Egg + Toast

If you're as bad at frying eggs as I am...then you may not be eating much more than a scrambled version of these protein nuggets...because is so much easier.

Welp...here's how I've started cooking eggs for my breakfast recently.  I'm working on doing the Paleo-ish diet {I say ish because there is no diet worth giving up cheese} and eggs are a HUGE fantastic form of protein and they are small and easier to digest and way cheaper than meat.

Farm fresh eggs are the way to go if you know where to look.  The web is your friend here or even your local Extension service...they can point you to local markets or even local chicken owners.  There's even one up here in Seattle! Farmers markets are also great, though tougher to find in the winter months.

Why farm fresh?

A) It supports the local economy

B) You know what went into the egg makers {aka chickens}

C) If you have kids, it starts teaching them to be aware of where their food comes from and how important proper nutrition is.

Ingredients

1. one egg
2. one piece of bread

{I know that wast totally mind blowing}

• Cut a hole in your piece of bread and chuck it on the hot buttered skillet {I was using sourdough because the Alaska just never goes out of my system}
• Crack your egg into the hole {check for shells}

Tip: The egg should be sizzling the instant it hit the pan, that's how hot you want your skillet.  Don't put your egg on a cool pan, then you won't have any way to gauge how long it's gonna take to have your wonderfully cooked egg

• When the white of the egg starts to get less like water and more like gelatin...flip that sucker over
• I only do about 30 seconds on the second side because I love me some runny yoke.

This is a super easy breakfast that kids can help with {they can cut the holes} and is healthy. 

If you want to up the health thing a notch, use whole grain bread.  

What are some healthy quickie breaky's that you like?  Share share SHARE!! please :) 

Groceries are Hard

#Adulting

You've heard of this movement right?

That's basically my generation's term for growing up, paying bills, having jobs, and being an adult.

I know....it's a phenomenon that really I would like to not be dealing with most times.

• I mean bills are depressing.
• Spending money on boring things like oil changes, dentists, and toilet cleaner before a dime can go to anything fun...like laundry soap is such a drain. (oof da that reminds me I need drain cleaner too)
• When going to the DMV doesn't include my Mom. (only Mom has pens in her purse)
• When you have to change insurance and residency and register to vote and then figure out who to vote for without Dad's ballot to copy...yeah it's adulting and it's not glamorous all the time.

The glamorous part is when you get to choose the food (though expensive) that will be consumed by yours truly!

I get fabulous ideas on pinterest and think "Hm you know I might try gluten free for a few weeks just for fun!"

How adorably blissfully ignorant and simple I am.

All those ideas go right out the Christmas bedazzled store window as soon as I'm looking at the produce saying "Blueberries are how much???!!!" 

so much for antioxidants.

By the time I'm nearing the end of my list which has been gutted and slayed beyond recognition...

all I want is the bread isle.

Lot's of bread. 

What goes with bread?

Wine!

So much for being Paleo and Gluten free and all those illustrious ideas I'd had moments ago.

How's a girl to deal with the madness?!

Abigail's Grocery Battle Plan

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• Shop around the edges {You know how super markets have the Bakery, then THe dairy section, then the meat section, then the produce section all around the walls of the store?  In the middle is all the more heavily processed and complicated products.  The edges are your food pyramid.  I keep costs down by not buying crackers, or canned spaghetti sauce.  Keep the grocery list simple and with basic ingredietns come up with healthy meals.  I mean Squash and butter and a drizzle of agave is healthy and only three ingredients!
• Don't be afraid to have the same thing a lot.  It doesn't make you a failure as a menu planner.  It's frugal.  My giant bag of Steel Cut Oats will last all winter, and it's a fabulous fibre and iron breakfast.  Add a few blueberries and agave for sweetening and BOOM.  That's a regular for me.  Or Granola and Yogurt.  I always have those on hand as back up for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Stick by your stand bys!
• Always have a variety of fruit in the house.  Bananas, apples, clementines, blueberries, They are perfect for snacks to curb hunger, or on top of other foods, or mixed together for a lite lunch.  I threw some blueberries and raspberries on my spinach salad the other day and you know what? It was good!

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Three tips to help you (and me) shop smarter and eat healthier!  

When trying to stick to a budget, remember...simple is smart

Do you have any ways to save pennies and eat healthy?  Share them with me via email or in comments!  I always love good tips :)

Here come the Holidays!

it's happening...

The season of copious glazed and saturated foods cached underneath billow bulky sweaters is upon us.

Yep!  And around December 31st we will be loathing ourselves and making resolutions for the New Year.

The list will look like this...

1. Lose weight/eat healthier/workout more

Then it's the all out scramble to get fit really fast in 4 months so when summer comes around we can wear swimsuits with no reservations.

Buuuuuut guess what?  If we cut the head off the snake...plan ahead...maybe we won't have to do the summer death scramble and maybe we can feel good through the holidays instead of bloated and oozing frosting out our pores.

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How are we going to do this?

When most of having a healthy body is about eating right...how do we navigate the yummy land mines of the season?

Here's my plan sweets!

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How to eat (semi) healthy during the Holidays

• Plan ahead

  You know when those parties, cookie exchanges, potlucks are going to be. So eat clean before hand.  Like if I know that Susie has made approxomatly one zillion pies for her Autumn Awesomeness party...then I won't be having panckakes with syrup that morning...no I'll have blueberries to boost antioxidants, and yogurt to keep things rooollllliiinnngggg on down there.

• Choose your battles

  What is your favorite?  Pumpkin pie? Then eat that and skip the cobbler.  You don't want to miss the joy of the holiday foods...just the guilt and food babies.

• Don't Drink your calories

  Yes tis the season of egg nog lattes, punch with ice cream floating on top, and pumpkin beer.  What I've done is skip buying juice at the store or coffee drinks.  I drink water and green tea so I haven't loaded up before I even eat.  Also keeping hydrated will help you digest holiday food and make you feel much much better! (And look better...remember hydration and healthy skin are buddies)

• Set tiny goals (and stick to it)

  Setting a goal like "Don't gain weight before Christmas" is silly.  Our weight fluctuates daily, even hourly based on hormones and digestion and with our super heightened "OH MY GOSH I GAINED A POUND" is only going to de-rail and depress.  Instead set an easy goal like "At this party I'm only eating one plate of food", or "I will eat green leafy veggies for lunch this week"

• Skipping meals before a party is a no-no

  If you show up starving in that skinny dress...you are going to stuff your face or hate your life as you sip ice water and watch everyone else eat.  How about don't do either?  Eat your meals.  A 4:00 event doesn't mean skip lunch.  Eat those leafy veggies from your previous goal ;)

• Walk, walk, walk

  It's hard to exercise when the weather is gross and you want to chat inside and snack more.  Trips to the gym or home workouts become nearly extinct.  How about grab the gals and take a walk around the block?  Then you can catch up on the news while getting some air and MOVING! 

• Be positive

  BE POSITIVE! Don't beat yourself up if you had two scoops of sweet potatoes with marshmallows.  The holiday's aren't a time to be stressed (even though we know stress happens).  Holidays are for being with friends and family, keeping warm in the cold, and celebrating!  

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These are my tips ladies and I shall be striving to keep them up through the New Year!

I hope at least one of these will prove helpful to you as we head into the last bit of 2015!

Cheers!

Busy Times = Easy Food

Ah the Holidays.  It's not Silver Bells I hear that tell me it's Christmas.  No it's the list of Christmas cards I haven't sent,  the decorations still in boxes in the rooms where they should be gracing the walls, those random sweet Pinterest DIY gifts that eat at your soul each day they go unmade {they seemed like a good idea at the time}

Reality is the Holiday's can be hectic! It's not L.L. Bean plaid pajamas, sipping peppermint tea by the fire all season.  There is a lot to do and we women can get eaten alive by it.  

One of the hardest thing to do when things are busy is make a healthy, clever meal.  Papa Murphy's Pizza just sounds so good when you're up to your elbows in tinsel and Christmas socials.

Here's one scrumptious recipe I found on a particularly busy day that saved my bacon and filled my family with healthy things! 

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Crock pots make my life much easier.  Chuck a bunch of ingredients at it and the trusty little guy makes dinner for you!  It's like Mrs. Patmore of Downton Abbey.  You don't know how she works and dare not ask questions...just enjoy the food!

Seeing as how I'm feeding my very manly Father.  A vegetarian meal was not going to suffice.  Been down that road...it didn't end well.  SOLUTION! I added a pound of our home grown natural ground beef.  That bit of beef flavor made a world of difference in the happiness of the ones around my table.  

I would suggest though...not being shortsighted like I was in one point in particular.  Don't use chicken broth when you are adding beef.  It didn't taste bad...but I feel like one meat flavor is enough.

Quinoa is tricky.  Sometimes it's hard to cook fully and sometimes it's altogether the blandest bland food that ever was bland.  I've only been cooking with it for a handful of months and some days are success and others...well...bland.  

PS TIP

One tip I've learned when cooking quinoa is LEAVE THE LID ON! Don't peek at it over and over and let all the moisture and even pressure out.  Let it be until the timer goes off and even then...let it rest off of the heat source for a few minutes.  

Another tip is to not stir it with a spoon.  Don't even bring a spoon to the quinoa party!  Fluff it with a fork.  Now this is tricky if you use non-stick cookware and don't want to scratch the coating...I understand completely...but there are wooden forks out there that can save the quinoa from a spoon inflicted demise.

Aaand here we are all crock pot ready and 6 hours before supper.  What a relief on the brain, knowing dinner is taken care of.  One less thing to stress about.

I would encourage you {and myself} to take time to enjoy the season.  That sounds so cliche but really...make some tea...put on something plaid and listen to a Christmas album and ENJOY the fruits of your hard work and endless lists!