Meal Pinning Monday

January 31, 2016

I've officially hit the reintroduction phase of Whole30, and I'll be stretching it out for the next 5 weeks. 

Here's my proposed reintroduction schedule - 
Week 1 - gluten grains
Week 2 - non gluten grains
Week 3 - dairy
Week 4 - probiotic dairy (pre whole30 I didn't have an issue with this - I'm lactose intolerant)
Week 5 - beans and legumes

So get ready to see basically that schedule for the next week weeks over here! 



[What is Meal Pinning Monday?]
MPM is how I meal plan for our little family. I once spent a lot of time searching the web and my recipe books hunting for new recipes and ideas for what to cook every week. Then, Pinterest came along and made meal planning much easier for me. Every weekend I look over what I have pinned the prior week and decide what I would like to cook and make my grocery list from these recipes. MPM came about as a way to share what I am cooking, and to also see what others are cooking every week to hopefully get even more dinner ideas from other bloggers. If you don't pin your recipes feel free to just share what you are cooking.

Monday - Zucchini Boats with Chimichurri


Tuesday - Chicken, Bacon, & Apple Salad

Wednesday - Bacon (bison-less) Chili

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - Balsamic Roast

Saturday - Leftovers


Sunday  - Sausage and Tomato Risotto - introducing rice as my non gluten grain

Breakfast - Pumpkin Custard with 2 hard boiled eggs

Lunch - Chicken Salad with Seed Crackers & Salad

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Basic Mayo & Ranch Dressing

January 26, 2016

It's high time I share this recipe, especially since I make it at least every other week. 

Homemade Mayo & Ranch Dressing. 

It's absolutely divine, and I'm not joking when I say that homemade mayo has ruined me. The store bought stuff just doesn't compare. 

So here's both recipes, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 


Mayonnaise


Ingredients::
1/2 cup light tasting olive oil
1 large egg
3 tsp lemon juice
dash of salt & pepper
dash of garlic powder
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

To make with an immersion blender - place all ingredients in a large jar or cup and turn blender on high, slowly bringing the blender to the top of the mixture until completely combined into mayonnaise. 

Blender or food processor - place all ingredients except olive oil in the blender or food processor, while place on high speed slowly drizzle in the oil. 


Now for the ranch. 

I'm telling you I live off of this stuff when I'm on a Whole30. The fat makes meals so much more filling, at least for this nursing mother. 


Whole30 Ranch Dressing


Ingredients::
1 recipe for mayo (above)
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp dry dill
1 tsp dry chives
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 tbsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp paprika

Add all spices and coconut milk to mayo and stir to combine. Store in the fridge for one week. 


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MPM - Whole30 week 4

January 24, 2016

I've made it to week 4!!! (insert all the emogi praise hands)

I even survived my husband bringing Coffee Blue Bell Ice Cream into the house. (may he contract listeria)

(not really. but really who on earth does such a thing?)




[What is Meal Pinning Monday?]
MPM is how I meal plan for our little family. I once spent a lot of time searching the web and my recipe books hunting for new recipes and ideas for what to cook every week. Then, Pinterest came along and made meal planning much easier for me. Every weekend I look over what I have pinned the prior week and decide what I would like to cook and make my grocery list from these recipes. MPM came about as a way to share what I am cooking, and to also see what others are cooking every week to hopefully get even more dinner ideas from other bloggers. If you don't pin your recipes feel free to just share what you are cooking.

Monday - Roast Chicken with Butternut Squash and Broccoli

Tuesday - Leftovers with Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts

Wednesday - Meatballs with Tomato Sauce (zoodles for me)

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Cream Sauce

Saturday - Paleo Nachos

Sunday - Stuffed Acorn Squash

Breakfast - Sausage with Avocado on a Sweet Potato with 2 Hard Boiled Eggs
Lunch - Grilled Chicken with Ranch & Carrots & Celery
Recipe - Mayo with red wine vinegar, S&P, dill, chives, garlic, and coconut milk to thin it out

Treat I'm taking my class - Chocolate Chip Cookies
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High Five 4 Friday

January 22, 2016


This week.

Someone explain to me why short weeks feel longer than a regular week?


Every month seems to be more fun than the last.

This little hot mess has gotten into babbling a lot and it honestly sounds more like he's saying "blah blah blah" than actual baby babble.


Whole30 is still going strong and this week I made Pastalaya compliant. 

It was good, but being that I'm not a Cajun food kinda gal I wasn't dying over it. 

The lack of real sausage made Jeremy not that "dying"over it either. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't something I want to eat every meal. 


I just love this picture, that's about it. 

The pudgy belly and double chin. Oh so cute! 

