tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311462496057479722026-02-09T19:46:06.924-05:00Downsizing in an Upsized WorldDanielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-51847805261654043892012-04-19T13:41:00.001-04:002012-07-25T19:46:02.204-04:00

  I have been craving (with a capital "C") Cookies!!  As far as I am away from even caring about processed and refined foods, I get this little bug every once in a while for a buttery, yummy chocolate chip cookie.  Usually, the craving goes away, and I don't even bother trying to come up with a solution for it, but this time, that was so not the case. I have tried honey

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-1323875486202886922012-04-18T18:06:00.001-04:002012-04-18T18:25:29.646-04:00

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;  Cursed is the ground because of you;  In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.  Genesis

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-31786228211540649712012-04-12T12:23:00.001-04:002012-04-12T12:23:28.109-04:00

I've had a lot of readers ask me about what type of cooking and bakeware I like to use.  I have to admit, my selections were mostly on accident.   When I read up on it, I realized I was all good...whew!  My absolute preferred cooking surface is cast iron.  I really bucked using cast iron for years.  The hubby was raised on it, but the whole not washing it with

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-22288590423954459282012-04-11T11:05:00.000-04:002012-04-11T11:33:18.034-04:00

***********BIG SALE*********** The excitement over my new Blendtec makes me want everyone to have one!!  This thing is awesome!!  Here's the deal...it's first come, first serve.  The first person to contact me to order their new Blendtec will receive 20% off of their purchase.  That's over $90 off a new Wildside Blender!! The next 5 people receive 15% And, until

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-33923854010924560132012-04-05T15:47:00.000-04:002012-04-05T15:47:00.034-04:00

A friend of mine gave me a sample of an organic, microbial, plant-growth enhancer to test out on the garden.  The supposed effect that interested me the most was it's ability to assist the plants in water and nutrient absorption.   Three weeks ago, we started our field study.  The plants in the front yard were treated with the microbes and, a week later, a

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-13673164381591447242012-04-04T16:24:00.001-04:002022-07-21T11:11:29.250-04:00

Most Spring Breaks, we wake up every morning and fly by the seat of pants for the day racking our brains on what fun activity we can do next.  I love having all the kids home, but keeping them entertained for a week straight is enough to give me a full head of gray overnight.  Over the past month, the lure of Pinterest has sucked me in.  I can't help but check it

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-2896673978072137162012-03-30T14:07:00.000-04:002012-04-04T16:24:40.873-04:00

Last week, I caught myself spending a bit too much time perusing through the internet trying to find the perfect price on seeds for sprouting.  Luckily, I have come to a place in life where I am aware of when I pushing myself to the brink of obsession and know when to stop now.  My problem..the natural foods co-op offered a pound of alfalfa seeds for sprouting at the best price,

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-50891421043997983292012-03-29T12:50:00.000-04:002012-03-29T12:56:02.354-04:00

  One of the class experiments that my kids rave about for months after they experience it is always butter-making.  It will usually be around the Fall and either their teacher or one of those really fun moms will bring in baggies or little jars of cream for the kids to shake up until it turns into a beautiful, luscious, creamy BUTTER!!!   I have I mentioned that

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-55759424512449884462012-03-28T11:06:00.001-04:002012-03-29T12:58:16.520-04:00

I got the confirmation this morning...Big Life, Little Garden is now affliated with Blendtec!!  That means that our readers will be the first to know about all the great deals and any fun going-ons at Blendtec.  That also means lots of fun posts on how to use a Blendtec if you have one!  If you don't have one, as of this morning, you can purchase one right through Big

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-61111540473440524692012-03-26T11:42:00.000-04:002012-03-26T13:21:42.968-04:00

Back when I was pretty much nothing short of a mall-rat give or take a few years in the maturity department at the ripe age of 26, one of my favorite things about the mall was the soft pretzels.  I think I used the excuse that I was sharing it with my daughter, so the impact they had on my hips (never mind my health) was somehow lessened...as if a nine-month-old made that much of a

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-31939107799924127062012-03-22T07:03:00.000-04:002012-03-26T10:59:24.582-04:00

For many, buying 100% organic is not an option either due to availability or budget constraints.  In either of these cases, knowing which fruits and veggies are most or least contaminated in the growing process provides excellent ammunition when trying to make decisions while grocery shopping.  I got this list from EWG.  The Enviromental Working Group is a Washington DC

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-53930157213313324072012-03-21T11:55:00.000-04:002012-03-21T12:04:07.664-04:00

Even though it is so hard to believe that yesterday was the first day of Spring, considering our weather in the high 80's for the past two weeks, I am so excited it's officially here!  We came to the conclusion a few weeks ago that unless God had a seriously different plan, the odds of another frost were right up there with pigs flying (watch us get another frost now...lol).

