Saturday, June 25, 2011

Farmers' Market Finds

goats' milk soap, blueberries, cantaloupe, boiled peanuts, farm eggs, organic heirloom zucchinis/tomato/cukes, patty pan squash, new potatoes and my most favorite eggplant (well these and Rosa Bianca's)...and the boys had homemade cinnamon rolls as well

There was plenty we didn't buy. The variety and quantity today was fantastic! I'm super impressed with the market this year. The growth in just the one year we've been here is outstanding. I was sad leaving behind Oxford and Taylor's market with the wonderful organic farmers we had met, but Starkville's market is moving on up!

It was a great morning at Starkville Community Market!

Do you make a point to support local farmers in your community?

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Homemade, All Natural Poison Ivy Remedy

<Sigh>
I'm not really thrilled to be writing this post.
Why, you may ask?
Because for this particular remedy to be on my mind, it must mean someone has Poison Ivy
and this time, that someone is ME!!

I'm so allergic to it as well and if you've ever had a reaction to PI, you know it's the devil!
It must be one of those summers for me because I have NO CLUE where I even came in contact with the stuff.
I'm just that allergic that i can pass by a mile away and it finds me!
I won't complain TOO much because I am really healthy and my allergies are miniscule compared to most.
But, DANG, this itches!

Luckily, experience has taught me that this simple and all natural remedy soothes and heals poison ivy (or oak/sumac) rashes quick as a wink.
It feels divine, too!


I use French Green Clay powder (available in some beauty supply stores and health food stores, but always available online), witch hazel and peppermint essential oil.  I have a small, airtight container that I reserve for my clay paste each summer (it works great for stings or bug bites, too). Take a scoop of the clay powder and dump it into your container. Add 20-30 drops of the peppermint eo and then slowly add the witch hazel a little bit at a time. Mix as you go and when you have a nice creamy and smooth paste (consistency of a facial masque), you're ready to apply. After washing the affected area with warm water and soap, pat dry and apply your clay paste. AHHHH! It feels lovely, doesn't it?!

The green clay (any clay can be used but green is best!) has a higher absorption property and as it dries it pulls the poisonous oils out of the skin. The witch hazel soothes and heals the skin and itching while the peppermint cools the affected area to soothe it as well. This stuff blows calamine lotion out of the water! 

Hopefully, you won't ever have to use this remedy.
But if you do, you can rest assured that you have a safe, all natural and wonderfully effective treatment right at your fingertips!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Meal Plan 6/20/11

Full swing into summer cooking which means we either grill it or barely need the stove/oven on if at all to cook it.
It's too dang hot for much else :)
But summer eating it my favorite!
The food is light and the veggies are fresh, colorful and delicious!

Here's what we've got coming up over the next week...

Monday: Greek Salad complete w/ a simple olive oil  & lemon juice dressing, cucumbers, red bell peppers & tomatoes from the garden, kalamata olives and artichoke hearts served w/ pitas and spinach & feta dip

Tuesday: Crispy Grilled Chicken thighs w/ grilled summer squash pasta salad

Wednesday: Watermelon & Goat Cheese quinoa with pitas & spinach/feta dip

Thursday: Chicken enchiladas (made w/leftover grilled thighs) mexican rice, homemade cheese dip & chips *This was Tripp's requested meal :)

Friday: Grilled skirt steak w/ Grilled corn & avocado salad

Saturday: Grilled corn, Purple hull peas, Butter beans and Skillet cornbread cakes

Sunday: Grilled Salmon a top a Spinach, Walnut & Berry Salad w/ homemade poppyseed dressing

 I've even got an extra day prepared: Grilled Sea Scallops & Green beans wrapped in pancetta, Charred Romaine hearts w/ buttermilk dressing and grilled Sweet potatoes

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Just the Boys

Today, I left early in the morning headed down to Jackson to meet with a coalition of healthcare associations across our state that the Mississippi Nurses Association organizes. I attended on behalf of Mississippi Friends of Midwives with our president, Bianca Wooden and the president of the Mississippi Midwives Alliance, Renata Hillman. ANYways, long story short, Will and the boys had the day all to themselves which was a first.

Being the super dad that he is, he packed them a picnic and took them to the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge.

 a bird! Charlie's fave!



I'm not sure what I love more about their clothes today...
The fact that Will put them in matching shorts or that their shirts do not match said shorts at all.








This sums it up really...

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Spinach, Walnut, & Blueberry Salad w/ Grilled Salmon & Homemade Poppyseed Dressing

Is there anything that screams summer like fruit a top your salad dressed with poppyseed dressing?
Not really.

Poppyseed dressing perfectly compliments many of summer's ripened beauties.

We bought blueberries at the farmers' market on Saturday, so they were just waiting to be eaten.
We also had spinach and cucumber from the market and since we've been under extreme heat advisories for what, a week or 2 now, I decided to make a salad with it for dinner. We're in full summer no-cook mode because it's just TOO hot!
All we needed was to marinate the salmon in some honey, tamari and lemon juice before putting on the grill and then make the dressing.

aren't the sunflowers a nice touch?
They were Tripp's pick at the market Saturday.

So, the dressing.
Easy-peasy.

Homemade Poppyseed Dressing

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (the real stuff w/ the mother)
1/2 cup agave nectar or honey
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
2-3 tablespoons poppy seeds
1-2 teaspoons of grated onion
1 cup olive oil (or walnut, grapeseed, etc use your fave salad oil)

In a bowl whisk together vinegar, agave nectar, dry mustard, salt, poppy seeds and onion. Slowly add one cup of oil, whisking vigorously as you add. 
I store mine in a mason jar in the fridge.

Layer your salad...Ours was Spinach, cucumbers, blueberries, walnuts, feta and grilled salmon.
Give your dressing a good shake and then, dress.
Mmmm...enjoy!
And thank me later!


Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Verbatim

Me: (after hearing screams come from the next room) Tripp, please give Charlie his cup back. 
Tripp: But, I'm trying to pack it in the wagon.
Me: Tripp, Charlie would like his cup. If he wants to pack it, then we will let him do it.
Tripp: But, we're moving to New York City and  it's time to get everything loaded!!


Tripp: Mama! We brought you breakfast for bed!
Me: Oh, thank you! It looks delicious!
Tripp: It's a quesadilla frittatta! (it was a spinach and feta omelette lol)

 Me: Tripp, do you know what Memorial Day is about?
Tripp: It's about remembering the soldiers.
Me: That's right. Do you know what soldiers do?
Tripp: They protect us from the fire dragons.
lol, well, yeah. Kinda kiddo!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Dino-dilla

Because sometimes, you just need a dinosaur for lunch...


Eat up!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Hangout Music Fest 2011

view from our balcony and you can easily enjoy tunes from the main stages here as well.

 balloon fishing pole w/ a caught fish equals one happy boy




 Charlie was snoozing 1 song into Widespread Panic...long day :)
 and Tripp crawled into the stroller and went to sleep.
Primus
jumping, jumping, jumping
 percussion tent for the kiddos and kiddos at heart

 mama and Charlie meeting Michael Franti
Michael Franti  



some serious jumping
 snow cone break!!!
 bubble heaven
 baby's gotta eat
 serious stilting skills
We had such a blast again this year at the Hangout Festival! 
and just for fun...Here's us at the Hangout Festival 2010!



Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Meal Plan 6/1/11

We've been in and out of town, so the meal plans have fallen by the wayside. 
This week, I'm a little late b/c I generally post on Mondays by weekly plan, but alas...

And it's already HOT at Hades so the summer cooking has commenced.

Sunday: eat at the Mississippi Friends of Midwives picnic
Monday: dinner at my parents
Tuesday: leftovers (we visisted Will's Gramma and got home pretty late)
Wednesday: Salmon cakes, sauteed chard (from the farmers' market, yum), cheese grits
Thursday: tacos w/ fixins and homemade guacamole
Friday: Veggie fritata (I like to throw in a good mix) with toasted polenta w/ goat cheese
Saturday: variety of appetizers for dinner...having friends over
Sunday: it's my birthday so therefore, I'm not cooking :)

I almost have next week planned as well. I'm trying to use what we have with minimal grocery shopping. I will update when I have the full week done. 

What are you eating this week?