Ezekiel's Garden

07May
0

Menu 5/5 – 5/20

Sorry for the lack of menus for the last 6 weeks or so. I didn’t try anything new, so you’re not missing anything. :)

Saturday, 5/5 – Burgers and slaw with homemade mayo

Sunday, 5/6 – Broccoli salad and rotisserie chicken (broccoli salad is fresh broccoli, crumbled bacon, finely chopped onion, craisins, chopped walnuts, and a dressing made of mayo, apple cider vinegar, and honey)

Monday, 5/7 – Korean BBQ chicken & broccoli

Tuesday, 5/8 – Pork Butt in the crockpot with greens and beets

Wednesday, 5/9 – Italian sausage & peppers with cabbage

Thursday, 5/10 – Greek fish doubled, omit the bouillon cube and couscous

Friday, 5/11 – Chicken and broccoli stirfry

Saturday, 5/12 – Burgers and sweet potato fries

Sunday, 5/13 – Mother’s day – dh will cook or “cook”

Monday, 5/14 – Bacon Apple BBQ Chicken (not in a crockpot) with Costco’s Kirkland Normandy Vegetable blend

Tuesday, 5/15 – Pork tenderloin with mango salsa green beans

Wednesday, 5/16 – Spaghetti sauce with Italian sausage and veggies

Thursday, 5/17 – Garlic shrimp & Normandy vegetables

Friday, 5/18 – Chicken curry stew with vegetables

Saturday, 5/19 – Burgers and veggies

Sunday, 5/20 – Venison roast

Share
Posted by amy in Uncategorized
14Apr
0

Progress report

I thought I’d update on not only dh’s progress, but my own.

Dh – down at least 75 pounds since he started at the end of July 2011. His measurements are great. He is down into a size 44-46 in pants (as opposed to a 56+” waist), and back down into a XXL shirt (instead of stretching out a 3XL). He can now toss hay into the hay loft like a machine, instead of struggling to get it in. He started working from home, so hopefully he’ll see some new improvements both in physical fitness and physique. He’s been at a plateau for almost 2 months (but he also had pneumonia for nearly 2 months, so I think he needs to give himself some slack).

For me, I started out just doing this to get healthier – no joint pain, reduced fatigue, and maybe some strength gains focusing on my core. I had absolutely no weight/physique goals at all. I knew I would see some weight loss, but only expected about 10-15. After I had the baby, I was at a 14 (also getting there pre-pregnancy). Within a few weeks, I was down into a 12. A couple of months after that, I noticed that 10s fit nicely. Then, several months after that, I saw that they were getting too big, so I went to Goodwill to get some size 8s. That didn’t last long, however, and I’ve been in size 6s and some 4s for almost a month now. I haven’t seen those sizes since middle school. I’ve lost 25 pounds. I might lose another 5-10, but I’m not trying to, and if I don’t, I don’t care. I am able to do a chinup now on the pullup bar. Sometimes I can squeeze in 2, almost 3. This is huge for me. I also climbed a real tree for the first time about a month ago. My exercise is still somewhat inconsistent because of the baby, but I enjoy doing little bursts of 10-15 minutes here and there. My biggest issue is continuing to stay off of sugar, which is when I noticed going down into the 6s, and also dialing in my sleep because if I don’t, I’m just hosed for 2-3 days.

The boys are doing great. The big boys act like they’re getting ready to go through a growth spurt. J3 is actually starting to get a little chubby, so we cut him back slightly on his breakfast and snacks. He wasn’t happy that he wasn’t getting the same as the big bubs, but he’s fine now and isn’t acting hungry, so I think we made a good choice with him. P is now 7 months, and he started to eat sweet potatoes the day before he turned 7 months. He is really enjoying the solids. I’m a little sad. I had hoped he would wait a little longer like the big brothers, but he’s still within the range of normal. I think I’m going to try egg yolks today or tomorrow for him.

