I had some leftover flour just sitting around in my fridge. I also had somewhere I was supposed to be this morning at 8:00 A.M. By making the muffins before I jumped in the shower, I made efficient use of my time. Here it is:

2 eggs – beaten

1 tablespoon of canola oil

1 cup of vanilla rice milk

2 tablespoons of brown sugar

Several shakes of cinnamon

1-cup oatmeal

1 pinch of salt

1 tablespoon of baking powder

A little millet flour, a little buckwheat flour, and a little oat flour.

Chopped dates

Raisins

Beat eggs. Add wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients. Add dried fruit and then add wet. Mix lightly and pour into muffin pan. (I always use paper liners.)

As for the question – how much flour? Thicker seems to be better, but too thin still bakes! My kids ate all 12 muffins this morning. Life is good. J

You have to wonder why rice sticks bought from the Asian market have 12 g of protein and 32 grams of carbs. Rice noodles and rice grains have much less protein (usually 3 or 4). But if rice is rice, then why can't I find rice grown in America with 12 grams of protein????

Today, I stir fried rice sticks in olive oil and then added freshly washed spinach and mushrooms. Toward the end I added minced garlic and a small amount of salt. It tasted pretty good.

With the addition of soy sauce and a little cheese, it then tasted great! A little sweet fruit on the side completed the meal. You should have seen the amount of steam in my kitchen!

After my two year old and I ate, I then grilled up a chilli burger for my O. (No buns). I would rather have made one meal for everyone, but some days just don't work out the way I had hoped. Anyway, I was able to use up the ground beef and my week old veggies. Food was not wasted and money was saved.

Now off to pay my bills....... I would rather be in Hawaii. Good eats everyone.

I can't help but feel happy when an unplanned dinner just happens to turn out right. Thursday is my errand day, and I travel from 8:00 A.M. until about 2:30 P.M. Today, my five year old tagged along, and I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed his company! We hit the grocery store, the library, the second hand store (kids clothes), the Goodwill Store, and Sam's club. He was quite the trooper.

Needless to say, I didn't have much energy for dinner. At 3 o'clock, I threw some defrosted homemade chicken soup in the crockpot. I added 1 cup of brown rice and set the crock pot to high. At about five o'clock, I pulled out baby carrots, applesauce and defrosted ground beef. I spiced the ground beef with roast beef seasoning and a little salt. I warmed up an Ezekiel hamburger bun on the grill and cooked up some tasty hamburgers. I also sauteed a little spinach, olive oil, salt and garlic. Throw in a block of mozerella cheese and waalaaaah -- it's a feast.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it didn't take much prep time. Everybody ended up with something beneficial and food from all traditional four food groups. Better yet, not one person COMPLAINED.

Life is good.

My workout was lame today. It just didn't feel right. Even my meals tasted "ok" instead of wonderful. I think I am going to go join my five year old on the swing set. I am left wondering why my body feels different today...... Maybe it's the weather.

Future recipes I look forward to playing with: Pumpkin Seed Alfafa sprout bread. I know, I know - it sounds crazy!! And don't worry - the O's get something else. Dad actually grilled steak last night for himself and the five year old. He used a spicy garlicky creole sauce which he injected into the meat. I have definately got to go look at that ingredient label and try to copy it. Til tomorrow.....

Tried something new today. I bought rice bread at the grocery store. It was four dollars a loaf. I just haven't had good luck with sandwhich bread so it's easier for me to splurge once in awhile. Here's the recipe:

Toast your bread.

Spread a little soft goat cheese or other btd compliant cheese.

Scoop out the avocado and slice.

Sprinkle the avocado with lemon juice

Lightly salt it - maybe just the tiniest bit of pepper (an avoid, technically)

Layer on one onion slice - any kind you prefer

Place a handful of alfalfa sprouts on top.

Pile it all together and -- enjoy!

I was pleasantly surprised. Since alfalfa is a beneficial, that's what I am playing with for the next couple of days. I've got a spinach and alfafa salad recipe I hope to try for dinner.

Dinner last night was a pleasant success as well. Frozen chopped steak was grilled up for the O's and served with frozen green beans, butter and salt. The green beans were boiled in as little water as possible. I would have preferred them steamed and now that the husband has enjoyed them, I will try to steam them next time. Keep in mind that he really likes the canned green beans - which has very little flavor.

The A's had some sauteed onions, garlic, and yellow squash cooked with white rice. At the last minute, I threw in some leftover canned wild salmon and soy sauce. It tasted great! A little applesauce on the side pleased everyone.

I did discover one thing a bit on the negative side. I am neglecting my protein/carbohydrate need. I feel like I should be eating more vegetables, but when my meal contains only veggies or only grains, I suddenly need a nap. Good eats.