tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27925435814253089892024-03-13T10:02:26.788-06:00Zales Maila little bit of this a little bit of that...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-715592375777032242012-02-25T21:45:00.001-06:002012-02-25T21:56:10.336-06:00Super Energy Balls<div><p>Like a lot of people (women mainly) I am addicted to <a href="http://pinterest.com">Pinterest</a>. I end up pinning lots but never really making much, until <a href="http://themarathonmom.com/granola-energy-balls.htm">these</a>.  They looked delicious and easy, so with some adaptions I whipped them up and they ARE delicious and easy!</p>
<p>Here is my recipe for <br>
<b>SUPER ENERGY BALLS</b><br>
<i>Ingredients</i><i> </i><br>
2 cups quick cooking rolled oats<br>
1 cup shredded coconut<br>
1 cup ground flax seed<br>
1 cup chia seeds<br>
1 cup hemp hearts<br>
1 cup peanut butter or almond butter (that I whipped up in my vitamix)<br>
1 cup honey<br>
1 cup cranberries<br>
2 tsps vanilla extract<br>
1 tsp cinnamon</p>
<p><i>Directions</i><br>
1. Mix all ingredients together.<br>
2. Roll into balls<br>
3. Devour and refrigerate any that are leftover.</p>
<p>Full of protein they are perfect after a workout, after swimming or any time!</p>
<br/><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yn6gUIaaW-s/T0mq5-JYBwI/AAAAAAAAALA/iM0yEln9lFk/2012-02-25%25252017.14.45.png' /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-82783735629338574192012-01-30T23:48:00.002-06:002012-01-30T23:48:32.022-06:00Roasted Garlic and Pepper Crunchy ChickpeasIt seems like a lot of my food ideas are inspired by my husband's taste buds...but not the way it would seem. I make foods I wish he would try but just won't...until I change them up a bit. Chickpeas are full of fibre and protein but up until today I had only tried them in some Indian dishes and in the common form of hummus. Then, like most days, I was surfing the web for recipes and came across one for roasted chickpeas. It looked delicious so I decided to give it a try! They were soooo good and my whole fam-jam (including my hubby) loved them!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63hhyzWVaiE/TyeAoCqHvyI/AAAAAAAAAE0/qCW9LTaTecc/s1600/chickpeas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63hhyzWVaiE/TyeAoCqHvyI/AAAAAAAAAE0/qCW9LTaTecc/s320/chickpeas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is my recipe for <b>Roasted Garlic and Pepper Crunchy Chickpeas</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<i>Ingredients</i></div>
<div>
2 cans of chickpeas</div>
<div>
2 tbsp olive oil </div>
<div>
2 tsp Clubhouse Roasted Garlic and Pepper spice</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Directions</i><br />
Preheat oven to 400.<br />
Drain and rinse the chickpeas, toss with olive oil and spice. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 to 40 minutes to the desired crispness. (I baked mine for at least 40 minutes, I wanted them crunchy).<br />
<br />
Coming up...<br />
<br />
<b>Chocolate Explosion Muffins (healthy, vegan and wheat-free but unbelievably delicious)</b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-19114569521453304042012-01-21T16:07:00.004-06:002012-01-21T16:40:19.572-06:00Spelt Upside Down PizzaThe other night pizza was on the menu but I am still trying to find the perfect pizza crust recipe, and with our recent convictions in 'grain diversification' I am looking for a kind of crust other than wheat. I have tried both a yeast and a yeast-free spelt dough recipe. The first one I tried with yeast rose like crazy and was quite good. But I have this habit of googling recipes and then forgetting to bookmark them and I haven't been able to find that recipe since, plus our family likes a thinner crust. Before our grain diversifying days I was using a delicious biscuit crust... so I tried a spelt biscuit crust! I have tried it twice but haven't been too crazy about the results. The first time - it was more like a cracker than a crust! So on this particular night I had spent too much time searching for a recipe that I couldn't make a yeast crust (I also didn't have yeast), but I did find a recipe for 'upside down pizza' - so upside down pizza it was!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yc1dqXMiEtk/Txs6xH4Di2I/AAAAAAAAADU/apTBGmtEH0U/s1600/IMG_20120119_172058+-+Leslie%252CWhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yc1dqXMiEtk/Txs6xH4Di2I/AAAAAAAAADU/apTBGmtEH0U/s1600/IMG_20120119_172058+-+Leslie%252CWhite.jpg" /></a><b>Spelt Upside Down Pizza</b><br />
