This is the second installment in a series of articles about homeschooling preschool and early elementary school – sometimes referred to as the early years. Click here to read the first article in this series. What did we do instead? I read to my boys as much as possible. At least an hour per day….
Teaching Your Child to Read – Part I
This is the first installment in a series of articles about homeschooling preschool and early elementary school – sometimes referred to as the early years. I tried and failed to teach Matthew to read using three very well respected, systematic programs. Eventually I simply stopped trying to teach him to read. Please don’t misunderstand me here….
Just a Little Ditty…
It has been months since I have posted an update. Thank you so much to those of you who still check in here, stopping by to grab a recipe and thinking of me and my family. Your support is felt and very much appreciated. I have stopped and started writing over the years because I haven’t…
Uniting with Other Believers
I have been part of a women’s weekly bible study for the last two years and loved it. I loved getting to know several women who were in the same place in life as I was. We grew, connected and saw each other through life’s ups and downs. Sadly, this summer was our last summer…
Congratulations, Melissa!
I just wanted to pop in and say a HUGE Congratulations to my sister, Melissa, who competed in her first bodybuilding competition yesterday. She came in First place in Novice Class E and Second place in Open Class E. We are so very proud of the hard work and determination that she has shown over the…
Feeling All the Feels
This is something that I have been avoiding posting about because I feel so defeated. It’s as though if I don’t write about it then it isn’t happening. Which is completely untrue, because I’m feeling all the feels, but just keeping them locked up inside. I have a small part of my soul that never…
Plan To Eat
One of the ways that I save our family money and keep myself sane is by planning our meals. I usually make a list of what we have to use up in the fridge and use that along with our anticipated CSA share to plan for quick trips to the grocery store. Last year I…
Grace Day
I am a regular #SheReadsTruth reader and Saturdays are typically Grace Days. A Grace Day is meant to give you a day to catch up on weekly readings and spend time in reflection and prayer. They offer a short passage for mediation and guidance, but they encourage you to spend time just you and God. Today…
Love First
I didn’t start this writing challenge with a list of topics or a plan. I simply felt that I could generate enough material in my own daily walk that I could easily fill 31 days with examples of God’s grace. This spring my ladies’ bible study read 1 John together. 1 John 4:19 says that…
Advent + Christmas Traditions
Every year I look forward to celebrating Advent with my boys. Since Matthew was born, we have had some sort of Advent calendar. The first year I picked up an organic, fair-trade chocolate advent calendar at the natural food co-op while shopping for our Thanksgiving meal. Allan and Matthew tore open the doors each day and Allan…
Brave Mom: Building Community
I have been a MOPS mom for 2 1/2 years. I found MOPS when I was in a very lonely, fragile place emotionally, spiritually and paternally. Luke was 6 months old, he was feeling healthier after figuring out his health problems and was finally sleeping for more than 40 minutes at a time. After spending so…
Pumpkin French Toast
A few weeks ago while Allan was traveling, Matthew asked if we could have something other than eggs for breakfast. See Matthew is a very smart boy. On the week days Allan makes breakfast for the family while I workout and get dressed for the day. Matthew knows that when daddy is making breakfast it…
Shopping With Kids
Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope that you had a productive and restful weekend. Since Thursday we have been going nonstop from sun up to sunset! It all started two Thursdays ago with an email from an incredible blog, who happens to be a fan of my husband’s design work. But, let me start at the beginning of…
Into the Tumbler
Oh friends, for the last year I have felt like a caterpillar awaiting transformation. Knowing full-well that God had something more in store for my life – cocoons and wings, not simply milkweed. I have felt God working closely to shape and form me. To smooth out my rough edges, like an agate waiting in line…
Visions from God
Do you ever experience visions from God? I do. I guess I never really thought about it as being that unique or special until last weekend at MOMcon when Jennie Allen spoke of the vision she had when praying about her keynote speech. It felt a little odd to hear that she had a vision about us…
Loving Lately
Good afternoon! It’s a glorious, sunny fall day here. I hope that the sun is shinning wherever you are, as well! Here are a few things that I have been loving lately. I hope that something here blesses your heart and reminds you to go out and enjoy something that you love this week! 1….
