22
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Welcome
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Oklahoma,...
Our hearts are hurting for those affected by the storms in Oklahoma,...
22
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
22
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
A Nice Way To Start Your Week
The day AFTER Mother's Day,...I was awaken to this delicious plate of food,...served in bed,...how sweet can my oldest son, Teddy be?
Teddy had to work Mother's Day morning,...so he sneaked in the ingredients to surprise me Monday morning,...what a nice way to start my week.
It is such a blessing to have such kind and caring people in your life,...
Here is all three of my guys,...Sunday evening while waiting for a table at a restaurant that was sooo crowded,...we actually walked a block down to another restaurant,...Tex-Mex,...instead of Asian pot stickers,.......no complaints,....it was a nice way to celebrate Mother's Day,...dinner with my sons.
For the record,...in true tradition,...I didn't actually eat all that yummy plate,...my guys fix it for me,...then usually end up eating most of it,...ironic,...but cute,...and I love it!
I did drink the coffee, though,...it was made with my Mother's Day gift,...a K-cup Coffee maker,...so quick and so cool,...and yes,...just like my rice cooker,...I am using it for other uses than coffee,...instant oatmeal,...anyone?
Planning on cranking up our elliptical,...this week,...our little one is finally old enough to understand to stay away from it while it is in use,...and I do plan to use it,...as our deep South humidity begins creeping into our lives,...
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Renaissance Men,..
My Guys,...Renaissance Men,...all three!
Isaiah 40:11
New International Version (NIV)
11
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young
This is my favorite verse for motherhood,...
Happy Mother's Day
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Isaiah 40:11
New International Version (NIV)
11
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young
This is my favorite verse for motherhood,...
Happy Mother's Day
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Eating Apples,...
Eating apples,...bananas,...top blade steak,...rice,...Cream of Wheat,...oats,...veggies,...ect
Isaac likes for us to eat apples for lunch,...especially the uber-expensive apples at Whole Foods, while we wait on his speech therapy appointment.
Husband and I are walking in the evening when we get time,...busy,...busy,...busy,...but what can you do with so much going on in your life?
We keep at it,...and post quick posts,...so our poor blog doesn't seem abandoned.
When I am not posting, I am chasing Isaac and eating apples,...and that's not such a bad thing.
It's fun!
Until I post again,....may God bless and keep you!
Saturday, April 20, 2013
A Tale of Top Blade Steak,...
What a Saturday!
Spent most of the morning running errands, but in the afternoon my Husband, our little one and I made it to an Art Walk on the Lake, and it was such fun to see the talented artists and their creations!
IF, money was no object, we would have hauled home a handmade bench out of driftwood with hand sculpted seagulls rested on the back and rails,...stunning!!!!! The bench had no price tag, so I'd have to guess such a creation would be $10, 000 and upwards. We didn't have the nerve to ask.
However, I did talk to a weaver, usually I am rather reserve, friendly, but unlike my gregarious husband, I am by no means talkative, but her work was also stunning, and as I have a fine, appreciation for textiles, I stopped to tell her so.
This booth had a selection of shawls, wraps and loose cardigans,...beautifully handwoven and deserving every bit of the $150.00-370.00 price tags.
Boy oh boy, if money was not an option, I'd have at least three of those wraps for myself and purchased six others for Christmas presents.
Oh well, at least I had the pleasure of telling the weaver how beautiful her work is. She was a very nice lady and like most artisans was happy to tell me about her process. It takes 8 hours,...to just set the loom,...and then 20 hours to make a garment.
We joked that if she raised the sheep, spun the wool, then she'd could add a couple zeros to her price tags.
After we finished drooling over the handicrafts, photography, jewelry and fine art,...my husband, Isaac and I went for a lake side walk,...on a beautiful 6 mile paved trail.
With a preschooler, there was way we went six miles, pushing the stroller, but we did walk 45 minutes at a brisk clip for us out of shape folks.
With the wind whipping the lake into waves that sounded just like the ocean it was so nice and relaxing.
On the last quarter mile on our way back we let Isaac out to walk,...or rather run,...as he schooled us with his speed.
The child, in diapers can kick it in and book,...leaving me in the dust,...and my husband at a frantically brisk jog to keep up with our little speedster.
It was cool today and Isaac was wearing his Batman vest,...and a tiny,...tiny,...solid black puppy took a liking to him,...and chased after him on the trail,...so cute,...where was my camera????
Here is my Batman,...he's a cutie too.
