Thursday, December 29, 2011

Paleo Pancakes

Paleo Pancakes (my version)
*Recipe is good for one person

1 Egg
1 Ripe Banana
1 Heaping TBSP Almond Butter

Heat a pan over medium heat. Grease pan. Mix all ingredients together very well. Cook on pan until golden on both sides.

Makes about 3 pancakes.

I also added a few blueberries to each pancake. They were so good! These pancakes were fluffy and felt like normal pancakes in my mouth. This is our new "go to" pancake recipe.

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

2 lbs brussel sprouts, cleaned and chopped
1 medium onion, diced
1 lb bacon, chopped raw

In large skillet over medium high heat, cook bacon. When bacon is half way cooked add in the onion and brussel sprouts. Cook until bacon is crispy and sprouts are nice and soft.

Salt and pepper if needed.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

1 Can Black Beans, drained
1 Can Corn, drained
1 bunch Cilantro, chopped
1 Onion, red or white
Tomatoes, as many as you want, diced (or 1 can drained diced tomatoes(I also added half a can of Rotel tomatoes for a little kick))
1 Tbsp Lime Juice

Dressing:
About 1 Cup Mayo
About 1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tsp. cumin
1 garlic clove, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together and let marinate in the fridge for at least an hour. Perfect with tacos or as a dip or all by itself.

Monday, December 5, 2011

20 Days Until Christmas

Day 5 - 20 Days Until Christmas

We tried to decorate the tree today, but the day really got away from us and the amount of homework my kids brought home today didn't help. Our tree did get some lights put on it, though. One of my older girls, Brooke, is really good at putting up the Christmas lights, so she worked on that a bit. Unfortunately, it didn't get finished because we ran out of lights. It's so strange how each year we have to buy more and more lights. Where do they go during the year?? How is it we had enough lights last year but we are two strands short this year? After I go to the store tomorrow, we will finish the lights and decorate the tree.



Sunday, December 4, 2011

21 Days Until Christmas

Day 4 - 21 Days Until Christmas

Home made ornaments made with pipe cleaners and beads. We twisted the pipe cleaners in different ways to make them look like Christmasy things and then added beads to them. The kids had a great time making them. Unfortunately, I had to put the tree up for the ornaments because they would NOT stop bugging me for the tree!! So, the tree is out, but we ran out of time to decorate it.

Pictures will be posted once we actually decorate the tree.



Saturday, December 3, 2011

22 Days Until Christmas

Day 3 - 22 days until Christmas

Today we made our own advent type countdown chain. My 16 year old even got off the computer to make one. It was a lot of fun.



Items Needed:

Saran Wrap
Enough Hershey Kisses to countdown to Christmas. One per day.
Christmas Colored Ribbon
(I picked up the saran wrap and ribbon at the dollar store. I went to Target for a big bag of Hershey Kisses.)

To start, take out a really long piece of saran wrap and put a ribbon at the top to seal the top. Next, take a Hershey Kiss and wrap it in the saran wrap and use a piece of ribbon to tie under the Kiss. Repeat until all Kisses have been used.

Each day the kids get one Hershey Kiss.

Our final product hanging on the wall:





Friday, December 2, 2011

23 Days Until Christmas and Popcorn Recipe

Day 2

Today is Friday and we have Christmasy plans for the evening. We get to decorate the city Christmas Tree and have a little party with my oldest daughters' Girl Scout troop. After this, we are headed to Barnes and Noble's to sing carols and read Christmas stories.

When we get home (and so we can include the kids who aren't able to make the Girl Scout events), we are going to watch Jim Carrey's A Christmas Carol... with popcorn of course!

Here is our most favorite popcorn recipe:

1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
1 Cup Popcorn Kernals
1 Big Pop with good lid (the popcorn will almost fill the pot. This makes a lot of popcorn)
Pop holders
Real Butter (we use about 3/4 of a stick for this pot's worth)

On stove over medium heat, melt coconut oil in pot. Dump in the popcorn kernels and put lid securely on. Using the pot holders (because sometimes steam will escape or the handles will get too hot), shake the pot every few seconds until the kernels start to pop. Once they are popping, shake the pop continuously so the popcorn doesn't burn. Make sure the pot stays in contact with the heat source. (You kind of swirl the pot over the burner). The popping noise will start to slow down and when you only hear one or two pops every few seconds, remove the pot from the heat. Take the lid off immediately (beware of steam) so the kernels don't get wet. Melt some butter, drizzle over popcorn and toss the popcorn so it gets all over the kernels, season to your preference and enjoy!



Thursday, December 1, 2011

24 Days Until Christmas

Christmas again?? It feels like each year Christmas pops out at me shouting "Here I am. Show me the money!" This year (like so many others) money is tight and Christmas isn't going to be as spectacular as I hoped. I decided the best way to make this Christmas special is to do a little something special for my kids each day. Sort of a Christmas countdown, but also a way to bring out some Christmas spirit.

Day 1 - 24 Days Until Christmas (Let's hope my math is right)

Today's specialty are Chocolate Chip Cookies. I came across these and thought it would be fun to have them ready for the kids when they get home from school. They are easy enough to not make me feel overwhelmed by them and they won't interfere with the cleaning I need to accomplish. This countdown should not (and will not) feel overwhelming. It is supposed to be FUN.






Edited to add: These cookies were a HUGE hit! They were a very good chocolate chip cookie. Definitely worth making... again and again and again.... But, beware you don't overcook them.