tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76669160737296305972011-07-07T17:44:43.460-07:00Eating Local on Weight WatchersMomastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.comBlogger1691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-9027044321265196852008-09-07T12:27:00.000-07:002008-09-07T13:00:08.262-07:00

We've been eating up the frozen meals this week - eggplant and pork, moussaka, and bean soup - and tonight we're having meatloaf from the freezer. I'm grateful that I made these in advance! Still trying to get in all the 8 good health guidelines but it's more of a struggle right now, since I don't want to be in the hot kitchen any more than I have to, and I'm too tired to cook!Daily MenuBreakast

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-84933768334120127832008-08-31T11:20:00.000-07:002008-09-01T16:27:50.106-07:00

I returned to my Weight Watchers meeting yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by my weigh in, just .2 lb. above my last weigh in weight. After a modest gain during pregnancy, I wasn't expecting to be so close to my starting weight so soon. Very encouraging, especially since I've not been as consistent on my plan the past few weeks. I'm hopeful that with a closer eye toward what I'm eating, I'll

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-1389911485959604502008-08-22T20:44:00.000-07:002008-08-22T20:57:45.612-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce that our baby girl, Lucy, was born on Tuesday night after a very manageable labor and only five minutes of pushing! She's healthy and is fitting right into our family - loud voice, lots of snuggling, and a huge appetite. Big brother Jax keeps asking to hold and kiss her, and is trying to share all of his toys - I'm appreciating it while it lasts. Thanks for the kind

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-67452965655329433962008-08-18T09:10:00.000-07:002008-08-18T09:20:49.757-07:00

I have whole oats in my pantry from the grain CSA and have not known quite what to do with them. Rolled oats are familiar; even steel cut oats have their found crockpot love from me. But the whole grain, well, I wasn't sure where to start. I found the liquid:grain ratio and cooking time on the pressure cooker and figured I'd make them like I would steel cut oats - milk, fruit, cinnamon, vanilla -

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-44284159178474297862008-08-17T14:29:00.000-07:002008-08-18T09:21:28.215-07:00

Despite a due date that has come and gone, and with every effort made on my part to bring this baby on, she has still not made her appearance into the world. I'm hopeful that it will happen in the next few days, since I'm so darned uncomfortable, but in the meantime I'm cooking away!I've got a pot of soup on the stove that smells fantastic. Using tomatoes, corn, onions, garlic, and basil from my

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-22991512949599218832008-08-11T21:17:00.000-07:002008-08-11T21:30:57.376-07:00

Tonight's dinner was very simple and very tasty! Grilled steaks from Chileno Valley Ranch, red corn on the cob from our veggie box, and cucumber slices out of our garden. I'd never had red corn before - it tasted just the same as white sweet corn, very nice on the grill.I got huge heirloom tomatoes in this week's veggie box this week and I'm the only one in the house that likes them. The tomatoes

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-2010749162132552442008-08-06T09:31:00.000-07:002008-08-06T09:39:21.258-07:00

I made a menu full of foods that are supposed to bring on labor last night, but as you can see by the post right now, I am not yet in labor! Still, it was a very tasty day.I made spicy eggplant and pork (local eggplant and pork) with udon noodles (not local), and a pineapple smoothie, washed down by liberal amounts of red raspberry leaf tea. Today I'll be having some Thai green papaya salad with

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-73161217117610619212008-08-02T10:11:00.000-07:002008-08-02T10:23:42.692-07:00

In a stock-the-freezer fit, I've made meatball mix that stretched out to about 8 dozen meatballs, two meatloaves, and a big pot of Pumpkin chili, currently in the crockpot. The mix made really delicious, although not 100% Core, meatballs and we'll have them ready for easy meals throughout late summer and fall. The bread crumbs and cheese are not Core, but only add less than a point per

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-6066716924693814872008-07-27T12:50:00.001-07:002008-07-27T15:37:28.811-07:00

Tonight we're having another of my endless variations on beans and grains, Spanish-style barley with Scarlett Runners, and with that mixture I'm stuffing bell peppers for another freezer-friendly post-baby dinner.The barley is from our grain CSA, beans from Phipps, and various vegetables from Full Belly. Served tonight with green beans from our CSA box, we've got a local dinner for now, and

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-59758130247416931802008-07-23T14:00:00.000-07:002008-07-24T08:34:29.372-07:00

My mother-in-law was the fortunate recipient of a large box of fresh tomatoes at the end of the farmer's market on Sunday, and not having a use for 10 lb. of fresh tomatoes, she passed them along to me. And how better to use all those wonderful tomatoes than to make an enormous pot of sauce, ready to freeze for easy post-baby meals? The whole house smells incredible, like an Italian restaurant

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-22301661315313739092008-07-21T17:49:00.000-07:002008-07-23T14:06:59.453-07:00

Tonight's meal, Moussaka, is Core except for the bechamel on top, and at just 2 points per serving the bechamel doesn't make this too extravagent for as indulgent as it tastes. Jax ate a full serving and asked for seconds, and he's usually not an eggplant fan!It's also completely local except for the cheese and spices. The vegetables are from Full Belly Farm, beef is from Chileno in Petaluma,

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-62979798351027538372008-07-20T13:31:00.000-07:002008-07-20T13:39:51.055-07:00

Last night we enjoyed another local dinner, fresh from the farmer's market and absolutely delicious. I grilled eggplant slices and topped them with goat's milk brie from Spring Hill Cheese, grilled red onion, fresh tomato slices, and basil, all from our CSA veggie box, and sprinkled with olive oil and blackberry fig balsamic vinegar from Hare Hollow. Corn on the cob on the side completed the meal

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-45350438789096490312008-07-09T09:18:00.000-07:002008-07-09T10:10:52.909-07:00

