Mil-Spouse Fill-In

Here is this week's installment of Mil-Spouse Fill in. Thanks to Wife of a Sailor for keeping Mil-Spouse Fill-in days going.

1. My plans for this weekend include studying and housework, but what I’d really like to do is take a roadtrip to do some fishing and boating in Utah.
2. I consider the Labor Day holiday a time of reflection, remembering all the men and women of our history that have worked so hard to make it what it is today.
3. My favorite meal for cookouts is brats, but my weight loss goal wouldn’t agree. (eating brats kills the diet)
   
4. So far, my favorite part of summer has been the month or so of leave we took, spending time in Northern Wisconsin is nothing short of perfect.
5. When it comes to deployments, my philosophy is a day at a time, they suck but have to be done.

HH6- Sept. Cooking Challenge

This is my first month joining the Household 6 Cooking Club! Each month members are given a cooking challenge to complete and blog about. This month's challenge is:

We all need to be prepared in the event of a disaster. You have stuff in your pantry and fridge/freezer. If a disaster should strike today and you have no access to going to a grocery store but your stove/grill is still working, what would you make with what you have on hand.

As part of the challenge we were required to take pictures of our fridge, freezer, and pantry to show what we had on hand for this challenge. Here are my pictures. I grocery shop for the week on Saturdays so my cupboards are a little bare and I clean my fridge out on Fridays so it isn't the cleanest in the world either.

I don't know what I am going to prepare and will share my experience after I prepare this meal but these are some of the items in my kitchen that I may use: ground beef, frozen veggies, brown rice, pasta, onions, garlic, potatoes, tomato paste, tomato soup, tomatoes, olive oil, and bread.
So check back in a few weeks to see what I come up with for this challenge.

Pineapple Peanut Butter Smoothie

As I have mentioned before I really enjoying drinking smoothies for a meal or two most days of the week. I am still a newbie as far as smoothies go but want to share what I learn as I go. I know that green smoothies don't look very appetizing (just ask S he won't go near them) but they really are amazingly good and good for you!
When I make a green smoothie I try to mix up the ingredients so that I can getting a variety of good for you stuff. Though bananas and spinach are pretty much in every smoothie I make. The smoothie I made tonight for dinner included cabbage which I have never put into a smoothie. It was great though.
I have found that I don't really taste the greens in my smoothies. The fruit provides enough flavor to mask any other flavors it seems. As I was preparing tonight's smoothie I took pictures to share with you but since my computer or memory card doesn't like me I don't have those pictures. :( But I will gladly the share the recipe with you!

Pineapple Peanut Butter Smoothie
1/2-1 cup water
2 cups spinach
1 cup cabbage
1/2 cup pineapple (frozen to give that smoothie consistency)
1/2 Banana (frozen to give that smoothie consistency)
1/2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
*if your fruit isn't frozen I suggest adding ice and reducing the water*

According to my BodyBugg the nutritional information is as follows:

Calories: 175
Protein: 5.5 grams
Fat: 5 grams
Carbs: 32 grams

Make Your Own Warm Delights like treat at home

I found this recipe on Pinterest a while back and it has become a regular dessert and snack in our house. I have tweaked the recipe a bit so I will share my version and share the link to the original too.
Brownie in a Mug
-2 T. Flour
-1 3/4 T. Sugar
- 2 t. cocoa powder
-1/4 t. baking powder
- Dash of salt
- 2 T. milk
-1 t. oil
-1/8 t. vanilla
-1-2t. Powdered Sugar (RESERVE for topping after cooking)
Spray a coffee mug with non-stick cooking spray. Mix all of the dry ingredients (except powdered sugar) well in the mug and then add the wet ingredients. Mix ingredients until smooth. Microwave for 35 seconds. Don't overcook. Top with powdered sugar and enjoy!

The original recipe is only 110 calories! I haven't plugged my recipe in yet but I imagine it isn't much more.

Beef Jerky

S loves beef jerky but I always shudder at the price of it and the long list of ingredients on the packaging. When we made our trip back home, to Illinois, this summer I purchased a dehydrator hoping to use it not only for jerky but also for fruits. I haven't done much as far as the fruit goes but have made jerky several times.
It is so easy to make and its tasty too, S loves it so that helps too. ;) This was the first time I made it with the beef that I got from Grass Roots Meat. It turned out great and made quite a bit too. Jerky making is easy and quick. I also love that I can control what I put into my jerky seasonings.
I think that our dehydrator was one of the best investments I have made in a while. Not only can I make great jerky but as I mentioned I can do some great things with fruit too. I hope to make some yummy dried fruit soon too.

Basket 8/27/2011

Today was our weekly Bountiful Basket pickup. As I mentioned in a previous post we purchase an organic basket every week for $26.50 (conventional baskets are available too for $16.50).

As you can see we got quite a bit of produce this week including: Green Grapes, Bananas, Watermelon, Cantelope, Avocado, Tomatoes, Onion, Celery, Green Beans, Broccolt, and Cabbage.


I have never eaten or cooked with an Avocado and don't usually eat cabbage (though S loves to eat a cabbage, potato, and vinegar salad). I am looking forward to finding things ways to use all of our produce this week.
*Sorry about the quality of the picture, I forgot to take a picture until this evening so I had to gather everything back up and was kind of hurrying*

Mil-Spouse Fill-In

1. The first thing I think of when I get up in the morning is why must my child wake up so early!

2. Lately, I have been craving Ice Cream because it is way to hot here in Las Vegas. I am a midwestern girl I am not cut out for the desert.

3. Whenever anyone says the word Quick Stop, it reminds me of my childhood because there was a little ice cream/snack shop in my hometown called Quick Stop. As a kid we would walk down for great food and ice cream.

4. The happiest word I know is love, but I find it challenging to love myself.

5. My spouse may hate it, but I absolutely love to workout. (He thinks I am crazy!)

Head over to Wife of a Sailor to find more Mil-Spouse Fill-Ins! And thanks to The Misadventures of Mrs. Duh for getting me on board.