Crispy Bacon in the Oven

This is how I am going to be cooking bacon from now on!

I used this method to cook a pound of bacon today to use in a breakfast dish later this weekend.

The only amendment is that mine took closer to 30 minutes to meet my satisfaction, crispy-wise.

Menu Plan 4/25/11

Breakfasts:

Almond Banana Pancakes

Sausage (w/onion and cayenne) & Sweet Potato Hash
Fried Eggs
Fruit
Milk

Lunches:

Egg Salad over Lettuce x2

Chicken Salad #1 x2

Sherried Tomato Soup with Chicken
Fruit

Snacks:
Crispy Almonds & Walnuts with Raisins
Celery & Almond Butter

Dinners:

Monday - Cabbage Leaf Chicken Tacos

Tuesday - Homemade Salmon Burgers, Peas
Wednesday - Beanless Chili, Green Beans
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Leftovers

Weekend:

Eating with family to celebrate my little sister's graduation!  Making gluten-free cake pops! (experimenting with gf cake mix)

Sunday Brunch:

Breakfast Casserole (w/ bacon, spinach, and cheese)
Sweet Potato Homefries
Fruit Salad

Ugh! and OUR Paleo Plan

Sooo, I didn't get a picture of my small Costco shopping trip this week.  Sorry! Just Aldi: $33.

We are on track for the grocery budget.  Good thing, because the rest of the budget is totally blown.  Ack!!  I told you spring was expensive around here!  Really.

I cannot believe that once again, Aldi has pineapples and strawberries for $.99.  And sweet potatoes for $.33 a lb.  And celery for $.69.  Aldi and Costco, Costco and Aldi.  Those are our stores lately.

My daughter and I just made and ate ants on a log :)

So.  My husband and I discussed it, and we really like eating the Paleo way.  As long as we can afford it, we are going to continue... with desserts permissible one day of the weekends (made paleo-friendly or at least wheat-free when possible).  When eating out or with friends and family, we will try to eat Paleo, but not to the extent of being a bother when we are house guests.  Unless of course it turns out to be really problematic for us when we do re-introduce grains, legumes, and pasteurized dairy - then of course we will not feel bad having to be stricter with our diets.  I have to say, right now, I am in no hurry to re-introduce them.  Let's keep on rollin'...

I have not been strict with the kids when we've been out of the house.  I let them choose non-paleo food when it is a treat - like a cookie from a friend, samples at Costco, a snack at church, or ice cream that was promised after a successful doctor's appointment, etc.  I have found that they get enough of junk food without me making or buying any!  I am starting to notice the sugar crash an hour later after my daughter eats a purely carb snack and am trying to discuss it with her... how that junky food did not make her feel any better...

I want this book.  I like her blog.  Her "required reading" posts are a great kick in the pants.

By the way, if you are wanting to try eating the Paleo way, and are worried about the expense, think about all the food items that you will not be buying... it really frees up a lot of money.  Shopping is simplified.  We are spending more, but not that much more... just about $100/month more than we were spending eating non-paleo.  We get a lot of benefits for that... The return on the investment is satisfying!

On a different note, I had this idea to do a bunch of links this week to projects that you can make reusing materials and items (in the spirit of Earth Day), but it is not going to happen, so maybe another time :)

Maybe I'll get my craft project done this weekend.  The one that has been sitting in the closet for more than a month...

Hope everyone has a good Easter weekend!

Paleo-Friendly Chicken Salad

I've made 2 really good chicken salads this week, if I may say so myself.  Bear with me, I don't use measurements here.

#1 Salad

broccoli slaw mix or shredded cabbage (I used both)

chopped chicken

cooked bacon, crumbled

toasted/roasted almonds, chopped (I use crispy almonds.)

raisins

some paleo olive oil mayo (recipe found here)

some apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (I used both)

raw honey? (only if needed)

#2 Salad

apples, chopped (tossed in lemon juice)

chopped chicken

diced celery

raisins

toasted/roasted almonds, chopped

paleo olive oil mayo

Shovel them in your mouth with a fork or spoon, whichever you prefer :)

The breakdown of how to make a good, paleo-friendly chicken salad is as follows.

• The obvious: chicken, seasoned if desired, cooked and chopped.