I've really been slacking on the blog lately! I've got to get back in the daily menu habit before the baby gets here so it's not so hard to switch gears back into Weight Watchers. Plus, it was all over the news yesterday that people who keep a food diary lose more than those who don't. I'm surprised that this is news - I've been hearing this for ages - but it is as good a reason as any to start

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-81867151124904628102008-07-03T08:08:00.000-07:002008-07-03T08:32:22.122-07:00

I've been slacking on the blog lately! I'm catching up with housework, laundry, getting stuff ready for the new baby (just 5 more weeks!), spending time with Jax, and napping, and blogging has just taken a back seat lately. I'm still eating, but I'm not paying nearly as much attention to writing it down right now.Last night I made a pot of delicious soup - carrots, potatoes, and chipotle peppers

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-52987405717741280102008-06-23T08:37:00.001-07:002008-06-23T08:47:38.630-07:00

A friend e-mailed me yesterday to tell me that her peach tree was full of ripe peaches if we'd like some, and a neighbor offered her all the apricots off of their tree. Plus, she found a fig tree in a parking lot near her house. So Jax and I will be picking fruit this week to freeze for smoothies and fruit crisps throughout the year. Yum!!Another local dinner last night was delicious but not

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-9114717186182478272008-06-16T20:40:00.000-07:002008-06-18T09:04:25.566-07:00

For yet another One Local Summer menu, and a Meatless Monday one at that, I made a delicious bean and potato soup. This was one of those dinners that just hit the right balance of hearty and soul satisfying without being too heavy. I served it with cabbage and tomatoes.Gigantes bean soup with potatoes1-2 T olive oil1 onion, coarsely chopped (again from Full Belly)2-3 carrots, coarsely chopped (

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-17086307995585725552008-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:002008-06-14T10:09:09.073-07:00

Our veggie box this week includes:Carrots Salad Mix Cabbage Onions Potatoes Summer Squash Mibuna I've never heard of mibuna before, so I Googled it to find that this Japanese green leafy veggie has a nice, mildly sharp taste for mixed salads and light cooking. I'll make a salad with them one day this week and will post a photo. The carrots from Full Belly are the best I've ever eaten - so sweet

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-45705201518429770442008-06-13T09:31:00.000-07:002008-06-13T20:33:36.772-07:00

We had Polenta lasagna for dinner tonight, and although it has quite a few ingredients, they're all local! I'm using a recipe I found on the web with a few adjustments; namely, I'm adding beans to make it a higher protein meal. I love Gigantes beans - they're huge as the name might suggest, but smooth and creamy, almost like potatoes, but with a delicious mellow flavor. They blended right in with

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-53571148880721360112008-06-12T08:43:00.000-07:002008-06-12T09:16:34.735-07:00

I'm trying to follow the rules for gestational diabetes given to me by the dietitian. Here's my menu incorporating those rules; hopefully the shifts will get easier as I get used to them. I'm struggling with getting in the recommended amounts of protein at each meal and snack - I just discovered that milk counts as both a protein and a carbohydrate, so that will help to fill in the snacks - I'm

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-31615554276581639842008-06-10T08:18:00.000-07:002008-06-10T13:54:20.851-07:00

I made a delicious and very simple (and colorful!) dinner last night: grilled snapper, corn on the cob, steamed carrots, and strawberries. The snapper was dressed very, very lightly with lime juice, chili powder, salt and pepper, and grilled on aluminum foil "boats" because we don't have a fish grill pan. It worked out very nicely - the fish was cooked through and had the smoky flavor, and it

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-76997889736440235182008-06-07T08:43:00.000-07:002008-06-07T09:30:25.222-07:00

This week's veggie box:Apricots Carrots Red Russian Kale Salad Mix New Potatoes Summer Squash Strawberries Strawberries and apricots - Yum! This is the first of the summer squash, too, which is always tasty. We ate the half flat of strawberries in no time last week so I'm thinking I'll get a whole flat this week and freeze some for winter berry smoothies. Mmm, smoothies. Mr.M wants to grill

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-60418456991211275182008-06-05T21:55:00.000-07:002008-06-10T13:55:48.848-07:00

The blog turned one yesterday without much fanfare, but the past year has brought over 8,000 hits from every continent except Antarctica. I'm grateful to everyone who has commented or e-mailed me support and encouragement over the past year. Thank you for reading! This year has also brought a change in my eating habits that have made me a healthier woman with finding local purveyors of healthy

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-35471220706701311532008-06-02T20:43:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:56:22.182-07:00

For our first all local meal of the One Local Summer challenge, we had grilled steak, baby new potatoes, glazed carrots, asparagus, and strawberries. The steak (just lightly salted and peppered) was from Chileno Valley Ranch in Petaluma and all of the veggies were from Full Belly Farm in Guinda. I used olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Hare Hollow Ranch in Healdsburg for a light dressing on the

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-46467852538597993042008-06-01T10:52:00.000-07:002008-06-01T11:11:42.067-07:00

I'll be participating in this year's One Local Summer challenge and encourage you to join me! The official challenge can be found here, and the rules are simple: The challenge will begin on Sunday, June 1 and run until Sunday, August31. Your challenge: prepare one meal each week using only locally growningredients - the exceptions are oil, salt and pepper, and spices. This shouldn't be too

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-66731316071490348242008-05-31T14:14:00.001-07:002008-05-31T14:32:51.166-07:00

It's that time of year again! Fruits are sweet and plentiful, the farmer's market is crowded with so many wonderful, fresh foods, and Jax's chin is stained red from cherry juice dribbles. We bought peaches last week and they were gone in two days, so this week I bought even more fruit to hold us through - half a flat of strawberries, a pound of cherries, and more peaches - but I'm not sure it's

