links to love & bento boxing

a nice quickie post for hump day.

i could not pass this link up.

i love finding other families whose food change stories run parallel with mine.

enjoy!  this one gave me the tinglies:)

against all grain - Cannon's story

in other news...

here is this morning's lunchie munchie bento boxing:

ps

i have easy breakfasts on the brain.

and i want to make these zucchini coconut cookies soon, today maybe? with some gf flour of course:)

omg, zucchini nachos... yes please.

do you like pasta?  we sure do and here's a post to help you find the best.

i'm hungry.


pps

oh and just in case you haven't seen... my entry to become Jamie Oliver's next food tube star:)

yea baby yea!!!!

coming to a hospital near you...

oh good golly...

i was in the middle of writing another post and a new bread babe recipe (well, a recipe coagulation so to speak...) and i decided this just must.go.on.right.now while my bread is baking in the oven.

hollah.

i posted this awhile back.  my hope,  my dream to bring real food to hospital's where people need it most.  where we can really start to educate people about how food is our key to a longer or shorter life.

i just got this video in my mailbox and i'm doing a little jig in my kitchen right now.

oh can you just imagine.

schools & hospitals... oh my.

i hope you like it as much as i do.

bringing real food to a hospital near you.

come on doc's, what do you think?


ps

have you seen this little ditty written by dr mercola yet?

my blogher first time

i went solo last thursday to my first blogher event downtown and met some amazing women in blogland.  healthychild.org invited me to their blogger meet & greet after i participated in their webnar on introducing easy steps to eating healthy and safe foods a few weeks ago.

i love the concept of a webnar.  when you tune in live you can actively comment and ask questions. you can surf the internet at the same time, cook up lunch or dinner and have it on in the background like radio station.  along with Dr Alan Greene MD, FAAP and Andrea Donsky, this webnar featured Robyn O'brien, the first woman activist i stumbled upon during my food change journey.  her tedx speech is absolutely the single most WOW moment i had last fall and it's the speech that made me realize i was going to join her and the many others out there like Jamie Oliver in bringing the message of real food to my family, friends and beyond.

make sure and bookmark healthychild's resource center introducing easy steps for eating healthy and safe foods for you & your family.  it's that good.

it's picture time!!!  here i am with Lindsay Dahl (left), the deputy director of saferchemicals.org and actor, author and activist Mariel Hemingway (middle).

i have started to move beyond my pantry and look into the chemicals, my make-up, the lotions and potions... not to mention the loads cleaning supplies that we have in our home.  thank heavens to betsy there are passionate people out there like Lindsay and saferchamicals.org to help & provide resources out there for the masses because i'd go freakin batty trying to figure it what is toxic and what's not on my own.

Mariel is just a hoot.  i loved hearing her speak.  she is warm, funny, self deprecating and her message really gets through.  i found this usa today article on both her new book and new documentary coming out which got me even more excited about keeping it real.  she believes that "Creating a healthier body and mind allows us to do more and live a longer, more vibrant and meaningful life. It is my belief that the choices we make, the information we seek, and the food we eat are integral to our well-being."  

hollah that.

speaking of a hoot, here the other ladies i rubbed elbows with that night.  

meet Katherine Scoleri (left) and Joelle Reeder (right).  Katherine is the editor-in-chief/writer at safemama.com and Joelle is a designer and owner at moxie design studios in addition to being the author/blogger of tenth-muse.com...  this girl makes me laugh, and i need to laugh... A LOT.  we had so much fun sharing our stories, and i look forward to following these two lovely ladies!

drum roll...  i am just kicking myself for not.getting.a.picture, but i met the very very very first blogger that helped me get my family's pantry in order and my brain around kicking out processed food.  i met Lisa Leake from 100daysofrealfood.com.  it was the highlight of my night!  i follow and link to her and her husband Jason Leake almost daily.  i knew it was her as soon as she walked in and introduced myself as quickly as i possibly could.  Lisa is as real as the real food she talks about in her blog.  