Share
Posted by amy in Fitness, Paleo
12Apr
0

MIA

I’ve been MIA for quite some time. The hubby had pneumonia for 2 months, caused by chronic exposure to sewer gases at his workplace (only discovered the cause 2 hours before he left it for a work-from-home gig). Then our 11 year old son had an emergency appendectomy. In between all that, we’ve had baby goats and tons of eggs each day.

I’m going to try to get back to it more regularly, since I miss putting my menus and recipes in a nice place where I don’t lose them!

Share
Posted by amy in Uncategorized
06Apr
2

Totally addictive charoset recipe

Because of some spur of the moment ideas I had, we decided to eat a Seder/Passover type meal this year, only I muffed the day and we did it today, not yesterday. But, it’s all good because of the spirit of it and all that (note to self: better prep for next year). The inspiration was totally from Elana’s Pantry, and her post on a paleo Passover.

One dish is charoset, the dish eaten in remembrance of the mortar for the bricks the Hebrew slaves made in Egypt. Elana mixed Sephardic (Spanish/Middle Eastern Jewish) and Ashkenazic (European Jewish) recipes for a wonderful dish. I, of course, had to add a twist on Elana’s admirable recipe, simply because I juiced the orange like the lemon, and didn’t want fighting over the pulp so I tossed it into the mix. Also, knowing my guys would love it, I made more of it than what she said, but the proportions weren’t quite doubled all the time.

3-4 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and cubed
3 c walnuts
Juice (and pulp) of an orange
1-2 Tbsp lemon juice
1ish tsp cinnamon
1 rounded cup craisins

Pulse all in a food processor until desired consistency. I think I did about 6 fairly quick pulses.

That’s it. Quick, easy, and we’ll be making it more than once a year. :)

Share
Posted by amy in Paleo, Recipes and tagged with
26Mar
1

Slow cooker Moroccan chicken

This will either be tremendously delicious or completely awful, but I have a feeling it’s going to be good, so I’m going to write down what I did before I forget.

1 onion, sliced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds baby carrots (or whole carrots cut up in 3″ lengths)
2 cups chicken stock
8 chicken thighs, skinned
1 14-oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
2/3 cup snipped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried plums, halved

Put down the onion and garlic in the bottom of your slow cooker, add carrots on top. Pour broth over top. Layer chicken on top of that.

Mix spices into tomato sauce. Sprinkle the fruit over the chicken and pour the tomato sauce on top. Cook on low for 6-7 hours, until chicken is done.

20120326-081023.jpg

Share
Posted by amy in Paleo, Recipes and tagged with
08Mar
0

Menu 3/1-3/15

Thursday, 3/1: Pork, turnip, and kale stew (cubed pork and turnips, with a shredded apple, some onions and garlic, poultry seasoning, and chopped kale in the crockpot all day)
Friday, 3/2: Burgers with green beans and mashed sweet potatoes
Saturday, 3/3: Asian-glazed thighs, broccoli, rice
Sunday, 3/4: Coffee-marinated pork shoulder, salad – I used the rub on a pork shoulder
Monday, 3/5: Paleo chicken enchilada bake
Tuesday, 3/6: Korean Beef Bowls (adults omitted rice)
Wednesday, 3/7: Tacos on romaine boats
Thursday, 3/8: Chicken provencal stoup – omit potatoes
Friday, 3/9: Dinner with grain-free friends (they’re cooking)
Saturday, 3/10: smoked meats (pork tenderloin, baby back ribs), broccoli salad, grilled asparagus, steamed artichokes
Sunday, 3/11: Herbed artichoke chicken in the crockpot, salad – recipe is from my crockpot’s recipe book
Monday, 3/12: Sausage kale soup – friend e-mailed me the recipe. I’ll have to post it later.
Tuesday, 3/13: Chicken veggie lo mein
Wednesday, 3/14: Paleo pot pie (happy pi day!)
Thursday, 3/15: Asian fish in foil, baby bok choy

