Breakfast for Dinner

Good Evening:

In the busy baseball season and Spring time excitement it is great to have a "go to" meal which is both quick and healthy. Today I had an extremely long day working and hour away from home and kids had their busy Spring schedules. Drama rehearsal, baseball and a husband working nights. I strive to have dinner by 5:30-6:00 but tonight it was closer to 7:00 as Miss Emma Grace had a game.
So I quickly whipped together a Frittata. Now the process is more the recipe than the ingredients itself. Once you learn the process anything goes!

Frittata:

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs, whipped
• 4 pieces, bacon chopped
• 1/2 lb ground country sausage
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese
• 1/4 onion
• 1 clove garlic
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Using big skillet on medium heat. Saute onion and garlic until translucent. Add chopped bacon and ground sausage. Cook thoroughly. Drain meats. In a bowl beat eggs, salt and pepper. Place meats, onion and garlic back in large skillet then pour eggs over top. Slowly incorporate eggs. Sprinkle cheese over entire skillet. Place entire skillet in to the oven and finish cooking in oven approximately 15 mins.

I have made this several different ways. It works to cover only half in cheese as well for the family members not wanting cheese or make it with all veggies.

This is fast and loved by all family members.



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Back on Track

Good Morning All:

So sorry I have been silent the last two days. I have been struggling with an allergic reaction and my hubby was out of town so I've been a single mama. But I am feeling much better today and wanted to get back on track. Today I will be doing a lot of cooking in between conference calls and tons of work. I will be food prepping for both my family and the high school's prom on Sat. This is the second year they have asked me to cater prom and it is a fun experience that I really enjoy and appreciate that the kids think so highly of me and my cooking. This year's theme is Rustic Romance. So I am making "romantic food". I keep asking them what that exactly means but they aren't quite sure. To me it means one bite foods, non messy and not garlicy. LOL! They did specifically ask for these wontons I make so I did promise those, on top of pinwheels, mini fruit kabobs, loaded mashed potato bites, mini lemon tarts, mini cupcakes and cookies. But as for as the family goes I have food prep to get us prepared for the end of our crazy baseball, prom filled week.

Yesterday I went to Trader Joes and found some amazing finds for my family. Did you know that Trader Joes has pizza dough already made for you? Lately it has been a bit of a quest for me to find alternatives to the frozen Schwans pizza or the pizza from Papa Murphys, and our local pizza place. Pizza is the one food even my very healthy son cannot resist and it upsets his acid reflux and tummy problems nine times out of ten. So yesterday at Trader Joes I saw the pizza dough and thought I would try it.

They had two flavors-1 regular and 1 Herb inspired. I got all my fresh ingredients for toppers. Heirloom tomatoes, turkey meatballs, crushed tomatoes, basil, parmesan cheese.

This recipe was great with the kids as well. We made 3 pizzas. Emma Grace made a thick crust with crushed tomato sauce, cheese and turkey meatballs. Alex made a thin crust, crushed tomato, light cheese, pepperoni, and turkey meatball pizza. I made thin herb crust pizza sticks, that were just drizzled with a little olive oil and basil.

The littles and dad had their pizza, Alicea and I had salad with turkey meatballs and fat free balsamic dressing and our herb bread stick. I don't eat white flour very often but this was a little treat and quick and easy and still pretty healthy for a pizza night. One I would definitely recommend and would do again.

Day 9: Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies-Paleo

I myself do not have a huge sweet tooth but these cookies are amazing. I make a batch and put them in the freezer to take one every once in a while if I am craving chocolate. I have prepared several different recipes and variations but I think this variation is the best. The key is the pure vanilla. (I get mine from Costco) and the real butter. which I use in all my cooking.
 
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies 
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
• 3 1/4 cups almond flour
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 (cube) real butter (unsalted)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stirring with a spoon or whisk to integrate the ingredients and break up any chunks.
4. Whisk wet ingredients together in a medium bowl.
5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until all ingredients are combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Scoop onto parchment paper about 1 inch apart and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Watch carefully so that the bottoms don't burn. (When baking with honey finished product has a brown look.)

Tip: When you bake with all natural ingredients, shelf life is considerably shorter. Keep your items in Ziplock bags in refrigerator or freezer to get longest life.

