Recipe Notebook Pages

Last week I posted about how helpful my new Recipe Notebooks have been in keeping me organized.  I need a paper copy of our "Family Favorites" so I don't have to go to Pinterest or another website every time I get ready to fix a snack or a meal.  My big 3 ring binder was bursting at the seams and this has been the perfect winter project as I look outside and dream of green grass and flowers!

Once I got my notebooks from Staples I was ready to put the recipes together so they were neat and tidy.  I created my format then got to work copy and pasting from Pinterest. 

Here is the finished product. 

I'm so close to being able to make these available for others to use!  It is so fun to create something useful!  These are 5 x 8 inch size but I'm working on a 8.5x11 inch size for those who want a larger notebook. 

Here are a few previews of the section pages!

Stay tuned.  Follow my Facebook page so you don't miss when these are available. 

Diet Changes AND Challenges

I like to think our family eats fairly healthy.  Most nights we have chicken, pork, fish, or beef and then healthy sides like salad & veggies with an occasional bowl of ice cream to finish things up.  But on the other hand its not uncommon to have a pizza from Hy-vee because momma is just too tired to be creative. 

Links in this post may be affiliate links--just in case you wanted to know.

Diet CHALLENGE #1 Gluten Intolerance & Celiac Disease

One challenge we often encounter is that my daughter seems to have some wheat or gluten intolerance. 

We haven’t had her officially tested but when she eats wheat she has headaches & feels “sick.” 

So she avoids it when possible.  I am avoiding wheat as well but mainly because I’ve noticed a gain of 2-3 lbs each time I eat it. 

**Update:  Elizabeth was diagnosed with Celiac disease in Dec '14 and now eats gluten free.

Diet Challenge #2

I really think that this has been preparing me for the BIG change that we’ve had the past month.  My mom has moved in with us and she is a diabetic. 

Ironically I changed my eating even more about 7 weeks ago to the Thin Healthy Mamma(THM) plan after reading the book. 

I still eat carbs but they are low glycemic & that works SO well in coordination with Mom’s diabetes.  Not to mention that I’ve lost 5 pounds while eating desserts, healthy fats, good carbs & yummy snacks. 

With this plan I’ve kicked the soda habit & the cravings are gone!!  I cannot believe it!!

One of my BIGGEST challenges is Tuesdays.  It is our errand day and I have to pack food for Mom and I for lunch & snacks.  It feels like a lot to pack.

How to help eat healthy on Errand Day

Lunch—these little ice cream containers were bought by my hubby when our freezer was FULL of meat and we had no room for big containers of ice cream.  A fun treat for the kids but VERY handy for packing small portions.

Cottage cheese, cucumbers, Joseph’s pita, peanut butter & sliced strawberries, dessert is usually a homemade peanut butter cup!

Snack—Kroger Greek yogurt.  Love this yogurt as it seems to have the lowest carbs of the flavored Greek brands.  Gentle on the blood sugar levels for mom.

You should also know I have a THM drinking problem--the good kind.  I must have a drink around all the time!  So of course I put all this food in my little cooler w/ a jug of Good Girl Moonshine for me & sweet tea made with stevia for mom & we are good to go!

Related Posts

Bloggy Progressive Dinner: Sausage Quiche Squares

My favorite thing about Christmas is that we don’t have a huge dinner.  We lay around in our pjs and have cereal(from Santa) for breakfast.  So I get to enjoy Christmas too—just being with my family and not spending the day in the kitchen!  Yeah!  We make this all year too--it is my 8 year old sons favorite egg dish.

If Santa doesn’t bring you cereal then you might want to have this quiche ready to pop in the oven.   It can be made ahead of time and frozen.  Just put it in the refrigerator the night before & then bake for 30 minutes instead of 15-20.  If you pair this with cinnamon rolls & it is a breakfast that gets thumbs up from kids & adults alike.

Sausage Quiche Squares

1 lb sausage—cooked—I use turkey sausage

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup Monterey jack cheese

1/2 cup chopped onion

10 eggs

1 Tbsp chili powder(use it all it isn’t spicy!)

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 small can chopped green chilis

Mix eggs & spices in a medium bowl.  Layer sausage, onion, and cheese in a 9x13 casserole dish.  Pour egg mixture over sausage.  Sprinkle chilis evenly over eggs(or leave one side without chilis for kids/adults who don’t like them).  Bake on 375 for 18-22 minutes.