Hopeful Housewife

Had a  yummy breakfast this morning and had to share. All my kids at least *tried* something on the plate, so I consider that a victory.

Bought some apples as I mentioned yesterday, and they were the sweetest apples I have ever eaten. No exaggeration…they were amazing.  I sliced a few of them up, put some peach kefir in little dipping bowls for the kids, and made a recipe I have called “Magic Muffins.” I told the kids they were called that because they tasted so wonderful, lol.

Here’s the recipe, along with my changes.

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour (I used spelt)

3/4 c malt-o-meal cereal, dry

1/2 c sugar

3/4 c milk

1/4 c vegetable oil

1 egg

1 TBSP baking powder (yes you’re reading that right. 1 tablespoon)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

I added a TBSP of cinnamon, which is not in the recipe, but having made these before, I felt they needed it.

Mix all ingredients, fill muffin tins 3/4 of the way full, and bake in preheated 400* oven. I made a little streusel topping from grated cold butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and organic rolled oats, and topped before baking.

Bake 18 minutes, roughly.

I served these with a bit of butter and maple syrup, and they were so tasty. Even Gavin ate it, which shocked me more than you’ll ever know.

Piper inhaled three of them, drank half of her kefir, and ate five or six apple slices. A successful breakfast in our house.

I’m learning a few things in the process, even though I’m only a few days into it.

1.) I really needed to switch up things in the kitchen, and the new tastes and textures have been refreshing.

2.) Whole Foods will slice your bread purchased from the bakery if requested. They will even warn you that the slicer may have come into contact with non-organic bread in case I am concerned about that. I’m not, needless to say, but still awfully thoughtful.

3.) Whole Foods is a great place for people watching. Today I saw a woman dressed like Malibu Barbie. It was fantastic.

4.) If you eat a 365 organic brand “oreo”, and chase it with a drink of ice cold mint flavored Italian sparkling mineral water, it tastes like mint chocolate heaven. Its my new favorite indulgence.

5.) Whole Foods carries buffalo meat, and its SO on my “buy it soon” list.

6.) At the customer service counter, there is a “kids corner” that has healthy snacks. Kids 12 and under are allowed one snack each per visit. With the frequency of our visits, I should have a stash of organic raisins and fruit leathers in no time, LOL!

Ok, so today’s purchases: six apples for the kids, a loaf of organic sourdough (sliced, mind you, lol!) a half gallon of raw skim milk, an organic snickerdoodle for Miss Piper, (that she promptly gifted her Papa Motorcycle with) and a slice of Pepperoni Pizza for the boy. The kids paid for their own food, so deduct 4.00 off the top of my total for the day. Total for today was 10.92, and the only thing I needed for dinner tonight was the bread. The rest is for tomorrow. Total amount left for the week: $24.98, 3 days of eating left before my next week of purchases begin.

I have to admit, this is really fun for me.

I wish I could find my camera cable. Its in a box somewhere I’m sure, but once I find it, I will post pics of my finds and creations in this journey.

Ok, so yesterday evening’s shopping trip almost broke the bank, but I needed some spendy essentials, like olive oil, butter, eggs, and cheese.

I came home with all of those things, (goat cheese spread and a 3 cheese blend of assiago, fontina, and regiano), 2 bottles of santa cruz organic lemonaid at dh’s request, and a couple other things, and my total was 42.19. This brings my weekly total to 64.10. I have four more days to go to mark my first week, and we’ll see if I can keep it under 100.00. I’m left with $35.90, and have no doubt I can do it.

Last nights dinner was so tasty! I made some pasta out of semolina and organic spelt flour, and it was devine. I doubled the batch, so we’ll be having some form of pasta for the next two nights at least LOL. I used my pasta “machine” to make angel hair pasta last night, and tossed it with olive oil, black garlic, roma tomatoes, fresh basil, and the three cheese blend I mentioned. It was SO good. The black garlic is really different. Not sure I would use it the way I did last night again, but it would be great in asian dishes.  I served the pasta with the leftover sourdough from Sunday night, some olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping, and because dinner was running a little late, I spread some goat cheese on some ak-mak crackers as an appetizer. It was sooooo yummy!!

I’m really excited about tonights dinner too. I took some of my leftover pasta dough, and turned it into mini ravioli’s. I filled them with the left over goat cheese, a handful of the 3 cheese blend, and some egg to hold it all together. I went ahead and rolled them out and prepared them last night so that they’d be ready for today. I’m going to make a creamy basil sauce to serve them in, some crusty bread, and maybe some oven roasted asparagus. The only thing I need for tonight’s dinner is some garlic.  While I’m at the store, I will likely pick up a basket of strawberries to juice for the kefir that I just finished, and the kids and I will have that with breakfast tomorrow.  I will probably make the bread for dinner tonight, as I’m dying to try baking bread with the spelt flour I found at the store (finally!).

I have to admit, that there is something about Whole Foods that is incredibly intoxicating to me. Its difficult to have self control when shopping! I want almost everything I find, but I have to remind myself that we can have the “fun stuff”, just not all in one night. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s dinner, when I’m fixing another “wine and cheese” type tray. This time, I’m going to buy those fabulous looking fresh mozzarella mini balls, and the pomegranite wine that catches my eye every time I walk in there.

Another unexpected bonus: When your food costs more, you’re less likely to eat too much. LOL… 

My husband and I have been baby-stepping this family to a more “nourishing traditions” type lifestyle for several years. Until recently, we didnt know there was a “movement” that existed for this lifestyle, but the idea of eat what grows/lives naturally makes SO much sense. Do things like they ‘ve been done before preservatives and transfats, etc.. You get the idea.

Now that we have moved, we have much better access to healthy eating, and I’m really excited about it. Trouble is, healthy eating can be soo expensive, and you all know how frugal I am.

So, I told the hubs that I wanted to give myself a challenge here at the hopeful housewife. Whole foods is less than a mile away from our home. I told him that the trouble I run into when shopping there is that things go back before we can eat them, SO, I am going to go “all European” on you guys, and make a daily trip to “the market” to get our food for that day. I’m going to stick to my usual budget of 100.00 per week, and am determined to shape up the way we eat, and explore some new techniques in the kitchen while I’m at it. So far, I’m two days into it, so here is my current grocery “log”.

Friday:  One loaf of organic wheat sourdough (I’m growing starter again, *sigh*), one chocolate bar. Total spent, $3.99. I warmed the bread and cut it into slices, sliced up some sharp cheddar I had in the fridge, cut up a few fresh peaches that my FIL brought us, and put some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and coarsely ground black pepper on a saucer. The hubs and I reeeaaaallly enjoyed this little meal with a glass of red wine. It felt so decadent, but was so delicious.

Saturday is off the log because the hubs took me out on a date. I had the most killer four cheese ravioli with pesto sauce.

Sunday, we repeated the bread/olive oil/balsamic/pepper, and had some grilled asparagus as well. Served it up with some Alexia brand cheese sticks and peaches again. Kids loved the cheesesticks. Breakfast and lunch were not purchased as the kids were w/grandma and she fed em’. Total for Sunday: $18.92. I bought some chocolate almond milk, and a few other products (sparkling mineral water, organic “oreos” and a slice of pepperoni pizza for the kiddos.

Thus far, we’re at $22.91.

The plan for tonight is to make some pasta here, toss it in olive oil, black garlic, tomato and basil, and serve it with the rest of last nights organic wheat sourdough with (yes, again,) balsamic and olive oil. Considering I have about fifty pounds of peaches (and I am not exaggerating at all…in fact I might have more than that) we’ll have sliced peaches tonight too, lol!!! My car is in the shop at the moment, but I will be heading out for today’s market trip in a bit. I’ll update my running total once I’m home.

Ok, so it doesnt get the same vocal fanfare the KOMBUCHA! does in our house, but its still amazing stuff.

I am LOVING Kefir, gang. LOVING it. I am not, however, loving how much its costing us, LOL!! Sooo…homemade kefir it is.

 If you like yogurt, you’ll like kefir, and frankly, its so much better for you.