Eagan Art House Preschool Program
Good morning! As you probably already noticed, over the last few days Maria Makes Muffins got a facelift! Allan and I have been hard at work implementing and customizing the Genesis Framework and Foodie Pro child theme. Please click around and leave a comment about the new experience. As you may have gathered from my Instagram…
Snacktime
Good afternoon! I wanted to stop by and let you know that I have been busy over on Instagram sharing the snacks that my kids have been enjoying this week. Check out all of the posts by searching the hashtag #cleaneatingsnacks and #cleaneatinglunch. If you’d like more ideas for fabulous clean eating and whole foods…
Minted
As I sit here on a snowy, beginning of winter day perusing the beautiful family photos we had taken in early November, I am thankful that we planned ahead. Trying to wrangle two small children in front of a misshapen Christmas tree armed with a tripod, self-timer and lighting kit seems like an accident waiting…
Pics from the weekend
Homemade Baby Food
When L began eating solids back in March we loosely followed the Baby-Led Weaning approach. I was surprised at how well he did feeding himself cute pieces of super soft foods. So, honestly we haven’t had a huge need for homemade baby food purees, like we did when M was a baby. I am really loving…
Semi-Homemade Rhubarb Peach Ginger Cake
As the temperature and humidity rise, rhubarb is taking its final bow. However, if you’re like me, your plants are still hanging on. Go out and pick your last harvest and enjoy this amazing semi-homemade Ginger Rhubarb Peach Cake. Can’t get your hands on rhubarb anymore? No worries! This cake would be amazing using blueberries,…
Pics From the Weekend
We had a wonderful weekend filled with tons of family time. It was the first weekend this summer that we didn’t have anything planned in advance, so we were able to make our own schedule and take our time at home (and away). One a week Allan watches the boys after he gets home so…
Lately
I blinked and the summer is already half over. In a few short weeks the air will be crisp, football season will kick off and my sweet pea will turn one. Either our cold and wet Spring has me off or I am still sleep deprived from 8+ months of waking every few hours. Whatever…
Lately
It’s been a while since I’ve checked on MMM and just noticed this post that was supposed to publish on June 26th never made it live. Ooops. —— It’s been a long time since I’ve checked in, so I decided to stop by and let you in on our comings and goings over the last…
Last Weekend
Yes, I know it’s late in the day on Friday and a new weekend is upon us, but, I DO want to talk about LAST weekend. Please indulge me for a moment… we are still playing catch up from Allan’s trip to St. Louis last week, where he judged the AIGA St. Louis design show….
Lately
Here are a few of the things we have been enjoying lately. 1. Lots of restful, bliss-filled naps. 2. Interest in crawling. 3. Freshly sun dried diapers. 4. Sun-filled trips to the Zoo. 5. Picnics in our front yard. 6. Nature walks along the creek. 7. Local playgrounds. …
Toddler Vitamins and Supplements
As you already know, I am a big fan of acquiring proper nutrition by eating a plant-based clean diet filled with lots of fruits, veggies, healthy fats, gluten-free whole grains and lean meat. However, the unfortunate state of our land, sea and air has made it very difficult to (safely) acquire necessary nutrition from food alone….
Happy Earth Day!
Warning: this is a completely random post induced by my sneezy/stuffy state of being. Happy Earth Day! We celebrated by reading one of our favorite books. We are hunkering down for yet another snow storm that is forecast to hit tonight. We could get up to 10″ of snow! When will Spring finally arrive? Well,…
Seventh Heaven
Things have turned a delightful corner. I almost didn’t want to blog about life with a seventh month old and 2 (going on 3) year old because I didn’t want to jinx it! However, keeping with my promise to be honest with you, my beloved friends, coupled with the fear that I may have talked…
Hitting the Barre
How was your weekend, friends? We’ve been a little under the weather over here. Luke has been teething up a storm with SIX new teeth coming in. Two of them finally popped through last week, giving him some relief. But seriously, that boy wants to ensure that he has at least one tooth for every…
Snapshots from Orange Beach
http://instagram.com/p/XCzVNFo-qq/ We spent last week on vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama with my mother and father-in-law, who are snowbirds and spend the three coldest, most wintery months on the much warmer beaches of Alabama. http://instagram.com/p/XqAf2EI-qu/ The week started out a little rough. Traveling with two small children is kind of crazy. Although, we refuse to…
Honesty is the Best Policy
Thank you for your words of support and encouragement yesterday. It’s nice to hear that I am not alone. However, yesterday’s post was not intended to be a woe, is me plea. Honestly, it was a raw look into my day with two young children. I strive to keep from writing with rose colored glasses. I feel that…
A Day In the Life with Two Under 3
I love when fellow mommy bloggers share Day In the Life posts, so I thought that I would do a quick run down of a day in the life of the Peters family! I am following the The Eat-Clean Diet Stripped plan as our beach vacation approaches, so all of the eats that you see…
Living Without
I realize it has been months since I first posted about Luke’s health and I have not updated you on how things are going. I am so sorry. To say that life is a hectic, crazy mess with two kids under 3 would be an understatement! Somedays I honestly have no idea what I’ve done all…
Carob Raspberry Amazeballs
I was first introduced to amazeballs when I participated in the Fitnessista’s Winter Shape Up. I immediately fell in love with the ease of preparation, portability and fun flavor combinations. We are hooked! Every other week I make a batch (or two) as snacks for the whole family – with protein powder for Allan and…
I’m Still Here… somewhere
Thank you so much for your kind words on Facebook, Twitter and in the comments of my Birth Story posts. Your continued love and support means the world to me! i hope that by telling my story I can inspire someone else to let go and trust her intuition and her body’s ability to birth…
Luke’s Birth Story: Part 3, The Birth
This post is the final installation of a three part series of Luke’s Birth Story that ran this week. Click here to read Luke’s Birth Story: Part 1, The Road to Homebirth Click here to read Luke’s Birth Story: Part 2, In Denial — At 1:00 AM sharp I awoke from a deep sleep. I…
Luke’s Birth Story: Part 2, In Denial
This post is the second installation of a three part series of Luke’s Birth Story that ran this week. Click here to read Luke’s Birth Story: Part 1, The Road to Homebirth Click here to read Luke’s Birth Story: Part 3, The Birth — Fast-forward several weeks to Friday, September 7th, the night before Luke’s guess date. I…
Luke’s Birth Story: Part 1, The Road to Homebirth
This post is the first installation of a three part series of Luke’s Birth Story that ran this week. Click here to read Luke’s Birth Story: Part 2, In Denial Click here to read Luke’s Birth Story: Part 3, The Birth Luke’s birth story begins when I was seven months pregnant with Matthew. At that time we were taking…
At the Co-Op
This morning Matthew, Luke and I ventured to our Co-Op, Valley Natural Foods, for the first time since Luke was born. In the last few months I’ve shopped at Valley a couple times either with Allan or solo, but this was our first time there just the three of us. I was prepared for an…
Ten Things I’m Loving Right Now
Hello, lovely! Words cannot express how much I have missed you. http://instagram.com/p/VukvCYo-rJ/ http://instagram.com/p/VuV837o-k9/ The following are ten things that I am loving right now that I couldn’t help but share with you! http://instagram.com/p/Vt0NZ_o-qU/ 1. Making art. Matt and I have been embracing our inner artists. This was our first time using our gluten-free organic/edible finger paint….