Sarah Brown's hello was my first of the night, as we both were prompt to the party and connected immediately over family, blogtalk and real food.  her uber informative & popular educationofastayathomemom.com is awesome. 

have you ever heard of leadsafeamerica.org?  i had a great discussion with Tamara Rubin and i'm so excited for her new documentary coming out.  check out the trailer on the site!  

i also really enjoyed meeting Ronnie Citron-Fink and Anneka Wisker, the managing editor and program assistant for momscleanairforce.org.  i love the name of that organization... us moms... when we latch on to something, we are a force of nature... so watch out!!!!

thank you to healthychild.org and to all of these incredible women who share the same passion as i do, the passion for creating a healthy - pantry.home.environment.world - for our kids, ourselves and our future... it was such a wonderful night of networking! 

light it up ladies!!

xoxo

what a weekend!!

i don't know about you, but i am b.e.a.t.

i am reflecting on the wonderful holiday weekend full of parties, friends and good food.  our hood is a hoot!

what a difference from last summer... that's all i can say.  mac and abbie are so much more aware of the food they are eating.  i give them choices and i think we're striking a good balance with navigating the party food circuit.  we're trying to savor every moment of summer!  i found this post to be extremely helpful to me.  no matter what stage of parenting you are in, it covers the pitfalls... and i have fallen into everyone so far and climbing my way out!  top 10 feeding mistakes parents make from 100 days of real food.

i'm super excited about this webnar going on this thursday at 1pm CST.  i just registered and have it in my calendar!  check it out, it's free!!  easy steps to safer foods.  i can't wait to report back...

happy monday

xoxo


ps

looking for some family foodie movie nights? check out this top 10 food documentary movie list



  

running to the bookstore...

to get this book.  What a sweet q&a!

i love 100 days of real food.  
it was one of the first places i found online that spoke to me and the adventure i started 9 months ago.
i still read it everyday.  

savoring

i have downloaded this book today.

this post really helped me last night.  i was feeling overwhelmed and overloaded and this put it all in the proper "porchtalk" perspective.

i got my hair done today.  oh heavens to bitsy.

i love this easy summer lunch:

avocado, olives and tomatoes with relish - that's all

1 avocado
olives
mc'clure's relish (whole foods) it's got some kick baby.
halved grape tomatoes

mix it up, savor and devour.

chop chop chop

this innovative non-profit chop chop mag came in the mail yesterday and it is seriously fab.  not only can mac and abbie read it and follow the 15 recipes included (no ads, super cute activity pages and tons of hands on pics!!), but hello... i like simple, fast and clean on my cutting board.  anything to help me get dinner on the table easier.  yippy skippy to my lou:)  

subscribe here: chop chop in my mailbox please

trying this: vegan chocolate avocado cookies

watching this: cbs news video tackles our unauthorized GMO wheat problem (and here's an article about it too if you'd rather put your spectacles on).

reading this: target is rolling out a new non-GMO natural and organics line!!!  they must miss my face:)

a link to love - junk food and our brains

and they just keep comin...

junk food linked to mental health disorders in children

sunday night list of to-do's:

1.  make dinner.  i still haven't yet.
2.  put the kids to sleep.
3.  make some cocktails.
4.  watch the season finale of game of thrones.  omg, it's over... noooooooooooooooooo.
5.  start book 4 and wait patiently for the next season.  sob.

chicago tribune asks - do diet changes help ADHD children?

do diet changes help ADHD children?

why yes, yes they do.

i've never loved my sunday paper more!

a healthy child ebook link to love

i just came across this wonderful ebook:

easy steps to eating healthy & safe foods

it comes from one of my favorite websites of late, healthychild.org.  you can pretty much find resources on just about anything and i just had to pass this little ditty to the mullies.

ride like the wind bullseye!!

day 240 - abbie update - our food and ADHD

abbie stalled a little and she's back on track.  it's funny how i get complacent and let things "slide" because everything is going so well.  then i begin to notice that abbie's irritable, arguing with me all of the time and just not herself again.  this time around there were two things i needed to adjust.  i started buying strawberries again and giving them to her in every lunch and for dessert at night.  they are very high in salicylates which is the culprit i think.  i am not eliminating them from her diet, i'm just not going to go bonkers on them like i did for awhile.  i also figured out her breakfasts were not hearty enough.  i added back in some protein here and there (turkey bacon, protein powder in smoothies, chicken & apple sausage links) and she responded immediately.