Anyway,...after our adventurous walk/jog/run,...our Batman fell asleep on the way to Walmart,...it was at least forty minutes from the lake,...so he got a nice nap and woke in a good mood,...or at least he was in a good mood at Walmart...because Daddy was feeding him potato chips and contraband soda, while I shopped for some IRON RICH foods.
Oh yeah,...I am still working on those iron levels,...and I have to say,...I DO feel better,...it's just you can't get slack,...you've got to keep at it,...daily,...daily,...daily....
Here is where the Tale of TOP BLADE Steak begins,...because after I threw some ground turkey, some ground beef, and some turkey legs into the cart,...I spotted some Top Blade steaks,...they are also called Flat Iron steaks,...because they are shaped like an old fashion, cast iron, iron,...you know,...like an clothing iron folks used to stick in the fire, or on top a hot wood burning stove to heat so they could 'iron' their clothes and sheets?....
Concerning steaks,....
Next to Rib Eye steak and Flank Steak, Top Blade cut of beef has to be the most tender and delicious, and cheap!
Now I've been blessed to be able to keep house with my husband for almost 29 years,...shopping and cooking,...and I do love to shop and cook,...but I've NEVER knew about this cut of meat before.....I first ran into it, the first of this year (2013) while shopping at Whole Foods.
And yes,...it is possible for a middle class family of 5 to shop for groceries at Whole Foods,...and worth it too,...because the quality of food is so outstanding it is actually frugal to purchase good quality ingredients,...which won't go to waste because they spoil too quickly or taste inferior.
The trick to frugal shopping on a budget is to be selective about what you purchase, and look for sales, and Whole Foods does have sales,...because that's how - I first - purchased 2 lbs of Flat Iron steak.
Wait, wait, wait, you say,....what in the world does Flat Iron steak have to do with Top Blade steak, because you only skimmed the previous paragraphs,...
That's OK, sometimes, I skim too, so just give me a sec, and I'll tell you,...
Back at Whole Foods, I was standing in front of the meat case staring at the sale sign on Flat Iron steaks. The price was right, and I said, why not give it a try, it looked great, nice and lean, it had been grass fed, and had all the other bells and whistles,...and WOW,...when we got it home an cooked it were we blown away by how tender it was and the taste!....Nice and beefy!
When I got the Flat Iron steak home, I googled to see exactly what I had purchased and how in the world to cook supper for my guys,...that's when I learned that Flat Iron steaks are also called Top Blade steaks, and lots of other interesting stuff about them, and they are best grilled.
My next encounter with Top Blade steak, i.e. Flat Iron,...was when I spotted a couple packages of the steak at Publix, since we spread our grocery love around,...
On a side note: On a weekly, monthly and bi-monthly basis, I shop at least seven different stores when I am in town or running errands, to find my guys the best available foods,...reasonably priced. My pantry and freezer is kept stocked, and when I run low or out, I will fill in the gaps as needed. Perishables are weekly purchases: eggs, meat, fruit, milk for my guys, yogurt for my husband, fresh veggies. Monthly I fill in whatever gaps I have in my pantry, and bi-monthly purchases are at Costco, as that is a largest haul, but buying in larger quantities means I don't have to shop as often.
Whole Foods: (grocery store) bread, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pasta, tea, eggs, meat, fish, some veggies, bananas, peanut butter, apples,...and rationed olives from the olive bar,
Publix: (grocery store) dried beans, pasta, vinegar, Cream of Wheat - wholegrain, raisins, meat, veggies, frozen veggies,....
Walmart, (grocery/discount store) pop corn kernels, steel cut oats, oil, fresh fruit, pickles, some salad, turkey - best price, milk, silk, can beans, salsa,....
Freds: (discount store)...coffee, grape juice, mayonnaise, noodles, snacks,
Piggly Wiggly: (grocery store) frozen veggies, some veggies, meat,
Target: (discount store) raisins in little boxes, best price, orange juice, best price, yogurt for hubby, best price, snacks
Costco: (discount warehouse) nuts, dried fruit, fruit, frozen fruit, chicken stock, frozen fish, bread, canned veggies, cereals, butter, olive oil, OATMEAL, meat, corn chips, salsa, seasonings, rice, honey, peanut butter, jelly,..and usually lots more stuff than I have on my grocery list,...
Also I hit farmer's markets in season,...and if I can't find what I am looking for like, dried chives, for instance, I will order such off the internet,...
Sounds, I know, I know, I know like lots of food, and I am so conscious and grateful to be able to have a full pantry, because it frankly takes a lot of food for our household. I am feeding three grown men and an active toddler and I like to eat myself,...and to salve my budget guilt, I remind myself, we don't eat out much,...especially during the week.
