Clean Eating Green Smoothie

    Sounds kinda gross, right?  Well, I thought so, that is until I tried this vitamin packed smoothie.  I used to drink a version of this with juice...that is, until I realized how much sugar I was consuming.  BEWARE:  This smoothie is DELICIOUS!!

     Well, this new version is a little cleaner too.  No artificial sweetners, which I'm guilty of abusing.  Without any further ado, I'll hush up and share my recipe!  Enjoy.

Clean Eating Green Smoothie

• 8-10 oz. of unsweetned Almond Milk
• 1 cup of frozen raw Spinach (I just buy a big bag, as opposed to the boxed kind)
• 1 TBSP REAL Honey
• 1 med. banana
• 1/2 cup vanilla or plain Greek Yogurt
• 2-3 ice cubes
• 1 TBSP of Natural Peanut Butter (I use Smuckers cause only ingriedients are peanuts and salt)

Blend away and sip to your hearts content!

Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies!

UPDATE:  I used 1/2 cup brown sugar instead of the white, and loved them even better, if that's possible!  If you don't want to use any artificial sweetners, you could use 1 cup of either brown or white sugar.  Another yummy addition is dark chocolate chips!  At least with 60% cacao.

Oh my, what a Monday I've had!  It has been the  MOTHER of all Mondays!  

So, I treated myself to some peanut butter cookies!

Not just any peanut butter cookies, but a bit more figure friendly peanut butter cookies.

I have finished my Advocare 24 day challenge, and feel amazing! I have lost a total of 13 lbs. and 6 inches total from all over. 

So as not to sabbatoge myself on my not so good days when I need a little comfort from....food.  I know, still working on that.  But hey, making changes a litttle bit at a time.

Here is my recipe which I'm still tweaking to lessen the sugar, but it's still pretty good.

Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1 cup Peanut Butter ( I used Smucker's Natural PB, Creamy)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup stevia
• 1 egg (lightly beaten)
• 1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix peanut butter and sugars in a bowl until blended. 

Add the egg and baking soda and stir until combined.

Use a cookie scoop to make all cookies same size.  Make sure to squish (that's my technical term for the day) them down with a fork, and make a cute little criss-cross pattern.

Bake for 10 min. Makes about 28 cookies.

Each cookie is about 73.5 calories.  Not bad right?

Did you notice that there's no flour?!  It's not a typo......

These cookies are high in protein and low in calories.

My kids even love these and haven't missed the old version.

Enjoy,

Aimee



Pico De Gallo Chicken!

Pico De Gallo Chicken

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sea Salt
• Mrs. Dash's Southwest Chipotle Seasoning
• Pico De Gallo
• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

I used a prepared pico de gallo from Wal-Mart (Marketside brand) found in the produce section.  You can make your own, it's very simple.  I will post the recipe for it at the end of this post!

• Start by heating the oven to 375 deg.
• Lightly brush olive oil over chicken.
• Sprinkle Sea Salt to taste

• Sprinkle Mrs. Dash seasoning. The more you sprinkle, the spicier it will be.

• Bake in oven about 25-35 min. depending on the thickness of the breasts.  Juices will run clear when done.

I also cooked some organic brown rice (found at where else, Wal-Mart) with dinner, and a side of steamed spinach. 

When the spinach was done, I added some Light Balsamic Vinegar and mixed well.

To plate the dinner, I first put the desired amount of rice on plate, then the chicken on top....and topped the chicken with the Pico De Gallo.

Spinach with balsamic vinegar on the side.

Super Simple Homemade Pico De Gallo

Equal parts of:

• Roma tomatoes , chopped
• Onion, chopped
• Cilantro, chopped

Then add in:

• Chopped jalapenos, 1 or 2 (scrape out membrane and seeds, unless you like it HOT)

Mix all 4 ingredients well, then squeeze in juice from

• half of a lime

Sprinkle with

• Salt

The kids loved this meal, they were topping the chicken with extra pico de gallo and ate most of the spinach...which is a huge achievement in itself!

Anytime I can come up with a healthy meal that the kids will not only eat, but love....it goes in my "keeper" recipe binder.  The boys told me this one was a "keeper"!!

Thanks!

Aimee



Easter is Coming!



Ok, so it was a couple of days ago when I realized that Easter was THIS WEEKEND!

Holy bananas! It was then I grabbed an envelope from a bill I just opened (cause I'm organized like that), and commenced to writing out my to do list on it in order to be ready for Easter.  

 

My List

• Buy Easter Candy (Have hubby hide it, so I don't eat it!)
• Find Easter baskets
• Buy annoying plastic shredded grass for baskets
• Buy egg coloring kit  BONUS!  Found an extra from last year!
• Buy eggs. (This may seem odd since we own laying hens...but we only have brown egg layers.  Ever try to dye brown eggs? Ya, not so easy.)
• Figure out Easter breakfast and dinner menu
• Figure out Easter craft with kids. (Geode Easter Eggs?)



