This recipe comes from Trim Healthy Mama and is reposted with permission fro the authors.
I've always felt bad for Brad who used to eat cardboard-like gluten-free pizza crusts while we enjoyed the gluten packed version! I had heard rave reviews about this cauliflower crust from other mamas on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and decided to give it a try even though it sounded pretty gross. Boy, was I wrong! Our entire family enjoys it just as much as the real thing! You'd never know cauliflower was the magic ingredient! Fooled Ya Pizza Ingredients:
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen cauliflower (I used fresh)
3/4 cup egg whites
2 cups skim mozzarella cheese
sea salt and other seasonings (I used Epicure's Pizza seasoning blend)
pizza sauce and other pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, green pepper, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheese)
Directions: Lightly steam cauliflower and squeeze out all the excess water otherwise your crust won't get crispy (I skipped this step and used raw cauliflower with great results!). Put cauliflower in food processor and pulse a few times until you end up with rice sized pieces.
Add egg whites and pulse again. Add cheese and other seasonings (sea salt, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder). Mix ingredients together well with a spatula. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease well. Spread crust mixture evenly across cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Cool. Add pizza sauce and toppings and broil until toppings are done (I baked it at 400 for 8-10 minutes).
These recipes are reprinted with permission from the authors.
Just Like Wheat Thins Crackers | Trim Healthy Mama, I had my doubts about this recipe. "Just Like Wheat Thins?!" Yeah, right. You need refined flour and sugar to achieve that kind of deliciousness, don't you? Apparently not. These crackers are amazing and taste like the real thing I can't seem to keep our house stocked though - they disappear quickly!
3/4 cup flax meal
3/4 cup almond flour
2 egg whites
2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
1 Tbsp. parmeasan cheese
1/4 tsp sea salt
dash of black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder
1 Tbsp olive or coconut oil
1/2 tsp baking soda
Combine ingredients well and work into a dough ball with your hands. Place ball on parchment lined cookie sheet. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of dough ball and roll out into a slab the thickness of a cracker. Take off top piece and score into small squares. Bakes at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Fooled Ya Pizza |Trim Healthy Mama, I've always felt bad for Brad who used to eat cardboard-like gluten-free pizza crusts while we enjoyed the gluten packed version! I had heard rave reviews about this cauliflower crust from other mamas on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and decided to give it a try even though it sounded pretty gross. Boy, was I wrong! Our entire family enjoys it just as much as the real thing! You'd never know cauliflower was the magic ingredient!
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen cauliflower (I used fresh)
3/4 cup egg whites
2 cups skim mozzarella cheese
sea salt and other seasonings (I used Epicure's Pizza seasoning blend)
pizza sauce and other pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, green pepper, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheese)
Lightly steam cauliflower and squeeze out all the excess water otherwise your crust won't get crispy (I skipped this step and used raw cauliflower with great results!). Put cauliflower in food processor and pulse a few times until you end up with rice sized pieces.
Add egg whites and pulse again. Add cheese and other seasonings (sea salt, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder). Mix ingredients together well with a spatula. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease well. Spread crust mixture evenly across cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Cool. Add pizza sauce and toppings and broil until toppings are done (I baked it at 400 for 8-10 minutes).
Peanut Squares | Trim Healthy Mama, These squares are so yummy! A combination of sweet and salty, we enjoy them as a snack and a dessert. They're gerat to give along with a meal to a new mom too.
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tsp Truvia
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
10 tsp Truvia
2/3 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup whipping cream
Mix almond flour, peanuts, melted butter, and 2 teaspoons of Truvia together in a bowl. Press into 8x8 baking dish and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
While crust is baking, beat cream cheese and second measurement of Truvia together until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and beat some more.
In a separate bowl, beat whipped cream. Fold into cream cheese mixture and spread over cooled crust.
Place in refrigerator to chill until set.
Cheeseburger Pie | Trim Healthy Mama, This is probably our #1 favorite supper on the plan. It's all the goodness of a cheeseburger without the bun. You would never miss it! This is so satisfying and delicious. I make once a week in place of burgers on the barbie.
2 lbs of ground beef
3 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. sea salt
6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
pickles, tomatoes, red onion
2 eggs
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup heavy cream
sea salt
ground pepper
6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
Brown ground beef and drain fat. Stir in onion powder, sea salt, and 6 oz. of grated cheese. Place beef mixture in casserole dish. Layer on any of your favorite burger toppings. Our family loves a combination of red onion, tomatoes, and pickles. In another bowl, beat eggs, mayo, cream, sea salt, and black pepper together. Pour on top of casserole and sprinkle on the remaining 6 oz. of cheese. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. We like it serve on a bed of chopped iceberg lettuce and drizzled with mustard and ketchup.
Chunky Cream Pops | Trim Healthy Mama, This frozen dessert reminds me of my favorite ice cream, President's Choice Chocolate Fudge Crackle... except it's waaaay healthier, made with good fats and no sugar. We love this treat. It's Brad's favorite of all the desserts I've made from Trim Healthy Mama so far.
1 batch of Skinny Chocolate
2 8oz. blocks of cream cheese
10 tsp. Truvia
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 heaped Tbsp. peanut butter
Make up a batch of Skinny Chocolate and put in the freezer to harden. Beat cream cheese, Truvia, and vanilla together. Cut up Skinny Chocolate into little bits and stir into cream cheese mixture along with peanut butter. Place wax paper on cookie sheet. Dump bite-sized spoonfuls of mixture onto paper. Insert a toothpick into center of cream pop and transfer to freezer. After an hour, pull pops off wax paper and transfer to a Ziploc bag for easy access. Here's a few more pictures of other Trim Healthy Mama recipes to satisfy the foodie in you:
Spicy Chicken Wings, pg. 323
Taco Salad, pg. 347
Special Agent Brownies, pg. 383
Trim Healthy Pancakes, pg. 223
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support.
If I'm in a pinch for time, this is one of my favorite recipes to pull out. It's quick, easy, tasty, and half decently healthy. Everyone loves it - Charity calls it "Pizza Chicken", which should give you a good indicator of its flavor! Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups tomato sauce (homemade is best!)
6 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese, divided
6 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups Mozzarella, shredded
Directions: Preheat oven to 375. Pour sauce into a 9x13 pan and sprinkle with 4 Tbsp of Parmesan. Add chicken, turning to coat both sides of the breast. Add remaining cheeses and bake, covered, at for 30 min. Remove covering and broil for 2 minutes until Mozzarella is turns golden and bubbly. Serve on a bed of rice or pasta, or with a salad.
Does your house ever become a pig-sty? Maybe you prefer the term warzone or pit. It’s okay. It happens to even the biggest neat freaks sometimes. You get sick, busy, have a baby, or maybe you just take the week off from housework. You turn around and the next thing you know you discover a fossilized piece of pizza in a couch cushion.
