Coconut Milk Smoothies

Hey!  A friend recently asked for my coconut milk smoothie recipe, and it made me realize I've never shared it here!  Thanks for the idea, Mon!  Hope you don't mind if I let others in on the concoction as well ;)

This is totally not a precise method, but it is what I do... It fills a whole blender pitcher and is a good amount for our family.  The coconut milk makes it pretty filling, for a smoothie.

Dump in the blender: 
1 can of coconut milk (I use the full fat stuff you can buy with the Asian food at Supertarget for like $1.50)
About 1/4 a can of frozen orange juice concentrate (helps cover up some of the coconut flavor)
Blend.

Then add:
Frozen banana chunks and blend.

Then add frozen strawberries, blending a few at a time. I usually have to stop and stir things around because the pitcher is pretty full. Sometimes I add some water to thin it out a little bit.

(I usually use about equal amounts bananas and strawberries, but you could use whatever you wanted obviously.)

That's it. Enjoy!  I'm sure blueberries and other fruit would be good, too!

Menu Plan 5/30/11

Notes on last week's meals: I didn't make pumpkin pancakes.  Instead, I made these paleo pumpkin muffins.  I doubled the recipe, made almond flour by grinding almonds in the blender, and substituted 1 cup of ground flax seed in place of 1 cup of almond flour.  I also didn't stick the almonds on top, that looked weird to me.  They were quite nutty and filling muffins.  They hit the spot spread with some Kerrygold butter! :)  We actually had them for a quick dinner one evening with some fresh blueberries, strawberries, and real milk.


Breakfasts:
Coconut Milk Smoothies
Eggs and Fruit
Milk

Lunches:

Leftovers from the previous evening's dinner
Fruit

Snacks:
Ants on a log (celery, almond butter, raisins)

Dinners:

Memorial Day - Stir Fry (new recipe attempt, I'll let you know how it turns out)

Tuesday - Salmon Burgers, Salad

Wednesday - Meat Sauce over Zucchini (a paleo spaghetti-ish dish), Salad

Thursday - Grilled Chicken with Broccoli, Bacon, & Cashew Salad

Friday - BBQ Meatballs*, Coleslaw

Saturday - Grilled Sausage, Peas & Carrots

Sunday - Chicken & Green Bean Stir Fry

*The sauce is far from paleo with all the sugar, but it is so good!  I may try to cut down the sugar a tad bit, we'll see.  I usually use half the sauce recipe anyways.

Menu Plan 5/2/11

It is May 1 right now, so happy May Day!  Also, cilantro, tomatoes, avocados, lettuce, and limes are all on sale this week for Cinco de Mayo...Yum!  I took a break from posting about the grocery shopping this past week... it was a little hectic.

Breakfasts:

Quick Banana Pancakes (this recipe uses coconut oil instead of almond butter, I like them either way)

Eggs and Fruit

Coconut Milk Smoothies

Lunches:

Leftovers from dinner the night before
Chicken Vegetable Soup (for the weekend)

Dinners:

Monday - Chicken Taco Salad

Tuesday - BBQ Brisket, Mashed Cauliflower, Salad

Wednesday - Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce, Salad

Thursday - Salmon Burgers, Peas (my kids especially love this meal)

Friday - Out to eat :) to celebrate Mother's Day early!

Saturday - Fresh Grilled Sausages, Green Beans, Carrots

Sunday - Chicken, Broccoli, and Carrot Stir Fry

Snacks:
Apples & Almond Butter
Crispy Almonds & Walnuts with Raisins Snack Mix

It was a fun weekend, with lots of rich food, celebrating a graduation... donuts, Cheesecake Factory, cake pops... Mmmmm :)...

Here's to a good (and healthy) week ahead!

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

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!)

Menu Plan 3/28/11

OK, here is my creative menu plan.  Or uncreative, depending how you see it.  It is a lot harder to come up with these grain, dairy, and legume free meals, but I am getting better... I am more excited about the menu this week.

