Gardening in Virginia – Creating a No Dig Garden

May 12, 2021gardenno dig garden, plant a garden, virginia gardenarthurized Leave a comment

One of my goals last year was to reclaim our old vegetable garden, an area of the yard that we let go back to lawn several years ago. Very honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to it. Our soil is heavy clay and a pain in the butt to dig and amend. A daunting chore to say the least.

Then we discovered Charles Dowding’s (we’ll call him Uncle Charlie) no-dig method of creating planting beds. Go ahead and fall down that rabbit hole. I’ll wait right here for you.

Excited about the prospect of creating a large garden without having to excavate it, we ordered a truckload of compost. We needed six cubic yards of compost for our 20′ x 24′ garden. We’d already planted our asparagus babies in a trench, so we included enough compost to begin filling that in.

With No Dig, the process for creating a garden is the same regardless of the garden size.

You’ll need:

Uncoated, unbleached, brown cardboard – remove all plastic labels, tape, etc.
Compost – calculate how much you’ll need to cover your garden to a depth of four inches, subtracting paths between rows
Mulch of some sort to cover pathways – we used wood chips
Seeds or transplants

Place a single layer of brown, uncoated cardboard down over the planting area.

2. Leaving room for paths if necessary, cover the cardboard with compost to a depth of four inches. Firm up the compost by walking on it.

3. Place mulch over cardboard in the pathways.

4. Start planting directly into the compost.

Really! It’s just that simple.

Some of the benefits of no dig are:

Compost beds don’t compress like soil. You can walk on them, and work in the garden when it is wet. Compost doesn’t stick to your gardening shoes/boots like soil does.

Weeding is easy. Just dig or pull the odd weed that pops up in the beds. To keep the paths weed-free, simply place cardboard over the weed(s) and mulch over top. Repeat this process as often as needed until you’ve successfully killed the weeds. Uncle Charlie says no weed is inexhaustible, it takes about four layers of cardboard and mulch to kill tenacious weeds.

There’s no need to amend with soil. Each year, add a 1″ layer of fresh compost to the planting beds. The compost feeds the soil, and earthworms do the “tilling” for you!

We created this garden last July and immediately planted some of our fall crops of carrots, cucumbers and corn, leaving room for radishes, kale and several varieties of lettuce.

If you’ve wanted to start a garden, I hope you’ll give this no-dig method a try! Leave me a note in the comments below if you do. I’d love to hear from you.

Disclosure: In addition to occasional sponsored posts, Arthurized Home uses clickable affiliate links. That means that I may receive a small commission from sales at no extra charge to you. As always, my opinion is 100% my own, and I only recommend things that I truly love or use myself. Thank you for patronizing the brands that support Arthurized Home!

Copyright 2019-2021 © Arthurized Home – All Rights Reserved. This post is the original content of Arthurized Home. If you’re reading this on another site, it’s unArthurized.

Real Food Menu for Week of 3.29.2021

March 29, 2021weekly menusapple pie overnight oats, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, cumulus spiced eggs, double baked chipotle chicken sweet potatoes, olive garden salad, paleo broccoli salad with bacon, sheet pan salmon with sweet potatoes and broccoliarthurized Leave a comment

Saturday I started the long overdue task of painting the porch floor. With about 12 hours of rain in the forecast, I was racing against the weather. We chose a deep, moody blue that looked for all the world like navy. In the store, at least. At home, it looked like “Oh hey, come on in. Welcome to daycare!”

(Those little brown seeds are from the cedar tree next to the porch. They. Are. Everywhere.)

Once the torrential rain ended, I went back to the store to have the paint retinted. The ladies at the paint counter explained that it’s easier to go darker than lighter, so that’s what we did, adding green and a touch of black to that awful crayon blue. In the afternoon the wind picked up and blew seeds and blossoms off the trees and onto the porch. Mark was constantly sweeping ahead of my paint roller.

The paint is wet in this picture; it dries a little darker. I’m much happier with the result. And yes, that orange sock is mine. I left my shoes on the sidewalk so I could paint my way off the porch and go inside through the back door.