Day 8: Pizza

Good Morning:

I recently started looking for a good pizza crust recipe. Both little kids and my husband love pizza but the side effects of acid reflux, IBS and bloating seem to always follow with most members of my family, including myself. So after church this Sunday I made pizza skins for the various members to top themselves and it was a great success and no bad side effects after. I will also add I have never been much of a pizza fan myself and would definitely take this pizza over the one at our local pizza parlor any day. My pizza was grain free and dairy free. This recipe is more of a flatbread consistency than a chewy crust.


Grain Free Pizza Crust: Makes 4 individual Pizzas

Turkey Caramelized Onions, Kale Mix and Apple Pizza

• 1 1/2  cups of almond flour
• 1/4 tsp. of sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1T Olive Oil
• 1 egg

Preheat oven 350. Place all ingredients in a bowl. Mix until it forms a ball. Lay out I sheet of parchment paper. Split dough in to four servings. Roll out each dough ball between two pieces of parchment paper. Place pizza skin in oven on a sheet pan. Bake for 15 mins.

Top your pizza with your favorite ingredients. Place back in oven to melt cheese if using cheese. (I didn't).

Day 7: Shakelogy

The last few days I have been working on very little sleep. Allergy season is in full bloom here in beautiful Mt. Shasta. My son, my allergic child has been doing quite well with just a few meltdowns from itchy eyes, hives and over exhaustion that from the run down that allergies do to your body. It's been my youngest Miss Emma Grace who this year is having a tough time. The poor kid has a nagging cough from post nasal drip at night time that is keeping her and myself up all night. So my post is a little late.

A few months ago a friend from church invited me to try a Beachbody challenge group. She knew of my love of healthy eating and fitness but my struggle with time. I had been looking for a way to get back on track with fitness so I joined. With joining she suggested a challenge pack and a great workout, which I have come to love more than anything and Shakeology. Now I tell you I was sold on the Shakeology and thought I eat healthy enough so why a shake. But we talked about all its great add vitamins and clean label. There is even Vegan labeled ones for me. Since I am diary intolerant. I have been drinking a Shakeology ever since. I don't have to remember to take my vitamins because it is all right there for me. Also, I had a horrible caffeine addiction that was completely out of control and I am happy to report that I now only drink my morning coffee, which not only is great on the pocketbook because I am not drinking $6.00 almond milk mochas but when I am ready to go to sleep I can actually relax and turn off my brain for a few hours. I would like to share one of my favorite Shakelogy recipes that replaces my favorite Mexican Mocha.

Mexi-Shakeoloy

• Chocolate Vegan Shakeology Packet
• Leftover Morning Coffee
• Dash of Cinnamon
• Dash of Nutmeg
• Ice

Place all your ingredients in your blender-I use a Magic Bullet. Blend up and take on the road with you!

Day 6: Mustard Chicken and Squash-Sketti

Mustard Chicken with Squash Sketti



New recipe today. I was looking at my husband's digestive health cookbook and found this mustard chicken recipe and decided to pair it with one of my favorite sides. I got a Vegetti- a spiral vegetable cutter. Tonight I used both summer squash and zucchini.

Mustard Chicken:

2lbs. chicken thighs
1TB honey
3T brown mustard
1 clove garlic
1T butter
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven 350. Take a 9x13 Pyrex dish and place the butter and garlic in dish. Put the dish in the oven and let the garlic and butter melt in the dish. While it is in the oven take a small bowl and combine the brown mustard and honey. Take the Pyrex dish out of the oven and arrange the chicken in one layer. Slather the chicken with the mustard sauce. Salt and Pepper and place in oven. Cook chicken in the oven 45min to an hr.


Squash-sketti:
3 Medium Summer Squash
3 Medium Zucchini
1tsp garlic
1tsp olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Take your Vegetti and make spaghetti like spirals of squash. (You could also just cut small disks.) In a small non-stick pan place oil and garlic. Sautee for just a couple mins. then add your squash. Toss with tongs for a couple of minutes do not over cook. You want squash to be crisp not soggy.

The vegetti is great for making pasta substitute. I have made "spaghetti" and meatballs and it is great.

Day 5: Food Prep

Happy Sunday!