Also aside from prepared snacks, mostly crackers, pretzels, cookies for our little guy and chips, and not a great deal of any of them, since they are treats,...we don't purchase convenience foods.
Yep, I pretty much prepare every meal from scratch, but it sounds more imposing than it is. After all, I do have 29 years of scratch cooking experience and I think its fun,...like the homemade instant oatmeal, I churn out ever few weeks or so,....more lately because my Husband has started to eat it for breakfast too. Also, I usually make a pot of soup or two during the week - fast, easy and economical.
And for us, it is more convenient to spend our money on more nutritious items. Besides, talk about fast and convenient foods,...there is nothing faster or more convenient than peeling a banana or an orange, opening the lid to cashews or almonds, or throwing a steak on the grill.
Oh,..she's back to talking about steaks,...after that long rigmarole, i.e. long, drawn out explanation, I am,...because as my explanation in the previous paragraphs implies that I do go to a great deal of trouble to get the most bang for our buck where groceries are concerned,...love my guys,...
Thus,...this afternoon, I was thrilled to find Walmart had Top Blade steaks for under $7.00 dollars,...each package was around $6.68, and had four steaks and I am so sorry but I forgot to look at how many pounds was in each package, but eyeballing it, each steak looked like six ounces, cooked,...so I counted one steak as two servings.
Before my husband grilled the steaks, though, we seasoned them with Kosher salt, garlic and pepper, and let them come to room temperature.
Fresh garlic, smooshed out of a garlic press is EPIC,...on these steaks,...after seasoning we let the steaks come to room temperature,...and YES taking the trouble,... does make a great deal of difference,...like tender steaks,...rather than hockey pucks.
To compare: Flank Steak in our part of the country - deep South,...is not cheap,...although when we can fit it in the budget, it's worth the price, because it's so tasty and versatile for salads, stir fries or sandwiches.
I imagine Rib Eye Steaks are expensive everywhere,...and I actually have no problem with that,...they are soooo delicious, but with all that fatty marbling not exactly healthy,...so, it's a blessing that they are prohibitively expensive for us,...and consumed only as festive fare,...like when we grill a mound of Rib Eyes on Christmas Day,...because what else would you feed,...three grown men for the holidays?
However, for daily consumption, Top Blade Steak,...is CHEAP,...tender as Rib Eye, and by no means as fatty,...and as delicious as Flank Steak with such a nice,...beefy flavor,...which is dandy if you like beef,...and I do like beef,...because it taste tons better than liver or oysters,...and it keeps my sulky iron levels at nice percentages,...which allow me to function,..as I need to, so I can care for my guys,...and softy me,...I did make sure I purchased enough Top Blade steaks so they could have some too!
This evening my guys did enjoy their supper, and how!
Before I ever plunked myself in front of this computer, I made sure I rationed out the left-overs as my medicinal: Top Blade steaks for the week,...about 3 oz serving in plastic bags, stuck in a gallon freezer bag,...and tucked nicely in the freezer to freeze until I am ready for lunch or dinner as the case may be.
A new portion of lentils are also cooked and await me in our fridge.
For breakfast, I've been making Cream of Wheat in 4 serving portions, faster that way,...to sweeten them at one go, and portion them out, and tuck away in the fridge,...so I can zap them each morning after I've made Mr. Isaac, his oatmeal.
Oh, I wish I had a picture of the face he made when I offered him some Cream of Wheat this week,...a refusal has never looked so adorable!!!!.....But then he is an Oatmeal Boy,...and I know where he gets it from,...although Cream of Wheat, is hardly punishment, with apples it taste like DESSERT!!!...
Pumpkin Seeds are wearing well, and making a pleasant showing in snacks, and I've discovered that pumpkin seeds with the Cream of Wheat, and raisins, is a nice combination.
To make sure all this iron is taking, I am consuming orange juice, and I make point to consume Vitamin C rich fruit: oranges, berries, melon with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Looking back, it is really a blessing in a way that I am not able to digest dairy products, because I used to cook a great deal with dairy products, like in every single thing I made, and where we used to budget for: milk, cream, butter, yogurt, cheeses, and we were very adventurous with our cheese consumption: goat, sheep, bovine,...NOW,...we can divert that portion to fresh fruit, vegetables and of course turkey and beef,...and fish too,...because we really really like fish,...but its not iron rich,...sigh,...back to lentils, pumpkin seeds,...and TOP BLADE steak!!!
Dear reader,...congratulations, if you managed to make it to the end of this,...long,...drawn out,...Tale of Top Blade Steak!!!
