Couponing success!

I don't do nearly as much couponing now as I used to. We've changed up the way we eat (rather drastically) and there just aren't many coupons to be found for fresh produce, organic dairy products, and non-processed meat! Still, every now and then it works out. Today was such a day.

Vons trip:

10 ears of corn
baby carrots
lettuce
bananas
broccoli
chicken breast lunch meat
string cheese
2 packages Jones sausage
cream cheese
3 lunchables (because Jonathan thinks that I'm "the best mom EVER" if I occasionally give him one). :)
1 box cheez-its
and $2 spent on treats for the kids, since they hung in there while I messed with coupons and prices and sales!

Original total: $54.05
Total after all savings (including coupons and e-coupons): $21.53

That was fun. :)

Strawberry Orange Banana Smoothies

I think one of the best summer treats is a freshly made smoothie. Today when we came home from the park we made this one:

Strawberry Orange Banana Smoothie

Milk (probably about 3/4 cup or so)
2 spoonfuls orange juice concentrate
2 oranges
1 cup spinach (loosely measured)
1/2 frozen banana
10 or so frozen strawberries

Blend milk, concentrate, oranges, and spinach until smooth. With blender running, add banana and strawberries one at a time. I added strawberries until the smoothie just started to turn pink from green.

The boys declared it "AWESOME!"

Hungry!!

"Mom! When are you going to feed me breakfast???"

"I did feed you breakfast. You ate three waffles."

"That wasn't breakfast, that was a snack! Can I have oatmeal now?"

meal planning - help!

Image credit

I don't usually make meal plans. I just don't like to do it, and while that makes me feel minorly guilty, it is something I can live with.

But. I also do not like having no idea what is for dinner.

I think that this has become more of a problem for me as we've changed our eating habits. No longer can I pop a frozen pizza in the oven on evenings when I'm stumped for ideas. Also, we're eating a lot less meat since we've chosen to switch to free-range/pastured (i.e. pricy!) So throwing together hamburgers or meatloaf or something in the crock pot isn't as much of an option either.

I am definitely open to suggestions. Here's what I have to work with (and I'm shopping on Saturday, so feel free to suggest items for the grocery list):

3 bunches of kale (yes, I'm feeling over-run!)
lettuce
carrots
cauliflower head
onions
cabbage (not sure what it is called, but it is the same as the green kind pictured above)
broccolini
1 zucchini
spinach
apples
oranges
lemons
pasta
canned pumpkin
canned tomatoes
canned pears
dried split peas
brown rice
bread (well, the ingredients for it, anyway)
shredded cheddar
milk

What are the most interesting, yummy meals you can dream up, using those ingredients?

Advent, making gifts

Gifts for my family: hours in the kitchen resulting in these lovelies.



Gifts for the children's friends:







Gifts for me: humor in my day. Apparently Josiah thinks that it is Halloween.

Thanksgiving!

This song has been part of our itunes playlist today. Love it.



We had intended to spend Thanksgiving with my family (even my sister, flying in from Boston!) but a really bad storm in Nevada County left my parents without power and water for the foreseeable future. So instead, we had our very first Thanksgiving entirely on our own! It all came together really well, and I'm quite proud of myself. :)

Jonathan created this centerpiece for our Thanksgiving Day table. Isn't it nice? The boys picked out their favorite gourds at the store yesterday. Then on the way back, we stopped in a residential neighborhood full of lovely liquid amber trees, and ambled around finding the most beautiful colored leaves and "prickly balls."



Today we dipped the leaves we collected in beeswax to preserve them. They turned out quite well! I found a post at Small Things that convinced me to try it - the result was so pretty and she made it sound easy...and it was!





I managed to smile while washing the turkey. This is definitely a first for me. I must be growing up or something. :)



Thomas thought the trussed up turkey was hilarious!



Josiah and Thomas helped make the pumpkin pie filling. I've found that it is easier to move the mixing bowl down to their level, rather than having them stand on chairs to reach the counter.



Jonathan played softball with Daddy,



and later he helped set our beautiful table. He was very proud.



Josiah spent a surprisingly long time standing beside me while I was cooking, carefully using my Grandma's salt spoon to transfer salt between a silver shaker and a crystal salt cellar. He was so careful and gentle and precise.



The turkey followed most of the rules and browned nicely



and my number-one turkey carver did a great job! :)



I managed to get everything finished and warm at the same time!





The boys practiced their very best table manners, because dinner was a "special feast!"



We finished off with the most amazing pecan pie that I have ever tasted. Instead of corn syrup, it is made with maple syrup! I added chopped pecans to the filling, and then put the traditional pretty layer of whole pecans on the top (Sarah, I thought of you as I added all those pecans!) It was incredible...quite possibly the perfect pecan pie.



And after all that? I collapsed on the couch and let the boys "tuck me in" to bed. :)



Happy Thanksgiving everyone!