Wife of the Month: Sarah, from "What I Vegan"

This is the FIRST Wife of the Month for 2013. Somehow it slipped away from me for the past four months. How did I manage that? I loved doing this series last year. I loved getting to know other wives and mamas in the blogging world.

It seemed only fitting that I re-feature someone you met in 2012! (This also fits in for "Throw Back Thursday"!) Do you guys remember Sarah? She's pretty awesome. Her blog was just featured in Skirt! Charleston. For her post about that amazing bit, click here.

Lately I've been struggling with diet fads and all the craziness surrounding "clean eating". So I thought I'd ask some other bloggers to share their thoughts on the matters.

Who better than to share some thoughts on clean eating from someone who is all about it?

As you guys may know, I am not vegetarian/vegan. There are, however, definite health benefits if you decide to make the choice to go either which way.

I'll stop babbling now. Here's Sarah!

Photograph by Alice Keeney Photography.

Hey y’all! Sarah from What I Vegan here.

I’m excited Emily has asked me to guest post about clean eating today!
I think most everybody agrees that we want to give ourselves and our families healthy food that will nourish and sustain us.

But grocery stores out there are practically minefields of chemicals, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), MSG, bacteria, and hormones. These have known and (even scarier) unknown effects on our health.

Seriously, how’s a gal supposed to navigate that minefield and find a way to avoid giving herself and her kids all those terrifying ingredients?

By eating a clean diet full of plant-based, whole foods.

Hang on a sec; did your eyes just glaze over as you pictured bland, brown “health food”?

Snap back with me here, sister.

I’m not talking beans for dinner every night (though I DO love me some beans ‘n’ greens; check out a delectable recipe here). I’m talking about a whole WORLD full of amazing food possibilities opening up to you that are not only healthy, but downright delicious.

Eyebrows still raised? I would have been skeptical too. Before I went vegan, I was (self-proclaimed) Miss Cheese living off of pasta, pizza, and you guessed it, cheese. I wasn’t exactly a health nut.

And I’m still not one. But I do recognize that certain foods and their dangerous ingredients are best avoided, and it’s really not that hard to do.

Don’t believe me? Check out a few healthy, veggie-centered dishes I made at home (and trust me, I’m no chef):

Quinoa noodles with avocado pesto pasta and squash.

This is what I call “Everything in the Fridge Salad” – just throw together a salad, with whatever toppings you have on hand. Get creative!

Vegan crab cakes with tangy rémoulade and sautéed spinach from Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Kitchen.

Twelve-grain bread with hummus, organic tomatoes, avocado, arugula, and salt and pepper. Easy, healthy, and delish!

Red and black chili with cashew sour cream.

Check out more pictures of what I eat on my blog’s Facebook page! You’ll be amazed at what all you can do with plant-based foods!

Now that you see how yummy it can be, I’m going to give you some easy tips on how to add more of these healthful plant-based foods to your family’s table.

•Eat more veggies! Pick a few to take the spotlight on your dinner plate. Be adventurous; buy a veggie you don’t recognize, and then look online for a recipe. A great site is VegWeb.com.

•Buy organic produce as much as possible. It’s a little pricier but your body will thank you for saying no to those pesticides! Can’t buy all organic? That’s ok; just avoid these dirty dozen.

•Check those ingredients. The less processed, the better. Try to buy items that have fewer than 5 or so ingredients and make sure you can pronounce them! Your body doesn’t want that azodicarbonamide (whatever that is)!

•Skip the meat, dairy, and eggs. They’re full of hormones, antibiotic resistant bacteria, cholesterol, and other nasty stuff. Switching to organic won’t help either. Not to mention, animals are treated in unspeakable ways to make these products. Best to skip out as often as possible (or altogether!). Start a Meatless Monday tradition and work on it from there!

•Look for the Non-GMO Project symbol. This guarantees that the food doesn’t contain harmful GMOs, which have never been suitably tested for long-term health impacts. To learn more about them, click here.


Want to learn more?

Watch the movie Forks Over Knives (it’s on Netflix!). It’s entertaining, informative, and could save your life!

Check out the book Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr, who I consider to be the queen of clean eating. Her follow up book, Crazy Sexy Kitchen, has amazing, clean recipes!

Can we eat 100% clean 100% of the time? Or course not. That’s not realistic. But we can try to eat healthfully the majority of the time for the sake of our bodies and our kids.

Try the tips above to take the first step!

To Healthy and Tasty Food!
Sarah

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

I am a HUGE fan of peanut butter cookies. However, I have this weird association with peanut butter cookies that makes me feel SO. GUILTY. whenever I eat them. In order to rid me of this guilt, I set out to find a way to make them seem a little more healthy.

