The Way...

What I Ate Wednesday: Ring in the New Year

2014-02-12T21:55:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I know that New Year's was last month, but I'm talking about a different "ring in the new year."

My wedding ring, to be exact.

It's actually a lot shinier and sparkly than this, but you get the idea.

I think I might have shared this with you before, but I'm going to again.

My husband and I didn't have a big elaborate wedding or even a ceremony in a church. Instead, we eloped.

Nothing says "classy" like a wedding photo framed by a metal detector.

Three days before the "Big Day" (and yes, it's even a big day when it's just a courthouse wedding), we picked out our rings. I chose the one above because it was the ring that fit in the style I liked. We didn't have time to get it sized before we married.

However, platinum is a soft metal and I've lost stones. I lost one small diamond at work one night. Before we realized it, the baguette-style diamond ended up in the trash because my supervisor thought it was a shard of glass. Thankfully, it was under warranty. On our tenth anniversary, the center stone fell off. By some miracle, we found the diamond in a chair minutes after realizing it was gone. Consequently, I only wear it on special occasions when I won't be working with my hands.

When I was teaching every day last spring, I started wearing it to school. But, it's heavy and I couldn't wear it working out. One afternoon after work, I went to the Y and didn't have a place to put it. So, I set it in a locker in my shoe. I had my husband take my shoes home for me, completely forgetting my ring was in them.

And then, it was gone.

I looked everywhere. I searched under the seats of both of our vehicles. I climbed under our bed, hoping it had fallen off the bedside shelf. I pulled all my shoes out from under my dresser, praying that my ring had been knocked behind it. I even walked the parking lot at the Y, wondering if it had dropped out of my shoes.

Despite all the searching, I couldn't find it anywhere. I kept praying every day that it would turn up. I had dreams that I had found it, only to wake up on the verge of tears because it was still missing. I finally gave up hope, but prayed anyway. I knew every passing day made the chances of finding it less and less.

We looked for one to replace it, but, of course, they no longer made the style. It would have to be custom made. It just didn't feel right to buy a new one.

Last week, ten months after I lost the ring, I returned home from the store to my husband bragging about how he had saved us money. I teased him that it must be from switching our car insurance. Then, he held out his hand, my ring in his palm. I cried.

Apparently, it was in the back of the junk drawer. There is no viable explanation as to why it ended up there, in my opinion. God had to have sent some angel to put it there for me.

It still seems too good to be true. I check to make sure it's in my jewelry box about once a day.

And now, on to what I ate.

BREAKFAST:

Thin Mint Protein Shake (recipe here)

LUNCH:

Lentils cooked in mesquite beef stock

and stir fry veggies with Frank's Hot Sauce

SNACK:

Two baked chicken strips

SUPPER:

Romaine salad with balsamic vinaigrette, smoked northern beans,
grape tomatoes, and Daiya cheese

Steamed asparagus

Slow-cooked chicken, mushrooms, and onions cooked with beer

(I also added fresh rosemary to the recipe.)

and a slice of bread I made today with wheat I ground this afternoon.

1. Have you ever lost anything really important to you? How did it turn out?
2. Do you believe in miracles, even in the little ones?

RECIPE: Thin Mint Protein Shake

2014-02-12T13:23:00.000-06:00

I'm a sucker for any kid who comes to my door selling stuff.

My husband was a Boy Scout and I was a Girl Scout, so that makes it even worse. We can't deny the kid who will go door-to-door for a good cause. Plus, who can resist the cookies and popcorn!

Thin Mint Protein Shake

Since I usually try to limit my sugar intake, I decided to mix up a Girl Scout protein shake instead. I don't like the heavy feeling of eating breakfast, so protein shakes are perfect for me. Plus, the entire shake is only 179 calories as opposed to 160 calories for only four Thin Mint cookies.

Thin Mint Protein Shake

by thewaybyelle

Prep Time: 5 min

Keywords: blender sugar-free soy-free low-carb

Ingredients (serves 2)

4 c. unsweetened almond milk
2 scoops soy protein isolate (or other unflavored protein powder)
1 tsp. liquid stevia
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

Instructions

1. Blend all ingredients thoroughly in a blender. Serve immediately to avoid separation or refrigerate and shake well before serving.

1. What is your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?

2. Do you like to eat breakfast?

Happy Campers and the "Heirstream"

2013-09-11T08:10:00.000-05:00

A month or so ago, we inherited my parents' 1972 Land Yacht Airstream trailer.

After sitting at my brother's house in the country for almost eight years, it needed some love. We spent a few Sunday afternoons vacuuming, wiping down all of the surfaces, and cleaning the carpet and upholstery. With lots of help from our friend, Michael, my husband was able to get the electrical working. We didn't have a chance to fix the plumbing, but that didn't stop us from taking her out on her "matron" voyage.

The Wednesday before Labor Day, we decided to take the "Heirstream" up to Camp Arrowhead for family camp. As a child, I went to Camp Arrowhead for a week each summer as a camper, riding horses, canoeing, and singing songs around the campfire with other kids. Although our boys are too young for camp kids camp, we thought it would be great for all of us to go together for family camp. We all needed to "unplug" for a while and get away.

Since Camp Arrowhead is a church camp, the grounds were clean and safe. Our two year-old ran around both days until he nearly dropped. Our six year-old played Uno and Frisbee with other kids. He also went on the zipline and rode an ATV around the camp. Before we left, the boys rode horses for the first time.

I'm not saying that everything went smoothly. We used the nearby bathhouse and carted water from the water pump, which began to get irritating. On the way there, a tire on the Heirstream blew out about 10 miles from the camp. Thankfully, the owner of another RV lent us their spare tire to get to camp. An electrical problem with one of the power poles (which was likely struck by lightning the night before) caused a power outage for several hours. Temperatures neared 100F that day and the AC couldn't keep up, so it began to leak at about 10:00pm. Overall, it was perfect, however. We had fun and managed to sleep well. It was odd to come home from a short vacation well-rested instead of exhausted!