But enough about that. Let’s get on to this week’s menu:

Mark’s Breakfast
Apple Pie Overnight Oats – Mark really never tires of breakfast oats. We use Aldi’s unsweetened natural applesauce in this recipe.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/apple-pie-overnight-oats-jar

Mark’s Lunch
Paleo Broccoli Salad with Bacon – This one has *just enough* mayo without being gloppy. The apple cider vinegar adds a little tang to that dressing.
https://cookeatpaleo.com/broccoli-salad-with-bacon

Dinners:

Sheet Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli – New Recipe! – That chili-mayo sauce with fresh lime juice is amazing.
https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/281181/sheet-pan-salmon-with-sweet-potatoes-broccoli

Olive Garden Salad – New Recipe! So crisp and refreshing! We use g-free croutons and sweeten the dressing with about 2.5 teaspoons of monkfruit sweetener instead of white sugar.
https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/spiralized-cucumber-salad-with-olive-garden-dressing-copycat-video

Cumulus Spiced Eggs – Quick and savory! Dinners that come together in minutes, mean more time for evening gardening. This one is simple and flavorful.
https://thestonesoup.com/blog/2012/07/24/the-5-most-common-dinner-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them

Double Baked Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potatoes – That smoky adobo sauce makes this dish sing! Have some extra on hand for topping these goodies.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/these-double-baked-chipotle-chicken-sweet-potatoes

Snacks: Bananas, apples, popcorn and since we’re in Blue Ridge training season, Larabars.

Treat: The strawberries in the grocery store are looking tempting this week. We like to dip them in Lily’s dark chocolate. I add about a teaspoon of coconut oil to 1/2 cup chocolate chips while melting them in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, simply boil about an inch of water in a saucepan underneath a tempered glass bowl. Make sure that the boiling water does not touch the bowl above. Dip the strawberries and sprinkle with unsweetened coconut if desired.

Happy Monday! I hope your week is easy and not too breezy!

Real Food Menu for Week of 3.22.2021

March 22, 2021weekly menuscarb buster breakfast, carrot cake breakfast cookies, copycat alice springs chicken, keto meatballs and sauce, loaded roasted garlic hummus greek style, strawberry lemonade muffins, thai veggie noodle salad, weeknight taco souparthurized Leave a comment

Hooray for warmer weather and a pretty weekend! The past few days, I was finally able to spend a good bit of time outdoors. I trimmed up the rosemary shrub which was massively overgrown and replaced the fishing line around the herb garden. Pa Kettle told me which seeds I need to plant this week (beets, radishes and lettuces). I’m a little behind the game where the garden is concerned.

Here’s what’s happening in the kitchen:

Mark’s Breakfast:
A few weeks ago, Mark baked a double batch of breakfast cookies and packed the freezer with them. To make these gluten-free, substitute almond flour for the oat or wheat flour. We add a little extra cinnamon to the dry mix. These are great for breakfast on the go.
https://kristineskitchenblog.com/carrot-cake-breakfast-cookies

Mark’s Lunch:
Weeknight Taco Soup – This one just never gets old. We lighten up this recipe by substituting ground turkey for the beef. Another good keeper, this stores well in the fridge for a few days, or in the freezer for several weeks.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/clean-eating-weeknight-taco-soup

Dinners:

Copycat Alice Springs Chicken – New Recipe! Sometimes you want restaurant chicken, but you’re too lazy to put on pants and leave the house. We think this copycat is pretty darn close to Outback’s original. If you’ve got leftover honey mustard sauce, it’s delicious as a dip as well.
https://www.bhg.com/recipe/alice-springs-chicken

Carb Buster Breakfast – We {heart} breakfast for dinner. This savory, satisfying and simple (say that three times fast!) dinner comes together quickly on busy week nights.
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11666/carb-buster-breakfast

Thai Veggie Noodle Salad – This fresh, crunchy salad is a good use for those veggies available this time of year. Don’t save this one for leftovers, it’s best eaten fresh.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/thai-veggie-noodle-salad-clean-eating

Keto Meatballs and Sauce with Zoodles – This one is so tasty! The cream in the sauce cuts the acidity of the tomatoes. To make wide zoodles, slice a little off the side of the zucchini so that it lays flat on the cutting board. Use a vegetable peeler to slice thin, wide noodles. Saute them in coconut oil for a few minutes, just until tender. Very few things in life are worse than a mushy zoodle.
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/keto-meatballs-and-sauce/