I went to an organic dairy today as a field trip. It was so cool to walk the fields and see cows just being cows. It didnt stink, it wasnt nasty…it was really neat. The cows just walked right up to you, and wanted to be a part of the tour. There’s even this cow that PETA rescued (oh brother), and they sent it to this dairy because they knew it would be a safe place for her, lol…The tour guide said they come out twice a week, walk her, feed her, brush her…the works. Its quite ridiculous if you ask me, but hey, I never said I was an animal rights activist.

That said, it was really refreshing to see cows (and milk) in their/its natural state.

I also managed to get some kefir grains, and since I am sure my kefir posts are buried here somewhere, I thought I’d revisit the process.

Its super easy folks. Take your grains, drop em’ in a clean quart mason jar. Fill the jar with milk (I bought whole raw milk today just for this reason!!) cover, and let it sit out of direct sunlight for a day or two, depending on how sour you like your kefir. When its the way you want it, strain out the grains (no metal here, just like kombucha), and either store in some milk or use to start a new batch depending on how quickly you’re goin’ through your kefir.

Keep in the fridge up to seven days, and flavor as you wish.

I have to laugh as I type that, because that is exactly how it is said in our home. Like this beverage is some sort of superhero or something..dun dundun….KOMBUCHA!

My kombucha journey has been an interesting one. I drove 200 miles away for a bottle of it the first time I grew a scoby, only to discover that it was actually bottled in the city I’m from. Nice. In my defense, I was in said 200 mile away town anyway, but the kombucha was a necessary stop on our trip.

I managed to not only grow a great scoby, and feed it til’ it was nice and fat, but I also ended up with about six of them. Sadly, when we made our move a couple of weeks ago, I left my kombucha brew in our “brewing cabinet” and my big beautiful scoby was invaded by ants. I was just sick.

Sooo…I had to start over, and thought I’d revisit the land of KOMBUCHA! with you all as I go through the process again.

Feel free to google the reasons to drink Kombucha. I’m not going to list them all. I’m not a doctor, and I cant prove it works, but I like the way it makes me feel, so there.

Ok, first things first. You need to grow a scoby (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). Is that how you spell symbiotic? Scimbiotic? simbiotic? whatever. you get the point. This is where the magic lives. You’re going to basically take some sweet tea, add this living rubbery creature to it, and end up with a fizzy sweet and tart beverage that can change your life. Ok, I’m exaggerating…at least the change your life part. Sounds appetizing, no?

Ok. Go to Whole Foods or another health food store in your area. Pick up a bottle of raw plain, unflavored kombucha. Its about 2.50 at Whole Foods here. Take your lovely tonic home, add it to a large pickle jar (or other large glass container…no plastic or metal folks!!!!!!)  Pour the kombucha into the jar, cover with a tea towel, secure with a rubber band, and LEAVE IT ALONE for 2 weeks. Leave it in the pantry or on the counter. Do not attempt to grow a scoby baby in the fridge.

Once the two weeks is up, take another large glass container, dump a cup of good ol’ white sugar into the bottom of it. I know, I know. White sugar is bad. Work with me here. The scoby needs it to grow. Sorry folks, its just the way it is.  Next, brew some tea. Use 12 cups of water and four BLACK tea bags. Once the water is boiling, add it to the jar w/the sugar, give it a stir, and add the tea bags.  Let is steep basically all day, until it is room temperature again. Once the tea is room temperature, add 1/2 cup of your kombucha liquid from your scoby “garden”, and give another stir with a wooden spoon. (remember, no metal!) Float your scoby on top, cover with a tea towel, secure with a rubber band, and put it back on the counter or in the pantry. In 7-14 days, it will be fizzy and fabulous. I like to strain it before drinking it as the yeast “floaties” (as we refer to them) gross me out. Also, drink it really, really cold.

As an added bonus, your scoby will have birthed a new scoby baby. Make sure that the scoby’s are kept in kombucha liquid at all times. Once you get your kombucha “routine” going, you should have some in the fridge keeping cool, some brewin’ away, and a jar of any scobys you dont care to float on your current brew.

Some tips: If it ever molds, you may have forgotten to add kombucha liquid to your brew. This is a necessary step. If you want to brew your kombucha with all of the scoby’s you have, you can. If you dont like the taste, try juicing some ginger, blueberries, or whatever you like really, and adding it to the kombucha when you serve it.

