Well I should clarify that I am still living the goal of menu planning and shopping on a budget, I just haven’t been very faithful to my blog. Sorry blog.

So I have stolen back a few minutes to post what this week’s menu. To be a bit more efficient today, I just linked to some of the recipes rather than create them as new posts in my recipe section (lazy me!):

Tonight | Beet Borscht (without the sausage) with Soft Pretzels (Sorry, these little pretzel morsels are not homemade. I leave them to the gifted hands of the Rustic Sourdough Bakery on 17th Avenue)

Sunday | At request from my 6 year old… Backwards Supper (meaning breakfast for dinner) Eggs Benedict with Homemade Hashbrowns and Holiday (Hollandaise) Sauce.

Monday | Salmon with Bacon, Balsamic, Honey and Rosemary (this one’s for you Darren and Nicole) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Basil

Tuesday | Lentil Soup with Roasted Beet Salad and Pita

Wednesday | Roasted Chicken Thighs, Potatoes, Mint & Olives

Thursday | Pasta with Walnut and Arugula Pesto

Friday | Quinoa Tabouleh with Fatyrs (again… I leave these little morsels to the professionals… we order meat and potato, spinach, and potato and tomato fatyrs from Little Lebanon on 17th Ave)

CLEANSE: Apricot Cleansing Lotion

I had originally picked the “On the Go” Cleanser which is a “non-drying” citrusy gel. Thinking it would be better for warmer weather… but I found that is was drying. Your skin feeling tight after cleansing is never good. So I swapped it for the Cleansing Lotion and my skin said, “ahhh”.

Gentle and soothing best describes this deliciously rich-textured cleansing lotion for normal to dry skin. Even the most stubborn makeup, dirt, and grime melt away, as nature’s most precious oils such as sunflower, avocado, sesame, and apricot, soften and moisturize the skin.

-Apricot oil: A nourishing emollient.
-Sunflower oil: An emollient and lubricant.
-Soybean oil: An emollient, solvent, and moisturizer.
-Sesame oil: A nutrient and emollient.
-Wheat germ oil: Moisturizes and softens.

TONE: Pick Me Up Face Tonic

Now I should state that a toner is not a required par of skincare. If you are using the right cleanser, you face doesn’t need to be PH balanced or cleansed further. But some toners deliver additional skincare benefits. Like this one… it has some lovely ingredients that support the evening of skin tone and brights the complexion. Yes please.

Your skin will immediately feel awakened and oxygenated from this carefully blended mixture of plant and citrus extracts. Non-drying yet gently astringent and pore minimizing, this stimulating tonic can be used as a quick, one-step cleanser, any time of the day.

-Extracts of blueberry, blackberry and chamomile: Calming and renewing with astringent properties.
-Rose hips extract: Anti-inflammatory, soothing.
-Sea kelp: Hydrating.
-Alpha hydroxy acids: Increases cell renewal, exfoliates.

ANTI-AGING/NIGHT TREATMENT: Invigorating Night Gel

An exceptionally lightweight gel that stimulates cell turnover, exposing a younger, firmer-looking complexion. A soothing moisture barrier instantly seals in essential vitamins and minerals.

-AHA complex: Helps cell renewal, diminish lines and wrinkles, smooth texture, and minimize blemishes.
-Algae extract: Nourishes the skin.
-Mucopolysaccharides: Binds moisture to the skin, hydrates.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petro-Chemicals
- Phthalates
- GMO
- Triclosan

MOISTURIZE: Sheer Transformation

What it is:

An antiaging, skin-perfecting complex.

What it is formulated to do:

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation helps fade skin discolorations—hyperpigmentation, age spots, and sun damage—without the use of chemicals. It instantly nourishes and retexturizes the complexion, smoothing fine lines while providing intense free-radical protection to help prevent further damage. The light, creamy formula leaves skin feeling silky.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

• Parabens
• Sulfates
• Synthetic Fragrances
• Synthetic Dyes
• Petro-Chemicals
• Phthalates

What else you need to know:

This skincare solution suits all skin types.

BEST MASK FOR SPRING/SUMMER: Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask

Keep it in the fridge for an added treat. This will de-puff any tired, emotional face.