Snack:
Loaded Roasted Garlic Hummus – Greek Style – New Recipe! I used the linked recipe as a starting point and took some help from the grocery store in the form of premade garlic hummus. Top with your favorite toppers, give it a zhush of olive oil and your appetizer is ready!
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/loaded-roasted-garlic-hummus-greek-style

Treat:
Blueberry Lemonade Muffins – In celebration of Spring, we’re busting out these little goodies. I’m substituting blueberries for strawberries. They’re equally delicious.
https://deliciouslyorganic.net/strawberry-lemonade-muffins

I hope this week brings you sunshine and loads of enjoyable time outdoors!

Real Food Menu for Week of 3.15.2021

March 15, 2021weekly menuschocolate chip chickpea blondies, chop chop fresh veggie salad, curry roasted carrots, pumpkin spice overnight oats, Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Salmon and Red Potatoes, slow cooker cabbage roll soup, steak tagliata with sweet potato wedges and warm tomatoes in vinaigrette, veggie packed fried ricearthurized Leave a comment

I’ve recently learned about colcannon for St. Patrick’s day and I’ve gotta say, I’m intrigued, but skeptical. My concerns are threefold. Will the combination of cabbage and potatoes ruin perfectly good potatoes? Will the potatoes ruin perfectly good cabbage? If I fry up the leftovers, have I actually made Bubble & Squeak? So many questions.

On my friend Sue’s suggestion, we’ll try this little Irish goodie for dinner on St. Pat’s with that steak tagliata. Here’s what we’re eating the rest of the week:

Mark’s Breakfast:

Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats – When berries aren’t in season, these oats are a nice breakfast option. They’re great eaten cold with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of cinnamon, or heat and eat minus the toppings.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/pumpkin-pie-overnight-oats-recipe

Mark’s Lunch:
Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup – While we’re on a cabbage roll….(heh. see what I did there?)

All the flavors, none of that pesky stuffing and rolling cabbage leaves. This soup stores and reheats well. The recipe says it yields 12 servings. Maybe if you’re feeding tiny people? This makes 8 hearty bowls of soup.
https://www.veggiebalance.com/cabbage-roll-in-a-bowl-slow-cooker-recipe

Dinners:

Curry Roasted Carrots (new Recipe!) Here’s a flavor combo we haven’t tried before. Why not give it a whirl? We love curry and we love roasted veggies. Turns out, it’s delicious!
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/easy-curry-roasted-carrots-recipe

We’ll serve it with this salmon:
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/one-sheet-pan-garlic-butter-salmon

Chop Chop Fresh Veggie Salad – So crunchy and fresh! I love that these veggies are available year round, so we don’t have to wait for garden produce to enjoy this salad.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/chop-chop

Sliced Steak Tagliata – This delicious steak dinner is super simple to prepare and would make a nice meal for foodie guests. It looks fancier than it is. Instead of sweet potato fries, we’re giving a side of colcannon a try.
https://www.hellofresh.com/recipes/sliced-steak-tagliata-5a4e74c4c2880042c2002211

Veggie Packed Fried Rice – New Recipe! Coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari are good substitutes for soy sauce. Whatever sauce you use, reserve a little to drizzle on top when serving.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/veggie-packed-fried-rice-clean-eating

Snack:
Popcorn, bananas, apples, grapes and cucumber slices with hummus.

Treat:
Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies – I was recently chatting with a friend about how I sneak chickpeas by Mr. Arthur’s discerning palate. This treat is one of those ways. We like these blondies with Lily’s chocolate chips.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/chocolate-chickpea-blondies

I hope your week is a happy one, filled with only pleasant shenanigans!

Real Food Menu for Week of 3.8.2021

March 8, 2021weekly menusAmazing Apricot Chicken, Chocolate Pecan Sweet Potato Breakfast Cookies, Easy Vegetarian Chili, Italian Lentil Soup, keto philly cheese steak skillet, Peanut Butter Fruit Dip, Spicy Roasted Chickpea Saladarthurized Leave a comment

Well, it’s been a quiet week in Lake Woebegone. Haha! The weekend weather finally cooperated (somewhat, it was still COLD) giving us an opportunity to work on a few home projects. and of course I was in my happy place working on a couple of baby doll scrap quilts for OCC shoeboxes. We haven’t been particularly adventurous in the food department lately, preferring to fix a few tried and true dishes.