Breakfasts:
Spinach Oven Omelet (no cheese or cooked milk)

Eggs (with nitrate-free bacon or sausage, bell peppers, and/or sun-dried tomatoes)

Paleo Pancakes
Fruit

Lunches and Dinners:

Monday - 

Chopped Chicken Salad

Beef Burgers, Green Beans

Tuesday - 

Salmon Burgers, Peas & Carrots

Pork Loin & Roasted Veggies

Wednesday -

Chopped Chicken Salad

Leftovers

Thursday - 

Taco Salad (use chimichanga filling minus the sour cream)

Turkeyburger Soup

Friday - 

Turkeyburger Soup

Nitrate-free Hot Dogs & Sweet Potato Fries

Saturday - 

Meaty Sauce over Spaghetti Squash

Crock-pot Sticky Chicken, Broccoli

Sunday - 

Meaty Sauce over Spaghetti Squash

Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Sides:
Real Milk

Pineapple

Cantaloupe

Strawberries

Oranges

Bananas
Carrots & Guacamole

Apples & Almond Butter

Crispy Almonds

Fruit and Nut Snack Mix

Happy eating, everyone!

This Week

I got my hair cut today... it was overdue!  I should change my profile picture... because I have been growing it out for a year and so it looks much different now, even with the recent trim.

We are loving these oven potatoes.  Sometimes I cook them longer than called for, though.  The leftovers (if there are any!) are excellent warmed up in the skillet with eggs the next day for breakfast.  They get a little crispy that way :)

This idea for a fair way of trading babysitting is brilliant!  Why haven't I thought of this before?  Except sometimes once the kids are in bed, it is easier and just as nice to stay home and relax together... but of course it would be good and fun to be scheduled to "go out" together, too...

I want to try these Sundried Tomato and Sausage Egg Cupcakes.  A protein-rich, grain-free breakfast that can be premade for "grab 'n' go"!

This unmessy sandpaper craft looks cool.

OK, gotta go!

Groceries

I went to just Hy-Vee for food this week.  If I could only shop at one store, and it had to always be the same one, I might pick Hy-Vee. Anyways.  Trying to keep it simple and hold off on some Costco purchases so that I only end up going to Costco once this month.

Hy-Vee...Spent $34

Looks like we mostly got produce and bread items, huh?  Still experimenting on the bread purchases.  We liked last week's kind. Deals this time:  $.77/lb. organic pink lady apples.  That is a good price for apples around here, and I don't think I've ever gotten organic apples at that price before.  The Ocean Spray Ruby Red Grapefruit blend is my husband's favorite... at $.99 each I couldn't resist.

But then $15 was spent on this rather unwholesome stuff...

...to make sausage balls for church.  That seems like a lot since the sausages were on sale for $1 each.  The cheese was the kicker, costing almost twice as much as I would normally pay, even though it was on sale.  That I should have gotten at Costco!

We also spent $16 on milk and eggs from the farm, which brings the monthly grocery spending total so far up to $181 out of $400.

Now, to plan some meals for next week...

Menu Plan 1/31/11

Or lack of menu plan!!

I will very likely go shopping sometime this week, so I am not planning the meals, yet.

Instead, I am going to link to some things that have caught my eye, that I might like to try - in addition to the Chinese food that has been tempting me lately.  Yeah, I like the unhealthy fried kind, covered in sauce and probably loaded with MSG.  Here's a story.  I ate Chinese takeout the night before I had major bleeding due to a placenta tear and a potential miscarriage when I was pregnant with my girl (thank the Lord my doctor put me on bedrest and it healed).  My neighbor ate Chinese take-out from the same place the night before she went into preterm labor (and delivery!) with her girl....   Um, yeah.  I didn't eat Chinese food for the rest of either of my pregnancies.  And I will probably never go back to that restaurant.  And yet, one of my all-time favorite restaurants remains a Chinese restaurant - a very different and far-away Chinese restaurant... I don't even know if it still exists.  Anyways.  On to the links...

