Food Month: Week 3

First of all... Thank you so much for the out pouring of help! For all you local friends that have sent me suggestions of where to find things, farmers and markets all over this county and the next, friends and neighbors offering up produce and meat that they have harvested. Just goes to show, if I'd keep up with this blog... I have an awesome group of people the Lord has placed in my life to help me through!

I know I touched a bit last post about praying for the Lord to present me with tasty/flavorful options, or to take the desire for them away. This has been a daily (if not hourly) prayer since about day 10..boy oh boy did he answer in a big way! Two of the biggest ways... bacon and jalapeño pepper cheddar cheese. :) It is going on pretty much everything these days. It doesn't mean that I'm not craving the stuff I can't have, it just means the Lord has opened my eyes and given me a better perspective on the beauty of things grown/made right here in Southern Maryland, making this fast much more bearable (dare I say, enjoyable at times).

So here are some of the highlights (and a ton of pictures) from week three!

Day 15- Monday
After a long day of hiking, drive back home, and unpacking of all the camping gear... the last thing I wanted to do was cook dinner. I think that is one of the biggest things I have learned in the process. The effort of having to prepare every single meal... no convenience of grabbing something on the go/allowing it to be fixed for me... that has been a challenge for me. I'm not sure exactly what that means. I'm lazy? I'm overextended? My priorities aren't straight?  I will be praying about this. I have a strong uneasy feeling it means that I am going to learn something about myself that isn't pretty... but that is the point and the ugly, yet beautiful part of this fasting journey.

So I begrudgingly prepared dinner. Bacon wrapped asparagus, squash and zucchini, and sliced tomatoes. Once again, I was not disappointed in the taste, it was simply the effort I put forth to prepare after a long exhausting day.

Day 16- Tuesday

Today was adventurous in the food department. I got another Chesapeake Farmery box. It came with jalapeños in it! So I made jalapeños stuffed with jalapeno cheddar cheese and wrapped in bacon. It was amazing and totally worth the effort.

There was another attempt at a chip today... zucchini this time. They were not good. They crisped up much better than the sweet potato chips, but were WAY too thing and tasted like crispy tissue paper.  Thicker cuts next time.

I also located a sweet gem I had forgotten about. Applesauce I canned in the fall! There were two quarts hidden behind the remain salsa... it was divine!

The kids and I decided that even though I couldn't partake, I should definitely make double chocolate zucchini bread. It smelled amazing! And the kids enjoyed zucchini in a way I could not this month. 

I also located a seasoning that is made right here in the Chesapeake Bay area! Old Bay, what all the locals rave about. We had rockfish for dinner. Everyone else enjoyed breaded fried fish, I had baked fish with Old Bay. To be honest, it wasn't my favorite... but it was a nice change up from simple salt and pepper... and the fish was very good.

 Day 17- Wednesday

So I am melting cheese and putting bacon on everything. Bacon wrapped jalapeños again for the win! I melted jalapeño cheese and put it in my corn from the Amish market. Very filling and yummy! 

Landen had a pizza party for football tonight. He decided to go to see his friends and be part of the team, but did not partake in the pizza (and Bert's has super yummy pizza). Did we get pizza or ice cream... NOPE!

I had talked with all the kids earlier in the day about what they were learning (if anything) about fasting the pizza and ice cream. 

Here were some answers:

Brayden: There are a lot of other things to eat other than pizza and ice cream. 

Landen: I don't miss it too much. Just kind of hard when everyone else is doing it.

Eleni: It is only really hard when there is a celebration or reward that is pizza or ice cream and we don't get to do it.

Addi: At least we didn't have to give a donuts too.:)

I have noticed that it is unbelievable how often I used food as a reward for something!

 "Y'all have been good, lets grab ice cream."

"I appreciate your help, let's eat out."

"You have worked hard, let's get a special treat."

Even special dates usually revolve around food of some sort. It really is an unhealthy practice that I am becoming increasingly aware of how often I really do it. I could use some ideas on non-food related rewards that don't break the bank.

Day 18- Thursday

Today I went to a couple of local shops I hadn't ventured to yet, and some of my regulars. I finally found a new fruit! Peaches!!! They are just starting to become available around here... and boy is my sweet tooth thankful!