Here is what’s on the menu this week:

Mark’s Breakfast:
Chocolate Sweet Potato Breakfast Cookies – Healthy cookies are great for weekend meal prep. Pop one out of the fridge or freezer and warm for a quick grab-and-go breakfast. These store in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for three months. I like to add a skosh of nutmeg to this preparation.
https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/sweet-potato-breakfast-cookies

Mark’s Lunch:
Easy Vegetarian Chili – I was a little concerned that vegetarian chili would just taste like, well, vegetable soup with beans, but this one surprised me! Look for good quality refried beans without inflammatory oils; I used Kroger’s Simple Truth Organic brand.
https://www.3fatchicks.com/diet-recipes/easy-vegetarian-chili

Dinners (We plan four dinners each week to leave room in the schedule for a leftovers night or to eat out.)

Spicy Roasted Chickpea Salad – Flavorful and satisfying, the spice in this salad is not heat. Since Mark doesn’t love avocado, we usually only use half at a time. I recently learned a little trick for storing a cut avocado: Place the avocado cut side down in a container of water. It will keep without oxidizing for a day or so.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/spicy-roasted-chickpea-salad

Amazing Apricot Chicken – This company worthy chicken is a 10! Look for apricot jam that is prepared without added sugar.
https://www.hellofresh.com/recipes/amazing-apricot-chicken-5915b11d4f78db20234cb0c2

Italian Lentil Soup – We love lentils! With a simple substitution or two, this hearty recipe is easily made vegetarian or vegan. We carnivores can beef it up by adding some Italian sausage. Delish.
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/italian-lentil-soup-recipe

Keto Philly Cheesesteak Skillet Dinner – So good! Mark can’t get enough steak; I should probably make this more often. We like to double the veggies in this quick weeknight dinner. The only *real* work is in slicing those peppers and onions.
https://www.eatingonadime.com/philly-cheese-steak-skillet-dinner

Snack:
Peanut Butter Fruit Dip: I make this dip without any modifications. Try dipping red grapes in this one. It has all the flavor of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We like it with apple slices too.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/peanut-butter-fruit-dip-clean-eating/

Treat:
See peanut butter dip, above! Between the breakfast cookies, fruit and peanut butter dip, I feel like we have enough treats this week!

If you need inspiration for upcoming St. Paddy’s fun, check out these posts:

https://arthurizedhome.com/2020/03/13/lucky-st-patricks-hoosier

https://arthurizedhome.com/2020/03/11/real-food-mint-shake

https://arthurizedhome.com/2019/03/16/rainbow-fruit-with-3-healthy-dips

https://arthurizedhome.com/2019/03/15/luck-of-the-irish-mini-bunting

Have a great week!

Real Food Menu for Week of 3.1.2021

March 1, 2021weekly menusbaby doll quilts, chicken pineapple curry, creamy greek pasta salad, homemade creamy tomato soup, maple cream cheese spread, oatmeal with raisins walnuts and banana, operation christmas child, stupidly easy banana bread, teriyaki salmon with broccoli and carrotsarthurized Leave a comment

Debbie Downer checking in here! Well, it’s been a minute since I last posted our weekly menu. Let’s just call this year 2020 2.0! We both had COVID back in January including the delightful symptom of losing taste and smell. We still ate real food, but didn’t put much effort into cooking because dining became nourishment over enjoyment. Temperature and texture, rather than the nuances of flavors and aromas.

February’s gift has been a tendonitis flare in my wrist, rendering my dominant hand as useful as a paperweight. Mark has taken up most of the food prep and daily cooking while I whine about my wrist and freebase ibuprofen. It’s improving now; and I haven’t been entirely idle. I’m finishing up my third baby doll quilt for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Anywhoo. On to this week’s eats.

