Zucchini Delight

Since zucchini is something that multiplies almost as fast as rabbits I only planted one plant this year. It has been doing fantastic and we have been doing well keeping up with cooking & eating it. Well I started to fall off the eating zucchini band wagon and there were a little to many in my basket of fresh veggies. So I was reading through blogs today and low and behold on Shanna's blog "My Favorite Everything" 

she had posted some very yummy recipes and I decided to give one a try tonight This is called squash cakes. OH MY GOODNESS they are so yummy! Not exactly raw but so, so yummy. 

Shanna called them :I will squash you for these squash cakes!

When I send out a Tweet that I’ve just made a delicious and super easy Squash Carbonara with the Garden’s bounty, and someone Tweets back “I have an incredible recipe from my grandma for squash patties! My kids and hub LOVE them! Let me know if you want it!! “…you pretty much say “Yes please!!”

Now stick with me here…it’s complicated and may take you ohhhhhh, all of 15 minutes (TOPS) to makes these babies (which I have now made 3 times this week, but who’s counting??)

Ingredients:

1 cup grated squash

1 egg

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup flour

2 tablespoon grated onion

Directions: (Again, really complicated, pay attention!) 

Mix everything together and spoon into hot olive oil, fry lightly until firm!

Ignore my out of focus photo, I was in a hurry to try these! Love using my ice cream scooper for EVERYTHING that needs to be spooned and dropped! Thanks for the tip Barefoot Contessa. 

Dropped a few spoonfuls in the hot oil…

When I saw them starting to lightly brown, I flipped them with a fork.

When they felt firm to the touch with the back of my fork, I lifted them out onto paper towel.

And then I devoured them. 

Then by request from Dallas I made some Chocolate Zucchini Bread 

 I haven't tried this yet but Faith and Gabby said it was good.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Grease (or spray with a nonstick vegetable spray) a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. Set aside. Grate the zucchini, using a medium sized grater. Set aside. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground allspice. Set aside. In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract until well blended (about 2 minutes). Fold in the grated zucchini. Add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Then fold in the chocolate chips. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove the bread from the pan and cool completely. Makes one - 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf. Chocolate Zucchini Bread: 1 1/2 cups shredded raw zucchini (about 1/2 pound or 227 grams) 1 cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour 1/2 cup (45 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (not Dutch-processed) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 cup (120 ml) safflower or canola oil 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar 1/2 cup (105 grams) light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3/4 cup (125 grams) semi sweet chocolate chips Let me know if you try these and how you like them. Hugs, Bobbi Jo 3/4 cup (125 grams) semi sweet chocolate chips

Birthday

My morning started off wonderful with my brother Mark calling me to wish me a Happy Birthday. It seriously made my day. I miss him and his wife Renee'.

A little later Coco called me and her sweet little babies, I miss them too. 

I had other people calling and sending me messages on FaceBook .It was so nice for people to take time to send me greetings and I appreciated them all.

What a fun Birthday I had. It was somewhat relaxing . I got to spend time with the family and do the things I like to do.

Faith made these pretty & yummy cupcakes for my Birthday.

 When it came time to sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles I found that I was completely out of candles. I don't think I have bought candles in several years so I forgot to check. Alan got creative and used matches.

 Pretty gift bags

 I don't care for store bought or boxed cakes so I decided I would make my own cake. It is an Amish carrot cake (minus the nuts due to Gabby can't have nuts)

 I know it isn't the prettiest but it did taste yummy if I must say so myself.

 I don't really like posting pictures of myself but heck it was my Birthday. 

Here I am opening up a new PINK phone holster. Love it!

 As you can see in this picture I am the biggest dork in the world. I have wanted a Terrible Towel for so long and I finally got one.Now I can wave my towel during the football games that I watch at home. he he (Told you I was a dork).

I also got a bottle of my favorite Opium Perfume. Hubs knows how I love to smell good.

 Dallas and E'lyse showing there super skills and having one eye straight and the other turned in WEIRD!! 

 My Terrible Towel again. I tell you I was so thrilled to get this.

Faith got this for me. It is soap that is shaped into roses. I love soaking in a bath every night so this was great. They are PINK and so pretty I don't know if I can use them. 

 This is Herriet the bear. Gabby got this for me. It is so soft and cuddly. 

So I had a wonderful Birthday. Alan and I went for a inexpensive lunch to Olive Garden (yummy soup & salad). For dinner I made homemade chimichangas. 

I wish that Coco and her family could have made it down, maybe next year.

I am so thankful for the love of my family & friends, you are all awesome! 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Joining Connie And Going SCALE FREE

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

I read this on Connies blog Fat to Fit Mommy! This just struck me like I was listening to my own story. So I am joining Connie in getting rid of my scale.I am tired of determining my emotional state by how much I weigh. I will not let it rule my life any longer. I too

am striving to be healthy and fit.

What better gift can I give myself on this my Birthday than

Freedome from the scale!

(This is also posted on my Health Habit blog.)

Scale Free

I ran into my friend Jolene from Healthy Discoveries at a party this weekend. Just being in her presence made me make better choices. I only had one glass of Sangria and one bite of dessert.

Jolene is working on something pretty exciting and talking to her about it really got me thinking some things.

While talking to her about being healthy...weight was never mentioned once. We talked about activity and healthy choices. We talked about motivation and the rewards of making those choices.

credit

My life has been ruled by the scale since I was a teenager. It can make or break my day. I'm throwing out the scale!

My focus needs to be on health and not weight. Because weight doesn't tell the entire story!

And it shouldn't determine how I feel about myself.

Starting today....I will work towards making healthy choices and adding more activity to my life. I will reward myself with things other than food. I will hydrate my body with water instead of coffee and soda.

I desire to be HEALTHY and STRONG! Which means....I'm going to have tochange my twitter handle. HA!

When we pay attention to our desires, our daily energy levels increase. And embracing your desires will sustain your health! ~ Jolene Park

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Garden

This years spring summer garden is doing really well I am pleased to say. I think my Father in Love would be happy with what we have done.

We currently have basil, chives, cantaloupe, watermelon, peppers (green & red), cucumbers, crookneck squash, zucchini and onions growing. The squash is producing so I am getting about 1 a day off of each plant. This happens to be one of my favorite veggies.

There is another planter box that I didn't take a picture of. We are hoping to put in a few more for the winter garden planting. Super Excited about growing my own veggies for my juice every morning.

 This is a cantaloupe. There are many more on the vines.

 This is the start of loufa plants. I had a friend of mine, Rhonda of Down To Earth, lives in Australia. She sent me seeds over 5 years ago.We were living in Pinetop and the climate wasn't hot enough. So I finally got my seeds out and planted them a little over a week ago. This was a picture from last Thursday and they have grown even more since. I am wanting to make homemade soap to give with a homegrown loufa sponge for Christmas to some people and have some of course on hand for the family. 

 This is a watermelon. I spotted this little guy and then found many more hiding under the vines. Yummy can't wait for home grown watermelon, watermelon pops cycles, and water melon in juice. 

I am so thankful for what I had learned from my Father in Love about the gardening. It is a major learning and experimenting fun time. I also have a wonderful person at A&P Nursery that has been so helpful in this adventure of becoming more self-sufficient. 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Doing My Part~Juice~Raw Food

So I along with the rest of the world am trying to cut back on the spending and keeping things cleaner. I went to my Wal-Mart and bought lingerie bags for .97 cents. I bought about 8 of them. I take them to the store with me to buy my produce that you normally stick in a plastic bag that tends to end up ripping before you even get out of the store. These things are great! Plus you aren't just throwing them away when you get home. I fold them and keep them in the back of my van with my reusable shopping bags. 

These are my beets and carrots. You can just keep these right in the fridge too. 

 The next thing I decided to do is since I have a compost bin I bot a little what they call a "Retro Garbage can" at Cost Plus World Market. It sits right on my counter top for my veggie & fruit waste to go into. Then every other day I take it out and empty it. Plus it is so darn cute! 

 This is the waste inside the little can. Super convenient!

 This is the juice part of the title. My juicer, my friend! I love this thing. True it is not a Vita-Mix but it has some motor behind it for it to work everyday for me.

 This is the Raw Food part of the title. I started on the 6TH of June with the mostly Raw Food eating. I don't want to call it a diet due to it isn't a diet it is a change of eating habits. This has been my breakfast every morning since then. It is called the Great Eliminator. It is 1 cucumber, 1 beet, 10 carrots and 2 apples. I add the apples due to I couldn't handle the bitterness without. 

 This is the juice once it is done. I think it is very pretty! It holds me over for a good while, much better than oatmeal or cereal. 

I have been doing a lot of research on all the above mentioned. I hope to continue to add more to my list that will not only benefit me but our budget, families health and nutrition.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Sunday Meal

Gotta love Sunday meals

I woke up this morning around 5 and put a roast in the crock pot so it would be ready when we got home from church. 

So I decided to make some home made bread to go with it. 

 This is the yummy roast 

 What would a good roast be without mash potatoes and gravy. 

Made with golden potatoes and butter

 And for desert I made apple cobbler. 

It all turned out yummy and the family enjoyed it. 

Gotta love those Sunday meals.

You may ask why do I photograph my food.? Well not only is food a great model but,

 I think food is beautiful !

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Food & Juice

This morning went to one of my favorite places in the world. The library! I could and have spent hours at the library in the past. I love to read and I usually have 4 or 5 books going at the same time. It depends on the mood I am in on what I will be reading in the bathtub. That is my place to read by choice due to no one wants to see me naked, the leave me alone for a while and it is usually quiet in my bathroom.

So this is the book I got. I figured I need to be more informed about what I eat. I know I like to eat, I know that I am not a majorly picky eater but I want to know the very facts about food. I also put in requests for 4 more books that they do not have in the library here in Queen Tucky Ville.

 Monday was a very sad, sad day for me. I made my morning juice this potion of sorts is called the ELIMINATOR. It isn't the greatest thing in the world but it holds me over for a while. Anyway, I was almost done juicing and all of the sudden my little Black and Decker juicer just stopped working. Just like that no noise, no smell just silence. I swear I heard crickets chirping. So even though I really didn't want to spend the money on a new one, due to the fact that the other one was over 6 years old and I have recently been using it about 2 times a day I NEEDED a new one. I tried to think of other ways to juice my greens, beets and carrots but my blender/food processor won't do the trick. So I went down to the handy dandy Wal-Mart and bought me this beauty. 

True it isn't one of the major high dollar juicers that I would love to have but it kicks trash in the juicing department. I love my new juicer. 

My Juicer My Friend

 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Food & Cheese balls

I do love food

I love fresh bright red strawberry's to nibble on, put in smoothies or make a jam with

 I like pale pink Himalayan Salt that I had to buy just because it was PINK 

 No-bake cookies make for hubby (his favorite) 

 Homemade buckwheat pancakes 

 Homemade chimichangas. Beef on the left/ chicken on the right

 Perfectly perfect chocolate cake with perfectly perfect chocolate icing. So yummy and moist and chocolatey 

 Homemade sauerkraut I made last week fermenting

 Three of my girly cheese balls stuffed their cheeks with cheese balls 

Faith, E'lyse and Gabby

Yes I love food. I like the looks of the different colors, textures and smells. I love preparing a nutritious meal for my family. I love hearing the Mom that was great I am stuffed from the family. 

I love food and all it's many way to prepare and eat it.

I love that food can make us feel better if we are eating the right things for our bodies to function. Remember moderation is the key.

Tonight for dinner spaghetti squash, polska kielbasi, bread and a salad.
What are you having?

 Hugs, Bobbi Jo  

Just For Today

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... the moon is glowing

I am thinking...of where I want to move to and the life I want to live

I am thankful...for my wonderful family, loving husband and the Gospel 

In the kitchen...There is a wonderful smell of fresh baked chocolate cake

I am wearing...white skirt with a purple top 

I am creating...peacefulness and simplicity in my home

I am going...to declutter kitchen cabinets/ living room book shelf

I am wondering...how life will change in this next 6 months

I am reading...A Preachers Daughter

I am hoping...Doors will open for us to have things move along with our plans

I am looking forward to...Coco and her family coming down and staying with us

I am hearing...a movie on TV and laughter in the living room of my girls

Around the house...people are busy talking and laughing 

I am pondering...what is the next thing I need to do to make the dreams I have come true

One of my favorite things...early morning

A few plans for the rest of the week:cleaning, decluttering, cooking and baking, making dolls with my girls

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Almost Caught Up

 Today is Saturday June 18 Th, 2011. I started almost 14 days ago with the Raw Food Life Force Energy program (Natalia Rose). I have to be honest I have not been 100% on not eating flesh (red meats) but have cut WAY WAY back. Just a couple meals in the past 2 weeks. I have quit drinking sodas and am avoiding sugar. Like I said I am not 100% on all of it but I do notice a difference in the way I am feeling. I have also gone organic on all that I can. It is a little more expensive but I think so worth it.
 I had been studying up on Raw eating for the past few months but kept going back on forth on how will I do this and feed the carnivor  family. For this reason I have not gone all out but I can say I am about 90% there. I am juicing every morning, eating fruits & veggies and enjoying the feeling. I have my juice in the morning called " The Great Eliminator", it is 1 lg. beet, 1 lg. cucumber and 10 med. carrots, and juice away and drink. It is not the most tasty thing in the world but I stay full for a good amount of time. Way more than if I were to have cold or hot cereal or an omelet.  A little crazy that this weird tasting concoction can do this for you. I do have to WARN you : If you try this and you do it for a couple of days your waste (fecal mater) will be pink or red, don't be alarmed it is the beets that does this to you. I know to TMI but you need to know these things to save you a trip to the doctors due to funny colored poo!
 I said I was having some crossroads in my life. Well I hit a depression and I am not sure why. I still love my job as a massage therapist and will continue with it. I think it all came down to not doing something else that I love and that is being the Happy Homemaker that I was before I went to school. So after much thought, prayers, crying and working things out in my head and with hubs & Coco I think I know what I am to do. So this is what I am working on.
 My desire is to get back to basics, get rid of the clutter things in my life. Not just physical things but mental things, things that waste money, waste time and energy. I want to be able to give massages with the energy and love that I had before this. I have been feeling like I have nothing left in me to give. Like all of it has been sucked out of me. My physical state has been terrible to say the least. I have been neglecting my bodies needs for good, healthy , raw, natural food that will help it to function as it needs to. I also have been neglecting feeding my family with the whole yummy foods like I use to. I am back working on all the above.
 My desire to get back to the basics include in the next couple years moving to a piece of land where I can have a garden to provide most of the veggies and fruit for my family to live on, have chickens for the eggs and goats for milk, cheese and butter.Be able to spend time outside year round with out feeling like I am trapped due to the heat of the summers here in the valley. To become self sufficient. I am tired of the trying to stay on top of everything due to the silly distractions in life. I have been studying up on a lot of this and I feel that this is what we need to do. More praying and guidance needed on exactly how this will all come about.
 Right now I am working on downsizing things to save on money and time. Example: going to a cheaper cell phone that doesn't have all the fancy gadgets, ring tones or application this will save us over $40 a month. I am getting back into making homemade items. Examples: makeup remover, reusable makeup remover pads, facial cleansers, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant (this is one I will be making and testing this July to make sure it works), soap, homemade toothpaste, dish washer soap & rinse agent, dish washing soap, laundry detergent,  all purpose cleaner,stain remover, oven cleaner, sink cleaner, creamy soft scrub, window cleaner, floor cleaner. Other things such as mixes for cooking, soups, and cooking from scratch like I use too. I miss this so much. It may seem like more work but it is a pleasure for me.
 I am getting rid of physical clutter as well. The more you have to deal with and take care the more you have to do. If I get rid of these things that take up space and I don't absolutely love them then I will have more time to do what I love and desire to do.
 I will try to keep up on my blog so I am not playing catch up again. Hope to get around to visit all the wonderful blogs I have missed reading in the near future. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Catch Up Eight

The other day as I was ironing E'lyses dresses for the trek Faith and Gabby come  in to the bath room and this is what they had to say. 

If you couldn't hear or understand what they said: Mommy we really need to update our 72hr.kits, uh ugh.

It has been a few years as you can see by the very tight and small clothes they were wearing. My funny little girls! Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Every four years our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has what is called the Pioneer Trek. Some parents are called to go on this but they will be parents to other children from our steak boundaries. The youth age 14 and up are highly encouraged to go on this. Coco and Dallas have both gone on one. I have never been on one and I would make an awesome Ma !

Anyway this time was E'lyses chance to experience this wonderful adventure of pushing a handcart and re-enactment some of things that happened with the Pioneer settlers. The people load on to buses and go on a trip up north somewhere. They make a 4 day journey walking, eating together, working together and growing closer to our Heavenly Father through this experience.

Coco's Mother in law, Diana, was nice enough to lone us these beautiful dresses, bonnets, aprons and bloomers for E'lyse to use this year. She had made the dresses in the past for her daughters. This is one fashion style I wish would come back I would SO wear these I think they are so feminine and pretty.

E'lyse in her day dress

E'lyse in the more fancy of the two they were allowed to take

E'lyse and her cute little bloomers. This picture just makes me laugh.

It is Saturday afternoon about 2:41 and she should be calling soon to come get her from the church. Can't wait to see her and hear all about her journey.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Catch Up Six

Miss Faith likes to get in the kitchen and cook a little here and there. She wanted to make a chocolate cake so she put on her pretty little pink Hawaiian print apron and set out to make a cake.

She is somewhat of a poser here! he he

Faith concentrating on mixing up the ingredients. Belle (the dog) walking behind her hoping that something is going to drop for her.

Since I am trying to lay off the regular sugar I didn't try any of the cake. But the family said it was yummy & moist.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Catch Up Five

A month after our 24TH wedding Anniversary Alan and I found the opportune time to get away. Faith and E'lyse were going to girls camp so we asked Coco if Gabby could come stay with her.

We dropped Gabby off and went to our room at the Mountain Haven Inn in Pinetop.( I told you I love Pinetop.)

We had the Romance room. As you can see it was full of hearts and romantic things. Alan was relaxing while I went around taking pictures of our sweet little love next for the next two nights.

Another view of the room. 

Alan resting at the front of the room. 

Bathroom vanity area

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it but you can see the top of the toilet it was pink and so was the bathtub. Did they design this room just for me or what. It was all sort of English/Victorian/ Country just the way I like it. With a lot of PINK everywhere! My poor hubs!

The front of the room. They had the swings and tables w/chairs and a hammock to rest in.

Love the touch of the pine-cones in the planter box at the window.

The room was very clean and quiet. And now the Pièce de résistance, are you ready for this? Look at these sheets. Oh I know I am weird but I fell in love with them. I wish I could find some just like them for my own bed. I think Alan thought I was nuts when I pulled down the bed and started making a fuss over them but I think they are just beautiful.

I would recommend this quaint inn to stay at and we will be coming aback again. We had a great time spending time alone, talking, driving around and did a little visiting with Coco and her family. Yes even as an older Mom I can't stay away from my children to long. I love each of them so much, probably more than they will ever know.

 We had planed on going to Alpine on Friday to go to Bear Wallow Cafe for one of the best pieces of pie in Arizona. But due to the Wallow Fire the area was evacuated and so there went our pie. Sniff sniff I still don't know if it made it through. 

I pray for the firefighters and people of the White Mountains. This has been so sad to see all the smoke and damage of the amazing area. It is one of the places where I have lived that I felt like I belonged and was at home.

Hugs, Bobbi Jo