cooking with a toddler: scrambled eggs

over the last few days i have been trying to get my 19 month old more involved with our family cooking.  my husband and i cook dinner just about every night of the week.  we probably go out to dinner on average once a week, but some months we dont go out at all, or we make quick lazy dinner that doesnt require much time in the kitchen.  ultimately, if you want to live a healthier lifestyle, cooking for yourself is the best bet.  you have control over the portion size and obviously the ingredients.  restaurant food is delicious, but they spare no calorie.  full fat cream, butter, salt, oil, sugar... you name it.  its yummy, but not entirely healthy.  

i want my son to grow up knowing how to cook and i believe teaching him at a very young age with help foster independence and confidence.  cooking for himself at a young age also instills a sense of capability: i can!  it also shows my son the confidence i have in him and that i trust his ability in the kitchen..  if you start showing your children the right way to things at a young age, you dont have to be worried about them hurting themselves or doing the "wrong" thing as they get older.  teach them WHY they cannot touch a hot stove, dont just tell them NO.  TEACH and SHOW them how to use the kitchen tools.  you cannot expect them to know... we all need guidance and experience to learn.  :)

my son loves eggs, so this morning he made his own scrambled egg!  

i pulled a dining chair up to the counter for him to stand on.

after he cracked the egg into the bowl, he used a fork to scramble it.

i showed him how to spray the pan with cooking spray.  his attempt to spray the pan resulted in a stove covered with canola oil.  haha, better luck next time.  he quickly poured the egg into the pan on the stove and grabbed the spatula and started stirring.

he LOVED using the spatula and stirring the egg in the pan.

i set out a bowl for him to scoop the egg into.  he didnt get a single part of the egg in the bowl, but it was fun to watch him try.  next time...

enjoying his egg.  job well done!

happy cooking!

- the mrs.

clean. lean. green. shake!

most of the time when i make my shakes i do not follow a recipe.  i know what i like, i eyeball the measurements and blend!  i have previously posted the recipe for my normal breakfast blend, so i thought i would compile my green shake recipe for you too.

clean. lean. green. shake

6-8 oz fresh squeeze orange juice

2 tablespoons chia seeds

half cucumber

two celery stalks

1 inch fresh ginger

2-3 handfuls of spinach (baby or regular)

put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. 

 if youre like me and prefer a cold shake, you can put the OJ into some ice cube trays and freeze them before blending.  or you can place the veggies in the freezer for an hour or so to chill before blending.  sometimes i will also add kale to this or half a green apple.  i also LOVE flat leaf parsley in my shakes - adds such a clean and refreshing taste.   

enjoy!

-the mrs.

cleanse: day nine.

hello day nine. 

i am in week two of my three week cleanse.  things are going well but i am really sick of eating fruits and vegetables all day.  i don't know if i will make it the entire 21 days strictly following the rules.  i think i might have to change things up a bit, add a cup of coffee here or there.  maybe some bread.  i have been doing awesome, but i am really wanting a change of pace and VARIETY.  however, i did have a small quesadilla for dinner the other day because i was so starved for bread and cheese.  horrible.  fail.  but i didn't feel a bit guilty.  other than that blunder, i have been sticking to the rules.  the main thing for me is to curb my craving for sweets and this cleanse really has done it.  also, being more aware of what i am consuming throughout the day helps to understand that i really dont NEED that cupcake or piece of chocolate.  annndd the booze.  if i dont drink that glass or two of wine every night i am saving myself 200-400 calories.  easy.  and that doesnt include the days when i drink more than that or mix myself a mimosa on sunday morning.  i really dont drink that much or that often, so cutting alcohol out isnt too difficult.

as the rules state:

What You're Eating During Week 1: 

fruits, vegetables, and plant-based fats: including nuts, seeds, and oils

What You're Adding Back in Week 2:

seafood, beans and lentils, and organic soy

i am now allowed to eat seafood and beans!  last night we grilled up some ono steaks and served it with broccoli and homemade manila mango salsa.  it was fantastic.  my salsa is very easy to make.

manila mango salsa

  

two manila mangos - peeled, pitted, and diced

1/4 red onion - diced

juice of half a lime

fresh cilantro - 2 tablespoons, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

(for heat dice up a serrano or jalapeno.  all ingredient ratios can be changed to suit your taste)

combine all ingredients in a bowl.  you can serve immediately or put it in the fridge for couple hours or overnight to allow all the flavors to come together. yum!

happy cleansing!

