Mediterranean Spaghetti Squash with Chicken

My guy and I are doing a fitness month challenge. His big fitness hurdle is food- basically if its healthy he doesn't like it. My biggest fitness hurdle is time and waking up early enough to make time with out the littles using me as a jungle gym while trying to do downward dog or tree pose. So I proposed that if- for a month he ate everything I made- no trans fats, refined grains, or refined sugars except for one cheat meal a week, then I would wake up at 6 every morning to work out. I will also be following the clean diet, its just much easier for me as that is typically how I prefer to eat. 

Yesterday was day one, and I have to say he has been a great sport- eating my green smoothie for breakfast, banana pumpkin bran muffins for a snack (he doesn't like banana, pumpkin, or bran. They are pretty good though, ill post that recipe later) omelet for lunch, etc. So for dinner I was a bit nervous, I wanted something really healthy that he would like. I decided to try spaghetti squash because he is a huge pasta fan. I have never made spaghetti squash before so it was a bit of a shot in the dark. I found this recipe on line-

http://homecooking.about.com/od/chickenrecipes/r/blchicken39.htm

and adapted it because of either preference, availability, or what I thought he might actually eat. This is what I came up with -

 Poke one medium spaghetti squash all over with a fork. When buying, look for the most yellow one.

 Preheat the oven to 375, place squash in a baking dish with a bit of water, maybe half to one inch. Cook in oven for 1-1 1/2 hours.

While the little squash friend is cooking, heat a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Mince 3-4 cloves of garlic. I really like garlic so I did a bit more than that. You are probably now glad that you are not standing next to me.

 Saute garlic in oil and butter for about a minute, you don't want it to burn at all, it makes the garlic bitter

 Whisk in three tablespoons of whole wheat flour, let cook for a minute or two so that the 'flour' flavor is cooked out some.

 Slowly whisk in a cup of white wine

 Slowly whisk in a cup of water and one cup of milk- at least slowish

 Add two teaspoons of thyme, one teaspoon of sage, one and a half teaspoons of salt and a bit of pepper.

Add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and a dash or two of nutmeg- I know it sounds odd but i'm telling you, it makes it awesome. Let the sauce simmer and thicken. It is a thinner sauce, so don't be too worried if its not getting super thick. 

 When the squash is done pull it out and cut it open. Let it cool and then scoop out the stringy darker things and seeds. Or be like me, not wait for it to cool and burn your hands. That's cool too.

 Scrape out the insides with a fork, some of the pieces you have to kind of shred. Place in a bowl- or a big ol'  measuring cup. I was too lazy to get another one out, that was sitting on my counter. Yes, I realize that is pretty lazy. Dump the sauce over the 'noodles'. Rinse the pan and add a bit of olive oil. 

  Chop one large or two small chicken breasts, season with salt, pepper, and yes- a bit of garlic powder. Add to the heated olive oil.  Cook over medium heat till white, then sear over high heat to create a crust. This is the key to amazing chicken. If you don't do it your chicken will be sad little white pieces. For real.

Add your not sad, nicely crusted chicken into the 'noodles'.

 Dice two tomatoes and add. My guy did request that the tomatoes be cooked next time, I personally like them fresh and heated from the food. But because I like my guy happy- especially if he is eating healthy food- I will add them to the chicken for a minute or two while its cooking. 

The origional recipe called for black olives but we were out, It would also be awesome with fresh basil and artichoke hearts. That's what next time is for!

Mix all the yummies together, dish it up, sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and enjoy! Probably the best 90% vegetable dinner I have had. My guy gave it a 7. Total miracle, he hates squash. 

-Why you should eat this-

Spaghetti Squash-

* High carotene content protects against cancer, heart disease, and diabetes

* One of the highest alpha-carotene and beta-carotene contents in most diets. Alpha-carotene and beta- carotene improve the immune and reproductive systems, as well as protect from free radicals.

*High content of good starch that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-diabetic and insulin-regulating properties.

