National Nutrition Month

March is officially National Nutrition Month so eat a rainbow! And no not skittles. Produce! Imagine how wonderful we would feel if we just accustomed ourselves to living as they did at the beginning of time on fruits and veggies only? Don't get me wrong, I am nowhere near this point yet but am well on my way! Here is some inspiration to get you craving the good stuff.

BE GOOD TO YOUR BODY AND IT WILL RETURN THE FAVOR!

Homemade Tomato Soup and Tofu Nuggets

HOMEMADE TOMATO SOUP

This was a hit with my fourteen month old but not so much with mama. I am going to try to tweek a few things so I can enjoy as well since tomato soup is one of my favorite foods. I used vegetable broth but it can be swapped out with chicken! hope your lil ones enjoy! Softened homemade breadsticks go perfectly with this for lil nibblers!

1 1/2 tbsps olive oil

2 chopped and peeled carrots

14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 large crushed clov of garlic

1/2 tspn superfine sugar

1 1/2 cups veggie broth

1 bay leaf

salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tbsps heavy cream (optional but very recommended!!!)

2 tbsps torn fresh basil leaves

Warm oil in saucepan over low heat and saute the carrots in for five minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, sugar, broth, bay leaf and seasonings. Bring to boil. Simmer on low, covered for twenty minutes and remove the leaf. Then blend until smooth in a blender. Return to saucepan, add cream and basil and reheat. Voila.

TOFU NUGGETS

1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs

1 tbsp flaxseed meal

1 tbsp parmesan

1/2 tsp paprika

1 cup spinach or broccoli or pea puree (in my experience spinach helps the dry ingredients stick the best)

1 large beaten egg

14 oz firm or extra firm tofu

1/2 tspn salt

nonstick cooking spray

1 tbsp olive oil

Stir together first four ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl mix together the puree and egg with a fork. Slice the tofu 1/2 inch thick and buce it or use cookie cutters to make it more appealing for kids. Sprinkle both sides with salt, dip into liquid mixture and then coat in the dry mixture. Coat a large nonstick skillet with spray and set over medium heat. Once hot add oil. Add nuggets in a single layer 3 to 4 minutes each side until crisp and golden.

Let me know how you or your children enjoy these and any tweeks or suggestions! I love to hear them! Enjoy!

sick babies

I have yet to experience anything worse than having an extremely sick child and feeling completely helpless. My baby boy Ryder has had a horrid cough for six days which turned into lots of vomiting, refusing any breastmilk or pedialyte and eventual dehydration. I brought him to UMC this afternoon when his soft spot began sinking and they were so much more caring than I ever would have expected. They decided that Vanderbilt would be the best place for his care after cat scans, lung xrays, a spinal tap and more testing. My husband came and we swapped children because Cory is better at handling these situations and I am better at handling Rocklyn who is in a stage of fits and emotions like no other these days. Cory and Ryder were brought by ambulance to Vanderbilt and our friend Eddie delivered him a phone charger and some more breastmilk. Things seem to be looking up for Ryder and he should be released tommorow, thank God. I am so thankful for all of our great friends and their prayers and to God for keeping my little guy safe. I spent the night up until fifteen minutes ago with Rocklyn. He got to stay up an hour and a half late and we just snuggled, watched Veggie Tales, read books and just spent time being together. How often we take for granted these little guys and busy ourselves with housework and other unimportant things until we are slapped with a scare and realize that they are what it is all about. I love my boys so much it hurts, sometimes i have to numb myself to my love for them so my heart does not explode out of my chest into a million pieces. I have no clue how parents with fatally ill children do it. I do know that these instances in which God makes you give up control are so scary but teach us so much. No matter what I do, He knows the outcome and nothing is in my hands. I battle with this so much until a situation arises where there is no battling, just trusting in Him. That is what happened tonight and I am so grateful I will have my baby boy healthy and in my arms soon.

daybooking #1

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: cold, dreary weather. the neighbors ten nasty cats. our baby fruit trees cory planted last year. the tennessean newspaper i have yet to get
INSIDE THAT WINDOW: my gorgeous family of four. ryder in my arms, rocklyn and papa playing. toby mac singing.
I AM THINKING: about my new herb plants and the herb chopper i need to order online. and white bean chicken chili that i making this afternoon thanks to a friends great recipe.
I AM THANKFUL FOR: a million things. i am so in love with my sons it hurts sometimes. my husband is amazing and has taken such an interest in making my dreams happen that he is even excited to start eating tofu! my friends, some old some new, that are such a blessing in my life. my parents who helped shape me into who i am. Jesus Christ and His love for us all despite what horrid sinful people we can be. oh the list could go on and on
I AM CREATING: a menu for my future cafe
I AM READING: the book of Job, Forgotten God and soon to start back on the Harry Potter series
I AM PRAYING: for so many people I know who are hurting. most prayers focus these days on my dearest friend who is having marital struggles. praying she does not lose hope and knows God will honor her resistance to divorce and her ongoing persistence to make this work
I AM HEARING: listening to some old school stuff from high school. playing some mix cd i had with alkaline trio, dashboard confessional, ben kweller and so on. oh memories
IN THE KITCHEN: the dryer is going. there are no dishes! white beans are soaking and my new lil bluebird vase i bought the other day is perched in the window looking so adorable
AROUND MY HOME: is a mess i am trying to accept will never go away until my kids go to college and then will return when they have grandkids. i pick up, rocklyn throws more on the floor. lol. at least its just toys.
I AM LEARNING: more and more about the Holy Spirit. what a difficult concept for me to understand! but so necessary to know.
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: family, friends, reading, tennis, zumba, cooking, baking, music, singing, driving five speed (oh how i miss it...), the colors brown and red, lilacs, my new food processor and cooking homemade foods for my son, sleep!, led zeppelin, jason aldean's voice, concerts, traveling, tennessee, summer nights, bubble baths, etc
PLANS FOR THE WEEK: the wild cow, farmers market, flying kites at the park, homework...
ON MY MIND:a little spat my husband and I had this morning. i need to be more understanding sometimes...