My love/hate with packing lunches

Farmer's Market Haul - 6/25

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:42:00 +0000

I can't get this picture to be the right way. Sorry!! Spinach, Pickle cucumbers, Chocolate muffins, Lettuce, Green Pepper (one of the firsts of the season), Fennel, Pea Pods, Strawberries (some of the last of the season already). The red pepper is still a brought in item.

Farmer's Market Haul - 6/18

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:40:00 +0000

Asparagus (almost out of season now), Peas, Garlic, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Cucumbers, Bread and Strawberry tarts. The green pepper was brought in because they are not in season here yet.

Farmer's Market Haul - 6/11

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:40:00 +0000

Not everything here is local or in season (the red pepper, peaches, potatoes, and tomatoes were brought in or raised in a green house) The rest is broccoli, cookie, bread, cucumber, strawberries, cucumber, spinach, and carrots.

I made a decision this week at the market. I bought local produce for the most part but then I figured if there was something I would buy at the store because of a recipe I was making then I would just but it at the market and support the farmer that was bringing it in.

Sneak in Veggies and Omega 3

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:54:00 +0000

Here is a great pesto recipe that I use in my house and my 4 and 8 year old love.

1 cup fresh basil (or fresh/frozen see post)
1 cup fresh spinach
1/4 cup walnuts (I used a bit more even)
2 cloves garlic
1/2 parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil drizzled in as you blend

*Blend in food processor and mix in your cooked pasta!! YUM

Farmer's Market Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Spring has sprung and we have lots of options at our farmers market. HOWEVER!! there are lots of products at the farmers market that have been shipped in. It is still too early for many fruits and veggies here in Western New York. So I ask the farmers which products are local before I buy. There are some products that are being grown in greenhouses around here. It has been so rainy that the farmers haven't even been able to get the planting done yet. Here is what I got.

Red and Yellow Tomatoes, Chocolate Chip Muffin, Ground beef, Strawberries (green house), Bread (for a sub roll this week's lunch), Green Beans, Brownie, and Eggs.

Busy Night's Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:57:00 +0000

Well, it is that time of year. T-ball, Little League, registration for camps, end of the school year for my kids and for me as a teacher. Crazy, crazy, crazy... Then I had to miss the last 2 Saturdays at the farmer's market besides. My kitchen is bare bones. Well here is a product that I feel good about for a couple of reasons.

Newman's Own donates to education
The pepperoni is nitrate free
I recognize almost all, if not all of the ingredients
It is a fast week night dinner before a baseball game
Just add carrot sticks and a fruit as sides (not chips :)

Farmer's Market Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:55:00 +0000

French Bread (makes great garlic bread), Snap Peas, Carrots, Garlic (that is shaped like scallions), Shiitake Mushrooms, ASPARAGUS - great sign of spring, & Eggs

Saturday - I made mushroom swiss hamburgers (grass fed beef), fries, asparagus
Sunday - Lemon chicken parm, asparagus, noodles
Monday - Spaghetti, sauce, garlic bread
Tuesday - Quiche - spinach, ham, cheese, broccoli,
Wednesday - I have golf league so boys on their own.... PIZZA
Thursday - out to dinner at a conference
Friday - ???

Quiche to the rescue

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Tue, 03 May 2011 20:57:00 +0000

I made this quiche for dinner tonight. It has been a go to lately. I am able to use so many different ingredients. The only downside is that my 4 yr old doesn't like it. The rest of the family LOVES it. Tonight I am using,

Cheese
Ham
Broccoli
Cauliflower (which I am sneaking in so I won't use much)

Got the flu - Hang in there

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sun, 01 May 2011 15:51:00 +0000

My entire family got the flu last week so we are just recovering back into routine. I will be posting as soon as we get going. I was finally able to stomach grocery shopping.

How far did that come from???

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:19:00 +0000

Ok, so here is a work up of my produce in miles from my last shopping trip. I was CRAVING fresh produce because it has been so long. I broke down and bought some fresh fruit and veggies.