There will be times when your house simply just gets out of control. Here’s how to get it back to normal again without going insane.
Unless you’re feeling very industrious (or have help) give yourself at least a week to get a very messy house clean. Could you completely clean an entire house in less than a week? Probably, but this game plan takes errands, small children, and life in general into account. Very few of us can get 12 hours of uninterrupted cleaning, so spreading out massive cleaning over a week only makes sense.
If, however, you get a call from your mother-in-law saying she’ll be stopping by in an hour all bets are off, it’s time to start shoving clothes, toys, and dirty dishes in the closets. Just make sure you don’t accidentally push a child in one in your mad-dash cleaning spree.
From Pigsty to Palace In One Week: The Game Plan
Before You Start
* Buy all the trash bags, cleaners, and all the paper towels that you will need. Also consider buying paper plates, and utensils for the week. The environment will forgive you. It’s just for one week.
* Plan simple meals for the week that are easy to clean up.
Day One
* Do all dishes and put them away.
* Clean kitchen counters.
* Take a trash bag and donation box around to each room get rid of as much stuff as possible. This will infinitely speed up cleaning this week.
* Take a box for misplaced items around to each room, and fill it with any odds and ends that are out of place. Tomorrow you’ll begin putting things from this box away.
Day Two
* Put away all misplaced items in their proper places.
* Pick up and put away all stray clothes in your home
* Clean your bathrooms
Day Three
* De-clutter your dining room, living room, and kitchen. Make sure everything is in its proper place in these rooms.
* Organize these spaces as needed.
Day Four
* De-clutter the bedrooms and family room. Make sure everything is in its proper place in these rooms as well.
* Organize these spaces as needed.
Day Five
* Catch up on laundry.
* Put away all clean clothes.
* Vacuum and sweep the entire house.
Day Six
* Clean the windows and dust.
* Wipe the walls as needed.
* Wipe down all kitchen appliances
* Properly file or shred paper work and mail.
Day Seven
* Maintain everything you’ve cleaned, then:
* Rest.
Bonus Jobs If You Should Happen To Have Extra Time
* Clean out the refrigerator
* Clean out and vacuum your vehicle
* Clean up your desk area or office
* Store out of season clothes Want a deeper clean? I highly recommend Sarah Mae’s 31 Days to Clean.
What are your best cleaning tips? Let us know in the comments!
KM Logan is a wife, mother, teacher, and Amazon best-selling author. She is wholly inadequate but strengthened by the Lord. She’d be tickled pink if you stopped by her blog and said hi.
I wish I could say I wasn't writing from experience, but I can't. This post serves as a painful reminder about the pride in my own life that needs to be put to death. Praise God for providing redemption through Jesus Christ!
1. Make sure people know that you are a well-informed person. Scroll through your Facebook feed looking for links to articles you disagree with (vaccines, education, birth control, home births, and diets are great topics). Never miss an opportunity to correct the person who shared it. Emphasize your point by sharing an article on your own feed that supports your point of view. Be sure the article is better written, and contains more resources from qualified professionals.
2. Believe you have all the answers. Don't ask for advice from anybody. If someone shares a differing perspective, assume it's because they aren't as knowledgeable about the topic as you are. Smile, and as humbly as you can, tell them you'll take their view into consideration. Then roll your eyes and laugh at their suggestion when you're by yourself or with someone else who thinks exactly like you.
3. Perfect your fault-finding abilities. It's easier to focus on people's flaws in order make yourself look better without actually having to become a better person. If you're feeling bad about your weight, visit the mall and stare at all the people who are much bigger than you. If your kids are misbehaving, taking them to a place (such as the library or Wal-mart) where you know there will be children who act worse than yours. Pat yourself on the back for your excellent parenting skills.
4. Pretend to be the Holy Spirit. When someone in a prominent position falls into a public sin, humbly suggest that it must be because they thought too much of themselves were not walking closely with the Lord (as you do, of course, but there's no need to mention that part). Jump to conclusions and interpret motives. Presume who is saved and who is not. You can know for sure by whether or not they share your convictions and lead a lifestyle that looks just like yours.
5. Don't make mistakes. You don't want anyone thinking you're just an average human being. Never skip a day of homeschooling. You don't want your child to get behind and prove you're a failure as a homeschool mom. Don't ever order pizza, buy bread, or let your children have anything that contains sugar. Moms who truly care about their families wouldn't dream of feeding that kind of junk to their kids. Keep your house clean no matter how many children you have, so no one will think you're a poor homemaker if they visit unexpectedly visit. Yell at the kids to get crackin' if you need to.
6. Don't ask for help. You are super woman! If you happen to get behind on laundry, stay up late to get the job done. Drink lots of coffee if you need to. Run yourself ragged, but don't ask for help because you're too good for that.
7. Only serve in public positions. None of this behind-the-scenes kind of stuff where nobody notices just how much you do for other people. Try to get on the committees at church, in your homeschool group, or help organize major events. Get involved in places where you get to wear a badge or your name will appear in print. Don't worry if it requires being away from your family for extended periods of time. Nobody notices the work you do there anyway.
8. Try to stay updated on other people's successes. That way you can one-up them. If their child starts taking piano lessons, sign yours up for cello. If they take a one-week vacation to another state, take a two-week vacation to another country. If they can twenty quarts of applesauce in one day, let them know that it was tough work but somehow you managed to get thirty-six jars done. If their blog gains new followers, stalk their page so you know exactly how many people you have to recruit to stay a comfortable number ahead.
9. Cover-up. Outward appearances are all people care about anyway. Carry your Bible to Church. Try to keep it in a place where people notice it (i.e. in your arm, not in your purse). Scuff it up a little so it looks well used. Wear plenty of make-up and trendy clothes so no one confuses you with the frumpy homeschoolers that seem to ruin it for everyone else. Leave challenging books like A Christian's Reasonable Service by Wilhelmus a Brakel, Teaching The Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn, and At the Mercy of Tiberius by Augusta Jane Evans lying around when company is expected. They will make you look smart even if you've never actually read them. Memorize the back cover, in case anyone asks.
10. Place any guilt where it belongs: on someone else. It's your husband's fault supper is cold; he should've come home from work on time; it's the curriculum's fault your child just isn't "getting it,"; it's that other mother's lack of discipline with her own children when your son learns some choice words after hanging out with his peers; it's your kids fault your house is always messy; it's the church's lack of a Titus 2 ministry that leaves you without a mentor. Blame anyone but yourself. You don't need that kind of negativity.
11. Forget that it is by grace that you are saved, and not by your own works (Ephesians 2:8,9). Assume there's some sort of catch to the word "gift" when God says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6: 23). Build your own house; believe your labor is not in vain (Psalm 127). Doubt Jesus' sincerity when He invites you to cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Don't put too much stock into spending time with Him when you could be busy with more important things (Luke 40:11). You can do everything in your own strength (Philippians 4:13). Search for happiness outside of Jehovah (Psalm 144:15).
I am evil, born in sin;Thou desirest truth within.Thou alone my Saviour art,Teach Thy wisdom to my heart;Make me pure, Thy grace bestow,Wash me whiter than the snow. Broken, humbled to the dustBy Thy wrath and judgment just,Let my contrite heart rejoiceAnd in gladness hear Thy voice;From my sins O hide Thy face,Blot them out in boundless grace. ~Psalter 140 : 3, 4 (based on Psalm 51)
{photo source}
Looking for more homeschool encouragement? Our new eBook, Homeschooling Day by Day is available for $4.99! It's 40 chapters of realism, practical advice, and plenty of grace from homeschooling Moms on every stage of the journey. You can read the Table of Contents here.
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Most women, myself included, get overwhelmed when they read Proverbs 31. There is no way in this world I could get done in one day what she got done in one chapter. That's why it's important to understand that her picture is a portrait of a lifetime, not a summary of Super Woman's day.
We go through seasons of life where we are able to engage in different things; right now I'm mothering through the little years where all the kids are still in car seats, they all need their shoes tied by an adult, and someone else to give them a bath. They aren't quite big enough to make their own beds, make dinner, or watch younger siblings when Mommy needs a nap.
It's busy, exhausting, and rewarding. I have to remind myself not to compare my Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 100. I'm not Martha Stewart. She can keep an immaculate home, tend glorious gardens, and grow every vegetable perfectly because she is at a different stage of life and her priorities are different than mine. She does not have three small children, nor does she homeschool. Of course she isn't any less of a person for that, but it would be silly of me to measure myself against her.
I'm responsible for using 24 hours wisely everyday. I use 7-8 of them for sleeping. That leaves me with 16 to manage well. Managing them well means learning how to prioritize and giving the most important things the most attention. In our house, that order looks like this:
God
Spouse
Children
House
I start everyday in the Word. I can't make it through the rest of the list with out God's help so it only makes sense to give Him the #1 place in my life.
My husband prefers a good meal to a clean house or an empty laundry basket, so if I have to choose between making dinner or cleaning the shower, the former takes priority.
We believe our primary purpose as parents is to raise our children in the fear of the Lord. It's a hard exhortation to remember when there are crumbs under the table and sticky fingerprints on the window, but if it seems the only thing I accomplish in a day is giving instruction, administering correction, breaking up squabbles, reminding our children of the necessity of their salvation, and teaching them to pray for a clean heart that hates evil and wants to do good, then the most important things have been given the most attention.
I'm told by seasoned mothers whose children have flown the nest that one day you will have time to bake, and sew, sell handmade goodies and keep a spotless house, but you'll probably wish you still had the company of several little people who think you're the world.
To help keep my priorities aligned properly, there are several good things that I just don't do. One day I'd like to do them, but right now I don't have enough time or attention to give them.
1. I don't cloth diaper. I know it's more eco-friendly, and I've heard it's no more work than disposables, but I haven't taken the time to build up a stash. My washing machine doesn't get much of a break as it is and I'm not sure how I'd find the time to keep a clean supply of diapers on hand or the stomach to slosh around poopy diapers in the toilet (or is that not required anymore?) When a pack of 136 diapers goes on sale for $17.99, I stock up.
2. I don't bake my own bread; partly because Brad eats gluten-free and I cannot seem to make a loaf that doesn't taste like a hockey puck, and partly because homemade bread isn't very high on our priority list. I don't eat much bread either. The kids eat store-bought sourdough bread at lunch time. One loaf lasts us a whole week, so the time and effort it takes to make my own doesn't save me any serious coin in the long run.
3. I don't iron. I recently pulled it out for the first time in three years to iron a blazer. Marveling at this new invention, our two-year-old son asked, "Why are you vacuuming your shirt, Mom?" Wrinkle-prone items get pulled from the dryer as soon as the cycle is finished. Sometimes they get hung up on hangers and hung neatly in the closet. Sometimes they lay on top of the dryer until I need to wear them.
4. I don't bath our kids every day. I don't even bath them every other day. We (usually Daddy) bath them when they're dirty (at least once a week, I assure you).
5. I don't use natural remedies for everything. I'm a vaccinated, formula fed kid and grew up taking Tylenol for headaches. I have a long way to go before I'm comfortable knowing what herb to give for what ailment, what homeopathic drops to pour into my baby's mouth when she's teething, and what essential oil to rub into my temples when my head is pounding. I want to though, and I'm slowly learning how, but you'll still find Tylenol in our medicine cupboard.
6. I don't grind my own flours. In fact, my electric grain mill is for sale if anyone is interested.
7. I don't have a large garden. There's not a great deal of room on our city lot. We grow tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, a few herbs, and whatever happens to seed itself through our compost. It's more of a teaching tool for the kids and it satisfies my gardening itch. I enjoy making Tomato Spice Soup from our produce, but I buy and preserve nearly everything else from local farms.
8. I don't can. I don't know how. It's on my list of things I want to learn. Thankfully, my friend Jill is a great teacher and my Mom is willing to hold my hand and walk me through the process. I'm terrified of things exploding in my face. For the past five summers, I've simply cleaned, cut, bagged, and thrown seasonal produce in the freezer. Gently, of course, so it doesn't get bruised. That much I understand about preserving.
9. I don't dust every week. It's really just a country accent anyway and we're honored when folks take the time to autograph our bookshelves. Kidding. Sort of. I make an effort to dust every Friday on "Housework Day," but sometimes it goes two weeks before it gets done. The kids each get a rag too, which means our carpet is probably due for an interesting homeschool science experiment...
10. I don't sew, knit, or scrapbook. At night, when the kids are in bed and I've got some time to relax, I write. Keeping a blog is the therapy that works for me. It's a fun way to interact and learn from a community of like-minded moms and a bonus to be able to contribute to our family income.
11. I don't coupon. I don't even look at flyers. They go from the mailbox to the recycle bin. I can purchase everything I need from three stores and they're all within 5 minutes of each other. It's quick, convenient, and just one afternoon in town (if you have three children in car seats, you get me).
12. I don't go to the Ladies Bible Study at church. We homeschool.
13. I don't have a phone. I don't want one either. I'm not sure I'd have the self-discipline necessary to give it the same amount of attention I give the non-existent one now. I'm sure it'd be handy one day if I were in a car accident or stranded on the side of the road. I'm relying on the generosity of those passing by and assuming they probably have one I could borrow.
14. I don't exercise. Not deliberately, at least. I've been blessed with a good metabolism and consider giving under-doggies to thirty-five pound toddlers on the swing for half an hour, and chasing our one-speed (fast) son around all day good enough.
