Weekly Menu (12/16/13-12/21/13)

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

• lettuce
• carrots
• celery
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• green chilies
• green onions
• avocado
• apples
• grapes
• bananas
• grapefruit

The kids are in school now 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.

 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: carrots and almond butter
• dinner:
• Teriyaki Chicken
• Basmati Rice
• Steam Broccoli
• Green Salad

Monday:

• breakfast: grapefruit
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices with peanut butter
• dinner:
• Tacos with homemade tortillas
• Green Salad
• Carrot and Celery Sticks
• Grapes

Tuesday:

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner:
• BBQ Ribs
• baked potatoes
• green salad
• grapes

Wednesday: GF Meeting Tonight at 7pm!  Annual Cookie Exchange :)

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: carrot and celery sticks with almond butter
• dinner:
• Tamales
• Quinoa stuffed green chilies
• apple slices

Thursday:

• breakfast:  grapefruit
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner:
• honey oat pancakes
• bacon
• hashbrowns

Friday:

• breakfast: smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: carrots and celery
• dinner:
• Pizza
• green salad

Saturday: 

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner: 
• Navajo Tacos
• green salad

Cashew Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you read my weekly menus at all, you know that one of my favorite snacks if a handful a cashews with dried cranberries.  While I was eating this snack one day, the though occurred to me that it would make a great combination in a cookie...so I took my hazelnut butter cookie recipe and modified it a bit and voila my favorite snack is now my favorite cookie, no joke!  My boys loved it, minus the dried cranberries (they don't like dried fruit, yet), so either way these are amazing cookies!

Cashew Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup roasted cashew butter (recipe below)
1 cup coconut sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup GF flour blend
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips (I used a combination of Enjoy Life mega chunks)
1/2 cup roasted cashew halves
1/2 cup dried cranberries, optional

Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening, cashew butter, and coconut sugar.  Add egg and vanilla, mix well.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour blend, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture and mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips, cashews, and nuts.  Roll into 1-1 1/2 inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly brown on edges and just set in middle.  Cool slightly on cookie sheet before removing and placing on wire rack.

Roasted Cashew Butter

8 oz (about 2 cups) roasted, salted cashew halves

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Directions

Combine the oil and nuts in a blender and blend until smooth.

This post was shared on Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Gluten Free Fridays, Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Love, and Whole Food Fridays.

Weekly Menu (12/8/13-12/14/13)

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

• lettuce
• carrots
• potatoes
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• green chilis
• bell peppers
• mango
• apples
• bananas
• grapefruit

We also have clementines, cucumbers, and celery.

The kids are in school now 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.

 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: carrots and almond butter
• dinner:
• Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
• GF Pasta
• maybe some grilled chicken cut up in pieces
• Roasted Broccoli
• Green Salad

Monday:

• breakfast: scrambled eggs with peppers
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices with peanut butter
• dinner:
• chicken nuggets
• oven fries
• carrot and celery sticks with almond butter

Tuesday:

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner:
• grilled ham and cheese (we use Daiya cheese shreds) sandwiches
• tomato soup (We like the Imagine brand)
• clementines

Wednesday:

• breakfast: scrambled eggs with peppers
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: cashews and dried cranberries
• dinner:
• Navajo Tacos
• clementines

Thursday:

• breakfast:  grapefruit
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner:
• crispy waffles
• bacon
• hashbrowns

Friday:

• breakfast: scrambled eggs with veggies
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: cashews and dried cranberries
• dinner:
• Calzones
• green salad

Saturday: 

• breakfast:  smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: veggie slices
• dinner: 
• We'll be in Salt Lake looking at the lights on Temple Square, so we'll either find somewhere to eat there or have something simple like crepes when we get back to my Mother-in-law's.

Creamy Dairy-free White Hot Chocolate

Okay, it's officially winter temperatures outside now (it has been for a while, but this week it isn't even going to hit 32F), so it's time for some hot drinks.  I have plenty of hot cocoa and hot chocolate options (Hot Cocoa, Hot Cocoa (just add water), and Spiced Pumpkin Hot Chocolate), as well as a chocolate soup, but nothing in the white chocolate department.  So, this recipe remedies that, enjoy!

Creamy White Hot Chocolate
1 cup dairy-free milk
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons shaved cocoa butter (~0.2oz)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
Scald the dairy-free milk in a small saucepan with the honey.  Remove from heat and add in the cocoa butter and vanilla and blend in a blender or with an immersion blender until it is well emulsified (if you don't blend it the cocoa butter will separate from the milk).

This post was shared on 5-Ingredient Mondays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Gluten Free Wednesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Waste Not Want Not Wednesdays, Whole Food Fridays, and Gluten Free Fridays.

Weekly Menu (12/01/13-12/07/13)

There was no Bountiful Basket, but we have:

• lettuce
• carrots
• celery
• apples
• grapes
• cantaloupe
• cucumbers
• clementines
• potatoes
• onions
• plus more, once I get to the store

The kids are in school now 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.

 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: (We are still visiting my sister, and are headed back today)

• breakfast:  ham, potatoes, muffins
• lunch: nothing, breakfast was more of a brunch
• snack: muffins
• dinner:
• sandwiches

Monday:

• breakfast: scrambled eggs with veggies
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: carrots and celery with almond butter
• dinner:
• tacos with homemade tortillas
• sliced cantaloupe

Tuesday:

• breakfast:  green smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner:
• coconut shrimp
• oven fries
• carrot sticks

Wednesday:

• breakfast: scrambled eggs with veggies
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: cashews and dried cranberries
• dinner:
• Indian spiced chicken kebabs
• basmati rice
• Saag Aloo

Thursday:

• breakfast:  green smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apple slices and peanut butter
• dinner:
• crepes
• filled with peanut butter, fruit, ham and eggs, etc.

Friday:

• breakfast: scrambled eggs with veggies
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: cashews and dried cranberries
• dinner:
• Pizza
• green salad

Saturday: 

• breakfast:  green smoothie
• lunch: leftovers
• snack: apples and cashews
• dinner: It's my work party...the boys will have sandwiches or hot dogs and clementines