Jeremy came with Harrison to a friend's birthday party I was taking pictures at and I couldn't help but laugh that our non walker was so bent out of shape that he couldn't get on the ground. Sorry Bud, we aren't army crawling on concrete. 


We had a little family date night last Friday at Rachael's in Lafayette. It was really good, seriously the best sweet potatoes I've ever eaten.

Plus the best part was that Jeremy could get a fried fish plate and I could have something Whole30 friendly in a sit down restaurant. It was a lovely break from all the cooking I do.


If you have a child and don't have an ezpz Happy Mat
 I highly recommend it. I'll probably start off with the mini for the next baby because it will fit in the Ikea high chair better, but it's still a A+ in my book. 

This kid has also developed preferences. 

Like meat and peanut butter. He would honestly eat only meat and peanut butter if I left him to it. 

How was your week?

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Caramel Toffee Apple Dip

January 20, 2016

I've been holding onto this recipe since teacher appreciation week when a student gave me a jar with an apple that quickly became a hot commodity in the fridge at our house. 

I wish I was joking, but we were rationing this out like it was WWII and we were living on tiny portions of meat and clothing coupons. 


For this recipe I dug out my old trusty salted caramel recipe minus the salt, but if you wanted to make this way easier you could just use the caramel ice cream topping in a jar. 

Not the squeeze stuff, I don't think it has as good of a consistency. 


Caramel Toffee Apple Dip

1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Heath Bar Toffee Bits
1 recipe Caramel (or a store bough jar of caramel)
plenty of apples

Directions::
Leave cream cheese at room temperature to soften. In a large bowl add in cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Stir to combine by hand or use an electric mixer.

Make caramel sauce. 

Layer cream cheese mixture on the bottom of a dish, top with caramel, then top the caramel with toffee bits. Serve with sliced apples.


The only issue with the Salted Caramel Sauce for this is that is hardens when cold, so I wouldn't suggest refrigerating it before serving. If you needed to make it ahead I would suggest using a jarred sauce. 

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MP - Whole30 week 3

January 18, 2016

I'm actually pretty surprised at how easy Whole30 is this time around. 

When I did my first one postpartum it was a hot mess. I craved everything, especially coffee with all the add-ins. For some reason though, I'm not as phased. I have taken quite a bit of joy out of sniffing fresh bread, but I easily resisted eating it. 

I really just need a King Cake or Fresh Bread scented candle in this house. 

 

[What is Meal Pinning Monday?]
MPM is how I meal plan for our little family. I once spent a lot of time searching the web and my recipe books hunting for new recipes and ideas for what to cook every week. Then, Pinterest came along and made meal planning much easier for me. Every weekend I look over what I have pinned the prior week and decide what I would like to cook and make my grocery list from these recipes. MPM came about as a way to share what I am cooking, and to also see what others are cooking every week to hopefully get even more dinner ideas from other bloggers. If you don't pin your recipes feel free to just share what you are cooking.

Monday - Spaghetti Squash Carbonara (I actually swapped out Sunday with today and made it last night, and let me tell you it was so good! I think I preferred it over regular carbonara. The baby even loved it)

Tuesday - Cauliflower Sweet Potato Curry with Chicken

Wednesday - Shakshuka 

Thursday - Butter Chicken with Potatoes and Roasted Green Beans

Friday - Leftovers


Saturday - Green Chili Chicken with Patacones


Sunday - Attempting to make a Whole30 Pastalaya, I'll share if it turns out good. 

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Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

January 14, 2016

So I have a little obsession that I'm insanely particular about, and quite honestly it's taken me years to perfect it. 

You see, I love hard boiled eggs. 


 I had my method down when we lived in Thibodaux but as soon as we moved my methods had to change. Putting eggs in the pot for 8 minutes, blasting the heat, and then returning was no longer giving me perfect eggs.

Instead I had a soft boiled mess.


Sometime after moving to this house I ran across a recipe in Epicurious, or some gourmet magazine, about how to boil eggs and realized I had to change my ways to get a consistent yolk no matter where I boiled them. 

I also figured out exactly how to peel an egg perfect every time, and this is from the girl who use to but them in half and scoop them out with a spoon. 

Which Jeremy thought was insane. 



Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil with enough water to cover eggs completely. Once water is boiling gently place eggs in the boiling.

*If you're making deviled eggs and want a centered yolk take a thumb tack and poke a hole in the larger end of the egg.

Boil eggs for exactly 9 minutes and then drain hot water from the pot and pour cold tap water over. Next remove eggs from the pot and place back into their egg carton and keep in the refrigerator.

My peeling easy tip - crack the shell all over and then start peeling at the large end of the egg, be sure to grab the skin-ish stuff underneath the shell and the rest of the shell will come off super easy.