Here's the food I've been eating.

BREAKFAST:

Egg and kale fritatta

and red beans with Frank's Hot Sauce

and a cup of Bulletproof-like coffee

LUNCH:

Green beans, bean fry bread, and fried eggs

SNACK:

"Nutella" protein shake.

Oh my you have no idea how yummy this is!

SUPPER:

BLT salad

made with a whole romaine heart,

mayo, turkey bacon, and tomatoes from my garden.

We have been eating a lot of these this summer!

And can we talk about that Bulletproof-like coffee?

It is the best thing. Yes, it really is.

I'm nearly addicted to the stuff. I don't use the fancy beans or special oil the original recipe calls for, but the taste is still fantastic! I make it with 2 cups of French press brewed coffee, 2-3 Tb. Rumiano salted butter, and 2 Tb. organic virgin coconut oil. It is divine.

Did you do any camping this summer? How was your Labor Day?

Are you a coffee or tea drinker?

50 Healthy Food and Exercise Comment Luv Blogs

2013-07-29T10:15:00.000-05:00

I love reading comments from my readers.

When you leave a comment, you tell me if I'm writing about something you want to know. You also share your experiences, your thoughts, and a bit about yourself with me and other readers.

CommentLuv enabled blogs take it a step further. When you comment in a CommentLuv form, you tell us about your blog, too.

A regular comment leaves my link, but nothing special to lead readers to my blog.


CommentLuv blogs give you free advertising by telling readers the title of your last post.

Learn more about CommentLuv and how you can add it to your blog here.

To get you started, here are 50 healthy food and exercise blogs which use CommentLuv.

Alex Tries It Out

Avocado Athlete

Chelcie's Food Files

Coffee Cake and Cardio

The Concrete Runner

Day with KT

Eat Learn Discover

Family Fitness Food

Fit 'N' Cookies

Fit Possible

Fit Running Mama

Food, Fitness, and Family

Food Wine Thyme

For the Sake of Cake

Frolic Through Life

Happy Fit Mama

Happy Wife Healthy Life

Healthy Running Mom

A Healthy Slice of Life

Hungry Healthy Girl

Journey of a Dreamer

Keeping Healthy Getting Stylish

Killer Bunnies Inc.

Kiwi Fit Blog

Koko Likes

The Lean Green Bean

Life After Swimming

To Live and Diet in L.A.

Mangos and Miles

My Freckled Life

My Life Sans Gluten

Not Plain So Jane

Nutty About Health

Oatmeal in my Bowl

Oatmeal with a Fork

Picky Runner

Protein and Pumps

Powerhouse Fit Foodie

Remake My Plate

Running for Cupcakes

Running with Spoons

Run Pretty

Sarah Learns

Savor Life's Flavors

If you are a healthy food and exercise blogger who uses CommentLuv, let me know in a comment below. I will add your name and link when I update the list!

What I Ate and the Ugliest Cupcakes You Will Ever See

2013-07-23T20:31:00.001-05:00

Sunday was my father's 80th birthday.

I don't ever remember my dad being happy about his birthday. He doesn't like people spending money on him or making a fuss. In years past, I have given him a framed poem I wrote about him (it's about him watching the moon landing on the eve of his birthday) and a handwritten book of 100 reasons why he is a great dad.

My dad and my boys last fall

Another thing I do for my dad on Father's Day, his birthday, and Christmas is to make his favorite food Kroppkakor or palt, as they are known in Sweden. They take HOURS to make!

This year, my mom said she was going to make the Kroppkakor for him. This left me completely out of ideas about what to make for my dad.

This is where the ugliest cupcakes come in.

Kroppkakor are probably one of the world's least appetizing-looking foods. They look like rocks. If you cut one in half, they kind of look like geodes because of the chopped bacon in the center. Did I mention we eat every bite with a little bit of butter?

Instead of making my dad a birthday cake, I made him "Kropp-cakes," cupcakes made to look like Kroppkakor. Here is the result.

I made them by wrapping homemade fondant around frosted white cupcakes.

The result was wonderful! They may not have been pretty, but they tasted like a Little Debbie or Hostess cake. I am so making these again for myself! I may have found my new favorite dessert!

After the feasting on Kroppkakor, pizza (my dad's least favorite food in the world), and these cupcakes, I was ready to go back to healthier fare.

Here is what I ate.

BREAKFAST:

I'm still being a good girl and getting my breakfast at 9:00am every day.

Since I don't think I've been eating enough protein,

I had a few egg whites and one whole egg

and fresh chopped spinach

with black beans and smoked paprika.

The paprika really gave it a "bacony" taste!

LUNCH:

For lunch, I had green eggs and black beans again.

I also threw in half a bag of Bird's Eye Recipe Starts Grilling Blend.

I've been using a lot of these lately.

This bag had zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper, and red onion.

I topped it with Frank's Hot Sauce.

SNACK:

At 3:00pm, I had a Green Tea Energy Shake.

I'm posting the recipe for it next week on the blog.

SUPPER:

Again, I'm trying to get more protein,

so for supper, I had a four Morningstar sausage links,

mashed northern beans with garlic, butter, and parsley,

a Power Greens salad with Caesar dressing and olives,

and green beans.

Here are a few of the other cakes I've made this year.

My six year-old's birthday cake.

My husband paints life size light towers that look like this one I made.

You can see more of my cakes here.

1. What is the best gift you ever made for someone?
2. What is the best gift someone made for you?
3. Do you like making cake or just eating it?

RECIPE: Flaxseed Breaded Fish (GF, Low Carb)

2013-07-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

Every Friday evening, we eat fish.

Having the same meal every Friday night is easy to plan for. We also have chosen foods that we can use to teach our kids something about God.

It started about six months ago, when we decided to again Remember the Sabbath, or Shabbat, as it is known in Hebrew. We clean the house on Friday or Preparation Day. I bake Challah bread and brownies (my husband's favorite). In the minutes before sundown, we get out the special tablecloth, napkins, dishes, and silver. We use stemware for wine and grape juice. We light the Sabbath candle and sing a song, inviting God to be with us.

