Strawberry Freezer Jam

Yum, yum, yum!! I cannot tell you how fabulous oregon strawberries are this year! Okay, they are amazing every year, but I have really enjoyed them this year. The last two summers we haven't been able to get any. Too busy having babies and moving. Well, this year I said enough is enough and made time to stop and get some berries. Even though this last week was Katie's Wedding, I still spent a morning with the kids picking up a flat of strawberries, and we were not disappointed. They were so yummy!! If you never have tried freezer jam you have to try it. It couldn't be easier. No cooking, no canning, nothing difficult involved. The only issue is the amount of sugar you have to add, WOW, its so crazy how much is needed. I buy a package of pectin and follow the recipe included in the box. I did find some great recipes for jam sweetened with honey and juice, but there is cooking involved. It doesn't look difficult and I will be trying it the next time I make some jam. For now we will be enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Peanut Butter

Have I told you how much this guy loves peanut butter?? Well, he does.

He just sat with this jar and scraped and ate, and scraped and ate, and scraped and ate, you get the picture.

I'm so glad that none of us are allergic! Peanut butter is a staple in our house. This all natural organic kind that is made by Costco is our favorite.

I mean he really loves peanut butter!!

Oh, and his sister really likes it too.

Chili

Does anyone have a good spicy (mild) chili recipe?? I have a sweet chile I like, but Steve's not a fan. I tried a spicy one tonight and I wasn't too impressed. I'm wanting to try some good recipes.

Reporting Week 3

This last week went well. I'm still following all my little rules and moving forward. I do have to say that I am getting tired of eating the same old things each day. I get bored with food, especially when I place so many restrictions on what I'm eating. I truly can eat a huge variety of food with what I'm doing, it just takes a lot of work to find new recipes and try them out. I get stuck eating the same old stuff and craving something different.

This yummy dinner is one that I tried a couple weeks ago. It was really good and I enjoyed it. It can be found here. The recipe for the yogurt sauce I made with tofutti (nondairy sour cream) and it wasn't that great. I would like to try it with the yogurt someday. Jakob was a good sport about eating it. Isabelle ate the tomatoes and the avocados. Steve said they were okay, he wasn't a big fan of the cabbage. Karter excitedly ate a whole bowl of black beans, but wouldn't touch the edamame. I love feeding them such healthy food, even if they only try a couple things, even if they don't like some things, I know that if I keep doing it they will learn to love it. Someday. Maybe.

The Kind Diet

I took a break from reading from my family's favorites booklist to read The Kind Diet. I have REALLY enjoyed it. I have been wanting to take another step in the direction of healthier eating and this book has motivated me to do just that.

Black and White Chilli

I made this recipe a couple weeks ago and just loved it!! Super easy and such a comfort to eat! Enjoy!! (Oh, while you are checking out her recipe, check our her blog. So fun!! One of my new favorites!)

Peanut Butter Rolo Cookies

These cookies are so kid friendly and fun for the whole family to do. Plus they are super yummy! Isabelle and I worked on these this last week! She was such a trooper, by my side the whole time, helping with each cookie! When we finished we had 48 beautiful peanut butter cookies with chewy caramel/chocolate centers. Yum, yum, yum!! You can find the recipe here.

Isn't This How You Cook At Your House??

We have been having the kids help out around the house. They have one job a day!! It has worked well for their age and is easy for me to keep up on. Isabelle has always been my little helper. She loves to help me in the kitchen. One thing she is great at is buttering the bread.


She is not suppose to be on the counter, but I didn't even notice! She asked for a knife and started to butter. Finally I realized where she was sitting, feet on the plates and cookie sheet. Well, isn't this how you cook at your house??
It was such a great picture, I had to take it. I clicked away, and promptly removed her from the counter.

Does anyone want to come over for food at our house?? It may be a bit disgusting, but the chef sure is cute!!

Green Smoothies

Here is the blog where I first saw the green smoothie. Close to the end of the post she tells you how to make it.

I also found this on YouTube. It shows you how to make the smoothie. Enjoy!!

Mmmmmm, treat!

I have been drinking these Green Smoothies for the last couple of weeks!! I read about them on a couple people's blogs and thought I would try them! They have been great!! I've been trying different varieties of fruit with spinach and I definately have my preferences!! One reason I love these is because my kids like them!!
Notice the green mustache?? After each sip of her smoothie she would say, "Mmmmm, treat!" I love that they are getting tons of fruit AND GREEN VEGGIES!!

Isabelle isn't a big veggie eater. I always put a few on her plate, but she usually doesn't try to eat them on her own. She is pretty good about eating a couple bites, but I have to work with her, convincing her of how good they are. Jakob does great with vegetables and likes all of them except mushrooms! I think exposing him to a variety of vegetables and telling him they make him strong and healthy has worked well for him.

She is such a poser for the camera!! She loves to eat her snacks, she even gets comments from her nursery leaders on how much she loves snack time.
Isabelle loves fruit!! So this is a great way to slip some good, healthy veggies into her diet. So far we've only tried spinach and chard. I'm going to get some other greens next shopping trip so we can try other varieties. (Don't you just love Karter hanging out in his swing!! Cute boy!)
I've been loving all the extra energy I get from drinking these. I really have felt great this last week especially.