able to mix up a batch of hot chocolate mix. The boys have been asking me for a while. This before I mixed it up. I like doing it this way because it is easy, so much cheaper and hot chocolate at the store has a lot of stuff in it that I'd rather steer clear from. The picture above is before I shook it up. Here is the recipe I use. I just decrease sugar.

The only other thing I made that is not pictures is a batch of granola bars.

Hope your Saturday was a good one!

Plan to Restock the Freezer - Ain't happenin'!

I had mentioned a week or so ago that our freezer was getting low and I was planning to try to restock it. What I discovered is that trying to do a little bit here and there does not work because these boys eat like animals!!! I can hardly get anything to the freezer, they gobble it up before it gets there.

Here is my first attempt, 2 dozen pumpkin muffins, whole wheat bread, and pumpkin bread.

Only the pumpkin bread made it to the freezer and that will be gone this week.


Attempt #2 French Toast, made two batches, they are both gone. One made it to the freezer for a couple of days, but it has already been eaten up.

Attempt #3, Maple Banana Bread, made two...this one will be eaten this morning for breakfast.
(The bread is delicious, though the picture might say otherwise ;) It is vegan and made with whole wheat pastry flour. I like to bake it in a round pan because then the boys feel like they are eating cake for breakfast and I get to feel like a cool mom for a little bit, while still giving them something healthy, but also because it bakes a lot faster. I hope you give it a try!)


Therefore, my mission to fill the freezer failed. It is still as empty as when I started.

I think if I am going to fill my freezer, I will need to make it an all day affair, just to stay ahead of the boys.

Am I disappointed....not at all, just thankful that I have four healthy boys to cook for. Just need to change my game plan a bit!

Blessings!

Give Away!

I am very excited to be able to offer my readers a give away. I know I don't have many, but those that have taken the time to write comments and emails have encouraged me to keep posting and I am thankful for you.

Anyway who knows me well, knows that I love Pampered Chef products. I have been using them for nearly 13 years. When my first son was a baby I became a consultant and was able to earn lots of free products. Though I was only a consultant for a short time I still enjoy getting new products at the shows I've been invited to.

The product that I will be giving away is a favorite of mine, the Cake Pan Set!

These pans are excellent. I use mine all the time. They are nonstick and have lasted many years. The value of the pans is $18.50, but one person will be selected randomly to get it for FREE as a thank you for reading my blog!

To enter all you have to do is leave me a comment with the name of the cake that you make that is your favorite. If you win, I will ask you to share your recipe on the blog.

You have one week to enter. The drawing will end on Sunday evening and the winner will be announced on Monday morning.


Thanks again!
Jen

Menu Plan Monday

I have some updates to share, a give away, and some recipes that I am hoping this week will allow. As always, we'll see....


At the very least, here is what we are eating this week.


Monday, January 18, 2010
orange poppy seed muffins, grapefruit halves w/honey
alfredo (made in Vitamix) sauce w/pasta, cukes & ranch, kiwi
tofu and broccoli stir fry w/brown rice, arugula salad, chocolate cake


Tuesday, January 19, 2010
French toast, pears, milk
tuna or turkey salad sandwiches, celery sticks, apples
WW Pasta w/vegan pesto, salad

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
maple banana bread, green drink
stromboli, cukes & ranch, applesauce
crockpot –BBQ turkey sandwiches, homemade rolls, roasted potatoes, Mrs. Stark’s Broccoli, salad


Thursday, January 21, 2010
Pumpkin bread, green drink
field trip – ham sandwiches, chips, fruit
vegan cauliflower soup, salad


Friday, January 22, 2010
toast, green drink
soup – brown rice, veggies, turkey broth
date night for us

Saturday, January 23, 2010
Eggs, toast, green drink (dad cooks!)
Leftovers
Family over for dinner – not sure what I am doing quite yet


Sunday, January 24, 2010
banana bundles, green drink
PB & J or tuna sandwiches, fruits & veggies
leftovers


For more menu ideas, visit http://www.orgjunkie.com/.


Have a great week!

Jennifer

(PS I have a lot of spacing issues with blogger, if anyone has any tips, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!)

Creamy Tomato Soup with Israeli Couscous

My husband loved this meal and decided that I needed to put it on the blog, so he took the picture above of his place setting! Sweet man!


