It is almost Easter!  

Although it is not one of our favorite holidays it is a sure sign that spring is coming and I couldn’t be more excited.

A few days ago we all decorated the house with bright colors and eggs; it is amazing how bright decorations can really bring a sense of cheerfulness into a home.



Today Liam and Hannah decorated some eater eggs and made “Easter Bunny Bait” so that the Easter Bunny will bring them their baskets tomorrow.

I found this recipe years ago and use it all the time because it is so easy and delicious.  If you need to entice the Easter Bunny to hop to your house, here is the recipe for Easter Bunny Bait.
Ingredients- (the M&M’s, peanuts, pretzels and sprinkles can be changed to other candies or have more of one than the other depending on your sweet tooth preference)

• 1 package white candy melts
• 10 cups air popped popcorn or 2 packages of micro-wave popcorn
• 1 ½ cup pastel M&M’s
• 1 ½ cup salted peanuts
• 1 ½ cup twig style pretzels, I break them in half or thirds to have more
• Multi-colored sprinkles


Instructions-
• In a large bowl mix the popcorn, M&M’s, peanuts, and pretzels.
• In a glass measuring cup microwave the candy melts, checking and stirring every 30 seconds until it is fully melted.
• Pour the melts over the popcorn mix and immediately stir coating the mixture.  Add the sprinkles and continue to mix.  Dump mixture on a flax surfaced covered with wax paper and let cool and harden.  Your Easter Bunny will like your bait!

Liam and Hannah has so much fun making the bait, although they did eat a good portion of it while mixing…
I think they had more fun getting messy and painting eggs.  We always wait until the day before the dye eggs and I always realize on that day it is a bad idea; the kids have dyed hands for Easter.  It makes for interesting photos.

Hannah, as always, got really creative using jewels, stickers and sparkles to decorate her eggs.  They were beautiful.  Liam on the other hand was dipping them and painting them with all the colors…they turned out “delightfully Liam beautiful.”  I have to laugh when they do crafts together, they are so opposite.

Hope you had fun decorating and getting ready for Easter!


Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie

At the restaurant last night I was chatting with a wonderful couple from Iowa that fairly recently choose to change their eating habits and become vegetarians.  The shocking part of me was that they were farmers, not animal farmers but growers. 

They had such great ideas and perspectives into buying local and being sustainable.  They suggested a documentary called, FRESH.  This morning I had a chance to watch it, and I would highly, highly recommend it.



Although it is an older documentary, made in 2009, there are still many relevant ideas about ways to product healthy organic food instead of growing everything in factories with GMO’s sprayed on everything.

Country farmers, urban farmers, and business people explain how changes by consumers can change the way the market acts and re-invent our food system.  People from all walks of life including supermarket owners, consumers and entrepreneurs weigh in on how to challenge the Wal-Mart dominating economy.

The slogan, “new thinking about what we’re eating” really hit home for me.  I always try buying local and growing my own fruits and vegetables to reduce the need for big factory farms and “super super markets.”  Having fresh food on every plate is nearly normal in today’s society, but how much of that fresh food is actually fresh and not genetically modified?

FRESH uses its platform to educate and raise awareness of more sustainable and healthier food from local growers.  I believe in sustainable food and the impact it can make on a community in a health aspect and economically.  I stand by FRESH in taking back our food system.

I encourage you to take the time to watch this incredible and innovative documentary that became a massive grassroots success.  If you do not have time to watch the entire documentary now, please watch the trailer and take action on their website found here.


Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie

Since becoming vegetarian and learning about all the toxins we freely accept throughout daily life, I have tried become more conscientious about using natural and environmentally friendly products in my home. 

We don’t realize that the chemicals that are used in modern cleaner build up in homes and can cause asthma, eczema, and allergies.

I have slowly progressed into becoming all natural in my home.  As a disclaimer to this post; know that become organic and chemical free does not happen overnight.  It took me quite a while to find ingredients and recipes that worked for me and were cost effective.


Finding the products were a little challenging at first, but I realized I wasn’t looking in the right stores.  When I found ones that suited my needs, I was shocked at how much more expensive they were compared to common cleaners.  They were nearly double the cost.  I became turned off at the price but I knew it was something I wanted to do so I found a few solutions.  I went to a health food store and found a much larger selection although they were still pricier than chemically filled cleaners I gave them a try. 

After a few months of home use I could definitely tell a difference.  Now, I didn’t have to hold my breath or end up coughing every time I sprayed the counter or washed the windows.  The products not only cleaned my house well, they kept me feeling healthy. 

Although I loved using those products, they were costing me a little more; I went online and found a few recipes to make your own natural products.  I found a lot of information on this blog: Wellness Mama Click here. 

After making a few different types and finding the ones I liked, I was saving so much more; even more than when I was still using the chemical cleaners. 