Who else considered themselves to be a terrible egg peeler? How do you peel?

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Current Happenings January

January 13, 2016

Eating: If you've seen my Instagram I think you'll know the answer to this one, Whole30. I feel much better eating this way for sure. Lately I've been looking around at my favorite recipes and seeing how I can tweak them to make them Whole30.

Reading: I just finished the Whole30 book and Antelope in the Living Room, both were great. Now I'm onto Bringing Up Bebe. So far I'm really liking the French approach to parenting, but I'll share more on that when I'm done.

Watching: Jeremy and I just finished Making a Murderer, clearly nothing says quality couple time like a good murderer show. I don't even have to say it, but Downton is back on (Praise Jesus!) but sadly it's the last season. I feel like this is my last tie to our first little house in Monroe, watching that show. Now if only I wasn't on Whole30 this month so I could eat a dang tea biscuit with my Earl Grey. (Yes, I know it isn't the best of English tea blends, but I've got some PG Tips I'm not a fan of either.)

Doing: I've got the girl's accountability group I help lead this Saturday, they meet once a month. With Celebrate Recovery starting soon and Jeremy and my favorite girl's group leader being so heavily invested in it I am going to have to take on a more leader-y role with the group. Hopefully after 10 months my brain will start functioning again. Never agree to things when you're pregnant people, you won't be able to do in the capacity you'd expect.

Buying: I just got my Mueller Spiralizer and a Skip Hop diaper bag in the mail. I've been itching for a spiralizer ever since they got popular again and we decided that my grandmother's disappeared. Now the diaper bag...I promise you I made it 10 months without a real one and just couldn't take it any longer. I'm thinking it is going to be quite nice with all it's lovely pockets.

Loving: My little bit of down time every day when the baby is napping right after I get home. I should be doing other things, but whatever I don't get that much sleep these days.

Hating: The lack of sleep. We started kenneling the dog during meals and at night because A) she is packing on the pounds and B) crack head keeps peeing in the floor at night. I'm pretty sure the baby handles crying it out better than the dog has. Finally last night she didn't whine and freak out all night long. Hopefully that's a sign of sleep, as well as the baby making it to 5am one day this week. Between Harrison's teeth and Ellie being Ellie I need a nap.

Crafting: Over the summer I found some burlap bunting in the dollar bin at Target and made banners this past holiday season for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It took a bit of brainstorming to get a word to fit the 8 character limit, but they turned out cute. Super simple with only black paint, but cute.

Listening: I've become a podcast junkie. Worse than when I was a books on tape junkie. (speaking of which the last book in the Discovery of Witches trilogy was awesome) Lately I've been listening to a lot of The Boob Group, Parent Savers; but I've just found The Whole Life Challenge and am really liking it. Especially the Robb Wolf episode.

Pinning: I might be Whole30-ing but I'm pinning cake ideas. I'm thinking of making Harrison a chocolate cake with the marshmallow buttercream I made for Jeremy's cake.

Going: Absolutely no where and loving it. The holidays are rough with having to drive out of town so much and not just enjoy being home, but I think we balanced that better this year. MLK and Mardi Gras will be nice peaceful days at home this year.

Enjoying: How I'm feeling on Whole30, I've just got to locate some more Larabars so I have a snack when I'm pumping at work.

Hoping: That we can get some better sleep soon. Small hopes people, very small hope goals.

Considering: After blogging for 8 years at this website and having far far outreached the name of it I'm thinking of starting a new domain. It's an idea I've played with for years, but rebranding is such a pain in the butt. If you have any experience with it tell me all you know!

Wearing: It's finally cold weather around here! I'm wearing boots and Piko dresses nearly every day. Sadly the baby has basically killed my scarf wearing, he thinks he should play with whatever I'm wearing while he nurses. I get chocked with necklaces enough. He just swats at scarves like I'm attempting to suffocate him, or worse...cover him up. which might i add having to cover once a week is a joke to this child! He isn't a fan. 
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MPM - Whole30 Week 2

January 11, 2016

I'm on day 11 of Whole30 and going strong, how are all the other Whole30'er's doing?

I finally got my spiralizer that I've been longing for, Jeremy asked how many more kitchen appliances I needed. I had to point out that in fact it wasn't an "appliance" as much as it was a gadget. I'll quit collecting kitchen items when I'm dead! 

Sadly my child's inheritance will be a hand blender and a juicer... we won't mention the other car full of equipment I have. Yes I know I'm ridiculous. No I can't stop, Alton Brown said to have items that multitask and quite honestly I do that when I can. (ha)

Here's what I'm making this week. 

