Event From Hannah's Harvest

$5 Teleclass... January's Resolutions Approach

From the end of October until the first of the year time seems to speed up. It's Holiday time and before we know it the champagne toast on New Year's Eve finds some of us stepping on the scale a few pounds heavier. Before I shifted my health and that of my family, I would actually not fit into my jeans after the Holiday eating. (That would spiral into my seasonal yo-yo dieting.) I have learned ways to celebrate without binging, moderation is a friendly word and I do a lot of the cooking so that I have something I can eat nearby.

We all know someone (or are someone) who is struggling with their health, weight or seasonal depression. Are they waiting for the magic pill, the New Year's Resolutions or next year to get healthy? Are you ready to change your life and the health of your family? Would you like support and accountability?

Join me for a teleclass discussing changing your patterns and habits through simple steps and accountability. We'll talk about goal setting, how we do it and why we do it. You'll have a chance to hear from people who have changed their lives or are in the process of getting to their ideal selves. We will talk about accountability and it's importance in creating positive change. I'll tell you about an upcoming group program that can bring your health to the next level.

Join me in your p.j.'s from the comfort of your home. Get some Holiday Inspiration from others who are ready to make a change!!! Make 2010 resolutions into goals that work. Your time is now...and it's simple.

Pass this newsletter on to the people in your life that need support and encouragement.

Holiday Resolution Teleclass

$5.00

Wednesday, December 16th

7:30pm

Send me an e-mail to register for the class and then I will send you the conference number.

Real Mama Eats Eggs For Breakfast

Chloe and I have been taking pictures of ourselves together since she was little.

I was inspired by a post on a beautiful blog I read almost every day. She asked for a bit of a conversation to help with her situation of her daughter wanting some privacy and not wanting to be written about on her blog. I thought it was a good time for her to focus more on sharing herself. So I am taking my own advise a bit (not that my kids mind being blogged about for now) and I will try to add more of myself to the blog.

I have been feeling a bit selfish lately. Starting to have some real work time has filled me deeply inside. I love going to the office, meeting with my amazing clients and getting lots and lots accomplished. I struggle when I am home with the feelings of "things" never being over. I sweep, the floor is instantly dirty. I pick up the toys, they are all over the house again. I remove the toys and my kitchen drawers get ransacked and become creative play. I love all this as it means I have a busy and fun family but sometimes it exhausts me. My work on myself has been trying to find my calm amidst the chaos. More often than not I do.

I am curious as to why when I feel this way I define it as selfish?

In my work with my clients we figure out what needs to be focused on and then we set goals. I know that I need to include the kids in daily maintenance of the house. Part of that means that I must be more consistent with them. I crave more rituals in our house and daily life. I am looking for a rhythm we can all feel satisfied with.

This was Thanksgiving day and Eli had an arrow drawn on his head.
(photo and arrow art work by Chloe)

One thing that is consistent in my life is my three eggs for breakfast or brunch over greens. I eat pastured eggs which means that the chicken have been out eating grass and bugs and that the nutritional content of the eggs is perfect. It is my dream to have my own chicken. These eggs over greens will not harm my cholesterol or make me fat. These eggs give me energy and protein to nurse my little guy, drive kids to school, cook meals, walk dogs, work, play...nourish!

Three Eggs Over Garlic and Ginger Greens

Cook eggs in olive or coconut oil until the whites are firm and the inside runny!

Greens of any kind, chopped
1/4 cup water
1 TB olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
1 TB minced ginger
2 t tamari soy
1 t honey
pinch of cayenne
fresh squeezed lemon

Add all of the ingredients into a pan and water saute until the greens are soft. Serve eggs over the top.

Martinmas Lantern Walk and Kettle Corn

We used balloons and covered them in tissue paper to create these funky lanterns for our walk. Chloe is doing some last minute trimming after the fun popping of the balloons.


And last minute drying of not so dry lanterns dripping with glue.


Kettle corn is a must for the lantern walkers! Add 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil and 1/4 cup of agave to a pot of popped corn. Mix together and add salt to taste. We eat it as is, but you can bake it for a few minutes to crisp it up.


We sang "This Little Light of Mine" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" which was requested by our sweet friend.


It was warm enough for a no jacket required walk. We walked through the neighborhood singing and returned to warm cider with whipped cream and amaretto with whipped cream for the adults!