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-61815686343476926542008-05-27T08:02:00.000-07:002008-05-27T08:24:41.624-07:00

I have a few weeks until my summer classes begin, and I'm starting to hit the nesting phase of pregnancy, which can only mean one thing: organizing and cleaning the house. This week I'll be focusing on the kitchen, paring down the unnecessary stuff, clearing out the science projects growing at the back of the fridge, and making an inventory of the freezer and pantry so I know what needs to be

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-12341386887961959342008-05-24T14:06:00.000-07:002008-05-24T14:37:14.706-07:00

This is the best time of year for the farmer's market. We're in the beginning of the summer vegetable season, tale end of spring, and get the best of both worlds: asparagus and basil, strawberries, peaches, cauliflower, fresh peas! Fantastic!Our CSA box includes:Asparagus (last week!)CarrotsShelling peasBasilLettuceFresh onionsNew potatoesI also bought a pound of snapper, a block of feta cheese,

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-55490744450603614042008-05-19T08:37:00.000-07:002008-05-19T08:46:38.691-07:00

This salad is very tasty and pretty easy to make. It's a variation on a recipe from Cooking Light using what I had on hand and came out very tasty! You do have to count points for the dried fruit, almonds, and cheddar cheese on Core.Wheatberry salad with dried fruit, almonds, and cheddar cheese6 c. water2 c. uncooked wheatberries1 c. dried fruit (I used peaches and raisins)Combine water and wheat

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-59577153491218204742008-05-18T09:55:00.000-07:002008-05-18T14:43:40.747-07:00

I didn't end up making the fish tacos last night, so they're on the menu for tonight. I did make the chipotle-avocado cream last night and it's delicious! I ate some with quesadillas last night (not Core, of course) and it was spicy and creamy, a very nice (lower fat!) alternative to guacamole.Chipotle Avocado Cream1 c. fat free plain GREEK style yogurt (it's thicker than the plain stuff)1/8 c.

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-79098402411872965662008-05-17T14:51:00.000-07:002008-05-17T15:19:43.353-07:00

I picked up a lovely piece of snapper at this morning's farmer's market and will be making fish tacos with a chipotle cream (made with fat free plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream) and a jicama slaw with carrots, radishes, and Napa cabbage from our veggie box.Today's CSA box included:ArtichokesAsparagusNapa CabbageCarrotsSugar Snap PeasLettuceNew PotatoesI also picked up snapper ($7.00) and

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-44362402604706022142008-05-12T08:39:00.000-07:002008-05-12T08:41:59.560-07:00

Today's Very Spring Daily MenuWith all that beautiful farmer's market fresh fruit and veggies!Breakfast:Fage yogurtstrawberries1 t. flaxseed oilLunch:Cold buckwheat noodle leftovers from last night's dinner (yum!)portabella mushroom and zucchini sauteed in 1 t. olive oil2 c. milkDinner:Steakartichokesgreen salad with 1 t. olive oil dressingbulgur wheatDaily 8 - the 8 Healthy Guidelines1. Fruits

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-68761777284755041732008-05-11T18:32:00.000-07:002008-05-11T18:38:03.034-07:00

We had a very simple dinner tonight that was just delicious. I marinated thinly sliced steak in an Asian style marinade (soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, Chinese 5 spice powder, a bit of Hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and a bit of hot sauce) and then skewered it with slices of portabello mushroom and zucchini. Mr.M grilled them for just a few minutes, until they were golden brown with

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-9806741309359084902008-05-10T11:27:00.001-07:002008-05-10T11:57:35.584-07:00

I woke up this morning with the same excitement that was once reserved for my birthday. The Palo Alto Farmer's Market is back! I picked up my Full Belly veggie box and then spent a lovely morning strolling down the aisles of familiar vendors and their fresh spring fruits and vegetables, enjoying the live music.In this week's veggie box:ArtichokesBroccoliDino KaleLettuceSpinachCilantroGreen

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-37117664814320150422008-05-07T11:18:00.000-07:002008-05-07T11:28:59.027-07:00

So far today, I have not been terribly hungry. I'm trying a new recipe for dinner, smothered chicken and barley, which is raved about on the Weight Watchers message board. If we like it, I'll post the recipe.I have to go through the rest of the beef in the freezer so it doesn't go bad, so you'll probably notice more beef in the menus in the next couple of weeks. It lasts about 12-18 months in the

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-21404542335199401582008-05-06T19:02:00.000-07:002008-05-06T19:19:55.076-07:00

I made tamale pie for dinner and it was delicious! I made a variation on one that floats around the WW internet boards, adjusting for what I have and the flavors we like. I made an extra tamale pie and it's in the freezer, starting to stock for after the baby is born. When Jax was born, my mom made us a dozen or so home made dinners, all frozen in the same 8"x8" pan and stored in zip top freezer

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-68784367975146515052008-04-28T09:04:00.000-07:002008-04-28T09:47:03.781-07:00

I've been craving fresh peach pie for months. Not the kind made with pre-cooked, canned style peaches in a heavy double crust, but with fresh sliced fruit on a light crust, with vanilla ice cream. As it has not been peach season, the craving has been in the back of my mind for months, waiting. It's almost here, peach season; I saw the first local peaches, small and too firm to really be flavorful

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-80258465773220500172008-04-19T11:19:00.000-07:002008-04-19T11:30:37.742-07:00

In our veggie box today, I received:AsparagusChardFava BeansSalad MixSageLeeksFrench Breakfast RadishesTokyo TurnipsHooray for asparagus! We've gotten it a few weeks in a row and they've been quickly devoured after just a light simmer. They're so tender and sweet that they need no seasoning at all.I've never eaten fava beans and am excited to try something new. I found a recipe for them that uses

