thishomemadelife | 2011 November

Almond Granola Bars

November 29, 2011

At the beginning of the school year, the boys and I decided to give ourselves a challenge. To pack a school lunch everyday. Yep, everyday. It’s been a work in progress weaning them off of school lunch. To them, it was the equivalent of eating out. Tasted good in the moment, but left them feeling bad. Last year, we made a deal that they could choose one day a week, but it seemed even on those days I was getting calls from the school of tummy aches or complaints of them as soon as they were home. So here we are, almost halfway through the school year and we haven’t missed a day yet. I’m not gonna lie, it’s not always easy. Some mornings I really don’t feel like packing three lunches. We’ve had to get creative, especially when the pantry is running low. To make our challenge doable we’ve had to think a bit outside the box. PB & J can only get you so far. A few of the things we’ve been packing… Refried bean and cheese tortillas Pasta salad Frozen smoothies Fruit Veggies and ranch Salsa and chips with bean dip Left over cheesy pasta bake (recipe coming soon!) Soup Cheesy bread with pizza sauce for dipping And these homemade granola bars. I first came across this recipe on Pinterest. The original recipe had peanuts and peanut butter, which was quite good too. I just decided to change things up a bit and make some with almonds, almond butter, maple syrup and a hint of cinnamon. Yum! Almond Granola Bars adapted from original recipe, found here 1/2 cup almond butter 1/3 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cup old [...]

Counting Down to Christmas

November 28, 2011

Giving Thanks

November 24, 2011

Just a quick post today as we are on our way to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. This is by far my favorite holiday, it’s just so simple…family, friends, food and gratitude. What can be easier than that? In the spirit of thankfulness I wanted to share a few things that I have been feeling especially grateful for lately… my family… (photo courtesy of Bree Hester) a birthday… this furry little fellow, Jack, that has made his way into our home and hearts… friends that know just the right things to say… the health of my children, their contagious energy and creative spirits… last, but certainly not least…all of you. Thank you for visiting, reading, commenting, sharing, emailing. I’ve met so many wonderful people since starting this blog just under a year ago, I am grateful for each and every one of you. I’ve had a few ask what will be on our Thanksgiving table as we sit down to eat today. We are the sole vegetarians of the group so our menu is full of variety, holding a little something for everyone. The meal is a joint effort between my mom, sister-in-law and myself. Sharing duties makes the day a little less hectic, allowing us to spend more time together and less in the kitchen. As it should be. So here is what we will be having… Appetizer Stuffed mushrooms Cheese plate with fresh veggies and fruit Main Smoked Turkey Vegetable Pot Pie Rice Pilaf Sweet Potato Souffle Mixed Greens Salad Tapioca Orange Salad Dessert Pumpkin Roll Apple Cranberry Fruit Crisp Mmmm…I get hungry just reading it. Wishing you all a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving! Alison

Arugula Pizza

November 22, 2011

There are a few things that come to mind for me when I think of Thanksgiving… Gathering family and friends around the table to share a beautiful meal… The NFL game… Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade… My mom’s sweet potato soufflé… Pizza on Wednesday night for supper…. Yep, that’s right. Pizza. With all the cooking that goes on in preparation for the big meal on Thanksgiving Thursday the last thing I feel like doing it cooking supper on Wednesday night. So, whether we make it ourselves or have it delivered, pizza is one of our Thanksgiving traditions. We have lots of combinations when it comes to pizza night, but this one is truly one of my favorites. The peppery flavor of arugula along with the salty, nutty parmesan are a perfect combination set atop a multigrain crust. Arugula Pizza Your favorite pizza crust–I always have a few bags of Whole Foods multigrain pizza dough in my freezer for occasions when I’m not making my own. 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing on crust freshly squeezed lemon juice from half a lemon 1 clove garlic, minced salt and pepper 3-4 cups arugula parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Press the dough out to your desired shape and place on bottom side of pizza pan (makes for a crisper crust) or pizza stone. Brush crust with extra virgin olive oil. Place crust in oven and bake for 1-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. While crust is baking make your vinaigrette. In a mason jar or small bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Toss with arugula until lightly coated. When crust has finished baking remove from oven and immediately top with arugula and parmesan. What are your some of your favorite [...]

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt

November 18, 2011

Almond Granola Bars

Counting Down to Christmas

Giving Thanks

Arugula Pizza

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt

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