I also found a couple of local beverage options to try. A non-alcoholic, no sugar added sparkling cider and local teas. Anxious to give it a try.  I also found canned jalapeños to add to things, pepper relish, and a homemade BBQ sauce.  It almost killed me, but I also bought a homemade pasta sauce to try with some zoodles this week. Even after the crazy amount of pasta sauce I canned last year, we still ran out before tomatoes arrived this year. 

While on my food hunting adventures I found a picnic basket that reminded me of my mom, so I bought it. She would have loved "Keepin' it Local"... definitely her kind of store. 

I took the boys on a date to the movie. The yummy smell of movie theater popcorn smacked me in the face before I ever even walked through the doors. I managed to enjoy my time with them without participating in the food part (this part is surprisingly getting easier the more I have to do it).

Day 19- Friday

Still lots of yummy flavors... and trying really, really hard to just appreciate them and not be frustrated in the constant preparing and cooking.

Peaches, eggs and bacon for late breakfast.

 Cheddar filled meatballs wrapped in bacon with BBQ, squash and cheesy corn for a late lunch.

I would like to note at this point that I am eating a LOT of food. Way more than I normally would in a sitting. But I eat less often. Not sure if it because I only want to have to prepare food a minimum amount during the day? Or if it really is just because I am so much fuller from the larger meals? But I would say I eat more food, but less often so far this month.

Grade cards came today and we had all As for every kid! We usually celebrate this by going out for ice cream, but since that wasn't an option, Movie and Popcorn Bar was something on the kid's summer bucket list, so we went that route. Nice family evening together. (Though seriously people... I need some help with non-food rewards!!!)

Day 20- Saturday

Today I toted this cute little one around to several different places to gather the final food supplies for the last week! (Woo-Hoo!!!)

The girls were up and out the door early-ish with me also... so we grabbed a donut while we were out. Any by we I mean I smelled the amazing donuts while they watched them being made and making their selection.

Shagel Farm had whole chickens on sale for $10 each, which has been the best price for chickens I have found locally so far. So I grabbed 3 and also some spicy cheddar brats.  They also had cheeries, blueberries, hot wax peppers, and a patty pan squash that I've never tried, but Eleni wanted to give it a try, so we got one!

I finished our running around this morning at the local Amish market where I got a loaf of fast approved bread (only place I have been able to find it), granola, basil, cherry tomatoes, a new cheese, and granola bars.

Full confession... I looked at the granola bars labeled homemade granola bars. They were full of nuts and raisins and thought they would be super yummy, so I grabbed a bag (4 bars). When I got home I realized there was a nice layer of dark chocolate holding it all together. I gave some to my kids, but totally enjoyed one myself. It was amazing and tasty! I enjoyed it and didn't feel too bad knowing that a nice Amish woman made it from scratch and it didn't come mass produced from somewhere in a factory... but definitely not fasting approved (unless I have somehow missed the coco bean and sugar can farms here in Southern Maryland).

I stuffed 2 hot wax peppers full of cheese and wrapped them with bacon and added some sweet cherries and enjoyed it for lunch. 

Only 8 days to go! The end is in sight!

I'm all caught up, so hopefully this week's blog posts won't be so painfully long!

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Food Month: Week Two

So, today is actually day 17. Food is so hard. There have been tears. I have learned a lot and my day to day conversations with the Lord have both increased and changed in the last 17 days. I'm still a bit behind on the blog, so I will catch up on week two today and hopefully be all caught up by the end of this week.

Here are the highlights of week two...

Day 8- Monday
Eric is still gone. I miss the convenience of grabbing something quick. I am super craving a hamburger, fries and a giant lemonade. I stopped at Forest Hall Farm today to grab some more meat. So far, all the meat I have purchased has been super reasonable in price. Very comparable, if not cheaper in some cuts, to the grocery store.

Side note: I am having extreme difficulty locating anything other than pork and beef. Don't get me wrong, I like steak, hamburger and bacon... but I miss chicken and fish. Still on the hunt for a place to purchase these things.