abbie went through her final reading testing for the year.  she has finished her 1st grade year at independent reading level I and level K instructional.  it was a crazy celebration the other night.  she got the special plate for dinner.  we could not be more proud of her and more thankful for the support of her teachers and administrators.

never in my wildest dreams did i think my little abbie would start out 1st grade at level A and get to level I sitting in those intervention meetings and hearing about her struggle at the beginning of the year.  it was like pulling teeth to get her to sit still, not moan and read with me.  torture.  that sure was the best thunderstorm of our life.  this sun feels so good.  summer is almost here!!

found some goodies for you today!

i didn't realize that my favorite morning radio talk show host has a similar story to mine!

kathy hart on how she investigated environmental links to her son's ADHD

thanks cathleen and lucas for sending this article clipping to me!

here are some great tuesday links on how a food change can help with ADHD, irritability and sensory processing:

the role of diet and behaviour in childhood

alternative ADHD treatment: can diet ease symptoms?

can diet changes really improve ADHD? another mom's story

happy reading my little nerds

xoxo

green thumbs with a fervent foodie

oh my word look at those babies!!!  becky, you must tell me more...

***

Started my seedlings a few weeks ago to try my hand at growing some lettuce varieties, herbs & cherry tomatoes!  Here is my indoor greenhouse tray on windowsill!  All organic seeds & soil matter:)  My husband hopes to start building outdoor planters for me soon.  See those little green sprouts already?  Whooo hoooooo!

Since our food change in Jan, I have great news to report!  He is OFF of his blood pressure meds, has had no headaches in a couple of months, is down 41lbs and bought all new pants last week... from a 36" waist to a 32"!!!!!  What success all around.  Thanx for all your information along the way.  It really helped.


***

holy mackerals you two hotties... i am so impressed and so inspired - i think i am going to start a cooking herb garden this summer.  i'm really needing to cut back on the amount of flowers i get (can't bust my budget) and perhaps that could be a great way to cut back on spending all around!

gotta shine up my green thumb, it's been in mittens for toooooooo long...  bye bye chicago winter!!!

i am loving this link on edible gardening tips.  cheers to getting dirt in our fingernails and the new adventures of eating what we grow.  i can't hardly wait:)

lovely links to gardening and avoiding pesticides

and one of my favorite programs e.v.e.r:

the edible schoolyard project

off to play in the sunshine... it's my birthday today and i have to say, each year that passes by is better than the last...  lucky lucky lady i am

xoxo

inspiration is everywhere

this song and video has inspired yet another road for the mullies to travel down.

the real food message is spreading like a waterfall into our homes and schools.

there is one more very important place it needs to go.

well our hospitals of course.

phillip phillips - gone gone gone

let's invision a commercial run by your community hospital that runs something like this.

and ACTION!

our job is to take care of you.

to make you well.

you'll never sleep alone.  we're your backbone, the cornerstone if your legs stop moving, if your heart stops beating.

when you fall like a statue, we'll be there.

to make you well.  if you need help.

we'll share in your suffering to make you well.

we're going to give you reasons to believe.

we're making some changes that you deserve.

to help you get well during your stay.

we're changing our food.

for you.  for those you love.  to make you well again.

to help you bring new life into the world.

if you fall like a statue, we'll put you back on your feet.  

we're surrendering our fake food and bringing in more real food.

we're cleaning up our act.  no more artificial colors or preservatives and we're making a move towards gmo free foods for our staff and patients.

for you.  

long after your gone and back home.

you're our backbone and it's our job to make you well.

like a drum.

our heart will never stop beating for you.

CUT!

don't you just love it? 

ps

don't forget to watch phil's video...it'll give you the tinglies.  

hospitals partner to kick junk food out

Food Revolution - changing the concept of hospital food

curing hospital food

Food Revolution Day is COMING!!!!!

what are YOU doing on friday, may 17th?!  i am so excited to announce what i have planned for my community to celebrate the big day!  i've been a voluntary ambassador for the food revolution since november and so far, whooooooooweeeee, it's been a hoot to be a part of this global community.  

check out our exclusive event link on the food revolution main webpage and rsvp online today!  

of course, let me know if you'd like to join my team of volunteers for this free event...all are welcome to join food revolution mundelein in creating this wonderful first annual, family friendly event:) 

i had crazy fun making this little video last week for the food revolution.  i bet you're wondering why i have a silly black tie on, aren'tcha...

my food ambassador video

i hope you and the rest of globe join jamie oliver, me and the 300+ food ambassadors on friday, may 17th for food revolution day!  for me, the food rev is about discovering what really is lurking in the food i buy, learning where my food comes from and last but not least, increasing my cooking skills to become more comfortable in my kitchen.  

i, you, WE gotta have FUN with this shift to more real food.  it's going to be a long, rocky road and i don't know about you, but it's way more fun to join a global community of people who are all like minded and moving in the same direction.  food is everything and this article really begs a tough question.

i'm on a mission to bring cool, and yes, i said it...some sexy back to the kitchen.  we need to shift the stereotypes of aprons, blenders, food processors... and love our knives like we love our pearls, shoes and iphones.   we need to shift the paradigm so that our kids won't be at the mercy of processed, boxed, fast & pre-prepared foods when they leave our nests.  

let's begin shall we?  and let's have some fun together while we're at it! 

SO, without further ado, here is the mullies suit and tie party.  i've had two of these fab wine tasting/cooking parties and i dedicate them to the one and only daddy of the food revolution - mr jamie o.  he started this whole kit and kaboodle and i have to say:  i am honored to be a part of his revolution. 

yes, i'm an apple polisher (organic please) and he deserves every bite, so eat it and plan a party already.

thank you for having me on as an ambassador.  i hope mundelein, illinois and the entire USA catches fire on may 17th and joins the call for more real food in our lives.  

jt & jz:  thanks for the crazy inspo - your song rocks the mullies hizouse.

bunny:  cheers to the lives you've touched and made more beautiful in so many ways...thank you for everything.

the mullies suit and tie party montage - by visual keepsakes

this post wouldn't be complete without a major shoutout to paul molidor & visual keepsakes.  he is the amazingly creative man behind our two mullies videos.  his first video for the mullies captured a cooking playdate i had with a few of my hot mamas & kiddos (the twins are his sistahs).  paul specializes in creating custom photo and video keepsakes and he also converts mini DV to DVD for clients.  i am so excited to introduce the man behind the magic.  thank you paul - you are one hot papa and i'm so happy that real food has seeped into your family's foodie cracks too.  

to the mullies we go my friend.

visual keepsakes - paul molidor - 630.697.1180 - p.molidor@sbcglobal.net

ps

some links to love:

processed food linked to allergies

what every parent needs to know about GMO's

fabuloso fritters

how bout that for a fritter?

in my quest to fill my kids' & husband's tummies with veggies, i am constantly on the hunt for different ways of serving them & disguising them until their eyes stop telling them that they are disgusting.  this was a classic example of my family balking at a new dinner...struggling to eat a few bites and finally realizing that it's pretty darn good.  oof.

when i think back (7 months ago) to what i was feeding the kids and how they would react to new food and compare those memories with today's cooking & dinner experience ...we've come a long way baby.  me and them.  i just have to keep remembering that.

i downloaded jamie oliver's recipes iphone app about a week ago and i am so excited to have found a recipe to bring into the dinner theme night rotation: fabuloso fritters.  it's a free app and the recipe is part of the free 10 recipe taster pack.  

i can add ANY veggie to this and that is why it has now made it into the rotation...i can't wait to try some veggie variations for this super easy, fast weeknight meal.  

if you want the original recipe, you'll have to check out the app... but here is a tweaked gluten free ingredient list to die for.  i also doubled it to 4 servings.  they are delicious as left overs too!!

pea and bean fritters (gluten and cow milk free)

1 1/5 c frozen organic peas

1 can mixed organic beans

6 thinly sliced scallions

1/2 T dried mint

2 large locally farmed eggs

1 1/5 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)

1 c organic rice milk

1/4 light coconut milk

1 1/3 c artisanal gluten free cooking flour blend

3 oz grated italian aged sheep's cheese (from whole foods) 

ya gotta try em...