Mark’s Breakfast:
Oatmeal with Toppings: This one isn’t a recipe other than what’s on the side of the oats canister. Mark is currently loving the apple raisin combo, so we add raisins to the cooking water before it boils and top the prepared oats with diced apple.

Mark’s Lunch:
Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup – We love this simple soup! I double all the spices except red pepper flakes and add a pinch of nutmeg. Serve with gluten-free Brazilian cheese bread, a grilled cheese sammy or your favorite crusty bread.
https://acleanbake.com/vegan-cream-of-tomato-soup

Dinners:

Mashed Butternut Squash – New Recipe! My knife skills aren’t the greatest, so I don’t feel comfortable chopping butternut squash for roasting. Instead, I slice it in half lengthwise, brush with olive oil and oven roast at 375° for 45 minutes or until fork tender. Scoop the flesh when it is cool enough to handle and mash. So simple. Serve this as a side with your favorite protein and some green beans or a salad.
https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/mashed-butternut-squash

Teriyaki Salmon – Here’s an easy, sheet pan meal! I substitute gluten free tamari for the soy sauce. Cook until the salmon flakes easily and the veggies are tender-crisp.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/homemade-teriyaki-salmon-meal-prep/

Creamy Greek Pasta Salad – Mark rates this one a 9; he can deal with the feta, but not kalamata olives! We use lentil or chickpea pasta because it is less gummy than brown rice pasta. This large salad would be perfect for potlucks or family gatherings.
https://girlheartfood.com/greek-pasta-salad-gluten-free-vegetarian

Chicken Pineapple Curry – Hello, old friend! Savory with pineapple sweetness, this recipe is an old favorite. For thicker sauce, use just one can of coconut milk. We usually make a double batch and stash the extra in the freezer.
https://www.5dollardinners.com/chicken-pineapple-curry

Snack and Treat:
Stupidly Easy Banana Bread – With only six ingredients and no processed sugar, this lightly sweet loaf is great for breakfast, snacks or as a treat.
https://thestonesoup.com/blog/2015/03/31/stupidly-easy-banana-bread
If you need a lil’ sweetness on your banana bread, add the maple cream cheese spread. So good, it’s dangerous! I decrease the recipe by half and add a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. For dairy-free, whip some chilled coconut cream. If the mixture is too thick to spread easily, add in a tablespoon or two of milk or coconut milk.
Maple Cream Cheese Spread:
https://thestonesoup.com/blog/2015/09/15/the-best-birthday-present-ever-a-sale

I hope your week is off to a good start and brings only good things!

Real Food Menu for Week of 1.11.2021

January 11, 2021weekly menusblueberry and raspberry baked oatmeal, cherry tomato and white bean salad, gobble gobble squash, no bake 4 ingredient chocolate cookies, one pan balsamic chicken and veggies, secret garden popcorn, thai-style cucumber salad, weeknight taco souparthurized Leave a comment

I’ve decided January could use a little extra sparkle, so I’m leaving my wintery decor up for the duration. Gotta have something fun to look at after the Christmas magic is packed away. I’m craving fresh veggies heading into mid-winter, so I’m trying to include lots of them in the weekly menu.

Mark’s Breakfast:
Blueberry and Raspberry Baked Oatmeal – Use your favorite berries or whatever you have on hand. You really can’t go wrong with this one. Frozen berries work just as well as fresh. This dish keeps in the fridge for a few days, or slice into portions and freeze. Warm to serve, and top with a little milk or cream.
https://www.sohowsittaste.com/blueberry-raspberry-baked-oatmeal

Maybe I should update this photo? I swear that background is a dinner napkin, but it looks like a bedsheet! Breakfast in bed? Haha!