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-84589508401345796162008-04-12T09:11:00.001-07:002008-04-12T10:52:03.925-07:00

We had a lovely picnic in the park with out of town family yesterday, and the menu featured what will be a rare treat this year: local salmon. I had a bit of local salmon in the freezer from last summer and pulled it out to defrost just as the radio was announcing that salmon fishing will be closed in California this year. Record low numbers of salmon are returning from the Sacramento river delta

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-90624914474527608812008-04-07T14:01:00.001-07:002008-04-07T14:20:07.819-07:00

First, the exciting news: I'm having a girl! I had an ultrasound and everything looks healthy. My due date was pushed back to August 15, but I'll probably go late since Jax was two weeks late, my brother and I were both two weeks late, and my family has a history of late babies.I have been eating more junk food lately as cravings hit and I definitely need to pay more attention to getting my 8

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-480157273408136312008-03-24T09:23:00.000-07:002008-04-28T09:47:26.661-07:00

We won't be having a Meatless Monday today as I defrosted a ham steak for Easter and we didn't end up eating it, so it needs to be eaten today lest it go to waste. We'll have a Meatless Tuesday instead. This week's veggie box was full of spring goodness, including fresh oregano, baby potatoes, beets, carrots, lettuce, leeks, and a variety of greens. I'm making the same potato-beet salad that I

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-86914643695523991632008-03-15T10:21:00.000-07:002008-03-15T10:32:30.758-07:00

I read an article recently that talked about how a fetus develops a taste for the foods the mother is eating regularly while pregnant - it swallows amniotic fluid, and that fluid takes on the dominant tastes of the diet like salty, sweet, bitter, garlicky, etc. If this is the case, our baby will come with a pre-destined love of all things sour and pickled. I have had a surprisingly strong craving

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-25714030128276936682008-03-11T09:31:00.000-07:002008-03-11T09:40:09.538-07:00

Jax helped me cook yesterday, so everything took twice as long, made twice as much mess, and was twice as much fun. He likes to scoop and stir, and taste. He ate part of a carrot, half a pickle, and a bite of raw potato as we were making the potato-beet salad, and even with ingredients that one wouldn't think are especially kid-friendly (like capers and strong green olives) he ate quite a bit of

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-25611192384756888212008-03-10T09:55:00.001-07:002008-03-10T11:48:07.480-07:00

Tonight we're having Spanish rice and beans for Meatless Monday. I made this last week one night and it was delicious, very easy, and a hit with the whole family. The Mexican cabbage salad on the side made for an especially delightful combination - warm, savory and spicy beans and rice with cool, crisp, vinegary salad. My husband put a bit of each on his fork for both flavors in one bite.I don't

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-17408621026340523692008-03-04T07:38:00.001-08:002008-03-04T07:49:44.309-08:00

Jax has yet another ear infection, his third in less than two months, and we were recommended a dairy-free diet for him as a potential fix for his constant congestion (and runny nose, eye crusties, puffy circles under his eyes, persistent night time coughing.) He may need ear tubes if the ear infections won't clear up, and I'm willing to try any reasonable options to help him feel better, since

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-74815973709261721022008-02-18T12:35:00.000-08:002008-02-18T12:54:01.503-08:00

I have beef stew bubbling away in the crock pot, smelling mouthwateringly delicious, full of the great Full Belly root vegetables that have been wasting away in my crisper drawer for the past few weeks and tasty Chileno beef. I'll post a picture this evening, but here's the recipe in the meantime.Beef Stew with Root Vegetables2 lb. stew beef, trimmed of all visible fat and cut into bite sized

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-25122014650184999942008-02-17T17:29:00.000-08:002008-02-17T17:35:25.859-08:00

I made a seriously delicious, easy, and toddler friendly meal today and wanted to share. Last night, I steamed broccoli and carrots, sauteed bell pepper, onion, and garlic, minced it all very fine and added it to cooked polenta (yellow cornmeal). I spread the mixture out on an oiled 9"x13" pan and put it in the fridge overnight to set. At dinner tonight, I cut the polenta into rounds with a

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-85485972469977117582008-02-05T10:40:00.001-08:002008-02-05T10:44:18.878-08:00

I prepared a big batch of hot cereal this morning to be reheated for breakfast the rest of the week. It is my standard oatmeal recipe made with milk and applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla, but I added raisins and a touch of maple syrup. I drizzle it with 1 t. flaxseed oil when I serve it, since flaxseed oil shouldn't be cooked. Delicious, filling, very healthy, and comforting on an upset stomach -

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-43144253731470432742008-02-04T08:33:00.000-08:002008-02-04T08:38:31.200-08:00

I haven't posted in a while, mostly because the nausea hasn't let up and I have no interesting recipes to share for the very plain foods that I'm preparing - toast, crackers, noodles, canned pears, yogurt. I lost 6 lb. during my first trimester, but it's almost certainly just because food isn't at all appealing and little is staying down. I'm very nearly to the second trimester, and am now on

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-28418138341110386282008-01-21T10:54:00.001-08:002008-01-21T11:25:45.823-08:00

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It's also the meal I'm having the hardest time eating these days because of morning sickness. Most mornings, toast or crackers are the only thing that I'm finding appealing, and it's hard to get enough calories throughout the day because of the nausea. So I'm trying to bulk up breakfast to get a solid start to the day and get enough calories

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-2105840783881184532008-01-12T12:13:00.000-08:002008-01-12T13:09:49.018-08:00

Full Belly Farm has been on hiatus for the past three weeks, and while they certainly deserve a rest after providing such amazing produce week after week, all year long to over 1000 CSA members, I've been certainly missing my veggie box! I was so excited to pick up our veggies this morning that I squealed a bit when I saw the week's yummy variety, which included:CauliflowerCarrotsSalad

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-66034911344708734322008-01-09T09:41:00.001-08:002008-01-09T09:57:14.115-08:00

Our household is full of sick people. Jax has pneumonia and an ear infection - he's being treated with antibiotics and woke up this morning (at a glorious 9 am!!) with no fever for the first time this week, so he's on the road to recovery. I have a Nyquil cold - coughing, sore throat, headache, aches, fever, runny nose, sneezing - but being pregnant, I can't take Nyquil... or anything, really.