Believe me, I know, this tale has been rambling, and if I had more time to spare,...I'd edit and rewrite a more lucid narration,...but alas,..I have a very active preschooler,...and my rice cooker to clean, because you bet, we had Jasmine Rice with our Top Blade steaks!!!
Only to be honest, that's a rather flimsy excuse for this rigmarole,...because my little one is watching Veggie Tales with his dear Daddy,...and it takes exactly three minutes to clean a rice cooker.
So, I'll just say thank you for reading and if you consume beef products,...give Top Blade/Flat Iron steak a try,....you won't be disappointed,...they are economical, nutritious and delicious!
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Spent most of the morning running errands, but in the afternoon my Husband, our little one and I made it to an Art Walk on the Lake, and it was such fun to see the talented artists and their creations!
IF, money was no object, we would have hauled home a handmade bench out of driftwood with hand sculpted seagulls rested on the back and rails,...stunning!!!!! The bench had no price tag, so I'd have to guess such a creation would be $10, 000 and upwards. We didn't have the nerve to ask.
However, I did talk to a weaver, usually I am rather reserve, friendly, but unlike my gregarious husband, I am by no means talkative, but her work was also stunning, and as I have a fine, appreciation for textiles, I stopped to tell her so.
This booth had a selection of shawls, wraps and loose cardigans,...beautifully handwoven and deserving every bit of the $150.00-370.00 price tags.
Boy oh boy, if money was not an option, I'd have at least three of those wraps for myself and purchased six others for Christmas presents.
Oh well, at least I had the pleasure of telling the weaver how beautiful her work is. She was a very nice lady and like most artisans was happy to tell me about her process. It takes 8 hours,...to just set the loom,...and then 20 hours to make a garment.
We joked that if she raised the sheep, spun the wool, then she'd could add a couple zeros to her price tags.
After we finished drooling over the handicrafts, photography, jewelry and fine art,...my husband, Isaac and I went for a lake side walk,...on a beautiful 6 mile paved trail.
With a preschooler, there was way we went six miles, pushing the stroller, but we did walk 45 minutes at a brisk clip for us out of shape folks.
With the wind whipping the lake into waves that sounded just like the ocean it was so nice and relaxing.
On the last quarter mile on our way back we let Isaac out to walk,...or rather run,...as he schooled us with his speed.
The child, in diapers can kick it in and book,...leaving me in the dust,...and my husband at a frantically brisk jog to keep up with our little speedster.
It was cool today and Isaac was wearing his Batman vest,...and a tiny,...tiny,...solid black puppy took a liking to him,...and chased after him on the trail,...so cute,...where was my camera????
Here is my Batman,...he's a cutie too.
Anyway,...after our adventurous walk/jog/run,...our Batman fell asleep on the way to Walmart,...it was at least forty minutes from the lake,...so he got a nice nap and woke in a good mood,...or at least he was in a good mood at Walmart...because Daddy was feeding him potato chips and contraband soda, while I shopped for some IRON RICH foods.
Oh yeah,...I am still working on those iron levels,...and I have to say,...I DO feel better,...it's just you can't get slack,...you've got to keep at it,...daily,...daily,...daily....
Here is where the Tale of TOP BLADE Steak begins,...because after I threw some ground turkey, some ground beef, and some turkey legs into the cart,...I spotted some Top Blade steaks,...they are also called Flat Iron steaks,...because they are shaped like an old fashion, cast iron, iron,...you know,...like an clothing iron folks used to stick in the fire, or on top a hot wood burning stove to heat so they could 'iron' their clothes and sheets?....
Concerning steaks,....
Next to Rib Eye steak and Flank Steak, Top Blade cut of beef has to be the most tender and delicious, and cheap!
Now I've been blessed to be able to keep house with my husband for almost 29 years,...shopping and cooking,...and I do love to shop and cook,...but I've NEVER knew about this cut of meat before.....I first ran into it, the first of this year (2013) while shopping at Whole Foods.
And yes,...it is possible for a middle class family of 5 to shop for groceries at Whole Foods,...and worth it too,...because the quality of food is so outstanding it is actually frugal to purchase good quality ingredients,...which won't go to waste because they spoil too quickly or taste inferior.
The trick to frugal shopping on a budget is to be selective about what you purchase, and look for sales, and Whole Foods does have sales,...because that's how - I first - purchased 2 lbs of Flat Iron steak.
Wait, wait, wait, you say,....what in the world does Flat Iron steak have to do with Top Blade steak, because you only skimmed the previous paragraphs,...