It’s a bird…Its a plane, No…It’s KOMBUCHA!

So I have been watching this show on Christian television called “Raising an Amazing Generation”. I had never seen the show before and just happened to tune in on a day when they were beginning a 3 part series on Homeschooling. It was so encouraging, and gave me the boost I so desperately needed. The fourth day I was so blessed to discover that the topic for the day was raising special needs children. What a fantastic show it was, and boy was it ever what I needed to hear. Having two special needs children is hard enough…but homeschooling them just adds to the weight I sometimes feel upon my shoulders. The combination of those two topics was a great reminder to me that the weight is not for my shoulders. It hurts for it to rest there because my shoulders are not designed to carry such burdens. God carries them for me, but only if I allow him to. If I choose to try and handle it on my own, I am setting myself up for failure, disappointment, and quite simply, pain. My job is to raise these children up in The Word, the ways of God, and in the direction HE alone can give me. Any wisdom or comfort I receive in the area of rearing my special kiddos is from God and God alone. Naturally, he may use something like the program I mentioned, but I know when it is God tugging on my ears as if to say “listen up, this is for you.”

One of the things discussed on the special needs show was the observation that the special needs kids these mothers had were their most spiritually connected. They were the ones most in tune to others’ emotions, and the ones most likely to hug a perfect stranger, often bringing a random person in the supermarket to tears. My Trinity fits this description perfectly. She struggles in many ways, but in the area of her faith, trust in God, and desire to follow HIM, she thrives. Ultimately, isn’t that why I homeschool? As a homeschooling mom, my job is obviously to provide them with an education. I am responsible for preparing them for life, perhaps for college, and shaping them into independant, happy, law abiding citizens.  That said, this is not my top priority. My top priority is to prepare them to face a world that is lacking in faith. My objective is to arm them with the Word of God,  prepare them for battling the enemy, and set them on a path that follows the God of the universe. With all the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral issues I have faced with my two special blessings, its remarkable to me to see how in tune they are with their beliefs and how easily it comes to them. It even sparks the thought that perhaps its the rest of us that have special needs. Perhaps us “typically developing” folk  are the ones who have a thing or two to learn from these children. Maybe we need to see the way they so innocently seek God without the distraction of social expectation, societal taboo, and political correctness, and follow their lead.

It was an eye opener to me that I have the privelege of raising these children, and witnessing their amazing focus on The Father.

I am humbled by the revelation that God gave me these children knowing they were in good hands. Glory to God for the adventures in homeschooling we have been on, and the ones to come.

Just a few things:

We are moved in, still unpacking some, but mostly settled. Love the new place and the lack of a commute for the hubs. (Heidi, we moved to “the city”! Once I know my phone number I’ll pass it on to you!!!)

Homeschooling started up today, officially anyway. Going well, takes a lot longer to teach three this year, but so worth it. The wee one is super duper fun to teach because Kindergarteners are simply amazing.

Lost a few pounds somehow. I honestly think its the juicer. The kefir and kombucha cant hurt either.

Had some sad news in our family, prayers for comfort and peace would be great, especially for the hubs and his family.

A homeschooling group I really wanted to be a part of found an opening for our family, and the kids start Thursday. I am so excited, you have no idea.

My kombucha scoby grew to an enormous size, and then had to be dumped when I discovered ants in it the other day while moving the rest of our stuff out of the “old” house. I’m growin’ a new one as I type. Hooray for Whole foods being down the street and having a bazillion brands and flavors of Kombucha.

Awesome discovery: Beets juiced into your favorite juiced beverage makes it taste and look amazing.

Oh! I’m pretty sure swine flu has made it into our home. Finally starting to feel better, but its been a really tough 3 or 4 days for us. Poor Trin is still struggling a bit, but much better today than yesterday. Piper and the Hubs have been skipped, and I’m claiming in the name of JESUS that they are not going to get it. Really important stuff on Thursday and Friday this week. They CANT get sick. End of story.

I’m sure there’s more, but literature calls. Gave the kids a wee break, but its back to business now! Hooray for back to school time.

Remind me that I said that when its May and I’m ready for summer.