<i>Ingredients</i><br />
1/2 red onion<br />
1 green pepper<br />
6 fresh button mushrooms (not really sure how much that is)<br />
6 pieces of turkey bacon (the kind from Costco)<br />
2 gloves of garlic<br />
1 tsp oregano<br />
1 tsp basil<br />
2 tbsp spelt flour<br />
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce<br />
2 cups mozzarella cheese<br />
<br />
<i>Topping</i><br />
1 cup spelt flour<br />
2 eggs<br />
1 cup milk<br />
1 tbsp olive oil<br />
1/2 tsp<br />
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese<br />
<br />
<i>Directions</i><br />
In a skillet saute the onions, pepper, mushrooms, and garlic till soft. Add the the turkey to warm it. Stir in the flour and spices, mix. Add tomato sauce, bring it to a boil for 2 minutes and continue to stir. Transfer to an ungreased 13x9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheese.<br />
For the topping (I use my kitchen aid mixer) add the flour to a bowl, beat in the remaining ingredients. Pour over the casserole. Bake uncovered at 425 for 25-30 minutes or until browned.<br />
<br />
It was so easy and tasted great. My husband said it tasted like a pizza pop!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-19955535430251291962012-01-13T17:23:00.000-06:002012-01-17T20:01:33.298-06:00Hot Apple Cider - Vitamix Style<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8u8Jqim-Ffk/TxC3-_JE-aI/AAAAAAAAAC0/-zKAWs9K4tY/s1600/IMG_3858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8u8Jqim-Ffk/TxC3-_JE-aI/AAAAAAAAAC0/-zKAWs9K4tY/s320/IMG_3858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.30184695683419704"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot Apple Cider</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mid January and the wind chill is finally chilling us to our bones(not a good thing, I’ve been enjoying this mild winter) but time for some hot apple cider! I love hot apple cider but I'm not crazy about all the unhealthy stuff in the instant cider. The Vitamix salesman gave us a sample of some hot apple cider, so of course I had to try it myself. It was so yummy and healthy that I could truly feel good about drinking it and feeding it to my kids in the middle of the afternoon! So here is the recipe...</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dp8QFwv4bW8/TxC4lPAbeII/AAAAAAAAAC8/BJBHZzvsYMQ/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dp8QFwv4bW8/TxC4lPAbeII/AAAAAAAAAC8/BJBHZzvsYMQ/s320/IMG_3863.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Hot Apple Cider – Vitamix Style</b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 medium gala apples (or any kind of apple)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 cups of water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tsp vanilla extract (everything is better with vanilla)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tsp cinnamon (that made for a very strong taste of cinnamon, so if you aren't crazy about cinnamon reduce this)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tbsp pure maple syrup (like most of my cooking and baking it isn't super sweet, so you made need to add more sweetener of your choice)</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put all of this in the Vitamix, start at variable speed 1, quickly increase to 10 and then flip the switch to max and let it blend for 5 minutes or until steam escapes through the top. The beauty of the Vitamix and making hot drinks is you can stop it when it is warm and feed your kids then blend a little longer until you have reached the desired temperature for yourself!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJrvGkGxO6Q/TxC4ptIAwXI/AAAAAAAAADE/yJKvqY5La-4/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJrvGkGxO6Q/TxC4ptIAwXI/AAAAAAAAADE/yJKvqY5La-4/s320/IMG_3866.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUe5MiW3E88/TxC4s7SXrzI/AAAAAAAAADM/cFEP4s7N_LA/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUe5MiW3E88/TxC4s7SXrzI/AAAAAAAAADM/cFEP4s7N_LA/s400/IMG_3876.JPG" width="297" /></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-86907620150367004912012-01-13T16:54:00.000-06:002012-01-13T17:17:24.372-06:00Vitamix<div>
