Slow and Steady - Black Bean Burger

So here is the deal with plant based eating (I like to say that instead of vegan - the word vegan scares people!), I think easing in is best.  You know, kind of a "slow and steady" mentality?  Now some people can dive right in, throw everything away that isn't plant based and be just fine, but the idea of committing to something like that scared me. So, my husband and I approached it as more of a "slow and steady" thing.  For instance, we started with just replacing one night a week with a plant based menu.  Then it became two and it grew from there but it was just dinner.  Then I started working on snacks for us that would healthy (which is when I discovered Vegan Shakeology - AMAZING, gave me tons of energy).  Then I finally started working on our lunches. Our commitment to plant based eating evolved and that was a great way to do it for us. When we were just looking for an easy week night meal, I discovered Black Bean Burgers.  Now if you are trying to convince your very carnivorous husband to start eating a plant based diet, I wouldn't start with these little beauties.  They are delicious but if a person is thinking that is going to taste like the Burger King burger, we have troubles. However, if you are a plant based fan already - try these puppies out.  We love them and eat them at least once a week at our house.  I timed it tonight - took me exactly 5 minutes prep time. You read right - FIVE MINUTES.  Then they cook for 15 minutes.  We serve them with sweet potatoes or frozen sweet potato fries and fruit. So let me tell you how easy this is. You will need: 1 15 ounce can black beans 1/3 cup quick cook oats 1 tablespoon of mustard 2 tablespoons of ketchup sprinkle in some garlic or onion powder Here is what ya do! Rinse and drain the beans and then mash them in a bowl (you don't want them pureed, still should be able to see pieces). Add in oats, ketchup, mustard, and spices Stir together and form into four patties. Bake at 400 for 7 minutes on a greased or lined cookie sheet.  Then flip and bake 7 more minutes until crispy. We find that we really like this when we pile the bun high with pickles, spinach or kale, ketchup, mustard, and anything else can find (avocado slices, even salsa!) They are so versatile and easy. Now, bare with me because I need to work on learning to take pictures while cooking and actually take a nice picture after cooking, but here is my burger ready to go!  What a sad little picture of a great meal.  I burnt the buns - whoops!  But seriously, I will take better pictures. Try this for yourself.  Its good!  I promise!! Recipe taken from http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/quick-black-bean-burger/

Whole Wheat Muffins - Ready for Mix-ins! : Freezer Friendly

I've been doing a lot of reading online lately about food, our ability to get food, and the kind of foods we eat.  I have high cholesterol.  At 28.  Had I not had Little One I probably wouldn't have learned this little tidbit and it might not have mattered as much to me.  Honestly, my whole worldview has changed now that I'm a mom.  This little life depends on me to be healthy... to set a good, healthy lifestyle example in food and exercise.  Now, I don't love eating healthy all the time (cheese is my weakness!!) and working out on a regular basis (ugh.  it feels soooooooo repetitive.  I just don't enjoy "the hurt" from working out.  But.  My mind has got to change.  I'm really trying to become better at these - for myself and for Little One.  

Now back from that tangent - I am trying to reduce the amount of processed (pre-made) food that we consume and to increase our amount of daily vegetable and fruit intake.  DH and I decided yesterday that we will cut out most fast food, especially if we're eating it because we're being lazy.  I read something a while back that has really stuck with me as it pertains to children and what they eat.  It was something along these lines... children aren't born with the taste and cravings for salty, processed, empty food.  They learn to like these foods because we feed it to them.  I fail daily at this, but it serves as a reminder to me to stop and think about what I'm feeding Little One.  

So you're a busy mom?  Hectic schedule?  Too many things to do in one day?  How can I possibly cook for my family to cut out some of the processed foods?  Check out this site and this site.  Tried and true places to start.

1) Start with freezer friendly meals.  

2) Set apart an hour a week to meal plan (look up some recipes you want to try!).  