Share
Posted by amy in Menu, Paleo, Recipes and tagged with
14Feb
0

Menu 2/15-2/29

Wednesday, February 15: Spaghetti soup (browned ground beef, sauteed onions, peppers, and whatever other veggies, spaghetti sauce)

Thursday, February 16: Bacon-wrapped Salmon cakes, carrots, sauteed greens

Friday, February 17: Butter Chicken over lightly steamed broccoli and cauliflower

Saturday, February 18: Paleo lasagna

Sunday, February 19: Barbacoa beef over shredded cabbage, avocado

Monday, February 20: Fish soup

Tuesday, February 21: Roast chicken, green beans, carrot souffle

Wednesday, February 22: Smoked sausage saute with pureed winter squash, greens

Thursday, February 23: Curry meatballs over lightly steamed broccoli and cauliflower

Friday, February 24: Pork chops, sweet potates, cabbage

Saturday, February 25: Bacon apple chicken, baked turnips and onions

Sunday, February 26: Italian wedding soup

Monday, February 27: Asian chicken soup with baby bok choy (recipe to follow)

Tuesday, February 28: Vegetable soup (ground beef, tomatoes, green beans, carrots, cabbage, celery, onions, etc)

Wednesday, February 29: Stuffed pork loin in the crockpot

Share
Posted by amy in Menu, Paleo, Recipes and tagged with
10Feb
0

Good resource

I found this the other day on Robb Wolf’s blog. I can see it would be a really helpful tool if you are feeling in a rut with your meal choices. Robb Wolf’s Food Matrix

Share
Posted by amy in Uncategorized
06Feb
0

I owe you a menu post – 1/31-2/14

We’ve had some birthdays, so it has been busy around here. So, here’s my menu for this grocery/pay cycle.

Tuesday, January 31: Greek Fish (slice an onion and chop some garlic. Saute in olive oil in a large skillet, add a can of tomatoes and 1-2 pounds of white fish fillets like cod or tilapia, pour in equivalent weight of frozen green beans on top of fish. Cover and simmer until fish done & flaky. Add a can of sliced black olives or serve Kalamatas on the side if you prefer. May also sprinkle with some feta or goat cheese)
Wedenesday, February 1: Pork Chops with Shredded Brussels Sprouts (from Primal Blueprint Quick & Easy Meals)
Thursday, February 2: Tuscan Rosemary Chicken with mixed veggies (no recipe, just sprinkled some Tuscan seasoning on chicken pieces & cooked them, cooked mixed vegetables as a side)
Friday, February 3: Birthday boy chose Applebee’s. We did eat paleoish pizza for lunch.
Saturday, February 4: Puerto Rican Beef over mashed sweet potatoes
Sunday, February 5: Eating out (again – yuck!) with my parents for birthday boys’ celebrations
Monday, February 6: Bacon-wrapped salmon cakes with carrot souffle and green beans
Tuesday, February 7: Chili (taking a meal to a family, so this is a doubled meal)
Wednesday, February 8: Chicken, Green beans, Sweet potatoes
Thursday, February 9: Crockpot Red Pork with Broccoli from Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals (new recipes, I’ll post about them later)
Friday, February 10: Smoked Sausage stew (smoked sausage, cabbage, carrots, and onions)
Saturday, February 11: Coconut Chicken Curry
Sunday, February 12: Italian-style chicken in the crockpot (chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, peppers) with salad
Monday, February 13: Spaghetti soup
Tuesday, February 14: Asian-style chicken, mixed veggies

Share
Posted by amy in Menu, Paleo, Recipes and tagged with
03Feb
0

DISCLAIMER

I need to put this out here for legal reasons.

Anything on this blog is simply the opinion of myself and people that I read. It shouldn’t be taken as medical or dietary advice, and you should always seek the counsel of your medical professional.

I hate that I need to do this, but I am not trying to practice medicine here, just posting my opinions on health, diet, and wellness (and faith, homeschool, and permaculture in the coming days/weeks/months).

Share
Posted by amy in Uncategorized
Next Page »