It has been a while since I have written and one of my many new years resolution for this year is to write more! Life around here has been busy as we welcomed our 4th and final child into the world on November 27th. So far (knock on wood) he is a fantastic baby, although like all newborns he has spent most of the last 6 weeks sleeping! The other 3 have adjusted just fine and now that holidays are over and everyone is back at school we are slowly getting back into a routine! <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last week while shopping at Costco, we stopped at the <a href="http://www.vitamix.com/">Vitamix</a> demonstration and after much deliberation, great salesmen and all our Christmas money spent we walked away with a Vitamix! I know a number of people who have them and they all love them. I like making smoothies (or chunkies if using a regular blender) but the one thing that really sold me was the dry mix container that can grind your own grains. That was so worth it! I ground brown rice into flour to use in baking in a matter of seconds. This will help so much in our goal of diversifying our grains. I have been using the Vitamix almost everyday since we bought it and so far it is all that it is cracked up to be. I have made a lot of smoothies, soup (which with the Viatmix not only blends the raw vegetables but can also warm it up), a cappuccino, frozen yogurt (which was fantastic) and hot apple cider (from raw apples - I would never of even thought to put raw apples in a blender before).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am going to try to post some of the recipes I am making with the Vitamix in the next couple days with pictures but I am waiting on a camera! </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-34225940915365074732011-11-09T15:08:00.000-06:002011-11-15T13:40:41.408-06:00Wheat FreeUPDATE: The link to On the evils of wheat is now working!!!<br />
<br />
Over the weekend my husband and I read a very interesting article in Macleans
magazine about wheat! Check it out for yourself - <a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/20/on-the-evils-of-wheat-why-it-is-so-addictive-and-how-shunning-it-will-make-you-skinny/">On the evils of wheat</a> - but be
warned it may change your thoughts and opinions about eating wheat. My
sister-in-law has been preaching about the evils of wheat for a while now but
her approach focuses on gluten as an allergen and the how hard gluten is on our
digestive system, whereas this article focuses on how wheat has been hybridized
throughout the decades. It explains how the breeding process of wheat uses
poisonous chemicals that we should never intake (much like cigarettes)!
<br />
<br />
When you think about it, we do as a society eat WAY too much wheat! I
mean take a look at the average persons day - breakfast usually consists of some
sort of wheat product (cereal, toast, muffins, donuts, pancakes), lunch - a
sandwich, a hamburger, a piece of pizza and for supper lets say pasta and garlic
bread, or even just a dinner roll with your supper; nevermind any snacks or
desserts you might have had that day. On some days we consume an insane amount
of wheat! In the article he stays that "20 per cent of all calories consumed by
humans worldwide" comes from wheat. That is a staggering number - 1/5th of our
daily calories comes from one food source!?! Where's the diversity? Our
philosophy with everything is moderation, and that is just not
moderate!<br />
<br />
The one thing that really stood out to me in the article,
however, is the way wheat is processed - not just after harvest but the actual
seed and plant itself. The wheat we eat now is not the same wheat our
grandparents, or parents or even we ate as a child! It has been processed and
processed with chemicals that poison control will tell you to completely avoid!
No wonder wheat is no good for us and contributes to all kinds of health
problems. Can we really be surprised? Things need to be left in their most basic
natural form!!! What is going to happen when the ancient grains begin to gain
popularity and they start messing with them (if they haven't already)?!<br />
<br />
I
try to live my life free from toxins as much as possible, which of course in
this day and age is getting harder and harder. And now I find out that the
wheat I eat and feed my kids is poisoned! My husband and I have been watching
and limiting the amount of wheat we consume for a while now just purely to
diversify our diet a little more, however, after reading that article we both
decided we would try to eat 'wheat-free' for a week just to see how we feel!