Recipes I Want to Try:
Lentil Soup (I have some lentils in the pantry.  I've used them once, and am still looking for a good recipe.)
Stir Fry (We like stir fry a lot, but I don't make it very often!)
Pasta Primavera
And since I was mentioning Chinese food, should mention that I want to concoct some homemade Wonton Soup.
And speaking of soups, PW's Chicken Tortilla Soup looks fabulous.
Pumpkin Spice Waffles (I want to give pumpkin waffles a second chance...)
Cottage Cheese Pancakes (I'm guessing they might be similar to sour cream pancakes?)
I'd also like to make Peppermint Pattie Coconut Bark, but I'm afraid I might eat it all!

I need to make a shopping list... Help!  What should I buy for us to eat this month?

Cranberry Recipes

If you remember, I bought 5 bags of cranberries for 10 cents apiece on clearance at Aldi after Thanksgiving.  I am loving cranberries right now.  Here is a recipe I have made twice now, adapted from this Rasberry or Blueberry Lemon Muffin Recipe.  It uses half of a bag of cranberries.  I have no pictures because we eat them so fast!

Cranberry Vanilla Muffins

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup half and half (I've used cream or whole milk just fine.)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups fresh or frozen berries

Combine dry ingredients.
Combine eggs, cream, extract.
Melt coconut oil and add to we ingredients while stirring.
Stir wet mixture into dry mixture until just moistened.
Carefully fold in berries.
Spoon into muffin pan - I use silicone, but if you don't, you may need to use paper liners.
Bake @ 400 for 18-20 minutes.  (Less for silicone pan, more like 16.)
Makes 18 muffins.

Another recipe that I still hope to try is this Pumpkin Cranberry Bread.  Holy sugar!  Look at that flour to sugar ratio.  No wonder it gets rave reviews :)

By the way, the third and final Crafty Christmas Project is already wrapped, but you can find a photo of a smaller version of it here.  It is the pillowcase dress.  (Just google for directions.  There are lots out there.)

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good-night! :)  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

My Current Reading List

Ha ha.  I don't think these really count as reading - more like looking or browsing through to enjoy the inspirational pictures before I conk out to sleep for the night.

One Yard Wonders (Comes with sewing patterns, even from the library! Not that I have used any.)

 

The New Traditional

And, I have this book on hold:

The Naturally Clean Home

(PS - these are not affiliate links because I am too lazy to do that.)

One a completely different note, if I were going to scrapbook (which I am not - because I do not need another time suck or money sucking hobby), I would totally do it on the computer Sarah's way.

AND, I am trying out a friend's breadmaker this weekend.  I think I'm going to give this Light Oat Bread a shot.

But, first, I am going to give the soaked version of the healthy pumpkin muffins a try in the morning.  Not with the breadmaker.

No big grocery shopping trips this week.  Spent $6 at Whole Foods on apples and canned pumpkin.  Spent $10 at Super Target on peanut butter, bread, and Halloween candy (save for the 31st).  Spent $4 at Costco on bananas and milk (to tide us over until the next carpool to the farm).  $20 total.

The laundry is calling my name...  See you later.

Pumpkin Shmear

Mmm... Pumpkin-y...

Ok, it seems like everyone I know is ga-ga over pumpkin flavored foods right now.  I like pumpkin and all, but not all the time in everything.  However, here is another pumpkin recipe idea for you.

It all started this morning at work where there was a bagel spread.  At a coworker's recommendation, I tried the pumpkin (and cream cheese) shmear on my quarter of a cinnamon raisin bagel.  Deliciousness.  I immediately thought aloud, "I bet I can make this".  My coworker suggested mixing some cream cheese with some pumpkin pie filling.  That may work.  I have not attempted this myself yet.  I found some recipes online for similar deliciousness here and here.

Anyways, I just wanted to share the tasty idea with you.  Let me know if you come up with a good concoction, so we can all know the proper ratios and all.  Not that I promise to follow the ratios :)

PS - I highly recommend enjoying it on a cinnamon raisin bagel.