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-5817793523248848522008-01-03T11:35:00.000-08:002008-01-03T11:58:39.176-08:00

I've been struggling with morning sickness, making it difficult to eat all that I'm supposed to right now. So I'll post my daily menu and make adjustments at the end of the day based on what I could actually eat! I'm doing my best to have a variety of foods and so far, I've not had a problem keeping down the prenatal vitamin. Hopefully this will soon pass!Daily MenuBreakfastTea2 Saltine crackers

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-33425100250144651192007-12-30T08:36:00.000-08:002007-12-30T15:19:55.648-08:00

Daily MenuBreakfastShredded wheat2 c. Milk2 Clementines (YUMMM!)LunchBlack bean soup2 T shredded cheese (1.5 Pts)1 oz. dried persimmons (.5 Pts)DinnerHam (from TLC Ranch)Baked potato with 2 t. olive oi, fat free yogurt, and onionsBaked squash (from Full Belly Farm)Broccoli and 1 t. lemon olive oil (broccoli from Full Belly Farm, oil from St. Helena Olive Oil Company)Snack1 slice Vital Vittles

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-71902467806433715122007-12-29T15:31:00.000-08:002007-12-29T15:47:40.855-08:00

School is over, the holidays have passed, and it's time for me to get back on track with both my locavore and Core resolutions. I haven't done as poorly as I expected over the holidays, but I certainly haven't been as on track as I need to be. So here is my New Year's resolution for this and every year: I'm going to eat the 8 healthy guidelines every day. I'm going to support local agriculture

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-79340196972681323362007-12-13T15:46:00.001-08:002007-12-13T15:56:22.228-08:00

This week is really, really busy with school winding down, a visiting 3 year old through Sunday, family drama, and Christmas preparations, and I am hopeful that once things get back to normal (ha!) I'll have more time for posting. Finals are next week, and after that I assure myself that I'll have a chance to breathe and eat more than a peanut-butter sandwich on the go (not Core, of course!)The

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-77739225650731494152007-12-10T17:33:00.001-08:002007-12-10T18:16:28.584-08:00

Tonight's dinner is deeeelish! I made Buckskin bean burritos with chard. Not Core, but very healthy and a good way to get some greens into Jax. It would be good over brown rice or wheatberries instead of in a burrito, sans cheese or bacon, to make it Core.Buckskin Bean Burritos with Chardserves 8For the Beans:2 c. buckskin beans, soaked, rinsed and picked over (black beans would be a good

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-55043152916541366632007-12-09T11:12:00.000-08:002007-12-09T11:27:18.566-08:00

I made a pan of baked oatmeal yesterday and what a great treat it was to wake up to this morning! I've been in an oatmeal mood lately and this was a nice twist on my standard bowl.Baked OatmealServes 124 c. oatmeal (rolled oats, steel cut, or the hot cereal mix from my grain CSA)1 c. fat free yogurt1 c. water1 c. unsweetened applesauce1 c. apple, peeled and shredded1 c. frozen berries, thawed2 t.

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-77374932999791758132007-12-07T07:55:00.000-08:002007-12-07T08:51:14.099-08:00

Michael Pollan's book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" changed my life, really making me look at where my food comes from for the first time. If you haven't read it and are at all interested in food, I highly recommend it.After reading it last year, I decided not to eat industrial meat, and have been industrial meat free for almost a year. The book put local eating into the spotlight for me, and because

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-71738560743448339092007-12-03T13:38:00.000-08:002007-12-03T13:45:45.762-08:00

Here is a satisfying way to start the day! It is hearty, warming on chilly mornings, and keeps me full all morning long. With milk, fruit, healthy oil, and whole grain, this breakfast has everything you need and it tastes great, too.Applesauce Oatmeal(serves 2 hungry grown ups and 1 hungry toddler!)1 1/2 cup rolled oats (not instant)1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce1/2 cup fat free milk1 cup water1/

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-89824591395989524642007-11-30T11:22:00.000-08:002007-11-30T11:36:28.034-08:00

Dinner last night was a delightful use-up dish for leftover turkey. The sweetness of the sweet potato and apple matched nicely with the savory turkey, and deglazing the pan with white wine added an extra subtle yumminess to it. I served it with sauteed Swiss chard for a delicious Core meal. It also made for tasty leftovers.Turkey, sweet potato, and apple hash2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-65325464916692805092007-11-26T08:20:00.000-08:002007-11-26T08:30:59.732-08:00

Good morning! This was a leftovers weekend and we'll be happy to eat something other than turkey today. The turkey was great, though, and made for excellent leftovers. Good thing, because there are three more in the freezer just like it, and each one will likely feed us for a week!!Today's daily menuBreakfast Hot cereal mix with applesauce and sliced apples, milk - with Windborne Grain hot cereal

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-55991428701614122472007-11-22T20:44:00.000-08:002007-11-22T21:04:01.354-08:00

My first Thanksgiving dinner was a smashing success! The food was delicious, and all hot on the table at once. With 7 dishes, that's not an easy feat! I didn't have any meltdowns, even in the last minute hectic get-it-on-the-table rush. Everyone raved about the meal and seemed interested in hearing where everything came from, which made for fun dinner conversation.I loved the turkey method from

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-66615619696331797962007-11-21T14:14:00.000-08:002007-11-22T09:28:10.702-08:00

I'm hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year, and my menu is almost entirely local. I know you've been waiting with bated breath to see what I'll be cooking (haha), so here's the menu:Turkey with pan gravy (turkey from Harmony Farms in La Crescenta, 350 miles away)Quince-strawberry-rhubarb jelly with pomegranate (no local cranberries, so this is our sweet-tart substitute, and it's tasty!

