New Boots and Food Item # 7!!

How’s everyone’s weekend been?  Things have been low key around these parts.  Only one hockey game this weekend which was in town and no soccer.  YAY!  I’ve been laying low nursing some very stiff muscles which I have this DVD to blame for:
We finally finished the 30 Day Shred last week and started this baby on Friday.  So far I love it and knew as soon as it was over that I would pay for it!  I can definitely see how you would see results fairly quick with this workout and I’m excited to see more awesome changes to my body as we progress through the 2 levels.  I decided to spoil treat myself yesterday seeing as I was feeling sorry for myself with some awesome new boots!
As soon as I saw them I knew they were coming home with me;
The super soft “fur” travels all the way down to the ankle and kept my tootsies warm at the rink yesterday.  They’re also extremely comfortable and easy to walk in! Before leaving the mall treat #2 was purchased: Tall, NF gingerbread misto.  Hit. The. Spot!
For dinner last night I made a tasty cold weather meal courtesy of my Rachael Ray magazine:
Sausage Cacciatore!  The only ingredient I fiddled with was the sausage.  I used turkey instead of pork.  I also bought a small loaf of artisan bread which I cut into thick slices, topped with avocado zest oil and toasted into the oven for 10 minutes.  It made for a great dipper!  Too bad it was dark by the time we ate so the picture is less than stellar.  :( We all loved it.  Since the sausage was cut into chunks, DS thought he was eating meatballs!  LOL  Whatever works, right?  Here are some other eats I’ve been enjoying the past few days! More on the waffle soon!
The egg above is fresh from my friends farm.  The difference in taste from a farm fresh egg to a store bought one is phenomenal.  I can’t wait to buy some more off her!   Tonight my hubby ordered in Chinese.  I had some shrimp lo Mein, beef and broccoli and a cheese & crab “pocket” along with a crispy wonton (which I did not like): And dessert was a piece of peach blueberry pie from Knapp’s that we pick up on our way home from the farm today, Moving on to what I am thankful for this week; I’m going to have to go with having access to ample food choices.  So many people struggle just to have food on the table.  I live in a country where, for the most part, keeping our bellies full isn’t a day to day concern.  I don’t have to worry about where I will get the next meal for my kids or that I will ever go hungry.  And isn’t that the driving force behind this food drive?  I think so!  With that, here’s food item #7: PASTA!  How’s everyone doing with collecting their items of the week?  Send me an update!
Bye for now!!

Smoked Turkey, Lentil and Kale Soup

My sweetheart of a Mom brought me a smoked turkey leg the other day and I knew right away that I wanted to make split pea soup with it.  Only I didn’t have split peas, just loads of green lentils.  Never to let something so minor stop me, I forged ahead and was rewarded with a terrific pot of flavourful, thick, hearty soup!  Check it out!
Smoked Turkey, Lentil and Kale Soup

• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 ribs of celery, chopped
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 4 cup stock
• 2 cups water
• 2 cup green lentils
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 smoked turkey leg
• 1 packed cup of chopped kale
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Heat oil in a large pot and add all chopped veggies.  Cook until soft 5-8 minutes
2. Add garlic, bay leaves, salt & pepper.  Cook 1 minute more
3. Add smoked turkey leg, stock and water.  Bring to a boil
4. Add lentils, bring back to boil then turn temp down to a simmer
5. Partially cover and let simmer for 1.5 – 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
6. With approx 45 minutes of cooking time left add chopped kale
7. Remove turkey leg and set aside too cool slightly.  Puree soup with an immersion blender.  **If you  like your soup a bit thinner, add water accordingly.  I added an extra 2 cups**
8. Keep soup on low heat while you remove and chopped all the meat from the bone.  Add turkey back to the pot and cook just a few more minutes to heat
9. Serve and enjoy! I’ve been eating this all week like it’s my job.  And boy have I ever been loving this job!  Haha!  Surprisingly, DS also loved this soup.  I think it was the smoked turkey that really reigned in his taste buds. I went home for lunch on Tuesday and while there decided to throw some wild rice in the crock pot to see how it would cook versus the stove top.   I had approx 1.5 cups of rice to which I added 5 cups of water.  It cooked on low for 3.5-ish hours.  Here are the results: It turned out fabulous!  There was some water still at the bottom so I had to strain it, but the rice itself didn’t get mushy at all.  I now have four 1 cup servings hanging out in the freezer and have been eating the rest over the course of a few days.  YUM!  Do you like wild rice??
   So we’re a little more than halfway through November and I think it’s about high time I showed you what my hubby’s Movember stash is looking like! I think it’s coming along awesome!  DD absolutely HATES it.  She can’t wait until he shaves it off.  LOL  This is what he looked like on November 1:
   If you’ve been following along you’ll remember that he’s growing said stash to help raise money to fight prostate cancer.  You can click on the link ^above^ if you’d like to donate!
   FOOD! The above is wild rice, kale and dried cranberries.
   This was a great meal!  Buffalo chicken shake & bake, sautéed kale and wild rice.  
   Would it surprise you that I ate this bag in 5 days?  Probably not!  Hehe!
   Wanna see something cute?  Here are my niblets in their school photos from last year: And here they are in their photos from this year! Isn’t it amazing how much change can happen in a year?  I see it loud and clear in my daughter.  And yes, she is only 11.  DS is 8.  YIKES!
   Bye for now!!

