I Apologize for the Delay

I know some of you are counting on me to post my Summer Week 2 Challenge Recipes and Shopping List information.  However, due to a family death, week 2 has been pushed off a week, but expect to see the information soon! Food is essential.

In the interim, I will again encourage everyone to look into a local co-op, such as The Neighborhood Garden.  Salad and fruit are always easy, and that is what we have had a lot of this week and I didn't even have to think twice about what to buy or anything.  With the co-op, I knew I had a bag of produce coming that would be AMAZING, and this past week, that is exactly what I needed.

Our Local Co-op

Like most parents, I’m sure you too try to eat healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle and provide great healthy meals for your family, on a budget.  I've been talking to neighbors and friends lately about the co-op I belong to, because I love it so much.  As it turns out, few people know that we even have a local co-op, so I thought I'd dedicate a blog post to it (I know I've mentioned it in passing too, but it is more than worthy of an entire blog post).

The Neighborhood Garden doesn't have any sign-up fees (the "fee" is the donation of 2 reusable grocery bags), it's flexible - you don't have to order every week, it's inexpensive and there is always a great selection of ORGANIC produce!!  Oh, and if you can't make it to pick-up (I pick up at Durbin Creek Elementary on Monday at 5p), in some locations you can have it delivered for an extra $5 (I did this when I was working). 

This past Monday I received the following (a full-bag) for $33 (half bags are also available):

6oz Blueberries

2 Tangelos

3 Peaches

1 bunch Bananas (about 3 pounds)

2 Alexander Lucas Pears

Green Leaf Lettuce

5 Yukon Gold Potatoes

Green Peppers

Broccoli

1lb. Carrots

2 Roma Tomatoes

2 Yellow Onions

I also ordered the following:

3lb. bag Fuji Apples $5.50

Pineapple $4.50

We use the fruit for breakfast and snacks.  I am eating salads for lunch, and as you can see above, I have two vegetables for the week. 

This may be for you, and it may not, but I wanted to share.  Oh, and feel free to spread the word, because not only do I think it's a great deal (my grocery bill has decreased and I'm making healthier food choices, like salad) , but each week at least 3 families in need receive a free bag of fresh produce! 

If you're not one of my local friends, I strongly encourage seeing if you have a local co-op or even starting one of your own!  It's well worth it! 

Lessons Learned and Our Newest Ventures!

So far, everything has been going smoothly. We have run into a few bumps in the road though... One weekend, I was extremely busy, and another I was just not feeling well, so I didn't get all the baking done. Those weekends, I bought bread. What this has taught me is that I need to both plan ahead a little better, and plan for the unexpected.

So, how do you plan for the unexpected when it comes to baking? Simple, have some bread that you've made stored away in the freezer, and prep some extra cookie dough and do the same. That will eliminate the prep time (and in the case of the bread - all the baking time too) and make it even something the husband or kids can help out with.

Baking has been our primary change. The other has been a slight limit on the dinner meals. My husband is sort-of bored with the quick evening recipes. So, now part of my mission is to come up with 365 different recipes for dinner entrees, snacks, desserts, breakfast dishes and side dishes. Lunches are pretty consistent sandwiches for the kids and salads for the grown-ups, and I don't think I should add to much variation here, because that might otherwise overly complicate our on-the-go life.

We have however, recently decided to try out our local Organic Co-op, The Neighborhood Garden (www.jaxorganic.com) . I found one in the area that seems like it will be a perfect fit for us, as we are not obligated to purchase from them every week, and it isn't expensive at all. The goal of utilizing the co-op for us is to sort-of force us to incorporate more vegetables into our meals. The challenge will be getting the kids to eat their vegetables, but I plan on doing some research and experiments there (like Zucchini Pancakes). I of course, will post all of my experiments and their results here.

I will also post some of my recipe plans, including our weekly lunch salads based on the co-op's offerings. For example, this week, I plan on making an Italian Green Butter Leaf and Arugula Italian Salad. See Below:

Italian Green Butter Leaf and Arugula Salad

Ingredients:

• 1-2 heads green butter leaf lettuce, washed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
• 1 bunch baby arugula, washed and dried
• 1/3 cup sliced raw almonds
• 4 ounces shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4 ounces Asiago cheese
• 3 ounces bacon bits (we of course will make our own)
• 2 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon (2 tablespoons)
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2-3 Roma Tomatoes
• 1 small red onion, sliced
• 4 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and sliced

Directions:

Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, bacon bits, arugula, almonds and the 4 ounces of Asiago cheese in a large salad bowl; toss gently.

Drizzle enough oil over the salad (to taste) to thoroughly coat but not saturate the greens. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the salad, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently yet thoroughly.

Divide among individual plates and garnish with shavings of Parmesan cheese and slices of hard-boiled egg.