Eat your greens!

Delicious, delicious, delicious. And easy!!

Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes (Cooking Light)

• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons crumbled goat cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cook asparagus in boiling water 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes and garlic; cook 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar; cook 3 minutes. Stir in salt. Arrange asparagus on a platter; top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and pepper.

*I omitted salt & pepper and didn't miss them!

A new day

I haven't really used this blog for personal posts or soap-boxing.

Today is a new day.

We've had some hard months with our oldest. Discipline issues have been the norm, not the exception. My sweet guy has been angry for months. We've had constant battles, yelling {mine and his}, crying jags {mostly his}, and tantrums, terrible, terrible tantrums. So often I felt like there was a brain fog, clouding his bright eyes . . . I was forever saying, "Earth to Ben", only to receive a scowl or a frown.

Frustrated mommy, inconsolable son. We both felt defeated.

It was time to make changes.

We stopped spanking. It was happening too often, and I felt like Ben was constantly on the receiving end of a "bad kid" message.

We set up a reward chart. This has become a really great way for Ben to see all the things he does well. He is so good at so many things. He's a hard worker, and his work is paying off! Greg gets to be involved in holding Ben accountable as he's the sticker-man. Ben loves telling his dad about the good works he did during the day. The charts are a win-win!


We eliminated dyes in our food. This has CHANGED our lives. This one small change has breathed new life into our day. It's revolutionary. Suddenly our days weren't filled with discipline, but laughter. Ben wasn't struggling through homework, he was grinning ear to ear and getting all the answers right! There was happiness, and it was written all over his face. He was hearing me and listening. We had eye-contact. Communication. I have to confess, we were having fun.

Do your little ones fall apart over insignificant details? Are they angry and upset? Are they physically out of control? Are tantrums the norm? Do you wonder constantly if they're listening to you? Do they have a hard time keeping up at school? Are they out of control? Are play-dates a nightmare?

I stumbled across a blog about three weeks ago. I'm sure her darling blog was somehow linked to one of my favorite design sites. The title was "The Way We Eat". I devoured the information, and emailed Linsey immediately. She was a God-send! Suddenly I knew I hadn't stumbled across anything. God prepared the way, I chose to follow the lead. I read words like "frustrated, moody, impulsive." It was like looking into a mirror.

Dyes are in everything. And they cause serious damage. Asthma, eczema, allergies, cancer, hyperactivity, motor tics. We've discovered them in our kid's toothpaste, gum, cereals, Nutri-grain bars, waffles, pumpkin bread mix, yogurt, frozen fruit pops, and nearly all of our kid's medicines. We're learning that artificial flavoring and petroleum based products {seriously, oil by-products in our food?} are serious behavioral triggers as well.

We're new to this. We're still learning. But we're seeing major results with very little effort.


Yesterday Ben ate one piece of Super Bubble Gum. I knew within about an hour that he'd eaten something with dye in it. I googled the ingredients, there it was, BHT & Artificial Color Red 40. He's still coming down from the awful reaction. I'm praying his food-dye fog lifts soon.

Go visit LLH Designs. And then check out Food Dye Diaries.

You won't believe the information!!! I'm off to do some more research. I already know we're gaining so much more than we're giving up!!


Our new rainbow is heaven-sent. Literally!

Turkey Meatloaf

Turkey Meat Loaf {recipe from Real Simple, ages ago}
-1-1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
-1 onion, chopped
-1 bunch fresh spinach, thick stems removed & leaves chopped {about 4 cups}
-1 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
-1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
-2 tbsp Dijon mustard
-1 large egg white {I used the whole egg}
-salt & pepper
-1/4 cup ketchup

Heat oven to 400. In large bowl, combine turkey, onion, spinach, parsley, bread crumbs, mustard, egg white & 1/2 tsp of salt & pepper, each. Form loaf, spread with ketchup. Bake until cooked, 45-50 minutes.

Real Simple has great recipes, but this meatloaf is amazing. If you're from The Woodlands, you've probably heard of Hubbell & Hudson. If you haven't yet visited their new Kitchen location {Gosling & Research}, you're seriously missing out. Which means more H&H for me, but I digress . . . My dad is a Foodie. An Epicurean. He adores all things H&H.

He thinks this meatloaf beats H&H's apricot version. I think he's right!

Bean & Bacon Soup

Really simple, really good!

-4 strips bacon
-2 large carrots, chopped {about 1 cup}
-2 stalks celery, chopped {about 1 cup}
-1 medium onion, chopped
-2 cloves garlic, chopped
-2 15 oz. cans great Northern beans, drained
-2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

*Original recipe calls for 1-1/4 tbsp salt, which I omit, and don't miss a bit!

Cook bacon, set aside to drain/cool. Over medium heat, saute carrot for 5-7 minutes. Add celery, onion & garlic and cook, stirring well, for 3-4 minutes. Add beans & 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover and then reduce heat to low. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Mash {with potato masher or large slotted spoon} about 1/2 the beans to thicken the soup. Stir in the parsley, pepper & chopped bacon. Serve hot.

Recipe serves four. Total time about 25 minutes.

Bonnie's Apple Walnut Salad

There is nothing like Bonnie's Apple Walnut Salad. It's perfection. And the red is so pretty on a holiday table. Super easy, super special . . .

1 egg

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup buttermilk

1 tbsp vinegar

1 tbsp flour

several red apples

walnuts

Combine flour & sugar, add egg, add vinegar, add buttermilk. Cook until thick, while stirring. Cool. Pour over diced apples and walnuts.

Darling Bonnie and her family are so very dear to me. They've been friends of my family for many years. Their son Stephen passed away yesterday. Please cover Bonnie & Red's family with your prayers.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Power Cookies

Power Cookies

2 c. brown sugar
2 c. white sugar
¾ cup butter
1 c. shortening
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
3 c. oats, uncooked
2 c. coconut
2 c. craisins
1 c. choc chips (I use more like 1-1/2 cups)
1 c. chopped nuts

Cream the brown sugar, white sugar, butter and shortening together. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine four, salt and soda; beat into first mixture. Add remaining ingredients and knead into first mixture. Drop by heaping teaspoons, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheet. Bake in 350 oven about 10 minutes or unit browned. Let cool about 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet.

If dough is cold I cook an extra couple of minutes . . .

*Can roll into logs, wrap, chill/freeze then slice and bake.

Tortellini Pasta Salad

This one is one of our favorites. So simple, so yummy. We eat it all summer long . . .

Tortellini Pasta Salad

18 oz. cheese filled tortellini (I love these)

1 can artichoke hearts, quartered

1 jar sun dried tomatoes in oil (you MUST use California Sun Dry, they're the BEST)

1 T lemon juice

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

Cook pasta. Drain, rinse with cool water. Toss with sun dried tomatoes and oil, {drained} artichoke hearts, lemon juice and s&p. Refrigerate.

Zucchini Muffins

Again, can't take credit for this recipe {that'll be the day . . . }, but they are my absolute favorite, and completely blog-worthy. I think, besides my old high school Bible, the family cookbook is the most used book in our house.

Zucchini Muffins

2-1/2 c. flour
1-1/4 c. sugar
2-1/2 c. grated or shredded zucchini
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
2 lg. eggs
3/4 c. cup safflower oil
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. chopped nuts

Place all ingredients (except nuts) in a bowl. Mix well. Fold in nuts. Pour into greased/floured muffins tins.

For mini-muffins, bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees.

For regular muffins, bake 20-25 minutes 350 degrees.

From the bottom of the very page for this recipe in my cherished "All you add is Love" family cookbook is a new favorite quote . . .

"Insanity is inherited. You get it from your kids."

Cheddar Chowder

A new {old} recipe from my family cookbook . . . This one is my mother's, a fantastic cook. I was raised on this stuff, and it really is better the second day.

Cheddar Chowder

2 c. boiling water
1/2 c. carrot slices
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. flour
8 oz. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 c. chopped potatoes {I like new potatoes}
1/2 c. celery slices
4 T butter
2 c. milk
1 c. chopped ham

Add boiling water to potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 10 minutes {do not drain}. Make white sauce with butter, flour and milk. When thickened, add cheese and stir until melted. Add ham and {undrained} vegetables. Heat thoroughly. Better the second day.

My favorite part is the little note penned by my mom, which says "A Good Sunday Night Supper" . . . We always ate breakfast and dinner together, a rule my own family now follows.

"That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:12

Grocery Store Girls

Let me introduce you to the best thing I ever picked up at the grocery store . . .

My friend Tommie! She's a sweetheart. We bonded instantly in the baby food aisle at HEB about two years ago, and the rest is history. Last night she blessed us with the yummiest "Get Well" dinner. Talk about Southern hospitality {this girl is a GRIT, and I haven't a clue where she was raised}! And she shared her cookie recipe with me. It's a must-have!

Tommie's Easy Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

2 c natural peanut butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
milk chocolate chips

Spoon on to cookie sheet, criss-cross with a fork, sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Her cookies are divine . . . Her friendship is even better!

PS Go check out the darling Monkey Sock do-dads she hand-made for her baby boy's 1st birthday!

Banana Nut Bread

If, by chance, you're born into my mother's side of the family, one naturally inherits the ability to cook. If you're me, and you miss out on the culinary gene, there is (thankfully) a family cookbook. Following is my Aunt Linda's recipe for mouth-watering banana nut bread:

Banana Nut Bread

1 stick butter (or margarine)

7/8 cup sugar

1 egg

3-4 ripe bananas

1-1/2 cup flour

3/4 tsp soda

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup chopped nuts

For bread, bake 50-55 minutes at 350 (or until toothpick inserted comes out clean).

For large muffins, bake 15-20 minutes at 350.

For mini-muffins (Ben's favorite), bake 12-15 min at 350.

It's just so simple. It's just so good.

Pumpkin Pie Perfection

This really is PERFECTION. My next door neighbor Sharon made it for us, and my mouth is watering as I type . . .

Pumpkin Pie Perfection

1 29 oz. can pumpkin
4 eggs
1 13 oz. can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 package yellow cake mix
1 cup butter or margarine (melted)
1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 (if using glass dish 325 degrees). Beat together first seven ingredients and pour into a 9" x 13" pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top. Pour melted butter over cake mix and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake 1 hour.