Date Paste And Other Nonsense

It allll started with me trying to make this smoothie that called for a raw date.  I got ticked off because the date wouldn't blend up. The smoothie was fabulous and I was a little interested in using dates as natural sweeteners instead of honey. On my next trip to Costco, I bought a whole ginormous pack of medjool dates (little wrinkly buggy looking things). 

I found a recipe for date paste that calls for soaking the dates in water overnight and blending the mixture in the morning.  WaLah. Smoothie problem solved. I now have pureed dates or date paste in my fridge and in my freezer.  Maybe even a lifetime supply of date paste and still a ton of dates in my fridge.  The stuff is good and all, but there is only so many uses for dates. I guess I should hit up pinterest and start looking for date recipes. 

People...I am not one of those crazies that likes to make date paste but anything for a good smoothie I guess? I fluctuate between fat lazy american mode and let's be one with nature mode.

For example, I have no problem with eating at McDonald's and scarfing chips, but I cloth diaper and use cloth wipes (most of the time). I am currently using a coconut oil based deodorant and face wash, but I spend hours a day sitting in front of a computer.  I drive a truck that averages about 13 mpg, but I drink decaf green tea like crazy. 

Identity crisis aside, please send me your favorite date recipes, and feel free to make your own lifetime supply of date paste following this method.

Breakfast Hacks

Here are a few breakfast items that I make in advance so that I have to put forth zero effort in the morning and I don't have to eat cereal.  I loathe cereal.  Eating cereal actually makes me hungrier!  Cereal consumption causes intense carnivorous daydreams.  I start looking around for meatballs or want to bust out last nights pot roast for breakfast.  Fact..in high school I ate leftover meatloaf frequently.  Ha ha!

Idear number 1:  Make a big ol batch of breakfast taquitos like these , cool completely, freeze, and then pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes in the morning.  They are a bit dried out so they need a dipping sauce (salsa, chipotle sour cream, avocado).  I haven't found a way to make these with corn tortillas and keep them crispy.  Flour tortillas work nicely. 

Idear number 2: Overnight oatmeal.  I have tried crock pot oatmeal and it was disgusting.  This recipe has you put oats and milk in the fridge overnight.  When you wake up, you stir in greek yogurt.  I added honey and granola.  I really liked this cold oatmeal. I guess its kinda like cereal but whatever. It was good and I wasn't starving in an hour.

Idear number 3: Green smoothies that you make in bulk and freeze into individual sized freezer bags. The night before you want one, but the bag into the fridge.  The smoothie will be mostly thawed.  Just squish it around in the bag to finish the job.  I found this guide for green smoothies that is perfect.  I went with coconut water, spinach, the big ol mixed frozen fruit, coconut oil, and honey.  Deelicious.  I usually scarf down a cheese string or something silly like that with it.  I don't really know what to eat with smoothies but I know smoothies aren't enough.


Wyatt loves all three of these.  I also found Wyatt licking the trash can yesterday so use your own judgment for his meal recommendations.  Any of yous guys have any quick non cereal breakfast ideas?

What's Cookin

I am still having some connection problems at work so today I put on makeup, real clothes (already have spit up on em), and have prepped dinner. 

Tonight we are trying Cheesy Gnocchi Casserole with Ham and Peas.  We had all the stuff and I have been looking for a reason to use Gnocchi (which I have never tasted).

I snagged some blood oranges off of my dad's tree, so I have been looking for some fun recipes.  Maybe this Blood Orange Loaf Cake or maybe this Meyer Lemon Bread with Blood Orange Glaze.  It needs to be special.

I am trying to use up a truckload of kale from the in laws garden.  So far we have had this Blueberry Kale Smoothie.  I want to try Kale Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette. 

Flax Attack

I bought some milled flax seed for a baking recipe I tried this week.  I had a brilliant idea to throw it into our banana berry smoothie this morning.  Tasted delicious.  Wyatt sucked it up. Unfortunately, I did not pack enough diapers and wipes for our outings for the day.  Lesson learned.  No flax seed for toddler babies. 

I also plan to try this recipe and this recipe.  I will avoid hemp and flax seed and I will stick with regular milk because I don't love almond milk enough to go through a whole one. 

That is enough pseduo-healthy talk.  How about some of these recipes I can't wait to try?

Skillet Pizza by Bev Cooks
Cajun Shrimp Quiche by Eat, Live, Run
Easy Movie Nachos with Fontina Cheese and Candied Jalapenos by How Sweet It Is

The theme for this weeks cravings.....CHEESE!  

Side note...we are still waiting on a surgery date for baby Calleigh.  She is doing great in the NICU.