And what makes cookies seem healthier than oatmeal and unsweetened applesauce?

Ingredients:

- 1 C butter
- 1/2 C sugar
- 1/2 C brown sugar (not packed)
- 1 C natural peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
- 1.5 C all purpose, unbleached flour
- 1.5 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 C oats

Directions:

- Preheat your oven to 350 and prepare your cookie sheet.
- Beat together your butter and sugars. Next add your peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and applesauce.
- Mix in your flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Last but not least, fold in your oats.
- Use a cookie scoop (or 1 to 2 tablespoons) and place dough on cookie sheet. Spray the back of a fork with cooking spray, and criss-cross across the dough (as pictured).
- Cook for 11 to 14 minutes. Move to cooling rack and let sit for two to three minutes before enjoying!


This recipe was adapted from AllRecipes.com

BY THE WAY! If you haven't already, don't forget to enter $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway celebrating The Lily Field!

Hey, Mrs. Grumpy-Gills

For the last week, something had a hold of me and I still can't seem to shake it. I have been in a bad mood. ALL THE TIME.

OK... that may be an exaggeration. After all, last week we did have a wonderful water-date with some awesome friends, and I had a great time at Bible study. Even so, I felt like all I was doing was complaining or staying silent. Something was just really itching under my skin. I couldn't figure out what it is.

I know we all get into these moods sometimes. Like things just aren't good enough. We need more. We deserve more.

Don't you just hate feeling like that? Because we KNOW BETTER.

I know I have what I need. The Lord provides.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

Still I have this nagging feeling. Like I'm still in limbo. Just WAITING for the next step to happen. We've been this way for some time, not going to lie. I have to continuously remind myself to enjoy the NOW. Enjoy where Michael is. Enjoy watching him grow. Stop focusing on the fact that we don't have a fenced in back yard, or that our house is starting to feel too small, or that Michael doesn't sleep on his own, or that I can't do everything I want to do. ENJOY. STOP WORRYING.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)


I've been feeling very overwhelmed. Like I need a vacation. Then I feel like an awful mom who should have duct tape over her mouth so she doesn't say that out loud. A BREAK? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? How dare you.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

I haven't been good this past week. I didn't turn to God in my times of frustration, or weariness. I wanted to depend on myself. I wanted to COMPLAIN. To be selfish. The horrible part of it is I knew I was doing it. I am, and there is none besides me.

Remember that? Those words have been running through my mind for the past week and I kept wanting to say saying, "Yeah, SO WHAT?!"

So? I've been anxious. I've been grumpy. I've been angry. And this past week was such a waste because if I had just cried out to Jesus, things would have gotten better. I would have rested, been more at ease, been at peace... and it would have saved me a lot of time, guilt, and headaches.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Sad thing is, I know I haven't learned my lesson. This may not happen again for quite some time, but it will happen again. I err. I'm so thankful God sent His ONE and ONLY Son so that I may live eternally, regardless of my humanity.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)

"Healthy" Mac & Cheese [and a Target Giveaway!]

Macaroni & Cheese was never really a favorite of mine... until our first year of marriage. It became a staple in our house because we were so poor and it was so cheap. However, now that we're older and we have a toddler to worry about, I realized how AWFUL the boxed stuff is and how EASY it is to make homemade, healthier, wonderful mac & cheese.

Ingredients:

- 1 1/4 C Whole Wheat Macaroni
- 2 to 3 C shredded cheese *your preference... I usually use a mix of sharp cheddar and monterey jack. If you like it extra cheesy, go for three cups-- just make sure to add a little extra milk as well!*
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
- 2/3 C milk
- Salt *optional*
- Parmesan Cheese *optional*

Directions:

- Cook the pasta according to the directions, drain, and keep waiting.
*Note: You may see a lima bean peaking through in the pictures. When I cooked the pasta, I also mixed in some frozen veggies because this is a great way to get Michael to eat them!*
- In a large pot, melt your butter. Whisk in the flour until it is evenly combined and starting to thicken a little. Next add your milk. Stir continuously. DO NOT STOP MIXING!
- Once it has thickened, add your cheese and pasta. It's easiest if you add your cheese, then the pasta, and mix really well. Add extra little milk if it's too thick. This is when you can also add your optional salt, up to 1/2 tsp if desired.

VOILA! Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on top and serve warm. You'll never go back to the prepackaged stuff.

This recipe was inspired from 100 Days of Real Food.

Now, for the giveaway!

Today we're celebrating the one year anniversary of The Lily Field! If you haven't looked over Brittany's blog, you need to. She's an amazing woman with a heart after God, sharing her faith, relationship tips + stories, and raising two handsome young men. But who better to introduce this than Brittany herself?