Then, add at least:

• 1 sweet item (dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, cherries, fresh red grapes, crushed pineapple, etc.)
• 1 crunchy item (apple, celery, nuts)
• 1 savory, salty-ish item (bacon, nuts, etc.)
• 1 neutral vegetable item (cabbage, broccoli slaw, celery, carrot?, etc.) 

That last one is optional, but helps stretch the salad.

• Stir in just enough paleo olive oil mayo to coat.

As you can see, some items can count in more than one category, so you don't always need 4 ingredients plus chicken and mayo.  For example, you can make a great salad with only chicken, grapes (sweet), nuts (crunchy + savory), and mayo.

Another way to stretch the salad (since we are not eating it by way of a sandwich here) would be to serve it over lettuce.

The combinations can be as unique as you wish.  Enjoy!

The only one in our house who won't eat these salads is my 20 month old, who doesn't like the crunchiness.  He prefers his chicken smothered in guacamole :)

5 Minute Easter Basket

Used some leftovers supplies...

 ...to create an new basket when I suddenly realized that her old basket was too small to use for the Easter Egg hunt I had promised we would go to in 45 minutes...

This'll do!

Menu Plan 4/18/11

So, 30 Days of Paleo should be over sometime this week, but we are going all the way until Easter... Because we are hard core.  Not really.  But sorta.

Breakfasts:

Almond Banana Pancakes

Eggs and/or Homemade Turkey Sausage (add dried onion and cayenne)

Fruit

Lunches:

Broccoli & Cabbage Slaw (with chicken, bacon, raisins, almonds, mayo)

Waldorf Salad (with chicken)

Chicken, Nuts, Fruit

Notice a theme?  It is just easy to think, "Chicken for lunch, other meat for dinner."

Taco Salad (lettuce, homemade taco meat, tomatoes, guac)

Dinners:

Monday - Hamburger Soup (with ground turkey; omit grains, add more veggies), Salad

Tuesday - Homemade Salmon Burgers, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes

Wednesday - Salsa Verde Pork, Salad, Carrots, and Guacamole (didn't get to this last week)

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Meatballs with Sauce (new experiment) Sweet Potatoes, Salad, Peas

Saturday - Leftovers, Green Beans

Easter Sunday - Chicken Dive-in!, Salad... Our Paleo challenge is "officially" over, so I wonder if I will make a dessert? :) ...Taking suggestions for chocolate and/or peanut butter recipes that don't involve beans or grains!  Perhaps something like these?

For anyone wondering:
I don't miss bread.  Or really many baked goods, for that matter.  I do occasionally miss chocolate, homemade popcorn, pizza, and ice cream.  Oh, and a bowl of crunchy granola for breakfast.  I couldn't do this without the support of my husband.  Yay for teamwork :)  We have yet to decide the eating plan after our 30 day challenge is over.

Groceries for Week 3

Here's what I purchased early this past week, using the leftover grocery money from the past two weeks and some entertainment money.

Aldi: $13

Costco: $52

They still had organic Braeburn apples for less than $1/lb. - yay!

OK.  Then, to delve into the week 3 grocery budget, here's what I purchased late this week for the weekend and to start the coming week:

Hy-Vee: $13

A note: Since I can't get all the farm fresh eggs we want (without going to lengths I am not willing to go), I have decided that the remainder of our eggs (after our weekly dozen from the farm) should be omega-3 enriched eggs, as recommended by most Paleo folks.  These are a compromise and are priced between the farm fresh ones which are $3.75 a dozen and the conventional ones which are close to $1 a dozen this time of year.  I went to Hy-Vee for the strawberries ($3.99 for 4 lbs.) and the omega-3 eggs ($1.96 a dozen on sale).  They were out of the eggs, so I talked customer service into substituting another omega-3 variety in their place.  Gotta love Hy-Vee customer service!

Aldi: $34

I am so happy that Aldi sends me their mailers now (no idea why) so I know what the produce specials are.  I think it is weird that the flyers in-store don't show these.  Once again, strawberries and pineapples for $.99!  Plus sweet potatoes 3 lb./$1 and celery $.69.

Price Chopper: $12

A weird assortment, most of it on sale, saved $6 with store specials.

I will probably go to Costco early next week to round things out.  So far, I've spent $59 of this week's $100 budget, but I can throw a little extra in there for my Costco trip since we are having a houseguest and I am spending less at the farm than budgeted for (because of buying less farm eggs than originally planned).