While at the farm I got the kids flavored honey sticks. They all tried them, no one was a fan. I also lucked out and my friend (and school nurse) Dawn brought me some herbs. This gives me more than onions and garlic to season with! So tonight for dinner the kids all had burgers, chips and watermelon. I had a bun-less burger. I chopped up cilantro and onions added salt and pepper and mixed it in with my hamburger. I hallowed out the center and filled it full of the cheddar I bought from Forrest Hall and topped it with salsa that I canned from our garden last year. It was super yummy!

Day 9- Tuesday
The garden is producing zucchini and squash like crazy. I have a love/hate relationship with these veggies. They are supplying me with my main source of nutrients at this point in the game... but I am tired of it. It is mushy and tasteless without seasonings. Jax, on the other hand, LOVES zucchini and squash... which is a positive! He is eating everything I eat.

The blackberry bushes are LOADED with green berries! I really need those berries to turn!

My Chesapeake Farmery Box came today. Everything in it was something I will eat, except the one unidentified object that I will have to google and figure out how to cook.

My craving for something crunch is crazy high, so I attempted to make sweet potato chips. Ultimate fail. I was so disappointed. Every chip was burnt or soggy. I will need to research and try this again.

Day 10- Wednesday
Today was just a normal day filled with eggs, squash and zucchini. Until the evening... I had the amazing opportunity to go see Hamilton at the Kennedy Center. Nothing revolved around food, just went and saw a show with some sweet friends (and council member Pamela) I haven't been able to see in several months. It was so nice to get out of the house, spend time with friends, enjoy the theater, and not have to worry about what food to eat or not eat!

Huge shoutout to my friend Rachel who stayed with my kiddos so I could go! Normally this would have been a "order pizza and not worry about dinner" night... but since that wasn't an option, rock star Rachel fixed them all dinner too!

Day 11- Thursday
I miss pasta. I miss any sort of seasoning that is not salt and pepper. I miss donuts. I miss chocolate. I miss fruit... all fruit that is not a blueberry or strawberry. I miss bread. I miss muffins. I miss lemonade. I miss fish. I miss chicken- fried chicken especially. I miss Chic-fil-a. I miss ice cream. I miss olives. I miss banana peppers. I miss lemon and lime. I miss avocado. I miss mustard... all condiments really. Condiments are what make a lot of food bearable... I'm waiting for you condiments... soon enough we will reunite.

Day 12- Friday
The unidentified object from my farm box was a chayote squash. I looked up how to prepare it. Turns out you can eat it raw (supposed to taste like a cross between cucumber and pear) or you can sauté it. I went with raw (so done with sautéed veggies). I felt it tasted more like a raw potato. I would never choose it... but it was a nice crunchy texture, like and apple, that I had been missing... so I powered through.

We had a ceremony and reception for Landen's promotion into middle school. There was cake. I'm going to be honest here... I started praying last night that the Lord please help me to take away the desire for all these things I can't have, or to show me some amazing, tasty things I'm missing, instead of being so caught up in what I can NOT have. Today, I didn't even miss the cake. I was 100% involved in the moment and didn't even think about the food I was missing out on.

Day 13- Saturday
Today was the day. Tears were shed. It's the grocery store y'all… I am still doing a good bit of shopping for the family at the grocery store. It is just loads of food I can't have. And I'm not even talking about all the junk, I'm talking about healthy options that are from somewhere other than Maryland. I went shopping for our camping trip, picking up things for hotdogs and smores... none of which I could consume. I walked out of the store and got in the car. Eric said, "What's wrong? You look like your puppy died." I said, "I just really miss food. Why is this so hard?" and started to cry.

I got over it pretty quick. Just needed to let it out I guess.

I also had a cheat, I think, today. We were running errands and I got a salad from Panera. I got the strawberry poppy seed salad. I did not read ingredients, just looked at the pic on the wall. Strawberries, blueberries, chicken, lettuce, walnuts... all things in season. I was good. Except- there is pineapple and mandarin oranges... not in pic. I picked around them and tried not to consume any, put the dressing on the salad what a for sure cheat... an unbelievable burst of flavor cheat.  There... I fessed up.

I also went to a couple of markets today and the seafood store we have right here in town (who knew? not me!) I found a small bad of homemade granola at the Amish market (that I consumed lickety split). I also bought a chicken! Chicken... not so reasonably priced. I paid almost double what I pay at the grocery store. I baked it and seasoned only with salt and pepper to have for our camping trip. I found local butter and jalapeno cheddar cheese at the Amish market. I also bought the kids some AMAZING smelling cinnamon rolls.