Mark’s Lunch:
Weeknight Taco Soup – We lighten up this go-to recipe by substituting ground turkey for the beef. Another good keeper, this stores well in the fridge for a few days, or in the freezer for several weeks.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/clean-eating-weeknight-taco-soup

Dinner:

One Pan Balsamic Chicken and Veggies – If you haven’t tried sheet pan dinners, I think you’ll like them. Toss your ingredients on a lined pan, pop it in the oven and wait. Clean up is a breeze. Take some help from the store and use baby carrots for this recipe. Ain’t no shame in that game.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/one-pan-balsamic-chicken-veggies

Gobble Gobble Squash – New Recipe! My Carnivore in Residence would have happily eaten the filling without the squash. I prefer the pairing of the two. Yum!
https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2016/10/gobble-gobble-squash

Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad – Simple and flavorful, this little goodie comes together in minutes.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/cherry-tomato-white-bean-salad/

Thai-Style Cucumber Salad

Servings: 4-5
Time: 20 minutes prep, 2 hours refrigeration
Difficulty: Easy
Print

Refreshing, light and full of summer-time flavors, this side salad pairs nicely with grilled salmon or chicken.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons honey
¾ cup hot water
½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 large English cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
½ cup carrot, thinly sliced
¼ cup green onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons red bell pepper, diced finely
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 teaspoon jalapeno, finely minced
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 clove fresh garlic, crushed

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk honey and water until the honey is fully dissolved. Add vinegar; cover and refrigerate for two hours.
Combine cucumber and remaining ingredients in a bowl. Pour chilled dressing over cucumber mixture and toss gently.

Snacks:
Apple, bananas, popcorn, fresh bell pepper slices. We’re nothing if not predictable. Try popcorn with your favorite garden herbs for a little extra flavor.

Secret Garden Popcorn Drizzle

Servings: 4
Time: 5-10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Print

A savory, garlicky twist on traditional popcorn. Adapted from mymagazine.us

Ingredients

4 Tbsp. butter
I clove minced or pressed garlic
2 Tbsp. minced herbs – try parsley, chives, dill or oregano
freshly popped popcorn
salt, to taste – if using unsalted butter

Directions

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and herbs and stir for one minute. Remove from heat and drizzle over warm popcorn. Toss to coat and serve. Enjoy! http://www.arthurizedhome.com

Treat:
No Bake 4 Ingredient Chocolate Cookies – New Recipe! Mark proclaimed these fudgy little numbers a 10! Okay, so this recipe may not put you closer to your New Year’s goals, but they are so good! Maybe store them in the freezer so they don’t call your name constantly?
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/no-bake-4-ingredient-chocolate-cookies

Here’s to a week of yummy eats! I hope your Monday is off to a great start!

Real Food Menu for Week of 1.4.2021

January 4, 2021weekly menusbreakfast scramble meal prep bowls, broccoli and red cabbage salad with tangy peanut butter dressing, chocolate coconut snowballs, homemade creamy tomato soup, homemade granola, hoosier cabinet, hoosier cabinet Christmas decor, roasted red pepper hummus, twice baked butternut squash, vegan macaroni saladarthurized Leave a comment

Wow, it sure feels strange to type 2021. I mentioned that to Pa Kettle and he said “I’m still writing 2019 on my checks!”

A package arrived in the mail Saturday, and when I opened it I found these adorable kissing salt and pepper shakers, a gift from my sister in Tennessee. They look so cute in our Hoosier, that I’ll just *have* to leave our Christmas decor up a little longer.

Mark’s Breakfast:
Homemade Granola – Back in October, I filled the freezer with a few quarts of this granola and Mark has decided to clear out some of that space this week. We have just the small freezer over our refrigerator, so that forces us to rotate the inventory. This granola keeps well for a few months when frozen. Top with fresh fruit and a dollop of Greek yogurt if you like.
https://www.5dollardinners.com/homemade-granola-sugar-free/

Mark’s Lunch:
Vegan Macaroni Salad – This vat o’ salad is perfect for meal prep. Mark’s on a bit of a pasta for lunch kick; it’s easy to grab and go on these mild winter days when yardwork beckons. The fresh veggies lend a delicious crunch to this non-traditional macaroni salad. If you have the time, use Southern Living’s pasta salad pro tip.
https://simple-veganista.com/vegan-macaroni-salad/#tasty-recipes-26692

Dinners:

Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup – New Recipe! Who doesn’t love a warm bowl of soup with crusty bread during the cooler months? This soup is so easy and delicious, you’ll forget all about canned soups. The coconut milk cuts the acidity of the tomatoes. I double all the spices except red pepper flakes and add a pinch of nutmeg. We serve this with gluten-free Brazilian cheese bread.
https://acleanbake.com/vegan-cream-of-tomato-soup

