T-shirt refashion

Ever get tired of spending $10 on a kids t shirt and in 4 months it looks ratty and old? Me too, that is why i bought $3 t shirts at walmart and used fabric I already had and some from an old t-shirt of mine to dress up these cute shirts for my girls. I bet you won't see another one like 'em! I have already pulled out some clothes that I never wear in my closet to try and Refashion them into something NEW for my girlies. More posts to come, maybe when summer is over and things slow down again!

Lentil Soup-we have discovered Lentils in our house and they are amazing

Lebanese-Style Red Lentil Soup

"This is a wonderful, tangy, spicy soup that sort of resembles split-pea. I sometimes add grilled chicken breast or cooked and cubed sweet potatoes for texture. Have fun with it!"
Serve with Jasmine Rice-
INGREDIENTS:
6 cups chicken stock
1 pound red lentils
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 large onion, chopped 1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring chicken stock and lentils to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 3 minutes.
3. Stir onions into the lentils and season with cumin and cayenne. Continue simmering until the lentils are tender, about 10 minutes.
4. Carefully puree the soup in a standing blender, or with a stick blender until smooth. Stir in cilantro and lemon juice before serving.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 7/11/2010

A New place to eat

We went to Pita Jungle on Southern and Dobson in Mesa. It was really yummy. I got the Curry Chicken salad and the red lentil soup (to die for)Yum! I guess I better learn how to make it!

Rice milk is your friend

I made my own rice milk the other day it was really good. i have a Blendtec that my in-laws gave us for Christmas and I love it! All you need is 1 cup of cooked rice and water, salt and sugar and you have a drink that is pennies compared to the store.

Summer and diet

Yeah, school is out for the summer! and my kids are in swimming lessons and bordum busters...ahhh I just dropped them off. Isn't it wonderful? I am also on this new diet or a new way of eating. No sugar, nodairy, no wheat and no gluten. it has been wonderful for me. I will tell you though, the first 2 weeks were really hard, it was like detoxing. I was getting head aches and cravings like you couldn't believe. But now, I have energy, I don't feel like I have to crash after 9am in the morning. I actually get tired at night and best of all, my depression is way better. I am still on medication but life is clearer. I feel as though the fog is gone and my mind is sharp. david has been on a no-carb diet for 2 months and he has noticed weight loss, sleep apnea decreased, more energy and he has faster reflexes. Awesome huh?

I have been watching these food documentaries on netflix: Food Inc., King Corn etc...and it has gotten me all pumped up on eating actual FOOD.....raw food, you know the kind that is grown in the ground with out chemicals and pesticides. I am excited about changing my life and my children's too. They say in the next 10 years, 1 in 3 children will have diabetes. I will not allow this to happen to my kids, if I can prevent it by eating real food, not man made food, I will. I know I have to be realistic too. It is hard, but it has just become a bad habit to just give them foods that are quick and easy. If you actually break down what you eat for breakfast lunch and dinner...alot of it is just sugar! No wonder diabetes is an epidemic in this country!

This is what we had last night:
recipe from: thedailydietribe.com


Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Sugar-free Coconut Waffles
Print-Friendly Option

Ingredients:
1 cup brown or white rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup apple sauce
1 egg
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 tsp agave nectar

Directions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients together and whisk until no longer lumpy.
   
2. Spoon evenly onto waffle iron and cook, in batches, according to the iron's instructions.
   

Serves 8 (2 squares each)

Pineapple Sauce
(This is basically a fat-free, sugar-free version of this recipe)

Ingredients:
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks
1/8 cup agave nectar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. applesauce
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, combine the juice from the pineapple can (minus 1/4 cup which was used in the waffle recipe), agave nectar, cornstarch, applesauce, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring gently.
2. Turn the heat down and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
3. Add the pineapple and continue to simmer another 2-3 minutes.
   
4. Spoon on top of your waffles.

ALSO: Bob's Red Mill has great mixes and cream of buckwheat and quinoa are my new best friends, yum!

Quinoa with Feta and Cucumber

Serves 4

• 1 cup quinoa
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound boneless, skinless tilapia fillets, divided into 8 pieces
• 3/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 cup English cucumber (6 ounces), diced small
• 1/3 cup roughly chopped fresh dill
• 1/3 cup feta (1 1/2 ounces), crumbled
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, bring quinoa, 2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil over high. Reduce to a medium simmer and cook until water evaporates, about 15 minutes. Transfer quinoa to a medium bowl and let cool 5 minutes.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over medium-high. Pat fish dry and season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with paprika. Cook fillets until opaque throughout, about 4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Stir cucumber, dill, feta, 1 teaspoon oil, and lemon juice into quinoa. Season with salt and pepper. Divide quinoa among four plates and top with fish.

UPDATE 2010

A lot has happened since Emma was born, we have had Brooke's 3rd bday, Claire's 6th, Dane's 8th (he got baptized!) and finally Olivia's 5th. She picked out a play guitar and has been singing ever since. We also went and saw a movie together: Dane is really happy to be there. Emmma was blessed this last Sunday and she was as cute as a button. I made her dress, but it was a little big on her (patterns never give you the right size!) She is such a happy baby with smiles for mom on cue. Dane is in 2nd grade and doing well, Claire in K (all day:) and is exhausted after the long bus ride home, Olivia is in preschool and is like a sponge (she thinks she knows everything) Brooke just wants love and attention and to play with sisters. We were going down the elevator and I said she could push the 1 button with the star and she saw a picture of a bell next to a different button and said, "how 'bout the taco one?" "Let's go to Taco Bell!" Olivia laughed with me and thought that was funny. I hope everyone is doing good and ready for summer! Love you all!, Stacey

Emma Janice Sherwood has arrived...for real this time!

Well, Thursday Jan. 7th 2010 (our 10th anniversary) Emma came to us at 8:52 am. She was 7lbs 8oz and 21 1/2 in long. Black hair and looks like Brooke's twin. David sure makes pretty girls doesn't he. We got home Friday about 6pm and things are crazy and I am tired but can't wait to get this schedule going with her. I always dread the 1st 2 months. Here are some pictures...love you all Stacey