That's OK, sometimes, I skim too, so just give me a sec, and I'll tell you,...
Back at Whole Foods, I was standing in front of the meat case staring at the sale sign on Flat Iron steaks. The price was right, and I said, why not give it a try, it looked great, nice and lean, it had been grass fed, and had all the other bells and whistles,...and WOW,...when we got it home an cooked it were we blown away by how tender it was and the taste!....Nice and beefy!
When I got the Flat Iron steak home, I googled to see exactly what I had purchased and how in the world to cook supper for my guys,...that's when I learned that Flat Iron steaks are also called Top Blade steaks, and lots of other interesting stuff about them, and they are best grilled.
My next encounter with Top Blade steak, i.e. Flat Iron,...was when I spotted a couple packages of the steak at Publix, since we spread our grocery love around,...
On a side note: On a weekly, monthly and bi-monthly basis, I shop at least seven different stores when I am in town or running errands, to find my guys the best available foods,...reasonably priced. My pantry and freezer is kept stocked, and when I run low or out, I will fill in the gaps as needed. Perishables are weekly purchases: eggs, meat, fruit, milk for my guys, yogurt for my husband, fresh veggies. Monthly I fill in whatever gaps I have in my pantry, and bi-monthly purchases are at Costco, as that is a largest haul, but buying in larger quantities means I don't have to shop as often.
Whole Foods: (grocery store) bread, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pasta, tea, eggs, meat, fish, some veggies, bananas, peanut butter, apples,...and rationed olives from the olive bar,
Publix: (grocery store) dried beans, pasta, vinegar, Cream of Wheat - wholegrain, raisins, meat, veggies, frozen veggies,....
Walmart, (grocery/discount store) pop corn kernels, steel cut oats, oil, fresh fruit, pickles, some salad, turkey - best price, milk, silk, can beans, salsa,....
Freds: (discount store)...coffee, grape juice, mayonnaise, noodles, snacks,
Piggly Wiggly: (grocery store) frozen veggies, some veggies, meat,
Target: (discount store) raisins in little boxes, best price, orange juice, best price, yogurt for hubby, best price, snacks
Costco: (discount warehouse) nuts, dried fruit, fruit, frozen fruit, chicken stock, frozen fish, bread, canned veggies, cereals, butter, olive oil, OATMEAL, meat, corn chips, salsa, seasonings, rice, honey, peanut butter, jelly,..and usually lots more stuff than I have on my grocery list,...
Also I hit farmer's markets in season,...and if I can't find what I am looking for like, dried chives, for instance, I will order such off the internet,...
Sounds, I know, I know, I know like lots of food, and I am so conscious and grateful to be able to have a full pantry, because it frankly takes a lot of food for our household. I am feeding three grown men and an active toddler and I like to eat myself,...and to salve my budget guilt, I remind myself, we don't eat out much,...especially during the week.
Also aside from prepared snacks, mostly crackers, pretzels, cookies for our little guy and chips, and not a great deal of any of them, since they are treats,...we don't purchase convenience foods.
Yep, I pretty much prepare every meal from scratch, but it sounds more imposing than it is. After all, I do have 29 years of scratch cooking experience and I think its fun,...like the homemade instant oatmeal, I churn out ever few weeks or so,....more lately because my Husband has started to eat it for breakfast too. Also, I usually make a pot of soup or two during the week - fast, easy and economical.
And for us, it is more convenient to spend our money on more nutritious items. Besides, talk about fast and convenient foods,...there is nothing faster or more convenient than peeling a banana or an orange, opening the lid to cashews or almonds, or throwing a steak on the grill.
Oh,..she's back to talking about steaks,...after that long rigmarole, i.e. long, drawn out explanation, I am,...because as my explanation in the previous paragraphs implies that I do go to a great deal of trouble to get the most bang for our buck where groceries are concerned,...love my guys,...
Thus,...this afternoon, I was thrilled to find Walmart had Top Blade steaks for under $7.00 dollars,...each package was around $6.68, and had four steaks and I am so sorry but I forgot to look at how many pounds was in each package, but eyeballing it, each steak looked like six ounces, cooked,...so I counted one steak as two servings.
Before my husband grilled the steaks, though, we seasoned them with Kosher salt, garlic and pepper, and let them come to room temperature.
Fresh garlic, smooshed out of a garlic press is EPIC,...on these steaks,...after seasoning we let the steaks come to room temperature,...and YES taking the trouble,... does make a great deal of difference,...like tender steaks,...rather than hockey pucks.
To compare: Flank Steak in our part of the country - deep South,...is not cheap,...although when we can fit it in the budget, it's worth the price, because it's so tasty and versatile for salads, stir fries or sandwiches.
