Vegetable Omelette

Vegetable Omelette

Ever have one of those days were you need to fix your Lean and Green but realize there is no meat to be found?  Nothing thawed... no fresh... nothing.

But you have eggs don't you.  Everyone has eggs.  

This recipe is for those days.  

Or the days you just are really craving an omelette.  

Or the days you want breakfast for dinner.  

You get the idea.

Here is what you need.

Ingredients:

3 eggs 

Vegetables

Goodness that is a short list.  But this is THAT easy a thing.  

Now for the "fine print".  If you are doing TSFL you may have 3 whole eggs 1x a week or 2 every day if you choose.  You may also use a combination of whole eggs and egg whites or all egg whites.  The quantities you are allowed are in your quick start guide.  As for the vegetables. Please also refer to your Quick Start Guide.  I used 1 C raw spinach, 1/2 C white mushrooms, 1/2 C tomatoes.  Any combination would work.  

Throw the tomatoes and mushrooms in a non stick pan.  

Saute until they are soft & yummy.

Add the spinach.  Cook until wilted.  Remove.  We are using the same pan to make the Omelette because who likes extra dishes... no me!

Mix up the eggs.  Grind in some pepper.  Don't salt at this point.  You can add it later to the finished product IF you need it.

I just let the eggs sit in the pan on medium-low w/ a lid over it and cook them through.  I'm not a fan of runny egg.  Cook yours how you like.  Now put on the toppings (which are already cooked and warm).  Fold over... and.....

Enjoy!


Read my Getting Healthy story.

If you are interested in learning more about getting and staying healthy please contact me!

Jennifer Z. Lewis

 Certified Health Coach

Web site: teamlewis.tsfl.com

Email: teamlewishealthcoach@gmail.com
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Road Trip

So we have kinda a big road trip coming up in less than a week.  585 miles.  I'm trying to come up with things for the kiddos to do.  

This was one idea.  

I have it printed out on white 8 1/2 x 11 paper

It was my mom's idea (of course).... I just did the "making it" part.  Cleaver huh?  The kid will look for this stuff and either cross them out when they see them or make marks next to the pictures to keep track of how many.  

It'll be one of the many tools I use to get through the 9 hour drive spread over 2 days with 3 kids 7 & under.  

Do you have any ideas?

Please share w/ me.

Pretty please.

Shakers

Ever have an idea so obvious you are sure everyone knows about it and no one bothered to tell you? 

I have had one.  And probably you all know about this and do it already.... why didn't you tell me?

I make bread a lot.  I make scones a lot.  I make pizza a lot.  I roll out cookies a lot.

I usually dip my hand into the bin of flour to sprinkle it on my surface.  No more.  I use shakers.  And you should too.

I cleaned out 2 empty spice jars and put all purpose flour in one... cornmeal in the other.  Brilliant right?  Again... how come no one told me?

Now when I roll out pizza, dough or whatever.... I use my flour shaker! I am in love with this idea.  It is so nice... less mess, even distribution, etc.



And when I pull out my preheated pizza stone to sprinkle cornmeal onto so the pizza doesn't stick...... I use my cornmeal shaker!!

Go... tell the world... oh wait... you all already knew right? 

Oh well.

Enjoy!

Kids Bedtime Box

We have a problem at our house.

 We have dark hallways.  And when you have dark hallways coupled with little boys who have overactive imaginations you have a problem.  We’ve ended up with imaginary monsters and pretend ghosts.

 

Here is what we are trying.

A BEDROOM BOX

 The idea is to empower the boys to use their imaginations against their own imaginations.  Read that again.  Empower the boys to use their imaginations against their own imaginations.

I know it is sort of quick and dirty and I am sure some of you could do nicer versions.  But we were desperate here…. I have 3 children and there is 1 of me.  Which means there are often times situations where 1 little boy is left to put on their jammies all alone….. far far away from mommy… past dark doors.  You get the idea.

In it is….

1) A squirt bottle filled with Magic Water

(this is to mist into any space the kids think might have something scary in it)

2) A flashlight which shoots Magic Light (to light dark spaces)

3) A favorite book (to read to take their mind off the scary stuff)

4) A spare blankie (for comfort)

The boys are excited.  We talked about each item in the box.  We prayed for bravery.  And so far it is working.

I'd love to hear if you have any other ideas you've used to help  kids with their night time fears!

What to do with all those LEGO's

I have boys.  And boys have Lego's.  I've been searching the internet and questioning my friends for what to do with all the Lego's.  And we are at the beginning... my oldest is 7.  There is more to come for sure.  My system of "organizing" was a pile of various sized plastic containers with lids. That had a lot to be desired.  I didn't like the pile in my family room for starters but most importantly it wasn't accessible for spontaneous play. 

Then I had an idea.  A good one.

What is it you ask and why is it so great?  The idea is so simple really.... I bought THIS from Ikea. The real genius is what we did TO it.  We put casters on the bottom.  Yup... big wheels. That is the idea people.  So simple right?

And the best part?  It works.  Obviously it stores the Lego's.  We bought mostly shallow drawers so the kids can see the parts.  But it easily MOVES where the kids want to play.  Often they play on the kitchen table... it moves there.  Or the dining room. Or the family room.  Or the living room.  It moves to the middle of the room so they can play on both sides.  And the top is the perfect height for a little "assembly desk".

So quick go make one for your house too! 