It's harder than we thought - wheat seems to be in everything, especially when
you're in a hurry and nes to make something quick. Like a couple nights ago after
spending two (plus) hours waiting to see the doctor what can I make quick for
supper? Pasta! So that's what we had. But so far today -wheat free (at least for
hubby and I)!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Coming up...spelt apple pie muffins, cinnamon honey granola, rice pilaf, and turkey chili! </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-63468012756838821722011-11-08T14:33:00.000-06:002011-11-09T13:40:59.145-06:00Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip MuffinsOne of the most delicious things in the world (to me) is a piece of toast with peanut butter topped with sliced banana! Yummy!! However, with the exception of my daughter who also enjoys this delicious food no one in else in my house would touch it, not even try it! I felt like the boys in my family were missing out so I found a recipe that would incorporate these two things with the added bonus of chocolate chips (something my husband says there is never enough of)! I found the most incredible muffin recipe (I have been using this recipe for so long that I'm not even sure where the original came from, so I can't give credit where it is due). These muffins are a staple in our house - loved by ALL!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Ingredients</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #b45f06;">2 cups of flour </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>1 1/2 cups of quick cooking oats</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>2/3 cup brown sugar</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>2 tbsp baking powder</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>2 cups of milk</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>1 1/2 cups peanut butter</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>2 eggs, beaten</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>1/4 vegetable oil</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>2 tsp vanilla extract</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Directions</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>1. Preheat oven to 375C</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>2. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar and baking powder.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>3. Whisk together milk, peanut butter, bananas, eggs, oil and extract. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>4. Pour the wet into the dry - stir until moistened. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>5. Filled lined muffin tins and bake for 16- 18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Makes 24 muffins (cause you can't just have 12). These freeze well. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Notes: </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Don't expect these to be super sweet or anything like store bought muffins, which in my opinion are more like cake! </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>I have substituted honey for the sugar with excellent results! </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-90391674777201287062011-10-31T09:56:00.000-06:002011-10-31T09:56:39.216-06:00Hot Quinoa Breakfast CerealIf you haven't discovered the wonderful ancient grain quinoa - go get some and try it! It is a wonderful substitute for all sorts of things and it is SO good for you. It is a complete protein - meaning it has a complete set of essential amino acids for humans. It is also a good source of dietary fibre, and is high in magnesium and iron. And to top it all of it is gluten free! <div><br />
</div><div>I first discovered quinoa two years ago at Costco, where I still buy it. At first I was just using it as a substitute for rice - however, it is SO much more than that! It is excellent in a quinoa salad (thanks to my sister-in-law, who introduced me to that one! It became a staple in our house for an entire summer). I'll post that recipe at a later date.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now for the actual <b>Hot Quinoa Breakfast Cereal Recipe. </b></div><div><br />
</div><div><i>Ingredients:</i></div><div>1 cup water </div><div>1 cup milk (or milk substitute)</div><div>1 cup quinoa </div><div>1 tsp cinnamon (my family loves cinnamon so I always adds a little more)</div><div>1/4 tsp nutmeg</div><div>handful of craisins or raisins</div><div>some nuts, toasted in the toaster oven</div><div>real maple syrup or sweetener of your choice</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>Directions:</i></div><div>In a medium saucepan combine milk, water and quinoa. Bring to a boil. Add the craisins reduce heat to medium-low, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in spices and cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Spoon into serving boils - drizzle with maple syrup and top with toasted nuts. For my kiddos I add some additional milk or yogurt to cool it down.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This is a really simple recipe that can be divided or double depending on your family size. Although it makes excellent leftovers for another morning - just put it into saucepan add enough milk for your desired consistency and heat it up again! </div><div><br />