I imagine Rib Eye Steaks are expensive everywhere,...and I actually have no problem with that,...they are soooo delicious, but with all that fatty marbling not exactly healthy,...so, it's a blessing that they are prohibitively expensive for us,...and consumed only as festive fare,...like when we grill a mound of Rib Eyes on Christmas Day,...because what else would you feed,...three grown men for the holidays?
However, for daily consumption, Top Blade Steak,...is CHEAP,...tender as Rib Eye, and by no means as fatty,...and as delicious as Flank Steak with such a nice,...beefy flavor,...which is dandy if you like beef,...and I do like beef,...because it taste tons better than liver or oysters,...and it keeps my sulky iron levels at nice percentages,...which allow me to function,..as I need to, so I can care for my guys,...and softy me,...I did make sure I purchased enough Top Blade steaks so they could have some too!
This evening my guys did enjoy their supper, and how!
Before I ever plunked myself in front of this computer, I made sure I rationed out the left-overs as my medicinal: Top Blade steaks for the week,...about 3 oz serving in plastic bags, stuck in a gallon freezer bag,...and tucked nicely in the freezer to freeze until I am ready for lunch or dinner as the case may be.
A new portion of lentils are also cooked and await me in our fridge.
For breakfast, I've been making Cream of Wheat in 4 serving portions, faster that way,...to sweeten them at one go, and portion them out, and tuck away in the fridge,...so I can zap them each morning after I've made Mr. Isaac, his oatmeal.
Oh, I wish I had a picture of the face he made when I offered him some Cream of Wheat this week,...a refusal has never looked so adorable!!!!.....But then he is an Oatmeal Boy,...and I know where he gets it from,...although Cream of Wheat, is hardly punishment, with apples it taste like DESSERT!!!...
Pumpkin Seeds are wearing well, and making a pleasant showing in snacks, and I've discovered that pumpkin seeds with the Cream of Wheat, and raisins, is a nice combination.
To make sure all this iron is taking, I am consuming orange juice, and I make point to consume Vitamin C rich fruit: oranges, berries, melon with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Looking back, it is really a blessing in a way that I am not able to digest dairy products, because I used to cook a great deal with dairy products, like in every single thing I made, and where we used to budget for: milk, cream, butter, yogurt, cheeses, and we were very adventurous with our cheese consumption: goat, sheep, bovine,...NOW,...we can divert that portion to fresh fruit, vegetables and of course turkey and beef,...and fish too,...because we really really like fish,...but its not iron rich,...sigh,...back to lentils, pumpkin seeds,...and TOP BLADE steak!!!
Dear reader,...congratulations, if you managed to make it to the end of this,...long,...drawn out,...Tale of Top Blade Steak!!!
Believe me, I know, this tale has been rambling, and if I had more time to spare,...I'd edit and rewrite a more lucid narration,...but alas,..I have a very active preschooler,...and my rice cooker to clean, because you bet, we had Jasmine Rice with our Top Blade steaks!!!
Only to be honest, that's a rather flimsy excuse for this rigmarole,...because my little one is watching Veggie Tales with his dear Daddy,...and it takes exactly three minutes to clean a rice cooker.
So, I'll just say thank you for reading and if you consume beef products,...give Top Blade/Flat Iron steak a try,....you won't be disappointed,...they are economical, nutritious and delicious!
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Pumpkin To The Rescue,...
Usually I like Mondays,...its our free day in the week when I can get lots done in the house, or run errands, but this Monday,....I didn't feel like doing anything.
We had a busy weekend,...and at first I thought I was just tired,...but as the day went on I got more lethargic,...even taking an hour nap while my little one was asleep didn't help.
When my husband came home that evening, with supper - chicken - because I felt too wiped to cook, he suggested we try taking our evening walk since it was SUCH a nice evening,...but I lagged and dragged and we discussed for the thousandth time how draining it is to have a special needs preschooler 24/7,...and then I suddenly had a thought and asked, "Are my lips pale?"
My husband stopped and looked and answered, "Yes!"
In the next second we both chorused, "Iron levels!"
My low iron levels are nothing new,...it's a constant struggle to remember to eat enough iron rich foods,...when most days I feel lucky to snatch a bite of whatever I can find,...whenever I get a chance to eat,...and when we reviewed my diet for the past week or so,...iron or vitamin C,...wasn't prominent and I had not been taking my supplement, and I don't have ANY choice but to make iron and vitamin C,...top priority.
