Celebrating my new blog name with a DVD giveaway!!

So there's this store.... The Bulk Herb Store. I love them. I have been ordering from the BHS for at least 5 years and I have been so impressed with their products! I love their Eden's Salve, I use it on scrapes, cuts, burns and bug bites. It works wonders healing the wound quickly and without a scar. I also love their Resolution Tea, tastes just sweet enough to curb my sweet tooth. Their beautiful hair mix, herba-smoothie mix, spirulina, slippery elm bark..... well you get the point. I love what they stand for and what they sell. The Bulk Herb Store is giving me 6 DVD's to giveaway!!! The name of the  dvd is called Herbs Made Simple Vol. 1. I actually own this dvd, my girls and I have had a great time watching it and learning from it. It's very child friendly and entertaining! Here is the description of the dvd from their website http://www.bulkherbstore.com/ :

We are so excited to bring you ”Herbs With Shoshanna”, where we teach you to identify the herbs in your own back yard. With close-up camera angles and a professional videographer, we introduce you to the wonderful world of herbs and how to use them. No herbal experience is needed for this video. We will take you step-by-step how to find, wash, dry, and store herbs. We teach you the hands-on steps of making poultices, tinctures and much more. This video is packed full of great information in an exciting way. We made this video for you.



The new blog name also comes with new ideas. To enter the giveaway I want you to tell me what you would like to see more of on All About Home. Homemaking? Homeschooling? Home cooking? Recipes? Specifics are appreciated!

For a second entry: Follow my blog then leave a second comment letting me know that you did.

For a third entry: post something about the All About Home's dvd giveaway on your blog, then leave a comment telling  me you did with the blog url.

Giveaway will end February 9th at midnight (EST), that's 2 weeks to enter! The winners will be chosen randomly. Good Luck!

*Please be sure to give me your email address so I know how to contact the winners!! *

2 for the price of 1.

*This cookbook on the left is phenomenal for anyone interested. I love it!*




Since I am lame and didn't post a sugar free recipe yesterday, I am going to post 2 today. Lucky you!! ;)

Portabella Mushroom Salad

3T olive oil
1-2 large portabella mushrooms
1 lb. asparagus
1/4c cilantro

Dressing

2T dijon mustard
1T dark chile powder
1/4c balsamic vinegar
1/2c olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Wash the asparagus and cut in half. Chop off the ends you would not eat anyways. Put in a pan with 2T olive oil and cook until somewhat soft. You don't want it mushy, unless you like mushy asparagus then by all means mush away. Remove the asparagus from the pan and put on a plate. Wash and chop mushrooms into 1" pieces. Put 1T olive oil in pan and cook mushrooms until soft. Remove from heat. Add the cilantro, asparagus and dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

*Note..... I double this recipe for my family, well mainly because my kids are good eaters. So if you have a larger family of big eaters I would suggest doubling it*



Carrot-Cumin Slaw

1/4 head green cabbage, shredded
1/4 head purple cabbage, chopped
3 carrots, grated
1 jalapeno, minced
1 green onion, chopped
1/4c craisins or chopped green apple (optional)

Dressing
1/4c olive oil
1T balsamic vinegar
2T lime juice
3T cilantro
1/2 tsp. cumin
salt & pepper to taste

Throw all veggies and fruit together in a bowl. Whisk dressing ingredients together and pour over slaw. Refrigerate 30 mins and enjoy!

Beef Stew with red wine and horseradish mustard.... oh my word.

I made this last night for my sweet date night with my hubby and it was seriously delicious. Seriously. Just note it does take approx. 3 hrs to cook, I didn't know this, which is why we ate dinner at 8:30 pm. Oops.

Beef Stew with Red Wine and Horseradish Mustard

approx. 3T olive oil
1/4 lb. applewood smoked bacon cut into 1/2" pieces
2 lg. sweet onions, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3T organic flour
1 tsp. salt and a pinch of pepper
2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 2" cubes
2/3c red wine
3c beef broth
1c canned plum tomatoes, chopped
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/3c horseradish mustard
2 large organic carrots, sliced
2 large organic parsnips, peeled and chopping into 1" pieces
1/2 lb. organic cremini mushrooms, cut into halves or fourths
1/4c red wine

Heat 1T olive oil in pan and cook bacon until crisp, then drain. Cook chopped onions and shallots and cook approx. 15 mins., until tender. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Remove the onions and garlic and put in a bowl. In another bowl combine flour and s&p. Add beef and toss to coat. Cook the beef over med-high heat and brown on each side, approx. 5 minutes. Add beef to "onion-shallot" bowl. Add the 2/3c red wine and scrape any bits that might be in the bottom of the pan, then add the beef broth, tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme and mustard. Mix well. Return meat and onions to pan, along with the bacon, reduce heat and simmer partially covered until the meat is tender which is approx. 2 hours.  Then add carrots and parsnips. Mix well, then cover and simmer for 45 mins. stirring frequently. When the 45 mins is up put the remaining 2T olive oil in a pan and cook mushrooms until browned approx. 3 mins., you don't want them to be mushy. Add the mushrooms and the 1/4c red wine into stew and simmer 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper, remove bay leave and ENJOY!!

Potato, avocado and egg stack 'ems.

These are yummy for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Best of all they are sugar free!

Potato, avocado and egg stack 'ems!

4 potatoes diced small, think hash browns!
1/4c olive oil or coconut oil
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
4 eggs
2 avocados
1/2c shredded cheddar cheese (optional- we don't use cheese)
hot sauce or salsa (make sure you read the label)
cilantro (optional- it's to put on top, I definitely use this- I am a fan of cilantro)


Put 1/4c olive oil/coconut oil in pan and put in diced potatoes. Fry them until lightly brown then add  green pepper. Continue frying until veggies are soft. While the veggies are frying start frying your eggs in a separate pan. We fry them sunny side up. Mash avocados in a bowl with a fork, then sprinkle with salt. To assemble put some potatoes on a plate. Spread some mashed avocado over the potatoes. Top with the fried egg and sprinkle a pinch of shredded cheese on top. Then pour hot sauce/salsa (I like cholula), cilantro and whatever else you want on top. Yummy!!! Enjoy!

Turkey, Avacado, Zucchini Panini... oh yeah.

My mouth is officially watering. I hate when I think about a recipe that sounds really yummy, when I am making dinner. And it's NOT what made my mouth water. Ugh. Well here is my first sugar free recipe!!

Turkey, Avocado, Zucchini Panini

1 avocado
1/2c pesto mixed with 3T mayo (my personal favorite is cilantro pesto)
1 whole zucchini, sliced diagonally
roasted red pepper (fresh or from a jar), sliced
4 cibatta/foccasia rolls (check the labels!!)
2T organic olive oil
4 slices Havarti or provolone
2c spinach leaves
small handful broccoli sprouts
1/2 lb. mesquite turkey breast (try and get nitrate free and check labels!)
peppercinni's (optional)

Wash veggies and slice accordingly. Saute zucchini in organic olive oil just enough to soften, too much will make it mushy. Who likes a mushy zucchini? Add the roasted red pepper just long enough to warm it thru. Assemble the panini like this:
bottom of bread
mashed avocado, sprinkled with a little salt
broccoli sprouts
turkey
spinach
harvati/provolone cheese
roasted red pepper
peppercinni's (optional)
zucchini
pesto-mayo mix
top of bread

Brush the top of the bread with olive oil and put in panini press. Or if you aren't fancy like me, put the sammy in a cast iron skillet and "press" it with the bottom of a pampered chef bread pan. Hey whatever works, right? Enjoy!

Here is one of my favorite cookbooks (if you want to purchase it, try to do it through my site, then I get a small percentage ~ Thank you!!! )

2 days and counting..... here are some sugar free ideas.

Who's ready? Who's with me? C'mon sugar-free for a week can't be that hard! Right? Hmmm.

Sugar free breakfasts

sprouted bread with almond butter
oatmeal sweetened with stevia and applesauce
yogurt (I sweetened mine with stevia and vanilla) and fruit
scrambled eggs
omelette's with lots of veggies
smoothie with kefir


Sugar free snacks

veggies with a balsamic dip
banana or apple with almond butter
popcorn
almonds, peanuts (just writing that word makes me quiver) or walnuts
smoothies
fruit
cheese and organic crackers (with NO sugar)
pretzels (the gluten free ones are yummy)

Sugar free meals

bean and rice burritos
soup and salad
homemade pizza
taco salad (check ingredients to make sure everything is SF)
grilled chicken or fish
panini's with sweet potato fries


If you need to curb your CHOCOLATE addiction... this is amazing.

Chocolate Kefir smoothie

4c combo of kefir, organic milk or plain yogurt (I use 2c kefir and 2c organic milk)
3T cocoa powder (make sure theres no sugar in it)
1T vanilla
1-2 frozen bananas
3T coconut oil
1/2c packed dates
approx. 12 ice cubes

put it all in your vita-mix or blender and voila!

Check out my other recipes for some sugar-free yumminess!! Also I will be posting a sugar-free recipe everyday during the diet, starting tomorrow. Good luck everyone!!!

Going sugar-free... only for one week... who's in?

Alright starting January 21st I am going sugar-free for a week, who wants to join? I will be posting a few ideas of meals and snacks to eat. Here are the ground rules:

1. No sugar of any kind, no honey, no maple syrup, no artificial sweeteners and nothing that is labeled "sugar-free" (sorry starbucks drinkers, but sugar-free really isnt good for you) :)


2. Stevia is ok.

3. You may choose to still have fruit if you would like but try to stay away from juice. Even things labeled 100% juice. If you want to make a smoothie add coconut milk, organic milk, iced green tea, kefir or plain yogurt.

4. Just because we are going sugar free doesn't mean load up on carbs or things that arent that great for you but are "sugar-free". Try to eat veggies, eggs, salads, grilled meat, fruit, etc. I am not saying don't have carbs just minimize your intake.

5. Try not to hurt anyone during the week. That's all. :)

Comment if you want to join!!! :)

Pancakes!!!!!

I have been searching for a pancake recipe that was allergy free and yet still yummy enough for my hubby's taste buds. I think I have flopped 12 times. Seriously. But alas, I have finally done it!!!

Pancakes

1 1/2c rice flour
1c gluten free mix (we used Bob's Red Mill)
1/2c oats
2T honey or unrefined sugar
2T baking powder
2T arrowroot powder
1 tsp. Redmond's sea salt
4T ground flaxseed
3/4c warm water
1 1/2c coconut milk
1/2c yogurt (we used goat yogurt)
4T coconut oil, melted (we didn't have any so we used 4T mashed bananas, way yummy!)
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2c-1c water, rice milk or whatever liquid you want

Optional : 1 1/2c blueberries (we didn't have any, but it would probably be yummy)

So.... I figured I didn't need to write out the directions, the extra water/rice milk is just to add in if it needs to be runnier, which ours did so we added water..... I basically mixed it all together and cooked 'em! They we delicious! I can now cross this off of my "2011 Things to figure out list". Hooray.

Workbox Systems. Every homeschoolers dream. Well atleast mine.

So.... we have crossed over into the world of workbox systems and I will NEVER go back!! This system allows much more freedom and our very precious time is being used more wisely. Basically you fill the drawers with what you would want your child to accomplish daily. I will give you a list of examples at the end of this post. We set a couple rules:
1. The boxes need to be completed in order and you may never look ahead.
2. There will be no whining, complaining or asking of the dreaded question "Are we done with school yet?"

Just so ya know, I have not heard that question since we started with the workboxes. My girls actually love looking in their workboxes everyday to see what they get to do, its like a surprise to them. They know that when the boxes are completed they will have free time. Then we will grade the things they have completed and do the subjects we need to do together such as: history, read alouds, projects, etc. This system has been exactly what I needed with a new (high maintenance) baby, a kindergartner and a preschooler. Plus all of the other things us Mom's have to accomplish in a day. Then I re-fill the workboxes at night, it has been alot easier to refill than I thought it would be. I just wanted to pass along this idea because it has really blessed our family.
Some ideas to fill your drawers with:

math papers
English papers
creative writing journals
bibles and devotionals
books to be read
poetry books or projects
draw write now books
coloring pages
handwriting/cursive
God's World News with biographies
Spelling
movie tickets (to watch at home that moment or in the afternoon)
snacks
sweet notes of encouragement
bible verses (especially ones that will bless them with whatever their struggles may be)
coloring pages
write a letter to someone

Any ways you get the idea. Here is the link to some more information on the workbox system: http://www.workboxsystem.com/

Granola Bars.

Granola Bars

It's just nice to have a good granola bar recipe around!

2c oats
1/4c pumpkin seeds
1/4c sunflower seeds
4T chia seeds
4T flax seed
1/3c raw honey
1/3c maple syrup
1/4c blackstrap molasses
2T coconut oil/ butter, melted
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. redmonds real salt/sea salt

Optional add-ins:

1/2c shredded organic coconut
1/2c allergy free chocolate chips (we love the enjoy life brand- NO soy)
1/4c craisins
1/4 -1/2c nuts

I usually double this recipe. Grease your 9x13" pan. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread oats, nuts and seeds in pan. Don't toast your flax, it will lose its nutrients. Toast in preheated oven for 10 minutes then stir it up and toast for another 10 mins. The mixture should be lightly browned. While that oat mixture is toasting in bowl combine honey, syrup, molasses. flax, melted coconut oil, vanilla and salt. Mix well. When the oat mixture is done turn oven down to 300 degrees. Mix oat mixture in mixer with syrup mixture. Mix well but don't over mix. Then mix in your add-ins by hand. I have done one of them or all of them and the go well together. You want the mixture to be fairly wet but not runny. If you need more liquid add more syrup, honey or molasses. Pour onto a piece of parchment paper in your 9x13" pan. Bake at 300 degrees for approx. 25 minutes. Cool completely and cut into bars. I have made this recipe probably 50 times and it comes out different almost every time. Play around with it, make it your own! If its too dry one time add more liquid next and vice-versa. Enjoy!

Kale Chips. Seriously scrumptious.

These are a new favorite in our house. We gobble these things up for lunch, a snack or a side dish with dinner, they are nice. Nice to your hips and nice to your waistline. I love them.

Kale Chips # 1

1 bunch kale, washed and dried. ( They really do need to be dried, don't skip this)
1-2 T olive oil
sea salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. After you have washed and dried your kale chop it into bite size pieces. Dip kale in olive oil and massage for a few seconds. Lay out onto a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. You will want it to be more on the crispy side. I tell you, delicious.



Lemon Kale Chips

1 bunch Kale (prepared And Washed)

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt

Prepare and cook the same way. My mouth is watering.


Kale Chips # 2

1 bunch kale
2T olive oil
2 tsp. honey
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. crushed pepper flakes

Prepare the same way. I know what I am having for lunch.