Merry and Bright
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours. Once again, Allan did an fabulous job scouring through hundreds of family videos to put together our 2012 family video. It’s amazing how quickly life changes and our children grow. We hope that their joy warms your hearts this holiday season! Peters Christmas 2012…
Sunday Snapshots: First Snow
Thanksgiving Recap
Yep. I’m a week late and a dollar short; but if you’ll excuse me, I’d still like to share a little Thanksgiving Recap. We had the most delightful time with our family enjoying good food, adult beverages and, of course, each other’s company. We certainly do have a lot to be thankful for. Our beautiful…
Thanksgiving on a Budget
As promised yesterday, I am going to give you a peak at our Thanksgiving meal budget. This year, I decided to dial back our Thanksgiving budget, as I tend to go a little overboard during the Holidays. Trust me, it is not necessary to serve a plethora of side dishes along with your Thanksgiving meal….
Thanksgiving Favorites
If you have been following my blog for some time, you’ve heard me talk about hosting Thanksgiving for both of our immediate families every year. This year, I am aiming to do Thanksgiving on a Budget, as we definitely splurged last year. Even though, I am trying to keep our spending to a minimum, it…
Sunday Snapshot: Early Christmas
Crockpot Meal: Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce
Since Luke’s birth, I have struggled to get nutritious meals on the table by 6:15 PM every day. Simply adding one other person’s (unpredictable) needs to the mix has thrown me for a loop. Some weeks I am very diligent about shopping and meal planning, while others are haphazard at best. I have found that…
Operation Christmas Child
Every year my Mom organizes the Operation Christmas Child event at our church. On Sunday morning we got together as a congregation to wrap and fill 40+ shoe boxes to send to children around the world. This is just one way that we can help to spread the joy of Christmas to others who may…
Sunday Snapshot: Daydreaming
The night got away from me and I wasn’t able to get back to my computer to hit publish on this post yesterday. —– For more information on Sunday Snapshot, visit Peas and Thank You.
Happy to be back!
Luke is 8 weeks old today! I have missed blogging and am so happy to be back from my extended maternity leave. Sorry for dropping off the face of the planet these last couple months, but it was necessary for my own mental health as I juggle life with a newborn and a toddler. I have…
Luke Allan Peters
Luke Allan Peters was peacefully born in our living room into Allan’s loving arms on September 10, 2012 at 3:03 AM. Mom and baby are both happy, healthy and resting at home. Our sweet baby Luke weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces and is 22.5 inches long. Thank you for your support and love throughout our…
Pregnancy Update: Weeks 24-25
Every week passes by quicker than the last. I can’t believe that in a few short months I will be holding our little one in my arms! Baby Peters is grown like a weed, which is exciting, but a bit concerning, as well. Today I met with my midwife for my routine 26-28 week appointment…
The Peters Urban Farm Project
I wanted to stop by and give you an update on the garden. Between the squirrels and baby bunnies, I’ve had my work cut out for me. I have managed to keep many of the plants alive and seeds going; however, will have to pick up a few extra plants at the farmer’s market this…
Matthew’s 2nd Birthday Party
Sorry for the delay in posting photos from Matthew’s party. We’ve been a little out of sorts over here, so I had a delay in getting the photos pulled together. Last Sunday we celebrated Matthew’s 2nd birthday with family and friends. The following are some highlights from the party, including the party menu. We started…
Happy Birthday, Matthew!