-the mrs.

tea kettle: electric or stove top?

referring back to an earlier post about tea and tea kettles: sooo which one, electric or stove top?, i finally made a decision:  stove top.  i have been wanting a tea kettle and needing to make the decision sooner rather than later.  my 21 day cleanse has me off caffeine so i have been leaning towards green and herbal teas rather than decaf coffee for my hot beverage fix.  tea could never replace my love for coffee, but i have been loving getting know tea and immersing myself in all the wonderful flavors and varieties.  what made me choose stove top kettle over the electric kettle is a great deal on the perfect color green chantal tea pot.  i was using my sisters stove top tea kettle the other day and when i went to pour the water into my cup i nearly burned my hand on the handle.  it was boiling lava hot.  that makes no sense.  why would the handle be impossible to hold and pour?  good thing my green lady has an easy grip stay-cool handle :)  down the road i will probably invest in an electric kettle mainly because it takes at least 10 minutes before i hear the whistle and sometimes that is just too long to wait.

here is a picture of my beautiful green lady:

happy tea drinking!

- the mrs.

cleanse: day seven.

today is the final day of my first week (eating only fruits and veggies). I am SO looking forward to monday and adding back seafood and beans. this morning I decided to have a small plate of fruit for breakfast.

half a grapefruit, a handful of blueberries, one kiwi, and a manila mango (which, in my opinion are SO much better than a traditional mango)...all on my classy target paper plate :)

manila mangoes are smaller and have a yellow skin when ripe. the perfect portion for a snack or part of breakfast. but what I like about manila mangos the most is their tangy, almost sour taste.  however, if you dont like a tangy/tart taste, you can let them further ripen and the are incredibly sweet.  my son tried them for the first time this morning and practically finished a whole one himself. he didn't care for the ruby red grapefruit and spit it out immediately. 

the thing I find most difficult about this cleanse is the lack of hot food (and coffee, i just want a dang latte for goodness' sake!).  I have been really craving a warm breakfast (eggs benedict, haha) or a nice hot dinner (steak and mashed potatoes). that's not to say that I cant have a hot meal of steamed/sautéed/grilled veggies, it just doesn't feel the same without a protein, and I'm getting pretty sick of soup for dinner! a few nights ago I tried making sautéed shiitake mushrooms to go along with my soup for a "meaty" alternative and bleck. I am just NOT a mushroom fan. meh, oh well.

on the menu for dinner tomorrow night: 

grilled ono with fresh mango salsa and grilled veggies! yes.

happy cleansing!

PS I wrote this entry on my iPhone using the blogger app. not too bad, although there are a few things I will change when I am at a computer (links, alignment, photo, etc). you are limited in your manipulations, but overall its a good app that's easy to use.

cleanse: day five.

day five and going strong.  although all i can think about is french baguettes and butter croissants.  i am normally a sweets person, but haven't had a single craving for anything sweet or sugary.  the only thing i have been craving is meat, something more hearty and substantial, and BREEEEAADDDDD!  i could seriously mow down a whole baguette right now, but thats beside the point.  my energy level is up, aside from the fact that i am suffering through a cold and my son has bronchitis (yuck!).  i dont feel hungry, but i am sick of eating salad and soup.  i am definitely looking forward to adding back seafood and beans on monday.  YES!  for the past few days i have been blending my breakfast.  

my normal breakfast blend:

frozen blueberries (my drink MUST be cold)

orange juice (for taste and easy veggie blend-ability)

chia seeds (yes i said CHIA - i buy these in bulk at sprouts or whole foods)

2 stems kale

handful or two spinach

half an apple

small beet

 if i had fresh flat leaf parsley, i would add that too, but my garden has gone dormant for the winter 

and i haven't picked up any from the store.  flat leaf parsley adds a real "fresh" taste.  

hard to explain, but so so GOOD!  (today i added some strawberries and tomatoes that i needed to use before they went bad)

it really looks awful, but its delicious.  i would say its an acquired taste and at first i thought it tasted like rabbit food.  i know its really good for me, so that also makes it easier to drink.  my blender is a health master (haha, super cheesy name).  but its been great.  blends practically anything, makes soups, baby food, homemade flour, puree/food process... i thought about throwing it out the window the other day, but it was operator error.  i would LOVE to have a vitamix, but don't really have the $500-600 dollars to spend.  maybe for my birthday?

lunches have been a freshly made salad.  spring mix, fresh berries, half an apple, avocado and some sesame garlic dressing.  salt and pepper to taste.  i love this salad, but am really tired of eating it.  i guess i should change it up a bit.  snacks have been fresh fruit/veggies and almonds.  i have also been drinking herbal and green tea throughout the day and plenty of water.

ready for the weekend!! well, actually i am looking forward to monday for once!

happy cleansing!

cleanse: day one.

 going along with one of my new years resolutions (and ultimately a lifestyle resolution - live healthier), i am embarking on a 21 day cleanse to kick start my metabolism and give my digestive system a break.  i have done many cleanses/diets/nutrition challenges/fasts etc etc. and i LOVE them.  i am very competitive by nature and i love putting myself to the test.  this particular cleanse i am taking from martha stewart's whole living magazine.  i picked up the magazine at a local market (i was drawn by the cover art - simple, clean, and inviting) and decided to try their 2012 whole living action plan.  

here are the basic rules from their website:

What's Off Limits During the Plan: 

processed food or beverages, added sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine, and alcohol

What You're Eating During Week 1: 

fruits, vegetables, and plant-based fats: including nuts, seeds, and oils

What You're Adding Back in Week 2:

seafood, beans and lentils, and organic soy

What You’re Adding Back in Week 3:

gluten-free grains and eggs

they also recommend keeping a food journal (which i, admittedly, haven't done) and kick-starting your metabolism with a pre-breakfast hot water with fresh lemon drink (also haven't done, but i will tomorrow).  after i finish this 21 days cleanse, i will be doing a "carb night" diet that one of my friends recommended.  the basic rules of the "carb night" diet are limiting your daily carb intake by 30 grams and then having a free night once a week to eat what you wish.  this seems pretty easy to maintain, but we will see in 21 days when i try it out.

cleanse: day one - RECAP

breakfast: one grapefruit, 4 carrots, and one inch of fresh garlic.  blended.  

this was very tasty and quite nice.  since i feel a cold coming on, the citrus and ginger was great for that.  it was a little "chewy" for my taste, but this is because i blended and didn't juice.  the magazine gives recipes for juicing.  i dont have a juicer and wasn't planning on going out and buying one just for this cleanse, so i threw the ingredient in my high-powered-wish-it-was-a-vita-mix-blender and made a smoothie of sorts.  after reading further, the magazine directs you to their website for blender-friendly recipes, genius.  i will try one of these detox smoothies later today.

lunch: vegetable soup

i was craving something hot since i am feeling a little under the weather so i went for soup.  grabbed all the veggies in my fridge and my dutch oven and went to town.  this recipe is made up along the way, but i will let you know what went into it.

ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium white onion, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

4 carrots, chopped

4 gloves of garlic, diced or pressed

salt

pepper

seasonings (dried herbs of your choosing - i used dried italian herbs)

one 15 oz can of diced italian style tomatoes

vegetable stock (about 4-6 cups, just enough to cover all the veggies)

two zucchini, chopped into half moons

one 15 oz can of corn

some red cabbage (as much as you want)

method: 

heat the olive oil over medium heat in a dutch oven, or whatever stock pot you have.  

add onion, celery, carrots and garlic.  season with salt, pepper, and seasonings.

cook until onions are translucent.  

add tomatoes and stock.

throw in the rest of the veggies.

add more stock if necessary (need enough to cover the veggies).

cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes

enjoy!

the soup was very delicious, but damn i wanted some chicken or beans.  haha. for dinner i made a simple salad with organic spring mix and organic jazz apples.  a little salt and pepper and oil with garlic for the dressing. done.

dinner:  spring mix jazz apple salad

simple and delicious!  throughout the day i snacked on raw almonds, apples, and berries.  i am trying to eat only organic fruits and veggies throughout this entire cleanse.  mainly because a lot of the stuff i am consuming raw and i am super lazy about washing produce, gahhh! terrible.  i am pretty confident that i wont die.

happy cleansing!