One more week of Paleo style eating... Are you sick of hearing about it yet?

A Springtime Day

Ah... It is beautiful outside today.  Is spring here to stay?

The almond banana pancakes were delicious this morning.  Will definitely be making them again.  I made them small, as suggested, so they would be easy to flip.  For once, my pancakes were not a mess!  Typically, I am an atrocious pancake flipper.  I added cinnamon and vanilla.  My house smelled like donuts afterwards. Mmmm...

I am having trouble focusing today; I just want to play.  But I need to get a head start on dinner for my Bible Study before going to pick up milk.  I am trying a new recipe which always makes me a little nervous and takes me longer, so I need to get started.

To do:

for tonight-

make meat patties

chop veggies for sauce

chop and mix potatoes

mix green beans for roasting

for tomorrow-

soak nuts

chop carrots

for tonight-

read bs book

for r&r-

read other book

for my household-

keep the laundry moving

Such a rough day, I know ;)  Hey, I already ran, showered, cleaned all the floors, made breakfast, started laundry, sorted garage sale stuff in the basement and nursery toys for church, made lunch, sorted the mail, put the kids down for a nap.  Just trying to keep it productive and somewhat low-key on this day off.  Gots to go!

I wanna make some of these!

Ok, just to motivate myself to get up and get going, I will come back later and cross off what I actually get accomplished...

Menu Plan 4/11/11

Last week, I made the mayonnaise recipe found here.  The stick blender came in very handy.  By itself, the mayo tasted very olive oil-y, but it was great mixed with canned salmon and in a chicken salad with apples, raisins, and crispy almonds.  I will be using the recipe again.  Here is the plan for the coming week...


Breakfasts:

Eggs

Almond Banana Pancakes

Homemade Turkey Sausage

Fruit (Bananas, Grapes, Oranges)

Milk

Lunches:

M-T - Chopped Chicken Salad

W-Th - Grilled Chicken Salad
F - Sa - Chicken Tortilla Soup (my own version)
Su - Leftovers

Dinners:

Monday - Tuna & Spinach Stuffed Tomatoes, Green Beans
Tuesday - Paleo Salisbury Steak, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans
Wednesday - Paleo Lasagna with Zucchini and Spinach (my own creation), Salad
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Homemade Salmon Burgers, Peas, Baked Apples
Saturday - Salsa Verde Pork, Carrots and Guacamole, Salad
Sunday - Leftovers

Snacks:Apples & Almond Butter, Crispy Nuts and Raisins

Non-Paleo, but Grain-free Dessert for Bible Study:

Black Bean Brownies (I promised my husband I am not going to taste any... this is going to be torture!)

Groceries

After my last shopping post, I went once again to Aldi and spent $4 on produce.  I also got milk and eggs from the farm.

Here are the recent trips.

Yesterday:
Aldi - $35

Today:
Wal-Mart (was there for a curtain rod) - $6

that is some cilantro (yum!) and parsley in the bags

...and Price Chopper - $37 (saved $41 with store specials; vitamins 50% off, antiperspirants $1 or $1.50 each, tomatoes $.99/lb, chicken $1.19/lb.)

Here is my goal.   Not counting farm stuff (beef, some chicken, milk, some eggs), spend $100 (or less) a week.  Our grand monthly total will most very likely be well over our old budget of $400 once that farm stuff is added in.  But, we think it will work out okay, because like I mentioned before, my husband is not spending our money eating out while on the job, which he occasionally used to do (and that adds up fast).  Instead,  he is taking all his food, which he used to try to do, but never did completely.  So, there is some money to work with.  Plus, there is occasionally overflow from other categories, depending on the month.  For example, I am cooking for my Bible study girls next week, so I will move some money from our "entertainment" category for groceries for that.  We'll see how it all shakes out.  Springtime is expensive around here with swimming lessons, graduations, weddings, birthdays, new shoes :), etc. so I can't go too crazy!

Here's the tally for April thus far, not counting the farm stuff:
Week 1 $85
Week 2 $78

I plan to do a smallish Costco trip early next week.  I will use some of the leftover money so far, plus some entertainment money, like I mentioned, and I think that will cover it.