Today Matthew turned two years old. On Sunday afternoon we hosted an intimate party to celebrate with family and friends. We had an amazing time and Matthew did not want the day to end! Stay tuned for a post with photos and the party menu tomorrow. On this special day, I look back on the…
Pregnancy Update: Weeks 19-23
Yikes! It has been way too long since I officially posted an update on the little munchkin steadily growing inside of me. The most exciting thing that has happened in the last few weeks, pregnancy related or not, was having our second ultrasound. I know that it is becoming quite popular to hold off on…
Catching My Breath
Hello my friends. I have missed you so much! Have you missed me? Originally I planned for today’s post to be about the last few weeks of pregnancy, but decided that it would be more fun to catch you up the fun things that have been keeping me up until midnight and waking at 6:30…
Fun in the Sun
Have you been wondering to yourself, where in the world has that Maria Makes Muffins been?!? She hasn’t posted in weeks! Today I am here to answer that question… With the second trimester in full swing, Matthew and I have had quite a bit to catch up on. It felt like the first trimester moved…
Pregnancy Update: Weeks 17 & 18
I have fallen behind on posting my pregnancy updates and decided to combine weeks 17 and 18 into one post, as today is the last day of week 18! Remember when I mentioned in my week 16 post that I was having vivid dreams about feeling the baby kick on the outside of my belly?…
Pregnancy update: 16 weeks
I appologize in advance for the pics in this post, I completely forgot to have Allan take an official week 16 belly pic. What you see are the best photos that I have from dyeing Easter eggs on Friday. I caught a little cold this week. I believe I had the same virus that caused…
Pregnancy update: 15 weeks
Welcome to week 15, my little one! When I look in the mirror I feel like I look very pregnant. Although, having been through this before, I know that this is nothing compared to how I will look and feel come August! My maternity clothes are starting to fit properly, or at least not completely…
Pregnancy update: 14 weeks
The weeks are flying by! Every day I can feel the bond with my baby increasing in strength. During my first trimester there were times when it was easy to forget for a moment (or a couple hours) that I was pregnant. However, now it has become more of a full-time job. When I look in…
Natural Easter Egg Dyeing
Can you believe Easter is only a little over two weeks away? I know that some of you are busily planning your Easter brunch menus, children’s activities and household tasks to be completed before the big day while others haven’t given Easter a second thought. I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to share…
Letting the Cat Outta The Bag
I have to be honest with you, for the last three months I have been keeping a secret from you. It’s a teeny-tiny secret that I have been dying to share, but haven’t quite found the exact words to tell you until now. I honestly have been ready to tell you for a couple weeks,…
Zero Waste
Happy Valentine’s Day! Back in September I did a series of blog posts on how we strive to reduce waste in our home. We even hosted a party for our friends and family with the goal of producing as little waste as possible. I started composting and found a renewed passion for preserving the world…
A Spot of Sun
We have had the most glorious weather here in Minnesota! I know that many of you have also been blessed with a mild January. I feel like with Matthew’s afternoon nap and our busy schedule that we have not been able to fully enjoy the weather. However, knowing that the blessing could be over at…
The Bible Study Cupcake Caper
This morning Matthew and I went to Bible Study, like we do every Tuesday morning. When we entered the nursery Matthew took one look at the blonde girl that was already in the nursery and immediately began crying. The last few weeks, Matthew has been having a difficult time with me leaving him in the…
Birthday Boy
It’s a glorious 43˚ outside and I have a couple windows open! I made a delicious, gourmet dinner last night of slow cooked maple baked beans, braised red cabbage and homestyle mashed potatoes. The entire house smelled glorious last night, but this morning the smell of dinner still lingered in the air and it was…
Special Delivery
This afternoon we received a special delivery courtesy of Allan’s friend, Jason. A very friendly man delivered two boxes of warm, freshly baked Tank Goodness Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies to our doorstep. Since Allan is gluten-sensitive, these babies were all mine! Which is actually a very bad thing, because I ate two of them for lunch…
American Gothic
Life is absolutely crazy sometimes, isn’t it? I love the ups and downs, the hustle and calm, the glee and sorrow. It’s what makes us human, right? I live my days for this boy. I adore him. I simply cannot imagine life without him. I know that God intends for me to be doing exactly…
Gluten-Free Pizza
We had a bit of an unusual weekend and decided that instead of kicking off the weekend with pizza night, we would end the weekend with the family’s favorite meal. As you know, I have a recipe for an amazing whole wheat pizza crust that I raved about for months. Unfortunately, we are now gluten-free…
Easy Weeknight Meal: BBQ Shrimp Wraps
I know that life can get crazy. But I know that you still want to eat healthy even though you may only have 15 minutes to get dinner on the table. This is an easy weeknight meal that can double as a simple weekday lunch that your whole family is sure to love. This simple…
Forks Over Knives
With the start of the new year and the popularity of get healthy resolutions, Whole Foods hosted a screening of the movie, Forks Over Knives at a local library. I have been wanting to see this movie for some time, but unfortunately were unable to make any of the Minneapolis showings in 2011. We called…
Weeknight Supper Tips
Good afternoon, Pinners! I would like to offer a warm welcome to all of the new readers that have found my blog via Pinterest. Over the last couple days that my recipe for Overnight Oats has gone viral on Pinterest. To all of the new readers, feel free pull up a chair, sip on some…
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for stopping by daily and offering your encouragement and support. I greatly appreciate each and every one of you. I hope that you have a truly blessed new year. Even though I haven’t been posting this…
Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies Two Ways
Every year my mom and I bake Christmas cookies together. We always make sugar cookies, which happen to be Allan’s favorite. My mom’s favorite cookie is the gingersnap, so we usually make gingerbread men as well; however, we are bursting at the seams with cookies this year and settled on simply making roll out cookies, as…
Gluten-Free Cookies: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk
The magical whirlwind that is the Christmas season is almost over. The waiting of the Advent season will soon break through to the awe and wonder that is Christmas… snow or no snow – as it is here in Minneapolis. It seems that yesterday’s snow shower was more of a blip than the light white…
Merry Christmas, my friends!