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-2009189802213348192007-11-18T09:32:00.001-08:002007-11-18T09:57:37.460-08:00

I picked up the pork yesterday (thanks, Jen!) and am ridiculously happy about the nitrate-free bacon, ham, chops, ribs, and sausage in the freezer. We ordered from TLC Ranch and picked up the butchered, smoked meats at Los Gatos Meats. This place smells SO GOOD - my mouth watered just waiting in line! We got smoked ham and bacon, and next time I think we'll have them make more sausages like

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-45215258915241678322007-11-14T18:51:00.000-08:002007-11-18T09:58:12.026-08:00

Awhile back, we ordered 1/6 of a grassfed pig from TLC Ranch, and it will be ready on Saturday! I'm ridiculously excited about having tasty organic, pastured pork stocked up in the freezer. I've bought several pieces of TLC Ranch pork at the farmer's market over the summer and it has been delicious every time. I also ordered 3 extra pastured, hormone free turkeys, as they're half the price of my

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-76615518244195066502007-11-13T21:02:00.000-08:002007-11-13T21:18:21.560-08:00

Tonight's dinner was a use-what's-in-the-fridge chowder, a repeat of last week's well-liked chowder with salmon instead of clams. It's so good, in fact, that I'm going to pass along the recipe. It has worked both with canned clams and canned salmon, and I'll be trying it again with canned crab as I work my way through the canned pantry goods, and I anticipate it being equally delicious. This is

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-65700483277933902762007-11-12T21:18:00.000-08:002007-11-12T22:03:39.537-08:00

Today, my mother in law, Jax, and I drove out to the coast for beans and quality family time. I haven't been to Phipps Country Store since my birthday in July, and we'd eaten through our supply of lovely heirloom, organic beans so it was about time to make another trip. I picked up quite a variety of lovely beans with such fun names like Buckskin, Desert Pebble, Cranberry, Adzuki, and Gigantes.

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-52426885695707929512007-11-05T13:11:00.000-08:002007-11-05T13:28:21.329-08:00

I got home late yesterday and didn't make dinner, eating leftovers instead. Tonight I'm making the clam-corn chowder, and I'm going to try using evaporated milk instead of heavy cream. Hopefully that will be good! One less thing to buy!Today's menu includes:Breakfasteggs, applesauce, milkLunch1/2 slice pizza, appleDinnerclam-corn chowder

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-57203865356192158532007-11-04T09:37:00.000-08:002007-11-04T09:54:50.968-08:00

It's day four of November's pantry challenge, and I haven't purchased any food until today. I haven't eaten out, and have been pretty consistently on plan (besides the blintzes at yesterday's pot luck.)Our CSA box this week includes the following veggies:Red DaikonSpinachPomegranatesKabocha SquashLeeksLettuceCornTokyo TurnipsFrom the newsletter this week:The food grown at Full Belly Farm has not

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-55178845817688144992007-11-02T10:22:00.000-07:002007-11-02T10:39:37.352-07:00

Our pantry and freezer are stuffed with food and I still spend my regular $90 or so a week adding to the stock. For the month of November, I'm limiting myself to $30 a week for fresh food like dairy, eggs, and fresh fruits, and am going to try to use up some of the extra stuff cluttering up my cabinets. My menu plan includes quite a few non-local products that have sat idly by while we ate local

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-65604541641393001492007-10-31T14:27:00.001-07:002007-10-31T14:33:51.409-07:00

My mother in law (MIL) gave us a box of tomatoes that she bought at the end of the farmer's market for a song. 20 pounds is a LOT of tomatoes!! I've got three stacks of tomato slices in the food dehydrator, and made a huge pot of tomato sauce that simmered all day with tons of veggies - onion, garlic, celery, carrot, and zucchini. I made polenta lasagna for dinner, packaged 8 individual pasta

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-1199392952118645222007-10-27T17:22:00.000-07:002007-10-27T17:41:33.048-07:00

I was on track yesterday. I was on track today. It's a start! I do need to be more gentle and forgiving of myself when I'm struggling, and more encouraging of myself for having on plan days.Daily MenuBreakfast:Nonfat latteLunch: (not CORE, but out to eat, what looked like the best option on the menu)BIG salad with a scoop of Tuna salad (est. 6 Points for mayo in salad)Roll with butter (3 Points)

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-87868840190314685312007-10-25T15:47:00.001-07:002007-10-25T15:56:51.475-07:00

I'm going through an emotionally tumultuous time, in addition to being very busy outside of the house, and I've fallen back to my old standby of food to comfort me. I knew I did poorly last week and skipped a meeting, and this morning I weighed myself. I'm up again, no big surprise. I am not making any more excuses. I am not skipping any more meetings. I am not letting myself regain all the

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-52795983021580361832007-10-18T20:11:00.000-07:002007-10-18T20:20:56.198-07:00

This has been a very busy week, and I have not kept up with my plan. I know that without following it, I will not be successful. I know that by eating out instead of cooking, I'm wasting money, wasting Points, and wasting good vegetables that sit uneaten in the fridge. But still, after being busy all day, it's HARD to get up the energy to prepare a healthy meal. Sadly, I'm finding it difficult to

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-42999378431970107622007-10-15T11:20:00.000-07:002007-10-15T11:40:56.705-07:00