I'm hungry now! :)

Inexpensive Cloth Diaper Liners

(l-r: dollar store dry wipe, Imse Vimse liner (washed a couple times), and Up & Up wipe)

Recently, someone left a comment on my previous cloth diaper liner post, asking about the dollar store dry (washable) wipes that I have used for diaper liners.  My mother-in-law purchased these for me.  While I have a good stash left, I am no longer able to find them at our store.  I need to check a few more places.

Along with those dollar store dry wipe liners, I am also continuing to use the Imse Vimse flushable liners.  They can usually handle making it through a wash cycle to be reused if not soiled.  I still use the infant size on my almost 20 month old.

By chance, I happened to stumble upon a third option that is working well for us, too.  Up & Up wipes, washed and dried.  While my favorite disposable wipes to use straight out of the box are Huggies, I have found that the Target Up & Up brand baby wipes are great to use, and then wash and reuse as diaper liners.  The don't shrink in the laundry cycle, but come out soft and durable.  (Note: All other wipes I have tried this with shrink like crazy.  Let me know if you find another brand besides the Target ones that work well, too.)

With the wipes as liners, the super messy ones that aren't worth the trouble of rinsing in the toilet go straight into our garage trashcan with the dog stuff.  Since they are uber cheap, I don't mind tossing them into the abyss.  I realize that it might be better ecologically to rinse them and flush the waste down the toilet to be properly treated at the sewage plant and then launder the liner, but sometimes something's gotta give.  At about 2 cents or less per liner (for the Up & Up wipes), it is a lot cheaper than throwing away a disposable diaper!  The Imse Vimse liners get flushed of course, waste and all, since that is what they were created for.

Now that we are well into the toddler phase of diapering (past the breastfeeding infant phase), I am no longer making my own cloth wipes.  Why?  Because I guess I am lazy and some used wipes are so nasty that I just want to toss them in the trash with the liners.  So, buying the Up & Up brand wipes to use for faces, hands, and bottoms, and then laundering (when not too nasty) and reusing them again as diaper liners makes me feel a little better.  It is a second use for something I was going to buy anyway and throw away.  It feels like getting diaper liners for free!

I hope this is helpful to some of you out there... feel free to share any other diapering tips or suggestions you have!

Things I Like

Just some new-to-me things from around the blog world and real world...

Scrappy Easter Eggs

Felt Easter Egg Hunt (or anytime) Bags

Everyday Paleo blog (a good source for recipes... I especially need help with non-boring chicken recipes, and there are several I'm interested in trying here, plus she has a book coming out soon... I just requested my local library order it!)

I am not a music junkie, I usually just listen to the radio, but I just love this album right now.  My daughter likes it, too.

This is interesting: Target beats Wal-Mart.  I don't shop for groceries often enough at both to compare for myself.

Everybody in my family needs new shoes at once, and could use multiple pairs at that... Sheesh, that adds up so fast.

I rearranged the furniture on my day off and switched out some accessories.  My house feels more springish now, yay.

I have to cook dinner for my Bible Study next week.  I have been debating what to make.  I think I am going to go for gluten-free, but not completely Paleo, because I want to make them a decent dessert :)

I want our Trader Joe's to open!  I think it is going to be a few more months??

You know what has been on my summer list for several years now and I have not done?  Blueberry picking.  What are the chances it will happen this year, I wonder.

My main spring cleaning chore that I want to get done around the house in the next month is washing the windows.  All of them, both sides.  I know they won't stay spotless long, but they need it badly.  I am dreading it.  Ugh.

Over spring break, I cleaned out drawers around the house.  My closet was recently purged on a major level.  I have a small pile of stuff in the basement to sell or give away.  Now, if I could just stay on top of the laundry and actual cleaning the way I do with the purging and cooking, this house would be consistently spic and span... that will happen in my dreams.

Ok, this morphed into a brain dump.  I'll stop complaining now.  My goal was to go to bed earlier this week, so I should go do that now.  Have a good night! :)

Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

No, this is not Paleo.  No, I have not made it.  No, I have not eaten it.

But, I have a thing for rhubarb, and I SOOOO want to make this Rhubarb Upside Down Cake.  I have rhubarb in the freezer right now...

Anyone want me to make it for them?????

Menu Plan 4/4/11

I think I'm a little more comfortable with the prep and cooking this week, so I'll go back to my regular format...  Sticking with normal stuff I know we like, just omitting the grains, legumes, sugar, and cheese and adding in more veggies.