Broccoli and Red Cabbage Salad with Tangy Peanut Butter Dressing – This salad is crunchy and flavorful, with just a bit of tartness from the cranberries. Dress this salad just before serving. (I recommend doubling the dressing. It’s that good!) Leftover dressing is delicious served over plain, shredded cabbage.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/broccoli-red-cabbage-salad-tangy-pb-dressing/

Twice Baked Butternut Squash – New Recipe! Delish! I used a mixture of cheddar and parmesan cheese. Save this one for the weekend or a lazy afternoon (ha!). It’s a little fussier than most of my dishes, but worth the effort.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/twice-baked-butternut-squash-recipe

Breakfast Scramble Meal Prep Bowls – Mark rates these a 10! These bowls are just spicy enough for my heat-averse hubs. I use ground turkey and this taco seasoning recipe.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/breakfast-scramble-clean-eating-meal-prep-bowls

Snacks:
Hummus with cucumber slices and sweet bell pepper strips, apples, bananas and our requisite popcorn. This roasted red pepper hummus is delish! We like a little extra garlic, two cloves are just enough without overwhelming the red pepper.
https://www.inspiredtaste.net/22016/roasted-red-pepper-hummus-recipe

Treat:
No Bake Chocolate Coconut Snowballs – In the interest of clearing out the backlog of coconut in the pantry, it’s time to whip up these little goodies. I use four tablespoons of maple syrup instead of six. (If you’re using monk fruit maple syrup, use two tablespoons of coconut milk.)
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/coconut-snowballs-recipe

Happy New Year and Happy Monday, everyone!

Real Food, Real Life Menu for Christmas Week

December 21, 2020weekly menuscherry breakfast rice bowl, chocolate chip chickpea blondies, cuban style rice and beans with turkey, double baked chipotle chicken sweet potatoes, jolabokaflod, kale salad with apricots and almonds, mediterranean pasta salad, slow cooker cabbage roll souparthurized Leave a comment

Our Christmas celebrations are generally low-key. We have brunch at Pa Kettle’s house, exchange gifts and return home for a long afternoon nap. Christmas night is spent watching movies and relaxing. We’re incorporating a new tradition for 2020, Jolabokaflod. The quick and dirty is this: spend Christmas Eve in bed reading a new book and eating (or drinking) chocolate. I think I’m gonna like this tradition!

Instead of preparing a full menu this week and next, we’re eating quick and easy meals. Some are simple salads, others are soups and main dishes we’ll pull from the freezer. This is where that meal prep really pays off in spades.

Mark’s Breakfast:
Cherry Breakfast Rice Bowl – New Recipe! – The flavor combination of orange and cinnamon remind me of Christmases past. For a hearty (man-sized) breakfast, double the brown rice and spices.
https://www.cleaneatingmag.com/clean-eating-recipes/cherry-breakfast-rice-bowls

Mark’s Lunch:
Mediterranean Pasta Salad – So satisfying! Red lentil penne holds up well in this salad, but any sturdy noodle will work. Don’t forget the feta for that creamy, salty goodness.
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/mediterranean-pasta-salad

Dinners:
Double Baked Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potatoes – Don’t skimp on that adobo sauce. So yum!
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/these-double-baked-chipotle-chicken-sweet-potatoes

Cuban Style Rice and Beans with Turkey – New Recipe! She’s not the prettiest dinner, but she certainly is tasty. The poblano adds a layer of flavor, not heat.
https://www.cleaneatingmag.com/recipes/cuban-style-rice-beans-with-turkey

Kale Salad with Apricots and Almonds – We just can’t get enough of this simple salad.
https://www.whatwouldcathyeat.com/2012/04/kale-salad-with-apricots-and-almonds

Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup – All the flavor, none of that pesky rolling of cabbage leaves. The recipe says it yields 12 servings. Um. Maybe if you’re feeding tiny people, or consider a cup of soup a serving? This makes 8 nice bowls of soup.
https://www.veggiebalance.com/cabbage-roll-in-a-bowl-slow-cooker-recipe

Snacks: With all the Christmas treats available right now, we’ll stick with fresh apples, bananas, pineapple and baby carrots with hummus for dipping. I’m taking some help from Aldi where the hummus is concerned. Their organic hummus is really delicious.

