Monday, May 28 - The boys are home!

Jennifer here...

Tom and Bennett are home from backpacking with the Boy Scouts.  Lots of excitement as a bear was in their camp Saturday night.  The bear didn't get any of their equipment but got the "bear bag" of a neighboring campsite. Bear bags are where you put all your food and supplies overnight so the bear DOESN'T get it...  guess theirs wasn't high enough??  Like a good fish story, I'm sure by this weekend, the bear story will have grown to a full-blown attack with all the 11yo scouts beating him off with their "bear" hands!! :-)  I've heard all about bear poop, claw marks, and that the bear peed on one of the adult tents!! Totally cool!!  But it was also a bummer that they didn't get to actually see him.

We didn't get to cookout with our friends as I hoped today but I did get to experiment in the kitchen.  I am really having fun finding all these possible recipes!!  Pinterest has really been awesome for that!  I didn't have near as many options when we first did this a couple years ago.  I made a no-sugar-no-flour (NSNF) recipe board on my pinterest page if you want to follow me.

I am remembering now from the last time we did NSNF that after a few days into it, I am not as hungry during the day as when I do not eat this way.  When I look back at everything I eat during the day, I surprise myself that I didn't eat more.

Here's what today held for my meals and recipes.

Breakfast (another late start today - the joys of sleeping in during the summer!! breakfast wasn't until noon)
2 scrambled eggs (leftover from yesterday morning)
sausage (leftover from yesterday morning)
1 piece Ezekiel bread, toasted, with raspberry Polaner jelly


Snack
small handful of raisins (probably about 2 tablespoons??)

Dinner
Meatloaf  (my kids LOVE meatloaf.  We eat red meat about 1x a month and it's usually this.)
Corn on the cob
Cut fresh fruit (kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe, and grapes today - we go through a LOT of fresh fruit every day)
"Mock Mashed Potatoes" (aka mashed cauliflower) - RECIPE TO COME
** The mock potatoes were a HUGE hit!!  The fam LOVED them and I did too!  I have already had a request to make them again.  We had some leftover so I'll let you know tomorrow how they reheat.  I loved the slight garlic taste and adding a little salt and butter after serving really did give the feel of mashed taters.


Dessert
Black Bean Brownies (NSNF brownies) - RECIPE TO COME
No-Sugar Added Breyers Vanilla ice cream (about 1/4 cup)

 I just laugh at myself as I set up these "photos".  It feels silly to pose food for you to see so someone tell me the visuals help.  HA!  But, above are the ingredients for the Black Bean Brownies.  I might have to get Kroger to sponsor me since that's where I get 80% of our groceries and their name brand stuff will be in most of my photos.  I'll post the Black Bean Brownie recipe in another entry but it's also pinned on my NSNF pinterest board.  There is a "follow me on Pinterest" link on my blog home page.

And here are the finished brownies with walnuts sprinkled on top before baking:

So how did they taste??  I must say I was pleasantly surprised!!  I made a double batch.  Next time I will use a little less cocoa powder.  I think I had too much.  They are a little dry (more cake-like, not fudgy or gooey), thus adding the no-sugar-added Breyers ice cream.  But there was enough hint of "sweet" that I think this did really well for a healthier alternative to a traditional brownie.  I'd make it again!!  And all the kids gave it a thumbs up -- and THAT is what it's all about!!  Of course, this will be a limited treat. I am just having fun trying new things to see what the possibilities are.  Tomorrow I am going to try a BLT Pasta salad. The recipe looks YUM!

I guess I need to say that we have done no exercise.  That is NOT good but just the way the days have gone on this long lazy weekend.  We'll do better tomorrow and will update you.

We will be doing weigh-ins every 2 weeks so next Monday I'll post our changes.  Thanks for following this day in the life of a Crow.
Jennifer