RedPlum Removal

Every Wednesday my mail is inundated with ads and coupons for things I will most likely never purchase. It was getting to be so ridiculous that I almost tossed a Mother’s Day card that got lost in the shuffle. Luckily the bright pink envelope caught my eye before I walked away from the recycling bin. I have no problem with couponing, if you can save money on the things you buy, that’s great! But the products that I get coupons for are things I do not buy because either they are bad for your health, or the company (or parent company) is lacking in the ethics department. I used to get angry when an overly processed product was on store special AND you could use a coupon for extra savings, whereas I could only get my broccoli on special sometimes. I’ve since let those feelings go, I understand what these companies are thinking now. But every Wednesday, I get a little reminder that there are rarely coupons for carrots.

Well, I’ve recently found out that you can say NO to those ads that come systematically in the mail! Just go to this website, and follow the prompts to remove your address from their database. Kind of like a junk mail do not call list. I just did it today! It tells me that it’ll take 5-6 weeks to take hold, I’ll be sure to let you know if it works!

A Sweet Potato Black Bean Filling for your Imagination!

I have a small kitchen. Tiny.

That’s it. That’s all the counter space I have until we move.

Having a small kitchen proves to be a challenge. especially with you love to cook like I do. I’ve over come this obstacle by sometimes dragging my coffee table in to act like an island, or I’m often seen cooking ‘into the dining room’ where there is a table. Small kitchen or not, it doesn’t slow me down. It’s the most used room in our house, and where I can be found most of the time. Awkwardly positioned in the back of the house, creating.

There are few things I love more that the flavor combination of lime, cilantro, cumin, and salt. The taste is refreshing with a hint of spice. Good on all sorts of things from avocados to quinoa, it’s a combo that will spark your need to create!

Over the past few days, Spring has sprung here in Pittsburgh, and that got me craving some fresh, herb-laced foods. I planted my herb garden this weekend, but had to use store bought ones for the dish I made on Saturday, and then again on Sunday because it was so good.

Versatile Sweet Potato & Black Beans

Start with

2 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes

1 diced red pepper

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

1 diced sweet onion

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1 Tbsp olive oil

Mix those together and spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast veggies at 425F for about 15-20 minutes. You want them to be fork tender, not mushy.

While they are in the oven, mix together

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 – 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

Once veggies are done, take them out of the oven, and let the cool down before you mix the two together. I like to keep the cumin, salt, and lime juice out so I can taste, and perhaps add more to the mix depending on what I plan to do with it.

Ready to be used!

From here, it’s up to you! Add some avocados and 1 cup of cooked quinoa for a hearty vegan lunch. Use it as burrito or quesadilla filling with some sharp white cheddar cheese. I put it on a salad with a splash of balsamic for lunch. It hit the spring spot in my taste buds that have been dormant most of Winter

Internal Engine

You know the saying ‘Your body’s an engine, you have to watch what you put in it or it won’t run well’? I paraphrased that because I don’t remember the exact wording, but that idea is huge in our house.

I was on the phone with B yesterday, coming home from the grocery store with a small haul of veggies. I told him I’ve been feeling a bit sluggish in the last few days, so I needed a boost! You can get the kids excited by letting them help pick out the bunch of organic beets you’ll be taking home with you. DR was interested in picking out the broccoli, while RED was negotiating the acquisition of a balloon.

I always try to get the morning off to a nutritious start.

This morning, we had french toast made with organic free-range eggs, and Ezekiel 4:9 Flax bread. With some pure maple syrup, and 100% juice, the only reason to think about his belly today will be if one of his little ‘girlfriends’ sits next to him in class!

Many Uses: Coconut Oil Edition

While visiting my mom, I purchased 54 oz. of organic, unrefined, cold pressed coconut oil. At around $16, it was a steal! I rushed inside to show my mom my awesome purchase, but she lacked the proper enthusiastic response that I was waiting for.

“What do you use that for?” She asked.

I stared at her for a moment, going through the list of uses in my head. After about 30 seconds, ‘Everything’ was my response.

She went back to washing the dishes in a sort of ‘That’s nice dear’ manner as I rambled on.

Those of you who know the secrets of coconut oil know I’m not exaggerating. From frying eggs or vegetables to skin and hair moisturizer, I always find myself reaching for the coconut oil.

My first experience with coconut oil was a few years ago, while I was assisting Bs mom make her soap. Among other vegetable oils used, coconut oil plays a large roll: It gives the soap a nice thick lather when being used. After that, from time to time, coconut oil was popping up in random places until I decided to buy some and see what all the hype was about. I was hooked instantly. From the wonderful smell, to the mild taste, it’s great to cook in. It works best in med-high heat with a smoke point of 350F (177c). It will remain solid until about 75F (24c) Most types that you can buy in the store are not hydrogenated (no trans fats).

Now, the FDA says high consumption of coconut oil is not advised due to the high levels of saturated fat, but I’m not buying it. This is an organization that puts large, unregulated doses of fluoride into our water supply and has approved things like aspartame and genetically engineered foods to be safe. They also have made raw milk, something we have been drinking for centuries, illegal. End mini rant.

A few of my favorite uses of coconut oil are…

Cooking: Anytime a recipe calls for oil, I melt down some coconut oil! It’s great to fry eggs in, saute veggies, and bake with.

Moisturizer: I rub coconut oil on my hands when they feel dry. I put a coat in my hair once a month as a conditioner of sorts, it goes great with the no-poo, but don’t use too much oil! Also, a cloth diaper safe treatment for rashes! I make my own diaper rash creme with it!