</div><div>I love comments, so please leave some! </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-44297006972066362082011-03-14T21:58:00.001-06:002011-11-09T13:45:29.069-06:00Aromatherapy for headachesOccasionally when the weather changes or I haven't drank enough water I get a headache which turns into a migraine. If it is because I haven't drank enough water it's an easy solution - drink a ton of water. However, with weather changes it's not that easy (I haven't quite figured out how to control the weather) so I either suffer through the headache or take a Tylenol. However, last Tuesday I was starting to get a headache, I drank a ton of water but it wasn't helping so I decided to try some aromatherapy. I used peppermint essential oil and lavender essential oil mixed with a carrier oil (I use either sweet almond or olive) and rubbed it on my temples and back of my neck (it tingled for a couple minutes) and within 5 minutes all signs of my headache had disappeared (the ratio for the concoction is 1 part essential oil to 2 parts carrier oil). I had a headache the next day as well so I tried the same concoction and it worked again. To all you headache/migraine sufferers give this a try and let me know if it works for you too!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-52805867507368661382011-03-04T11:38:00.000-06:002011-03-04T11:38:44.843-06:00Hey, Rosetta!Throughout University I had to write reviews for plays I saw but it has been a long time...so bear with me as I write a short review of Hey, Rosetta!...<br />
<br />
Hey, Rosetta! is on a North American tour and they have been packing pubs throughout Eastern Canada, the US and now the Prairies where they were welcome by -30 temperatures and a sold out crowd at the Exchange in Regina on March 1, 2011. The mixed crowd of 16 year olds to 40 year olds waited in anticipation as the band set up and they did not disappoint! The whole show reminded me of a theatrical performance rather than a concert. The band entered the stage with lights turned low, smoke filled the stage, music built up and Tim, the lead singer, picked up his guitar and then a drumstick and as the music grew he drummed out a rhythm on a cymbal. The experience continued for the next 2 hours with beautiful, thought-provoking lyrics, dreamy vocals and raw musical emotion! It has been a long time since I went to bed still pulsing from music that literally (as cheesy as it sounds) moved my soul! If you ever have the chance to see Hey, Rosetta! do! They will literally have you moving well into the following day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-16757009523720712322011-03-01T10:36:00.001-06:002011-03-01T10:38:24.143-06:00Online Business?I have started an online business! Don't worry I am not doing data entry from home for $297 dollars a day! There are legitimate ways of making money online and one of them is selling stuff. I have been wanting to have an online store or sell things online for a long time however I was going to sell things I made. Talk about time consuming! So after doing a lot of research I have decided to open an online store but sell items that can be dropshipped. With dropshipping I run the online store front, which includes the payment and customer service. I will have a wholesale supplier who will ship my products from their warehouse. This is not going to be an easy task as I am brand new to this and have a lot to learn but I am up for the challenge! My first step, finding something to sell has proven to be very hard. I need to find a niche meaning there aren't a million websites selling the exact same thing but there are still enough people wanting what I am selling. I started this process by making a list of about 30 things that I could sell online, things that I am interested in and things that I think other people are interested in I (I am avoiding clothes, shoes - don't want to do too many returns and electronics - too much competition, how do you compete with apple?). However, after doing some market research using such things as google adwords keyword tool (I would put a link here but I am not sure how to do that (see a lot to learn), when I copy and paste the url it doesn't create a hot link) I have narrowed down my search to about 5 things, although I am not 100% confident with any of them! What have you bought online in the last month?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159836084180538827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-92228871298416662202011-02-19T10:50:00.000-06:002011-02-19T11:30:34.602-06:00Whole Wheat Oven Baked Pancake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYVTdZHJoZY/TV_9r9RZQeI/AAAAAAAAAAk/H2mYhskk7UU/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYVTdZHJoZY/TV_9r9RZQeI/AAAAAAAAAAk/H2mYhskk7UU/s320/IMG_1031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575453795331686882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >I love breakfast! I really enjoy pancakes but I find them a little tedious when making them the traditional way on a griddle or frying pan. So on this beautiful, yet cold Saturday morning I decided to try an oven pancake. This particular oven pancake was quite different than the ones of my childhood but just as delicious! This isn't your traditional pancake not only in regards to the method of cooking but in it's texture and ta</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >ste, think of it more as a pudding rather than pancake and enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Whole