Busy Days

Yesterday was a very productive day on the home front (and my only day off). I picked up 22 bags of mulch. My husband assembled a table in the garage and we reorganized our supplies. The children played with the neighbors, dug in the dirt and did some jobs around the house.

Today we went to BJ's to pick up water and sundries. Stopped in at Adoration and made a donation to the Salvation Army. Didn't do any gardening today, like I had hoped. We did spelling in the car and had the oldest read the first chapter of The Boxcar Children, aloud. I also taught him how to look up new words in the dictionary. He'll have to practice that more as his reading progresses.

Will be working tonight, from 7 to midnight.

Week at a Glance

Today, we were able to go to Adoration, procure 1 bag of dirt, 2 tomato cages, a couple of stakes, a spray nozzle and a watering can. The buckets from the bakery continue to be saved for me. Perhaps tonight there will be more waiting.

Here are the goals I have for this week:

Order seeds (Tuesday)
Assemble table and arrange stockpile on it. (Wednesday)
Measure the yard and figure out how much mulch is needed (Thursday)
Freeze the flour I bought the other day. Hopefully there will be space in the freezer. (Friday)

Here are my daily goals:

rosary with the kids
lifting weights to increase my arm strength
daily vitamins
6 bottles of water per day
watch calorie intake (smaller portions and less processed foods)
reading stories to the kids

Sugar: The Bitter Truth

I was absolutely riveted by this video because it was explained very precisely, the problems with HFC. I thought i knew a lot about the physiology and effects of high fructose corn syrup and white sugar on our systems, but i learned new facts. Made me even more convinced that our family has to do this for our health. He explains metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease) and how all of them are brought on by our diets. Good stuff!

Eyes to See and Ears to Hear: Reading and Heeding the Signs of the Times

Baked Jambalaya from the Once A Month Cookbook

I made this thursday night and didn't get to eat it. I just had this for breakfast. Of course my recipe was different though, since I had some things on hand and not others. this recipe is simple! can't wait for dh to try. i want to add it to my tried and true. only thing is that i'll use kielbasa next time instead of the andouille. the flavor of andouille is AWESOME. you don't really need any other spices to the recipe if you use it. but the kids won't eat it, so back to the kielbasa. i like making things that i can reheat for breakfast/lunch. this one is very good for me. it also follows my no sugar/no flour rule. i double the recipe so there is enough leftover for meals during the week.

original recipe with my changes:

Baked Jambalaya

3 TBSP real bacon bits (omitted)
1/2 c celery, chopped (omitted)
1/2 c green pepper, chopped
2 TBSP Scallion, chopped (used one small onion instead)
1/2 lb kielbasa, cooked and sliced (used andouille sausage - really spicy!!)
1/2 lb ham, cooked and diced (omitted)
1/2 t dried thyme (omitted)
1 tsp cajun seasoning (i used cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper - just about a pinch of each, basil should be in there too maybe. didn't have it)
28 oz can of crushed tomatoes (used jar of ragu instead)
1 1/2 c (or 14.5 oz can) beef broth
1 1/2 c long grain rice

Bake now directions: Mix everything together in a large bowl. Put into a 9 x 13 baking dish and cook covered with foil at 375 for 1 hour.

Freeze directions: Mix everything except rice, in large bowl. Pour into freezer bag, label and freeze. Measure out the rice and put in ziploc bag. Tape it to the Jambalaya freezer bag. Thaw, mix in rice, and put into 9x13 pan. bake covered, 375 for 1 hour.

No Knead Bread Revisited

My friend JoAnna posted this recipe from the blog, Steamy Kitchen Modern Asian, on her facebook profile. Of course I had to promptly subscribe to the blog. Thanks so much, JoAnna! I really like this version, and will try my hand at it very SOON.
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No Knead Bread Recipe

No Knead Bread Recipe is adapted from Mark Bittman of NY Times who got it from Sullivan Street Bakery. When the recipe first came out, it was the blogging community who took the bread to new heights, especially Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of The Bread Bible. I followed Rose’s experiments through the weeks and learned from her recipe adjustments and the why’s of how this bread works.

Yield: one 1 lb loaf

3 cups bread flour (I like Harvest King bread flour)
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
3/4 tablespoon kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon table salt)
1 1/2 cups warm water

Covered pot (five-quart or larger cast iron, Pyrex, ceramic, enamel…something that can go into a 450F oven.)