Menu Plan 10/11/10

Hello!  Better late than never with the menu plan...
We were gone for the weekend, so we are still enjoying a few things left from last week.
I went to Whole Foods today to get some apples.  I also thought I'd get some canned pumpkin to make these muffins.  They were out of the store brand, so I paid $1.69 for ONE can of Libby's pumpkin.  (More than twice what I would pay at Aldi.)  These mufins better be worth it.

Breakfasts:
Cereal or Granola with Milk
Easy Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Eggs and Toast
Bananas
Orange Juice

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Carrots
Cheese
Apples

Dinners:

M - Chili and Cornbread

T - Soft Chili Tacos

W - Stuffed Shells, Salad

TH - Fried Rice

F - Vegetable-Beef Soup & Grilled Swiss Cheese Sandwiches

S - Leftovers

SU - Chicken Pot Pie

Make to take elsewhere: Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Enjoy!

Menu Plan 9/27/10

Breakfasts:
Eggs and Toast (I would like to attempt these homemade sourdough wheat English muffins.)
Baked Soaked Oatmeal
Kashi Shredded Wheat with Milk

Lunches:
Pasta Salad from last week (didn't make it yet)
or the Usual (pb&j sandwiches, yogurt/cheese, fruit)

Dinners:
Monday - Grilled Chicken Wraps, Green Beans
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Cheesy Bowties (add spinach)
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - BBQ Meatballs, etc. (requested by my visiting sister)
Saturday - TBD after shopping
Sunday - TBD

Dessert:
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (We scarf these down!  At least I do.)

Menu Plan 8/30/10

No more garbage!  (As far as eating junk, that is.)  As of now, I am on hiatus from baking treats.  I can only handle it if I am giving them ALL away.  Immediately.

The next two weeks are going to be HECTIC around our house.  But should be fun - for real!

Breakfast:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal - I can't remember if I have tried this recipe.  Looks nourishing.
Breakfast Cookies (also soaked) - These don't count as treats! :)  I figure they have no more sugar in them than granola.  And might be easier for my kids to eat on quick mornings.
Milk

Lunches:
Sandwiches or Peanut Butter on Multi-Grain Crackers
Cottage Cheese
Blueberries or Apples

Dinners:
Monday - Leftovers from Sunday's Oven Nachos
Tuesday - Salmon Melts, Green Beans
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Egg Salad Sandwiches
Friday - Dinner with family
Saturday - Grilling with family
Sunday - ??

Menu Plan 8/2/10

and Other Ramblings...

Last week, I made a cold pasta salad spinoff of this BLT Pasta recipe.  I truly just experimented and added stuff in until I liked the way it tasted.  Here's what I included:

• whole wheat rotini pasta
• crumbled nitrate-free bacon
• cheese - fresh mozzarella cubes and parmesan
• chopped leftover uncooked veggies - carrots, zucchini, tomatoes
• red onion sauteed in a little bit of bacon drippings
• For the dressing I used more bacon drippings (gasp!), some vinegar, some lemon juice.
• garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, basil, salt, pepper

I could have added hard-boiled egg, avocado, green pepper, and olives, but the avocados weren't ripe yet, and I forgot about the other items. You could add whatever you want.  I may have added a tiny bit of sugar, but I can't remember. I'm sure you could also use olive oil, there would just be a different flavor, obviously.

It was really good.  We all liked it, and it made for an easy one-dish dinner.

Ok, on to the plan for this week...

Breakfasts:
Eggs and Toast
Simple Soaked Pancakes with Syrup
Milk
Fruit

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches*
Yogurt or Cheese
Carrots
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - Soft Tacos, Salad
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Easy Sloppy Joe's on Buns, Baked Zucchini & Tomatoes with Cheese
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Homemade Pizza (didn't get to it last week), Salad
Saturday - BLT's, Seasoned Potato Wedges
Sunday - Leftovers

Dessert:
Healthy Strawberry Shortcake

*Is it possible that I have PB&J'd my 3 year old out at so early an age? :)  She now requests "just jelly" sandwiches.  However, she will eat a couple handfuls of raw almonds on the side or for a snack.  So I feel ok about it.  Do any other 3 year olds ask for raw almonds?  I probably should soak them or something to make them more digestible, but I haven't gotten there, yet.

I am thinking of going "no sugar" again (more like "no sweet treats").  I'll let you know.  Probably after my baby turns one next week (!)

For my daughter's first birthday, I made these Carrot Cake Muffins.  I am thinking of making them again for my son's first birthday.  Any other semi-nutritious suggestions?

Have you noticed that we have been eating less chicken lately?  That might change in the winter when I am not buying fresh chicken from the local farm (that is pricier) and so then I buy the cheaper stuff.  I know some people store up a bunch of fresh summer food for winter but we don't have a deep freeze, and so I don't worry about it too much.  Having limited options simplifies things in a way.  I am enjoying our summer food now, though.  We are eating more locally produced food than we ever have before.

I know this is nerdy, but I used to look forward to checking out the grocery ads each week.  I still look over them, but I don't get nearly as excited about them as I used to.  The good deals that I actually want to buy are fewer and farther between.  I've probably mentioned before, I almost always have my kids with me when grocery shopping.  So with produce, dairy, and meat being from alternative local sources, keeping the remainder of the shopping limited to Costco, Aldi, and Whole Foods is where I'm at these days.  And the occasional run to Target/Wal-Mart (not my fav) if there is other random stuff we need.  That still sounds like a lot of shopping, doesn't it?  I feel bad about not going to my local grocery stores as much as I used to, though.  I really like them.

As for my 2 new Costco items, I like them.  As far as taste, I can't tell any difference between regular and nitrate-free bacon.  But then again, as much as I like bacon, I am no bacon connoisseur.  I wasn't sure on the tortillas at first, but I have decided they are a great compromise.  They are like homemade tortillas without the mess and work.  You do have to cook them, but that part is easy, easy.  They do contain canola oil, which I am not a huge fan of (I'd rather they contained butter or coconut oil), but with only a few other ingredients, they are much more wholesome than the premade ones which are full of ingredients that I cannot pronounce.

Happy food planning.

Menu Plan 7/26/10

Breakfasts:
Granola with Milk
Blueberry Streusel Muffins
Fruit

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Carrots
Yogurt
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - BLT's
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Fresh Pasta Salad
Thursday - Dinner with friends
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Homemade Crispy Crust Spinach Pizza
Sunday - Omelets and Hash Browns

Happy eating!

Menu Plan 7/5/10

Happy Independence Day!

Breakfasts:
Granola (new recipe) with Milk
Strawberries

Lunches:
Sandwiches
Yogurt, Cheese
Peaches, Plums

Dinners:
Monday - Salmon Burgers, Peas, Cornbread
Tuesday - BBQ Meatballs, Coleslaw, Cornbread
Wednesday - Dinner at Bible Study; Leftovers for my husband

Thursday - Egg Salad Sandwiches, Salad
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Cookout with Family
Sunday - Leftovers

Snacks:
Popcorn

Dessert:
Frozen Banana Split Bars (new recipe, weekend treat)

Menu Plan 5/24/10

Breakfasts:
Granola with Milk
I think we are done with hot oatmeal for the summer :)
Waffles with Syrup
Bueberries, Strawberries

Lunches:
PB&J on Homemade Bread
Carrot Sticks, Salad, Fruit
Almonds
Dessert

Dinners:
Monday - BBQ Meatballs, Cornbread, Peas
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Omelets, Fingerling Potatoes
Thursday - Costco Take and Bake Pizza, Salad with Aunt Trish's Salad Dressing
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Tuna Cheesies, Broccoli
Sunday - Egg Salad
Monday (Memorial Day) - Hot Dogs (nitrate free), Zucchini

Dessert:
Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache

Summer is almost here!

This post is part of Menu Plan Monday over at the Organizing Junkie.