My Weekly Meal Plan

It has been a crazy but great week! We have been loving the perfect sunshiny days. We have been trying to get Missy prepped and ready to move but mostly I am glad that she will be able to just run home if she needs anything because she seems to be a lot like her father and is okay with just taking things as they come.....aka waiting to the last minute.....I'm learning to roll with things better thanks to being married to her dad for nearly 20 years. ;)

Honestly I'm glad she hasn't been packing boxes or emptying her room.....things that would make it seem empty. I'm not sure my heart is ready for all that reality. Ryan says he thinks the band-aid method is easiest when it comes to things that are painful but I'm glad it has been a gradual process even though it has come much faster then I anticipated.

Over the past couple of years she has done more and more things that have required her to be away from home a lot more and the last few weeks she has only been here a few hours a day.....I'm falling apart a little bit but I think I have kept it together fairly well. I have leaned a lot on my Heavenly Father and said a few extra prayers for my sweet girl and I'm just so glad that I know how quickly he answers a Mother's prayers and that he will help watch out for her.

Ryan was able to get the garden tilled this weekend and tonight we hope to plant a few things. We are getting so excited for another season of gardening and the bounty that comes with it.

It has been such a beautiful Spring.....there have been some windy days but so far mostly just beautiful perfect days. I'm starting to get a bit of a Spring cleaning itch but unfortunately it's not a very big itch. Hopefully I will get a bit of purging and cleaning done but I seem to want to just get outside.

I have been itching though to get some of my recipes perfected and really wanting to share more with you but it is just taking quite a bit of time to get them perfected just how I want.  My current creation is a mint chip ice cream.....you wouldn't think that would be very hard but I'm trying to keep it high in healthy fats and low it sweetener and still have a perfect sweetness and creamy consistency.

You see I have cut way back on the amount of sweet (even healthy whole food sweeteners) and my body seems to be happier with me. But of course I still get a few cravings once in a while and for some reason I was wanting really good mint chip ice cream.....maybe it has something to do with green and March I don't know. All I know is that no one seems to be complaining about all the different versions of mint chip they have had to eat up. It just isn't quite blog worthy yet.....but soon!

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Chilaquilies

Tuesday:
Tacos

Wednesday:
Mac and Cheese

Thursday:
Minestrone Soup

Friday:
Good Friday Meal, An Easter Tradition

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Chickpea Salad Sandwiches, Potato Salad, Crunchy Cabbage Salad, Carrot Butter with Fruit, Brownies (another recipe I'm working on) or maybe these Blondies, Hibiscus Lemonade Sorbet (another creation in my head) or this Berry Lemonade 

My Weekly Meal Plan

Not sure what it is but I haven't picked up my camera much at all the past few months.  I think I overdid the blogging thing for a while and since photography isn't something I'm very passionate about (although I really appreciate good photos and photo editing) it's just not really something I enjoy doing myself.

I sometimes find myself dreaming that my blog was big enough to employ a food photographer. (And a V.A. and a social media guru and a SEO pro and a designer and and and......;) But then there is the side of me doesn't want to even start to think about spending that kind of time running such a venture ...although maybe one day it could be fun. But it's just not where I want to spend such a large chunk of my time right now.

But I love sharing yummy and healthy recipes and I think recipes are just better with pictures so I need to be better and just snapping those pictures and not feel bad if they don't look professional because quite frankly......they aren't! ;)

So I guess that was my long way of saying I didn't take any pictures last week......not. a. one.

We have been enjoying the nice weather though.....that is before the crazy wind picked up. We also got some seeds planted indoors that are already growing like crazy.....we should have lots of plants to put in the ground come planting time.

Squash, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, and a few kinds of peppers. We wanted to get some peas and lettuces and other cold hearty things planted last week but we ran out of time.......hopefully this week.

Missy found an apartment and plans to move out in just over a week. I think I'm still in denial and feel like that was just me moving out of my parents house just the other day. I can't be as old as my parents where then, can I? ;) Not sure who is taking it harder me or Ryan......we are trying to be brave about it though.

For a long time things where mostly the same for our little fam......but as it has grown we are quickly approaching a new round of changes and firsts I pray that I will manage. Letting them go seems harder than getting them here. ;)

My Weekly Meal Plan:

Monday:
Chili Cheese Fries

Tuesday:
Chimmy's

Wednesday:
Artichoke Tomato Alfredo

Thursday:
Lettuce Wraps

Friday:
Quinoa Burgers

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Taco Sundays

Whole Grain Quick Biscuits and/or Muffins

So this is a recipe that our good friends make us quite often when we are visiting. It's been an instant favorite for my kids and I finally asked for the recipe. We have made it many times since and from the get go we doubled it. I call them Biscuits/Muffins because they are kind of on the sweet side although they sort of taste like a biscuit. You could use less sweetener if you want a more biscuit like flavor. Also instead of rolling out the dough and cutting it into biscuit shapes you just spoon it into a greased muffin pan. I love how quick and easy it is.

We have made this recipe when I need my meal to stretch and fill bellies. Or for a quick breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Or if we are out of bread and need some quick! Very versatile you could even add some berries, apples, dried fruit, or something like that to have it be more of a muffin. Even spices like cinnamon and things would work good for more of a muffin flavor.

