Blog Structure

As you may know, I have not blogged consistenly in a long time.  I really miss it but have found it difficult to get back in the groove because I don't know where to start.  After some thought I think structure would motivate me to blog more often!

Menu Monday

What I Ate Tuesday

Workout Wednesday

Encouragement Thursday

Free Friday

I plan to have a least one new recipe a week, as well as workouts, Scripture, Faux Finishing and what I typically eat in a day.  It should be a fun change.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  In going with the theme of Free Friday, how bout some pictures from our Small Group Camping Trip.  Enjoy.

 Me and my Hubby

 Our fearless leader Kyle

 He made it

 We did some intense hiking

 Less intense sleeping, yes that is an air mattress and it took up our whole tent.

Kim and Aaron on our hike

 HILARIOUS

 Good food

 Amber, Shaun and Gig'em

 Drinking coffee-coffee is always better when you are camping

Didn't mean to take this but thought the tree looked cool.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Where to Start

Let me just say I have a lot of pictures in my camera because I have not blogged in a long time.  I have still been cooking and trying lots of new recipes.  Since my last post  my eating habits have changed a lot.  I have been trying to figure out what foods cause my stomach problems (also known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It has been a rough road but I am starting to feel a lot better.  After a lot of reading and a consultation with an alternative medicine clinic, I have come to the conclusion that yeast is my problem (too much yeast in the gut creates a lot of digestive distress.  This creates a MAJOR change in my typical way of eating.  I have found this link very helpful in knowing how to reduce yeast in my diet.  I have been eating yeasty foods many times a day for a long time, so it makes sense that my stomach was in pain 80% of the time.  These changes have kept me plenty busy in the kitchen trying to find new recipes.  Thankfully, there are a lot of great blogs and recipes out there that make this adjustment a little easier.  Hopefully my blog can help people in the same situation.  What better time to write about a great breakfast option for someone avoiding yeast.  I think I shall call it Hearty Yeast Free English Muffin.  The recipe I found is for a single serve microwave english muffin, but I like to double it and bake it in my toaster oven (I also changed it quite a bit because I didn't want as much almond meal in mine).  The results were good and I have made them 2 times in the last week.

  This morning I had an egg and cheese sandwich.  I made sausage egg and cheese over the weekend and it was even better.

Hearty Yeast Free English Muffin (for 2)

3 T. almond meal

3 T. oat flour

2 T. rice flour

3 T. flax

1 tsp. baking powder

1 T. butter, melted

2 large eggs

Spray 2 ramekins with non-stick spray and preheat your toaster oven to 350 (or oven or you you can microwave).  In a bowl mix your dry ingredients.  Add your eggs and butter and stir until combined.  Scoop into ramekins (it is pretty thick batter) and bake for 15-20 minutes.  If you want to microwave it, it should take about 60-90 according to recipe.  Use a knife to loosen the muffin from the edges and let cool.  While that is cooking feel free to fry and egg or some breakfast meat make your breakfast sandwich.  I'm sure it would be good toasted with peanut butter and bananas or jelly.  

*My ramekens are about 3 inchs.  This morning I used my 4 in. glass pyrex storage container and I liked the size of it better.  Either is fine.  Also, I'm sure you could play around with the flours and flax as long as you keep the dry measurements the same. 

Lazy Dinner

This is what you make when you have had a tiring workweek and you are having a night in on Friday-TGIF!!!!  Cliff had already eaten at a work party so I decided to make a simple, but delicious bean quesidilla.  It was mighty tasty.

 A little oil in the skillet

 Refried beans and cheese inside the tortilla, melted to perfection

 A little sour cream salsa (just add a little sour cream to salsa) to dip.  Heat till both sides look brown and toasty.  I cooked mine over medium heat

Dessert!

Happy Friday Everyone

Busy In The Kitchen

I have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately.  It takes a lot of time to prep for lunches and dinners each week-AND keep it clean with all the cooking.  Here is an example my prepping in the kitchen (I try to do most of my prepping Sunday evenings for the work week, it really helps:)

 Washed apples, ready to make applesauce, crock-pot baked potatoes, steamed mixed veggies, the broth ready to make pinto beans.

Though it creates a big mess, it is so nice to get most of my stuff ready before the work week starts.  I like to make my menu and then wash and prep my veggies, thaw my meat and make snacks/desserts/breads.  I think it is a lot of fun.  Anyways, on to posting a delicious recipe.  I know it is a little late in the game to be posting apple recipes, but there are a lot of good apples at the store right now, so take advantage of it.  After Christmas, we had so many Red Delicious apples from gift baskets and such.  I don't really like the texture of Red Delicious so I decided to make applesauce with them (because they have good flavor).  Homemade applesauce is very simple to make, it just takes a while to peel and chop the apples. 

 After you peel and chop your apples, just put them in a pot on medium heat with 1/2 to 1 cup of apple juice or apple cider and cinnamon.  Let them cook down for about 30 minutes.  I used an emersion blender to make it smooth, you could use a normal blender, leave it chunky, or cut the apples smaller and let them cook longer.

 I like to eat it warm!  It is good with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream...or just plain!

Simple Homemade Applesauce
3 lbs Red Delicious apples (could use any variety)
1 cup apple juice or cider
1 tsp cinnamon (could vary depending on preference)

Wash, peel and chop your apples.  In a large saucepan heat apples, juice and cinnamon over medium heat for about 30 minutes.  Blend or leave chunky.  Enjoy