Breakfasts:

Paleo Pancakes

Spinach Oven Omelet (haven't tried it, yet)

Scrambled or Fried Eggs

Chicken-Apple Sausages

Fruit (pineapple, strawberries, cantaloupe, apples, or bananas)

Lunches:

Chicken Vegetable Soup

Chicken, Almonds, Grapes x2
Grilled Chicken Salad x2

Taco Salad x2

Fruit & Nuts or Carrots & Guacamole on the side

Dinners:

Monday - Veggie-packed Shepherd's Pie (no starches or dairy)

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Meatballs (going to experiment) and Roasted Vegetables

Thursday - Nitrate-free Hot Dogs and Green Beans (no buns)

Friday - Homemade Salmon Burgers and Peas (no buns)

Saturday - Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli

Sunday - Leftovers

Salads one the side with dinner, too.  Olive oil & balsamic vinegar for dressing.

I might try to make some homemade mayo for the first time this week.  As soon as we get some more farm fresh eggs.  My husband and I both think the Costco eggs are watery and tasteless.  And homemade mayo contains raw egg, which I feel safest doing with a farm fresh one, not a factory one.

I've thought for a while that eating this way (Paleo-style) is probably good for you, but I never really wanted to do it until after I read Rob's book.  So, if you are intrigued, I'd encourage you to read the book, too, and see what you think. 

Happy April!

Hello, blog.  I've missed you.

I don't have any April Fool's Day pranks for you.

Just some scatter-brained musings.  Because these past few weeks have been a little crazy.  Sometimes I miss the simplicity of winter.  Things are always busier at our house when the weather is warm.  But don't get me wrong, I don't want to trade it :)

I think we are getting into a groove with the Paleo thing.  It took me about 3 days to get into it, to get over cravings and not feel like I was totally dragging.  It took my husband about 5.  My daughter still asks for granola, or a sandwich, or pizza now and then, but I just tell her we don't have any right now, and she gets over it.  It is not as hard as I thought it would be (as long as there is enough food around).  I have been reading some new blogs to go along with this to get inspiration for cooking and such.

I am setting a new (obviously higher) goal for the grocery budget.  But, I think it will all even out when we take into consideration that my husband is now spending very little money (compared to before) on eating out while on the job.

I am tired.  As I mentioned, for no particular reason, these past few weeks have been packed and I have not been getting to bed as early as I need to.  Like I am 2 hours short every night.  And I'm still not getting everything done.  Guess I should work on that this coming week, huh?

Here's something... I had my blood drawn to check my cholesterol, etc. this morning.  Last fall when I had it done, even though my numbers were better than ever, my LDL remained in the high range.  (You can read more about why I was not that worried about it here.)  Well, as of this morning, my LDL is still slightly high, but ALL my numbers (including LDL) are even better than before.  Everything was a PR, so to speak.  (That means personal record for you non-running folks.)  I've had my bloodwork done for the past 7 years, I think.  This new PR is on a diet that includes lots of meat, eggs, nuts, raw whole milk, butter, and coconut oil, folks.  (We have to go get our bloodwork done for a discount on our insurance.)

I also went shopping today at Aldi and Costco.  Here is a picture.  I spent $81 altogether.  A couple pieces of chicken, some apples,  bananas, a bag of carrots, and a container of guac are missing because my husband took them.  I wanted different eggs, but had to go with what Costco had.  Yes, that is 4 lbs. of regular bacon.  No, we will not eat it all in one week.  Good deals on produce at Aldi, once again.  Overall, I was pretty happy with the shopping trip.

I am so thankful for Jillian Michaels.  That sounds silly, but it is true.  She has just about the only workout DVD I can handle doing without hating or being annoyed.  I'm happy to say I've gotten 4 coworkers into doing her workouts, too.  The 30 Day Shred got me through the winter when I couldn't run outside.  I just learned she has a new Shred DVD out.  I will have to remember that for next winter, because in a sense, I think I have worn out the one I have.  I've been getting interested in CrossFit lately.  My husband does their workouts sometimes.  Some I can not even attempt, but I am still interested.

Ok, gotta go.  Thanks for humoring me.  Have a great weekend!  Cloth diaper tip coming sometime soon.  And hopefully a crafty project, too.