Finally, A Successful Day!

Of course, I stuck with what I know so it is hard to fail that way. But I did try a new recipe with deliciously sweet results. While the food was good today, my spirits weren't so much. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen today (what's new) and just now finished all the dishes...some even from lunch. I have to get a better system down. I think I will try getting up at 5:30 or 6am and do all my prep work in the morning. Between lunch, dinner, juicing, and all the dishes, I'm wiped out--not to mention missing my kids. So I will be on a quest for balance. (Clayton is feeling better now to do his usual dishwashing duties but tonight he took Ashton to a Rockets basketball game.)

B
Granola with rice milk
Blueberry, strawberry, banana, oj smoothie

L
Tomato-basil soup
Sandwiches with homemade hummus, tomato, grated carrots, spinach, and onion
Red grapes and pineapple

This is what dinner looked like.
D
Carrot-zucchini-corn-sweet potato enchiladas with tomatillo sauce
Spicy rice with pinto beans
Red grapes, mango, pineapple and orange
Apple-raspberry crisp

And, this is what the kitchen looked like at dinner...with dirty lunch dishes still.

Clayton loved the dinner--calling it a definite repeat meal (what a surprise, it's Mexican). I used a vegan cheese "sheese" for the enchiladas. It wasn't that bad--a person would definitely want to eat it with something else instead of making it the main attraction like on top of a cracker. I will post soon about this cheese and other vegan products.

Ashton loved the tomato soup from lunch--calling it the best soup he's ever eaten. Ha. It was easy: saute onions and garlic (I do lots of minced cloves), add two large cans of whole, peeled roma tomatoes, add salt and pepper, simmer, puree in blender, add a handful of fresh basil leaves and blend, reheat in pot. I resisted the urge to add soy milk for a creamier texture.

Even though I was pooped from the day, I couldn't resist making the fruit crisp. It is so good! Not too sweet but sweet enough--and, when it is all warm from the oven I really feel like I am getting a good treat. Try it!

Apple-Raspberry Crisp

1 12-ounce can frozen apple juice concentrate
2 T cornstarch
10 cooking apples, peeled and cut into wedges
2 T margarine
1 t lemon juice
1 t cinnamon
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

Topping:
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 cups oats

In a saucepan combine cold apple juice concentrate and cornstarch. Whisk until cornstarch is dissolved. Cook over medium heat until thick. Add margarine, lemon juice, and cinnamon. After blended, remove mixture from heat and pour over apple slices and mix well.

For topping, cream together oil and honey in a bowl. Add nuts, flour, oats. Toss well.

Put apples in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Add the berries on top of apples. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

You?