Whole Food Challenge Update

Ok... So I have had a few more cheats with my single ingredient challenge! If you have read any of my past posts, I challenged myself to only buy whole food, no more than 1 ingredient, with the exception of dried pasta and tortillas. Well, I have been doing good, but I have cheated a little! I bought soda, pretzels, and a can of cream of mushroom soup! I know... But I am from the mid-west! And we love a good casserole! Its cold out, we need a casserole! Plus, casseroles are cheap, I am poor, I have a family of 6, and they are pigs! I cook for 12, and hope and pray to have leftovers for lunch the next day! But overall I am doing pretty well! Oh crap! I just remembered I bought a box of mini wheats also! The kids were getting sick of oatmeal.But overall, we are sticking to it! I have made it 6 weeks! It is not easy, but I am doing it, and plan to continue! We are getting new chicks soon so be ready for really cute pics soon!

Whole Food Challenge- Week 2

  So... I cheated... on my whole food challenge. I bought diet soda. Sad. But what I did do right was everything else!!!! I did cry at one point, but I pushed through! Poor Jeremy came home one day,I was crying. I had kids having friends over, I was cooking all day, I had burnt my hand, and had to swear under my breath because of the friends over, did dishes after dishes... The list goes on and on... But I made it. I have made everything from scratch!!! YES!!! I made ketchup and thousand island this week. I had not made those before. The ketchup was good, but I am going to tweek it next time. The dressing turned out great! I made pickles a few days ago, so I could make this. This is my version. In all honesty, I have not had ketchup, or thousand island in 14 years, do to my extreme food allergies. Maybe they were terrible, but my fam all had seconds and thirds. This is how I made the dressing:

Thousand Island Dressing
1/2 c. canola oil
1/2 c. vinegar
1/3 c. ketchup
1/2 c. chopped sweet pickles
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. salt

Add oil, vinegar and ketchup, sugar and salt to a blender and pulse till emulsified. At the end I added a little more salt and chopped pickles.

  So, the day I made the dressing, my meal plan was a Reuben sandwich, and potato wedges. Do you know how long it takes to make all those ingredients, to make that stupid sandwich???!!!! 6 hours!  6 hours people!!!!! I made pickles the day before. Than, the day I made the sandwich, I made bread, ketchup, dressing,and the potato wedges. I had made, and canned sauerkraut this summer! Because who doesn't want a huge crock of fermenting cabbage in their dining room most of the summer?! :) The Kraut turned out great! My kids eat it as a snack!(I know... we are weird). But in the end it was great! The sandwich was great, the potatoes crisp on the outside! It was worth it! I am  sorry I didn't get pics. I was hungry! ;/ Kinda worked hard that day!

Whole Food Challenge- Week 1

  I have challenged myself to buy nothing from the grocery store, that has more than 1 ingredient. My exceptions are pasta, soymilk and tortillas. We started last week. So far so good! I cook most things completely from scratch anyway, due to my allergies. We raise all our meat, and we get a huge percentage of our veggies all year, from our garden. We eat fresh veggies in spring and summer, and than I can for the rest of the year. I also buy huge bags of dried beans, prepare them, and than can them. I also make and can stock. I actually canned 21 quarts of stock Christmas afternoon! Yea, I know, I have a problem! So my challenge rules are this

1. I can buy only items that are whole food. With the exception of the before mentioned items.

2. I can use items that are already in the house (such as ketchup, mustard...) but when they are gone, they are gone and I will replace them with a homemade version of that item.

3. This challenge is 60 days.

4. I will blog about the challenge, and be completely honest if I cheat. (sigh)

   So Jeremy and I got groceries. I spent $88.
What I bought:
7 lbs. dried beans
cinnamon
coffee
buttercream
dill weed
tortillas
8 lbs.cabbage
3 lbs.carrots
garlic
milk
soy milk
oats
sugar
peas
6 lbs. pasta
tilapia
6 pkg. yeast
cream
plain yogurt
napkins
meat tenderizer
plus a few more items I can't remember.

Mammogram Part 2

   If you read my earlier post you  know I have had a weird week! This is the rest of that day! I had to go in for a mammogram and ultrasound this week. A little scary, but just a fact of life. I found a lump, and it had to be done.

  While I was waiting for the Doctor to look at my images, a very nice Lady walks in. We smile at each other. I am looking at a magazine when my nurse comes in. "The Doctor needs more images". "Ok, no problem". The waiting room lady slowly turns to me and says... "Oh my goshhhhhh! You have got to be freakin out! I struggle with anxiety! I hope you have someone here with you!" 

  "Yes my husband is here. I also have anxiety issues, but I am trying not to worry till I am told I need too". In my head I am saying WHAT THE $#@!!, is this for real?? I have been dealing with anxiety for 12 years!!!! I have the tiniest boobs! Why are you saying this to me??!!!