Sundays in my household run pretty much the same every Sunday. This day can make or break my week because it sets up my entire week. We first start with going to Sunday school and church. After church it's food prepping time and clean house time. The kids will actually get upset with me if I ask them to clean house any other day. LOL! They say "Mom, it's not Sunday!" But my oldest probably has the best description on Sunday in the group. She loves to tell anyone who will listen that God rested on the 7th day but her mother can't! So to set up your week I highly recommend food prepping. This is the key to keep to a clean lifestyle.

Sunday Food Prep:

1. Pre-Cook meats for grab and go protein

• chicken
• beef (jerky)

I use the chicken for salads, pizza toppings, quesadillas, tacos all throughout the week.
Cook roasts in a Dutch oven or crock pot. Later in the week pull apart the roasts and use for tacos and quesadillas. Also cook up roasts in to beef jerky for snack time.

2. Prep Meats

• Pork Loin

Right now the price of a pork loin at Costco is probably the cheapest meat around per lb. I get the huge Costco loin and I don't cook it ahead due to it's low fat content but I do prep it to impart flavor and for one last step after work. With one Costco Pork Loin I can prep 4 meals for my family of 5. I usually keep 1-1.5-2 lb piece to cook slowly in the oven on a day I work from home. I usually cut 6 thick cut pork chops and lastly cut thin pork chops which I pound out. I will keep one set will nothing on them and prep one set of thin cut "battered" pork chops. By dipping them in seasoned almond flour. I keep half of the prepped pork loin in the fridge and the other half in the freezer. One loin lasts about two weeks worth of dinners.

3. Fruit Leather-Dried Fruits and Vegetables

• Fruit Leather (refer to Fruit Leather recipe)
• Dried Fruit or vegetable slices

Here a food dehydrator is so helpful. But you can slice your fruits and veggies in thin slices and place on low heat in your oven. Kale chips, sweet potato chips and zucchini chips are all ones I have done in the oven with just a touch of sea salt sprinkled on them.

I recommend doing all or some of these once a week and package up ready to go in Ziplock bags on Tupperware containers. I rotate recipes on Sundays. I do the big meat preps after our monthly grocery shopping and the rest of the month do veggies, fruit and baked healthy snack such as crackers, bagels and muffins.

Hope this helps you with organizing your week and helping you stay on task.

Day 4: One pot Short Ribs-Paleo

Good Evening,

Starting two years ago I made a lifestyle change. I decided to quit the yoyo dieting and really do something to lose weight and feel better. I met with an amazing Nutritionist and Life Coach Michelle. http://www.perfectbalancehealthcoach.com/ .She helped me find the perfect nutrition plan. For me the choice was Paleo. Paleo: to eat like a caveman, no dairy, no grains, no legumes, no processed foods or sugars. Natural. For me it was a life changer. So the recipes I traditionally will share with you fit under the Paleo lifestyle. The one I share tonight is one of my favorites, one I prepare often on Sundays after church. I have several variations, so if you learn the process you can change up the flavor profile. I hope you like it.

Braised-One Pot short Ribs:
Ingredients:

• 3-4 lbs. of beef short ribs
• 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 tsp of black pepper
• 1 tsp of sea salt
• 2 tsp of coconut oil
• 1 med. onion, chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 2T balsamic vinegar
• 1 c of red wine
• 4 cups of homemade beef broth or organic low-sodium beef broth
• 2 portabella mushrooms

*Tip: to have meat brown nicely remove it to room temperature and pat dry

Pre-heat over to 325. In a large stock pot-dutch oven place oil, onion and garlic. Sautee until translucent. Remove from pot add meat. (you may need to do in batches). Brown the meat on all sides. Remove the meat and deglaze the pot with your wine and vinegar. Add the broth and your herbs, salt and pepper. Let come to a boil. Place your meat, onions and garlic back in pot. Cover completely with your mushrooms. Place lid on the pot and put in oven. Let cook approximately 3-4 hrs., checking every once in a while to check liquid level. If needed you can add more broth. Cook until the ribs are fork tender. Remove from heat serve with nice cauliflower mash and veggies.

You will love this one pot wonder.

Day 3: Green Smoothie

Good Evening:

So I was about to share my blog post on my facebook when I realized I messed up and didn't push publish on my most recent post.......DARN! Well now it's after 9:00 pm and I am so exhausted but I wanted to share a recipe first.

So a great way to get hidden veggies in to your kids (and your hubby's) diet is smoothies. I have so many smoothie recipes and almost anything will work in them. Here is a non dairy high fiber one to start off with.

Green Smoothie:

• a handful of spinach
• 1/2 avocado or banana
• frozen no-sugar added mixed berries
• unsweetened coconut milk

Place all ingredients in your blender or individual blender (I have a magic bullet) Blend until smooth. I myself enjoy the avocado versus the banana. Honestly I am not a fan of bananas. The avocado makes my smoothie creamy and silky. Hope you enjoy!

Day 2: Fruit Leather

Hi Everyone,

I am here to share one of my most frequent recipes and one my kids go through so quickly. Fruit Leather. I have made several different flavors and all have been amazing. My cheerleaders actually text me to see if I have made any for away game trips. Each of my kids and my cheerleaders like a different flavor so today since Alex has his first official minors baseball game I will share with you his favorite. Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather.

Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather:

• 6 large apples-chopped (I usually use ones that are about to turn)
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• Water to cover the apples

Peel and core your apples. Roughly chop and place in sauce pot. Cover with water and add cinnamon. Let the apple cook down about half hour, just like you are making applesauce. After apples have cooked down let cool. Place cooled apples in your food processor and blend. Now you have applesauce. You can stop here and have applesauce or you can pour on to your lightly greased silicone mat in your food dehydrator. Smooth out all the way across to even layer. Turn dehydrator to 130-140 degrees for approximately 8 hrs. ( I like to do mine overnight) When the dehydrator is finished. Take a pizza cutter and cut it in to portions. (I usually get 10-12 portions) Then wrap up in cellophane for the kids lunches.

Off to baseball for me!

Day 1- Recipe 1

Good Morning All:

As I sit drinking my early morning coffee with coconut milk and get ready for the day in my quiet house. I think about how nice it is that I have started the habit of getting up a half hour early to prep for my day. I started a devotional my Mom-Dee gave me and do my workout, today is PiYo strength intervals and lay out my two little kids clothes before they get up so hopefully we have no fighting. I like this time in the morning even though it is so early and makes for a long day as it gets me prepared and not so stressed. I have learned that managing stress is a key in healthy living and if I start off stress free my family's day is better too. Why I tell you all this is the because it relates to food prepping. On Sunday I will share with you all the prep I do in one day to make my week successful and how it keeps me from eating badly. Tonight we will be eating a third meal from the Inside Round Roast I prepped on Sunday. But below is the first recipe I did with the Inside Round Roast for the week.


Beef Jerky:

• Take your inside round while still partially frozen and cut in to thin slices.
• Pound out your thin slices into manageable pieces(couple bites) with a meat tenderizer.
• Sprinkle with a rub. My rub consisted of red pepper flakes. Himalayan Sea Salt, cracked black pepper and minced garlic.
• Place all in to a freezer bag, massage the ingredients around and let marinate overnight.
• The next day place in thin layer in food dehydrator on 160 degrees and leave for 10-12 hrs. depending on how thick it is.  

Homemade Beef Jerky! You can control the amount of sodium and additives in your jerky. I guarantee this won't last in your house long. My kids take a couple pieces in their lunches for snack and I take some for work. This is great this time of year as my kids are running to baseball every day and jerky is a great protein snack that holds them over until dinner.

Introduction and Welcome

Good Evening and Welcome to Healthy Living for Real Families:

I am excited to start this new journey with you all today. My basis for blogging is to hopefully help other moms and families that go through the very same things as I do. We want our families to be healthy but we just don't have the time or the money. Is that true? Well, in my case I can truthfully tell you that for years I said I was too busy to work out, too busy to have a date with my husband and too busy to cook so let's just go to McDonald's and honestly none of us were truly happy. In the last two years I have learned from the best Nutritionist, Michelle Dean, and friend ever how to prioritize and to get healthy. Now I want to share my story and with the encouragement of my Beach Body Coach and friend that has gotten me out of my shell here I am. So starting tomorrow and every day after for the next year I would like to share with you a Healthy Recipe that is affordable and tastes great and in some cases makes you feel like you are eating in a 5 Star Restaurant. Sort of like a Julie and Julia challenge to myself and anyone wanting to join me absolutely can!