I have also tried using all Spelt flour when making these and they still where very good although maybe a little more crumbly. I think it would be fun to try other flours maybe even a mix of a few different whole grain flours. Mostly I just love how it is just a few ingredients and mixes together so quick and simply.

Whole Grain Biscuits/Muffins

4 cups whole grain flour, we have used Spelt and hard white wheat
2/3 cup Sucanat
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Real Salt
6 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
3/4 cup milk (I use almond or rice milk)

Add all ingredients into bowl and mix well. Scoop into greased muffin tin bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Mango Pudding and Berry Parfait

I just had a friend message me asking if this recipe was still on the blog......and I couldn't find it! So I went searching and noticed that it had been moved to draft.  It has been in drafts now for a few years don't ask why I have no idea why it was saved as a draft on not still posted here on the blog. It's one of my very favorite recipes! Trust me if you like mango even a little you will find this recipe Heavenly.

So I am re-posting it and putting it here front and center because I'm sure there are many of you who have not tried this really heavenly dessert. And those of you who have I'm sure would love to make it again. Like my friend who just messaged me.....Kristi this is for you thanks for making me aware that it was missing from the blog.

Mango Pudding and Berry Parfait

3-5 Cups Fresh Mangoes
2 Heaping Tablespoons Melted Coconut Oil (more if using more mango)
1 teaspoon Vanilla
Zest of one small lime
Juice of one small lime
1/2 Cup Agave or Pure Maple Syrup
Pinch of Salt
1 Cup fresh berries (I used strawberries can use any mixture of fresh berries you want)

Blend all ingredients except for the Berries and some of the mango (if you want it in with your layers of fruit) in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy.  I slowly added the melted coconut oil while blender was running so it would mix in well before it started setting up.  After it is all mixed and creamy, transfer to a bowl and then Chill it in the fridge for at least 1-2hrs or overnight. Fill the cups with a layer of the pudding, a layer of fruit, then another layer of the pudding, doing as many layers as you want until full.  Top with a layer of fruit and fresh mint leaves.

This is so good an instant favorite!

My Weekly Meal Plan

My goodness last week went by really fast I can't believe it's Monday again already! I'm not ever sure what we did this week.  I think we read a lot.....Ryan finally took a sick day....cause yeah he was actually sick but in just over 24 hours he was up and running again and busy as ever.

We had another storm that brought lots of really wet snow and the kids tried again to build an igloo. They said it was great packing and put it in the backyard (on the north side) so it would last longer than a day. They almost made it to the top when it started to cave in on them.

They tried to fix it by have Charly hold it up with her back but it just didn't stay. The little ones gave up after being out there for hours and starting to soak through. Their older brother followed not too long after them.

My Sister gave us some lovely cabbage from her garden and Ryan made sauerkraut this weekend it's fermenting nicely on my counter right now.....we tried a new method with the perfect pickler you can see a picture of them on my instagram. Our last few batches of kraut have not turned out so good so we hope this method will work better for us. So far they are looking really good and nice and bubbly which they say is a good sign. ;)

This week it looks like lovely sunshiny Spring time weather. We have already enjoyed some fresh air and sunshine today and are looking forward to a week of outdoor time. We were starting to get a bit of cabin fever.

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Quinoa Chili

Tuesday:
Taco Sundays

Wednesday:
Curried Cauliflower with Sweet Potato and Black Beans

Thursday:
Quesadillas with Quinoa Salad

Friday:
Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Baked Potato Bar

My Weekly Meal Plan

I am usually very tired of Winter come the beginning of March but since January and February had more Summer/Fall like days I'm okay that it's been snowing lots this past week. It's a blessing and we need it. Matt even enjoyed building and "igloo" last week!

I am getting ready to start some seeds indoors and looking forward to planting season but if the snow promises to stay away during Spring it can keep snowing now. ;)

Last year we had a really late frost and it killed one of our peach trees and the others had to struggle to make it back. They did make a awesome come back and I just pray it doesn't do that again this year. They fair cold temps just fine unless they are budded and the sap is flowing I think once our wall is up across the back where the trees are they will fair the cold spring times better.

Ryan was busy part of last week up the mountain with business meetings. The kids and I enjoy time together mostly indoors getting over some colds.......Yep we did all get some runny noses....some worse than others.....some not much at all. Curt did cough some but not at all the "The Cough" he used to get. It's mostly been loose and I am so glad for that. He never seems to get wheezy anymore but has still had a pretty barky cough at times but not this time.....in fact it has been so loose I'm wondering if he is cleaning up old gunk.

We have really not even felt bad just a little stuffy. There are still a few sniffles around here this morning but I certainly can't complain......No fevers....no earaches......no throw-ups....no worries! ;)

By the way have you been wondering if I'm ever going to post new recipes?  I promise I have quite a few more in the works and as they are perfected I will share but for some reason there has just been a lull. I bet there are lots of fun things on here that you haven't tried yet. When it's cold outside sometimes I just like looking through my Comfort Food Section and making something that we haven't made in a while. Or this time of year with dry skin and runny noses I also like making things from my Natural Healing/Living Section.

Have a great week and don't worry there will always be more recipes!

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Chow Mein 

Tuesday:
Lentil Sloppy Joes

Wednesday: 
Taco Salad


Thursday:
Sweet Potato Soup

Friday:
Quinoa and Sweet Potato Grilled Wraps

Saturday:
Leftovers


Sunday:
Philly Cheese Steak