Sugar-Free Breakfast Muffins

Cael, our boy, isn't a big vegetable eater, so I've been experimenting with ways to tuck veggies into foods he'll eat.  Since I was planning to make some banana bread, I decided maybe I'd attempt to add some carrots into it.  My little creation was a hit with kids and with us adults.  It's not fat free, but it IS sugar-free.  Here it is:

Banana-Carrot Muffins:

2 very ripe bananas
1 cup finely grated carrots
1/2 Cup Applesauce
1/3 Cup Butter or Vegetable Oil
 1 cup oats
1 cup raisins, cranberries, or combination

1 cup AP flour
1 cup wheat flour
3 TB Cornstarch
1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 cups flax seed

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine mashed banana, grated carrot, butter or oil, and applesauce in a large bowl.  Mix well.  Place oats and raisins and/or cranberries into a blender or food processor and process until it reaches a fairly fine texture.  Combine remaining ingredients and add into wet ingredients 1/3 at a time, mixing between additions.  Mix until wet throughout.  Pour in oat mixture and combine.  Ingredients will be dryer than a typical muffin mix.  If it's too dry (crumbly or dry spots) add your choice:  1 egg, 1/4 cup applesauce, or a little milk.

Fill cups of greased muffin tin evenly.  If you choose you can sprinkle a little sugar on the tops before baking.  Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until muffins begin to brown and toothpick test is clean.

Bisher's - the first stop

The benefit of the large chain is that, of course, you can do all your shopping in one place.  Yesterday, I hit the road with my shopping list expecting, correctly, that I was going to have to make three stops.  I knew that the meat selection at Ramona Family Naturals is small and $$$$$, so I headed for Bishers as my first stop of the day. 

Twenty three years I've lived here and I've never set foot in the place.  It was a great experience!  The kids were with me of course, but the gentleman helping me didn't seem bothered by that a bit.  He was super helpful, the store was clean, and while the prices were undeniably higher than grocery store prices, so was the quality.  He seasoned some of the meat for me and wrapped it extra tightly in an outer layer of plastic because he knew we were going camping and didn't want it to get wet in a cooler.  LOTS to be said for customer service!

I went in with specific things in mind, but I think checking in occasionally and stocking up on sale items will help lower the price tag.  They had a huge selection and lots of specials.  Now . . . keep in mind this is NOT organic.  Remember those baby steps I mentioned before?  This is one of them.  But this is a huge step in the right direction.

Another great find at Bisher's - eggs!  Bisher's sells flats of extra large eggs (I think they may have been brown, too, but not positive about that).  The price was crazy low - wish I'd written it down.  These are from hormone free, free-range chickens - again, not organic.  But a flat of eggs here cost the same as a dozen organic eggs so . . . . might just have to be another compromise.  I didn't make that purchase yesterday since they weren't on my list.

Go to Bisher's!  They're taking orders for free-range Thanksgiving turkeys right now!

Weekly Menus for cheaper shopping

One of the best ways I've found to save money in shopping is to create a weekly menu (click on this week's to view full size) that includes everything - even snacks.  Looking at everything on one sheet enables me to plan wisely, making for less waste.  I haven't been very good about this the last few months, but with our new shopping habits, I plan to be better. 

I tend to start my menu plans by choosing dinners.  That way I know the main purchases I'll be making and I can distribute raw leftovers to other menu areas.  For example . . . if I'm making a roast, I know I need to buy one bundle of carrots, but I'll only use about half in the roast.  For this particular week, I'll use the other half for one lunch, one snack, and the rest in our minestrone soup.

When I shop, I don't stray from the menu with one exception . . . I look for items that are in season or on sale and can be stored long-term.  Items like meats,  some fruits, and veggies.  I have a beautiful supply of red bells in my freezer from one such sale and now I can use them whenever I like.

I'm still getting a feel for the pricing differences between "regular" food and organic, so tomorrow when I shop I guess I'll find out just how many things I can get at the organic prices and then head to Bishers, I think, for the meats.  Trying to avoid the large chain if possible, but we'll see!

Welcome to Organic Family Eating

In August of 2010 I began the Couch to 5K running program. I was a looking for a way to get in shape, start a new hobby, and get some alone time. I love my kids . . . but as a stay at home who spends all day every day with a 1 and 2 yr old, I need a break and some time to myself!

Running has quickly become a part of my lifestyle. I've found energy and determination and didn't even know I had. And not only that, but running has inspired me. I can't explain how or why . . . but something about changing this one aspect of my life has given me a passion to change other areas. And that's where this blog begins.

A big change is being made in how we eat. While we're fairly healthy eaters anyway, I would like our family to be even better. The habits we establish for our kids will be with them for the rest of their lives. Some changes we make are going to be immediate and others will be baby steps as I work my way through these changes without breaking our budget. As part of our healthy eating, we want to spend money that stays in our community by using small family-owned stores and private growers whenever possible.

We have no desire to "convert" anyone. No implication that we're "healthier" than anyone else. It's just something we want to do for ourselves and our community. And quite honestly . . . it's just a fun challenge!