Eating again...?

...no wonder you're fat!

Years ago we read of a device you could get to put in your fridge that would spew these words at you when you opened the door. We thought it was so funny. It's one of those things that just sticks in one's memory and we repeated it many times. (Maybe that's why it stuck?)

Anyway, we're eating again. And again. And again.

Here's this week's (Dec 26- Jan 1) menu plan. Breakfast and main meal. The rest of the time it's leftovers.

Breakfast	Dinner
Scrambled eggs & sausage Grits Yogurt & fruit	Chili soup Cornbread Layered coleslaw
Omelet roll Muffins	Rice with Alfredo sauce Lettuce salad Baked apples
Spinach quiche Barley	Vegetable soup Italian dinner rolls Waldorf salad
Waffles Gravy Peaches	Sheet pan dinner
Granola Yogurt	Honduras meal
Fried potatoes and eggs Yogurt & fruit	Rice and beans Cranberry salad
Creamed eggs Yogurt & fruit	Potato soup Pepperoni rolls Veggies & dip

I love how the veggies and meat are so colorful in the mix for a sheet pan meal.

I've once again linked a number of the recipes for your convenience.

You notice we have barley for breakfast? I cook pearl barley and then the next morning I fry some diced apples in butter and maple syrup, stir in the cooked barley and heat it through. It's a favorite here. Eat it with milk as a cereal.

The rice with Alfredo sauce was leftover rice and chicken. I made a plain Alfredo sauce (no meat added), stirred in leftover ham broth gravy, and put it atop the rice and chicken. Oh, so yummy!

The Honduras meal is rice and chicken, beans, cabbage salad, Central American salsa, sour cream and tortillas.

I asked my sister if these menus are helpful to her at all? Give her any ideas? She said they just make her tired. She doesn't think she could cook that much. 

I'll admit it is tiring. 

Blessings to you in the new year! God bless you, go with Jesus.

November 29

Outside my window...

It is a beautiful, sunny day. Yesterday it was so cold and windy but now today the weather has moderated and we are not so intimidated about stepping outside the door.

I am thinking…

...about how to get shelter for the chickens. All good homesteaders say to get your infrastructure in place before you get your creatures. Wise advice!

I am thankful for…

...a warm house. When I hear the wind blowing strong and cold I think about the people who have cold houses or no houses. And I feel guilty in my nice warm dwelling with plenty of clothing and covers. 

From the learning rooms…

We are still studying Paul's letters to Timothy. We're instructed to be soldiers for the Lord, not side-tracked or weighted down by the affairs of this life.

...chosen him

We just finished These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder as our daily read-aloud. We are considering reading the Little Britches series after this.

Otherwise, the boys are challenged to have their own reading goals in the Bible and otherwise. Melvin is reading Sherlock Holmes stories. 

Christopher read a few "new" books I pulled off the shelf for him. He's also wanting to read Josephus for the reward I offered him but he thinks the reward should be higher. He read a bit from the beginning of the book.

From the kitchen…

Here's the menu plan I set out this week but I haven't held to it entirely. 

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Egg sandwiches Yogurt	Leftovers	Deep dish Taco squares Green beans Lettuce salad
Spinach quiche Yogurt Granola	Goulash	Rice with Alfredo Spinach salad Apple crisp
Muffins Yogurt	Leftovers	Taco soup Cornbread Lettuce salad
Potato quiche Yogurt	Leftovers	Potato bar Peas & carrots Chinese cabbage salad
Baked oatmeal Yogurt	Penn Valley	Penn Valley
Penn Valley	Penn Valley	Mifflinburg
Scrambled eggs & sausage Yogurt	Leftovers	Veggie roast with sausage Lettuce salad

I am wearing…

...a head covering, an old lavender dress, ankle socks. I shed my purple sweatshirt after a morning workout.

I am creating…

Nada. Nix. Zed. Zero. 

I am going…

...to Pennsylvania to be with Stephen Saturday and Sunday.

I am reading…

...the Mitford series by Jan Karon.

I am hoping… 

...that life will get more reasonably busy for my dear husband.

I am hearing…

...wood chunks falling into the garden cart as Melvin and Christopher fill it and haul loads up the hill to stack on the pile.

Around the house…

The house kitchen (we have two kitchens) has gotten a coat of paint on two sides. The new color begs the cabinets to be white. 

The windows were washed on the outside of the house and I'm now working my way, little by little, around the inside. 

And, little by little, I'm taking care of stacks of things around my desk. I'm determined to declutter (auto correct thinks this isn't a word) and organize this house to the nth degree.

One of my favorite things…

A meal around the table with the family. 

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Continue life as usual. Cook, clean, do laundry, pack lunches, go shopping, and whatever else needs to be done. I need to figure out how and when to get the steer to the butcher.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing….

Do you ever feel awed by patterns in nature?
Even the swirl in the cooking pan? I do!

Menu Plan

Another week of menus. You're welcome.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Potato quiche Yogurt	Leftovers	Cheesy chicken (turkey) chowder Lettuce salad
Scrambled eggs & sausage Grits Yogurt	Leftovers	Pork chops Fried cabbage Scalloped potatoes Waldorf salad
Granola Yogurt	Turkey Potatoes/sweet potatoes Salads Dessert	Tomato soup Hot dogs
Cheesy baked supper omelet Fruit salad	Leftovers	Chili soup Veggies and dip
Pancakes Sausage gravy	Leftovers	Chicken patty sandwiches French fries Rhubarb crunch
Apple nut muffins Yogurt	Haystacks Baked apples	Popcorn Apples
Scrambled eggs & sausage Biscuits Tomato gravy	Leftovers	Black bean soup Cornbread Apple crisp

Tuesday Meal Planning + Family Gathering

We were traveling yesterday and I was tired today, plus I'm going to town tomorrow so I decided to sit down and plan my menus once again. It is so helpful to know what to cook! 