15. I don't serve fancy meals. I like to cook a mainly whole food diet, but I don't go all Jacques Pepin on my family. Every morning we have the same smoothie for breakfast. Every afternoon we have the same sandwich for lunch. Snack-wise, I serve simple things I know our kids love. In the evenings, we typically enjoy healthy, low-fuss dinners like Cheeseburger Pie, Taco Salad, or Coconut Curried Chicken. Sometimes we have grilled cheese, or order pizza.
How 'bout you? Are there good things that you don't engage in because you simply don't have the time? What are they? What or who gets the bulk of your attention and what gets the leftovers?
Part 1: Keeping A Growing Home | A Management Series for Moms Part 2: Keeping A Growing Home | Know Your Role! Part 3: Keeping A Growing Home | Making Priorities & 15 Good Things I Don't Do Part 4: Keeping A Growing Home | Time-Saving Home Management Tips Part 5: Keeping A Growing Home | My Daily Schedule
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Dear Brad, I can hardly believe it has been five years since you slipped a ring on my finger and I slipped one on yours.
Five years since we promised to love and cherish each other as husband and wife until death separates us.
Five years since I was sure I had just lived the best day of my life.
But five years later, I know it was just the beginning of a love story that only gets better with time.
We added the roles of "father and mother" to "husband and wife" eleven months after saying "I do." You said you were nervous about holding a baby since you had little to no experience with newborns. But as soon as Charity Sofia entered the world at home in our bedroom, you embraced her like it was the most natural thing in the world. You were born to be a Dad.
19 months later, God gave us Judah Paul. I'm so glad you have a son. There's just something about watching you with our boy that takes my breath away. He is your shadow, your copy-cat, your biggest fan. The way he claps his chubby hands together and jumps up and down, races to find his shoes, and grins from ear to ear when I say, "We're going to see Daddy at work!" tells me you're his hero. I hope he grows up to be just like you and treats his future bride just like you treat me.
One year later, our third child was born to Heaven at 11 weeks gestation, shortly after we had excitedly announced to everyone that we were expecting again. By God's grace, we made it through that physically and emotionally painful week in the hospital. You knew Jesus could comfort me in a way that you couldn't so we cried over His Word together when I didn't have the courage to read it myself. I can't wait until we can see our Baby together for the first time when the Lord calls us to trade this life for the next.
Half a year later, we found ourselves expecting again but our joy quickly turned to sadness when we rushed to the hospital, convinced I was miscarrying again at 9 weeks. "I see a heart-beat!" Those words of life and hope would be repeated to us dozens of times by an ultrasound technician throughout the rocky pregnancy that included 20 weeks of bed-rest and moving in with your parents. At 34 weeks, I went into labor and our dear Anna Grace was born healthy and strong at 5 pounds, 2 ounces! We had been the objects of God's undeserved mercy and grace and were absolutely overwhelmed with joy by our precious miracle.
Our lives are busy and our days are full, but somehow you always manage to make me feel like the center of your world. Every day, in a thousand ways, you tell me how much you love me and though I often take it for granted, I couldn't imagine life without your sweet gestures and affection:
... "I love you," whispered in my ear each morning before you head to work,
... washing dishes in the evening together and putting off getting our dishwasher fixed because we enjoy the bonding time too much,
... curling up to you after the kids are in bed and hearing your deep voice read out loud to me,
... watching the kids shriek with delight when you run around the house with them on your shoulders,
... kisses planted on my cheek in the kitchen when you set your lunch box on the counter,
... witnessing the births of our children, and rejoicing over the blessings that God has entrusted into our care,
... driving into town when I'm pregnant to pick up a specific flavor of pizza from a specific franchise because it's the only thing I crave even though it's full of gluten and you won't be able to eat a slice yourself,
... coming home with my favorite coffee when you've "just gone to get gas,"
... forgetting and forgiving all the times I'm grumpy, whiny, and discontent,
... giving 110% at work all day and coming home to lovingly greet your wife and patiently listen to three excited children who have a hundred and one things they want to tell you as soon as you step inside the door,
... even though I find mowing the lawn therapeutic, you always beat me to it because you're a true gentleman. Same goes for shoveling the driveway, taking out the garbage, and emptying the compost,
... praying with and for me, leading family worship, long talks involving our deep, mutual interests: homeschooling, politics, entrepreneurship, and economics,
... you excel where I shy away, especially in positions that require leadership and efficiency,
... how you always call and ask, "Can I bring supper home?" exactly when I'm feeling overwhelmed and way behind on everything,
... how you send me an email every day from work asking how my day's going and and never forgetting to end it with: "Love you!"
... how you pat your stomach after dinner and say, "Honey, that was a meal fit for a king," even if it was one of my experiments gone wrong,
... I love how I fit perfectly inside your embrace when you wrap your arms around me and say, "Let's just hug for a few minutes," while I'm cooking dinner...
... the interest you take in this little blogging hobby of mine and how you happily take the time to edit my posts and compile my eBooks even though you could be doing so many other things,
... the way you put your family first, the way you mean what you say and say what you mean, the way you have never once raised your voice at me in anger, the way you make us feel safe, secure, cherished, and treasured.
How does that saying go?
You're the peanut to my butter, water to my ocean, glaze on my doughnut, spring in my step, twinkle in my eye, blue in my sky, cherry to my sundae, flip to my flop, milk to my cookie, sweet in my dreams, beat of my heart, cheese to my macaroni, best to my friend, love of my life.
Sweetheart, if the Lord tarries, I hope to spend dozens and dozens and dozens of half-decades with you. Each day, I'm more in love with you than the last and these past five years have been the best ones of my life. I would say "I do" all over again in a heartbeat.
5 years ago, I had no idea marriage could be this glorious... I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us for the rest of together.
I love you.
Your wifey,
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This is the easiest, yummiest, no-fail fudge recipe you will ever find! Use this base to create all sorts of mouth-watering flavors by replacing the vanilla extract with maple, peppermint, orange, or cherry. Or use white chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter chips in place of semi-sweet. Ingredients:
3 cups high-quality, semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions: In a saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and milk on low. Stir in vanilla. Pour into a foil-lined pan and allow to cool and harden slightly before slicing.
For a loaf of fudge, use a 9-inch loaf pan. If you prefer fudge squares, pour into an 8-inch square pan or double the recipe and use a 9"x13" pan. Enjoy!
This fudge makes a great Christmas gift for all the chocolate-lovers on your list, from hostesses to your husband, and everyone in between! Wrap it up in parchment paper, tie with pretty string, and you've got a quick, pretty, practical, inexpensive, delicious gift to bless a friend with.