I've been off track for the past few weeks, and as a result I've gained 2.8 lb. I need to nip this in the bud and get right back on track, because I'm not willing to let myself regain the weight I've worked so hard to lose. There is a sign in one of my classrooms that reads:The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want in the moment.It has resonated with

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-20731269432490944612007-10-13T12:03:00.000-07:002007-10-13T12:20:25.216-07:00

I'm reminded again this morning why I love the farmer's market. Not only is there a dazzling array of tasty, fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce, fish, tofu, sausage, nuts, oils and vinegars, cheeses, and breads, but today, vegan butternut squash tamales (yummy!), an accordian player, a small band, a man making animals out of rubber bands, and a Draft Gore stand with a petition to draft Al

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-4601597174267434292007-10-10T20:05:00.000-07:002007-10-11T08:58:54.544-07:00

My Aunt Janet and Uncle Cole have sent me photos of their home grown applesauce endeavor for the Colorado edition of the blog. The first photos are of their tree and garden this spring, covered with apple blossoms. So pretty! Next comes harvest, and they had quite the bounty in red delicious apples! They picked 3 five gallon buckets of apples from their tree.Here is Cole with some of the freshly

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-1645288246425002862007-10-08T13:10:00.000-07:002007-10-08T14:12:37.642-07:00

Jax, Mr.M, Mr.M's mom, my friend B, and I spent Saturday at Full Belly Farm's 20th Annual Hoes Down, locavore heaven! We had a great time! Jax and Mr.M spent most of the day climbing through the straw fort, with occasional breaks to pet the goats and climb on tractors. The childrens' area also had quite a few workshops and activities for bigger kids, like making acorn bread, painting gourds,

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-47159615024430825752007-10-05T16:14:00.000-07:002007-10-05T20:46:17.801-07:00

I picked up my first Grain CSA shipment last weekend, and it included:2 bags of pancake mix1 bag of rye flour1 bag of hot cereal1 bag of hard red wheat1 bag of whole barley3 dried red corn on the cobs1 spray of wheatEach bag weighs about two pounds, some more, some less. The newsletter tells me that the whole corn can be used as posole, added into soups, breads, or whole with butter. I'll be

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-24941318567287322842007-10-04T19:18:00.000-07:002007-10-05T16:14:28.901-07:00

This blog has had almost exactly 3000 hits since I started it in early June. It has had visitors from around the nation and the globe, including readers in Mexico, Canada, England, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Italy, India, Singapore, Philippines, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand! When I started the blog, I didn't expect it to have much appeal outside of fellow Weight Watchers

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-57557053271386624052007-10-01T19:11:00.000-07:002007-10-01T19:26:37.258-07:00

...but sadly didn't photograph well. I made beans and rice with the fresh cranberry beans from Full Belly Farm and brown rice from Lundberg Farm. To go with the beans and rice, I made a puree of roasted eggplant, onion, and acorn squash, all from Full Belly, and garlic from Gilroy. Those fantastic fresh Brussels sprouts from Green Oaks Creek Farm were a side dish, pan roasted with garlic, Hare

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-32513814603706486562007-09-29T10:24:00.001-07:002007-09-29T10:52:33.656-07:00

I was excited to be back at the farmer's market this morning after three weeks away for classes. I spent $20 today for peanuts from C. Farm in Sanger, fresh cranberry beans from Full Belly Farm (aren't those gorgeous?), Brussels sprouts on a stalk from Green Oaks Creek Farm, Red Flame Grapes, and corn on the cob. We're going to eat well this week! I'll probably spend an extra $15 on milk and

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-61131594255635131182007-09-27T13:38:00.000-07:002007-09-27T13:59:42.281-07:00

Last month, I was interviewed by Bonnie Swift of Stanford Radio for a piece she was writing on farmer's markets, and here it is! You can hear me a few times throughout the interview, but I'll let you try to figure out which is me. http://www.stanford.edu/~bswift/farmers%20market.mp3

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-12714023259175725542007-09-25T20:22:00.001-07:002007-09-25T20:30:31.212-07:00

Curried chickpeas, melon, and cucumber, originally uploaded by momaste.Tonight was a use-up-the-veggies night. I had a head of cauliflower, an eggplant, several tomatoes, and a ton of carrots that were all about to give up the ghost, so I cooked them in the pressure cooker with chickpeas, onions, garlic, and curry in veggie broth, adding whole wheat couscous in the last five minutes to thicken it

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-88330084092720361442007-09-23T21:04:00.000-07:002007-09-23T21:28:38.482-07:00

Jax (left) and his cousin "driving" the fire engine. If you have young children, consider the fire station as a birthday party location! We had 7 kids under 3 and their assorted grown-ups and everyone had a great time. The fire men talked to the kids briefly about not playing with fire, then one showed the kids how he could get into his uniform quickly and how to crawl on the floor in a fire. He

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-33451182341977290932007-09-22T17:54:00.001-07:002007-09-22T19:01:57.802-07:00

Jax turns two tomorrow (when people say "they grow up so fast," they really mean it! It feels like he was just born!) He's been all about the fire trucks these days, calling them "Woo-woo chucks!" and playing with his wooden woo-woo chuck almost exclusively for weeks. To celebrate his birthday we're heading over to our friendly neighborhood fire station for a tour with half a dozen of his toddler

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-52875037579373442482007-09-21T13:03:00.001-07:002007-09-21T13:22:23.118-07:00

Beef Provencal, new potatoes with thyme, mustard glazed carrots, originally uploaded by momaste. I weighed in today, since I'm in an all day class tomorrow, and I was thrilled with my results: I lost 2.6 lb. this week, bringing me down to 32.4 lb. I reached my goal of 31 lb. by September 23, and hit my 10%. I'm jump-up-and-down excited and motivated to keep working at it!My next goal is 50 lb.

