Detox Day 4 Lunch

I am dying today.

So hungry & tired & cranky.

Usually I am feeling amazing at this point.  I must have had a TON of toxins built up.

This salad recipe is based off of Julie Chrisman's orzo salad recipe.  It's soooo delicious and I was totally craving it today.  So I just swapped out the orzo for some white beans & I made my own dried tomatoes.

It totally hit the spot.

I may eat the whole salad today.

Spinach & White Bean Salad

In a bowl combine 2 cups white beans, 1qt. chopped baby spinach, 1/4 cup slivered dried tomatoes in oil (or I think fresh would be really good too!), 12 sliced kalamata olives, 3tbsp each olive oil & red wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp each oregano & basil, salt & pepper to taste.

Technically, I don't think I am supposed to eat the olives (because they are processed) but I really really needed the burst of flavor.

Detox Day 3 Lunch & Dinner

I meant to post this last night but was having technical difficulties.

These chickpea patties had a very soft consistency but I loved the flavor paired with greens topped with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt & pepper.

It was yummy!  So yummy I had them for dinner & then lunch the next day.

Chickpea Patties

In a blender or food processor combine 2 cups chickpeas, 1 heaping tbls. dried parsley, 1 tsp. minced garlic, 1/4 tsp. ground cumin, salt & pepper to taste.

Form into patties & coat in brown rice flour.  (You can use regular flour, I am on a gluten free diet.)

Fry patties in olive oil for about 2-3 minutes per side.

Day 2 Detox Breakfast

 Pumpkin Protein Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1 - 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk (depends on how thick you like your smoothie)

1 heaping tbls. raw honey

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 scoop vanilla rice protein

1 tbls. hemp seeds or golden ground flax (optional)

Blend until smooth.

This recipe fits perfectly into a magic bullet cup, which is what I use for my smoothies.

Day 1 Detox Lunch

 Thank goodness for my new job!

I get home by 11:45, so I actually have time to make lunch & even enjoy eating it.

Today I made a Chickpea & Spinach Salad.

1 3/4 cups cooked & drained chickpeas

1 cup chopped baby spinach

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

juice from 1 lemon

3 tbls. olive oil

1 tbls. chopped fresh parsley

1 clove minced garlic

Toss all ingredients in a bowl.

Add sea salt & pepper to taste.

Sprinkle salad with pumpkin seeds after serving.

Makes 2 large detox size servings.

Unplugged Sunday #2

It's amazing how much you can do without electronic distractions for a whole day!!!!

I am in awe at how wonderful it can be.

Matt & I got up early, we let the kids sleep in.

We stacked a TON of wood, hiked around our house & I made the most delicious Apple Oat Breakfast Cake.

We played Monopoly, Yahtzee, & had a penguin dance party in Averie's room.

Matt fixed the chicken coop gate that need repair & I shoveled paths in the snow for the chickens.

They were tired of being cooped up.

The girls went sledding.

Collected eggs & then scrambled them!

And a little more walking around outside.

I cleaned the house & Matt learned how to repel off a cliff for his upcoming trip.

The girls helped me .

We ate well too!

Eggs, fruit, apple cake for breakfast.

Tuna melt quesadillas, pears & apples for lunch.

Chicken & spinach stir fry, brown rice & veggies for dinner.

At the end of the evening we all got out our favorite magazines & read until bedtime.

Matt = Backpacker, Me = MJ's Farm, Tobi = Rolling Stone, Morgan = Teen, Averie = Highlights

Matt and I are loving it so far. The kids aren't completely convinced yet. Maybe once the weather warms up a bit and we can do more hiking they will enjoy it more.

We will see!

Trail Blazer Cookies

I developed these cookies for my hubby. He is an avid backpacker & hiker but not a huge fan of granola bars. He does love a good cookie and he wanted something hardy like a granola bar. What's nice about this recipe is you can tweak the mix-ins so that it's exactly what you like.

I put peanuts & M n M's in Matt's cookies. He his preparing for a big trip to the Grand Canyon and the M n M's don't melt in the backpack.

I used chocolate chips & pecans in the kid's version only because that's what I usually put in my chocolate chip cookies.

Trail Blazer Cookies

Cream together:

1 cup room temperature butter

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sucanat

1/2 cup brown sugar

Add:

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

In a separate bowl mix:

1 cup almond meal

(I use my leftovers from my homemade almond milk, just dry it out a bit)

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 1/2 cups oat flour

(just blend oats in blender)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

Mix all ingredients together & then add:

1 cup chocolate chips (m n m's, peanut butter chips, dried fruit, etc.)

1/2 chopped nuts

Shape into balls & place on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Naughty kitty is not supposed to be on the furniture.

She looked so cozy & content that I didn't have the heart to make her move.

Our 1st Unplugged Sunday

What's an unplugged Sunday you ask??

Here's the description from one of my favorite blogs Beauty that Moves.

We are going to give it a shot for awhile.

For our first we spent hiking in Yosemite National Park on Easter Sunday.

We actually ended up with an unplugged weekend.

It was a beautiful day in an amazing place.

I can't believe how close we live to such stunning beauty.