Calm, hydrate, and renew with this amazing aromatic blend of lavender, papaya enzyme, blueberries, and blackberries. This mask energizes skin with new vitality you can see and feel.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petro-Chemicals
- Phthalates
- GMO
- Triclosan

To use: After cleansing, apply a thick layer to the face, neck, and under eyes. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse well. Use 2 – 3 times weekly.

So I said to my two year old, “what do you want to do together tomorrow”. He said, “make cookies”.

The cookies of choice are a perfect balance of crunch, sweetness and nutrition. Now… promise me you won’t write them off because they sound weird. Try them first.

An added bonus: They don’t contain any wheat, gluten, common headache triggers, milk or eggs.

Quinoa Tahini Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup tahini (or peanut butter, if your diet allows)
• 1 1/4 cups rice flour (reduce to 1 cup if not high altitude) or regular flour if you aren’t avoiding gluten.
• 7/8 cup quinoa (like delicate oatmeal, reduce to 3/4 C if not high altitude)
• 1/4 cup of diced apricots
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toast the quinoa in a dry pan until it’s golden brown and have a nutty aroma
3. Combine first four ingredients; mix until creamy.
4. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.
5. Spoon rounded teaspoonfuls of batter onto cookie sheets.
6. Bake for 10 – 14 minutes, or until they start to turn golden brown.

As I mentioned in my last entry I have gone back to a dairy, gluten and sugar-free existence. I have been putting it off for ever since we had our international students and I was worried that I would A. not be able to afford a special diet for 6 people and B. make them pack their bags and run if I made them eat like me! But I have to say that I came up with a 10 day menu plan that did not have any gluten, dairy or sugar in it and so far so good! And as my earlier post also shows… it didn’t break the bank either! Careful planning and an open mind makes for a good combo.

The menu for this past 10 days included:

1. Chickpea Casserole (so good) with Roasted Beets, Field Greens and Walnut Salad
2. Lemon and Caper Salmon with Sweet Potato “Fries” and Miso Gravy
3. Brown Rice Pasta with Pesto, Roasted Tomatoes and Olives
4. Zaatar Roasted Chicken and Tomato Basil Bulgar
5. Miso Crusted Salmon with Fennel Salad
6. Onion Dolmas and Spicy Cauliflower
7. Red Curry Fish with Gingered Greens
8. Moroccan Quinoa and Fattoush Lebanese Salad
9. Lentil Salad and Tunsian Carrot Salad
10. And there was a night when the power threatened to go… so I ordered the family Panago.

In my goal to reduce our monthly grocery bill I take a couple of hours every other Saturday… look at the flyers for Safeway and Superstore and plan my menus for the next 14 days. The first shopping trip of the month is at Safeway on the Tuesday and the second big trip is 2 weeks later at Superstore.

Last week I took my grocery list to Safeway. I had upped the ante in my money saving goals as this month I took my family off of dairy and sugar… and myself off of gluten. This usually translates into a more expensive shopping trip. Brown Rice noodles instead of regular… Almond milk instead of Cow’s… you get the drift.

Well… as I was at the till watching my tally grow… the boy bagging my groceries made some sarcastic comment about how inexpensive Safeway is… (I had mentioned he was was one of the reasons I loved coming to Safeway… no not HIM… but someone bagging my groceries… remember I go to Superstore the other trips… and the savings was the other). I said, “just you wait my friend… my favorite part is coming up”. The total came to over $400. I gave the cashier my discount card number… always wait until the end to give it… it makes the savings so much sweeter! The discounts started coming off the total. Then she asked if I wanted the airmiles or 10% off… I said 10% please. Beep beep beep. The till told her that she needed a manager to authorize the discount… because I saved $103 dollars off of my $400 bill!!!! She, the bag boy and the manager were all quite amazed… they wondered how I managed to get such a savings… and they were even more impressed when I told them that this load of groceries would feed my family of 6 for 2 weeks. All because of some flyer reading, menu planning and good old Customer Appreciation Tuesday. The best 2 hours on a Saturday I ever spent.

Let’s have a challenge… are you near a Safeway? Let’s do a contest to see who gets the highest percentage of savings off their next Customer Appreciation Day shopping trip! Your bill doesn’t have to be $400… not even $100. We’ll calculate the winner based on percentage! The next big date at Safeway is May 4th.