Our regular routine for Easter is: Night before Easter, we color eggs, and then watch Peter Cottontail, you know the old version, I loved it growing up, and now it's our tradition.

Wake up at the tiniest crack of dawn, to kids squealing and piling in our bed, hubby crawls down the hall to the kitchen to make a survival pot of coffee. 

Me, holding kids back , literally, so no one spies the "hidden" Easter eggs before the "Great Hunt" begins. (We have to hide the eggs inside...one of the downfalls of living on a farm...otherwise the cats, dogs, possums, and coons would have themselves a tasty Easter treat.  And, well, I'm just not that nice). All the while I'm yelling at hubby to grab the camera on his way back from the kitchen.  Kids then run down the hall to the kitchen, spy their goodies in their baskets on the kitchen table, ooh and aah for a moment before they dump goodies onto said table, shove a piece of candy in their mouth, and take off with their basket to hunt for the eggs that the Easter Bunny hid during the night. 

I would then make some sort of egg concoction (scrambled, frittata, omelet, etc...) with bacon or sausage, call it good, and try to keep the kids from going into a sugar coma.

About noonish, I usually start on a ham, special scalloped potatoes, corn pudding, asparagus, rolls, and some sort of fruit pie. 

Well, this year, I'm gonna change just a few things up a little bit.  Night before activities will stay the same....going to get the coffee ready the night before and set the timer.....put my camera on my nightstand....and this year I'm going to make....drum roll please.....HOT CROSS BUNS!!  It use to be a tradition in my house growing up.  But, I've looked for those babies high and low.... everywhere, and nobody sells them anymore.  I guess maybe, if you went to a special bakery or pastry shop, you might find them, but not in these parts!

Well, this year, I'm going to make them!  I'm so excited....just wish my mama was here to eat them with us. 

My Easter links:

Hot Cross Buns Recipe  This is The Pioneer Woman's recipe! (Love that woman!)

Geode Easter Eggs

 





Here Comes Peter Cottontail (DVD)

What are your family's Easter  traditions? 

Tomorrow, I'm going to post recipes for my Easter dinner......

Off to find my bunny spirit,
Aimee

Healthy Recipes

I'm trying to lose weight not only for my health, but before the dreaded bathing suit season.....YIKES!!!

My brother and his wife are advisors and distributors for a company called, ADVOCARE.  I love this program....you're not starving yourself (those diets are doomed to fail), their products are natural, and nutrient rich.

Well, I just got done with the first week, which is the cleanse week.  I never felt hungry or deprived!  Needless to say, I'm loving my results!  I'm down 5 lbs, 2-1/2 inches around the waist, 1-1/2 inches around the hips!

They are big encouragers of losing weight the right way.....real food, vitamin enriched protein shakes, and supplements. Foods that are less processed (not easy). Exercise is recommended, which I'm starting this weekend. Adovocare is basically a springboard for a healthier lifestyle.

Anyway, I wanted to share a few food ideas that are healthy and a great way to help you lose weight....the right way.

Chicken Berry Salad

• 4 oz. chicken diced, cooked,  and seasoned with rosemary, basil, and sea salt
• organic 1/2 & 1/2 salad (spinach & spring mix) I use Wal-Mart's Marketside brand
• Fresh Strawberries (cut into bite sized pieces)
• Fresh Blackberries
• 2 TBSP Light Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

Salmon and Roasted Asparagus with Cherry Tomatoes

• Wild caught Salmon, 
• 1 bunch fresh Asparagus
• olive oil
• sea salt & pepper
• Grape Tomatoes
• Mrs. Dash's (Salt-Free) Tomato, Basil, Garlic seasoning

Very lightly, coat salmon with olive oil, (use a pastry brush).

Season salmon with Mrs. Dash and bake on a baking sheet or glass pan, in a pre-heated 400 deg. oven for 12-15 min .
Rinse asparagus and dry it well. 

 Break or cut off bottom ends.

Drizzle 1 tsp. olive oil over asparagus and sprinkle with salt & pepper to taste.

Cut grape tomatoes in half (length-ways) and combine with asparagus.

Mix the asparagus with your hands to evenly distribute all ingredients.

Place on a baking sheet in a single layer, and roast on top rack of oven at 400 deg. for 15 min.

I usually serve this with organic brown rice, or you could roast some red potatoes too!

I'm experimenting with quinoa, so stay tuned!



Here's to a long and healthy life!
Aimee

Rainy Day Playdough

Last week it rained every single cotton-pickin' day!   We had a blanket fort day, a movie day, a day at Science City, a catch up on our reading day.....and as the walls started closing in around us, and the boys were crawling up them, I was desperate for something to keep their little hands busy! 

Someone suggested playing with play-dough, but I had long ago  tossed it into the trash after scrapping it out of the carpet...but I did have the ingredients on hand to make it.

So, here it is.....no guarantee that it won't stick to your carpet, but it is natural, and non-toxic!