*One cup contains more than 200%  DV of vitamin A, which protects and improves eye sight, and fights off viral infections.     

*Was considered so important to Native Americans that it was buried with them to provide nourishment on their final journey             

-Recipe-

1 Medium spaghetti squash

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon butter

3-4 cloves garlic

3 Tablespoons whole wheat flour

1 cup white wine

1 cup water

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons thyme

1 teaspoon sage

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Dash of pepper

Dash of nutmeg

A few dashes of garlic powder

2 tomatoes

Information found on http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=63#healthbenefits

Hair- Three little braided buns

You know how you are supposed to get your hair cut every six weeks? Well for one I would like to know someone who actually does this, and two I barely can get around to doing it every six months to a year. For seriousness. 

Well it was getting about time for my annual hair cut, and I was thinking of going back to a cute A-line. When my hair gets too long all I know to do with it is down and a pony. So I wanted something different. I had even scheduled a hair appointment. Then I found pinterest hair tutorials. 

My world changed. 

I never thought I could be one of those cute moms who's hair always looked so cute and put together. Sometimes mine doesn't even get brushed ( yeah, probably TMI) Anyways, I found this blog through pinterest and they have super easy, super quick, super cute hair tutorials. They are super! 

http://www.ohsoprettythediaries.com/2012/02/tutorial-quick-simple-updo.html

So here is my attempt to do my do like them -

 From the front- promise i'm not trying to kill you with my stare.

 Profile - Those shots always look awkward to me, maybe because I never see my profile. Anyone else think this??

Aaaand the back! Its three braids, twisted and pinned with bobbies. So quick, and it stayed all day, through cleaning, a bit of gardening, my toddler trying to use my head for a motorcycle track, and all the other great things that come in a day with my littles!

Here is the link to the awesome blog with the tutorial -

http://www.ohsoprettythediaries.com/2012/02/tutorial-quick-simple-updo.html

Tuna Salad Taco - One-handed Meal

Lately my kids have been getting pretty bored with the standard pb&j (or pb&h for honey). I was watching the Dr. Oz show the other day (My guilty pleasure. Not quite sure why I like it, but I do), and the Guinness World record holder for memory recollection was on there. He could remember the order of each card in something like 55 decks of cards!!! Anyone who knows me knows that I do not remember ANYTHING, ever. I am the biggest space case. So when this dude was saying he eats memory building foods I was all ears. This recipe is inspired by his, as I cannot actually follow a recipe with out doing some major changes, I have tried, it is just not possible. 

This recipe also has the bonus of being totally possible one-handed, as most of the time one is all I have available. 

 So this is what you will need, 

-Canned tuna ( not in oil- gross)

-An avocado- this replaces the mayo, and even if you don't like avocado, 

   you should try it. It is pleasantly surprising how well it replaces the mayo

-Lemon pepper 

-Whatever veggies you have laying around, I have used tons of different kinds, even ones my kids 'hate', and       it always turns out well and my kids always eat it.

Open tuna and avocado, dump into small bowl.
Chop veggies- I used cilantro, carrots, mushrooms, and onions. I usually like to do tomatoes and yellow or red bell peppers too.

 Mix it all together, adding some lemon pepper to taste. Sometimes I like to put a bit of ceyanne but my kids are used to my hot food ways. 

 Plop the mush onto a warmed corn tortilla and fold

These two are for my kids to go have a 'picnic' on the front porch. 

I also really like to use this as a cracker dip and it makes a really good mid-day snack. 

For some reason, no matter what veggies I put in here my kids eat it. I think its because the tuna kind of softens the flavor of other things, so its a great way to get your kids used to different vegetables. Getting kids to eat a variety of foods is easier the younger they are, so start today!

Reasons you should eat this-

Avocado- Rich in vitamins A, C, and E, potassium and are loaded with the good fats. Studies have proven that avocados inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. They are great for improving bad breath, help the body to absorb nutrients, and because of all the good fats also prevent aging symptoms. The B6 in avocados may reduce nausea in pregnancy and the folate in them helps the eye and brain development in a fetus.

