WE ALL HAVE OUR DAYS

OK, so I enjoys being a healthy eater, and teaching my kids to enjoy all the bounty of the earth, yada yada yada... But there are those days when I just want SUGAR! SO for those days I have discovered BANOFFEE PIE! Oh dear God, its is what I imagine Crack to be. It is utterly addictive, like eat three slices and not even notice, addictive. I have tried to think of ways to make it "healthy" but its not really possible. So just enjoy, and try not to make it too often.

~BANOFFEE PIE~
-1 can sweetened condensed milk (SCM)
-2large bananas
-heavy whipping cream bout half of the pint should make enough, but if you make to much... then oh well
-~3Tsp  melted butter*
- ~2+C ginger snaps (this is the only place for some wiggle room as far as "health" is concerned. You could make your own vegan ginger snaps, and then pulse them in the food processor with coconut butter, OR... you could just say *uck it and eat the pie)

Boil the Sweetened condensed milk for ~3hours in the can. It will become a beautiful rich milk toffee. make a crust by pulsing the cookies in a food processor until they are crumbs, add butter, or Earth Balance, or Coconut buttery spread that is melted. Press this into a 9" pie pan. bake at 350 degrees for 12min. Whip the cream to stiff peaks. Now for assembly... open the can of SCM which is now a nice rich brown color, and stir it a lil. spoon it onto the cookie crust evenly. add two sliced bananas onto, and finally cover with the whip cream.  Try not to eat the whole pie! ( I have enclosed a link to a really great healthy version from the great people at Paleo cupboard, if the guilt is too much for you. )

Like a bunny

I am currently learning to perfect the art of the quick step. I am working on being able to shower in the time it takes my 10 mo old to walk from the living room, into my bedroom, and find me in the shower. (and its a small house so its ~ 2min) Can I make a meal before she totally melts down? I am getting better, but I have had quite a few fails. The secrete to my success has been ROASTING! Which basically means I throw a bunch of veg in the oven covered in olive oil, and salt& pepper, and call it good. While the veg cooks, I can play with Kiki, and 40 min later she is pretty happy, and is less apt to notice if I leave her to finish cooking. Its brilliant! We eat seasonally, so right now we are loving our root veggies. I like to roast Turnips, Parsnips, and onions, or leeks, and combine them with some potatoes I have boiled. I mash up the whole lot, then make them into VEGGIE CROQUETTES!

~VEGGIE CROQUETTES~ 
-2-3 carrots
-3-4 small parsnips, or 2-3 large ones
-3-4 Turnips
-1 small onion or a leek
-4 good size potatoes
-3-4 good size garlic cloves
-bout 3/4C flour (garbanzo flour is good, or whole wheat flour, or even unbleached all purpose)
-1 egg
-salt and pepper to taste
* I have been known to add cauliflower, instead of carrots, depending on what I have on hand.

Roast all the veg (put the veg on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and salt and pepper, make sure its all covered) except the potatoes in the oven at 400 degrees for ~40 min.  until tender.   At the same time boil the potatoes in a pot of water until tender. Drain potatoes, add the rest of the veg, and mash! (pay close attention to the garlic, make sure it incorporates, as good as roasted garlic is, you don't want a bite of just that.) Once mashed (I leave it a lil lumpy I like to taste the different veggies) add the flour, egg, and season to taste. They mixture should not be runny, so if it is, add a lil more flour. Take a large spoonful and form a patty, and place in pan with some coconut oil (or grapeseed) at med-high heat. Brown for ~ 2min on each side. I serve them with a Greek yogurt and dill sauce. (1C +or- plain Greek yogurt, tsp dill, dash of salt, 1 clove finely diced garlic, and half a diced cucumber or a half a shredded zucchini-you know how I like to sneak zucchini into everything.)
These are great as appetizers, or a side dish with a salad, and a protein.
* this is also a great way to use up extra veg after use make pot roast. Same idea, and the veg is already done, no extra roasting involved.

tricks of the trade

OK so this morning I made zucchini pancakes. I was going for the zucchini bread idea, and it worked! I happen to have a pretty picky eater on my hands. She is ten months old, and has decided that she only really likes yogurt, and string cheese. Oh sure on occasion she will go for the black beans and brown rice with avo I make her, or want whatever I am eating. (Which really does keep ya honest with your own food choices.) For the most part though, she not really into eating. This recipe tasted delicious to me but once again, the dogs got more of it than she did. But then I just walked away, and she quietly ate the rest of her food. So for me I will call this one a SUCCESS. You know what the funniest part of it all is? My LEAST favorite veg as a child was zucchini, now I put it into everything, and LOVE it!

~ZUCCHINI PANCAKES~

-pancake batter (OK so I know this is vague, but here's the deal. When I have time I make mine from scratch, but when I don't (ie- most mornings) I use the Krustez just add water mix. Ya its cheep and easy. When I make my own I go for the organic flour, or even the gf flour, eggs, baking soda, salt, and raw milk, oh and a pinch of raw sugar (my grandma says that how you keep a husband-the pinch of sugar) Bottom line is, use what you have or know, the batter is basic.

-shredded zucchini (one whole zucchini) I made a small batch just enough for she and I and used half a zucchini

- 1-2tsp nutmeg

- 2-3tsp cinnamon

-1-2tsp vanilla

mix it up, and enjoy!

 I added a lil earth balance "butter" on top, but NO syrup. kids eat too much sugar, not a good way to start the day =D