We have been very busy with Christmas preparations (baking, gifting and celebrating) as we await the birth of our Lord and Savior. So busy that this morning I was finally able to stop at Kowalski’s to grab a few books of stamps to mail out our Christmas Card. Our family photo was taken by a…
Ten Things Thursday
1. My mother-in-law treated my mom and me to a girls night making evergreen centerpieces to adorn our homes for Christmas. We had a wonderful time and came home with beautiful centerpieces. 2. When I arrived home from indoor playgroup this morning I found one of my spruce top pots had fallen over either by…
Gingerbread Two Ways
Matthew and I have been enjoying our Advent Calendar activities. Matthew looks forward to opening the Advent Calendar door and unfolding the little piece of paper every day. I found little clip art photos to represent each activity so that he can recognize what we are doing without the need for me to read the…
Five Things Monday + Recipe
Since we last spoke… 1. We now have a decorated Christmas Tree in our living room. I love visiting our local Bachman’s to pick out a Christmas tree. Last year we bought an overpriced Fraser Fir at Whole Foods. It was a near fiasco where Allan had to secure the tree to our car on…
Thanksgiving Recap
Thanksgiving has come and gone. With its passing we are left with several new and wonderful memories of delicious food, amazing company and midnight Black Friday shopping. Allan’s family with Matthew and Piggie: Mark (FIL), Annie (SIL), Mollie (Niece), Jakob (Nephew), Matthew, Ryan (BIL), Piggie Rubbed and ready for the oven! Sprouted Whole Wheat and Gluten-Free…
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Good Afternoon. I am hoping to have a Thanksgiving recap post up with updated photos and recipes early this week – hopefully no later than Wednesday. My goal was to get it up for you today, but we have a showing tonight that I must get the house ready for and Matthew just went down…
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello my friends. I just wanted to stop in to wish all of my American readers a Happy Thanksgiving filled with good food, close friends and family and lasting memories. Try to make good choices, don’t come to the Thanksgiving table starving and allow yourself a treat or two. Remember the you will be back…
And so it begins…
I hope that you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving week. Matthew and I have been hard at work prepping for the Thanksgiving Feast we are hosting on Thursday. Yesterday I did the grocery shopping – I lugged home 8 bags full of goodies for both Thanksgiving and Christmas cookies. All of the organic baking stuff was on…
Thanksgiving Survival Guide
Hello my friends. If you follow me on Twitter, are friends with me on Facebook or like MMM on Facebook, you know that I have been hard at work creating Thanksgiving printables to streamline your Thanksgiving shopping, prep and cooking. I have a lot to share, so let’s get right into it! For the last week,…
Thanksgiving: Green Bean, Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Green Bean, Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine A delicious departure from traditional green bean salad. The citrusy tang of the dressing is the perfect compliment to cool chèvre and earthy beets. This salad will leave you energized, not dragging. Gluten-free, dairy-free. Print this recipe. Serves 12 2 bunches golden or…
Thanksgiving: Souffléd Sweet Potato Bake
These sweet potatoes were wonderful! They can be enjoyed sweet, as shown above, or savory, as shown below. To make the sweet version omit the roasted garlic and rosemary from the recipe below and add 1 tbsp maple syrup and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice. During the last few minutes of cooking top with marshmallows…
Thanksgiving: Pumpkin Brownie Pie
Pumpkin Brownie Pie Adapted from Oh She Glows This is one of the most decadent desserts I have ever made. The brownie is perfectly chocolatey and gooey while the pumpkin pie filling is better than traditional pumpkin pie. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan. Print this recipe. Serves 8 Pumpkin Pie Filling 1 cup canned pumpkin 2 tbsp…
Thanksgiving: Rosted Brussels Sprouts with Pecans
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pecans Inspired by Clean Eating Magazine and Ina Garten These are to your grandmother’s brussels sprouts! Even the pickiest of eaters will gobble these up. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan. Print this recipe. Serves 12 2 lbs Brussels sprouts, stems trimmed and loose leaves removed 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted 2 tbsp apple…
Thanksgiving: Spiced Cranberry and Apple Sauce
Spiced Cranberry and Apple Sauce Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine Perfect for dipping! Matthew dipped his entire dinner into this sauce. A healthy twist on cranberry sauce featuring apples and ginger. The perfect pairing to your Holiday meal. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan. Print this recipe. Serves 12 12 oz cranberries, fresh or frozen and defrosted 1…
Thanksgiving: Cherry, Apple and Mushroom Stuffing