Here are a few natural products I use to clean my home-

•    Lemon Juice- Cleans glass and mirrors, effective against most household bacteria (one of the strongest food-acids)

•    Coconut Oil- Wood polish

•    Apple Cider Vinegar- laundry deodorizer

•    White Vinegar- Unclog drains, removes grease, mildew, odors, some stains, keeps vegetables fresh

•    Baking Soda- Deodorizes, cleans stoves and ovens, softens water

•    Cornstarch- Cleans windows, carpets, and rugs, polishes furniture

There are so many other natural cleaners and different ways to combine them to create great natural products.  I highly suggest trying to switch over to a few natural cleaners and see the difference for yourself!

Go Green and Staying Keen,

Julie

With Christmas right around the corner I decided to go out this morning to find some fresh winter plants and crafts for the kids to do while they are home for Christmas break.  While I was at the floral shop I was pleased to see they had a deal on poinsettias, the most Christmas plant of them all. 
 
When I was checking out the nice woman wished me a “Happy National Poinsettia Day!”  Such a coincidence I was in search for holiday plants, and I am certainly not complaining about the deals I got on them either.



After I got home I was interested in learning about the plant that is so iconic to the Christmas season.

Little did I know that there was such a story behind this red plant.  According to the Mexican folklore it is a story about a little poor girl who had nothing to bring to her church on Christmas.  While she was walking she picked some plants along the road and as she entered the church the tips of the leaves turned into a bright and beautiful red flower, the poinsettia.

I had no idea that there was a folklore story behind poinsettia’s or how they became so popular in the US.  National Poinsettia Day was officially declared in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett who was the first Ambassador to Mexico.  He brought this plant to his home in the US and gave them as Christmas gifts to his friends.  Since then the poinsettia has become one of the most popular Christmas plants.

There is no doubt that the sight of a poinsettia brings the Christmas spirit into the air.  I love how just a simple plant can bring so much life and spirit to a room.  After learning the story behind poinsettias, I went back and bought a few more plants to decorate the restaurant with. 

What a great way to bring the Christmas spirit into a home.  You still have time to go out and get your poinsettias for National Poinsettia Day! 

Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie

It is about that time of the year when you start craving the rich flavors and textures of fall.  There is no doubt that I look cooking in the fall, but sometimes with the kids schedules, working at the restaurant, and the millions of errands I have to run I don’t have time to cook a meal when I get home.  If you have kids you know, hungry kids equal crabby kids. 

I am not one to pick up food, obviously I love cooking I work in a restaurant, so I have mastered the slow cooker meals.  It is perfect, before I leave for the restaurant or after the kids leave for school I put some ingredients into the slow cooker and by the time I get home we have a wonderful meal to be had. 

Here are my family’s favorite slow cooker recipes for fall. 

Pumpkin Chili (Vegan)

Ingredients-
•    1 bag of meat free crumbles (I use Boca Ground Crumbles)
•    1 medium onion, chopped
•    1 cup canned pumpkin
•    1, 28 oz. can diced stew tomatoes
•    1, 15 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
•    1, 12 oz. bottle of chili sauce
•    1-2 tbsp. chili powder
•    2 tsp. pumpkin pie spices
•    1 tsp. salt
•    1tsp. pepper

Instructions-
•    In a crock pot combine all the ingredients and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Enjoy!

Vegetarian Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients-
•    1, 8 oz. package of seasoned meatless chicken style strips (I use Morningstar Farms Chik’n Strips)
•    2, 8 oz. packages of reduced fat cream cheese
•    1, 16 oz. bottle of reduced fat ranch dressing
•    1, 12 fluid oz. bottle of buffalo wing sauce
•    1 cup Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend

Instructions-
•    Place the diced meatless chicken strips, cream cheese, ranch, and buffalo sauce in a slow cooker.  Cook on low for 1-2 hours until hot stirring occasionally.  Top with shredded cheese, let melt and serve.  Enjoy!

Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna-

Ingredients-
•    2, 24 oz. jars of Italian tomato sauce
•    9 think lasagna noodles
•    24 oz. part-skim ricotta cheese
•    3-4 cups chopped veggies of your choice
•    2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
•    Parmesan cheese for topping
•    Fresh parsley to top if desired



Instructions-
•    Spray the crockpot with nonstick spray and spread ½ cup of tomato sauce on the bottom, layer noodles to cover majority of the bottom.  Cover noodles with about 1/3 of ricotta, veggies, sauce, cheese, and then top with noodles again.  Cover noodles with a thin layer of sauce and cheese.
•    Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.  After cooked let sit for 1 hour.  Serve and enjoy!

There is no shame in being a busy mommy, and slow cooker meals make preparing dinner so much easier.  So pull out your crockpot and slow cook away!