But that is just me…. Full steam ahead for a distance. And then putter, putter. HALT! Mini-breakdown. And then with each moment of being “productivity-challenged” I become more and more behind and procrastinate the catch-up work. So in the spirit of being REALISTIC and not PERFECTIONISTIC, I am giving myself a hall pass and I am not doing any make ups…. just full steam ahead for another distance. Well actually I am going to try something new… and not go at full tilt… thus may be spacing out my puttering.

I do have one funny little excerpt from my latest dramas. I have recently joined the ominous GYM. I have never, ever been a gym girl. I do not like to exercise. In fact I wear the Lululemon tshirt that talks about Sweating Once a Day and Drinking Water just to make myself feel more fit. I am an athletic apparel wearing hypocrite. Anyways… after my 6 year old asking “if I had a baby in my belly because it is getting fatter”, I decided it was time to suck it up and sweat. I had been going for a week, and feeling pretty good about my lack of injury. I decided that to really get some results, I needed someone yelling at me. So I looked into a class. Being highly intimidated… and uncoordinated, I hesitantly looked into a low impact cardio class. The only other woman waiting for the class to start was a 65+ year old women who I overheard telling the instructor she had a fused spine. I thought, “this is the class for me… ease into this whole crazy thing”. OMG. It kicked my butt. Kicked it. I mean granted, I am a little competitive, so I can never do the modified version of anything unless medically necessary, and I thought I should be able to do everything the instructor was doing. It is 3 days later, and I am still discovering new muscles from this one low impact discovery session. But what really gets me, is the woman with the fused spine went from the class right to the circuit weights. And when I got out of the shower and was leaving, she was on the treadmill. So apparently she is an AMAZON WOMAN WITH A FUSED SPINE.

Tomorrow, this uncoordinated, rhythm challenged masochist is doing a BODY JAM class. Yes friends, that is a hip hop cardio class. Stay tuned. If I am not back in a couple of days to blog… send flowers.

• Firecracker Salmon
• Butternut Squash & Apple Soup
• Cinnamon Roasted Chicken
• Cincinnati Chili
• Quinoa Caprese
• Tarragon Chicken Casserole

And I have discovered the most delicious and simple muffin recipe: Cappuccino Muffins (no surprise, a favorite of my toddler)…

Recipes coming soon.

So my two year old loves coffee. It baffles me. But this is also the kid that likes to eat soap (Irish Spring is his favorite) … and the first thing he says every morning is “Vitamin C please”.

The other day I had to take a phone call. It was right in the midst of our bedtime routine… but I had been waiting for this particular call and it was important. He was fresh out of the bath. Clean, cozy pj’s… you know the epitome of bedtime perfection.

I gave him a banana and sat him at the table.

The call was short. 5 minutes max.

I admit I can get engrossed in a phone call. I was on the wall phone (aka not the cordless). I was leaning on the kitchen counter, face into the wall. My  back was to my son.

I hung up the phone and turned around. OMG!

My son had pushed his chair up to the counter, taken the coffee grinder and dumped the grinds. He had dipped his banana into the grinds. And between eating the banana and licking the counter he was also driving his car through the grinds. I said (in horror), “what are you doing”??

He was bouncing. Up and down. He said, “eating yummy coffee dirt”. He didn’t sleep well. Either did I.

Tonight’s meal was a new one for us… the recipe called for white miso… which I could not find, so I made it with dark miso. It was delicious, but probably intended to be a bit milder.

I made a side of toasted coconut rice. Really simple. Make your rice using broth instead of water. Toast some coconut in a small amount of coconut oil. Once the rice is cooked, stir in 1 tablespoon of Thai Kitchen Green Curry Paste and the toasted coconut.

I LOVE fennel, so the salad was my sweet spot. Really simple and fresh.

Fish Ingredients

• 4-5 pieces of salmon or firm white fish
• 2 tablespoon white miso paste
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/3 cup water

Fennel Salad Ingredients

• 2 small fennel bulbs thinly sliced
• 1 cucumber shredded
• 1/4 cup  lime juice
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup cilantro

1. Place the miso, tahini, sugar and water in a saucepan and stir over low heat for 2 minutes or until thickened.
2. Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium to high heat.
3. Add the salmon, skin side down, and cook for 3 minutes or until skin is crisp. Brush the salmon with the miso sauce, turn and cook 1 minute.
4. For the fennel salad, combine the fennel, cucumber, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and cilantro.
5. To serve, place the fennel salad on the plate and top with fish.
   

From Off the Shelf – Donna Hay