Energy Boost: I read on the back of a package one day that it gives athletes an extra boost before a race or event. I started eating a spoon in the morning, and it does the trick to get my day going. DR recently started asking for a spoon before his track practices.

Deodorant: Yep, that’s right. Not an anti-perspirant (those are bad, remember?), but a wonderful anti-odorant.

Nutritionally speaking, the only major difference is the saturated fat content. Taking the Nutrition Facts from the 3 oils I have on hand, they compare like this:

Coconut Oil- 1 Tbsp = 130 calories; 14g total fat; 12g saturated fat.

Olive Oil (extra virgin)- 1 Tbsp = 120 calories; 14g total fat; 2g saturated fat.

Safflower Oil- 1 Tbsp = 120 calories; 14g total fat; 1g saturated fat.

Now, the saturated fat content is pretty high, I must admit. But, in our family, we have some wiggle room on that end since we do not eat fast food or things that are overly processed.

If you’re unsure, try it out on your skin first. It’ll give a whole new meaning to ‘Smells so good I could eat it!’

CSA-away!

B will not voluntarily eat vegetables. Sure I cook tons with every meal because it’s MY favorite part, but him no. I can still put veggies on the kids’ plates and pull the ‘you’re not leaving the table until that plate is clean’ trick that used to have me sitting at the table an hour after dinner was over (thus putting me in close range of dish duty). But, thankfully, my kids actually like eating veggies! I have to inform B that there are hardly any colors on his plate.

So with one-quarter of my house an almost pure carnivore, getting him to fund my CSA turned into a task.

There are a lot of great farms producing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs here in Pittsburgh. So many in fact that I had to actually do reasearch to decide which one to choose.

Back in April, my friend Michelle and I attended the Farm To Table conference where we met lots of local farmers who were looking for CSA subscribers.

The CSA program we both decided to go with was represented there. They didn’t have the nicest display or the coolest free samples, but it was a farm name I’ve heard of before.

Clarion River Organics

Being from the north of Pittsburgh, I know of the Clarion river, a tributary of the Allegheny river. We drive past it every time we go to my uncles camp up in Warren County and, I once sat my butt in an inner tube and lazily floated down the river, with a floating cooler of beer in tow. So, the Clarion river region brings nothing but good memories to my head. It is a lush river region that almost borders the Allegheny National Forest.

I also LOVE the fact that the families are committed to growing everything organically, especially when you take into consideration the Clarion river drains into the Ohio River watershed, and we want to make those as clean as possible!

If you have never used a CSA in the city, they are really convenient. There are few farms here in Pittsburgh, so if you want fresh, local produce, you would either have to drive, or go to a farmers market. But Clarion River Organics, much like other area CSAs, let you choose a pick-up place where you grab your veggie goodie bag once a week. My pick-up place is right in Squirrel Hill, near my house, and pick-up days are Sundays.

And that is how I got B in on the deal, I told him we can take a nice family walk every Sunday to go get the goods. That and I told him how much I wanted to join a CSA while he was away for work…devilish, I know.

After looking into their website more, I discovered they now take SNAP and FARM benefits as payment for their shares. This blew my mind! One problem facing low-income families is the fact that processed foods are cheaper than their healthy counter parts. Having CSAs and farmers market vendors accepting these kinds of payments can eventually revolutionize the way we all eat, and how much we pay for it. The more organic foods sell, the cheaper they will become! Simple! This is a step in the right direction!

We are really excited for our first delivery in the beginning of June. It’ll be loaded with those crisp spring vegetables that I just love!

 

For more information on Clarion River Organics, visit their website, or email them! They’re really very nice!

info@clarionriverorganics.com

For CSA info, contact Mark at 412-589-9276

Clarion River Organics

824 Whitmer Rd

Sligo, PA 16255

B-fast

When B is away on business, I sometimes trade my ‘early to bed and early to rise’ routine for a less desirable ‘toss and turn all night and wake up wishing there was a K-cup machine in my bedroom so I could drink coffee to have energy to go downstairs to make a pot of coffee’. I am sure you have all had those days before too!

The only good part about a morning like this, is breakfast (after the coffee, of course).

Not feeling up to whipping up some belgium waffles? Yea, me neither! But I found something better! My new protien-packed power breakfast that will keep you full until lunch!

Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame bread and MaraNatha Almond butter!

One slice with 2 Tbsps of Almond butter packs a protein punch of 11g!

If you’ve never had Ezekiel 4:9 bread, you should pick some up today! It’s located in the freezer section. The name comes from the Bible verse Ezekiel 4:9 which says- ‘Take also unto thee wheat and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make bread of it…’ which is exactly what the bread is made out of. It is flourless but NOT gluten-free.

Then, they take the bread to another level by SPROUTING the grains. If you’ve ever made beer, it is a similar process to malting barley. You water the seeds until they start to sprout, then use them in the bread. Sprouting grains unlocks a new level of nutrition to the point where this bread becomes a protein that rivals eggs!

And this one is rolled in sesame seeds that are amazing when toasted!

One piece of this bread with almond butter is all the food I need to get my day going!

Now it’s time to wash some diapers!

 

Apple

RED and I were picking up some organic granny smith apples in our local grocery store when we were approached by an elderly man. He was asking questions about what kind of apple he might like. Once he decided to give the galas a try, he asked how much they were. I told him 2.39/lb. He said that they are expensive to which I replied ‘yes, they are expensive, but they’re worth more’. He gave me a look of understanding, then proceeded to pick out his apples. I bid him a good afternoon and walked away.

Wordless Wednesday