#Recipes - Meatballs

I admit that even Instagram couldn't make these meatballs look very good.  But it's not about the look.  It's about the taste.  And I thought these were pretty tastey, though I'd add garlic next time.

Sunday night I was planning on making whole wheat pasta with meatballs.  My plan was to pick some frozen turkey meatballs up at the grocery store, but clean eating and frozen meatballs do not mix, as I learned reading all the ingredients in the frozen meatballs.  So I decided to make my own.  They tasted better on day 2 and 3.

1 lb organic ground beef

1 cup or so carrots

4-5 stalks of celery

1/2 onion

1 tbs ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbs water (OR 1 egg - I bet you didn't know flaxseed was an egg substitute now did you?)

Spices - I used 1-2 tbs each parsley, Italian and Basil and some salt & pepper

2 Ezekiel sprouted grain tortillas (my secret ingredient instead of breadcrumbs)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a food processor mix together carrots, celery, onion, and tortillas until crumbly.  Mix in spices and flaxseed/water mixture.  Add ground beef and mix until, well, mixed.  Form into balls (I made bigger balls so I only got 16 out of the mixture).  Put meatballs on cookie sheet (I lined mine with tin foil for easy clean up) and cook in oven for about 25 minutes.  Enjoy!

TTT: Toddler Hair Cutting

Yesterday the little man's hair looked like this:

BEFORE:

He was in serious need of a haircut.  As in, his last  (and only) hair cut was on April 28.  APRIL people.  If my math skills are correct, that is four months ago!

So yes, he was overdue.  But we've been busy.  Mommy's been crazy.  Haircuts were not top on our priority list.  (Here is where I will not actually admit that I haven't had my hair cut since March 23.  Oh wait....)  But Lukas and I are off to visit a good friend of mine who I haven't seen in a long time.  The last time we were together was for my wedding. Four years ago this week.  FOUR years!  Which is actually longer than the amount of time I lived in Massachusetts where I met her. There are now three little boys between us.  I was not going to allow my little man's first impression to be one of wild unkemptness.  (I figure I can keep up that charade for the 2.5 days we're in Bean Town.)

So last night I decided to take things in my own hands and play the role of hairdresser.  Mr. Cob thought I was crazy but he reluctantly allowed me to go for it.  We saved $17 and a whole bunch of tears (the last haircutting experience didn't go over so well from the little man's viewpoint if you'll remember...

I don't think Lukas missed the space ship seat or the whole "salon experience."

So if you want to play hairdresser too, here's what you need to do:

1.  Check out this blog post over at Young House Love and watch the video of Sherry cutting her husband's hair.  I watched it in May when she first posted it and should've watched again last night for a refresher before embarking on my own DIY haircut but I'm not practical like that. 

2. Get your supplies ready.  A decent pair of hair cutting scissors.  Snacks.  Multiple drink choices (for your kiddo - save the wine until after the cut! Safety first folks, safety first). Toys.  Your computer/Ipad with kid-friendly shows or songs ready to PLAY.

3.  Go outside and plop your kiddo on a stool.  It helps to have another person with you to entertain the kiddo or steady them on the stool or keep their hands at their sides.

4.  Use Sherry's technique (I would describe it here, but she really does a great job in her video!) and don't be scared about messing up or going to short.  I started cutting wrong (i.e. vertically) in the back, but quickly realized my mistake before we had a full on hair disaster. Just remember: cut the hair dry, pull hair through fingers, and snip.  Keep it longer on top.  It worked!

5.  Hope for the best!  And reward yourself with a big glass of wine after.  (My current favorite is Apothic Red - a lovely California red blend!)

AFTER:

Side by side comparison:

AFTER: TODDLER TRENDY CHIC

BEOFRE: UNRULY

I don't think it turned out too shabby!  I could use some help around the ears and in the back, but for a first try I'll take it!  Maybe I'll eventually get some clippers for the finishing touch.  Maybe not.

So the next time your little guy or gal needs a haircut, save your cash and give him or her a new do yourself!  

Clean Eating Recipes: Kale Salad

I'm starting week 3 of Clean Eating and I must admit it is easier than I thought.  So in an effort to help anyone else who is interested in improving their eating habits, I'm going to share some of my clean eating recipes with you.  My first recipe is a kale salad.  I can't take credit for the idea - it's a my attempt at replicating the kale salad I often buy at Arden's Garden and I love it.  It is delicious, healthy and EASY to make. 



Kale Salad:

2-3 cups organic kale

1/2 avocado

lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon)

olive oil (1 tsp or so)

pinch of salt

tomatoes

Mix together avocado, lemmon juice, olive oil and salt in a bowl until the mixture is smooth(ish).  Throw in the kale and tomatoes.  Toss.  Enjoy.

Also, Go Slide with Your Kids

Sunday evening we went to the park.

We went sliding.

All of us.

It was really fun.

Just look at the little man's face in this one.

And then we may have gone to get ice cream.

And Lukas may or may not need a hair cut.

For Nana & Pop Pop

Lukas talks nonstop these days.  In the car he likes to sing songs and hunt for ambulances.  On our recent trip to Michigan his grandparents taught him a song about motorboats.  He doesn't quite have all the words down, but it's still cute!

Happy Friday!

My little man's attempt at smiling - this makes me laugh!  Hope you have a FABULOUS weekend!

Cali Strikes Again

After my last trip to California I went vegetarian for about a month.  I don't know if it's the healthy vibe of California or if it's my brother.  I think it's probably my brother.