________________________________________
Blogging is so much more than an online journal of daily activities. It is not just a pretty URL with
perfectly arranged HTML. But it is an avenue, a portal into the very hearts of humanity.
Beautiful, blank, white space begging to be filled with dreams, ideas, reflections, stories...

It is about community.
It is about reaching out to people you may never have the chance to meet in person.
It is about building relationships and sharing your testimony...
learning lessons from each other that impact life.

They say it takes a village to raise a child...
I think it takes a village to do great things in general.
We need each other.

Blogging has been such a blessed adventure for me. One that I was reluctant to take. Fearing I would fail,
I put the idea off for years. But on March 22nd, 2012 I found me some beautiful, blank, white space...

and began.

THANK YOU readers, friends, and family... I wish I could come give each and every one of you a hug.
Praying the words and pictures found in the day-to-day posts can at least hug your heart. You are loved.
________________________________________
Celebrating this milestone with me are 6 other wonderful women who have touched my life, encouraged me,
and held my hand along the way! Each one is so unique - singing her song from her space on the web.
Visit them. Let them bless you as they have blessed me!

Together we are giving away a $100 Target gift card to one, lucky reader this week!!!
Enter to win below. Open to U.S./Canada residents only.
________________________________________


::: THE LILY FIELD :::

::: STANDPIPE & SPRINKLES // NEWFANGLED HOUSEWIFE :::

::: LILY & LIGHT // THE WILLIAMS POST :::

::: IMPERFECTLY PERFECT GRACE // BEAUTIFULLY MOLDED :::


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*** this giveaway is in no part sponsored or endorsed by Target.
all details and opinions are my own. ***

Happy Friday!

Hello everyone! Friday's Letters will resume next week. This week, head on over to Wifessionals. She's doing a fabulous series preparing for baby and taking in different views and sides on everything. This week she's doing sleep methods and I was lucky enough to get to share my views on co-sleeping! Go check it out!

Have a wonderful weekend. Go chase some bubbles!

#TBT: Summer Lovin'

One of my favorite pictures of Clark and me is this one from Summer 2009, after he graduated from USMC Boot Camp and we had enjoyed his ten days leave together. The zebra print dress that I'm wearing was my roommate's (who was living with me while Clark was gone), and since that summer I've been searching for a dress similar to it. It's funny. I never liked animal print UNTIL this dress. I'm still not a huge fan, if I'm being honest.

I stumbled upon this one on Sears.com and was SO excited... until I realized they were sold out of my size. Ah, well. Some day (while I'm young) I hope to find a Zebra-print maxi dress like this one.

Do you have any old clothing items you wish you could revive, or a piece of clothing that got away from you that you wish you could find?

Eggplant Pizza

As promised when I posted my Zucchini Boats, a new eggplant recipe for you! Not to down my Eggplant Parm, either, but this recipe is way easier.

Ingredients:

- Eggplant
- Tomato Paste or homemade pizza sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Salt
- Olive Oil
*optional: fresh oregano, basil, parsley*

Directions:

- Cut your eggplant into pieces about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Try to make them as even as possible. If they are too thin, they won't be as good!
- Cover with salt and place over a colander or something like it (I definitely just used my bacon screen and placed it over my sink) to help the water soak out of the eggplant. In my life, things can soak out as much as they soak up! Ha! Let the eggplant sit for a good thirty minutes or so, until it looks as pictured below.Note: I would set your timer for about fifteen or twenty minutes, preheat your oven to 425, and then continue your timer as needed!*

- If you haven't already, preheat your oven to 425. Lightly coat your eggplant with olive oil.
- Place on a baking sheet and roast for 12 to 15 minutes, then turn them over and roast the other side. Pictured my eggplant was not cut as evenly as hoped, and you can see (top right) that my thin piece didn't do so well with the roasting.

- Once you've roasted both sides, switch your oven to broil. I put mine on low so the cheese is less likely to burn.
- Spread tomato paste/sauce or pizza sauce on your eggplant. This part it REALLY is up to you. You don't want to put too much sauce and have it get all soggy (which is why I used tomato paste the second time around), but it can still be yummy! If you're just using plain tomato sauce, I suggest adding some spices (see ingredients above).

- Sprinkle your cheeses on top of the tomato base/spices. Use as much as you like. Stick under the broiler for UNDER two minutes. This should melt the cheese perfectly (just to bubbling and before too brown/burned).

VOILA! A healthier pizza for your liking. The great thing is you really don't have to wait on this one either, and probably shouldn't. Eat while cheese is melty and the eggplant is still warm! There's no "final" picture because I was too busy eating it that I forgot to photograph it... oops!

Recipe adapted from Kath Eats Real Food