And I bought a fish. Like a whole one that was caught that morning. This for some reason seemed very funny to me... but now I have fish and chicken. Yeah!

Super thankful the Lord is giving me some opportunities to enjoy the process.

Day 14- Sunday
I have never wanted a burnt hotdog and campfire smores so much in my entire life! We are camping, something I am not a big fan of, but for some reason everyone else (even Jax) loves it. So, I put on my girl pants and tried to have a good attitude. The only thing for me that makes camping bearable is the junk you get to eat... roasted hotdogs and smores... I had chicken that was re-heated over a fire and cucumbers and strawberries.

For breakfast everyone else at delicious yet horrible for you junk cereal (because we are camping- its a special occasion). I had a boiled egg.

I got over it and enjoyed the beautiful hike. These people are my whole world. And even though I'm not a fan of camping and hiking... I sure am a fan of the people I get to do it with!

If you stuck through this crazy long post... your a champ!
Thanks for joining me on the journey!

After having my own little pitty party about the food

Food Month: Week One

Full Discloser: I am just getting into week three of food month. This month has been CRAZY HARD for me! It also has been very busy with a traveling husband, end of the school year stuff, birthday parties, and all the things life involves with a family of 7. So, along the way I have been taking a few pics and jotting down some notes, I just haven't had the opportunity to get to the blog.

Also... you are being prewarned that there are a ridiculous amount of food pics this month... you know... because it is food month.

So.. here are some highlights of the first week...


Day One-Monday
First day... this seems doable. Eggs and tomatoes for breakfast (this will become a staple of my diet). No cooking spray, but I did locate some Amish butter at the grocery store. It isn't from local Amish... but until I locate some butter from local Amish this will have to do.

 My sister is still here, so we made our way to the local apple farm, Forrest Hall Farm to pick up some meat, produce and honey. Then off to the Amish market to get a few more things.

Aaannnddd…. I located some bread that met my qualifications! Ada's Speltz Bread- ingredients: Speltz flour (this is a whole grain flour- usually and alternative to wheat flour), water, honey, lard, yeast and salt.  No sugar. No white flour. It passes!

Zucchini, squash and onions for lunch.

Steak (seasoned only with salt, pepper, garlic and onions- this is not what I am used to) and then again with the zucchini, squash and onions.  I need to find other seasoning options or I am just going to stink of garlic and onions for the month.

I have a crazy huge sweet tooth. I ate nothing sweet today. This is a challenge and I need to figure out a solution.

Day Two-Tuesday
So far the food isn't horrible, good actually. But I miss convince of just grabbing something quick or running through a drive through when I am running late (which is almost always). And sweet... I miss sweet (and yes I am aware it is only day 2).

We stopped at Dunkin' Donuts to grab Ivy a coffee. Eric came out with a donut. Eric- you know the guy who gave up sweets for the month as his contribution- yep that guy. Several words were exchanged. It started with him trying to convince me that donuts are a breakfast food, therefore not a sweet and ending with me screaming something along the lines of "If you eat the donut you don't love Jesus." Listen people food is hard for me. I should not be held liable for any harsh things that come from my mouth this month. Eric decided after the exchange of words, he would do what the kids are doing and give up pizza and ice cream for the month (which in all honesty is probably just as big of a sacrifice... he loves and consumes a LOT of pizza and ice cream).

Lunch- pretty sure I already cheated. We met up with one of Eric's friends for lunch. I knew that if I ended up in a situation where I had to eat out this month, it most likely would not all be local. With that in mind, I had made the decision that I would only get things that COULD be purchased local (but most likely grown somewhere else). So we met at Chopt in DC… salad place. I looked over my options. Found something that met all the requirements... grass-fed beef, romaine and blend of lettuce, peppers and onions. Sweet... all things that qualify. I gave Eric my order and went to walk outside with Jax… it came with some sort of spicy ranch that I didn't specify not to add... so that was a cheat. Eric says it wasn't much of a cheat because there was hardly any on it... I think he was still trying to kiss up from eating a donut.