 


[What is Meal Pinning Monday?]
MPM is how I meal plan for our little family. I once spent a lot of time searching the web and my recipe books hunting for new recipes and ideas for what to cook every week. Then, Pinterest came along and made meal planning much easier for me. Every weekend I look over what I have pinned the prior week and decide what I would like to cook and make my grocery list from these recipes. MPM came about as a way to share what I am cooking, and to also see what others are cooking every week to hopefully get even more dinner ideas from other bloggers. If you don't pin your recipes feel free to just share what you are cooking.

Monday - One Pan Tuscan Pork Chops

Tuesday - William Sonoma Mexican Lime Soup (no cheese for mine)

Wednesday - leftovers

Thursday - Balsamic Chuck Roast with Roasted Veggies (leave out honey in balsamic dressing)

Friday - Eating @ Chipotle

Saturday - leftovers

Sunday - Paleo Nachos on Plantains with Pulled Pork (using chicken to save$)



Breakast - Paleo "Oatmeal" Bowl (nothing like oatmeal but what on earth do you call it?)




Lunch - Baked Sweet Potato stuffed with BBQ Chicken with Peppers, Onions, and a side of roasted broccoli


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Top 10 Recipes of 2015

January 8, 2016

Life lately, yeah we are past the first week of the new year and I'm just getting this up!

Slacker.

I thought I'd share all of my 2015 recipes in one place, and list them based on popularity. Sadly my favorite Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream didn't make the cut. You'll have to go make that to see just way I wanted it to be #1 so badly!

10. Twinkie Trifle


9. Pumpkin Coffee Cake


8. Challah


7. Chocolate Pecan Pie


6. Baked Oatmeal Cups


5. Strawberry Keiner Ice Cream


4. Paleo Banana Custard


3. Whole 30 Breakfast Sausage


2. Balsamic Chuck Roast


1. Breakfast Pumpkin Custard


Personal Favorite - Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream



2015 Remaining Recipes:
Lacatation Mug Cookie
Paleo Chocolate Lacatation Cookies
Chocolate Cobbler
Paleo Blender Hollandaise
No Bake Berry Cheesecake
Chocolate Macaroon Oatmeal
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10 Months Old

January 5, 2016

The photos are SOOTC today and I'm totally okay with that. 

Especially since I should be working out, and I should be washing bottles, or maybe I should be folding the laundry, or I really like to be watching the Downton Abby episode I DVR'd the other day. 

Either way. The kid survived another month in our care. 

Clingy and all. 


Weight: who knows

Length/Height: 27.5 - probably hasn't changed


Eyes: more hazel, they go between blue to green/brown depending on what he's wearing


Hair: Brown like Mama's! 


Clothes: 12-18 months

Diapers: size 4

Likes: Being held, clinging to you for dear life, meat. Toys. Meat is probably at the top of the list. 


Dislikes: Being put down. Christmas made him clingy. 


Eating: Harrison cried when he ran out of sausage (don't worry it was homemade) last night if that is any indication. 

Sleeping: One word "teething" pretty much sums up sleep. 


Milestones: Pulling up (we had to lower the crib), blowing kisses, copying what you do a little more. 


If I had to describe our ninth month in one word, it would be: Interesting, he is terribly sweet when he blows me a kiss and gets tickled when I do it back; but dear gracious he is a clingy teething handful. 

Mommy notes: What to send to the sitter for lunch is rough, he eats well at home but isn't as adventurous there. Mainly because he thinks the three main food groups are Meat, Cherrios, and Yogurt. Oh, and Ninny milk, can't forget that stuff. 





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MPM - Whole30 Edition

January 4, 2016

I'm officially on the Whole30 wagon again, maybe making it a Whole60. I'll see how much my desire to snort all purpose flour is at the end of the month. 

Right now I could eat a whole cake. 

Here's what we're munching on this week. 

 

[What is Meal Pinning Monday?]
MPM is how I meal plan for our little family. I once spent a lot of time searching the web and my recipe books hunting for new recipes and ideas for what to cook every week. Then, Pinterest came along and made meal planning much easier for me. Every weekend I look over what I have pinned the prior week and decide what I would like to cook and make my grocery list from these recipes. MPM came about as a way to share what I am cooking, and to also see what others are cooking every week to hopefully get even more dinner ideas from other bloggers. If you don't pin your recipes feel free to just share what you are cooking.

Monday - Bangers & Mash
Tuesday - Lomo Saltado

Wednesday - Bacon Bison Chili (beef, we can't get fancy animals around these parts)

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - I'm remaking PW Comfort Meatballs, I'll share the Whole30 version next week. 

Saturday - leftovers

Sunday - I'm going to decide when I meal plan for the next week, we shop on Saturday. 

Breakfast - eggs, sweet potato, ghee (avocado with it a few days)

Lunch - Grilled Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch and Veggie Sticks
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