Cherry, Apple and Mushroom Stuffing Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine A savory experience for your mouth. I amped up my traditional stuffing recipe by adding dried fruit and apples and the result is delightful! Can be gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan dependent upon your bread selection. Print this recipe. Serves 12 1 (24 oz or 680g)…
Thanksgiving: Roast Turkey with Herby Gravy
Roast Turkey with Herby Gravy Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine and Alton Brown Over the years I have perfected the roasted turkey. Below I share with you my secrets to the timeless Thanksgiving favorite. Gluten-free and dairy-free. Print this recipe. Serves 12 4 organic carrots, scrubbed, cut crosswise and then into thirds 4 ribs celery…
Thanksgiving: Spicy and Smoky Turkey Spice Rub
Spicy and Smoky Turkey Spice Rub Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine A nontraditional approach to a turkey spice rub that is mildly smoky and lightly spicy. Print this recipe. Serves 12 2 tbsp chile powder 2 tbsp ground cumin 1 ½ tbsp paprika 2 tsp dried minced garlic 2 tsp dried thyme 2 tsp sea…
Thanksgiving Menu Planning
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away! I am so excited! Allan compares my Thanksgiving meal to the Super Bowl. We look forward to it each year. This year is no exception because Allan’s sister and her family will be joining us from South Dakota. It is going to so much fun hosting…
Three Things Tuesday
I am thankful for… 1. A roof over my head, food in my belly, a supporting husband and a crying baby who just woke up from his nap. 🙂 2. A job that I love. 3. Thanksgiving is just around the corner! I have been testing recipes left and right. I have a couple winners…
Operation Christmas Child
Every year, my Mom organizes a shoe box packing party for the Sunday School children at our church. Yesterday we wrapped and packed 58 shoe boxes full of toys, books, office supplies and hygiene items to bless children around the world. Every year we have an amazing time gathering as a congregation in fellowship while…
Uh-Oh
Yep. I messed up. I accidentally fed my family gluten this week. We were only supposed to add soy back in this week, not gluten. Here’s what happened… I usually buy the Trader Joe’s tempeh and completely forgot that it contains barley, which has gluten. Guess what we had on Monday night – tempeh spaghetti….
Ten Things Thankful Thursday
Yes, my hair looks short in the above picture. No, I did not cut it – it’s just the way it is laying on my shoulders. It’s still long. However, it looks really cute like this… should I cut it? Allan, that question is not directed at you. 😉 1. God is doing amazing work…
Inspire Me
I get a lot of inspiration for projects in and out of the kitchen from blogs, cookbooks, magazines and pinterest. I thought that it might be fun for you to see the things that are inspiring me this week. Enjoy! Gluten-Free Almond & Buckwheat Flour Pizza Crust from Oh She Glows I am making this crust…
Gluten-Free Teff Porridge
After having such great success making steel cut oats in my slow cooker, I wondered if the same things could be done with teff, which is our second favorite breakfast grain. Guess what? It worked! Since I suspect that Allan’s digestive issues are caused by gluten, teff has become our go-to breakfast porridge. We usually…
crock pot <3
A couple weeks ago I bought a new programmable crock pot to replace our old crockpot that was routinely burning foods. I am in love! I use the crock pot at least three times per week to prepare breakfast, supper and side dishes. One of my favorite ways to use my slow cooker is to…
The Best Thing I Ever Ate
Have you ever watched the show, The Best Thing I Ever Are? When we had cable, I would tune in to Food Network when I was doing chores… folding laundry, stuffing cloth diapers, etc. Inevitably, the show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, would be on. I much prefer cooking shows like Giada At Home…
Gingerbread Waffles
With the celebration of Canadian Thanksgiving last weekend, I have been getting into the holiday mood. Now I know that it isn’t even Halloween yet, but I absolutely love the Holiday Season! Is it sad that I even listened to a few Christmas Songs on my iPhone last week? Yep. It happened. With the new…
Apple Cider Donuts
Hello my friends! Things are starting to settle down around here. I am loving not having the urge to check email every five seconds to ensure that everything at work is ok. Rachel Cosgrove (via The Female Body Breakthrough) is still kicking my butt at 5:30 AM. I added in a little Yoga is Yummy…
Apple Cider Breakfast Bake
A couple weeks ago while at the Mill City Farmer’s Market, I picked up a half-gallon of freshly pressed, unpasturized apple cider from Sweetland Orchard. I knew right away that I wanted to use it in my baking. The next day I made a pot of crock pot steel cut oats and subbed in 1…
Wordless Wednesday: Sixteen Months
Going Without
Today is the first day of a new season of eating for our family. For the last two years Allan has experienced severe digestive issues. His primary care doctor believes that Allan’s digestive upset is primarily due to the trauma that he sustained as a result of being shot two years ago. Since then he…
Wordless Wednesday: Weekend Recap
Mill City Farmer’s Market Quick Lunch Sweetland Orchard (A visit to our very favorite farmer’s market vendor!)
Wordless Wednesday: Family Favorites: Pumpkin Donuts
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 Pumpkin Donuts Serve these pumpkin donuts with a side of scrambled eggs for a special weekend breakfast or with a slice of string cheese as a quick grab and go snack during the week. Print this…
Party People
You may recall that a couple weeks ago we hosted an ecofriendly, clean living party with the goal of only producing one bag of landfill-bound trash. If you are catching up, you can read about the party here and here. We were extremely successful in our mission and I thought that today I would share…
Pumpkin Time
It has been quite the eventful week around here and it’s only Tuesday! Matthew and I have been checking things off our list left and right… including cleaning the house {finally!}, laundry {very exciting}, food prep {coconut butter, sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, larabars, pumpkin oatmeal protein bars, zucchini breakfast bakes, pumpkin pudding} and finally…
Wordless Wednesday: MN State Fair
Spicy Cumpleaños ::: Mexican Hot Chocolate Cake Recipe
We had an amazing four day weekend together! I can’t wait to tell you all about it. On Friday, Allan took a day of vacation and we went to the MN State Fair. Look for a recap on this escapade tomorrow. Today, I want to tell you about our One Bag Mexican Fiesta that I…
Diggin’
Good Morning! My posting has been sporadic lately because Matthew and I have been super busy! Matthew is constantly on the go and we are always doing something. One of his new favorite games is tag – we take turns chasing each other around the house. It is so much fun and quite a good…
Gardens of Eagan Open House
On Saturday afternoon we visited the Gardens of Eagan open house. Garden’s of Eagan is a 100 acre, urban-edge, organic vegetable farm that provides produce to several area co-ops and businesses. They also frequent a few farmer’s markets, including the Fulton Farmer’s Market. Sunday afternoon was spent dicing and freezing lots of peppers,…
Kefir French Toast
According to our monthly meal plan for August, on Saturday morning we were supposed to have cinnamon rolls from Mama Pea’s new book. However, for the last week I had been craving french toast. So, our plans changed. Instead I thawed the last loaf of homemade cinnamon swirl bread overnight and we had french toast….
Making Our Way Home + Coffee Winners
We arrived home late last night, just in time for a big thunderstorm. Allan unloaded the car between downpours while I unpacked and put away the cooler with Matthew’s help. After several hours in the car, we stopped in the cute town of Menomonie, WI to pick up supper. After doing some research on my…
A Day at the Lake
Late this morning, we spent a couple hours walking the Lake Michigan sandy beach outside of Menominee, MI. We had a beautiful time and for a moment we were able to take our minds off of why we are here. For lunch we stopped at the Blue Bicycle in Marinette, MN. Allan, Mark and Lois…
Hello from Marinette
Yesterday morning we received news that Allan’s Great Aunt Anna Mae passed away, so we quickly packed up the Rav4 to accompany Allan’s parents to Peshtigo, Wisconsin. We are staying at the lovely Country Inn in Marinette, which is a bit outdated, yet surprisingly very clean. Also, they have a huge fridge in the room…
Make it Last
Lately I have been on a preservation kick. This week I picked up 3 lbs of organic cherries at Target for a little over $3 per pound! On Tuesday night, I hand pitted and froze all 7+ cups of them! I am so excited to have organic frozen cherries in the house, because I love…
Simple Supper
It’s late and Allan and I would like to rent a movie from iTunes before bed. So I am going to make this short and sweet. 🙂 We have been enjoying our time as a family this week and are sad to see the week nearing its end. It will be very weird to be back…
Wordless Wednesday: Staycation Edition
Hugh Jass Salad
This morning while cutting carrots for Matthew’s lunch, I sliced my thumb on my mandolin while talking to Allan instead of focusing on the job at hand. This is following trying to grate off the knuckle on my middle finger using a micro plane… I really need to be more careful. Today Allan and I…
Sudz Up
We had such a wonderful weekend as a family! I love Minnesota summers – even if we are still in the midst of a heat wave. Come mid-January we are all going to be longing for 90°+ days. So, we had better enjoy them while they last. Although, I have to admit that it’s at…
Gluten Galore
We are officially on vacastaycation. Every summer we take a week to enjoy everything the things we love about living in Minneapolis. Last night we went to the Minnesota Zoo. Every year Dakota Electric sponsors a free night at the zoo and every year we try to be in attendance. I love to hear about…
Dolce Vita
We had another glorious weekend filled with sunshine, family and amazing food! On Friday night Allan and I went on a date to Doolittle’s Woodfire Grill where we dined alfresco on amazing food including a cosmo for her and a mojito for him (my first vodka since having Matthew). We shared the mediterranean flatbread, mediterranean…
Hashbrowns or Pizza?
Last Friday morning before work, Allan asked me if we were having Friday night pizza and I told him, “of course, it’s Friday, isn’t it?” He then asked me what kind of pizza we were having and I told him “you’ll see”. When he arrived home to see me shredding potatoes he was very suspicious….
Cap’n Crunch Berry Oats
Last night Allan grilled up the most delicious supper that we have enjoyed in quite some time. Pork chops marinated in balsamic vinaigrette, grilled potatoes, grilled zucchini and grilled peaches all drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. The star of the show was the grilled peach. They were so sweet and juicy! My in-laws have a ton…
Hotter than the Dickens!