Treat:
Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies – It’s long past time to bring back these little goodies. We like them with Lily’s chocolate chips.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/chocolate-chickpea-blondies

The holiday baking is done. Santa and Mrs. Claus have hung up their aprons for the season.
Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Real Food Menu for Week of 12.14.2020

December 14, 2020weekly menusbuffalo chicken dip, butternut squash soup with bacon sherry and thyme, cheesy cauliflower nachos, green bean gratin, homemade granola, homemade sugar free granola, slow cooker spanish chicken and rice, stovetop sauteed cinnamon apples, vegetarian hash, weeknight taco souparthurized Leave a comment

Instead of wrapping eleventy-billion gifts for shipment to family far and wide, I spent yesterday morning foofing the Hoosier. (Yes, foofing is the technical term.) Fiddling while Rome burns, as it were. I just love the result. Here’s a little peek:

For my new readers (welcome!), I plan four dinners per week to leave space in the schedule for a dinner out and a leftovers night or two. Nothing makes me grumpier than throwing out perfectly good food gone rogue. I’m intermittent fasting, so breakfast and lunch are for hubs only.

We’re knee-deep into prepping all the Christmas things, so keeping this week’s menu fairly simple.

Mark’s Breakfast:
Homemade Granola – Being the cinnamon freak that he is, I double it for Mark and add a sprinkle of nutmeg. Mark likes this best with coconut milk and banana slices; it’s delicious with Greek yogurt and fresh berries as well.
https://www.5dollardinners.com/homemade-granola-sugar-free/

Mark’s Lunch:
Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken and Rice – I sub brown rice for the wild rice. This recipe is great for meal prep as it makes enough to feed a crowd and reheats beautifully.
https://fitmomjourney.com/trim-healthy-mama-slow-cooker-chicken-and-rice/

Dinners:
Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon, Sherry and Thyme – New Recipe! We both agree we could drink this soup! I don’t bother peeling and cubing my squash. Simply slice the squash in half lengthwise, brush with olive oil and roast at 375° for 45 minutes, or until fork tender. Roast thick onion wedges along with the butternut, or saute them in the soup pot until caramelized.
https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2020/09/butternut-squash-soup-with-bacon-sherry-and-thyme/

Cheesy Cauliflower Nachos – These are sensational and perfect for Meatless Monday.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/cheesy-cauliflower-nachos/

Green Bean Gratin with Ham – New Recipe! We’ve tried this recipe a couple of ways, and Mark liked it best with cheddar cheese rather than swiss. *adds swiss cheese to the no-fly list*
Nitrate-free ham (try Hormel natural) is a nice addition when serving this as a main dish. Omit the ham for a vegetarian option. I use gluten-free breadcrumbs and almond milk. The sauce will thicken slightly upon cooling.
https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2020/08/green-bean-gratin

Vegetarian Hash – We enjoyed this so much last week, we’re repeating it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! This makes four hearty dinner portions.
https://www.cleaneatingmag.com/recipes/vegetarian-hash/

Weeknight Taco Soup – An old favorite, lightened up by substituting ground turkey for the beef. This tasty number is great for meal prep because it keeps well in the fridge for a few days, or in the freezer for several weeks.
https://cleanfoodcrush.com/clean-eating-weeknight-taco-soup/

Snack:
Buffalo Chicken Dip – So good! I think 1/4 cup of hot sauce is perfect, add more if you love heat and don’t need those taste buds. This dip is great with celery sticks or as a spread for sturdy crackers. We like the gluten free multigrain crackers from Aldi.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-dips-and-spreads

Treat:
Stovetop Sauteed Cinnamon Apples – Simple and delicious. I leave the maple syrup out, but include a pinch of nutmeg because it belongs in nearly everything!
https://joyfoodsunshine.com/stovetop-cinnamon-apples

I hope your week is off to a great start! Here’s a little reminder for those of us burning the midnight oil in preparation for Christmas:

Arthurized Home

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Thai-Style Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

Directions

Secret Garden Popcorn Drizzle

Ingredients

Directions

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: