Days 28, 29, 30? (I’ll tell you later!)
Fem365: Fitness. Food. Femininity.
I will be absent from posting for the next few days… I’ll tell you why next week (don’t worry, it’s a good thing).
Have a great weekend, ladies. Do something that makes you feel feminine (and then report back to me)!
Day 27: Take the time (with a special recipe from my son!)
Fem365: Fitness. Food. Femininity.
I have been pretty frantic over the last few weeks, trying to tie up loose ends as I finish my book, dealing with “technological difficulties,” expanding my fitness venture in various ways, and (trying to) keep up with the daily tasks that fall to me as the resident “haus frau” (cooking, laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc.).
During the rare moments of downtime when my son is home from preschool, it is easy for me to fall into the pattern of checking my email or catching up on my favorite blogs while he eats a snack or plays quietly. But last week I realized that — as much as I want to squeeze out every spare minute to answer my own emails or do my “own thing” — my little boy is growing up quickly, and I need to take the time to be with him. To just sit and look at him and engage him in conversation.
A few days ago, I took the time to be with him. I (semi-reluctantly) put away my iPad and sat directly across from him while he drank his hot chocolate and ate his cookie. It was quiet for a while (save for a few “fart jokes” — his favorite at the moment), but suddenly a look of great excitement crossed over his face as he formulated a proposal.
“Mom?” he said, “I know exactly what you should make for the next cooking contest you enter. A 100 layer cake with a heart on top and a teddy bear on top of that. Do you want to hear the recipe?”
Of course I did!
Here was his recipe, transcribed verbatim from his lips to my paper (don’t try this at home, folks!):
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of baking powder
- 1 cup of water
- 2 cups of flour
- chocolate chips (2 cups)
- 2 cups of gummy bears
Directions:
You need to put it in the fridge because it’s an icing cake. Actually, put it in the freezer for one whole day and then take it out in the night. You don’t have to bake the cake — the freezer just makes it. Because if you bake it in the oven, the icing will melt. Put it in the fridge for 10 minutes and then put a gummy bear on the top. Done!
If I hadn’t taken the time to sit quietly and just be in the moment with my son, I would never have heard (and recorded) his brilliant recipe. Another lesson learned… One I have to learn over and over. It’s too bad that I have to keep being a student in this game called “parent-hood,” but luckily every time I learn a lesson, it’s so sweet!
Day 26: Wear something sexy.
Fem365: Fitness. Food. Femininity.
Wear your laciest lingerie today (or tomorrow, or both) even if you’re just staying home and cleaning the house. Knowing that you have a racy bra and panty set underneath your sweatshirt and jeans can do wonders for your confidence.
Go get ‘em, tigress!
Day 25: Breathe. Right now.
Fem365: Fitness. Food. Femininity.
What are you doing right now? Are you multi-tasking? Glancing at this post with three other windows open in the background? Have you been busy and/or feeling stressed today? On the flip side, are you feeling sluggish and bored?
Either way, if you are anything like me, it is likely that you haven’t stopped to look around, feel (and appreciate) where you are right now, and breathe. I constantly have to remind myself to breathe. Three breaths… That’s all I need. So do it with me… Right now. Close your eyes and take three deep, unhurried breaths.
Don’t you feel better?
Day 24: Tuna “Noodle-Less” Casserole
Fem365: Fitness. Food. Femininity.
First, thank you to everyone who commented/voted on yesterday’s post! I love option 3 (and it was the most popular by far), but I’m still leaning toward option 2 because it’s easier to read… I think I might flip a coin to make the final decision. Now, onto today’s post… ABOUT FOOD!
I adore tuna noodle casserole. This grain-free version has all the flavors of the comfort food classic without the noodles! Unfortunately, the plated version was not picture-worthy. If you are looking for a pretty dish to serve to company, look elsewhere… But if you’re looking for healthy, family-friendly, down-home YUM you have come to the right place. Gluten free, grain free, legume free, dairy free (but full of yum).
Tuna "Noodle-Less" Casserole... Nothing beats a potato chip topping!
Tuna “Noodle-Less” Casserole (or “Tuna-Veggie Casserole”) by Bri
For casserole:
- 1 medium yam, semi-peeled (okay to leave some of the peel on) and diced into ¼” cubes
- 1 medium white potato, semi-peeled as above, diced into ¼” cubes
- 3-4 celery stalks, chopped
- 10-12 mushrooms, chopped into small pieces
- ½ sweet onion, diced
- 1 can water chestnuts, chopped or sliced
- 20 black olives (about half a can), sliced in half
- 11 oz chunk light tuna in water (I use the “family-size” foil pack rather than the can)
- 1 cup water
- 2/3 cup raw cashews
- 1 large clove garlic, chopped
- 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp coconut flour
- 1 tsp dried dill weed
- ¼ tsp celery seed
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ¾ tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 1 egg
- Crushed potato chips (approx. half a bag)
Veggies should be chopped into fairly small cubes... Everything should be about the same size.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Place all casserole ingredients (veggies and tuna) in large casserole dish or 9×13 baking dish. Gently mix to combine.
- Add all sauce ingredients except egg to blender. Blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Add egg and blend for another 15-30 seconds. Pour sauce mixture over veggies/tuna and mix gently until completely combined and sauce is evenly distributed throughout veggies/tuna. Gently pat down top of mixture with back of spatula until the surface is level.
- Cover dish tightly with foil and back for 50 minutes, covered. After 50 minutes, remove foil, top with crushed potato chips, and return to oven to bake (uncovered) for another 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.