Grilled Vegetable Carrot Quinoa

[recipe]

Meal Plan: 9/19 - 9/25

Well, the overwhelming silence from my last post is... disappointing.  Yet, somewhat expected.  I guess that's what happens when you go on a blogging hiatus ;)  Never you mind, because I will continue to post my plans along with my food-based rants, raves, tips, tricks, etc., etc., etc.  So there!  Take that silent interweb.

Mexican Monday: taco salad (nachos)

Oriental Tuesday: beef & broccoli w/ brown rice

Twisted Wednesday: quiche w/ fruit salad

Authentic Thursday: mini pizzas (bagels)

TGIFriday: ham & cheese sliders (per begging husband)

Super Saturday: DATE NIGHT (?)

Special Sunday: Asian salad w/ crab wantons

Upcoming recipe: I recently pulled out my freezer jam, and am loving it!  So, I will try my darndest to post the recipe, because it really does need to be shared.  And maybe when I start posting more recipes, I'll have more readers.  *B

Meal Plan: 9/12 - 9/18

Sorry for the lameness that is now known as my blog!  I have yet to post any tips, recipes, etc. and frankly dear, I don't give a dang ;)  Ok, so I do give a little darn.  But for now, the meal plan posting will have to suffice.  Mostly because it helps me and my family stay on track, which is something we desperately need...

The other night I was perusing the interweb to see if anyone had come up with a book or lifestyle plan based on the Word of Wisdom.  I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but if someone were to ask what "diet" me and my family live by, I like to call it the WOW diet.  And I'm talking about the food we should eat (vs. 10-16), not just the harmful substances we abstain from (vs. 5-9).  Just a side note, I find it humorous that we focus on those five verses outlining the dont's more than we focus on the seven verses outlining the do's...  So, what do the Summers eat?  Basically, it's a whole-food plant-based diet.  We eat lots of grains, fruits, and vegetables.  But then we supplement that with bits of meat and dairy.  I will never be vegan, because I do believe in the power of the WOW and I do believe that animal protein (when eaten in moderation, aka. "sparingly") can be for our own good.

Anyway, apparently there's a woman out there who has written a book called The WOW Diet.  I haven't read it; it doesn't really speak to me...  But, she also has a book about food storage.  This book has piqued my interest because it makes food storage seem possible and manageable for someone like me.  I don't really have a food storage system, but I'd like to.  Honestly, I don't have the money or space for it.  But that doesn't make me want it any less (go figure). 

The idea is that instead of buying food in bulk, you buy and store food items as meals.  Brilliant!  I believe (strongly) in meal planning, so it only makes sense to extend that to my food storage.  So, the other night I wrote up a list of 50 meals (dinners) that my family enjoys.  And most of them are food storage friendly.  How great would it be to finally have a year supply of individual meals?  Even better is that it makes rotating food storage totally feasible.  I'm thrilled at the prospect of having a quick and easy meal that's already planned and prepped.  I've yet to get started, but I'm already daydreaming of turning my Wednesdays into food storage rotation days.  It's true, my food nerdiness has no bounds ;)

So, if you've read this far then maybe you can do a bit more and help me out.  I've got a question: has anyone used a vacuum sealer?  If/when I start building my food storage, ideally I'd like to buy both canned and dehydrated/freeze-dried food items.  I was thinking that I could individually vaccum seal certain dried foods in jars and put them into their respectable meal bags... that's the plan, so now I'm just curious as to what vaccum sealer is best?  Sure, sucking air out of bags would be great for the freezer (since I freeze just about everything), but I'm really interested in depriving jars of oxygen.  Suggestions?  Please share!

And now on to this week's meal plan.

Mexican Monday: food - I know, very specific...

Oriental Tuesday: tilapia w/ stir-fry veggies & quinoa

Twisted Wednesday: leftovers (soup w/ muffins)

Authentic Thursday: Greek salad

TGIFriday: Tuna melts

Super Saturday: DATE NIGHT

Special Sunday: ravioli bisque

And I'll leave it at that.  Who knows what this week will bring, but it's gearing up to be a doozy!  *B

Meal Plan: 9/5 - 9/11

Woah.  Apparently I need a vacation from my vacation ;)  Seriously though, in the past couple of weeks we've had a few birthday celebrations along with a few visitors.  So meal planning was out of my hands half the time.  Oh, and school started.  It takes me a while to get used to a routine, even if I'm ready for it...  Anyway, this time I really am ready for some more consistency.  It's time to tighten up our wallets and expand our food horizons!

Monday: Labor Day - family BBQ (mmm, portobello burgers)

Oriental Tuesday: spring rolls w/ sweet & spicy peanut dipping sauce, and veggies on the side (carrots, celery and grilled corn)

Twisted Wednesday: peanut butter cup pancakes

Authentic Thursday: lentil marinara w/ walnuts

TGIFriday: baked pumpkin sneaky noodles

Super Saturday: chicken Cesare salad

Special Sunday: "cheesey" potato soup w/ mighty muffins

Upcoming recipe: no idea.  And I'm making no promises.  *B

Meal Plan: 8/8 - 8/14

I know I'm a day late; more like a couple of weeks late!  But hey, we just got back from a lonnng, and much needed, vacation :)  And as of tomorrow, Summer is over!!!  Now, if only this heat would wrap things up...

Oriental Tuesday: tortilla tilapia w/ sweet mustard green beans & mushroom wild rice

Twisted Wednesday: ham hocks & beans -- cleaning out the freezer ;)

Authentic Thursday: avocado pesto pasta w/ grape tomatoes & walnuts

TGIFriday: hearty tomato stoup w/ cheese sammies

Super Saturday: Grimaldi's Pizzeria

Special Sunday: dinner w/ the parentals

Upcoming recipe: those darn strawberry preserves!  Sorry for the wait.  *B

drink water, and lots of it

[source]

It's hot outside.  Like, really (really) hot.  Feeling parched?  Drink water.  Sweating much?  Drink more water.  Feeling fine?  Drink water anyway.  Here's the thing: by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated.  In fact, a lot of times when we feel hungry, we're actually thirsty!  Another thing: you should be drinking at least half your body weight in ounces.  So, if you weigh 140 lbs. then you should be drinking 70 oz. water.  Drink more if you're nursing, and/or if you're working out, sweating, etc.  Don't like the "taste" of water?  Try adding slices of lemon, orange, or cucumber.  Get creative and throw in some mint leaves while you're at it ;)  Drinking (iced) herbal tea(s) would be swell, too.  There are great health benefits to drinking water, including weight loss, clear skin, less headaches, and more energy.  So drink up!  The more water you drink the healthier, and happier, you'll be.  *B

Meal Plan: 7/11 - 7/17

Is Summer over yet???

Mexican Monday: Southwest salad
Oriental Tuesday: grilled vegetable carrot quinoa
Twisted Wednesday: scrambled eggs & walnut pancakes w/ maple syrup
Authentic Thursday: avocado pesto w/ kamut & quinoa pasta
TGIFriday: salmon burgers w/ spiced fries and/or watermelon smoothies
Super Saturday: DATE NIGHT
Special Sunday: BBQ chicken, roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus and watermelon (cousin game night)


And look!  Someone out there was able to host a successful meal-plan link up - Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie!  Exciting, no?  I thought so ;)

Upcoming recipes: less-sugar strawberry preserves.  I better post it before I forget it!  *B