  She continues to voice here concern for me, and she says she wants to come live with me for a month to know how to deal with stress! What???!!! Me??? I do NOT know how to deal with stress!!! You know how I deal with anxiety and stress?!!!! AGHHH!!!!

   She gets called out for her tests. As she leaves she wishes me luck. After all of the tests I find out everything is fine. I go out to the lobby and tell Jeremy. He says"I am so happy! The weirdest thing happened! I was sitting here and this woman came out and thanked me for being here for you". What a day!!!!!!

Mammogram Post 1

   This post is the the first of 2. I had a lot happen yesterday. This will seem made up... but it's all real, and only could happen to me!

Here goes!

   My life is weird! Something happens almost every week that does not seem real. Not joking!

  I was scheduled for a mammogram and ultrasound this week. It was my first. I found a lump and saw my Dr. about it. They made appointments for me to get it checked.

   The morning of my test I over slept, I made Jeremys coffee with yesterdays grounds( I was not on my game). Sorry Jeremy! 

   I eat really weird breakfasts...

 My favs are tacos, burritos, and left overs. Sometimes a ham sandwich! Not your typical breakfast, but  thats what I like! Well... the night before, I made split pea soup. Heavy on the garlic and onions. I LOVE pea soup!!!!

 So yesterday morning I debate...  Stinky garlic pea soup... probably not the best choice. The nurses and doctors are going to be up in your business...Maybe if you just brush your teeth really well, no one will notice. What can it hurt? aghh! But it is soooo garlicky!!! What the heck! I go for it! 

  We leave for the Breast Center. I tell Jeremy about the pea soup. He tells me I am weird, don't worry about. To be honest with you these are my concerns

1. Probably dying( I have anxiety issues)

2. Garlic! (why did I eat that pea soup??!!!!)

3. Getting my teeny-tiny boobs on those plastic plates! Do they have enough to squish? I am NOT confident they do!

  Fast forward to the end of my visit...

   My ultrasound tech tells me "Dr. Garlick will be in, in a few minutes". WHAT????!!!!! Dr Garlick????!!!

   This is IT!!!!! No wonder I was worried!!!!!! Sigh! Ok God, I am ready for the worse! Thats why I was stressed about garlic! It is over! I am stage 4 ! Why did you eat that damn soup?! But....In the end all is well! No cancer! But what I took away from this day was...

1. YES, you have terrible breakfast habbits

2. YES, you have tiny boobs

3. YES, you serve a great God that took care of you today!

    

Bacon Broccoli Cornbread

                                Bacon Broccoli Cornbread

• 2 jiffy corn muffin mixes
• 1 can cream corn
• 1/2 soup can of water
• 1 med. onion, diced small
• 1 lb. bag frozen broccoli, thawed
• 5 strips bacon, cooked and chopped                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Mix all ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour in a greased 9X13 pan. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. 

        

Sam

  Our oldest Sam, will be 16 soon. He is very private, but I got his permission for this post. Sam was born when I was 20 years old. I had a really tough pregnancy! I was on bed rest, had ALL day sickness, premature labor,(thankfully the DR. could stop it) among other things. When he was born, his heart rate dropped too low, and they had to use measures to get him out quickly. It was a little scary! I was young, and he was our first. When he was 18 months, he was not walking or talking. I addressed these concerns with our DR. She was also a little concerned, and suggested I contact Ottawa Area Center. We had Sam evaluated at that time by a speech therapist.
   Her name was Val, a great therapist. She came over to our house and evaluated him. She told me that he acted, and had only met the bench markers of a 6-8 month old! A little overwhelming! Sam immediately started therapy! I read any and every book I could get my hands on child development... anything that could possibly help.
   Sam slowly began to say words, along with signing words, we had showed Sam.  He was very uncomfortable around others! Stayed to himself, things always had to be done in the same order. Change of any kind completely set him off! He continued therapy till kindergarten. Than he started seeing the school therapist. It was just a struggle for everything with him! I tried diet changes, different supplements, we saw ALL kinds of alternative medicine DRs... anything and everything!!! Finally when he was 7, he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS and anxiety. It was heart breaking!! PDD-NOS is on the autism spectrum. But...we kept going, and working! Trying everything! I honestly would cry to Jeremy, because I thought he would never be able to leave the house as an adult. There were just soooo many struggles and issues we were working with.
   But... With hard work on our part, therapist, and a ton of work from Sam, and LOTS of prayers, He is now in the 10th grade, taking AP classes, and has been on the honor roll since  the 6th grade!!!!!!! He is so smart! He is one of my biggest blessings! He is responsible, funny, and a great kid! I am crying writing this, thinking of all our struggles, and all our victories! He is growing into being a great man! He is a true testament of what hard work and prayers can do! He is still shy, but you would never know he struggled with all the things that he did! He is just a normal teenager, who rolls his eyes at his Mom and Dad, and picks on his brothers and sister. :)

Fall Harvest Stew

This is one of my favorite stews. Its easy, its good, and it fills you up! Best of all its made in the slow cooker! I LOVE slow cookers! I have 3. My husband thinks I have a problem with kitchen appliances. I don't! (maybe I do)  But, when you have a large garden and raise your meat, cook almost everything from scratch, you kinda need some things. Just sayin' So here is my stew recipe.

Fall Harvest Stew

• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 4 med. russet potatoes, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 med. sweet potato, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
• 5 C. cabbage, copped
• 1 med. onion, diced
• 1 t. garlic powder
• 1 t. salt
• 1 can of corn, do not drain, plus one more can of water
• 4 C. of left over pork roast or chicken breast, diced
• 1 T. corn starch
• 1 T. water

Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place first 8 ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 1/2 hours. Add pork or chicken. Cook for 30 minutes more. Mix corn starch and water. Add to slow cooker and cook for 15 minutes longer, on high.



2 Birthdays in 2 Days

  My 2 youngest boys were born on 11-04 and 11-05, 2 years apart from each other. Elijah was born on the 4th in 2003, and Matthew(who we call Chewy) was born on the 5th in 2005. We have a tradition of me making what ever they request for their birthday supper. So this week Elijah turns 12 years old, and he wanted crab rangoon, and pumpkin pie. Not a great combo to cook! Crab meat and pumpkin pie spice... not such a great combo!!! But I am a Mom... and that's what we do! Cook and make our birthday boys happy. Today is Chewys birthday! He is 10! He chose hamburgers, hotdogs, coleslaw, baked beans, mashed potatoes, and monkey bread. If you are wondering... yes, I bought Tums when I got groceries this week! Sigh! But Happy Birthday boys!!! You are great kids(most of the time:) You make me smile, make me happy! I am a very blessed Momma!

Elijah

Chewy

And yes, I know I will be in big trouble for these pictures! :)

Here Comes the leaves!

  Let me tell you about one of our neighbors down the road! (Sigh) He has a SERIOUSE addiction to... his leaf blower!!! I mean "needs an intervention" kinda problem! All summer he blows grass clippings and than in the fall, he goes NUTS!!!!!! He starts as soon as the sun comes up, and typically does not end before 5-6 pm. It is relentless everyday! It makes me crazy! We needed to get a new blower this year, we thought about asking him what he has, because he really puts his blower to the test! We didn't ask him, but we did get a new leaf blower this weekend, and Sam decided to do this to his sister...

Sam and Anna. Chewy running to her rescue


 Just after I took this picture, this happened. Brother and sister love!

  

This is Matthew James, aka Chewy. He is turning 10 in a few weeks! He is my youngest! How is he almost 10?! He is smart, kind, and loves to fight with his brother, Elijah! He loves sweat pants, hates jeans, loves jokes about cows (for some reason)! Anyway...He has been saying for the last year that he, and his family someday, are going to live with Jeremy and I to help with all the farm chores. Cute! So cute and sweet! Than this happened... Last night we were all hanging out, watching tv. Than that cute little face said, "Can I live here after I am grown up?" I say "Sure Chew that's sweet". Than Chewy says "Cuz I can take care of you old folks!" looking at Jeremy and me!!!! What???? I am 36! I am not an "old folk" Chewy James!!! What 10 year old says "folk"??!! Too funny! :) He is one of a kind! :)

Date Night

  Jeremy and I have been married for 16 1/2 years. We rarely go on dates, because of the kids having things going on, we don't have the money... All the normal, everyday stuff that gets in the way. But when we do... they are EPIC!!!! Let me tell you about our exciting date night! Brace yourselves...

We were just going to go out for dinner. But we decided since we were all ready out, to do a few errands. (this is where it always goes off course) I needed to go to the fabric store, to get a gift for my cute little niece Ruby. She loves to craft when she is here! So I wanted to get her something crafty. Than we were off to Menards for a chainsaw blade, and oil. I also bought laundry detergent. After that Walmart! I know... its getting super romantic at this point! We bought new pillows for the whole family

 

 

 

 

and Wonder Woman pajamas for Anna.

 

Got gas for the mini van. Decided just to come home, because the hockey game was going to start. I made pizza sandwiches, and cheese dip to eat while we watched the game. Did dishes, laundry, cleaned the house a little.

 

 


Than this happened.

 

 

Not really a date night, but I spent it with all the people I love the most! We had fun, laughed, screamed at the TV while watching the game, I saw Anna become Wonder Woman! Pretty good! Its so nice to be married to your best friend, that even in the most normal everyday things of life, you can have fun! I am a pretty lucky girl!

