meals: vol. 20

menu for 3/17-3/23
monday: garlic chicken sausages, french fries, steamed broccoli
tuesday: italian wedding soup (paleo)
wednesday: turkey & fried egg burgers, roasted brussels sprouts, green beans
thursday: slow cooker korean beef bowls (with zucchini, carrots, spinach, rice noodles)
friday: loaded sweet potatoes, leftovers
saturday: tilapia & veggie oven pouches
sunday: lazy chicken marsala, garlic green beans

breakfasts: smoothies, breakfast sausage & bacon, larabars, wheat-free waffles, sun butter and bananas

lunches: leftovers, asian avocado tuna salad, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots, bacon, snacks

snacks: paleo muffins or sweet bread, beef jerky, dried fruit, nuts, cheese sticks & yogurt (c), larabars

meals: vol. 17

i think i'm starting to get the hang of this. it's definitely challenged how i think about meals and has me starting to get a bit more basic in their makeup. i've typically been more of a "one pot meal" fan, but switching to more of a separate meat and vegetable has been helpful.

have any meal ideas to share? i'd love to hear!

menu for 12/9-12/15
monday: leftovers
tuesday: salmon, asparagus (because i haven't actually made it yet, three weeks later. haha)
wednesday: beef & shrimp stir-fry 
thursday: slow cooker chicken breasts, sautéed veggies
friday: spaghetti squash carbonara, asparagus
saturday: steaks, mashed sweet potatoes, garlic green beans
sunday: slow cooker chicken soup (with leftover chicken).

breakfasts: almond flour muffins, hardboiled eggs, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers with paleo ranch, snacks

snacks: beef jerky, smoked salmon, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks (c), fruit, nuts, cheese sticks (c), larabars, hardboiled eggs, spiced candied walnuts

love.

meals: vol. 14 (a new start).

today marks the first day of our new life (when it comes to eating).

we are going paleo. 

it's something that we've been discussing for awhile now, and something i've been hoping to try for over a year. not for my own health (though i know i'm going to benefit from being more purposeful in eating whole, healthy foods), but for nick's.

the paleo diet has had much success in the auto-immune disease circles, specifically those that have gut health issues. and so, here we are. giving it all that we've got and will be for the next year or so (unless we see much improvement, and then it will be indefinite). personally, the story of danielle walker from against all grain, has left us particularly inspired. reading her story with illness was like reading our own journey with nick's.

so, what does this mean for this blog?
well, it means that you will probably see a good bit more about food. 

i will try my best to not be obnoxious about it, and this is definitely not going to become a food blog. but there will be more on the topic, because this blog is about real life, every season of it. and this season is going to be a little bit more about what we eat.

also, i want to share all that i'm learning about how to implement this diet into our everyday lives. the practical, the planning, the outcome. the successes and the failures. also, even if paleo isn't your thing, i hope you'll stick around. i'm hoping to integrate this new lifestyle into our existing one, including working to create food (with the help of many that have gone before me) that would be exiting for anyone to eat, regardless of diet restrictions.

so, let's do this.

menu for 11/18-11/24
monday: out for dinner
tuesday: pan fried chicken breasts, loaded sweet potatoes, salad
wednesday: slow cooker beef stir fry
thursday: salmon, sweet potatoes, asparagus
friday: chicken sausages and veggie sauté 
saturday: breakfast for dinner (paleo pancakes)
sunday: soup or stew?

breakfasts: egg muffins, larabars, wheat-free waffles (for coen), fruit, sun butter and bananas, smoothies
lunches: salads, lunchmeat roll ups, carrots and cucumbers (hopefully i'll get to make a paleo ranch!), hot dogs, leftovers, snacks
snacks: beef jerky, dried fruit, seaweed, dried pea snacks, fruit, cashews and almonds, cheese sticks (coen)

meals for the week: vol. 12

the last few weeks of posting late or not at all has left my meal execution pretty terrible. so here's to long-awaited fall weather, crockpots, and on-time menus.

happy planning, friends!

menu for 10/14-10/20

monday: fish taco bowls (& salads), slow cooker berry cobbler

tuesday: leftovers

wednesday: slow cooker beef stroganoff over egg noodles, green beans

thursday: loaded baked potatoes with turkey bacon & sautéed spinach, asparagus

friday: slow cooker breakfast casserole for dinner

saturday: out of town

sunday: one pot chicken lo mein

breakfasts: cereal bars, pumpkin chocolate chip oat bars, yogurt, eggs, berry cobbler

lunches: smoothies (with kale, shh!), leftovers, salads, tuna salads, carrots, leftovers, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, cheese, fruit, popcorn, yogurt

what's on your menu?

love.

meals for the week: vol. 6

so after a month of cutting out wheat, we've added some back in. so far we haven't noticed a difference, but we're still limiting it a bit. honestly, i feel better without it. 

meals :: 8/19-8/25

monday: leftover stew (slow cooker) 

tuesday: summer vegetables with sausage & potatoes 

wednesday: chickpea potato curry & rice

thursday: shepherd's pie (i am determined to finally make this. haha)

friday: chicken, bacon & green beans (modified for slow cooker), easy baked potatoes

saturday: 

sunday: girls' night! (finger foods & appetizers)

breakfasts: yogurt and granola, fruit, cliff & luna bars, berry crisp, egg muffins, smoothies

lunches: leftovers, tuna salads, veggies & homemade ranch, lunchmeat & sandwiches, baked potatoes (loaded/leftovers)

snacks: seaweed, veggies & homemade ranch, cheese sticks, cinnamon almonds, trail mix, fruit, popcorn

what are you eating this week? i'd love to hear!

love.

slow cooker chicken & dumplings.

last night, something wonderful happened in my crock pot.

after reading a few different recipes, and throwing things in the crockpot (though half of the time, it was more like yelling directions into the kitchen while i fed the baby--thanks, ash!), we had a pretty fantastic dinner. oh, and did i mention? no condensed soup.

it's definitely a keeper.

slow cooker chicken & dumplings
serves 6

ingredients
3 chicken breasts (mine were frozen)
4 cups of chicken stock
2/3 cup lowfat milk
3 tsp flour
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 carrots, peeled and diced
3 medium potatoes, cubed
1 can simply refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, quartered
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp onion powder (or substitute chopped onion)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
dash of ground thyme
salt & pepper to taste

directions
1. spray crockpot with nonstick spray. add in carrots and chicken breasts, and half of the spices. pour in half of the chicken stock.
2. in a small saucepan whisk together milk and flour on high heat. once it begins to boil, turn off heat and whisk continually until it thickens. then mix with remaining stock and pour into the crockpot. cook mixture on high for 5 hours.
3. add potatoes halfway through cooking.
4. when done, shred chicken with a fork and add quartered biscuits and peas. cook an additional 30 minutes.

serve, and enjoy!

love.