Wholesome Mixes and Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar$3.95 $2.00 ea. 'til January 17. Speaking of quick, pretty, practical, inexpensive, delicious gifts, now would be a great time to grab yourself a copy of Kristy Howard's eBooks Wholesome Mixes and Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar! I've been using Kristy's recipes for years and have several of them memorized. You can whip up these mixes in no time at all, package them in a cute jar, add a ribbon and you're a golden gift-giver. The recipes in Wholesome Mixes and Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar include:
Wholesome Mixes
Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes
Cinnamon-Banana Muffin Mix
Spiced Pumpkin Mix
Fudge Brownie Mix
Snicker Doodle Cookie Mix
Easy Fruit Cobbler Crust Mix
Southern Biscuit Mix
Homemade Pizza Dough Mix
Holiday Mixes & Gifts in a Jar
Chicken Noodle Soup
Calico Chili
Homemade Breakfast Cereal
Winter Morning Mocha
Candy Cane Cocoa Mix
Apple Pie in a Jar
Homemade Peanut Brittle (without Corn Syrup)
Can’t-Believe-it’s-Healthy-Fudge
Popcorn Balls (without Corn Syrup)
Spiced Pecans
Candied Peanuts
The only difference between her recipes and my fudge recipe, is that her's are actually quick, pretty, practical, inexpensive, delicious AND healthy. That's quite a feat, if you ask me. I'm working on the latter. ;-)
From now until January 17, you can get all of Kristy's eBooks for $2.00 a piece.
This post contains affiliate links for products we love! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed,, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family Time Warp Wife
In August 1987, I lay in the recovery room fighting back tears. The anesthetic did little to dull the pain inflicted by the doctor's words. "Your left ovary was removed because of the large cyst. This decreases your chances of getting pregnant by 50%." This news was bad enough. But when I asked about the baby, he told me that a D and C had been performed prior to the discovery of the cyst. My baby had been aborted.
Because I had no medical insurance, there had been no ultrasound. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy the day before had been determined by the symptoms I was experiencing: a positive pregnancy test and severe pain in my lower left abdomen resulted in the death of a precious child.
I had never really wanted children. Growing up, I viewed them as bothersome and a hindrance to my independence and dreams of becoming a world renowned writer. Those who knew our family would say, "Tami (my younger sister) will probably have eight or nine. Cheryl might have one." My plans were thwarted however, when I discovered I was pregnant a few days after my 19th birthday. Believing I was doing the right thing, I married my baby's father. This stormy marriage lasted three years.
Terry and I met at the pizza place where I worked when he became the manager in 1986. He quickly became my best friend and a physical relationship followed. We married in December, a few months after the death of our unborn child. My 3-year-old daughter, Amanda was our flower girl. Six weeks later I presented my husband with a gift wrapped in Valentine's Day paper: a baby rattle. Our daughter Stephanie was born in October, via cesarean. My first child had been breach and though I wanted to try a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), my obstetrician said it was too risky.
I was content with two children. Terry however, desired to have a son. Emily was born in April 1992. Following a grueling miscarriage in 1994, I began to consider sterilization. I visited my OB in December for a pre-op check-up and discovered that I was pregnant again. Haley, my fourth child born via cesarean, was taken early because the doctor feared that my scar would rupture if I went into labor. Weighing 4 lbs 3 oz., she was our smallest baby.
My smallest baby and final cesarean, Haley Rose weighing 4 lbs 3 oz. Deciding that my body had been through enough between the four cesareans, the surgery to remove my ovary and another invasive surgery to remove yet another cyst on my right ovary, I scheduled a sterilization procedure for Terry several different times. He always had a reason for missing those appointments.
In December 1996, two weeks after yet another positive pregnancy test, I discovered that my husband was having an affair. We were headed for a divorce, but the Lord miraculously intervened.
As our Pastor began to counsel us, he asked that we attend a week-long IBLP Basic Seminar. Less than two weeks after accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior, we were sitting in an auditorium learning about seven non-optional Biblical principles that teach how to view life from an eternal perspective. Though this information was foreign to us, when Mr. Gothard suggested we give our fertility to the Lord, Terry and I both felt the Holy Spirit tugging at our hearts. I resisted at first, telling Terry, "We could end up with ten children!" I was facing yet another cesarean in August and wondered how much more my body could endure. By the end of the week however, the Lord had made His request clear to both of us, and we entered into this covenant with Him.
During my first prenatal appointment a few weeks later with an unfamiliar OB, the elderly doctor studied my obstetrical history and gruffly asked, "Why do you keep having cesareans? Is something wrong with you that prevents you from having your babies the normal way?" I was not prepared for his question. "The first was breech and the others were just repeats. I've had four... " He surely must've missed that. "I see. But I still think you should try." That was all that was said and I left there believing this man was a quack and if I listened to him, I would end up dead. After all, my last child had been taken early to prevent rupturing that fragile uterine scar.
Pastor's wife had driven me to my appointment and I discussed this with her on the drive home. She asked, "Have you ever considered it?" Then she patiently listened as I voiced my concerns. Finally she asked if I would be willing to look into it and offered to give me some information from IBLP regarding VBAC.
Terry and I poured over the information and began praying about this possibility. By the time I returned for my next appointment a month later, we were convinced that the Lord was directing our steps and I informed the doctor that we would indeed like to try a VBAC.
A few weeks before my due date, the obstetrician began to question this decision. Apparently he had discussed it with his colleagues and could find no support. They all agreed that it was too risky, considering I'd had four cesareans. Though we signed waivers releasing him, the hospital and staff from any obligation, he continued to pressure us into changing our minds. He told me that no one in Indiana had successfully delivered vaginally after four cesareans. His wording was meant to strike fear in me, but only instilled a sense of determination instead. I was looking forward to what the Lord was about to do in this situation.
I was given several stipulations regarding the birth. I would not be allowed to go even a few days past my due date. I would only be allowed so much time for each stage of labor. I would be monitored constantly during labor. Two days before my due date, I drank Castor Oil hoping to initiate labor. It didn't work and I only ended up with a severe case of diarrhea.
On August 7, 1997, my due date, I awoke with consistent contractions. My appointment was scheduled for that morning,. Terry and I were eager to see how I was progressing, but as the doctor examined me, he gruffly said, "You aren't in labor. You wouldn't even know what labor feels like!" I knew he was right about that as I'd been to the hospital twice the week before and was embarrassed that I didn't know the difference between false labor and the real thing. "You just need to have a cesarean. I can do it this afternoon... " He suggested. I was having a weak moment and looked at Terry. He shook his head. We drove home in silence as the "false labor" continued.
By four o'clock the pain had intensified and I began to blame the Castor Oil. I phoned the doctor's office when I began leaking liquid, but he refused to talk to me. He told the nurse to tell me it was caused from the examination and that he could still do the cesarean that evening. I thanked her and hung up.
The pain only increased. As I held a hot heating pad on my abdomen, I thought if I could just have one for my back, I would feel so much better. Terry became so concerned that he finally phoned the doctor at 8:00 P.M. then called Pastor and asked him to come get the children so he could take me to the hospital.
When we arrived, I wouldn't let Terry take in my bag or camera because I believed I only needed pain medication and I would be going home. I didn't even wear shoes. As we stepped off the elevator, the OB nurse met us and began asking questions. I quickly explained that I was not in labor and only needed pain medication. She informed me that she had been instructed to prep me for a cesarean. I firmly said, "I refuse to sign any papers. I only need pain medicine." She then told me that she couldn't prescribe anything until I had been examined.
The pain seemed almost constant. As the nurse began the examination she asked why I thought I wasn't in labor. "Because I saw the doctor this morning and talked to his nurse earlier and he said I wasn't!" The nurse smiled and said, "Honey, you're at eight centimeters; you're about to have a baby!"
An epidural was quickly ordered in hopes of buying the necessary time for the doctor to arrive. As he raced into the room, he began to prepare me for a forceps delivery. Terry told him he wouldn't allow that instrument to be used on his baby. As the two men argued, I looked at the nurse and pleaded, "Four times I've laid on a table and had my babies cut out of me. I want to push this one into the world." She grabbed my leg and whispered, "With the next contraction, PUSH!" I followed her instructions, then she said, "Excuse me, Doctor, did you want to catch this child?" I heard the clang of metal as the forceps hit the floor. Mackenzie was born after only two strong pushes.
Our sixth child, Corrie Beth was born in another hospital with a Certified Nurse Midwife in 1999. She weighed 10 lbs 3 oz. Deciding that I didn’t enjoy the hospital experience, we planned to have our next baby at a birthing center. Isaac (our “long-awaited-for son”) was born in January 2001. He weighed 10 lbs 12 oz. Two years later his brother was born at the same facility. Eric Samuel (“Sam”) weighed 10 lbs 4 oz.
When I became pregnant with our ninth child, I was walking through the house one day and a thought came to my mind that this baby would be born at home. It wasn’t a decision, really; but rather a realization. I discussed this with Terry and he agreed. Later we discovered that the birthing center where the boys had been born was no longer allowing VBACs. This was a confirmation to us.
Two months before the baby was due, my midwife requested I get an ultrasound to rule out twins. The female obstetrician read my obstetrical history in disbelief. “Obviously, Someone... " She pointed and looked up,"... meant for you to have this many children.“ Though she agreed to be my back-up doctor in case of complications, she informed me that a trip to the hospital during labor would end in a definite cesarean. “Off the record,” she said, “You really are better off doing this at home.” Another confirmation.
After a long, but peaceful labor, Destiny Faith was born at home, weighing 11 lbs 15 oz; my biggest baby! I experienced shoulder dystocia during the delivery, as the baby came down with a hand on her head, but my competent Certified Professional Midwife knew how to handle the situation and the baby and I were both fine.
My biggest baby: Destiny Faith born at home weighing 11 lbs 15 oz. The year after Destiny was born, Amanda married a young man named Ryan. In September, we all rejoiced as she announced that she was expecting a baby. I took a pregnancy test the next day and discovered that we were due a week apart. We were pregnant together for several weeks, then I miscarried our baby in mid-October.
A little over a year after Aiden was born, Amanda was pregnant again. By this time I was 44 years old and had begun to think that we were done having babies ourselves. It was time to settle into my role as Grandma. I was a little sad, but content.
Right before Christmas I began experiencing stomach flu-like symptoms. I complained to Amanda, “Great! Everyone is going to be sick at Christmas.” She asked how long I’d had the nausea then gave her diagnosis; “Mom, you’re not sick; you’re pregnant!” I dismissed the thought but then asked Terry to pick up a test a few days later, “Just to rule out the possibility”. It was positive!
I visited my midwife’s back-up obstetrician, but he refused to be associated with this birth. He said he was glad that I’d had successful VBACs, but he believed that what I was doing was dangerous. To us, his assessment was simply a testament of what the Lord had done. Though some family members and friends expressed concern for my well-being, I was not afraid, “... For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” I truly believe He healed that cesarean scar when we made that covenant with Him in 1997.
On August 25, 2009 after a 28-hour labor, our third son was born at home as his three older sisters watched, sobbing and in awe. He too had his arm up, so I once again experienced shoulder dystocia. He was also posterior, which made the delivery more painful and the cord was wrapped around his neck. Thank God for my wonderful midwife! Michael Ray weighed 11 lbs 2 oz and was 23” long. His three-month-old niece and two year old nephew were introduced to him within minutes of his birth, as were his other four sisters and 2 big brothers. We praise the Lord for one more opportunity to raise yet another Kingdom Warrior.
I’ve been asked if I would ever counsel another woman facing her fifth cesarean to refuse the surgery and give birth at home. Don’t simply follow my footsteps, I say; but follow after the Lord. ____________________________________________________
Cheryl Long is an unashamed follower of Jesus Christ, wife to Terry for 24 years, mom to ten children (several of which are adults already!), grandma to two precious grandbabies so far, and an occasional blogger at Tresures from a Shoebox where her desire is to give hope to those who are hurting, to exhort and encourage women in their high calling as wife and mother, and to bring glory to her Savior.
Last week, I was sent a copy of Real Food for the Real Homemaker and let me tell you, this is one gem of a cookbook! I love a good, hearty, healthy, home-cooked meal almost as much as I enjoy making them so when the opportunity to get creative with new recipes in the kitchen presents itself, I jump!
Real Food for the Real Homemaker sifts through the myriad of information (and misinformation) we've all heard about fats, grains, raw milk, and organic produce and provides a condensed and sensible approach to eating healthy, hearty food that tastes like it came from Grandma's kitchen.
No offense to the authors, but this eBook is reminiscent of those coil-bound United Church Cookbooks put together by sweet little seventy-year-old members of the Ladies Guild. I mean that as the sincerest compliment!
It teaches the basics every cook should know like which kitchen tools are absolutely necessary (and which brands give you the best bang for your buck); how to practice hospitality; how to make granola, yogurt in a crock-pot, and tortillas from scratch; how to save at the grocery store, freezer cook, and substitute ingredients.
Plus, you'll enjoy over 75 home-style recipes with a healthy twist. Among them:
Breads & Breakfast Recipes Apple Nut Muffins with Caramel Glaze Baked French Toast Baked Oatmeal Banana Bread Best-Ever Scrambled Eggs Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Quiche Cornbread Egg Bake Egg Sandwiches Eggs in a Nest Granola Orange White-Chocolate Chip Scones Perfect Pancakes Popovers Rolled Biscuits Sausage Gravy Simple Cream Biscuits Tortillas Yogurt
Sides, Soups, & Salad Recipes Applesauce Baked Beans Caesar Salad Cheesy Potato-Vegetable Soup Homemade Garlic-Herb Croutons Chicken Salad with Grapes and Apples Chicken Stock Chili Cucumber Salad Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing Fruit Salsa Ham and Cheese Soup Italian Pasta Salad Italian Vinaigrette Mashed Potatoes Mushroom Soup Oven-Fried Potatoes Peaches with Ginger Syrup Quick Tomato Soup Ranch Dressing Roasted Root Vegetables Ruby Red Fruit Salad Tomato and Cucumber Salad Vegetable Beef Soup White Chicken Chili
Entrée Recipes Bean, Rice, and Salsa Bowls Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet Cheesy Chicken-and-Rice Casserole Chicken and Pasta with Balsamic Vinegar Sauce Chicken Fajitas Chicken Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie Chicken Stir-Fry Couscous Chicken Pilaf Creamy Lemon Pasta Fresh Tomato-Vegetable Sauce Fried Rice Grilled Shrimp Pasta Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Meatballs Pasta al Fredo Pizza from Scratch Slow-Cooked Chicken Slow-Cooked Pork Chops with Gravy Slow-Cooked Herbed Pork Roast Stuffed Bell Peppers Tilapia Variations Toasted Tomato-Cheese Sandwiches Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes
Dessert Recipes Baked Apples Butterscotch Pudding Classic Pie Crust “Everything” Cookies Homemade Brownies Lemon Cheesecake Squares Lemon-Lime Ice Rice Pudding Strawberry Pie
Best of all? Full-color photos are included with almost every recipe! Whether you're a rookie in the kitchen, deep inside a cooking rut, attempting to replace your favorite dishes with healthy versions, or simply looking to expand your recipe repertoire, Real Food for the Real Homemaker is valuable resource for any cook and a guaranteed hit with the whole family!
For $12.95 $9.99, you get all of the following:
Real Food for the Real Homemaker in both the KINDLE and PDF version,
a set of beautiful recipe cards,
an Excel program for creating shopping lists and menu planning!
Enter below to win a copy or purchase yours here for $9.99 - this week only! a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your continued support! Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, The Prairie Homestead
Like many of you, we are a single-income, larger-than-average, (1.8 or more children), homeschooling family.
And both my husband and I come from a rich, Dutch heritage.
In other words, whether or not we need to be, we enjoy frugal living. I'm also a lover of nutritious, from-scratch, whole-food cooking. Overtime, we've found that you can have one and the other! Here's how we can enjoy a mainlywhole-food diet on a budget (we still eat take-out more often than I'd like to admit!).
Cheap foods that are good for you
1. Whole grains. Oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa are cheap! For ultimate nutritional value, choose any of these grains and soak them for a hearty breakfast that'll keep you energized all morning.
For a fabulously healthy, gluten-free, blueberry-muffin smelling breakfast, pour 1 cup of steel-cut oats, brown rice, OR quinoa in a crock-pot. Add 1 1/2 cups of almond milk, 1 1/2 cups water, 1-2 Tbsp of ground flax seed, 2-3 Tbsp butter or coconut oil, 1 cup fresh blueberries, cinnamon, sea salt, and sweetener (honey, maple syrup, stevia, or brown sugar) to taste. Stir. Cook on low overnight. Alternately, try using diced apple and a handful of walnut in place of blueberries. 2. Beans and legumes. Beans are one of the cheapest proteins available and can be used to replace meat in a meal. Given a good, over-night soak in purified water, they are a highly digestible form of fiber, complex carbohydrates, iron, and folate - ideal if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
Our favorite way to enjoy beans are in chili, taco salad, and brownies (there's a Special Agent Brownie recipe in Trim Healthy Mama that's absolutely fabulous!).
3. Eggs. Eggs are one of the very few complete proteins available to us (they contain all 9 essential amino acids), contain only 70 calories, and are chock full of nutrition. Besides being excellent sources of protein and good cholesterol, they also contain iron, vitamins A, D, E, and B12, folate, selenium, and lutein.
Eggs can be cooked quickly in a variety of ways (hard or soft-boiled, fried, poached, scrambled) and provide great structure and texture when added to baked goods.
We enjoy them on their own and in omelettes, crepes, breakfasts bakes, and pizza crust.
Foods worth paying more for
No matter how tight our budget, there are certain foods I don't cheap out on as we feel the extra dollars are insignificant compared to the health benefits. We'd rather "pay the farmer than the pharmacy," as the saying goes.
1. Oil. It's a safe bet that anything you can get in a big plastic jug for $4 is not good for you. Vegetable oils and margarine derived from cheaply grown or genetically modified plants like sunflower, corn, soybean, canola, safflower have little nutrition to begin with and are chemically altered and deodorized in order to make them palatable. Our bodies were not meant to consume them.
Opt instead for healthy saturated fats that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. These include butter (preferably organic), coconut, olive, and red palm oil. 2. Fresh, local, organic produce. We can't afford to purchase all of our produce this way, but we try our best to grow or purchase the infamous "Dirty Dozen" organically as these fruits and vegetables contain the highest pesticide residue otherwise:
Peaches
Apples
Celery
Peppers
Nectarines
Strawberries
Pears
Cherries
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
Grapes
12 fruits and vegetables that contain the contain the least contamination we don't worry about paying the organic price-tag for:
onions
avocado
sweet corn
pineapples
mango
asparagus
bananas
cabbage
broccoli
papaya
kiwi
3. Dairy products and alternative beverages. Although we use several cultured forms of dairy, we don't drink animal milk products as they are difficult for the body digest. If it was legal to purchase raw cow's milk, we would certainly give it a try!
Instead, we use coconut or almond milk. They contain high levels of vitamins A & D and are lactose free. They cost slightly more than pasteurized, hormone enhanced cow's milk, but since we rarely use it for more than our morning smoothie, we don't notice a difference in our grocery bill.
As our budget allows, we try to purchase higher quality dairy products like kefir, greek yogurt, cream and cottage cheese. 4. Meat. Cheaper cuts of meat are usually that way because they come from animals that are pumped full of genetically modified grain products, growth hormones, and antibiotics - the sole purpose of which is to fatten an animal up as quickly as possible for slaughter. Food Inc. is a fascinating documentary that explains how the food industry is making us sicker, fatter, and poorer through this process.
Although more expensive, grass-fed, locally raised, organic beef and chicken is a far more nutritious alternative and of much less consequence to your health. 5. Sweeteners. Sugar is cheap, appeals to our pallet, and is easy to come by. Consequently, diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart failure, and a host of other health concerns are also the norm. We stay away from refined sugar as much as possible and use raw honey, pure maple syrup, and stevia instead.
While they should still be used in small quantities, these sweeteners contain healthy enzymes and minerals which are difficult to get from other foods. They also have a healthier Glycemic Index which means they don't mess with your blood sugar levels in the same way refined sugar does.
Where to get healthy food for less
1. Garden. Anyone can grow their own produce, even a little bit. Be it a pot on the balcony of your apartment or a 3 acre market garden, all you need is some seed, soil, water, and sun and you're in business.
We put in a large raise bed last year for free - my husband made a tarp in exchange for a truckload of triple-mix and I used the gift cards I got for my birthday to purchase our seeds and plants. 2. Farmer's Market. Farmer's markets are great places to find local, seasonal produce, cure meats, eggs, honey and maple syrup at a fraction of the price you find in the store. Plus, farmers generally care about individual relationships with their customers and often offer a faithful buyer further discounts and "throw in a little extra." 3. Local Farmer. In the fall, we often purchase 1/4-1/2 a cow from a Christian farmer who grows his beef organically. We get to choose how we'd like it butchered and our freezer is well stocked for several months. We estimate purchasing our meat this way saves us 30% of the store price.
If we had the space for it, we'd love to keep our own chickens. We go through plenty of eggs around here! Thankfully, they are cheap to come by! We buy them from Brad's co-worker whose family keeps organically raised laying hens as a sideline business.
In the summer, we pick our own berries, freeze most of them, and turn some into sauce or jam. A relative of ours keeps a bountiful raspberry patch where we can come and go as we please.
It didn't work out last year because of pregnancy complications, but this summer, my mom, sisters, and I plan on putting up other produce from local farms that we don't grow ourselves: peaches, pears, carrots, pickles, etc.
4. Bulk Stores. I buy most of our grain from The Bulk Barn. We often receive coupons for $3.00 off a purchase of $10.00 or more (which I can easily spend in one visit!). I blend whole kernels with my Wondermill and the stuff I purchase pre-ground (flax), I purchase in small quantities as it goes rancid quickly. I purchase my organice herbs, teas, sea salt, and spices from The Bulk Herb Store.
I also purchase soap and other dried goods here like coconut, almonds, walnuts, and cranberries. 5. Grocery Store. You can save money at the grocery store by using coupons, ad-matching, checking the clearance shelf, and purchasing store-brand non-perishables like brown rice and tomato paste.
The clearance shelf where everything is ripe and ready, is a wonderful place to get greatly discounted produce. If you have a juicer, freeze your juice into Popsicles for a healthy summer treat or into ice cubes for slushies. Peppers and onions can be cut up and bagged for pizza toppings, apples turned into sauce, and mushrooms sauteed in butter for a fine steak topping. 6. Online. I must admit to rarely purchasing groceries online. I prefer to see the product myself. The exception to this is the extra virgin coconut oil I get from Tropical Traditions. The quality is truly remarkable. We use it a lot, especially in desserts like Chunky Cream Pops, Skinny Chocolate, and Peppermint Patties. I'm thankful it regularly goes on sale for 40-50% off.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support! Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Homestead Barn Hop, The Better Mom,
$10-12 for brunch or lunch, $15-25 for supper. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
2124 Albert Street, Regina, SK 306-545-8811
_______________________________________
Dear Abbey:
It's about this time of year when the intended joy of Christmas starts to compete with the utter madness of Christmas.
The lineups at the grocery store are longer; the parking spots at the Cornwall Centre are fewer -- heck, the lineup just to get out of the parkade is enough to make you cringe. What's a guy to do? Signed, Crazy for Christmas
- - - - - - - - Dear CC:
There are plenty of ways to deal with Christmas Craze. Some of them involve muttering swears underneath your breath. Others involve a simple retreat to a welcoming watering hole.
I suggest the latter. Yours, Abbey
- - - - - - - -
Today me and Big Willie opted for an easy Sunday morning and headed over to The Abbey on Albert Street. It was a brutally cold morning to brave the outdoors but the lure of breakfast without having to cook it was enough to get us out there.
I'd been to The Abbey a couple of times since it opened in December '08. My first visit, less than a week after the doors opened, was good but a little rough around the edges. And that's to be fully expected so early in the game.
My second visit, about two months later, left me with a bad taste in my mouth -- literally. A friend and I went for a Sunday-night supper before heading out to a show at the Brandt Centre. I had high hopes that the kitchen would have ironed out the wrinkles by that point but I left feeling happy with the atmosphere yet disappointed with the food, especially a very greasy pizza that was overcooked.
Since that time, I learned that The Abbey hired a new head chef. I was a bit reluctant to go back until a few friends and coworkers reported positive experiences recently.
Today, my third visit proved to be the lucky charm. Big Willie and I were seated quickly on the second-floor balcony overlooking the dining room. We took a few minutes to study the brunch menu and then placed our order.
I decided to keep things simple and ordered The Usual -- two eggs any style (I went with Sunny Side Up), bacon or sausage, hash browns, toast, and a few pieces of fruit. I figure if a kitchen can't get the most basic breakfast items right then there's little hope they'll succeed with anything else.
Big Willie chose The Eden Eggs Benedict (served with tomato and spinach on a homemade biscuit). We also opted to share The Abbey Salad, which came recommended by a friend.
All things said, our only complaint with the food was that it took too long to hit the table (close to half an hour). On the one hand, this wasn't an outrageous amount of time. On the other hand, you start to wonder what's going on after about 15 minutes at breakfast time. Both our waitress and the floor manager gave sincere apologies for the delay, so at least they were aware of the problem.
Otherwise, the food was delicious. I'm not normally a fan of Eggs Benedict but The Eden won me over. I think it was the fresh, crumbly homemade biscuit that did it. Big Willie was pretty pleased with his choice, too.
My eggs were cooked perfectly, not always the case when you order Sunny Side Up. And the best part of The Usual? The crispy sausage, just like we used to eat at home when I was a kid. I'm happy to report that The Abbey serves real sausage -- not the greasy breakfast kind that some people seem to love.
The Abbey Salad, strangely the most expensive item we ordered, was also pretty delish. A Roast Shallot Dressing came drizzled over mixed greens, grilled chicken, bacon, crumbled blue cheese, and a few slices of pear. This salad was a meal in itself and is also on the restaurant's lunch menu. I think it's safe to say I'll be back for it someday.
To make a nice meal even nicer, The Abbey plays host to live jazz music on Sundays from 11-2. Today's warm groove, combined with the awesome Viennese Dark Roast coffee, pretty much made us forget it was 30 degrees below zero, at least for awhile.
All in all, The Abbey is finally coming into its own as a restaurant. Despite the odd glitch here and there, it seems that things are almost nearing perfection.
If they keep this up they might just start to lure me away from La Bodega a bit more often.