We arrived home late from Albert Lea and I knew that Matthew would be up early, so I prepped overnight oats. Allan’s has whole milk yogurt and 2% milk. Mine had homemade low-fat kefir and 2% milk. Served with a side of fresh farmer’s market musk melon. So refreshing on a HOT day! Starting Saturday,…
Sheets to the Wind
On Saturday, after we visited the farmer’s market, we went to my aunt and uncle’s house in Albert Lea to celebrate my aunt’s birthday and go on the boat. My aunt and uncle are lucky enough to own a house right on the lake and when we visit, we always spend a good amount of…
Fulton Farmer’s Market
On a hot, slightly rainy Saturday, we stopped at the (new to us) Fulton farmer’s market. The Fulton farmer’s market is a newly formed market and is the sister market to our fave Sunday market. This was our very first visit and I was very impressed by the selection at such a small market. We…
Let Freedom Ring
As promised, I finally got around to unloading, sorting and editing the photos that we took during our cabin retreat. The Fourth of July festivities included Matthew’s first parade, chicken gyros from a sidewalk vendor, swimming in Leech Lake, catching a Muskie and a potluck supper with friends who are like family. Here is a photo…
Two Spoons Are Better Than One
Lately Mister Matthew has been on a utensil kick. If he sees a fork or a spoon he must have it and use it to consume whatever masterpiece that I make for him. The other day he insisted upon feeding himself leek soup with a spork and a spoon. This was the resulting mess. Not…
Deadman Lake
Welcome to the Peters Pagoda on Deadman Lake. Where cats are strung from the rafters… It is considered an insult to wear make-up… Cooking is a bold adventure… Air conditioning and running water are lavish luxuries… And lounging on the lanai is considered a day’s work. The following is a photo tour around our family’s…
Back to the Grind
We arrived back in Minneapolis last night and I have been nonstop sorting, organizing, laundering, working and shopping since we arrived. It’s amazing the amount of things that need to be done when you are away for 6 days! I plan to make a more detailed post about our time at the cabin; however, I…
Fishing for Sun
Today was another beautiful day. It is rare for it to get very hot at the cabin, but this week has been an exception… Thursday was 90+ and yesterday was in the high 80s. Today it cooled down a bit and was in the mid 80s. Since the sun was shining Allan, my father-in-law, Mark,…
North Woods Adventures
Good afternoon from the North Woods! This is the second draft of this post, I am still figuring out the quirks of the Word Press app on my iPad while being offline. Hmph! Late last night we arrived at the Peters family cabin in the Brainerd lakes area. As I said in my post on…
A Father’s Love
We spent another incredible weekend with our families! My father-in-law was away for the weekend fishing with his nephews, so my mother-in-law offered to watch Matthew on Saturday night. Allan and I spent our date night with movie and dinner. We usually do dinner first and then the movie, but this time we decided to…
Make A Wish
Today was a lovely day. The day started with Blueberry Almond Breakfast Bakes using this recipe as a base. To keep things interesting, I tried my hand at a little experiment… I subbed almond pulp, leftover from making homemade almond milk, for buckwheat flour, omitted coconut oil and traded out cherries for 1 cup frozen…
Rhubarb Strawberry Sauce
Today was an amazing day filled with laughter, sunshine and family. I love afternoons spent talking, munching and playing in the sunshine with those that mean the most to me. It was glorious! Last night I was so excited to enjoy a Cooler 2 breakfast that I threw together this simple Rhubarb Strawberry sauce that…
Frosting on the Cake
Prior to Matthew’s birthday party last weekend I had no clue how to correctly frost a cake. I wanted Matthew’s first birthday cake to not only be a nutritious whole food delight, I also wanted it to be as beautiful as a store bought cake. So, after scouring the internet, reading demos and watching how-to…
Matthew’s Birthday Party: Food Edition
As you know, Sunday was Matthew’s first birthday and we threw a small party for him. The following is the food that we served to our family that came from near and far to celebrate with us. Prepping the salad I used the following simple dressing on this salad. The recipe makes enough dressing for…
Matthew’s Birth Story
In honor of Matthew’s first birthday, which was Sunday, I am reposting his birth story. I feel that when you are pregnant there is so much emphasis placed on the things that could go wrong rather than the joy and love of birth that I could do no harm by reposting the story of Matthew’…
For Matthew…
To my dearest Matthew for your first birthday. He (Jesus) called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2 Before you were born I thought that I…
Burger up!
Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments that you left yesterday. I am so excited to take your feedback and use it to improve MMM. If you have not already, be sure to stop by yesterday’s post and enter to win a batch of my dough balls -trust me, they are amazing!…
Congratulations, Melissa!
On Saturday, my younger sister, Melissa, graduated with honors from St. Thomas University. She was awarded a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. We are all very proud of her and wish her much luck in her future career with the IRS. Following Melissa’s commencement, we met Allan and Matthew at Cossetta’s. Cossetta’s is a small,…