Almond Milk and Almond Flour

I love when I find out it is EASY to make something at home that you usually buy at the store.
I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE when I find out it tastes more delicious than anything I have ever bought at the store.
My friend, Steve, and I were talking recently about his love of making almond milk (and flour) at home. He said the only thing I'd need was my blender and a nut milk bag (I purchased mine on Amazon, of course).
Here is the recipe he sent me! This is for blending into smoothies. He still owes me the recipe he uses when he plans to drink it straight up.

1. Soak approximately 14 oz of almonds in filtered water (I used my fridge water) for about 8 hours

2. Strain and rinse almonds.

3. Put almonds in a blender and fill up with filtered water. Blend almonds with the water.
(You will need a really good blender to do this. Steve has a Vitamix. I have a DASH and it did well, but it was rough for a little while. Be careful.)

4. Strain out pulp with your nut milk bag. I squeezed it, kind of like I was milking a cow so I could get every drop I could.

TA-DA! You have made almond milk. Store in an airtight container in your fridge.

For the almond flour, bake the pulp on a pan lined with parchment paper for at least 6 hours (I had to do longer, which makes me think I could have squeeze more liquid out.). Grind in food processor to make flour.

Blacked Chicken and Cilantro Lime Quinoa

I first had this deliciousness a few years ago when someone brought us this meal after our daughter was born. We are still making it 3.5 years later and we enjoy it every time. The original recipe comes from www.sarcasticcooking.com  I, of course, tripled it so that we have enough for everyone and leftovers!

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 Tbsp paprika

1/2 Tbsp salt

1/2 Tbsp pepper

2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 Tbsp onion powder

1/2 Tbsp cumin

olive oil

2 cups low sodium chicken stock and 2 cups water

2 cups quinoa

Juice and zest from one lime (if I don't have this on hand, I skip it and it is still good)

cilantro, salt, and pepper to taste

One avocado

2 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt

Instructions

1.  Pat chicken dry.

2. Combine all the dry seasonings in a small bowl. Mix them together and season both sides of each chicken breast. 

3. Add enough olive oil to thinly coat bottom of your pan. Heat about a minute over med/high heat. Add chicken breasts to the pan. Cook about 7 minutes on each side with the lid on.

4. Meanwhile, add chicken stock, water, and quinoa to a pot. Bring to a simmer over medium/low heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes with lid on, or until all the stock has been absorbed. (Following package directions would suit you well here.)

5. When chicken is cooked through, remove from the pan and let them rest 7 minutes on a paper towel lined plate and tented with foil. Slice chicken.

6. Add the warm quinoa to a large bowl. Toss in lime zest, lime juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Mix to combine.

7. Serve sliced chicken breast on top of quinoa. Top with avocado cream sauce (to make, place flesh of one avocado and Greek yogurt in the blender or food processor and puree until smooth).

Note: I used a grain blend that had red quinoa, amaranth and brown rice. You could use regular quinoa or rice pilaf (white or brown). I have used all to great success depending on how I feel any given day and what I have on hand. :)

A Day in the Life Revisited

I wrote the following Day in the Life a YEAR ago. I have to say that even though I have started my own business, my days are not nearly as crazy as they once were. I believe it is because I have learned to prioritize and simplify where I can. Looking back on this day, I remember feeling like a freaking rock star that I survived it! I am very grateful that this is not the norm and I'm enjoying a slower paced life!

For your entertainment, take a look at a not-so-typical day in my life circa Fall 2015!

I think I might just throw in the towel some days if I didn't feel 100% positive that having five children is my calling in life. Some days I excel and Jared and I high five at how awesome we are. Other days I want to hide in the closet and pretend Mary Poppins is downstairs caring for my children.
Today was one of those days that reinforced the fact that 5 KIDS IS A LOT of KIDS! It wasn't bad, it was just insane. I am so glad this isn't a typical day and that tomorrow, I just have to fold those 7 loads of laundry I managed to wash today.  Take a look at a day in the life.