Mix the following ingredients in a pot over low heat ( recipe makes 1 lb) :



1 cup flour





1 cup water



       

 



1/2 cup salt



    



1 TBSP vegetable oil



                                   



1-1/2 tsp cream of tartar



                                            
                

  



Food coloring



              



Stir, it won't take long

   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          



before it starts to clump



                   

                         

  



dough is ready when it rolls into a ball



store playdough in Ziploc bags in the fridge



   
   

                                

                                        Use waxed paper and hold it down

                           with painters tape for a non-stick 
                             work surface.

                                          I set out a bowl of plastic cutlery,
                            cookie cutters, a rolling pin, and
                            they had a blast!

Take that rainy day!
Aimee

                                                      

                      

                                                                             

          

Easy Homemade Microwave Popcorn

My family loves popcorn!  It's an easy, healthy (if done without oils) snack that pops up in no time.  However, with a family of 6, buying the convenient packs of ready made popcorn can get pricey....and it can be not good for your health with the additives, and preservatives.

So, are you ready for a really complicated recipe?

Here it is:

Easy Homemade Microwave Popcorn

• popping corn
• brown bag (lunch bags)

Yep, that's it! Now here's the difficult part...I hope you're paying attention...

For a single serving, pour just 1/4 cup of the popping corn into the paper bag (which you can reuse!)

Fold the top of the  bag over 2x's...please no staples, we don't want sparks in the microwave!

Voila!  There you have it!  Fresh, HEALTHY, homemade, cheap popcorn!!!
If you want, you could melt a little butter and drizzle over the top of the popcorn, or maybe just a little salt.If you're watching you're figure, use the spray butter to control the calories!

Other flavor ideas

• Parmesan cheese
• cinnamon & sugar
• herbs & butter

Enjoy!

Aimee

Homemade (NO GRATE) Bodywash

I am always trying to find ways to save money by making things myself (if I can).
So, I usually end up searching on "One Good Thing" By Jillee and am never disappointed!

I started making my own laundry detergent and thought, why not try and make homemade body wash?
I figured how hard can it be, right?  Turns out it is way easy, and it's a way to save lots of MOULA! 
Got your attention now? 
Today's recipe of homemade body wash is brought to you by "One Good Thing" By Jillee. 

Homemade Body Wash

6 cups of water

3 bars of soap ( I used Dove)

Put the water into a large pot and bring to a boil on stove, then turn down heat to medium.

Microwave the bars of soap, One bar at a time, for 90 seconds each and put in pot of water immediately! This is the exciting part, because usually, like the homemade laundry soap, you would have to grate the bars of soap....and me no likey that part....I still have a cut on my hand to prove it!

Continue stirring your soap soup occasionally over medium heat until all the soap is well dissolved.  It may take a little bit, but you want to be sure it's all melted! Go give yourself a facial while you're waiting, you know you deserve it!

When completely dissolved pour into a glass jar or bowl ( I used some canning jars) and allow it to cool.

It will thicken after about 24 hrs.  If it gets too thick, just add a little bit of water until it's where you want.

Math Breakdown

I bought a six-pack of bars for about $6.88

I used 3 of the bars at a cost of $3.44

This made approximately 48 oz. at  $1.72 for a 24 oz. bottle!

That's a saving of 75%!!!!!!

Here's to all of us smelling good for a lot less $$$$$
Happy washing!
Aimee

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie (Low Cal)

Raise your hand if you love pumpkin pie (ME, ME, ME)!!!

Now, raise your hand if you love smoothies!!!

Guess what?  Your in luck today...I'm gonna give you my recipe for a 

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie!

8-10 oz Almond milk or skim milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp stevia or other sweetner

1 med ripe banana

3-4 ice cubes

Blend Away and Enjoy!!

*Recipe is for 1 serving

Strawberry Kefir Smoothie

My Yummy liquid lunch! A strawberry kefir smoothie! 

And believe it or not....it's filling! 

Here's my scrumptious recipe:

• 8oz. Almond Milk
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 TBSP flax seed
• 1/2 cup kefir ( if you don't have any, substitute plain greek yogurt)
• 1 medium banana
• 1 TBSP natural honey (or stevia-2 tsp.)

That's it!  Just blend away and enjoy!

FYI...I'll be posting on how to make kefir soon! 



I'd love to hear your smoothie recipes!  It's always nice to have a variety to choose from!  Please comment below with your favorite recipe! 

Thanks!

Aimee

Mexican Pasta Skillet

                       
Here is a quick and easy meal I go to when in a hurry or tired (which is alot).  Simple, fast, tastes great, and the kids will love it! It will serve about 4-6 people. Enjoy! 

                                                            Mexican Pasta Skillet

• 1 lb. lean ground beef, browned & drained
• 16 0z. (2 cups) jar salsa
• 8 oz. tomato sauce
• (1 1/2 cups water)
• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1/2 cup shredded 2 % sharp cheddar cheese (please shred your own, it's so easy and tastes better)!!

1. Combine browned beef, salsa, tomato sauce & water in a large skillet. 
2. Heat til boiling. 
3. Stir in macaroni & corn
4. Reduce heat & simmer 15 min, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender.
5. Sprinkle with cheese!