Although we don't tire of the Challah bread or the brownies each week, having fish prepared the same way does get old.

Due to the popularity of my Flaxseed Breaded Chicken Strips recipe, I decided to try it with pollock, adjusting the cooking time and using Old Bay Seasoning instead of oregano and garlic powder.

Flaxseed Breaded Fish (GF, Low-Carb)

by Elle@thewaybyelle.blogspot.com

Prep Time: 15 min.

Cook Time: 20 min.

Ingredients (4 fillets)

4 Pollock Fillets, thawed, rinsed and patted dry
1 Egg
1 Tb. Water
1 c. Ground Flaxseed (Flaxseed Meal)
2 Tb. Grated Parmesan
1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.

2. Beat eggs with water. Pour into pie plate.

3. In another pie plate, combine flaxseed meal, Parmesan, and Old Bay Seasoning.

4. Dip each fillet in the egg mixture, coating both sides.

5. Press fillet into the flaxseed mixture, turning over to bread each side.

6. Place fillets on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

7. Serve immediately.

Do you have any weekly traditions?

How did you like the fish?

What do you think of the new recipe format that I'm trying out?

This recipe was featured on Make Your Own Mondays!

WIAW: How I've Been Eating After the Sugar Detox

2013-07-16T19:52:00.001-05:00

What I've been eating the past few weeks isn't nearly as interesting as how I've been eating.

I've been doing What I Ate Wednesday off and on for a long time now. Each week, I would force myself to eat normally, how I thought should eat, three meals and a snack at regular intervals. I would pretend this was typical for me, even though it wasn't.

Sometimes I didn't eat until 4pm. Sometimes I started my day with a bowl of ice cream in the early morning and kept eating refined, fatty starches all day. Other than supper with my family, I rarely ate meals and never at regular intervals. Either I ate everything or nothing at all. I was hungry all the time, fighting the urge to eat.

That all changed about three weeks ago when I detoxed from my sugar addiction. Since then, I eat breakfast, lunch, a snack, and dinner. I don't feel guilty about what I eat. I stay full between meals. I've also lost 5 lbs. without dieting or restricting myself.

More about my sugar detox in a later post!

Here is what and when I've been eating.

BREAKFAST 9:00AM

I started mixing things up by having my Green Tea Energy Shake in the morning.

I was having it in the afternoon for a snack, but I think it was keeping me from sleeping.
Even though I make it with lower caffeine Sencha tea,
it really gets me going without feeling jittery!

LUNCH 12:00PM
For lunch, I had my usual breakfast,
green eggs with two pieces of Ezekiel bread toast.

SNACK 3:00PM
This weekend, I roasted some raw peanuts.
Since they have no maltodextrin, msg, any of the other nasties in roasted peanuts
from the store, they taste so much better!

I had a few handfuls of these for a snack.

SUPPER 6:30PM
One of the blogs I read this week (sorry, I don't remember which),
inspired me to add canned artichokes to our salad we always eat for supper.
I topped it with black olives and Caesar dressing.
We also had vegan cheesy potatoes
made with a bag of O'Brien potatoes and Follow Your Heart vegan cheddar.
And we ate steamed peas.
I finished the meal off with some dates!

Have you ever had a problem eating "properly"?

Are you a sugar addict like me?

Have you ever been inspired by another blogger's post? What was it?

In case you missed it, check out my post 5 fruits in Season in June and July

including how to choose the best fruits and how to store them.

5 Fruits in Season in June and July

2013-07-14T13:15:00.000-05:00

When I was in junior high and high school, my parents were over-the-road truck drivers. Each week, they left our home in Nebraska and hauled meat out to the west coast. On their way back, they would pick up fresh fruit and vegetables from California and deliver them to St. Joseph, Missouri.

Back when I was little and Dad was the only one trucking.
I think I'm the same size as that steering wheel!

One of the advantages of having parents who delivered food across the country is knowing when fruits are in season. During different months, they would pick up boxed produce at different places, driving the same routes all over California at the peak season of crops. When she was home, Mom always knew what fruits to buy at the grocery store when they were their best, too. She shared a bit of this knowledge with me.

In June and July, drupes come in season, also known as "stone fruits." Drupes have an outer flesh which surrounds a pit that contains the seed. The hard shell gives them the name "stone fruit."

Cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, and apricots are all drupes and are in season during June and July. They are usually less expensive during these months, too, making it a good time to preserve them for later. I have had great luck canning peach jam and peach pie filling, as well as slicing and freezing peaches. A few years ago, I found sweet cherries at $0.99/lb. and we froze about 20 lbs.!

How to choose the best cherries:
Look for the darkest cherries for their variety. This indicates that they will be riper and sweeter. Larger cherries are better for eating since they have more flesh in proportion to their pit. Cherries with green stems are fresher, having been picked recently. If they don't have stems, make sure to eat them within a few days; since stemless cherries do not keep well.

How to store cherries:
Cherries can be refrigerated in the original bag for 5-7 days in the refrigerator. Do not wash until ready to eat.

How to choose the best peaches and nectarines:
Peaches and nectarines are essentially the same fruit, one being fuzzy while the other is smooth. When choosing peaches or nectarines, find fruits that will slightly yield to pressure and have rich yellow background color. If there is green near the stem, it is not ripe. The heavier the fruit, the more juicy it will be.

How to store peaches and nectarines:
Refrigerate only after ripe because the cold will halt the ripening process. Peaches and nectarines will ripen if stored at room temperature for 2-3 days. To hurry ripening process, peaches may be placed in a paper bag with an apple.

How to choose the best plums:
Choose fruits that have shiny skins and no bruises. Heavier plums will have more juice. Ripe fruits will also have a strong fragrance and will give slightly when squeezed gently

How to store plums:
Store ripe plums in an open bag for up to five days in the refrigerator. The cold will stop the fruit from ripening further. Unripened fruits will ripen at room temperature after several days. Plums can be ripened faster by placing in a paper bag.