Here is what we did.  And by WE I mean my husband who is our in-house handy man

First of course you have to assemble the furniture from Ikea.  Then head to the hardware store.  Buy 4 big casters.  4 pieces of wood, some screws and liquid nails.

 Darren glued the wood to the 4 corners.  Then pre-drilled holes for the casters.

 Then screw them in.

Here is shot of what it looks like.

And here are some pictures proving it works.  The kids LOVE it.  And USE it. 

Happy playing!

Composting

I try to do good.  I buy organic milk, fruits and veggies.  We recycle.  We use low VOC paint. 

Nothing too out there.... mostly mainstream type stuff.

We've talked about composting for years.... but that is where it stopped.  Just talk. 

Thank goodness we live in Portland Oregon, one of the most sustainable cities in the country.  A front runner in most sustainable technologies, building codes, etc.

Those who live in the city limits have been forced to slow the speed in which we toss every tiny thing into the garbage.  We've always had weekly garbage pick up along with recycle bin pick up and by-weekly yard debris pick up. 

As of October 31st we were given a choice of moving to either every other week garbage pick up or 1 time a month garbage pick up.  Once again.... that is going from weekly pick up to bi weekly or monthy.  Big change.

We were issued a compost bin and told to divert all food scrapes to it rather than the garbage.  Then empty the compost bin into the yard debris bin which moved to weekly pick up.  So this is it.  Not exactly pretty.  Doesn't go with my "decor".

I decided if we were going to "do this" lets... "DO this".  So I went on line and found this:

And I bought bio degradable bags to line it with.  Because the alterative is just too gross for me.  My husband thought it looked like a tiny garbage can sitting on our counter.  I guess he's right... but it is better than the plastic one for sure.

Overall I'm super happy with this change.  I wish we had made it earlier.  I am glad we are doing it now.  I was worried we wouldn't be able to cram 2 weeks of trash into 1 garbage can but we did it!  I'm proud of us.  We have 3 kids, one still in diapers and during those first 2 weeks we had a birthday party w/ presents.  Not too bad.

The best part is that it has changed the way we think.  Before I throw anything away I first think... can this be recycled?  Can it be composted?  Can it be broken down so SOME of it can be recycled or composted?  

It's a Halloween Party!

So I just threw a little Halloween party for 30 of my closest friends / kids.   Well due to some being out of state, sick, etc.... we ended up with a total of 20.  It was a blast.  

DECORATION:

The kids and I started by decorating the house.  This was fun.  We strung spider web every where.  And notice the little mice?  We cut out a bunch and taped them along.  Cute huh?

 In the spider web we hung fake critters.

 Creepy.

Our candy bowl and "thanks for coming" gifts.

GAMES:

I took a few of my husband's golf balls and turned them into eyeballs!  Eewww right?  Anyway we gave the kiddos some spoons and had them do an eyeball relay.  That was fun! 



 We did the classic pin the nose on the pumkin.  We made this pumpkin out of one of those orange "tableclothes" you find at the dollar store.  Here is the "after".  They did pretty good right?

The biggest hit was the simplist.  Get some toilet paper and a few dads.  Then let the kids turn them into mummies.  Super super super fun.

DRINKS: 

I did the standard stuff.  Soda, juice, etc.  Then for fun I did a Spiked Cider.  Super easy.

 Spiked Cider:

4 cups apple cider.

1/2 C dark rum

1/2 C cinnamon schnapps

* mix, serve over ice.  Garnish with apples tossed in lemon juice. *

FOOD:

I did 2 savory snacks (Popcorn and Macaroni & Cheese) and 2 sweets snacks (Cupcakes and Apple Cake).  I had them at "stations" throughout the house so people would keep mingling and moving. 

The first sweet was CUPCAKES.  I used Martha Stewart's classic Yellow Buttermilk Recipe. Which is awesome.  It holds up really really nice.  For the frosting I used MS's Swiss Meringue Buttercream only without the cream of tartar.  I mixed 1/2 of it with 2 oz melted milk chocolate to make a light brown frosting.  The other half I mixed with random food coloring until the color looked "halloween".

 I let the boys decorate them.  We drew mouths with food gel and put on candy "eyes".

The other "sweet" was an APPLE WALNUT BUNDT CAKE.  Which was amazing.  Here is the recipe I started with.  I didn't change too much.  I omitted the walnuts since 2 of the kids coming have nut allergies.  This is the "cake station". 

1 of the savories was cups of popcorn.  Just plain air popped popcorn.  Turned out to be a big hit with the kids.  I put them into two different places. 



The second savory was home-made Macaroni and Cheese.  Which I failed to take a picture of, sorry.  But I do remember how I made it so here you go:

HOME-MADE MACARONI & CHEESE:

*Cook 1 pound macaroni, drain, rinse, set aside.

*Warm in microwave or in pot on stove 5 cups whole milk.

*Grate 10oz sharp cheddar, 4oz smoked Gruyere, 4oz American (from the deli - this is actually important for it's amazing melting / blending quality)

In large stock pot melt 1 stick unsalted butter until bubbling.

Add 1/2 c flour.

Mix 1-2 minute.

Slowly pour in while whisking all 5 cups milk.  Stir constantly while cooking until thick and bubbly (5 mintues). 

Take off heat. 

Add 1/2 t salt, 1/4 t pepper, 1/4 t smoked paprika.

Add all the grated cheese.  Mix with whisk until smooth.

Add macaroni, stir.

Serve.  Yum.

Happy Halloween!

So that is how I did it this year.  I'd love to hear about any Halloween party tips you have to share!