Spring

 

Helping kids learn to clean

My grandpa is a sailor, some of my favorite memories are of sailing camp when we would spend a week on my grandpas 35 foot sailboat and go to class every morning on the end dock. On any given year there were between 4 and 7 kids on the boat as well as Grandaddy, all sharing the teeny space. One of Grandaddy's favorite sayings is "A place for everything, and everything in its place." Even though I am a naturally messy person, I tried my darnedest to keep his boat tidy. Now as an adult I have a love of clean spaces and nothing stresses me more than clutter and junk.

 I have three little kids. My house is rarely clean and tidy.  I have a great want for my children to take pride in hard work and a job well done. But actually instilling this into a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old is the trick.

I was sick of yelling at my kids all day long to pick up their stuff, just to end up cleaning it all when they went to bed. So I came up with this little trick to help them keep their room as beautiful as the one above (well I can dream, can't I? Love that room!).

 I am a big fan of natural consequences, it takes a ton of the stress out of parenting to have the punishment be the bad guy -not you. Let them know that X will happen if they do Y ahead of time, and then they do X happens (and you follow through with Y) you can say " I am really sorry that X happened, maybe next time you will choose something better". Don't save you kids from natural consequences, let them learn to be responsible when the cost to learn is low.  

Anyways, back to the trick. So I sat Audrey down and told her that she is a big girl and that I really need her to help me out more. I explained how important it is to me that she grows up to be a hard worker, and that the only way for that to happen is if she practices a lot. I told her that her room and her things are her responsibility, and that if I have to clean them up then I get to take all the stuff. If she wants anything back she has to do an extra chore for each item. The next day she had left a large amount of  toys in the living room. I asked her to clean them up. She protested in some dramatic way that was ignored. I then told her how much time I thought was reasonable to get it cleaned, set a timer and went about my business. I told my two year old a simpler version - basically "Please clean your toys or I take them away" 

 

When the timer went off, I quietly grabbed an old diaper box and loaded all the toys up. I explained again what she needed to do to get them out. She spent the rest of the day willingly washing windows, sweeping floors, she even mopped the bathroom. Every time I turned around she was asking what else she could do. 

Since then, when her room is messy, I ask her to clean it and tell her how much time i think it should take. A lot of the time she wont even walk into her room. I will remind her a few times, but when the time is up I go in and put it all in a box. Most of the stuff she has not missed at all, and the things left over from last time I either donate or place in a box in the basement to bring out as rewards later on. It is amazing though, not only how many toys my kids have, but how few they are now totally content with.

Less is more, we have too much crap in our lives.

Colic/ Gassy Baby Remedy

Colic/ Gassy Baby Remedy

Over this past Easter Weekend I ate a few things that made my baby not so happy. He has been the least fussy of all my kids, but he still doesn't seem to love it when I eat chocolate, cabbage, and especially not any heavy dairy products such as cream. And of course who doesn't eat a bit of chocolate and ice cream over Easter? Yes I realize ice cream and Easter don't especially go hand in hand, but lets pretend shall we? So little baby #3 has been pretty fussy and farty, and I remember a while ago reading that fennel tea is supposed to work really well, not only for babies but for the larger gassy varieties too. In another place I read that some people boil onions and give the water to a coliky baby (almost like a tea). So I thought "Why not try both?"

I roughly chopped a quarter of an onion and put it into the bottom of a quart jar (for some reason my family has always made tea in mason jars, so we were cool before jars were cool) along with about a tablespoon of fennel seeds. Then I poured boiling water over them, filling the jar about 3/4ths of the way. I covered it and let it seep for about 15 minutes, poured some into a bottle, added a small ice cube, and gave it to the little guy.

I was a bit suspicious, I mean onion and fennel tea? Sounds delish - but he drank it up. And for the first time that day he was happy while being awake. Coincidence? Possibly. But I tend to think not.