3) Prepare your grocery list based on sections of the store.  I'm kinda crazy, but every time I go I always follow the same path.  This allows me to set up my grocery list the same way every time.  This little time I take to categorize my list based on section of the grocery store or aisle saves me A TON of time in the store and I don't have to backtrack.  

4) One weekend day (or week day - it doesn't matter... just sometime when you have childcare or you know your child can be easily entertained while you cook for about 30 - 45 minutes...) prepare your meals.  

5) Start with 2 or 3.  That's 2 or 3 more than you had before you started!  I try to pick meals or foods that have similar ingredients to save time on prep work.  Start small and slowly work it in.  If you don't like something you've made, mark that off the "to-try" list for next time.  If you like it add it to your "regulars" list.  You can do it!!  

I've found this site - 100 Days of Real Food - she has A TON of good ideas and recipes.  These muffins are from her site.  Little One LOVED them.  They aren't sweet like regular muffins - and it's super fun to be able to add your own different "sweet" fruit mix-ins.  Banana was our favorite (but we're a banana muffin kind of family!)  Let me know what you decide to mix in - the options are endless!

 

Mama & Baby Love's Healing Chicken Soup: Freezer Friendly!

We're supposed to get a blizzard tonight.  Yes.  You read that right!  There's just something about the warning of snow that makes me crave soup.  I made this soup from Mama and Baby Love's ecookbook - you can find yours here!  It's the first ecookbook I've ever purchased and I wasn't disappointed.  All of her recipes are freezer friendly and 95% of her recipes are grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.  Annnnnd it's only $9.99.  Totally worth the splurge in my book!

Try this recipe of hers and you'll be hooked.  Although hers called for making it with a whole chicken, I used some cubed frozen chicken breasts I had on hand.  It was hearty, made the house smell heavenly while cooking all afternoon, and most importantly was scrumptious to eat.  Love. 

Mama and Baby Love that is ;)

Lasagna Roll Ups & Homemade Marinara Sauce

I made these roll ups on January 16th.  Today is January 28th and I'm just now blogging about it.  Can you tell I'm SO ready for February?  New month.  New start.  Do you want to know a secret?  FRIDAY is February 1st!!  This Friday.  Does it amaze you as much as me that this year is flying by already?!?  Let's all do a small celebratory dance... drum roll please... because I've sold THREE orders in my Etsy store.  Y'all.  That is just amazing.  Thank you to everyone who has backed my projects with your support!  As a sign of thanks - I'm doing a giveaway! Check out my Facebook page and comment before 8 pm tonight to be entered in the drawing :)  You just don't know how much I've needed your sweet faces this past month.  You are truly a gift from God!!

Now, let me tell you another secret.  

These beautiful things are in my freezer right now!  Topped with my homemade marinara.  Waiting on February 14th.  8 pm.  Dinner date at home with the DH after Little One is in bed.  I'm so excited!  We won't have to fight the crowds.  Won't have to worry that Little One will decide to be cranky on that one night we want to eat in peace.         I won't have to be flustered and running all around wondering what I'm going to fix.  These are 4 leftovers from my meal we had mid-January.  Frozen.  Ready to go.  All I have to do is add a salad and some garlic bread.  And boom.  Valentine's Dinner - ah-hem - a homemade Valentine's dinner is made!  

I'll be the first to say these do take a little prep time - or maybe it's just me. Those blasted lasagna noodles gave me a little trouble because I didn't have a pot big enough to really cook them.  Maybe you are better at this than I!  Now I know why I usually stick to the Crockpot Lasagna ;)  Buuuut.  This is worth the effort.  Especially to dote on your special ones with.  What else says love like good, homemade food.  Only you and I have to know you pre-made it, froze it, and it only took 35 minutes to reheat on a weeknight! 

Happy Birthday!

One year ago today I started OurGreeneHome with this post and this post!

And 2013 is proving to be just as exciting!!

Check out our new Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/OurGreeneHome1

Hop on over and "Like" our page - this week we're talking about what freezer friendly meals look like in Our Greene Home.

Thank you for your year of support!  Cheers to many more :)