Fine Tuning the Wagon

Here's to fine-tuning my "wagon".  For those who may not know, I'm making my own weight-loss wagon.  I'm tired of falling "off the wagon" which isn't mine.  In this post, I'm fine-tuning my wagon a bit.  It's my wagon and I can do what I want to with it right?  I've been focusing primarily on my eating habits, but now I'm ready to attack this monster from all sides.  After all, shouldn't my wagon be a complete one that meets all my needs in this journey?  So, I am exposing some of my vulnerabilities and dark corners of my spirit to tell you about how I'm making this wagon and journey work for me. 

Homemade Granola

Ah, granola. Crunchy, nutty, perfectly sweet goodness. Oh how I love it when it graces my breakfast bowl. You can imagine my excitement when I figured out how easy it is to make.

Grocery Store Discovery:Healthy Snack

I wasn't looking for them, they just caught my eye.  And I again fall victim to the American Marketing Machine.  I was in the natural foods section of a local grocery store and decided to peruse the chips.  Not seeing anything that I wanted, I started to turn around.  At that moment, I saw a shiny glimmer in the corner of my eye.

Grandma's Waffles

Whenever I make these waffles I think of my Grandma Carol.  Memories of mornings spent on the Oregon Coast at Grandma's house fill my thoughts.  Waking up to Grandma in the kitchen, making these fluffy, perfect waffles, I would sit at her kitchen table covered in homemade jam, maple syrup, fresh butter and endless milk and orange juice.  As I waited (which wasn't ever long at Grandma's house) I would watch the white caps of the Pacific Ocean through the dining room window.  Oh how I hope to create those memories for my children and future grandchildren and to show them the same love that Grandma has unconditionally shown me.



Every Saturday I make either waffles or pancakes.  This has been a tradition in my little household for the past 7 years.  I think that the weekend deserves celebration and Saturday mornings are my favorite part of the weekend.  The weekend has just begun and the day is new and full of possibility.  What better to start the day in a good mood than fluffy waffles?

I've discovered that this recipe is really flexible (something I look for in a recipe).  Grandma always made these waffles with all purpose flour and vegetable oil, which is delicious.  Wanting to healthify them a little, I use my freshly ground whole wheat (hard white) flour, which I think makes them taste even better.  For the oil, I've used melted butter, melted palm shortening, coconut oil, and even light olive oil in a pinch.  Coconut oil is my favorite, it adds a wonderfully light coconut taste.

This morning I made the waffles and served them up with butter and real maple syrup.  You won't find margerine or high fructose corn syrup in my house.  I prefer to use natural fats and sweeteners.  If it doesn't exist in nature as a food God intended us to eat, I try not to use/eat it.  I think that Americans eat way too many processed, engineered edible food-like substances.  *stepping off mini soapbox* And since I'm limiting my sugar intake, I had my waffles plain with butter, which happens to be one of my favorite way to eat waffles.  My Grandma always had peanut butter (I'm pretty sure this was the preference of my grandpa Del) on the table and that is also a great way to eat them without sugar.  Another thing that Grandma would have on the table was melted butter to pour over the waffles. This made them so mouth-wateringly buttery, one would pause with each bite to experience the bliss that was breakfast at Grandma's table.

WARNING: THIS RECIPE MAY SPOIL YOU FOR ALL OTHER WAFFLES

Grandma Carol's Waffles

Makes about 4 servings
This recipe easily double, triples, quadruples, so spoil your entire family

2 C. Flour (I use freshly ground whole wheat)
2 C. Milk
1 tsp Salt
1 Tbs. Baking Powder
1/2 C. Oil (my favorite is coconut oil)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs separated

Beat the egg whites until stiff, set aside. Place all remaining ingredients (including egg yolks) into a large bowl and beat only until blended, do not over mix. Gently fold in egg whites. Pour onto hot waffle iron. Serve with maple syrup, fruit, peanut butter, or honey. Don't forget the butter!

I freeze any leftover waffles for later breakfasts or to make sandwiches out of them for school lunches.

Shared at:

Works for Me Wednesdays, Creative Corner, Becoming Lydia, Rattlebridge Farms Foodie Fridays, Frugal Food Thursdays, It's a Keeper Thursdays, Simple Lives Thursdays, Wonderful Food Wednesdays

Raid the Fridge Chicken Soup

Nothing warms me like a nice, cozy bowl of chicken soup on a cool day.  I say cool because I live in Arizona where winters are more cool than they are cold.  Yesterday was a cool 56 degrees and overcast, the perfect weather for cozy soup.  Now, in the Valley of the Sun ,we get 300+ sunny days a year, so I take advantage of the other 65 overcast days as an opportunity to make soup. 

Just a Bit Nutty Oatmeal

I really love oatmeal.  It's quick, nutritious and delicious.  My oatmeal changes as my health concerns change.  My absolute favorite way to eat oatmeal is with lots of real butter a handful of brown sugar and a good amount of whole milk or cream.  I know, brown sugar is to be avoided, but hey butter and whole milk are good for you; if you don't believe me read Nourishing Traditions, it will change your life. 

My Winter Farmbasket

In the past year, I've become more educated in the value of eating local, in-season produce.  I've also become aware of how much I took for granted growing up in Southern Oregon, where it was only natural that the produce, meat, and dairy was local. 

Love in my eggs

This morning, my eggs had an extra ingredient in them: love.  It all started with a crazy space clock.  The story behind the clock is that I can't work the crazy thing, so I call it a space clock (because it's complicated like a space shuttle) and my handsome husband sets everything for me (gosh, I love him).

It's Easy Being Green Smoothie (With an Athena Twist)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I LOVE my VitaMix.  I'm not paid to endorse the VitaMix, I just simply L-O-V-E it.  If you've been keeping up with my blog, you will know that I've decided to make my own weight-loss wagon; I consider my VitaMix a vital tool in this endeavor.  Tonight, I was hankering for dessert somthin' fierce!  So, I decided that I should make a healthy dessert via smoothie.  So, I opened my VitaMix recipe book and started looking for inspiration. 

Athena Creation: Creamy Beef Fettuccine with Collard Greens

Anyone whose ever spent any significant time at my house has experienced an "Athena Creation."  As I've said before, I show love through food and preparing meals as the women in my family before me.  Naturally, when visiting my home, you're going to be fed; whether you're visiting for the first time or the 1000th time, whether you're a longtime friend or a new one, you will not leave hungry.