We know the Iron Drill:
Beef,
Turkey
Pork,
Chicken
Shellfish,
Legumes,
Raisins, Apricots, Prunes,
Fortified Cereals
Spinach and other dark greens,
But, let's get real,...beef is expensive and I live in a household with three grown men and an active preschooler,...steak for five can get kinda pricy and even a roast ain't cheap.
We do better eating legumes,...although I haven't made lentils in awhile and they are one of the best legume iron sources.
Turkey is a given,...we eat more ground turkey than ground beef,...and I've even roasted a breast or two for sandwiches,...yum!
Once we got into the house Monday evening,...I immediately put some lentils in the microwave for eight minutes while we got ready to go the grocery store for some beef.
At the grocery store as we were walking thru the entrance an announcer came over their PA,..."TREAT YOU FAMILY TO BEEF, TONIGHT!"
I kid you not,...it was too funny,...my husband and I laughed all the way to the meat section where I picked out a few 'cheaper cut' steaks, we picked up some calcium fortified orange juice, and a package of cookies for Isaac,...because he is soooooo cute when he signs: COOKIE....PLEASE!!!!
Back home, I drained off the icky brackish water from the lentils, washed them, added more water to cover and zapped them for about fifteen minutes,...while my husband grilled the steaks for me,...sweet guy,....All my guys were sweet about eating chicken while I had lentils, orange juice, steak and pumpkin seeds.
Did you know a serving of pumpkin seeds gives you 25% of your iron needs? That's huge! And as Isaac and I are constantly on the go,...we usually take homemade trail mix with us,...and NOW and FOREVER our trail mix will include pumpkin seeds.
Still eating on the steak my husband grilled Monday,...and I actually feel sooo much better,...it's amazing what eating right will do for you,...I constantly fall into the Mommy-trap of being so busy taking care of everyone else, I don't take care of myself.
Understandable mistake.
When you have strong vegetarian tendencies it is difficult to remember to consume meat products,...and I have to have meat,...I've tried to keep my iron at sufficient levels without and it's not a pretty picture an ashen me dragging around.
In the future,...
More beef,...my guys are being sweethearts about girl-steaks.
MORE pumpkin seeds,...too easy not to snack on these puppies.
Raisins,....sorry dried cranberries,...you just taste good,...and that's it!
More OJ,...my lone oranges aren't getting the job done.
Lots more Cream of Wheat,...sob, sob, sob for my beloved oatmeal,...but cream of wheat has 50% of your iron needs,...and I'd be stupid not to take the cereal up on that offer,...I can still snack on oatmeal,...yum!
More spinach,...its also pricy,...but so are doctor bills.
Ick,...oysters,...or maybe clams,...for variety.
Liver,...check if its KFC's chicken livers,...they actually taste good,...but it will have to be a trade off for the fat and calories.
Eggs, check,
Lentils,...check, check, check, they are soooo easy to make, I have no excuse not to have them in my fridge,...for quick snacks, or a side dish,....
So that's the plan for now,...we'll see how it goes
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
We had a busy weekend,...and at first I thought I was just tired,...but as the day went on I got more lethargic,...even taking an hour nap while my little one was asleep didn't help.
When my husband came home that evening, with supper - chicken - because I felt too wiped to cook, he suggested we try taking our evening walk since it was SUCH a nice evening,...but I lagged and dragged and we discussed for the thousandth time how draining it is to have a special needs preschooler 24/7,...and then I suddenly had a thought and asked, "Are my lips pale?"
My husband stopped and looked and answered, "Yes!"
In the next second we both chorused, "Iron levels!"
My low iron levels are nothing new,...it's a constant struggle to remember to eat enough iron rich foods,...when most days I feel lucky to snatch a bite of whatever I can find,...whenever I get a chance to eat,...and when we reviewed my diet for the past week or so,...iron or vitamin C,...wasn't prominent and I had not been taking my supplement, and I don't have ANY choice but to make iron and vitamin C,...top priority.
We know the Iron Drill:
Beef,
Turkey
Pork,
Chicken
Shellfish,
Legumes,
Raisins, Apricots, Prunes,
Fortified Cereals
Spinach and other dark greens,
But, let's get real,...beef is expensive and I live in a household with three grown men and an active preschooler,...steak for five can get kinda pricy and even a roast ain't cheap.
We do better eating legumes,...although I haven't made lentils in awhile and they are one of the best legume iron sources.
Turkey is a given,...we eat more ground turkey than ground beef,...and I've even roasted a breast or two for sandwiches,...yum!
Once we got into the house Monday evening,...I immediately put some lentils in the microwave for eight minutes while we got ready to go the grocery store for some beef.