Go green and stay keen,

Julie

I often write about how to make easy dinners and breakfasts when your family is running around like crazy.  If you have young children you know that being busy is just a part of daily life.  Prepping meals before and planning ahead can be hard when your mind is running in a million different places.  When I’m really desperate I turn to my pantry and find something I can throw together. 

Coming up with recipes using beans I find in the pantry has become somewhat of an art to me.  Luckily for me unlike most kids, Hannah and Liam love beans when they are disguised well.  I’ve come up with some really good recipes that are easy and can be thrown together with those extra beans you find pantry.

I love making dinner in a skillet so my Cheesy Bean Enchilada Skillet is one of my family’s favorites, I made it tonight! 

Ingredients-
•    1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions
•    1 tbsp. olive oil
•    2 cloves garlic, minced
•    1 small onion, diced
•    1 bell pepper, diced
•    1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
•    1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
•    ¾ cup mild enchilada sauce, I used the Old El Paso brand
•    ½ cup mild green enchilada sauce, I used the Old El Paso brand again
•    ½ tsp. chili powder
•    ¼ tsp. cumin
•    ¼ tsp. oregano
•    Salt and pepper to taste
•    1 cup Mexican cheese, shredded
•    2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions-
•    In a large skillet heat the olive oil, garlic, onion, and bell pepper stir for about 2-3 minutes.  Add the rice, corn, black beans, enchilada sauces, chili powder, cumin, and oregano and stir until mixed.  Stir and cook for about 5 minutes then add the salt and pepper to taste. 
•    Remove from the heat and top with the cheese and cover until it is melted, garnish with cilantro and enjoy!

My family loves Mexican food so when I have extra beans and the “crew” doesn’t want enchiladas, Cauliflower and Chickpea Tacos are always a hit. 

Ingredients-
•    2 tsp. chili powder
•    1 tsp. ground cumin
•    ¼ tsp. garlic powder
•    ¼ tsp. onion powder
•    1 tsp. sea salt
•    1 tbsp. lime juice
•    1 tbsp. olive oil
•    1 tbsp. water
•    1, 15 oz. can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
•    1 small head cauliflower, washed, and cut into small florets
•    Tortillas
•    Toppings of your choice, we like using jalapeños, avocado, cilantro, and salsa



Instructions-
•    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
•    Mix the chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, lime juice, olive oil, water, chickpeas, and cauliflower in a bowl.  Pour the contents of the bowl on a greased baking sheet and roast for 30-35 minutes until the chickpeas are almost crispy and the cauliflower is crispy, stirring occasionally.
•    Assemble the tacos in the tortillas and top with your chosen toppings.  Enjoy your yummy tacos!

When I have a little more time, Double Bean Burgers with Avocado Cream are my no fail dinner that everyone will enjoy!

Ingredients for avocado cream-
•    2/3 cup sour cream
•    1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
•    10 basil leaves, finely chopped
•    ¼ tsp. salt
•    Pinch of pepper

Instructions for cream-
•    Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with a fork thoroughly,  I sometimes use a food processor to really get a cream.

Ingredients for burgers-
•    1, 15 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
•    1, 15 oz. can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
•    1 large egg and 1 large egg white, lightly beaten with the whole egg
•    ½ cup bread crumbs
•    3 tbsp. olive oil
•    3 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
•    4 garlic cloves, minced
•    ½ tsp. paprika
•    ½ tsp. onion powder
•    ¼ tsp. salt
•    ¼ tsp. pepper
•    6 whole wheat buns, or buns of your choice

Instructions for burgers-
•    Mash the beans in a large bowl.  Add the cilantro, garlic, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. 
•    In another bowl mix the eggs with olive oil and bread crumbs.  Add the mixture to the bean mixture and combine well.  Form the mixture to 6 patties, I use my hands. 
•    Heat a skillet with about 1 tbsp. olive oil and cook the burgers until they are golden on each side. 
•    Top with avocado cream and toppings of your choice on the bun.  Enjoy!

Next time you don’t know what to make and you have a few kinds of beans in your pantry, use one of these recipes!  I am sure your family will love it!

Go Green and Stay Keen,

Julie

Ever since I began growing my herb garden in 2014, I always try making my own spices and ingredients and try using natural herbs to achieve that flavor I want.  I have been getting pretty creative with combining herbs, spices, and natural ingredients in recipes and my family loves it.

I was talking to my mother today about my spice mixes and how I have been mixing herbs to make a unique flavor and she said she always used to made her own while I was a kid, I had no idea.  It makes a lot of sense making your own because not only does it save money, you can make it in bulk and make your own special blend.

Here are five ingredients and spices I have recently been making-

Homemade Brown Sugar

Homemade Taco Seasoning

In the fall I love making my own Pumpkin Pie Spice

For grilling Lemon Pepper Seasoning tastes wonderful-

 

Italian Dressing Mix