5:30: Alarm goes off for scheduled "Me" time and exercise. I find 2 year old in my bed and fear that getting out of bed will wake her, so I lay there for an hour trying to decide how to get out stealthily. I ultimately give up.
6:30-7:15: 5 year old comes in whining that his breakfast isn't ready. Since I literally slept in my clothes from the day before, I roll out of bed and head downstairs. Make lunches, make breakfast, eat breakfast, read scriptures, say family prayer, kiss 7 year old and 5 year old goodbye.
7:30: Nurse 6 month old while Dad takes everyone for a walk to see school kids off at the bus stop.
8:00: Rejoice that Dad is working from home on his late shift, so I squeeze in exercise and a shower!
9:30-11:30: Put baby down for a nap. Jared starts work and I build a city with Landon and Miriam. Proceed to attend to other "Mom" duties: snack getting, booty wiping, nose wiping, treat making for neighbors, lunch making, laundry,etc.
11:30: Nurse 6 month old while 4 year old and 2 year old play.
12:00: Allow children to entertain themselves while I make lunch for self and Jared.
2:00: Actually eat lunch I made and wonder what happened to the last 2 hours
2:30: Nurse 6 month old and put him down for nap #2. Walk to bus stop with 4 year old and 2 year old to pick up 5 year old and 7 year old.
3:00: Homework, agenda signing, talking about the day, etc.
4:00: Wake baby, load car with all 5 kids, head to friend's birthday party at the park.
4:30: Birthday party shenanigans. Children have a blast and get dirty and eat junk food. 2 year old poops her pants, clean her up with extra clothing I was awesome enough to bring. More birthday party shenanigans. Feed baby squash and change his diaper. Bump his head on hard park bench while changing diaper and spend 5 minutes getting him to stop freaking out. 2 year old wets her pants and proceeds to disrobe in middle of the park. Change her clothes again, except this time I only have extra undies. Pants and shoes/socks are ruined. Hurry everyone into car.
6:30: Once in car, head to church for 7 year old's first night as a Cub Scout.  It is a Pack Meeting so I am obligated to stay. (Apparently, pack meetings are family affairs.) Call Jared and ask him to bring extra clothes and shoes for 2 year old.  On the way to the church, 2 year old wets her pants again. Extra bonus: Car seat is now filled with urine and it's on my shirt because I didn't know she was wet and I picked her up to take her in the church (remember she has no shoes). How much did she drink at that dagum party?!
7:00: Meet Jared at the church (he has his Boy Scout obligation at the same time, so I'm still ALONE with everyone and they are hopped up on goodie bag candies and junk food). He brings clothes, but forgets shoes. Head inside looking like white trash. Finally go to the bathroom.  Enjoy Pack Meeting and that smile on my 7 year old's face is priceless when he is officially welcomed as a Scout. Calm a fussy, tired 6 month old for 45 minutes. Keep pulling up my pants because they are too big, which is AWESOME.
8:15: Get the heck out of there and head home.  Enjoy beautiful, nearly full moon on the drive home. 7 year old totally steps up and helps all the others get showered, dressed and teeth brushed while I nurse 6 month old and put him to bed.  7 year old even reads the younger children a story. As I finish nursing 6 month old, hear Jared enter house and tuck everyone in. Lay baby down and tuck everyone in. Start laundry to wash all the urine soaked clothing and car seat.
9:00: Write blog post and eat dinner. Bedtime is on the horizon. And, I am soooooooooo happy I made tapioca pudding last night, because I plan to eat 2 servings! And, I only hollered twice!

Breakfast Sandwich on Steroids

I saw one of those BuzzFeed videos on Facebook for this amazing looking breakfast sandwich. I changed it up a little bit and what occurred was magical!

Ingredients:
2 slices whole wheat sprouted bread (Use circle cookie cutter/child-sized cup to cut a hole in one slice)
1 egg
2-3 slices of turkey bacon
1/2 avocado, sliced
1/2 tomato, sliced
handful of arugula (or other green leaf)
Slice of favorite cheese (I used cheddar)

Heat pan over medium heat. Spray pan with cooking spray. Place bread with hole in pan, crack egg into hole and fry up until egg is cooked to your liking. I prefer over medium, so it ends up a little runny. I gave the toasty center circle to my baby!

Meanwhile, cook remaining slice of bread in the toaster. Once toasted, build sandwich and top with egg in a hole!

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

Almond Meal Chocolate Chip Cookies

My sweet bestie, JoAnn, hosted me at her house earlier this week. While I was there, she made me cookies! It was a recipe she has used and wanted to share with me. They were so delicious, I HAD to share them with you!

In a large bowl, whisk together
3 3/4 Cups Almond Flour
1 1/3 Cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp sea salt
1 Cup coconut sugar

Optional! If you want to add one of these for FALL FLAIR, whisk it into the dry ingredients.
1 tsp apple pie spice
           OR
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
           OR
1 tsp cinnamon

In a separate bowl, whisk together
3 Eggs
9 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Gently stir in 3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips or Cacao Nibs (Those mini chocolate chips by Enjoy Life are perfection!)

Chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes or overnight. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-10 minutes (when edges start to brown) and ENJOY!  P.S. They're Gluten Free!

Cute friend in cute apron sold separately!