In addition to eating fresh stone fruits, they are also perfect for canning, freezing, or in a delicious recipe. Here are a few smoothie and shake recipes from the blog. Most call for frozen fruit, but you can use fresh fruit, too.

Chocolate Cherry Protein Shake
Peach Cinnamon Smoothie
Peach Raspberry Smoothie

Which fruits are your favorite in the summer?
How do you like to eat "stone fruits"? Do you have any yummy recipes to share?

What We Ate Over the Holiday Weekend

2013-07-09T22:30:00.002-05:00

As far as most Nebraskans go, we're the odd ones.

Despite my husband and I each being raised by ranchers' daughters, we have evolved into mostly vegetarians. Some days, we are even vegans! The carnivorous cravings that are in our DNA sometimes come out of hibernation, however. About once a month, we go out for ribeye steaks. Every three or four weeks, I sneak out for fast food chicken strips. Otherwise, we usually don't even bring meat into the house.

My husband (MK) and our 6 year-old, "Peanut."

However, this all changes during spring and summer holidays. We could be some of those awesome vegetarians or vegans who grill vegetables or bean burgers, but we're not; we chow down on steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, and ribs. And we enjoy every bite!

Peanut, our almost 2 year-old "Happy," and Felicia (our adoptive daughter, mid-bite!).

This holiday weekend, we did a pretty good job of spreading out the festivities instead of gorging ourselves in one or two meals. Each day, we had at least one cookout. On Independence Day, we grilled Spiral Cut Hot Dogs for lunch, then joined an evening Independence Day party with the family of my friends, Karen and Mary. We feasted with my in-laws on my husband's birthday, the fifth of July. My mom even made us burgundy marinated New York strip steaks to throw on our grill!

Kurt (MK's brother) and MK

Remarkably, I managed to lose three pounds over the past five days! I think it is because I watched my calorie intake during the non-cookout meals and ate plenty of veggies and fruits. We also ate a salad with supper every night, just like we have when we aren't feasting.

My mother-in-law, Marylene and my boys.

By Sunday night, we were both sick of eating meat. It is really hard for us to understand how people can eat it three times a day. I'm sure we will be ready to devour some beef by the time that Labor Day gets here, but I think for now we will be sticking to the veggies, fruits, grains, legumes, and a little dairy!

Now, what did I eat after all of the feasting was over? All kinds of yummy stuff!

BREAKFAST
9:00AM

I started my day with my usual, egg whites, spinach, and Ezekiel bread or tortilla.
This time, I made "green eggs" by running three egg whites in my Vitamix
with a handful of fresh spinach and making it into an omelet.
I folded it up and ate it between two buttered pieces of Ezekiel toast.

LUNCH
12:00PM
I wasn't very creative for lunch, either, going with one of my favorites:
an Ezekiel tortilla with Italian seasoned tomato paste,
a smear of whipped cream cheese
and a handful of fresh spinach.

SNACK
3:00PM
I ate the last piece of my husband's Dairy Queen ice cream cake.
He was upset to learn that I had eaten the rest of it.
(He only had one piece on his birthday.)
But really?
It was there for FOUR DAYS and he didn't have any.
I feel like I had great self-control only eating a piece a day.
(It's upside down because I always eat the chocolate ice cream first.)
I also drank a cup of kombucha tea.
(Click here if you want to see my son drinking a glass of it!)

SUPPER
6:30PM
We always start dinner with a leafy green salad topped with vinaigrette dressing,
but I didn't take a picture of it!
Our main entree was multi-grain pasta
mixed with sauteed onion, red pepper, celery, and shredded cabbage
and topped with a little bit of Parmesan cheese.

(When I keep this eating schedule and make sure I get plenty of fiber and protein,
I don't overeat or eat between meals/snacks.)

I hope you had a great holiday!


A candid with me and my boys

Check out how I spiraled those hot dogs with this how-to post!

How was your holiday?

Do you eat on a schedule or whenever you feel hungry?

If you need a giggle this afternoon...

2013-07-09T13:59:00.005-05:00

Here is a short video of my son drinking kombucha tea.

He begs for it and drinks it, despite the faces he makes!

(NO, this isn't booze. It's tea. I SWEAR!)

Best Hot Dogs for Grilling: How to Spiral Cut Wieners (PICTURES)

2013-07-07T16:56:00.001-05:00

Although 90% of the time we eat a vegetarian diet, on holidays we feast on traditional meat-centered meals.

In the fall, we eat turkey and Eldon's Steak and Dressing. For Christmas, we usually eat chili that my family makes with hamburger. Once in a while, I will crave chicken strips or we will go out for a ribeye steak. And for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, we grill meat like most Americans.

Usually when we fire up the grill, we decide to make either steaks or beef short ribs. Then, since it is such a rare event (excuse the pun) for us to cook out, we decide to add some hamburgers and beef hot dogs. We might as well while we have the grill hot, right?

The next thing we know, my husband and I are sick from eating so much.

For the Independence Day holiday, we seem to get through without overeating. Part of the reason is because my husband's birthday falls on the fifth of July. Instead of trying to feast for one meal, we spread the festivities out over three or four days. We don't eat as much at each sitting since we know we need to save room for feasting the next day.

On the fourth of July this year, we decided to have beef hot dogs for lunch. Until last year, we always cooked wieners like everyone else, just opening the package and dropping them on the fiery grill.

Then, I read about how to spiral cut a wiener. Since it makes the best hot dog for grilling, we always take the extra few minutes to prep and spiral each one. The cut makes the entire wiener crispy, instead of just on the outside. They fit the bun better since they are stretched out. And, since we like to top our dogs with *ketchup, yellow mustard, and sweet pickle relish, the spiraled design keeps all those goodies from sliding off.

The directions are after my photos!

HOW TO SPIRAL CUT WIENERS

1. Using a thin metal or wooden skewer, insert the skewer lengthwise through the hot dog. It's okay if the end pokes through a little off center. If you happen to poke through the side, just pull the skewer out a little, realign it, and push it through again so it comes out the end.