 I suppose you could add a little caro syrup but I'm weird and am not into giving my baby refined sugars, a little stevia could work well too, but try it straight, your baby might just take it. 

I hope this helps- a gassy, crying baby is the saddest thing ever. 

*I am just someone trying to heal my family naturally, I have no training in medicine or nutrition. I feel this is a safe practice, and have had no negative outcomes. Please use common sense with your baby. 

Up-cycled Bermuda Shorts

Up-cycled Bermuda Shorts 

So the other day I noticed my daughters jeans were ripping up the back of the leg, super odd place for jeans to rip, and even more odd is the fact that I have a pair doing the same thing. I have no idea why. Guess its just in the jeans...... I know, terrible joke.  

Anyways, it's getting warmer here, today we are having record highs, so i thought I would chop the pants off and make some shorts. Not wanting the typical stringy, ratty looking cut-offs, I wanted to try to make some cute bermudas.

 

And I thought girls were supposed to be easier on clothes....guess not.

So I folded the jeans in half so that both legs would be the same, and then cut a bit below the knees. I think it would work even for whole-y jeans because you just fold them up. 

Then fold both sides up, play around to see what looks good, I liked a fatter fold. I actually practiced on the cut off part to see how my stitch looked, how my machine worked, and the best way to do it. I found it easier to sew one fold at a time. I folded it up once like the above picture, sewed it, and then folded the top and sewed that. It also helped to snip off a bit of the seam where it would be turned under so that it was not as thick......I'm really sorry if that doesn't make sense.

Stitch the top, and repeat on the other leg

I used a cute flower stitch with contrasting thread, but you could do it in blue or something to make it less girly, but I knew my daughter would love the pink flowers. I also did a little stitching on the pockets, it was a pain, and there is a reason I didn't post a close up, but I thought it was cute!

And there you have it, up-cycled bermuda shorts! I might have to do the same to my jeans 

(sans the cutesy flowers).

Quick, cute, awesome burp cloths!

Quick, cute, awesome burp cloths!

My friend is adopting a little baby girl, I am super excited and I wanted to give her a little present. I just added baby number three so shopping doesn't really happen (even typing is a bit harder than typical, but on the plus side i'm getting pretty quick typing one handed!). But sometimes I can get a (quick) sewing project in if the boys are sleeping- plus, handmade things are way better presents.
 Now my first two babies both had acid reflux, and number two also had a severe milk sensitivity ( I ended up cutting ALL dairy out of my diet) needles to say, the foofy little burp cloths people usually make just didn't cut it. Then I found these beauties- cloth diapers! They are not the cutest for sure, but to solve that my sil showed me this little trick that I will share with you. 

*Full disclosure- I am not trained at all in sewing, everything that I know is from lots of trail and error, and many, MANY youtube tutorials!

What you need-
~Package of cloth diapers- you can get them at Walmart or Babies-R-Us for a 12 pack, they are cheaper at Wallyworld, but they don't always have them.
~A fat quarter quilting square (this will do 4 burp cloths)
~Contrasting thread
~Scissors
~Sewing machine
~Iron

Cut your fabric into four equal strips

Fold over and iron down all four sides of each strip, 

Lay the strip in the center of the diaper with each end overhanging evenly on both sides

Pin the fabric to the back side of the diaper on one side, not both because the diaper pulls different from the fabric when you sew it, so its better to just leave the other end free (the cloth diapers are not super square, so no worries if its not even- its for babies to spew all over, not a couture dress :).

Sew all four sides (I used a cute scalloped stitch, love my new machine!) making sure that when you get to the ends the back side of the fabric is tucked nicely. 

And that is it! Quick, cute, and awesome. It doesn't get much better then that. Now you have a present for that baby shower you totally forgot about.

I did two rows of scallops because my ends weren't totally sewed under, but it looks cute!

*Full disclosure- I am not trained at all in sewing, everything that I know is from lots of trail and error and many, MANY youtube tutorials! If you have any suggestions, or if i'm doing something totally wrong please let me know!