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-24472542899243114992007-09-21T12:53:00.001-07:002007-09-21T12:53:06.040-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-26644768432794137772007-09-17T12:10:00.000-07:002007-09-17T12:28:41.834-07:00

I now have 16 meals in the freezer, and will be making the pot roast in the crockpot tomorrow. I'm so pleased with myself for getting it all done, but am even more impressed by the rockin' pressure cooker! I prepped the next meal while the last one was in the cooker, so it was easy to make a number of meals in short time. I finished 4 meals (2-4 meals of each, making 12 dinners) in about 3 hours.

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-45839161134298982852007-09-16T16:03:00.001-07:002007-09-16T16:23:00.172-07:00

I'm taking a break from cooking and cooking to tell you how it's going! So far, I have completed and packaged the sweet and sour lentils, un-stuffed cabbage, chicken cacciatore, and beef picadillo with quinoa. Meatball chili with pumpkin is in the crock pot right now. This evening, I'll finish the mushroom-barley soup, and will prep the stuff to go in the pot roast and chickpeas, which I'll cook

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-72517126338549471122007-09-15T08:17:00.000-07:002007-09-15T23:25:23.039-07:00

I went to my Weight Watchers meeting today and was surprised to be down .2 lb. (29.8 lb. total.) I certainly expected a gain with the out of control eating earlier in the week, and am ready to be back on track to reach the goal of 31 lb. by next Sunday. That last 1.2 lb. to goal is certainly doable this week. My measurements show a loss of 43.25 inches since June, with over 10 inches gone in the

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-69383596629363429932007-09-14T17:21:00.000-07:002007-09-14T17:36:30.851-07:00

Meatball chili with pumpkinThis is really tasty and creamy with a bit of back-heat from the chipotle. The pumpkin is a mild flavor and you wouldn't necessarily be able to identify it if you didn't know it was there. You could substitute canned beans and eliminate the beef broth, or maybe reduce it to 1 cup.Ingredients:about 1/2 lb. small meatballs, whatever recipe you like2 tablespoons olive oil

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-77840830774389663892007-09-14T09:41:00.000-07:002007-09-14T11:12:58.636-07:00

I did Once a Month Cooking ages ago when I was working full time, doing a monster cooking day and then just reheating meals throughout the month. It was handy, but the recipes I was using were certainly not healthy. I'm preparing to do a big batch cooking session on Sunday and Monday with Core recipes and local ingredients, a tasty and healthy way of having a home cooked meal even when I'm too

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-16431072205546770342007-09-13T08:56:00.000-07:002007-09-13T09:04:25.639-07:00

I've been really off track this week. I haven't packed lunch for my days at school and babysitting, and have bought junk at the school cafeteria and eaten the kid food I prepare for the boys. I've eaten too much junk food, and it's a slippery slope: when I eat junk, I want more junk. When I eat healthy, whole foods, the cravings all but disappear. And I haven't exercised. At 29.6 lb. gone toward

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-40641197185546515782007-09-10T12:07:00.001-07:002007-09-10T12:29:59.858-07:00

It's been a busy weekend! I'm taking all day classes on Saturdays in September, so Mr.M picked up out CSA box this week and I didn't make it to any farmer's markets. This will be it for the week!Included in this week's box:CornEggplantEdamameMelonOnionTomatoesSweet peppersPeachesYum!***For Meatless Monday, we're having Three Bean Soup with Potatoes. I made it early in the day to give it more time

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-18312038879107021252007-09-06T15:27:00.000-07:002007-09-06T16:48:39.668-07:00

Hello, Eat Local Challengers! My blog was featured on the Eat Local Challenge website yesterday, and I'm excited to have some new visitors reading along! Please comment if anything strikes you (I love comments!), and do come back again.***Three years ago yesterday, Mr.M and I were married, and to celebrate our anniversary, we went to the Flea Street Cafe for dinner. What a great restaurant! With

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-55927834375953204002007-09-04T16:14:00.000-07:002007-09-04T16:27:33.467-07:00

I left early this morning to make it to the gym before school and forgot to pack breakfast, a foolish mistake on both the weight loss and local eating front. The school cafeteria offers no local options and very little that could be considered healthy, let alone CORE. I had 2 c. milk before leaving home and an apple in my lunch, and bought a small package of almonds to tide me over until my

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-26787359479238933562007-09-03T15:39:00.000-07:002007-09-03T16:46:13.430-07:00

Mondays are usually meatless, but we had hamburgers on the grill for a Labor Day barbecue. We'll have a Meatless Tuesday this week instead. BreakfastKamut Puffs cereal (not local)2 c. milk from CloverLunchTex Mex burger with Cajun MayoHamburger from Chileno Valley Ranch, onion, garlic, tomato, and lettuce from Full Belly Farm, whole wheat hamburger bun from a local bakery (not local ingredients,

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-58155021444522113222007-09-02T10:56:00.000-07:002007-09-02T22:59:07.420-07:00

I spent the afternoon yesterday disassembling the 7 chickens I bought from Soul Food Farm. I broke them down into thighs and drumsticks, wings, and boneless skinless chicken breasts, then vacuum sealed them into meal sized portions. I separated the carcasses from the heads and feet and made stock with the carcasses. There was enough stock for tonight's soup (with two extra batches of soup socked

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666916073729630597.post-45430415951678656612007-09-01T18:45:00.000-07:002007-09-01T18:49:37.964-07:00

Tonight's dinner was grilled eggplant stacks with goat cheese and balsamic reduction, a tomato-basil salad with cucumber and red onion, lemon-scented bulgur, and corn on the cob. So yummy!

Momastehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10727709517239516477noreply@blogger.com0