the original recipe calls for only fava beans and green peas.  i used a mixed can of organic beans which included butter, cannellini, garbanzo, pinto and great northern beans...quite a mix.  i simply loved this way of defrosting/cooking the beans.  pour boiling water over them and let em soak for 10 minutes.  sheer geniusness.

if daiya cheese won't cut it for me in a recipe, i occasionally use high quality, imported european sheep and/or goat's cheeses to some dinners.  so far so good!  

i didn't have fresh mint on hand...dried seemed to work fine in a pinch.

i definitely needed to add more rice milk to get my pancake perfect consistency.  the picture above is too thick...so i added about a 1/2 cup more liquid than was called for in the original recipe.

isn't this supposed to be a butter dish!?

it's my coconut oil dish now!  i love having it out and ready to use anytime...as the chicago weather gets warmer though...i may have to stick it in my fridge.  

 

it's fancy pancy over here...paper towels soak up the excess like no other:)

 and this is what tommy & abbie did for the first 15 minutes.

pick pick pick.  to the moon my alices.

as for the sauce - i am loving the simple dippy-ness of vegenaise mixed with salsa...a huge versatile hit so far with everyone.

this stuff is what dreams are made of.  hail merry to the rescue.  such simple ingredients, nothing artificial and my kids adore them.  

everybody loves 80 yard touchdown passes.

have fun with your fritters love bugs.

ps

thank you michelle for passing this great link along!  so many people are asking what "real food" means.  follow this leading nutritionist advice and begin avoiding these 9 highly processed ingredients.   start cleaning out your pantry & fridge, a little at a time, however much you can afford to do...your tummy is worth it.

3 everyday easter dishes & the *magical* gluten free flour link is HERE

easter dinner always included this whipped cream fruit salad at my grandma "on the farm's" house.

nobody could tell i tweaked the cream for the mullies.

coconut whipped cream & organic fruit salad
find the coconut whipped cream tutorial & recipe here.
1 mango
1 pint strawberries
1 pint blueberries
1 pint green grapes
3 mandarine oranges
3 apples
1 banana

dice up all fruit and pour the whipped cream over the top.  mix and serve.  if you are wanting to prepare ahead of time like i did, do not slice up the banana until the end (so they don't brown) and chill the whipped cream in the fridge until you're ready to go.  use whatever fruit you want!

mac and abs got the leftovers in their school lunch yesterday...the bananas needed to be taken out, but the rest was still perfectamondo.

ah maaaaaan, sorry the brussels are fuzzy.   hummina hummina.  never in my wildest dreams would the brussel sprouts have gone first at a family gathering...that's how good they are...and crazy EASY too.

goop carmelized brussel sprouts

the one and only gluten free flour blend
notes: i sub 1 3/4 cup arrowroot for the corn starch

yup, it's live on noglutennoproblem.blogspot.com so now there's no excuse...go and get yourself some flour!!  i don't have any idea why i couldn't find it before...  i certainly wasn't going to post it here if peter and kelli didn't have it accessible on their blog.  so i am freaking out that i can sing it to the mullies.  i go through this flour so fast that i'm now buying it all on subscription from amazon.  it's the cheapest by far for me vs any grocery store and i'm so excited about not having to pick it up from the store anymore!!  i'm on my 14th quadruple batch and counting...

baguettes to die for

yums.  these super fab dinner dishes will be on repeat foh shoh.

i hope you likey.

the ice is almost gone - the diamond is sparkling again.



ps

some good readin on the connection between sensory processing and the fake food in our life.
knock yourself out:  ADHD and food additives

&

i'm totally trying this cauliflower action this week...can't wait to share.  thanks bunny love.

a valentine's day recap

YUMO school party planning baby!

this banana sunday inspo came from a fellow food ambassador's post on healthy treats for valentine's day school parties.  thanks stacy!!!  

i whipped up some homemade coconut whipped cream just before the party.   no need to ever buy from the store again...seriously, angela from oh she glows is oh so right about wanting to stick your entire face in the bowl.  