Wheat Oven Baked Pancake</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7J_3opATLbE/TV_7mPzkC7I/AAAAAAAAAAU/E42uUf2QaRc/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7J_3opATLbE/TV_7mPzkC7I/AAAAAAAAAAU/E42uUf2QaRc/s320/IMG_1030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575451498204367794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ingredients:<br />3 tbsp brown sugar<br />1/2 tsp ground cinnamon<br />1 tbsp ground flax seed<br />1/4 cup butter<br />1 mashed banana<br />1 cup milk<br />3 eggs<br />1 cup whole wheat flour<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > Directions: Preheat oven to 425. Melt butter in a greased 9" pan (I used a round glass one, maybe it is 9") in the oven. Combine the sugar, cinnamon and flax. In a blender or using a mixer, whip eggs, banana, and milk. Add flour and beat until well combined. Pour batter into pan with the butter (I gave it a little stir, more like a swirl to just to sort of mix the butter in with the batter). Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix (no mixing here this makes delicio</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >us topping). Bake for 20-25 minutes. The original recipe says to bake until puffy and golden, however because I used brown sugar so it doesn't really ever turn golden. I did a toothpick test (stink a toothpick or knife into the middle of the pancake, if it comes out clean it is done, if not continue baking) at 22 minutes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pFlOwUtUxkc/TV_8JM9dL0I/AAAAAAAAAAc/9BwphZZrHYY/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG"><br /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Please try this recipe out and let me know your thoughts!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-82018110150200854952011-02-17T14:17:00.000-06:002011-02-19T10:50:05.838-06:00Top 10 Subjects on My BlogThis is a list of the top 10 subjects you will find on this blog (in no particular order):<br /><br />1. Baking - usually with whole wheat flour and reduced sugar and any other way I can make it healthy. I love to bake and to eat it so it needs to be somewhat healthy.<br /><br />2. Cooking - I love trying new things! Most of my meals are cooked from scratch and again they are healthy.<br /><br />3. Chemical free cleaning - One of my philosophies in life is to prevent rather than cure! We spend too much time making our lives simpler with 300 plus cleaning products while sacrificing our health and the health of those around us. I clean my entire house without the use of chemicals - elbow grease and lots and lots of vinegar. Vinegar is the best thing!<br /><br />4. Natural beauty products - More about prevention, really think about all the chemicals that are in all the beauty products we use everyday!<br /><br />5. Alternative medicine - anywhere from old school formulas to aromatherapy (my newest obsession).<br /><br />6. All things baby - I love babies and all things that come with them! I love all the super cool gadgets and accessories out there that make my life as a mother simpler. I love to walk so one thing I 'collect' is strollers.<br /><br />7. Sewing - I love sewing although I am by no means a pro and I don't do it very often.<br /><br />8. Being an entrepreneur - My husband and I are full of business ideas! We are currently working on a few. I am very protective of our business ideas as it takes a lot of work to start and maintain a successful business and I don't want to be giving away any of our ideas. With that said one business I am will to share with you is my journey of making money online. It is a new journey and hopefully a successful one.<br /><br />9. Time management - I am a Home Executive (in other words a stay at home mom) and time management is not easy when dealing with 3 adorable lovely children while also trying to keep a budget, a clean house, and have time to just be me!<br /><br />10. Children - I am extremely protective of my children and because this is a public blog, I probably won't be posting too many pictures of them but will share stories.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2792543581425308989.post-29701622696559767102011-02-09T21:27:00.001-06:002011-02-10T11:43:33.387-06:00In the beginning...I have been wanting to start a blog for a while but for whatever reason or rather a number of reasons I just haven't. I am kind of a 'Jane of all trades, master of none'. I have a lot of passions, however, life and family tend to prevent me from mastering any sort of craft. I couldn't decide which one of my many loves I wanted to blog about - baking, cooking, the environment, babies, children, health...the list could go on. I am not the best writer, I love writing but tend to just let my brain puke on the page without editing (in university I was always getting feedback "this could have used some editing"). I have spent so much time just thinking about my blog, trying to get it right the first time, and of course nothing has happened. So taking the philosophy of Flylady (decluttering and doing everything 15 minutes at a time) I am going to try to take 15 minutes a day and blog something...anything. Some blogs will be about cooking, some about the awesome diaper bag I bought from Babysteals.com, some about the many business ventures I am in to and so on and so on....without further ado, welcome to my blog!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0