Tobi, our German foreign exchange student.

We did cheat just a little bit.......

we watched Hungry For Change.

A very informational documentary on food.

If you are interested in seeing it let me know.

Easter Saturday

We had a wonderfully fun filled Easter weekend at my Aunt Mary Jane's cabin just outside of Oakhurst. We celebrated Easter Saturday because we wanted to go to Yosemite on Sunday. The weather was so beautiful we spent the entire weekend outside.

It was so refreshing.

We caught the Easter Bunny in the act!!!!

It was so exciting.

Too bad the kids were gone on a bike ride.

Girls decorating cookies!

Taking our Easter Saturday hike up Lewis Creek Trail.
I love this trail.
It runs right through my Aunt Mary Jane's backyard.

Carefully crossing the log bridge.


Family hike.

We made it to the lower falls.

My sister Kari & I playing Katniss in the trees.

My Mom, Aunt Mary Jane, Kari & Tobi inching their way down the steep part.

Dyeing eggs.

Back from their bike ride & they are ready to hunt for goodies.

All tuckered out after all that hunting.

And last but not least.....our Easter Saturday dinner table!
Beautiful table decor by Aunt Mary Jane & Laura.

Thanks again Aunt Mary Jane for another fabulous Easter weekend at the Cabin!

Out of All the Fish in the Sea.......

I finally found the one for me!

Or at least my sister Ally did anyway.

I've had my fish for awhile.

Here's some pictures from her appropriately themed wedding shower.

She loves the beach.

Yep, we had live fish as centerpieces!

Beautiful dessert table!

Smores on the Beach cupcakes made by my sister in law.

Homemade seashell candy.

Crab soap favor.

Fish soap favor.

Mmmmm.......

What would a wedding shower be without a little Blue Hawaiian & a fancy umbrella?

Presents & a sweet little banner!

This was a really fun theme for a beach lovin girl.

For more fun ideas go to:

Hostess with the Mostess

To The Critics of Invisible Children's 2012 KONY Campaign

I have NEVER done something like this on my blog before. It's a little bit scary but I am putting my feelings here, instead of Facebook, so that you can choose not to read this post. I feel so strongly about this issue. For those who don't know me well.....I am VERY sensitive about the rights of children. All children. From all walks of life, anywhere. I have been from a very small age. I would cry for hours after watching 20/20 episodes on orphans in other countries, etc. Images of children being hurt or abused haunt me on a daily basis. That is why this issue (KONY), disturbs me on a very deep level. If you don't know what I am talking about, go here! Then do a google search and find all the negative criticisms of this organization, Invisible Children. Be informed, read both sides of the story. I did. That's what is upsetting me the most. Here's what I know.......Kony is responsible for maiming, raping, torturing, kidnapping, & enslaving thousands of children.....irrefutable FACT. I don't care if it was 100 kids or 60,000 kids, I don't care if IC is hiding money, I don't care if they only have 4 board members, I don't care that BBB isn't on board with their organization, I don't care if they are using shady means to find him.......the only part in this equation that matters to me.......is that Kony is found, brought to justice & he isn't allowed to harm 1 single child ever again in his lifetime. Please look at the bigger picture, it's time, the world needs to send a message to Kony & to all the others just like him, we will NOT tolerate these crimes against humanity. We will NOT idly stand by and allow you to harm children anymore! We all need to take a stand and protect our children. All children!

This Week

Our first "good" storm of the season!

Looking out my kitchen window.

The Farmkids celebrating Valentine's Day by making 50 care packages for the homeless!


Not quite ready to take down the Valentine's decor.

Made 36+ jars of Confiture d' Citron.

Preparation for my Mom's French themed 60th birthday party on Sunday.

(Thanks Tutu for all the lemons)

Have a wonderful weekend!

For the Love of Chai Tea

My husband & I just completed my 4th (his 1st) 30 day whole food detox. The 1 thing I missed the most this time around......was a really GOOD chai tea latte. Since I couldn't have sugar, milk or caffeine it pretty much ruled out anything you could find in the store.

After 30 days of experimenting I finally mastered the perfect (for me) Chai Tea Latte!

Here's my recipe.

You will need a 2 quart pitcher.

Add to the pitcher:

1 tsp. ground ginger

1tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

1/2 tsp. cardamom

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. white pepper (depending on how spicy you like your chai)

12 tea bags (I used decaf Irish breakfast tea)

After you have all your spices & tea in the pitcher, fill almost to the top with boiling hot water.
Note: If using glass, you may want to run hot tap water over your pitcher to preheat the container, or it may crack.

Next, add 3/4 cup honey & 3/4 cup agave.

Stir well to dissolve sweeteners.

I like a little vanilla in mine.....totally optional.

I added 3 tsps.
Let tea steep for about 7 minutes & remove tea bags.

To use your concentrate fill a mug half full with your choice of milk. I use coconut milk.

Give the concentrate a good shake or stir & then fill your glass the rest of the way with the concentrate.

I like mine hot, so I popped it in the microwave.

Yummy!

Nothing like hot spicy chai.

My 30 days are over, but I have permanently replaced my coffee habit.