Coupon Junkie & Food Item #6

Hi everybody!  I know I’ve been gone longer than usual, but I’ve been nursing blasted head cold and haven’t been very motivated the past few days.  But I’m back today with a tank full to post about.  Ready. Set. Go!!
Do you use/like coupons?  I admit that I am a coupon clipper extraordinaire!  Mostly with grocery items, but also cosmetics/cat products/household items.  Here is a sample of what I usually lug to the store with me come “shopping” day: Just on the food ones alone I saved almost $7.50.  Every penny counts, right?  Now I can go spend that $7.50 at Starbucks!  I kid……maybe.  :)  I only have a few “rules” that I follow when using coupons so here they are:

1. I only save coupons for items that I would normally buy.  To me it’s not a deal if I’m purchasing something I wouldn’t otherwise buy.
2. I don’t use coupons that are “buy 2, save $x.xx”.  Usually coupons toting that are for items that I wouldn’t generally buy 2 of so when you boil it down I’m not saving anything.  I’m actually spending more.
3. If my grocery store doesn’t carry the item that I have a coupon for I will not drive to another store simply to use it.  Again, no saving there.
4. Lastly, if I still have a coupon in my purse after 2 grocery trips chances are I won’t use it so I get rid of it.

It isn’t always easy to find good coupons online in Canada.  The site I use the most is called save.ca.  They usually have some pretty great deals.  Most of my coupons are clipped out of magazines, though.  I’d love for you to share your coupon tips in the comment section.  I’m always game for new ways to save!
The weather in these parts has been downright dreary this past week.  And I’m not the only one in this house with a cold.  My hubby and DD have it, too.  I’ve been keeping my fingers crossed that DS is spared.  In trying to stay warm and keep my nose clear all at once I’ve been drinking lots of hot fluid.  My favourite thing to make has been tea lattes.  I’ve been combining 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond breeze with a 1/2 cup of water and a teabag (the flavour varies) in a sauce pot.  I let the mixture get to just about the boiling point then it gets turned off and left alone to steep for 5 minutes.  Heavenly.  I made this one last night:
So comforting.  I sipped on it while browsing through my newest cookbook! 
 
So far I’m really liking the looks of this book.  I plan on making a few recipes then writing up a review for you. 
Next on the “post of the day” agenda is FOOD!!! WOW!  That’s a lot of oats!  But they’re not all the same oats; there’s kamut flakes, steel cut oats, Quaker oats and Only Oats in the mix.  There’s been some snacking; One night I defrosted some quinoa stew and served it with garlic toast and grated red pepper goat cheese: I’ve been into pizza more lately than I have in years.  One night I baked a Ristorante pizza which served as dinner and lunch the next day:  And we got pizza on the way home from DS’s game yesterday because the kids school was running a promo where you get one medium, one topping pizza for $3.99 and $.50 gets donated back to the school.   We also picked up a bruschetta pizza as one just wouldn’t have been enough for the 4 of us.    
I ate 2 slices of that and have 2 left for today’s lunch.  And lastly, the day my cold was at it’s worst I had eggs and toast; my comfort food when under the weather. On to what I am thankful for this week.    That would be my job.  It’s not my dream job by any means, but they pay is great, the benefits even better and I work with a good group of ladies, including my awesome boss.  I know that there are people who would love the job that I landed so when I’m feeling a little blue about it I remind myself of that.  The benefit plan is really good and when combined with my hubby’s we get all our med’s and dental visits “free”.  That’s HUGE for a family of 4.  And now for food item #6….already!!  Only 4 more to go after this!!! BEANS!  Any kind will do here for sure.  Be sure to add it to your grocery list this week!  Remember that you can always check the Thanks & Giving tab at the top of the blog for items #1-5. 
I’ll sign off with a picture of DS after a sleepover Friday night and an out of town game yesterday afternoon: Done like dinner!  :)
Bye for now!!