 

 

 

A walk in the woods

 

Blessings

Wanna be farmers!

         Giving thanks for all our blessings! Thankful to God for helping us through a REALLY long, hard weekend! LOTS of work was done! Picking veg, butchering, freezing, processing, smoking bacon, along with all the normal chores.


       We are VERY thankful for all our produce/animals, that help us raise our kids, as healthy as we can! We try to do everything as natural as we can. We are just so thankful to be able to do that! Even if it is exhausting!

           A big thanks to Dad Brunink for his help this weekend!! He stayed and helped us butcher Friday! We butchered  6 pigs.



        I am not going to lie... I was on the brink of tears Friday with all the work! I might have dropped some pretty bad words, in front of my kids!(Idid)! :( Sorry kids!!
                         (I am not known for my good language!)  

Thankful!

Canning Applesauce

This weekend Chewy, Anna, Elijah and I, picked, made, and canned over 20 quarts of applesauce!  We have 2 apple trees on our property. We are very blessed to have them! I have about the same amount to do this weekend. We were all tired, but we did it!!!!!!!!!While we were canning, Sam and Jeremy, were cutting and splitting wood.We also finished building our smoke house, moved a shed, along with all the chores that come along with having chickens, and ducks, dogs, 4 kids, homework, cleaning coops, cleaning the house... But we are sooo grateful for all our blessings!!! And nothing says fall like apples!

Girl Meets Carpenter

      This post comes from the bottom of my heart!!!! I have a sister-in-law/friend, that is the most caring person ever!!! She came over last week, and blogged about me, and our home. This is her site girlmeetscarpenter.blogspot.com I could not see through my tears! She was way too kind, and loving!!!!!!

    She is incredible!  I really look up to her ( even though she is 6 years younger than me), I try to be the kind of sister/friend/wife/mother that she is. She also has 4 amazing kids, Natalie, Ruby, Charlie, and little Emmy. She is married to my amazing brother Jordan!

   

     I have been so blessed, to have had God bring her in my life.( so don't screw it up Jordan) (I know you won't ;). I am not as good with words as Lindsey, but I just wanted her to know that I love her soooo much, she has helped me in rough times, she inspires me, she is so great, and such a good friend!  I love you!!!!!

Barkel art work

  Some of the cute art work from Lindsey and Jordans kiddos!

A picture of our pigs from Natalie, a minion and my dogs from Ruby, a fish from Charlie, and a artistic design by Emmy! 

First Day of School

Ever have a day like this...

Warning: this post includes the word puke. You have been warned!!!!!!

I have 4 kids, 2 teens, and 2 pre-teens. I am a stay at home mom. I love them, but I have been planning for their first day back to school, all summer. My plan was... to eat chocolate, watch a movie, and take a shower with no one yelling "mom", while I was in it. Being a mom is tough work. Keeping them safe, not screwing them up to much... So, I was feeling selfish, and wanted a afternoon to myself. So, movie and chocolate, that's my plan. I know, I dream big!!!! But this is what happened...

Wake up late
Eat potato salad for breakfast. This is where it starts going a little off course.
Start watching a movie.
Start feeling a little yucky.
My lovely sister-in-law Lindsey calls. (This is where it goes way of course!)
Try to act normal on the phone with Lindsey, because I am feeling NOT GOOD!!!!!!
Puke
Puke
Puke
Puke, and get a HUGE bruise on my arm, trying to get to the bathroom.( It did not end well).
Start a load of laundry. Washer breaks.
Sam(15) gets home and throws his gym clothes in the broken washer,(if you have boys, you know what a BAD thing that is)
Take a picture of the kids and post it to instagram,  like nothing ever happened.(things happened today!)

                      If this was your dream day, dream no more. It happened! It happened BAD!!!!
                                             

    

Pizza Sauce

 

 

Pizza Sauce

1 lb. Roma tomatoes
1 1/2 t. Italian seasoning
1 t. minced garlic
salt to taste
1/4 c. minced onion

Blend all ingredients in blender. Simmer in a sauce pot for 20 minutes. Easy and good!

New Chicken Coop

Jeremy, Anna and I made a new coop and yard, for our youngest chickens and ducks. They had outgrown their other coop, as we have added to our flock. So now we have it in the barn. Yay!!! No more frozen water and heat lamps (hopefully). It was so funny when we were catching them last night. I manned the door of the coop while the rest of the fam caught and put them in the new coop. They were making so much noise! But they love their new home!  

Dairy and Egg free Snickerdoodles

3 1\4 c. Flour

1/2 c. Water

1/2 c. Canola oil

1 t. Vanilla

1 1/2 c. Sugar

2 t. Cream of tarter

1 t. Soda

1/2 t. Salt

Cinnamon and sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix all ingredients, except cinnamon and sugar. Drop a tablespoon of dough, roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes.