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.