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-87373317021324540162012-03-20T15:38:00.000-04:002012-03-20T18:24:01.449-04:00

I've put off the yogurt post for a while now thinking most everyone knows that the kind you buy with all the pretty packaging that tastes like something besides yogurt is loaded with all kinds of bad for you sugar and additives.  Then, I look at the grocery store shelves and have to question that thought...obviously, someone is still buying it in large quantities or they wouldn't be

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-69382707871446406682012-03-16T14:33:00.003-04:002012-03-26T10:59:48.857-04:00

I don't know about all of you, but there seems to be a constant background noise in my house that drives me to want to climb on the roof, stick my fingers in my ears and sing out loud to drown out the noise.  Ha...that would be quite the sight...lol!! On a bad day, the bickering between siblings starts within five minutes of waking up and doesn't end until they lay their precious

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-64883430300199829732012-03-15T10:46:00.000-04:002012-03-15T16:27:56.752-04:00

Pin It Seriously, when I first saw this recipe, I thought...GROSS!!  Well, a year later, I just couldn't help myself...they just sounded too interesting not to try.  The verdict...double yummo!!!  If you like moist, chewy brownies, you will like these.  And, they are SUPER easy to make!! I didn't have any nuts like the original recipe called for, so I dressed it up with

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-62245230855898005532012-03-14T09:31:00.003-04:002012-03-14T11:05:52.065-04:00

Pin It Two years ago, I read an article about a documentary called Food, Inc.  I got a free trial to Netflix, watched it, begged the hubby to watch it, and our family's way of eating was changed forever.  It took two years and a ton of research to get to where we are with our eating, and there's still much more room for improvement.  Over the two years, we've made

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-11374626357391329162012-03-09T11:53:00.000-05:002012-03-09T11:59:52.048-05:00

I was digging through some old bible study paperwork yesterday and came across the lyrics to Casting Crown's song "American Dream".  One of my past bible study teachers had handed out a copy.  From the looks of it, I folded it in half, wrote some prayer requests on the back and stuck it in a folder.  I know I prayed the prayers, but must have never opened it back up again to

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-6141726574021168172012-03-08T14:04:00.000-05:002012-03-09T11:54:11.599-05:00

I'm not sure I would have ever believed it if someone told me 10 years ago that, one day, my idea of fun would be hanging out in the woods with my husband...crazy!!!!  Dare I say this, but I have come to this strange place that a "date" afternoon with my husband that included a stroll through the woods, checking out the scenery (we saw some really cool mushrooms...still have to look up

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-3088658364149994902012-03-07T17:55:00.000-05:002012-03-07T18:44:59.165-05:00

Pin It One of my favorite things to cook on a cold winter evening is a big bowl of veggie soup.  Mostly, I love the intoxicating smell that spills from the kitchen into the entire house...yum!!! In a pinch for time, a quicker version of my favorite soup is just as yummy!  I call it Soupless Veggie Soup.  Why?  Because it's all the same ingredients without the soup

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-44326221560717322892012-03-05T12:12:00.000-05:002012-03-05T14:19:19.032-05:00

Pin It With an increase in awareness of how our eating relates to the environment and our own health, traffic at local farmer's markets that offer fresh, organic and local produce is on the rise.  More and more Americans are looking to eat cleaner not only for their bodies, but for the environment as well.  So, the question arises...what does eating "in season" mean, and what

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-71157208106899300342012-03-01T11:55:00.001-05:002012-03-01T12:08:24.287-05:00

Pin It One of my absolute most favorite things (besides chocolate) is a still warm light, fluffy biscuit topped with a pat of butter and drizzled with honey.  I am seriously drooling just thinking about it!! I had to wonder though...can you call it a country biscuit if it's whole wheat and healthy :)?!?! I was obsessed with biscuits this past weekend, and looking at the pics

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-55658884276084560992012-02-29T16:09:00.000-05:002012-03-01T12:08:35.777-05:00

Tomatoes have become like a weed in our yard these days.  They pop up everywhere!  About mid-December, some variety of tomato decided to pop up amongst all the carrots under the crepe myrtle tree.  It looked so cozy there, we decided to just let it stay.  Two hard freezes later, it managed to survive, bloom and produce a few precious, little tomatoes that will be ripe and

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-55028916074302800542012-02-28T18:17:00.004-05:002012-02-28T18:50:30.980-05:00

Wow...what an adventure!!  We left the house with a practically empty pantry this morning, and as I type, that thing is packed to the max!  I am so mad I didn't take a pic of the pile of food we brought into the house or the whole process!  I got all wrapped up in the excitement and totally forgot!! I made the "announcement" last week that I finally got over my change-aphobia and

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-42476766833995508962012-02-27T11:40:00.000-05:002012-02-27T13:29:23.101-05:00

Pin It   So, I'm sitting on the couch with the hubby last night reading the most phenomenal book to the sounds of "boink, boink, squeek, squeek, boink, boink, squeek, boink..." (the sound of basketball is almost mind numbing to me) when a change in the tv screen catches my attention.  It a commercial (whew...a break from the boinks and squeeks)...the tv screen is filled

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631146249605747972.post-74602722604540144312012-02-24T10:38:00.000-05:002012-02-24T11:13:08.643-05:00

Pin It A friend of mine just gave me an excellent book written by Dr. Rex Russell called "What the Bible Says About Healthy Living"--you rock, Amy!!  This book has been stuck in my hands for a day straight, except when life calls (practically every other second) and, I have to put it down to tend to the non-stop chores, so I'm only on chapter three.  In those three little

Danielle Sheffieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868689030325302964noreply@blogger.com4