I forgot how to blog

Really,

I think I've forgotten how.

I'm not lying when I tell you I've been BUSY! All my extra efforts are paid to keeping the kids alive and the house in a livable state.

I really can't even think of anything worth blogging about.

I did, however, think of you all and made the effort of taking pictures of our dinner to share with you. This is a GOOD dinner, and healthy too! YES!

It's my experimental invention, though I'm sure there are tons of recipes out there just like it. So, there is no name.

First:

Saute zucchini, summer squash, and 1/2 diced onion in a teensy bit of olive oil. Add a decent amount of S&P and I like to add a healthy helping of dried basil as well.

Then:

Add a clove or two of garlic (or three if you're like me), give the pan a good shake, just to warm the garlic up and add a can or two of diced tomatoes and let simmer. Tell me that's not the most beautiful picture of a frying pan you've ever seen.

Serve on top of pasta with freshly grated parmesan:

DELISH!

My kids even ate this! Okay, the first time I made it, they made sour faces and refused to try, but tonight it was a huge success! If at first you don't succeed...

Four Eyes

This face just got cuter:

Still getting use to them:

Going, going....

If we get a good 10 min. run with them on we're doing good. Aye, this is going to be a long process getting him to keep these on. I wish he understood the "nerdy boy charm" he exudes when he wears them. Mom's will be fainting everywhere we go.

More about food...

As I paid almost triple the price for 2 whole organic, free range chickens on Tuesday as I would have for plain ol' Foster Farms, I wondered if the price was worth the quality.

I don't normally watch the evening news, but tonight was an exception and I was entirely gratified that my purchase was well worth the cost. I was also scared out of my wits...

This is something we all knew was happening, or was going to happen eventually:

CBS NEWS REPORT

(since I can't figure out how to post the video, click on the link to take you to the report)

Never again will I double think before buying free range and organic meats.

Health Nut

While my doctor strongly suggests that I begin taking a drug called "methotrexate",

 I feel completely unprepared to be taking such a pill and adjusting my life to the ill side effects. Though I understand this drug is most certainly going to be a part of my future,

  I'm not ready to take the plunge just yet. 

I am certainly not a healthy eater by ANY standards, but I understand and believe that healthy eating is the foundation to good health. I can preach this, but can't seem to dedicate myself 100%. 

(hypocrite)

I struggle with:

*Addiction. 

*Sugar. 

*Carbohydrates.

*Anything easy to cook for my family, which means preservatives, chemicals, white flours, sodium, sugar, etc. 

(that wasn't always the case)

I would love to be one of those people who eat to live. 

Unfortunately, I live to eat. 

On my slow pathway to healthful eating I've been trying to research and make good informed decisions on the foods I do bring into my home. Trying to change the things that are no big deal, that would easily go unnoticed by my family. 

I've been trying to purchase as many vegetables as I do fruit. Fruit is easy for my family to consume, vegetables are great at dinner, but incorporating them into the rest of the day has proven challenging.

Dr. Oz (love him!) suggested replacing all grains with broccoli and cauliflower for a week to get a jump start on a sugar detox. I'm rolling this one around in my head wondering if I could pull it off.  

Here are a few of the additions I've added to my pantry:

Coconut oil

This stuff tastes amazing on toast with a smidgen of honey. Plus, it's got so many health benefits I can't even begin to list. I've also exchanged it for shortening in my cookie recipe and they turned out great!

 For more info on coconut oil you can go HERE. 

Next up is:

 Kombucha. 

Say wha....?

I know. 

I don't give this to my children, nore does my hubby enjoy it, but I feel it working in my body and I love it! 

While Kombucha can be made at home....yeah right. Plus, the Synergy company adds great fruit juices to really give it a great flavor. You can read about Kombucha HERE.

Now, this is a little controversial:

Raw milk. 

I am convinced that by purchasing raw milk (aka: milk that hasn't been pasteurized) from dairy farmers who take good care of their pastures and cows will have many health benefits. 

My husband is not so convinced. Therefore, due to the extra cost and inconvenience of stocking up on this great stuff, I will probably not push the issue in my home. 

At least for now. 

My hope is that I will soften my husband's ideas and eventually  have his support on this issue. 

The fact that he is a stubborn lawyer will make this process next to impossible. 

You can find a plethora of arguments about raw vs. homogenized milk supporting both extremes of the spectrum. I have yet to find a good balanced article. 

To read about the health benefits of raw milk, go HERE. 

To read the "dangers" of raw milk, go HERE.