1. Mix dough: The night before, combine all ingredients in a big bowl with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. It will be a shaggy, doughy mess. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 12-20 hours on countertop.

2. Shape & preheat: The dough will now be wet, sticky and bubbly. With a wet spatula, dump the dough on a floured surface. Fold ends of dough over a few times with the spatula and nudge it into a ball shape. You can use your hands if you like, just keep your hands wet so that the dough does not stick. Generously dust a cotton towel (not terrycloth) with flour. Set dough seam side down on top of towel. Fold towel over the dough. Let it nap for 2 hours. When you’ve got about a half hour left, slip your covered pot into the oven and preheat to 450F.

3. Bake: Your dough should have doubled in size. Remove pot from oven. Holding towel, dump wobbly dough into pot. Doesn’t matter which way it lands. Shake to even dough out. Cover. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover, bake another 15-20 minutes or until the crust is beautifully golden and middle of loaf is 210F. Remove and let cool on wired rack. If not eating right away, you can re-crisp crust in 350F oven for 10 minutes. Best way to eat it? Smear a warm slice with some good butter (Kerrygold and Lurpac are both found in your grocery stores, usually on top shelf)

To Our Health

I think I have found a one-stop blog to all the health topics that I'm interested in for my family. It's a cornucopia of great information and resources. Kelly of Kelly the Kitchen Kop, has done some serious research. Thank you, Kelly. You have saved me hours and hours of reading and surfing the net.

http://www.kellythekitchenkop.com/

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Let's pray for each other as we take baby-steps in implementing changes for our health.

A Woman's Concern

Just got back from the pro-life walkathon, benefitting A Woman's Concern of Fall River, MA and Woonsocket, RI. They hope to raise enough funds to open a new location here in Attleboro. Right next to the abortion clinic!

There was a short speech from the president beforehand. He talked about the battle, and actual lives that have been lost. He talked about a woman who is waking up this morning with the news she is pregnant, and everyone around her is telling her to get rid of the baby. It was powerful and it hit home. I should have brought tissues with me.

I started my Rosary for the unborn slightly after 9am. I had the MOST pleasant surprise ever. My sweet SIL came to do the walk! She didn't register or anything, she just came to walk and show support! Oh it was lovely! She saw her Goddaughter, we prayed the Rosary together and also had a nice talk. It was wonderful. She told me all kinds of things. It was such a lovely day.

I have to end here because I have to go feed the baby. Thank you, to all who sponsored. I have a renewed sense of hope, seeing all these people from near and far, in support of LIFE.

http://www.awomansconcern.org/

down to my last pad of checks

and found this wonderul pro-life check company. endorsed by Priests for Life, so you know it's solid! ;)

http://www.promisechecks.com/

short list for 2008

- get truck fixed
- dental appointments for me, r, j and g
- eye appointment for r (and j?)
- dermatologist appointment for me and r
- doc appointment for L 2yr checkup
- doc appointment for J 5yr checkup
- savings accounts for children
- write up a new rule
- make menu plans
- try out new recipes
- order birth certificates
- complete insurance forms
- order health card for m

Nutrition

Ahhh... the Halloween candy has got me hankering to go back to our food roots. I was doing good for a while with implementing better food choices for everyone. A few pieces of candy and I can really feel the effects. Mood swings mostly and some ugly fallouts from that. I've been diligent with allowing a piece here and there for the children, but the parents haven't been so good. I'm going to send the rest to my husband's work tomorrow and get it out of here.

However, the cool season is here and I'm feeling mighty urgers to create wonderful and delicious meals. I've been reading so many different recipes. However, we have veered off of whole grain bread to white bread. I'm not too happy with this.

My biggest goal this season is to make homemade bread with whole grains. Also, to get back to label reading and make the homemade alternatives. Things I want to avoid for the family are:

High Fructose Corn Syrup
Soy
Corn and corn products
MSG

So I have to make a bunch of homemade staples to avoid all this. Chicken and beef stocks, gravies, bread, etc.

More later!

Beatitudes for Homemakers

Beatitudes for Homemakers
Author: Duane & Marilyn Moll

Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labor of love;
for her willing hands and happy heart translate duty into privilege, and her labor becomes a service to God and all mankind.

Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend;
for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.

Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts;
for her understanding is a balm to humanity.

Blessed is she who scours and scrubs;
for well she knows that cleanliness is one expression of godliness.

Blessed is she whom children love;
for the love of a child is more to be valued than fortune or fame.

Blessed is she who sings at her work;
for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.

Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion;
for her faith will triumph over all adversity.

Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal;
for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.

Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the home;
for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.

the truth about butter

check out this link that a friend sent. a good article on butter.

http://www.westonaprice.org/foodfeatures/butter.html

Another Money Tip

another thing i do is keep a list of prices for certain items in my purse so i know a good deal when i see one. for instance, i have a diaper price chart that i keep handy. the brand name, number of diapers in a package,which store it is at, and the price of the package and unit price of each diaper. then, i can refer to it and see if i have coupons for that brand and recalculate the unit price with the use of a coupon. saves me gas and sanity. I also try to do the same thing with baby formula, baby food, wipes... i need to get one going for paper towels, tp and soap. these items can get confusing, especially when packages start boasting that one roll is equivalent to 2, etc.

Money Saving Tips

Here are a few tips of things we do to save money. Right now we are doing the Dave Ramsey program and we are on baby step 1. Creating a baby emergency fund.

- we use the interlibrary loan system profusely for movies and books. so we don't go to blockbuster anymore.

- we cut the childrens' hair and my husband uses the clippers on his.

- we buy the bulk of the kids' seasonal wardrobes at a local st. vincent's. many designer names for 1.09 a piece! also we like to utilize freecycle for clothes.

- i only use 1/2 the detergent cup of soap in my dishwasher and there is no difference in how clean the dishes are

- we get our gas at bj's and it pays many times over, the cost for membership

- shopping only once a week helps to not spend extra on gas and time running around... forces me to make lists, clip coupons and plan the trip

- we've signed up with my local freecycler groups and participate in that program. go to http://www.freecycle.org/ to see how it works. it's saved us TONS! we recently received free diapers and formula that people were giving away. but there are many items posted that people no longer want. from building supplies to furniture, clothes, toys, you name it.

- i am a member now of http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ every week, this program goes through the circulars and tells me the best deals and how to get them using the coupons. they have a trial membership of $1 for a month to see if you like it. you can cancel anytime. so i signed up for a month and saw how the program works. my local markets are stop and shop, walgreens and cvs. i have found some great deals with this website's help. some things i have missed completely when i tried shopping all the circulars on my own. so this was an eye opener. they have made it more of a science than i did. they have a database where they cross reference the sale trends so that you can trust you are getting the "rock bottom" price of that store. i'm going to stick with it until the end of the year and see how it goes. after the trial membership, it's $10 every 8 weeks for one store, and $5/8 weeks each additional store after that.

- a big money saver for me is planning meals in a crockpot, to make the most of cheaper cuts of meat and also because of my busy schedule. so i signed up for a yahoo group that gives great recipes! slowcooker@yahoogroups.com

- i'm trying to lay off the processed foods and make healthier meals for the entire family. it costs more to eat prepackaged things than to cook from scratch. so i shop mostly the outer aisles of the market where the fresh ingredients are and don't really spend much time in the middle anymore.

- in the past, i used to buy our whole grain breads from a discount shop in town, but we've since moved from that area. it's no longer worth the gas to shop there. but we would get name brand whole grain breads for at least half off, if not more, and i would freeze the loaves for when we needed them.

- i buy my dairy products and canned food items at a low cost market in the area. they are consistently lower than all the big name markets around me. it's worth the trip! i save from .50 to an entire dollar on each dairy item. they have rules such as they don't take certain coupons, whereas the big stores do, but i'm still over time making out better with them.

- then there is batch cooking... making double or triple a meal and freeze the leftovers. it's a cook once and eat another night option that is handy. saves us from eating out.

- we don't buy tonic, we drink things we can mix with our filtered tap water at home. the kids drink milk and watered down apple juice. the adults drink a generic version of crystal light and sometimes we water that down, too. it can be super sweet.

- also, i don't get all the flyers for my area. so i've bookmarked the online circulars of every store around me and visit them once a week when i make the shopping list. this includes pharmacies because they carry food items as well. i tend to shop the loss leaders on the circulars and stock up. our well stocked pantry has helped us in many lean times.