At the grocery store as we were walking thru the entrance an announcer came over their PA,..."TREAT YOU FAMILY TO BEEF, TONIGHT!"
I kid you not,...it was too funny,...my husband and I laughed all the way to the meat section where I picked out a few 'cheaper cut' steaks, we picked up some calcium fortified orange juice, and a package of cookies for Isaac,...because he is soooooo cute when he signs: COOKIE....PLEASE!!!!
Back home, I drained off the icky brackish water from the lentils, washed them, added more water to cover and zapped them for about fifteen minutes,...while my husband grilled the steaks for me,...sweet guy,....All my guys were sweet about eating chicken while I had lentils, orange juice, steak and pumpkin seeds.
Did you know a serving of pumpkin seeds gives you 25% of your iron needs? That's huge! And as Isaac and I are constantly on the go,...we usually take homemade trail mix with us,...and NOW and FOREVER our trail mix will include pumpkin seeds.
Still eating on the steak my husband grilled Monday,...and I actually feel sooo much better,...it's amazing what eating right will do for you,...I constantly fall into the Mommy-trap of being so busy taking care of everyone else, I don't take care of myself.
Understandable mistake.
When you have strong vegetarian tendencies it is difficult to remember to consume meat products,...and I have to have meat,...I've tried to keep my iron at sufficient levels without and it's not a pretty picture an ashen me dragging around.
In the future,...
More beef,...my guys are being sweethearts about girl-steaks.
MORE pumpkin seeds,...too easy not to snack on these puppies.
Raisins,....sorry dried cranberries,...you just taste good,...and that's it!
More OJ,...my lone oranges aren't getting the job done.
Lots more Cream of Wheat,...sob, sob, sob for my beloved oatmeal,...but cream of wheat has 50% of your iron needs,...and I'd be stupid not to take the cereal up on that offer,...I can still snack on oatmeal,...yum!
More spinach,...its also pricy,...but so are doctor bills.
Ick,...oysters,...or maybe clams,...for variety.
Liver,...check if its KFC's chicken livers,...they actually taste good,...but it will have to be a trade off for the fat and calories.
Eggs, check,
Lentils,...check, check, check, they are soooo easy to make, I have no excuse not to have them in my fridge,...for quick snacks, or a side dish,....
So that's the plan for now,...we'll see how it goes
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Disc Golf,...
A couple years ago, my oldest son,...Teddy,...the one with the beard,...had to take a physical education course at the university as part of his degree plan.
Teddy chose: Frisbee.
He got an A+,...as he jolly well should, but even better he was introduced to the sport: Disc Golf,...which Teddy in turn introduced us to: "Hello Fun!"
Our area doesn't have many disc golf courses,...just one in fact,...but it has 18 holes, is scenic, and free!!!
It's been a while since we've played,...we took Isaac, once when he was about a year old, and that was a disaster,...but now Isaac is three,...we tried again over the holidays and had a GREAT time,...and we're planning to play lots more this year!
Chasing a very active three year old up and down hills, I got a great work out while my guys actually played.
Workouts for me are whenever I can find an opportunity: i.e.: lugging groceries in the house counts, games of tag with my little one, and whenever I can find time to do a sit up or two.
It's not easy, I like set fitness routines, but that's not going to happen, at least, not anytime soon, anyway. So I am not going to fret over what can't be, but keep keeping active, because this is not about dieting, but about lifestyle and I want to have a healthy lifestyle to enjoy with those I love.
Like these guys,...
Teddy chose: Frisbee.
He got an A+,...as he jolly well should, but even better he was introduced to the sport: Disc Golf,...which Teddy in turn introduced us to: "Hello Fun!"
Our area doesn't have many disc golf courses,...just one in fact,...but it has 18 holes, is scenic, and free!!!
It's been a while since we've played,...we took Isaac, once when he was about a year old, and that was a disaster,...but now Isaac is three,...we tried again over the holidays and had a GREAT time,...and we're planning to play lots more this year!
Chasing a very active three year old up and down hills, I got a great work out while my guys actually played.
Workouts for me are whenever I can find an opportunity: i.e.: lugging groceries in the house counts, games of tag with my little one, and whenever I can find time to do a sit up or two.
It's not easy, I like set fitness routines, but that's not going to happen, at least, not anytime soon, anyway. So I am not going to fret over what can't be, but keep keeping active, because this is not about dieting, but about lifestyle and I want to have a healthy lifestyle to enjoy with those I love.
Like these guys,...
Until I post again,...may God bless and keep you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)