Sorry the pictures isn't perfect. Even as an estimate it is crazy to see where the food came from, how far it traveled and how much that would cost me to drive. AND THIS IS JUST PRODUCE. I know all of that other "stuff" traveled quite a bit to get to me too.

Check out to the right, I have added an Amazon widget where I will place some of my favorite products that help me in my journey to eat healthy while being a full time teacher and mother of 2. First up is a book that really got me started on my locavore mission. It is inspiring and fun to read. Check it out!

Freezing Basil

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:20:00 +0000

So here is my first installment of my freezer series

FREEZING BASIL

Here is my basil plant. It is sitting right on my kitchen window. I picked off some of the larger leaves.

Stack the leaves so you can cut them into strips (Technically called chiffonade :)

Then put the strips into a freezer container to use later in soups, or my favorite, on top of pizza right after you pull it out of the oven.

Chance are you can get bunches of basil from your farmers market when in season. Then just freeze and you can use them throughout the winter. Mine lasted in these containers all winter.

Shopping trip

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:56:00 +0000

One major downfall of using a farmer's market is that if you are busy during the 5 hours it is open, once a week, than you don't get to go. That's what happened to me this week so I was stuck getting everything from the grocery store.

I broke down and got bananas (organic at least) and strawberries. Neither are at all local or in season but I was missing them terribly.

Using your freezer wisely

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:46:00 +0000

Microsoft clipart image

I am going to start a series on how I use my freezer. I have some great ideas that I have been working on and I am ready to get even better during this spring and summer.

On my mission to try and eat local using my freezer will be critical because I live in New York and winter is sooooo long here. As a matter of fact, it snowed last week here :) I have never canned and I am a bit afraid of that process so I have come to rely on the freezer.

Mind you that I am a full time teacher and mother of 2 boys (4 and 8) so time is not plentiful. I am going to attempt to show you how I will do this. Wish me luck and follow along.

Meal Plan for a week

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:09:00 +0000

Meal Plan
Saturday - Homemade mac-n-cheese, brocolli, applesauce (my son's bday party)
Sunday - We have our Family Bible study where dinner is served
Monday - (my husband) Leftover Mac-n-cheese from party
Tuesday - Meatloaf & Mashed Potato Bake
Wednesday - Ham & Cheese Pannis with soup
Thursday - Quiche (check out this recipe) with green bean side (couldn't get bacon so ham will have to do)
Friday - Penne Pasta from Rachel Ray (I am attempting my own Walnut Pesto)

Locavore Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:19:00 +0000

Here are my groceries for this week as I try to live local. I have the last of my CSA for winter from a local farm and my farmers market haul this week. There was a stop at the grocery and, I admit, some weak purchases, but I am working on it.

CSA = Community Supported Agriculture

My last pick up for winter.

Apples, Chilies, Onions, Potatoes, Wheat Bread, Garlic, and Apple Muffins PLUS Oranges and Grapefruit ,
$33.00 (two week supply)

Farmer's Market stop - $33.00

Beets, Spinach, Lettuce, 2 bags Green Beans, 2 kinds of Cheese, Ground beef, Honey Wheat Bread, Cheese curds, Cookies, and Flour

Grocery Store - $49.00

Peanuts, Goldfish, Applesauce*, Noodles*, Parmasean, Chicken Stock, Walnuts, Broccoli*, Organic Chicken, Ham, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Cheese*

*(For my son's birthday party)

Price total -$99.00 this week

Trying to limit 'screen time'

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:17:00 +0000

Here is the system we are using to try and limit 'screen' time with my 8 year old. I created this chart for the fridge.

We were having trouble keeping track of time on a clock so I went with time slots where he has time to choose his activity. He is responsible to sign up for time slots. He can only choose screens for 3 of the time slots. He MUST pick 2 of 3 of the following, homework, playing outside, and reading.