One of our cold, cold evenings this week, I fixed this meal: homemade flax bread, salad with Balsamic Maple Sauce and Creamy Tomato Soup with Israeli Couscous. Israeli couscous is like tiny little balls of pasta. It is delish, my family LOVES it!



The recipe for the soup comes from one of my favorite cookbooks, Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker, by Robin Robertson. I really love this book and I normally don't like slow cooker cookbooks. I have found many slow cooker cookbooks use ingredients that we do not use, like cream of something soup. This recipe uses all whole foods and has dairy free substitutes for each recipe. This is the same book that my lentil soup recipe comes from.

Here ya have it....

Creamy Tomato Soup with Israeli Couscous
1tbs olive oil
1 med yellow onion chopped
1 garlic clove minced
3 cups veggie broth
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 tbs tomato paste
pinch of sugar or natural sweetener
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper
1 c. Israeli couscous cooked
2 tbs chopped basil for garnish (didn't use)

1. Saute onion and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. I added some crushed red pepper as well.

2. Transfer above to slow cooker and add stock, tomatoes, paste, sugar and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

4. Remove the bay leaves and puree the soup, with with an immersion blender right in the slow cooker or ladle into your blender.

5. Adjust seasonings. To serve spoon about 1/4 c. couscous in the bottom of each bowl and ladle soup on top. Sprinkly with basil if you are using.

YUM!

I double this recipe for my crew and we had enough for lunch the next day with sandwiches. I purchased the couscous at Trader Joe's for $1.99 and used the whole package, but the rest of the recipe is very inexpensive and warms you up from the inside out.

I hope you enjoy! I shared this recipe at http://www.lifeasmom.com/ for her weekly recipe exchange.

From our home to yours,
Jennifer

Menu Plan Monday

So far our Eat to Live Plan (you can read more about that here) has had a rocky start. It is easy when we are home, but obviously much more difficult when we are out or at someone's home. My major downfall has been eating more carbs than I am supposed to instead of veggies.

Looks like we have a fairly low key week, so I think it will be easier to stay focused. It is amazing to see how a vegan diet with all whole food keeps Chuck's diabetes under control.





Monday, January 11, 2010

pumpkin pancakes, green drink

home school field trip - Japanese Restaurant

Spicy Black Beans and Rice (crockpot), salad



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

toast, green drink

homemade veggie soup

Creamy Tomato Soup w/Israeli Couscous, salad

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

cereal, fruit, and milk

turkey sandwiches, cukes, applesauce

tofu sticks, polenta fries, lemon broiled green beans, salad



Thursday, January 14, 2010

Pumpkin bread, green drink

Chick pea and pasta soup

Pasta Puttanesca, salad, bread



Friday, January 15, 2010
toast, green drink

hummus wraps, fruit

Vegan Mac and Cheeze, roasted veggies, salad



Saturday, January 16, 2010

Eggs, toast, green drink (dad cooks!)

Leftovers

Friends over – Mushroom and Sausage Pizza, Vegan Roasted Veggie Pizza, Salad



Sunday, January 17, 2010

banana bundles (my family LOVES these), green drink

PB & J or tuna sandwiches, fruits & veggies

Chickpea Sensation Patties, zucchini w/garlic and oil, salad



Our freezer is getting low, so I am hoping to bulk it up with week. I'm hoping to be able to add some recipes as I go.



Also, I am going to be doing my first give away, so stay tuned for that!



Have a great week!


For more menu ideas, check out http://www.orgjunkie.com/



Jennifer

Swagbucks!

I love Swagbucks! It is a search engine that earns you points or swagbucks. You can use the Swagbucks you earn to "purchase" items and gift cards off of their site.

Simply download their toolbar and use it every time you search. Swagbucks come randomly, not every time you use it, but when they do it is a little pick me up. Kind of like when you were a kid and got the prize in the cereal box!

I have been able to purchase 2 gift cards so far. One was for a $5 one for Alice (they sell discount products for the home). I used it to purchase hygiene products and since they have free shipping, I got all the products for NOTHING! And yesterday I purchased a $10 Starbucks card for my sweet. Shhh...don't mention it, I want to surprise him!

I am adding a Swagbucks banner to my site. You can click on it and follow the directions to download their toolbar.

Have fun!