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Clean Eating

May 15th, 2011 by

For more info, go to www.eatcleandiet.com and http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/

You are going to start to see more posts about Clean Eating.  This is a way of eating that I have been learning about and am beginning to incorporate into our meal plans.  I am taking a break from volume cooking/freezer meals for a while, but at some point want to try to incorporate both elements.

What is Clean Eating?  I think most of us are aware of it to some extent; it’s just a matter of how much of it do we follow.  Clean Eating principles include:

-Eating five to six times a day.

-Drink at least two liters of water a day.

-Focus on whole foods/grains, not processed foods/grains.

-Limit bad fats and sugar

– Eat healthy fats

-Portion control

-Eat seasonally and locally

– Slow down and savor

-Plan meals

 

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Creamy Asparagus Soup

May 15th, 2011 by

We ate this for dinner tonight. Another recipe I modified, that still fits the Clean Eating criteria.

Very creamy and tasty for a spring – summer dinner.
Serves 6
1.5lb asparagus
olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
2c. low sodium chicken broth
2 medium white potatoes, chopped
1c. low fat milk (I used fat free)
salt and pepper to taste (keep it light)
GARNISH
*We just used the parmesan cheese, slivered basil, and finely chopped red bell pepper, but here are the other items from the original recipe to add:
-multigrain croutons, homemade (cubed bread sauteed in olive oil)
-grated parmesan cheese
-finely chopped red bell pepper
-cooked crabmeat
-slivered fresh basil
Wash and cut off bottom 2 inches of asparagus. Cut in one inch pieces. Set aside.
Heat 1T oil in large saucepan on med-high. Add garlic and onion and cook until translucent. Add broth and one cup water and bring to a boil.
Add potatoes and asparagus. Mix. Bring to a simmer and cover. Cook for 20 minutes.
Working in batches, transfer mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to saucepan off heat and add milk, salt and pepper.
Serve immediately.

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Peanut Butter Chicken Salad

May 15th, 2011 by

This is a my modified version of a recipe in Clean Eating magazine. I swapped their almond butter for peanut butter, and omitted a few other ingredients. This is considered a “clean eating” recipe, and we enjoyed it for lunch today:

3 grilled or broiled chicken breasts
2 cups seedless red grapes, halved
3/4c. chopped celery
Mix and set aside.
Dressing:
2T. natural peanut butter
2t. apple cider vinegar
1T. water
1t. maple syrup
Whisk until smooth, and pour over chicken mix and stir until coated.
On a side note: I am trying to cut down meat consumption and made a vegetarian alternative for myself that turned out pretty good:
1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
chopped celery
halved grapes
dressing:
drizzle apple cider vinegar
drizzle maple syrup
Stir together and enjoy!

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Nice Family Shots

May 8th, 2011 by

The boys cleaned up nicely to attend a memorial service for the husband of a friend of ours.  We took this opportunity to capture well groomed boys on film…

Posted in MISC. | Comments Off

Fair Oaks 5k….um, make that 5 MILES!

May 8th, 2011 by

I receive emails all the time about the local runs.  Almost all of them are 5k fun runs (3.1 miles).

Recently, I received an email to run through the lovely town of Fair Oaks.  This town is about 30 minutes from my house and they have a local main street.  They also have a history where they protect the chickens that roam free through the town.  It’s charming.

I sent an email out to friends to see who wanted to run this 5k with me.  When I went to sign up, I discovered it was actually 5 miles!  We decided to do it anyway…

Part of the run was through the town and a gorgeous neighborhood; part of the run was off trail in a park by the American River.  There were five hills we had ascend.  I made it up four, but had to walk part way up “the Beast”.

Shanti is a “barefoot” runner and ran the course in 47 minutes!

Elyse kept psyching herself out before the race, but found a great stride after the first hill and took off!  She finished in 59 minutes!

Crystal and I finished in 70 minutes 🙂

Crystal

Shanti, Elyse, Me, Crystal

Posted in MOVE | Comments Off

A Local Critter

May 8th, 2011 by

Here is a cute little guy we have seen lately in our backyard.  I really hope our cat does not find him.  He’s been on a killing spree and has killed (at least) a bird a day for the past four days!!

Posted in MISC. | Comments Off

My Birthday Fun

May 8th, 2011 by

The boys treated me to some birthday drawings, and I after a nice dinner out, returned to flowers, gifts, and cupcakes!!

Posted in FAMILY | Comments Off

Handwriting

May 8th, 2011 by

Here is an example of their handwriting.  I write out their memory verse and they copy it beneath…
‘R’s…(sorry, the site where I store my photos changed their format and I can’t turn the photo around)

A’s…

 

Posted in HOMESCHOOL | 1 Comment »

Final Day with Brother and Niece

May 8th, 2011 by

Our visit was short, but very sweet.  We spent wonderful, quality time together.

Went on a field trip to Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento…

Then we walked Old Sacramento and had lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack!

‘A’ got his own steam pot.  He was in heaven!

KK was amazing!  I am pretty sure she ate more crab than the rest of us, and finished with dessert!!

The boys dessert was a design your own ice cream sandwich!

David told the staff that it was my birthday.  They had me get up and do the hula.  Of course, I had to pull my brother into it since we are only two years and two days apart!

 

Visiting the old schoolhouse…

Sigh…time to put them on the plane and say goodbye…

 

 

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‘R’s Birthday…Again!

May 8th, 2011 by

I asked ‘R’ what he wanted to do for his birthday this year.  His response: Outdoor skateboard party!  Well, his birthday was in March, and the weather was too risky for hosting one outside, so I gave him the option of an indoor party at the time of his birthday, or wait for better weather.  Incredibly, he opted to wait!

We set the date, for mid-April, and got nervous when it rained the day before.  However, the day of the party was a beautiful day, sandwiched between two rainy days!  GOD IS GOOD!!

We held the party at a fabulous park near our home.  They have a volleyball court, basketball court, tennis court, skateboard park, and roller hockey court, all contained in one area!  We planted ourselves in the middle and let the kids play where they wanted.

Me and my wonderful friends, Eun, Tina, and Shanti!

The kids at the skateboard park…

This little peanut is ‘M’, my friend Eun’s daughter.  She latched on to David and followed him around like a little duckling!

There is also a roller hockey rink for the kids to enjoy…

Happy ‘R’ went from scooter, to skates, to skateboard…

Some buddies…

Buddies visiting from WA…

Eun’s newest addition, ‘E’.  isn’t he adorable?

Snack time!

Present time.  Reading the homemade cards…

This was the biggest bubble he had ever blown.  ‘AC’ was happy to discover I caught it on film!

cupcake time…

A little baseball and time for all good things to come to an end…

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