I should tell you that my husband and I both teach at the school our son goes to so he 'hangs out' with us before and after school. That accounts for the time slots that are 'in dad's office' and 'extra waiting at school' (when we have meetings or practice after school).

This is a work in progress.

Today he signed up for a time slot at school and he forgot his DS. I told him that it was his responsibility and if he didn't have his DS then he didn't get to play.

Click here for my chart

Farmers Market Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:45:00 +0000

I got all of this from my indoor Farmer's Market today

For under $30.00 *chicken $11.00

Organic chicken, green beans, scallions, carrots, eggs, cheese, and in the back is pak choi, lettuce, and spinach.

We still have snow on the ground where I live but there are farmers who are growing produce inside greenhouses and bringing it to the Farmer's market.

This week's menu is a little less on a budget. I am splurging. Especially with this organic chicken which I am not sure I can make into something tasty for my family.

Saturday - Taco Salad (lettuce, scallions, cheese from above)

Sunday - Pulled barbecue chicken sandwiches on homemade hamburger rolls.

Monday - Pasta and sauce with tossed salad (lettuce, spinach, scallions, carrots, egg)

Tuesday - Chinese (Anne Chun's chow mein box) (green beans, pak choi, carrots, scallions)

Wednesday - (Happy Birthday to me and my son) - Tuna noodle casserole and applesauce at my sisters

Thursday - I think leftovers

Friday - Meatless - Pierogies with apple green bean saute as a side dish (green beans, scallions)

Preparing for Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:43:00 +0000

I got this idea from We are that Family and I wanted to use it with my family as we prepare for Easter.
Here is how I set up my egg carton.

12 days before Easter we will start opening each egg and talk about the Easter story. I am excited to find a way of making Easter more about Jesus than chocolate. Here are the directions from Kristen @ We are that Family.

Make a list of 12 items that are in the Resurrection Story and if we couldn’t find the object around the house/yard, we just used our creativity.*I used pictures and folded them up inside the egg.

1. A picture of a donkey (Jesus triumphal entry)

2. Palm leaf from our front yard

3. A cup (from the Last Supper) We used a small lid to a water bottle

4. A flower (representing the Garden where Jesus prayed)

5. Some coins (Judas’ betrayal)

6. A piece of leather (symbolizing the whip)

7. A thorn (crown of thorns)

8. A paper cross

9. A dice (represent the soldiers who gambled for his clothes)

10. A nail (crucifixion)

11. A rock (to cover the tomb)

12. An empty egg (to remember the empty tomb!)

Storing my homemade granola

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:39:00 +0000

Getting ready to cut the bars!

Thinking about starting a business in granola bars.

What do you think?

Voila... Breakfast or snacks for the week.

I have to thank Melissa again for the idea and recipe.

I love this!

Homemade Granola bars

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:07:00 +0000

Ok, so my husband and son wanted granola bars for our grab and go breakfas t this week. I didn't want to buy granola bars at the store for two reasons, money and healthfulness (is that a word?). So I remembered a recipe from Melissa @ Another Lunch for chocolate chip granola bites and I decided to make them.

I had to improvise because I didn't have any Crisped Rice cereal. So here is the recipe I used. I substituted frosted mini shredded wheats and lowered the sugar.

2 1/2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup crushed up frosted mini shredded wheats

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup chocolate chips

*In a large bowl combine the first 4 ingredients. Mix well. In another bowl/container (I used my 2cup glass measuring cup) combine the vanilla, oil, and honey and pour over the dry mixture. Mix really well. Then add chocolate chips to mixture.

If you have these great mini silicone baking cups then press the mixture into them and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 min. OR in a 8X8 glass baking dish lined with parchment paper press in and bake for 17-22 min. If you want to make them into bars you have to give them a long time to cool down. Check out Melissa's post for all the tips on baking and on cutting bars. She explains it well.

Breakfast on the Go idea

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:55:00 +0000

I know it doesn't look awesome, I am working on this recipe. I got the idea from Deb @ Lincoln recipe swap when she commented on my breakfast post - *Always accepting ideas please*.

I had made some clover rolls for St' Patrick's day and I am not a bread maker so call it fate that Deb commented on my post the day before I was going to make some bread dough.

I used some of my dough to make these breakfast pockets which I froze, thawed the night before I wanted them, and popped them in the microwave in the morning. I rolled out two circles and put some scrambled eggs, cheese, and ham (Homel's :) in the middle and topped with another circle then crimped with a fork. I guessed when I baked them and based the time on the roll recipe.

The concept is great. I need to work on my dough though because it is a little dense and bland. I like these sandwiches though, and I dip mine in salsa to add a bit more taste. (and some veggies too). Like I said, it is a work in progress.

Make my own chilli powder...? Yikes

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

This week in my CSA share I got three stems full of cayenne peppers that were partially dried. What the heck was I to do with dried peppers? Well after a bit of research I decided to make my own chili powder. I have been moving away from the traditional spices because there are all sorts of chemicals and preservatives in them. I have bought a few organic spices that we use often (cumin, garlic, cinnamon and parsley).

1. Cut off the tops of the peppers and take out the seeds (unless you want it really hot)

2. I finished drying them in the oven. They were partially dry already

3. Shook out any remaining seeds :)

4. Put them in the food processor and grinded to powder

5. In a dry jar I added (The jar on the left is the mixture, on the right is just the cayenne)

1Tablespoon cayenne powder
2 Tablespoons cumin
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon cloves

Happy First Day of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:45:00 +0000

Well it is finally here! The first day of spring and I decided to 'spring clean' my blog to welcome in the new season.

I am excited to be on the verge of fresh local produce. Trying to eat local in New York is very difficult in the winter.

This is my second year to attempt a garden. What you see here is my pepper plant. They take soooo long to germinate that you must start them early. 18 weeks is what my seed packet said. I didn't get any peppers last year.

I have a small raised garden. It is one way to make the trip shorter from food source to table. Gardens are alot of work though and I rely on my farmer's market and local farmers' road side stands more than on my little garden. There is a certain pride, however, when you can say you grew what you are eating. Plus my sons get a kick out of it too.

Another week's menu on a budget

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Monday - Penne pasta and sauce with tossed salad (oranges, slivered almond, and orange vinaigrette)
Tuesday - Hot ham (Hormel's) and cheese (from Farmer's market) sandwiches and salad
Wednesday - Taco salad
Thursday - St' Pats day - Pesto pasta, clover rolls, broccoli
Friday - (Meatless for lent) - Potato/Cheddar chowder with leftover clover rolls

I spent under 50$ this week. Once again, I went to "the big W" instead of grocery store. I do not buy produce or meat from there. So I headed to my farmers market. I didn't know it was still going throughout the winter. They had just moved inside a local store front. I wish I would have known sooner.

I still got my CSA farm share of oranges, apples, onion, garlic, and this week cayenne peppers. (A post about the peppers later). I stopped at the farmers market for lettuce and cheese for this week's menu.

Amazing Quiche

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Helmer) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:29:00 +0000

Another idea this week adapted from Rachel Ray's magazine AND it fit into my budget friendly meal plan this week.

I have to admit I was skeptical of the strategy but it worked and worked well.

1. Warm up some olive oil and add garlic (careful not to burn)
2. Put in a cup of bread crumbs and toast in pan
3. Remove from pan and put in a greased 9'' pie plate
.....................
3. Steam some frozen broccoli
4. In a bowl beat 4 eggs and about a cup of milk
5. Add 1cup parmesean cheese, some parsley, salt and pepper to egg/milk mixture
6. Add some chopped ham (again I used Hormel natural sandwich meat with no nitrates)
......................
Put it together
1. Lay the broccoli on top of your toasted bread crumbs in pie plate
2. Pour egg mixture on top shaking the pie plate a little to settle the mix
3. Bake for 20-25 min (rotate 1/2 way through) in 425 degree oven

The crust turns out AMAZING.