GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so we hosted our very first product-focused house party today. It was fun. My husband picked up a few Little Caesar's Pizzas, a few moms came over with their kids, and we all played with fuzzoodles. For decorations, we cut spirals from construction paper, blew up some balloons, and used some scrapbook paper to make a sign that said "PARTYPALOOZA". That was enough to get my kids REALLY excited. They were over the top, though, when they heard me calling the moms of their friends, and asking if their son or daughter was coming over.
We served pizza, drinks, and some cookies to keep it simple, since we were attempting to do a party on a Sunday afternoon, in our own home, and I knew I would need to clean.
Here are some pics of the cuties having a good time.
Here's the Fuzzoodle I made.
The bad news is that I was supposed to have ten moms at the party, and even after all my scrambling to make phone calls the day before, I only had 5 adult friends who could make it. Here's the good news, I am going to do a giveaway with one of the leftover boxes....so one of you will be getting an easy Christmas present for your kid! :0)

So, here's what you have to do to get in on the giveaway... Drop us a comment telling us who you would give your Fuzzoodles to, along with your name and email. Drawing will be held on Thursday, November 11, at 9:00 PM. Winner will be notified by this Friday morning.

GOOD LUCK!!

Peek-a-Boo Eggs

Use a biscuit cutter to cut a whole right smack in the middle of the bread. Any bread will do, but make sure its good bread. If the bread in and of itself is not good then it will negatively affect this entire meals. Good bread.
In a hot frying pan place some well buttered good bread. Crack an farm fresh egg in the hole. This is pretty fun. If you have kids they might like to try their hand at this.

Cook until the egg has hardened to your liking. I do flip my once and then flip it back over, but I do not think you have too. Add some really good cheese to the top and melt it.

And Whala...a Peek-A-Boo Egg.

Quinoa and Squash

Quinoa is one of my very favorite grains. I have written about it before and published a few good recipes using this power packed tiny grain. I like this recipe because not only is it very simple, but it can use seasonal squash, making it frugal and healthy.

Ingredients: 
Quinoa (One cup feeds our family of four) 
Apple Cider Vinegar 
Squash (Summer or Winter) 
Butter 
Spices (Cumin, Tarragon, Garlic) 


Begin by placing your quinoa in a bowl and covering with water. If you use one cut of quinoa add two cups of water. If you use two cups of quinoa add four cups of water and so forth. Double the water per cup of grain.
Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. This acts as your acid medium and will help reduce the phytic acid in the grain making your body able to digest the nutrients much better. It also helps your grains puff up and they will go farther thus saving you money.

Let the grains soak for 7-24 hours.

Meanwhile, cut up, dice up, or shred some squash. I shred it mostly because this is how my family likes it, but I prefer it diced. Saute the squash in butter until cooked.

Cook your quinoa for about twenty minutes until the water has cooked out.
Add the cooked quinoa to the squash, add a little bit more butter, and your spices. You can use all sorts of spices, but I like cumin, garlic, and tarragon.

We eat this as the main dish with various side dishes. I like to use the leftovers with crepes or tortillas for lunch the next day.

I need Fried Chicken.

I am two days behind on posting my meal plan. Came down with an awful bout of food poisoning. First, it hit me. As of right now, two days later, it is just now going from system havoc mode to exhaustion mode. Food poisoning is terrible. Buffets are terrible. I knew there was a reason I steer clear of buffets.

Now, my husband has it. It is miserable to see the ones that you love suffering. Especially when you hardly have the energy to bring them a glass of much needed water. My house hold is sleeping now, so I am doing two things.
1. Cooking Mashed Potatoes
2. Posting My Meals

I have not been able to eat anything all day. Actually, very little since yesterday. It hit me just a few moments ago that the thing that sounds fantastic, that is going to do the trick, is my a meal that is so close to my heart.....

Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Biscuits
Grape Juice

It was three in the morning. I had just birthed a baby. I found myself standing in my bathroom devouring the above meal. Devouring it. And smiling. And crying. And devouring it some more. Best meal of my life.

And, I need it now. I need fried chicken.

Chicken Nuggets

My boys, that being the old hubsters and my four year old son The Moose, love chicken nuggets. The baby has not had one yet and I am going to keep it that way for a while.  More so, they have an ongoing love affair with Buffalo Wild Wings chicken.  Weekly they go out on a man night adventure which often takes them to their favorite joint for some unhealthy man grub. This is fine with me.

Sometimes at home I have a request for the home made version of what is basically chicken nuggets.
As we try pretty hard to eat food that is nourishing and whole this (I thought) was a tricky recipe to pull off. In fact, however, it is not that tricky at all.


Ingredients:
Good Chicken
Organic Golden Panko
Coconut Oil
Arizona Pepper's Organic Jalepeno Pepper Sauce
Flour
Egg

I say "good chicken" because if you are buying local chicken then it is possible to purchase organic hormone free chicken that was raised ethically and lovingly without it having the organic stamp. Many small farms can not afford to certify organic, but actually are in fact organic or beyond! Just start asking questions and you can save yourself some money. I use a whole chicken, cook it, and cut it up. I often save the chicken breast pieces especially for this meal.

Panko is some pretty neat stuff. You could use any type of breadcrumbs, even home made ones. I am using Panko because we like it on cheese sticks and I happen to buy it for two dollars last week! I like Edward and Sons brand, but there is lots of good Panko out there.

Egg and Flour. Easy enough. I use freshly ground whole grain of some kind and it does not affect the taste or make it gritty. You could use just about anything here.

Coconut Oil. By frying your  chicken in the coconut oil you are going to do two things. One, add some amazing rich flavor to your food and second give your food a rich and nutritious fat source that your body needs. This is a fantastic alternative to other frying oils. It is not only NOT bad for you, it is actually good for you.  Can't beat that.

Cut up your chicken into pieces as you prefer.
Set three bowls on your counter. One with beaten egg. One with flour. One with Panko/breadcrumbs.
Roll the chicken into the flour.
Dip the floured chicken into the egg.
Coat the floured egged chicken into the panko. Repeat until finished.
Fry the chicken in coconut oil on a skillet. Don't know why but I always make this meal on my cast iron skillet. Makes for some mean chicken fingers.

For fun, and to imitate that resteraunt feel, I then place several cups in the middle of the table with various sauces. I like to use ranch, buffalo sauce, and BBQ sauce. But, we mix it up with whatever we have.


We ate this particular meal with gigantic sweet potatoes and green beans straight from the CSA box. Amen.

I am very curious if anyone else has a take on this meal. I would always be open to finding other ways to make chicken nuggets that are delicious, easy, and healthy. Share if you do and we will feature you!

Many blessings,

Katie

ps..on chicken nugget night we also have a bottle of creme soda. Traditions. Gotta love them.

Squash Pictures

Yesterday I declared my love for squash. Let me share a few pictures of what I am talking about.....