2. While rolling the skewer and wiener with one hand, use a sharp knife to cut half-way through the hot dog, stopping the blade on the skewer. Continue rolling the hot dog until spiraled all the way to the end.

3. Grill and enjoy!

Do you allow yourself to feast on holidays?

What is your favorite summer food to grill?

*My husband, ever the St. Louis Cardinals fan, refuses to eat ketchup on his hot dog, insisting on mustard and relish only. He refers to everyone who puts ketchup on a hot dog as a "Chicago fan."

Thank you for your comments! I love to read them!

What I Ate Wednesday and Where I've Been...

2013-07-02T20:21:00.003-05:00

Hello!

It's been a long time since I blogged on here. I've been busy with stuff and things.

Since I really wrote a post:

1. I subbed full-time for six weeks as the high school English teacher at my old high school.

2. My five year-old turned six and graduated kindergarten!

3. My baby is almost two years-old! I can't even begin to tell you how much HE has changed!

4. My husband started working days.

5. I started writing fan fiction.

I thought that a good WIAW post would be a great place to start blogging again.

Here is is.

A great day of yummies!

BREAKFAST:

Egg whites scrambled with sauteed onion and fresh spinach

topped with a sprinkle of Daiya cheese in an Ezekiel tortilla.

LUNCH:

(Leftover from last night.)

Whole wheat thin spaghetti

mixed with a bag of Birds Eye Tuscan Veggies

with tomato sauce, garbanzo beans, and

sauteed fresh basil and garlic from my garden

and a chopped zucchini from the farmers' market.

SNACKS:

Green tea powder slushie

A Wasa cracker and a nectarine

SUPPER:

Black bean enchilada in Alvarado Street sprouted tortilla

with chopped romaine lettuce, tomato from the farmers' market,

and Elle's Easy Guacamole.

My husband came home from the store with picante sauce, romaine lettuce, and E.L. FUDGE COOKIES.

They were not on the list!

Don't let these smiling guys fool you; they are loaded with fat and sugar.

I had four of them.

Honestly, I have been horrible at eating breakfast for years now. I hate to do it. I feel like if I eat breakfast, then I'm hungry all day.

In an effort to really get this eating thing right, I have started eating breakfast at 9:00am every day. I try to get enough protein and fiber so that I feel full until lunch. I've found that the 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, and 6:30pm schedule keeps me full all day.

How have YOU been since I regularly blogged back in November??

Food Order Arrived Today!

2013-07-02T14:40:00.000-05:00

Organic food order arrived today!
I bought

Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (healthier soy sauce)
Organic Coconut Oil
Tempeh (I absolutely love this stuff!)
Alvarado St. Sprouted Tortillas (the only kind I buy for my family)
Ezekiel Sprouted Tortillas (my fav., but the kids don’t like them.)
Ground Sencha Tea (green tea)
Shredded Lisanatti Soy-Station 3 Cheese Blend
Alvarado St. Sprouted Wheat Burger Buns
Ezekiel Bread
5 lbs. Deglet Noor Dates (we snack on these after meals, instead of candy)
Earth Circle Wheat Grass Juice Powder

I’m excited!

Do you have to order any food that you can't find locally? What do you get and from where?

Peanut Butter Haystacks (RECIPE)

2013-05-01T19:03:00.003-05:00

Hello.

I know I haven't blogged in forever. I really haven't been feeling it? I've been busy, etc.

Well, here goes.

I promised to put this recipe up over a year ago. I have friends and family who absolutely love these things and keep asking for the recipe. In fact, I think I'm the only person I know who doesn't like them. I like peanut butter, but I don't like anything peanut butter flavored.

Yep. I hate peanut butter cookies, too.

These no-bake cookies used to be served in our school lunches growing up. Kids would gobble the golden treats down before anyone else stole them. I always passed mine off, eager to trade for something else.

Here is to all of you who have been asking for this recipe. It is from the old Friends and Neighbors cookbook produced when I was in elementary school.

Peanut Butter Haystacks

by Elle@thewaybyelle.blogspot.com

Ingredients (70 "Haystacks")

2 cups sugar
2 cups corn syrup
4 cups peanut butter
10 cups Rice Krispies

Instructions

1. Bring sugar and syrup to a boil in a large saucepan. Add peanut butter and mix well.

2. Combine Rice Krispies and peanut butter syrup until well incorporated.

3. Drop by spoonfuls onto sheets of waxed paper, creating the look of stacked hay.

4. Allow to completely cool before eating.

Leave me a comment if you enjoy these!

Prepping for a Stress-free Thanksgiving and My Menu

2012-11-19T14:44:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is not usually a family holiday for us.

Let me take that back. It is a family holiday, just not the traditional family holiday.

Over the past eleven years we have been married, Thanksgiving has transformed into a time when we invite our friends into our home. They are people who have become more family than just friends.

This year is no exception.

Since many of our friends in town are young, single men, I am stuck with all of the cooking. Actually, I love cooking and sharing food with friends, so creating a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal challenges me and gives me a chance to brag.

But the idea of making a feast for by myself can be daunting.

So I'm planning ahead. Since we are eating a Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws on Thursday, I am hosting our dinner on Friday. Here is the menu and my recipes.

Grandma Gladys' Apple Salad

Elle's Easy Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

Elle's Orange-Cranberry Sauce

Eldon's Steak and Dressing

Oven Roasted Turkey (I will brine it first)

Mashed Potatoes Made with Plain Greek Yogurt and Gravy

Home-canned Corn

Pumpkin Pie

Cherry Pie

Walnut-Pecan Pie

Like last year, I'm also going to spread the meal prep days in advance.

Tuesday: Shop, brine the turkey as it thaws. Make cranberry sauce.

Wednesday: Mix up pie crust.

Thursday: Peel then soak potatoes, assemble steak and dressing, mix stuffing so it is oven-ready. Bake pies.

Friday: Roast turkey, make dinner rolls, boil and mash potatoes. Make apple salad.

Glut myself at dinner.

Here are some non-traditional harvest dishes you might want to add to your meal.

Easy Butternut Hash Browns

Sweet Potato Hash Browns

What are you fixing for Thanksgiving?

Where I've Been: Recovery and Repair

2012-11-16T08:36:00.000-06:00

On morning after my last post in September, my toddler son's stomach began churning.

At first, it seemed nothing more than an upset stomach. By the late afternoon, as his vomiting increased in frequency to every ten minutes, I knew we had a problem. Since the clinic was already closed, off to the ER we went.

Although his stomach soothed for a while, things went from bad to worse in my house.

Accurate self-portrait of my 5 year-old for about five days.

My husband, my five year-old, and the little one were all stricken with sickness over that weekend. My husband was better within a few days, but the boys fought the stomach flu for the next week. They couldn't keep anything down. I think I was washing three loads of sheets, clothes, and pajamas every day. I was constantly changing my shirt as my little one got sick on me. Blogging about food was the furthest from my mind.

The next few weeks were all about recovering, both my sanity and my home.

Then, our neighbors put their house on the market. I told my husband by telling him one day that our lack of maintenance on the exterior of our home would likely drop their selling price. He immediately cleaned up the front and back yards. We started scraping, priming, and painting trim. I worked my way to peeling off loose paint on the rest of the house and touching up the siding. My husband peeled of the frayed carpet on our porch. He replaced our front door. We started spending half a day each week in Menards, buying supplies and planning our next project. Last weekend, Mike built new columns and a friend helped him replace the ugly wrought supports on our porch.

We have been busy.

Before and during.
Ignore my crooked camera shots.

So now that my work outside is done for a while and my family is healthy [fingers crossed], I'm going to do my best to get back blogging again. Thanks for bearing with me.

Friday Vegetarian Potluck LinkUp...Kinda

2012-09-20T22:00:00.001-05:00

This week, I made Carmelized Onion and Portabello Mushroom Pizza. I planned on posting it today for Friday Vegetarian Potluck.

Instead, my 13 month old has been vomiting all day, starting at 6:45am and ending at 7:00pm when he was in the ER after having dry heaves every 15 minutes. Everything is a wreck here, but at least my son hasn't puked in almost (praise God) three hours.

I will do my best to post the recipe for the pizza soon!

In the spirit of a delicious potluck dinner, I’m hosting Friday Vegetarian Potluck. Mix up a batch of your favorite recipe and bring it over for a virtual supper. You can bring a main dish, a salad, bread, a dessert, any food you want to share.We do have a few rules for our meal.

1. Your recipe needs to be vegetarian, but it can also be dairy-free, vegan, or gluten-free. Any recipe made without meat will do.

2. Your blog does not have to be about vegetarian food recipes. If you regularly write about gardening, that’s fine. If you usually post recipes with pork and poultry, you are welcome, too.

3. This doesn’t have to be a new recipe post, but I ask that you bring it to the blog only once.

4. Since potlucks are all about sharing, I ask that you post this invite on your blog post. It fits nicely into your html.

(For help adding the html code above, click here)

WIAW: Game Day!

2012-09-19T14:48:00.002-05:00

I've read other food blogger posts with glee over the past few weeks. Like me, they get excited about college football season.

Yes, we are football fans, but more importantly we are a family. The weekly football game turns an average Saturday evening into a holiday, a scheduled gathering with my parents. We laugh, we joke, we tease, and we eat.

My boys watching the game at Grandpa and Grandma's last year.

Here is what I ate:

Breakfast: Hurry-hurry-hurry before church. I just grabbed a FiberOne bar. I think most granola bars are candy bars. At least this one has fewer calories and fiber in it.

Lunch: Easy Vegan Caprese Salad that I tossed up for us, followed by cream of potato soup made by Mom and fruit salad for dessert (suggested by my 5 year old).

Supper: Leftovers from lunch!

Do you watch football? Who do you watch it with?

Come back on Friday for Vegetarian Potluck Link Up!

Friday Vegetarian Potluck LinkUp & Bruschetta Pasta

2012-09-14T14:18:00.003-05:00

What's new with you?

Last week, despite the daily trips to the hospital checking on my dad, I still managed to complete the Lazyman Triathlon one week early. I've decided to keep doing the triathlon, alternating between biking, running, and swimming to complete 112 miles biking, 2.2 miles swimming, and 26 miles running every five weeks.

I love having a goal and something to motivate me. This week, I have taken it a little easy, but I know I pushed hard last week to get it done.

Mixing my running routine up with biking and swimming feels great. I use different muscle groups and they both give my knees and ankles a rest.

Here is what I'm bringing to potluck:

[Print this Recipe]

BRUSCHETTA PASTA

Ingredients:

*3 1/2 c. sliced roma or plum tomatoes
*2 Tb. balsamic vinegar
*2 Tb. olive oil
*3 cloves minced garlic
*1 Tb. fresh chopped basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
*4 oz. or 1 c. shredded Daiya vegan mozzarella cheese
*14 oz. GF or WW angel hair pasta

Directions:

1. Combine tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and basil. Refrigerate in airtight container for 2-12 hours.
2. Prepare pasta as directed on the box. While still hot, drain water and combine with marinated tomatoes. Add shredded cheese and toss until well incorporated. Serve warm or cold.

How have you been this week?

In the spirit of a delicious potluck dinner, I’m hosting Friday Vegetarian Potluck. Mix up a batch of your favorite recipe and bring it over for a virtual supper. You can bring a main dish, a salad, bread, a dessert, any food you want to share.We do have a few rules for our meal.

1. Your recipe needs to be vegetarian, but it can also be dairy-free, vegan, or gluten-free. Any recipe made without meat will do.

2. Your blog does not have to be about vegetarian food recipes. If you regularly write about gardening, that’s fine. If you usually post recipes with pork and poultry, you are welcome, too.

3. This doesn’t have to be a new recipe post, but I ask that you bring it to the blog only once.

4. Since potlucks are all about sharing, I ask that you post this invite on your blog post. It fits nicely into your html.

(For help adding the html code above, click here)

WIAW: Hospitals in General

2012-09-12T18:24:00.000-05:00

I am one of those strange people who like hospitals.

I'm not a nurse. I'm not a doctor. I'm not any of the various additional specialists, aides, or staff in a hosptial.

But I feel at home there.

When I was young, my grandmother was in the hospital a lot. She had heart bypass surgery. She had a stroke with months of rehab. It seemed like she was always in and out of the hospital for one reason or another.

My aunt was also in the hospital quite a bit when I was growing up, too. My mom had minor surgery. I was hospitalized with systemic E. coli for a week. My dad went through cancer treatment. I birthed both of my sons in hospitals.

Hospitals have always been a second home.

A strange thing happens to people in hospitals: they are at their most real.

Some are there for joyous reasons, like to meet a newborn baby and mother. Others come to see a loved one recovering from surgery. Family members gather in ICUs, hoping and praying someone gravely injured will pull through.

In waiting rooms I have seen people at their best, offering up to each other a place to stay, a car to drive, a prayer of hope and healing for someone they have never met.

I'm late posting today since I have spent a lot of time this past week visiting my dad in the hospital. Thanks be to God that he went from the ICU to home in five days and is recovering well.

I'm also grateful to be comfortable in hospitals, in general.

Here is what I ate:

Breakfast: I tried to make my usual a little more unusual by eating half FlaxPlus Multigrain cereal and half FlaxPlus Pumpkin Granola with unsweetened almond milk.

Lunch: I ate an Ezekiel wrap with seasoned tomato paste, Tofutti vegan "cream cheese," and fresh spinach.

Snack: Sliced Golden Delicious apples and Biscoff cookie butter. Cookie butter! AAH! I ate an entire jar in three days!

Supper: I made Spicy Black Bean Quinoa and ate it with romaine lettuce.

Are you comfortable in hospitals like me or do they make you nervous?

Come back on Friday for Vegetarian Potluck Link Up!

Friday Vegetarian Potluck Link Up & Penne Florentine

2012-09-07T14:37:00.000-05:00

It has been a whirlwind week.

On Tuesday, a very close family member (he shall remain nameless) finally went to the dr.

As we suspected, he had a severe case of pneumonia. His white cell count was 39 (under 10 is normal), his oxygen levels were low, and his blood-thinning medication was too high. Quite simply, he was on the verge of death.

Today, a mere three days later, his white cell count is normal, his oxygen levels are up, and his blood-thinning medication is where it should be. He is sitting up for hours at a time, eating normally, and on the verge of being released from the hospital.

I can't believe that three days ago he was admitted to the local hospital, then moved to ICU, then transferred by blaring-siren ambulance 45 miles to the regional medical center. After only two days in the new ICU wing of the hospital and under the care of a pulmonologist, he is miraculously better. I am grateful for the help of all the nursing staff and doctors who helped his recovery. I also know that dozens of people have been praying for him. I'm thankful to God and those who prayed on his behalf.

I'm on 13 hours of sleep in three days, so I'm reposting a favorite recipe of mine instead of writing a new post and the bruschetta pasta recipe I had promised.

Penne Florentine

[Print this Recipe]

PENNE FLORENTINE

Ingredients:

*13.5 oz. box of whole wheat penne pasta

*1 pt. grape tomatoes, halved
*14 oz. can of quartered artichokes, drained
*8 oz. sliced baby portabella mushrooms
*7 c. of loosely packed fresh spinach
*3 cloves minced garlic
*2 Tb. olive oil
*1 c. alfredo sauce
*1/2 c. pesto sauce

Directions:

1. In a medium stock pot, prepare penne pasta as directed.

2. Heat a large skillet at medium heat. Add oil, tomatoes, artichokes, mushrooms, spinach, and garlic. Stir often and cook until spinach leaves are wilted and mushrooms are soft.
3. Drain pasta thoroughly. Add alfredo and pesto sauce. Stir well.
4. Serve immediately.

In the spirit of a delicious potluck dinner, I’m hosting Friday Vegetarian Potluck. Mix up a batch of your favorite recipe and bring it over for supper. You can bring a main dish, a salad, bread, a dessert, any food you want to share.We do have a few rules for our meal.

1. Your recipe needs to be vegetarian, but it can also be dairy-free, vegan, or gluten-free. Any recipe made without meat will do.

2. Your blog does not have to be about vegetarian food recipes. If you regularly write about gardening, that’s fine. If you usually post recipes with pork and poultry, you are welcome, too.

3. This doesn’t have to be a new recipe post, but I ask that you bring it to the blog only once.

4. Since potlucks are all about sharing, I ask that you post this invite on your blog post. It fits nicely into your html.

(For help adding the html code above, click here)

WIAW: Breaking the Fast

2012-09-05T00:03:00.001-05:00

Most of the time I'm vegan.

I eat high fiber organic cereal and for breakfast almost all of the time. Usually for lunch, I have a wrap with an Ezekiel tortilla, vegan cheese, homegrown alfalfa sprouts, and romaine or spinach.

I keep my snacks healthy, too. I like to have a soy protein shake with unsweetened almond milk and a piece of fruit.

Nearly every supper begins with a salad and dairy-free dressing. Sometimes the entree is a vegetarian meat-substitute, other times it is something with beans. Whole wheat grains can also be the entree, while there is always a fresh or frozen vegetable for a side.

Dessert is simple. Three small pieces of dark chocolate.

Holidays are different. I thoroughly relish eating unhealthy food. I feel it after I'm done eating and definitely the next day; I am often bloated, sometimes a little nauseated and ready to go back to healthy, whole, vegan eating.

Labor Day was one of those holidays when I broke my fast from simple starches, dairy, and meat. And I enjoyed it.

The beginning of college football season meant snack foods at my mom and dad's on Saturday afternoon. I ate tortilla chips and cheese dip with enthusiasm. Mom also made cornbread to go with a big pot of beans. I finished the day off with some cookies and cream ice cream. Nom. Nom. Nom.

I also skipped the norm on the Sunday before Labor Day (the day I'm using for my WIAW).

Here is what I ate.

For breakfast, I ate two pieces of cornbread and unsweetened almond milk. I never make cornbread, but this is possibly my favorite breakfast of all time.

At lunchtime, I reheated bruschetta pasta made with tomatoes from my garden and Follow Your Heart vegan mozzarella. I'm going to try to get the recipe written up for Friday Vegetarian Potluck Link Up.

As a snack, I ate a nectarine. These are so good that I'm eating at least one a day, sometimes two.

Supper was spectacular and totally unhealthy. I made a BLT salad with tomatoes from my garden, bits of pan-fried turkey bacon, romaine lettuce, olive oil mayo, and croutons. Then, we ate oven baked seasoned potatoes, peas, and ribeye steak that had been marinating in mesquite seasoning for three days. My husband grilled mine up to medium-rare perfection. It was all amazing!

Do you ever allow yourself "cheat days" where you indulge in unhealthy food once in a while?

Come back on Friday for Vegetarian Potluck Link Up!

Friday Vegetarian Potluck LinkUp & Easy Cheesy Julienne Potatoes (Vegan)

2012-08-30T21:30:00.001-05:00

[Print this Recipe]

Several months ago, I bought four cases of Follow Your Heart vegan cheese.

You read that right: FOUR CASES.

So, I have been trying to use the cheese whenever I can. My husband isn't crazy for it, so usually I give him and my son regular cheese. I make my own enchiladas, tacos, pizza, etc. with vegan cheese, using it when the guys have real cheese.

Never had I thought of using Follow Your Heart vegan cheese to make cheese sauce.

One of my husband's favorite dishes is julienne potatoes. I no longer make them since I ditched the prepackaged foods. I didn't want to make the effort to make a real cheese sauce, plus I knew all of the cholesterol wasn't doing any of us any favors.

After I came up with this cheese sauce, I immediately decided to make cheesy potatoes for my husband. When I was finished with the sauce, I used thawed, frozen hash browns and mixed them together, then baked them in the oven for 45 min.

They got rave reviews from my husband and son!

Here is what I'm bringing to Friday Vegetarian Potluck:

[Print this Recipe]

EASY CHEESY JULIENNE POTATOES

Ingredients:

*10 oz. pkg. Follow Your Heart vegan cheddar cheese
*10 oz. pkg. Follow Your Heart vegan mozzarella cheese
*1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk
*1/2 tsp. garlic powder
*1 Tb. dried minced onion
*16 oz. thawed, frozen hash browns

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Grate cheese or cut into small pieces. Combine cheese, almond milk, garlic powder, and onion in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often until cheese is melted.
3. Lightly coat medium baking dish with non-stick spray. Add potatoes and cheese sauce. Mix thoroughly.
4. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove lid or foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until potatoes are bubbly and edges begin to brown.

Do you have a dish that you have cut out of your diet because it isn't healthy? Have you made a healthier alternative that satisfies you?

In the spirit of a delicious potluck dinner, I’m hosting Friday Vegetarian Potluck. Mix up a batch of your favorite recipe and bring it over for supper. You can bring a main dish, a salad, bread, a dessert, any food you want to share.We do have a few rules for our meal.

1. Your recipe needs to be vegetarian, but it can also be dairy-free, vegan, or gluten-free. Any recipe made without meat will do.

2. Your blog does not have to be about vegetarian food recipes. If you regularly write about gardening, that’s fine. If you usually post recipes with pork and poultry, you are welcome, too.

3. This doesn’t have to be a new recipe post, but I ask that you bring it to the blog only once.

4. Since potlucks are all about sharing, I ask that you post this invite on your blog post. It fits nicely into your html.

(For help adding the html code above, click here)

WIAW: Let Us Eat Cake!

2012-08-28T21:47:00.000-05:00

As you may have read in my last post, we now have a young woman living with us, trying to get on her feet.

We are very glad to have her with us. She helps me make dinner or cleans up after we eat. My sons love her and she gives them lots of attention. She is thoughtful and keeps her things gathered up.

She also already landed two jobs the first day after she moved here!

Sunday, the day I use for my WIAW pictures, was her 21st birthday. I had fun making her a cake while she was at work. It wasn't my best cake, but I was pleased with how it turned out.

Felicia on her birthday

It was actually the second cake I made over the weekend. Friday was my five year-old's "half-birthday," so I made him half of a chocolate cake. I used one 9" round, cut in half, and stacked it on the other half. (I only iced between the layer and on the outside round part of the cake, so it looked like a whole cake had been cut in half.)

Since I knew I was eating cake after supper, I didn't eat much during the day.

Breakfast:

Nature's Path Flax Plus Cereal

with dried cranberries,

unsweetened almond milk,

and a little Sevita.

Lunch:

Ezekiel Bread toast

with homemade peach preserves

and a slice of Follow Your Heart

vegan mozzarella cheese.

Supper:

Romaine lettuce salad

with croutons

and sliced tomato from my garden.

3 pieces of Archer Farms pizza with eggplant

(I was too excited for cake and forgot a picture!)

Dessert:

A big piece of birthday cake!

Even though I had that big piece of cake, I still planned the rest of my meals ahead of time and was able to keep my calories below 1500 for the day.

If you would like to see some of my other cakes, click here.

Be sure to come back for Friday Vegetarian Potluck Link-up

and see what everyone is bringing!

I will bring my recipe for Easy-Cheesy Julienne Potatoes.

They are gluten-free and dairy-free!

Also, check out the rest of What I Ate Wednesday at Peas and Crayons.

Fit-spiration of the day

2012-08-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

My five year-old ran 1 mile this morning with the Mileage Club at his elementary school.

As you probably know, he's a vegetarian who has never eaten meat. He also eats very few processed foods (if any).

Who says you need meat to be healthy??

Just had to brag. That is all.