Birthday Time: Lego Head Cake

Today is my older son's birthday, 9 years old!  Really where did the time go!  Anyway, he asked for a lego head birthday cake.  So, voila!  Here it is:

Pesto Bean Soup

Need a new soup recipe?  This one is fantastic and super easy, and on top of that it's vegetarian and still quite hearty.  Seriously, I loved this soup so much I was eating it for breakfast all week long when I made it.

Pesto Bean Soup
1-2  tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onions
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 can canned cannellini or great northern beans, rinsed
2-3oz kale (about 2-3 cups), chopped
1/3 cup (or more) dairy-free pesto (the recipe yields about a 1/3 of a cup)

Directions

Heat oil in a large sauce pan over medium high heat and saute the carrots, celery, and onions for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add in the garlic and cook for another minute.  Add in the broth and beans and bring to a boil, then cover, lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.  Stir in the kale and pesto and heat through.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

This post was shared on Gluten Free Wednesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Waste Not Want Not Wednesdays, Gluten Free Fridays, and Whole Food Fridays.

Weekly Menu (1/26/14-2/1/14)

This week in our Bountiful Basket (which I share with my brother) we got:

• lettuce
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• poblano peppers
• pears
• Asian pear
• oranges
• brussel sprouts
• bananas
• potatoes
• avocados
• onions

We also got the Tropical Fruit Add-on Pack:

• Pineapple
• Coconut (I'm making turning mine into coconut milk and using it in my cooking throughout the week)
• mint
• ginger
• limes
• plaintain
• oranges
• strawberries

And we also got 5lb of organic heirloom tomatoes, what I don't eat straight up will be blanched and frozen.

The kids' breakfasts will consist of their choice of:

• cereal
• muffins (banana chocolate chip, blueberry, pumpkin chocolate chip, or double chocolate zucchini muffins)
• scrambled eggs and toast
• hot cocoa
• smoothies
• etc.

 and lunches will consist of:

• Sandwiches (Peanut Butter and Jelly or Ham)
• or Pizza Flatbreads (Schar crispbread topped with cheese and pepperoni)
• or Crackers, veggies, and hummus
• chips or crackers
• fruit (usually apples or bananas)
• milk

Sunday:

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: celery and almond butter
• dinner:
• Balsamic Roasted Pork Loin
• baked potatoes
• Roasted veggies (cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and tomatoes)
• Green salad

Monday:

• breakfast: chili rellenos casserole 
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: pear slices
• dinner:
• Chicken Nuggets
• Oven Fries
• celery and carrots sticks with peanut butter

Tuesday: 

• breakfast:  chili rellenos casserole 
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: celery sticks and peanut butter
• dinner:
• Tacos with homemade tortillas
• Green Salad
• pear and orange slices

Wednesday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: Leftovers
• snack: banana and peanut butter
• dinner:
• Ham Steak
• French Toast
• Oranges and fried plaintains (if my plaintain is ripe enough) 

Thursday:

• breakfast:  chili rellenos casserole 
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: orange
• dinner: My older son's birthday, so we are either going to Pizza Pie Cafe or Juniper Takeout to celebrate

Friday:

• breakfast: chili rellenos casserole 
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: pear slices
• dinner: (To celebrate the Chinese New Year)
• Tiny Spicy Chicken
• Pot stickers
• Spring Rolls
• Rice

Saturday: 

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: sandwiches
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner: We are going to my Mother-in-law's, so I'm sure we'll have something fantastic there.

Weekly Menu (1/19/14-1/26/14)

This week in our Bountiful Basket (which I share with my brother) we got:

• oranges
• apples
• kiwi
• avocado
• potatoes
• tomatoes
• brussel sprouts
• bananas
• butternut squash (my brother got this)
• artichochokes

We also got the Juice Add-on Pack:

• Pineapple
• Kale
• celery
• cucumber
• apples
• lemons
• carrots
• ginger
• beet

The kids' breakfasts will consist of their choice of:

• cereal
• muffins (banana chocolate chip, blueberry, pumpkin chocolate chip, or double chocolate zucchini muffins)
• scrambled eggs and toast
• hot cocoa
• smoothies
• etc.

 and lunches will consist of:

• Sandwiches (Peanut Butter and Jelly or Ham)
• or Pizza Flatbreads (Schar crispbread topped with cheese and pepperoni)
• or Crackers, veggies, and hummus
• chips or crackers
• fruit (usually apples or bananas)
• milk

Sunday:

• breakfast:  scrambled eggs with veggies
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: celery and almond butter
• dinner:
• Teriyaki Chicken
• grilled pineapple
• Basmati Rice
• Roasted brussel sprouts
• Green salad

Monday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple and peanut butter
• dinner:
• Sloppy Joes with homemade buns
• Oven Fries
• carrot and celery sticks

Tuesday: 

• breakfast:  steamed artichoke
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: celery sticks and peanut butter
• dinner:
• Tacos with homemade tortillas
• Green Salad
• apple and orange slices

Wednesday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: Leftovers
• snack: banana and peanut butter
• dinner:
• coconut shrimp
• spring rolls
• green salad

Thursday:

• breakfast:  scrambled eggs with veggies
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: banana and peanut butter
• dinner:
• crispy waffles
• breakfast sausage
• Hash browns
• orange slices

Friday:

• breakfast: steamed artichoke
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and almond butter
• dinner:
• Pizza (loaded with mushrooms and peppers) :)
• Green Salad

Saturday: 

• breakfast:  scrambled eggs and veggies
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner: 
• chili
• baked potatoes
• green salad

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I actually have a recipe going up today, yay!!  This little gem requires no flour and is quick and easy to throw together.  The cookies come out nice and chewy, and taste amazing!

For those of you that just read my recipe posts, please know that I won't be posting recipes every week like I have in the past.  My focus has changed a bit in my life.  I still love developing recipes and will do so in my spare time, but I will be very busy this year teaching classes on essential oils (which have changed my life and my family's life, physically, mentally and emotionally) and heading up the local GF group.  Please continue to read my posts and enjoy my blog, even if they are few and far between.  I love my readers and I do appreciate you reading my blog.

Okay, now on to the recipe....

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup palm oil shortening
1 3/4 cups coconut sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups Gluten Free rolled oats
1 1/2 cups Enjoy Life dark chocolate morsels or other dairy-free chocolate chips
2/3 cup chopped nuts (peanuts or walnuts)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. With a stand mixing, cream together the peanut butter, shortening, coconut sugar and honey. Add in the baking powder and baking soda and mix until combined.

Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined.  Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, and nuts.

Drop by spoonfuls until an ungreased cookie sheet and bake about 10 minutes.  Allow the cookies to cool for about 5 minutes on the tray, then transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

This post was shared on Gluten Free Tuesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Gluten Free Wednesdays, Gluten Free Fridays, and Whole Food Fridays.

Weekly Menu (1/12/14-1/18/14)

We finally got a Bountiful Basket again, I've never been so happy to see my vegetables! This week's basket contained:

• grapes
• mangoes
• bananas
• pears
• apples
• tomatoes
• red peppers
• spaghetti squash
• lettuce
• broccoli
• yellow squash
• onions

We also got the Juice Add-on Pack:

• Pineapple
• Kale
• celery
• cucumber
• apples
• lemons
• carrots
• ginger

And we also got the Italian veggie pack add-on:

• Mushrooms
• zucchini
• yellow squash
• onion
• red onion
• garlic
• herbs (basil, rosemary, oregano, and parsley)
• eggplant

The kids' breakfasts will consist of their choice of:

• cereal
• muffins (banana chocolate chip, blueberry, pumpkin chocolate chip, or double chocolate zucchini muffins)
• scrambled eggs and toast
• hot cocoa
• smoothies
• etc.

 and lunches will consist of:

• Sandwiches (Peanut Butter and Jelly or Ham)
• or Pizza Flatbreads (Schar crispbread topped with cheese and pepperoni)
• or Crackers, veggies, and hummus
• chips or crackers
• fruit (usually apples or bananas)
• milk

Sunday:

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and almond butter
• dinner:
• Chicken Unparmesan
• Ratatouille
• roasted potatoes
• pear slices
• green salad

Monday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple and peanut butter
• dinner:
• Pesto Bean soup
• Grilled cheese sandwiches (we use Daiya cheese)
• green salad salad

Tuesday: 

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: cashews and pear slices
• dinner:
• Tacos with homemade tortillas and Salsa Verde 
• Green Salad
• apple slices

Wednesday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: Leftovers
• snack: cashews and pear slices
• dinner:
• hamburgers with homemade buns, using this recipe
• onion rings
• celery and carrot sticks with almond butter

Thursday:

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: banana and peanut butter
• dinner:
• crispy waffles
• breakfast sausage
• Hash browns
• mango slices

Friday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and almond butter
• dinner:
• Pizza (loaded with mushrooms and peppers) :)
• Green Salad

Saturday: 

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner: 
• spaghetti
• spaghetti squash
• steamed broccoli
• green salad

Weekly Menu (1/5/13-1/11/13)

There was no Bountiful Basket this week, but I do have some clementines, apples, bananas, lettuce, potatoes, bananas, peppers, and such.

The kids back in school this week, so breakfasts will consist of their choice of:

• cereal
• muffins (banana chocolate chip, blueberry, pumpkin chocolate chip, or double chocolate zucchini muffins)
• scrambled eggs and toast
• hot cocoa
• etc.

 and lunches will consist of:

• Sandwiches (Peanut Butter and Jelly or Ham)
• or Pizza Flatbreads (Schar crispbread topped with cheese and pepperoni)
• or Crackers, veggies, and hummus
• chips or crackers
• fruit (usually apples or bananas)
• milk

Sunday:

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: cashews and a clementine
• dinner:
• Spaghetti with GF pasta
• green salad

Monday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple and peanut butter
• dinner:
• Brats/hot dogs
• oven fries
• salad

Tuesday: 

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: cashews and a clementine
• dinner:
• Tacos with homemade tortillas and Salsa Verde 
• Green Salad
• apple slices

Wednesday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: Leftovers
• snack: cashews
• dinner:
• grilled cheese 
• tomato soup
• green salad

Thursday:

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: banana and peanut butter
• dinner:
• Honey Oat Pancakes
• Bacon
• Hash browns
• clementines

Friday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and almond butter
• dinner:
• Pizza
• Green Salad

Saturday: 

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner: 
• teriyaki chicken
• basmati rice
• steamed veggies