banana coconut cream sundaes

1 banana

a few globs of coconut cream (this tutorial rocked!  i sweetened mine with organic sugar and honey).

enjoy life brand chocolate chips

organic strawberries

easy peasies.

the kids were so cute.  they loved the sundaes and i also brought some homemade gluten free/dairy free chocolate chip cookies (which continue to blow the minds of everyone who tastes them).   they came up one by one, peeled bananas and ordered up their yummy clean sundaes.

i let the kids indulge in their treats for a bit before i started asking some questions.  here is my abbreviated class interview:

me:  "ok, everybody, can anyone tell me what whipping cream is made from?"

class:  (lots of shouts) "the store...cans...candy...ice cream...milk...COWS"  bingo

me:  "that's right, but i didn't use cow's milk/dairy milk in this whipped cream!  what do you think i could have used?"

class:  (stupefied faces)  "marshmallows...cats....dogs....giraffes..." ok now they're just getting silly...

me:  "well, i'll give you a hint:  this cream is made from a fruit that grows on a tree."

class:  "apples!  bananas!  pineapples!  COCONUTS!"  bingo

it was hilarious, crazy adorable and my first mini lesson to kids about food.  i'm hooked.

our valentine's day dinner turned out with family-five-thumbs-up...however, i don't know what i was smoking thinking i could bake my own garlic bread and homemade dessert on top of all of this.  no way jose!   i'm not that good yet.

my niece claire's favorite dish is tikka masala.  she is only 2.  so when the kids asked me what i was making.  that's exactly what i told them:  we're having claire's favorite food!  they were intrigued & totally willing to try it.  welcome to our family's meal plan miss tikka!!!  i followed this recipe to a T.  

well isn't this a "crowded" pan.  i have always done this and i just read a post discussing the most common cooking mistakes.  now i know better and will cook in smaller batches next time...learning, lots o learning going on here.

i forgot to snap a picture of the next step.  i used my emersion blender and pureed it up to a beautiful smooth sauce just like the recipe describes.  

we needed a little green in the mix, so i made our family's favorite greens recipe:  baked kale chips.  i didn't have a ton of time, so i used the convection setting at 375 degrees and baked them for 15 minutes.  perfect.  and i didn't burn em this time!  (don't forget to dry them really well before rubbing them in evoo.  i now keep some old towels in my pantry just for drying off the kale babies:)

i didn't have garam masala in the house, so i tried this blend to substitute.  next time i'm going to make my own homemade garam masala recipe and be all proper about it.

millie's cucumber salad - tweeked

3 cucumbers peeled and sliced thin

1/4 c whole coconut milk (she always used sour cream & i'm sure light coconut milk would work fine here too)

1 T apple cider vinegar (or any vinegar you have on hand)

sea salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

*you must use your hand to mix this up.  grandma millie taught me that squishing the cucumber slices between your hands tenderizes the pieces, breaks them up a bit and gets the sauce oh so perfect ...so just clean your hands and do it like grandma please.  i always feel like she's right next to me when i make this...i even use her cucumber bowl she passed down to me:)  oh lovies.

chris and i are in love with little vineyards winery.  we surprised my mom on her 60th birthday with a family trip last june to sonoma county.  this was by far our favorite winery.  my dad asked the repairman who came to our rental home and he sent us there...gotta dig the local's recommendations.  the little's are a musical family.  they jam out together at wine events and even named one of their most popular blends simply: band blend.  here's the quick back story:  the band would practice in the barrel room and secretly tap into the wines.  haha.  when the winemaker realized his blends were being tapped, he made the sneaky band their own barrel and taped a piece of paper on it: "band blend".  it was so popular that they now sell it to everyone.  but you know what really sucked us in...how warm, wonderful and funny the staff and family was to talk to.  we felt like we were at home chatting with great friends.

last night, chris and i shared a petit syrah that was sooooo smooth and went to very well with this dish.  have i told you that mr beer-man never ever used to drink wine?  

hip hips for a long weekend!  

now i gotta clean up my kitchen...and pick up my box o produce.

xoxo

ps

more info on nutrition linking to sensory processing!

food color linked to ADHD & video

is artificial food dye ok in any child's diet?

metabolic connection to ADHD