I came home to this AMAZING and perfectly timed surprise! I joined a farming co-op and this is my first delivery. They deliver a box of goodies to your doorstep once a week of things that are currently growing. Most things are typical things that my family will eat, but they have one or two out of the ordinary (for our family) things. It also comes with a dozen eggs that I am going through like crazy! It also came with strawberries and blueberries!!! Something sweet! It is a super great farm that I have been totally impressed with thus far! It is run by a farmer and his daughter and they employee primarily people with disabilities. Chesapeake Farmery is the name... you can learn more about them HERE. Here is what came in my box this week:

Day Three- Wednesday
I have cried three times already today. Eric left early this morning and will be gone for 9 days (he's only been home 2). I'm hungry and have no easy grab and go food... everything must be prepared. I am super tired of zucchini and squash already... this does not look promising for the month ahead of me. When things started going wonky this morning and my first set of tears was shed, I immediately thought I want peanut M&Ms and a giant lemonade from Wendy's. Why? Why do I do that? I know I do it, but I don't want to. When things start going haywire or I'm having a hard day, I immediately turn to food for comfort. It made me evaluate myself and gosh darn it.. I turn to food before I turn to the Lord. That is a tough one to swallow. (pun completely intended) This will be something that I am forced to work on this month.

Day Four-Thursday
I miss avocado. I miss seasoning salt. I miss apples. I miss a squeeze of lime on anything. I miss bread... oh how I miss soft yummy bread. I miss pickles. I miss muffins. I miss cake. I miss chicken. I miss salmon. I miss adding any sort of spice for my food. I miss cereal. I miss lemonade. I miss mustard. I miss balsamic vinaigrette. I miss crunchy. I miss sweet. Sigh...

Day Five- Friday
I spent today, all day, outside with about 60 fifth graders. I had an early morning, so I missed breakfast. I knew I would not be home for lunch so (thankfully) I remembered and grabbed two boiled eggs on my way out the door. I manned the inflatable obstacle course with Jax in the morning and then my good friend and council member Jenny kept Jax for a couple hours in the afternoon so he wouldn't melt.
I helped dish out Rita's frozen ice to 5th graders. It was crazy hot... I really, REALLY wanted some. At one point I dropped a huge chunk on my arm and instinctively tried to eat it. Once I realized what I had done, I immediately spit it in the grass. This resulted in me looking like a lunatic... and still being hungry and needing refreshment!
By the time we wrapped everything up and I picked up all kids from different locations and we got home it was 5:30pm. I still had only had 2 boiled eggs for they day. What I really wanted to do was order a pizza and take a nap, but instead I fixed a crazy huge meal. I was exhausted and didn't want to, but I definitely tasted better than pizza.

I never actually regret making the food... I usually just get exhausted at the idea of having to do it after an exhausting day that I would normally turn to take out or a bowl of cereal for convenience.

Kid Challenge: My girls earned the right to participate in a party with the Librarian today. A big part of the party was ice cream sundaes. They did not partake and I wasn't even there to tell them they couldn't. I was super proud!

Day Six- Saturday
It is birthday party day. Harry Potter birthday to be exact. There is a whole lot of food and I can consume ZERO of it. Sooo many celebrations center around food. It is sometimes hard to participate in things and not feel left out, or like you are missing out, when you do not participate in the partaking of food. BUT I am trying like crazy to be able to enjoy the situation and not get hung up on the food. This is HARD! Why or why is food so hard for me?!?!

I managed to make it through all the themed food, house cake, butter beer, chocolate frogs, and about 15 different kinds of candy for the Honey Dukes store without cheating.

Another evening of wanting the convince of take-out... but I went with a tomato, zucchini, onion, pepper blend of mush and a couple pieces of bacon from Forrest Hall Farm. 

Day Seven- Sunday
Still hard for me... but I want to brag on my kiddos for a minute. They have, now three different occasions in the first week, had to pass on pizza and/or ice cream. These kids are rock stars and definitely have a better attitude about it than I do. I could take a few lessons. Addi had a birthday party today and she 100% enjoyed herself and passed on the pizza! Note to self: be more like my kids!

Week one down! Struggling, but learning lessons. Hope to get week two posted in the next day or two.

Thanks for joining me on the journey!