Let's talk about Brother B for a minute.  B has always been a "healthy" person.  He played soccer in college and once ran a half marathon with me without even training.  I thought I was going to die at the end but I'm pretty sure he could've gone another 13.1 miles without breaking a sweat.  He's naturally athletic.  But he also lives and breathes a healthy life.  Aside from his son, obtaining and maintaining optimal health is his number one priority in life, followed by his desire to spread health to others.

B is a physical therapist.  He is a Reiki master, certified massage therapist, certified Ayurvedic perfect Health Instructor and soon to be certified yoga instructor.  The man knows health. 

And he owns a Vitamix and is not afraid to use it.  We had green smoothies chocked full of fruits and vegetables every morning before breakfast.  I feel vibrantly healthy after drinking one of his smoothies.  My body pracitally sighs and says "thank you" for not starting my day off with a load of crap food!  And I've found that by starting my day with a green smoothie, I'm more likely to make healthy decisions as the day continues.

Vitamix in action

Before even leaving Cali, I made the decision to keep up the green sludge smoothie morning routine once I was back in Atlanta.  So far I'm 9 for 11 (and the 2 days I missed I was out of town).  And I swear my skin looks better in just two short weeks of drinking these drinks.  But there's more.

The day I got back form California I stumbled upon a blog that was new to me called 100 Days of Real Food.  It's about eating, you guessed it, REAL food.  So I've jumped on that band wagon in addition to my green smoothies.  It's not a diet.  It's a way of living and eating.  The rules are simple - only eat real food.  This translates into not eating much processed foods.  My rule of thumb is to not buy/eat anything that has more than 5-6 ingredients and avoid anything that has an ingredient that I cannot pronounce or do not know what it is.  Check out the 100 Days blog, it has some amazing information and was very eye opening.

My body has been what I can only describe as detoxing the past two weeks.  Now that I'm eating only real food my body is purging all the toxins from the fake food I've been eating.  At least that is what the world wide web has told me is going on. 

Eating clean does take some effort.  It takes planning because I'm realizing that there are very few restaurants that have "real" food in their ingredients.  At least not many fast food places.



Box of Mangos from the Dekalb Farmer's Market = $5.00 (Much cheaper to buy, peel, chop and freeze mangos and make homemade smoothies than to buy a smoothie every day!)



So what have I been eating?  I kept a food journal the first few days:

Monday 8.13

Smoothie - pineapple juice, spinach, kale, red bell pepper, avocado, mango (frozen), strawberry

Coffee (black)

Cashews & almonds

Willy's burrito bowl - rice, black beans, steak, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, cilantro (I hadn't read the 100 Days blog yet, or I wouldn't have eaten Willy's....)

Pork tenderloin with roasted broccoli (olive oil, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese)

Tuesday 8.14

Smoothie - pineapple juice, spinach, kale, red bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, strawberries, peaches (frozen)

Coffee (black) (2)

Cashews & Almonds

Pork tenderloin with roasted broccoli (olive oil, lemon juice)

6oz 0% fat Greek yogurt with a dash of cinnamon

Quinoa made in vegetable stock; arugula, tomatoes, parm cheese; turkey meatballs (3)

1/3 banana

Wednesday 8.15

Banana

Smoothie: kale, red bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, strawberries, peaches (frozen), pineapple chunks & water + Moringa, Maca & Hemp Powder

Cashews & almonds

Quinoa made in vegetable stock; arugula, tomatoes, parm cheese; lemon juice

Apple

Edamame

Green tea

Hangar Steak

Brussel sprouts cooked with olive oil, bacon, balsamic vinegar

Banana

Quinoa made in vegetable stock; arugula, tomatoes, parm cheese; lemon juice

Thursday 8.16

2 eggs scrambled with a dash of feta cheese and pesto

Smoothie: kale, red bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, strawberries, pineapple chunks & water + Moringa, Maca & Hemp Powder

Cashews & almonds

Arugula with Quinoa, lemon juice, tomatoes, hangar steak, pork & parmesean

2 brownrice cakes with avocado

Brussel sprouts wtih bacon, olive oil & balsamic vinegar

Chicken burger (TJ) with avocado

Friday 8.17 (this was a strange day of food, I admit)

Smoothie: pineapple juice, spinach & frozen mango with Hemp Protein

2 bananas

Beef jerkey

0% Greek yogurt

Lara Bar

Banana

Blackened grouper with green beans and plain baked potato (no butter, etc.)

My post Cali-purchases: probotics, Kids Superfood (makes chocolate milk with hidden veggies and superfood and tastes delcious); Hemp Protein, Moringa & Maca Powder (B says they're the new Acai superfoods)

Today 8.23

Smoothie: spinach, kale, swiss chard, carrot, frozen mango, pineapple, cucumber, celery, water, Moringa, Hemp Protein, Maca Powder

Quinoa with zucchini, black beans, corn, cotija cheese

Banana

Almond butter (2 Tbls - from a spoon.  Don't judge)

2 homemade pork tacos - slowcooker pork, tomatillo salsa, avocado, lime, cilantro on Ezekiel tortillas

It's really not that hard to eat clean, real food if you plan and have the ingredients at home.  Last night we at out and I had the blackened fish with jasmine rice and snap peas.  One night I made a knock off Chik-fil-A sandwich that I baked in the oven - it was amazing.

Organic "REAL" knock-off Chik-fil-A sandwich - ready to be BAKED!

I am cooking more and trying a variety of new foods.  I plan on keeping this health kick going.  I'll keep you posted!

And at some point we'll talk about the Insanity workouts I'm doing.  But not now.  I'm too exhausted from my workout.