Summer 2014

Summer Summertime! !

Summer has been flying by so fast this year. I can not believe we have enter August already. Just crazy I tell ya.

We haven't done a whole lot this summer. I took on a summer job giving free meals to children. It's rewarding and I like the hours and the girls I work with.

So far we have gobe camping twice, once for a weekend and once for 8 days. One beach trip and a lot of pool time and hanging out in the yard and gardening. Hopefully we can get back to camp one more time before School starts. The kids and I go back on the 27th. Time has gone by fast. Wish winter would go by this fast but far chance there!!!

Just wanted to share some pictures of our summertime!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. So far I have read two books by my favorite author Elin Hilderbrand, Summerland and the Match maker. Love her books I read them every summer. Every one at work has talked me into ready 50 shades of grey so that's next on my list.

Well have a fabulous day!! Get some sun.

Xox Lisamarie

Day 2 no meat challenge

Day 2

So I actually had some breakfast today. Figured I better get some cereal before the kids eat it all on me. They eat cereal all day long. I like my cereal with coconut milk or almond milk. Let's not forget my 3 cups of black coffee (Starbucks that is) with cinnamon.

For lunch I had mac and cheese with spinach and kale. Let's not forget the garlic!! Yum. It was actually a knows pasta side that I spiced up. I used coconut milk instead of real milk, and you'd never know!! Oh and I added some white sharp cheddar cheese. Something quick and easy while cleaning the house and dealing with a never ending laundry basket.

For dinner I had a cheese quesadilla and a salad with some buffalo ranch. I know I know probably a bad choose on that fat ass dressing. But oh well I'm trying here!

Hubby has been good too eating my all veggie meals. Though I have been packing him lunch meat sandwiches. But I know he will never fully give up meat.

So far no meat craving. But like I've said before I've done this plenty of times and I'm not much of a meat eater.

Oh and here's an extra picture, it's my girls being all cute enjoying summer.

Xox Lisamarie

Day 1 of 30 days no meat

Day 1

So today for lunch I had a mashed chick pea sandwich on multi grain bread with kale. Oh so good. With this you won't even remember tuna!! I love tuna on my salad at work, which I eat almost everyday. Chickpeas give the protein and are so delish.

I got this recipe from the simple veganista. Sorry I don't know how to post links yet on my phone. She has a blog and an Instagram under This name.

I used my ninja to mash everything. I even put a punch of fresh ginger in it. I have to say the pumpkin seeds on this recipe is oh so amazing.  I used carrots and some lime juice as well as extra virgin olive oil. Season with paprika, salt and pepper and a pinch of garlic powder.

I work at a school in the cafe so I never eat real breakfast. We eat are lunch around 10:30 before we get ready to feed the kids. So I didn't take a pic of my "breakfast" it was lettuce, tomatoes and cheese on a whole wheat roll and melon on the side.

For dinner made grilled veggies on naan bread. Most veggies came from my garden.

Following veggies i sautéed
Eggplant
Cherry tomatoes
Jalapeño
Rushed garlic
Peppers
Red cabbage
Mushrooms
Onion

I used fresh basil too. I sautéed them in coconut oil with a packet of sazon.

I put the naan bread in the broiler to toast then put shredded cheese on it. Melted it in the oven and put the veggies on top. Came out amazing and Hubby loved it!!!

I know this challenge for me will be easy cause I don't really like me but for my family it's very hard. I'm sure I'll be cooking up some meat for them some days and cooking separate for me. Which in the past is what made me give up before.

Hope you have a wonderful day! !
Xox Lisa

30 day Veggie Challenge

Hello blogging world, I've decided to do this challenge so I can get back into eating healthy again. I'm a good Eater and don't eat much meat at all but during this summer I have been eating horrible. Drinking lots of beer and snacking on fattening delicious stuff.

Well eating and drinking like my husband has lead to and 8 pound weight gain and a flabby stomach. Which Hubby doesn't seem to mind but I already wanted to lose a few pounds before this and tone up my mommy flab. It's hard taking care of yourself sometimes when you are working and taking care of others. I've been really tired after work and feel sluggish the rest of the day. So what better time then now to try and turn things around.

I have gone Vegetarian many many times and even was Vegan for 2 years. So this time I'm trying my hardest to stick with it. I thought maybe if I post my daily meals here it will keep me motivated to keep going.

So here's my first entry. Kale chips straight from my garden. The kids went nuts over these I had to make 3 batches. 

Very simple to make. Just wash kale and break up in smaller pieces. Place on cookie sheet and drizzle some olive oil and season with garlic, salt and pepper. Back in oven 350 for about 15 minutes till crispy.

Pasta with Olives & Caper Sauce

Happy Friday!! Hope everyone has been enjoying their week?!

Here's a yummy Italian dish that I just adore!! This is just a great comforting kinda dish. I try to make a few meals a week without meat so this is just perfect if you love vegetarian dishes or Italian food for that matter.

Let's get started!

6 TBSP of EVOO (some Rachel Ray term for ya!! Hehe)
6 Cloves of garlic sliced
1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes
1 28 oz can of stewed or crushed tomatoes I used stewed ones and cut them up! I also cut up some cherry tomatoes
2-3 large celery sliced thinly
1 cup of black pitted olives put removed and cut in half you can also add green ones but I didn't have any in the house
1/3 cup drained capers
1/4 cup of Basil chopped
1 lb of pasta
About a 1/2 cup of grated parmigiano-reggiano

Boil salted water for pasta.
In a large skillet heat up about a 1/2 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add garlic and sizzle till golden about a minute or 2. Then add crushed red peppers, cook for another minute. Add Tomatoes and celery also a little salt and pepper if you'd like! Just remember the olives and capers are salty so be careful. Fill tomato can with pasta water and add to skillet. Bring sauce to a boil. Add olives and simmer.Let thicken about 10 minutes. Add capers and basil, simmer for a few minutes. Add pasta and stir till well. Drizzle with EVOO and stir. Remove from heat and add cheese and serve!!

Love this dish so much! Great for leftovers too!!! What's your favorite Italian dish??

Thanks so much for checking out our Blog!! Have a wonderful Weekend!!
{Lisa}

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Pasta with Pesto and Zucchini

Hey guys Welcome!!

I love Pesto sauce and during the summer we cook a lot with zucchini cause I grow it in my garden! I of coarse had to go get done at the store cause its so cold and snowy here!! Sad face for real!! I want summer back!!!

Anyways this is one of my favorite dishes to Su around with. You can add chopped cashews or red pepper flakes or chert tomatoes! Whatever you have in the house!! This is what I did though!

Box of pasta
Small jar of pesto sauce
1 green zucchini
A couple baby carrots sliced thin, I feel like a should have used a few more
A few TBSP of Parmesan cheese
Pepper to taste
2 garlic gloves
1 TBSP of butter and olive oil

Cook pasta. Cook zucchini and carrots in a pan with some olive oil add pepper and garlic. Once cooked add in pesto sauce. Add cooked pasta a 1 TBSP of butter and Parmesan cheese and. Cook a minute or so till nice and hot. Then ready to serve!! Super easy and Super tasty :)