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Beans, rice, eggs Oranges	Leftovers Bean dip and chips Bananas	Beef Roast Baked potatoes Lettuce salad
Potato, meat, egg quiche Fruit & yogurt	Leftovers Grapes Banana bread	Chicken enchiladas Rice Cabbage
Spinach quiche Muffins	Leftovers Veggies & dip No bake bars	Sheet pan dinner Lettuce salad
Breakfast burritos Yogurt	Leftovers Hot dog sandwiches Apples or grapes	Southwest Pizza Waldorf salad
Baked oatmeal Yogurt	Rice & chicken Green beans Layered coleslaw	Apples and PB Popcorn Cheese
Waffles Sausage gravy Peaches	Leftovers Fruit	Tomato soup Potato salad
Omelet roll Yogurt	Leftovers Cookies	Steak Mashed potatoes Fried beets

Friday through Monday morning we had a surprise party for my mother who is turning 70 in December. We tried to pick a time of the year when it would work for most of us to get together. A cabin in Raphine, VA was where we gathered. A beautiful setting in the woods by the river. With a second small building to the side we had room for everyone to sleep indoors. Without having to sleep in the kitchen or dining room! Twenty-five people from TX, WV and OH.

Photo credit Sylvia Byler

And we actually managed to surprise Mama! This is not easy to do. She is a suspicious, questioning individual. Sister Rosetta took her on a trip through the New England states for the greater part of the week and she thought she would be coming home Friday. By the time she got to where we were, she was completely flummoxed. She told Rosetta, "It's a good thing I trust you! You could be abducting me!" And then her mouth dropped open as she beheld the family.

Tim grilling chicken while visiting with Mama

The sisters in Texas did an excellent job of planning the event. They assigned each sibling a meal and we all helped with the meal that was left. I brought enough leftovers home to help out with a few meals here.

Rosetta & Sylvia solving the world's problems

Chel's husband Jason kept a good campfire going

Maxie, Christopher and Gwen as we traveled to WV

My parents Noah & Mary Jane Schwartz
Photo credit Sylvia Byler

Menu

Following is a photo of my menu plans for this week. I use Microsoft Word and insert a table. The photo is of a PDF document. It reduced the Word document enough to be photographed. 

The snack space doesn't get filled in very often. It seems that snacks aren't as imperative when eating a sugar free/low grain diet. But most of the time when someone is hungry between meals they grab an apple or drink a glass of milk. 

Menus aren't always followed to the T. It gives me something to think about and bounce off of. Options from things I have on hand. Some meals don't look complete. That is because I can't think of what to make with what I have and I don't know when I'll get to town.

Tap or click on the photo to open it up where you can see it better. 

Do you plan a menu ahead?

What's for supper this evening?

I need some fresh ideas. :)

Menu

Having read a couple blog posts today containing menus for the week and working on my own plan today, I decided to fill you in on what we eat at our house.

We eat very few grains, having discovered how very hard they are for one to digest. They are not only hard to digest but they deplete your body of the vitamins and minerals needed to grow strong teeth, bones and brains. So this menu will reflect that choice.

We also eat very little sugar. To lightly sweeten something I tend to use honey or maple syrup. If neither of these is to be found I use Sucanat. Having done a sugar fast for a year we found our taste buds re-educated allowing us to taste the natural sweetness of food.

Breakfast-
Yogurt & home-canned /frozen sugar-free fruit as daily as I can keep yogurt made
Monday- Hard boiled eggs (top with mayo & Herbamare)
Tuesday- Scrambled eggs & sausage
Wednesday- the boys will be home alone. I'm quite certain they will make doozy omelets
Thursday- Fried eggs, sausage & grits with butter
Friday- Potato & meat quiche
Saturday- DIY (give Mama a break!)
Sunday- Hard boiled eggs & Paleo "French toast"

Lunch- Usually leftovers
Sunday- Baked potatoes,  beef roast, Caesar salad (no croutons, too bad how sad) Here is a simple dressing we love.

Supper  (or is it Dinner?)
Monday- Rice & canned turkey thighs cooked with taco seasoning,  Great Northern beans, lettuce, (cheese, salsa, onions & ranch dressing served on the side), applesauce
Tuesday- Thomas & I are being fed by my mom, the rest by my dear sister Verina.
Wednesday- Rice (white parboiled) with hamburger gravy, green beans, applesauce
Thursday- Beans, cornbread, coleslaw
Friday- Supper & social with the youth (if we don't get snowed in)
Saturday- Cheeseburger soup, celery and apples with peanut butter
Sunday- Very unplanned. At least popcorn and apples.

Snacks- Apples or any other fruit, fresh or dried; shakes (made with milk from the family cow, some unsweetened frozen fruit & a bit of vanilla extract); cheese; nuts

There you have it. That's how to feed 6 men with very little grains or sugar. If you want to know more about why we don't eat many grains read this article & the comments beneath it. (Ignore the evolutionary talk.) Do your own research. In the comments is where you see the rubber meet the road and hear the no-grain testimonies.

My testimony is that I feel young again and the intestinal discomfort has been greatly relieved! I am almost never sick. My boys say, "Mama doesn't take naps anymore! Now we don't get as much time off." Javita's Energy + Mind coffee does a lot for me too!

Have you ever tried a no-grain diet?

Why or why not?

I'd love to hear your comments.