Dedicated to Brooke and the play group that will always have the warmest spot in my heart.

Autumn Soup

This was a warming, slightly sweet and spicy soup that I ate for dinner and then breakfast the next day. You could use any squash you happen to have.

Autumn Soup

1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 apple, peeled and cubed
olive oil
apple cider vinegar (about 2 TB)
salt/pepper/garlic (chopped)
2-3 cups chicken or vege stock
1 TB red curry paste

Add olive oil and apple cider vinegar to the squash and apple in a large baking dish. Add salt, pepper and garlic and roast for about 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Remove when squash is tender. Place squash mixture in a blender and add 2 cups of stock and curry paste. Blend until smooth. Add more stock if you like a thinner soup. To serve, a little fresh pepper and cinnamon on top is lovely...you could also add a dollop of yogurt. When the squash is roasting the smell is more than wonderful.

This is an example of how I'm adding a ridiculous amount of vegetables any place I can. In NY there is a pizza called the "salad slice" that has a chopped salad on top of it. I played with that idea on these brown rice crusts I found at Whole Foods. You could use tortillas, english muffins, portabello mushrooms or your own pizza crust. Nice and thin works best.

Vegetable Slice

Crust of your choice
tomato paste, thinned with a little water, honey and vinegar
grated goat cheddar and romano cheese
Broccoli, small florets rubbed with olive oil and salt until lightly tender
kalamata olives, sliced
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 cup of mixed greens chopped
olive oil/lemon/balsamic vinaigrette

Top crust with tomato sauce, cheese, broccoli, olives, and garlic. When cheese is bubbly remove pizza, add greens and top with dressing.

How I've Been Eating Lately

Simple lunches that pack a punch. Lots of steamed broccoli, olives and sometimes some goat cheese. Roasted veggies with eggs, left over soups from dinner and greens, greens, greens. I am giving my body no reason to get sick or feel run down. Then I pour a cup of tea while Lucas sleeps and the kids are in school and I munch away on this yummy treat!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Mix Dry Ingredients Together:
3/4 cup buckwheat flour
3/4 cup almond flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Mix Wet Ingredients Together:
2 eggs, room temp
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup agave
1/3 yogurt

Add wet into dry until mixed together. Add 2 cups (or go nuts and add 3) grated zucchini and 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes in two small loaf pans or until toothpick comes out clean.

I love to enjoy my sweets during down time. That way it is not a stress related binge, it's a quiet moment with food made by my hands, following a delicious meal. When food is considered off limits we tend to want it more. Little bits of things you love goes along way towards health and happiness. What are you eating for lunch these days?

Asleep After Stew

Seems Thursdays Beef Stew post became Friday's gift. A lovely dinner, a glass (or two) of wine and some very silly giggling and rolling on the floor with a baby led to mama asleep on the couch nursing said baby. I've been avoiding wine in hopes of keeping my immune system at peak performance, but stew without wine, I just couldn't do it. So here's what I did.

Coat roast with cumin, salt and pepper...be generous. Lightly brown the meat in a stew pot and then remove. Add a few TB of balsamic vinegar, a squeeze of honey, a squeeze of ketchup and scrape up those brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the meat back in along with some large pieces of carrots, celery, onion and garlic cloves. Add some tomatoes in their juices and some chicken or beef stock(about 2 cups or so). Bring to a boil and cover, reduce to a simmer and leave on the stove all day long. About two hours before serving, remove meat, add large chunks of rutabaga, 1/4 cup or so of red wine and some kudzu mixed with water. Cut the strings off the meat and break into large pieces adding back to pot. Keep lid off and simmer, stirring occasionally. The stew will thicken up and turn a deep red color. Serve with a nice Zinfandel unless you have something to do later that evening that requires staying awake!!!

Setting Intentions

I have set an intention to write a short blog each day this week. Blogging is deeply important to me as it keeps me focused on the good stuff in my life. Looking at the pictures of good food and the kids activities or quiet moments reminds me not to take it too seriously when life is a mess. Usually I try to take pictures of my food and make them seems calm and pretty. This time I opted for the reality of it, which was lunch in a hurry on a messy table.

Still a darn good salad. Here's what I did. Filled my bowl with sprouts and avocado slices. Added some slices of turkey, olives and cilantro. Made a quick salad dressing with some mayo, balsamic vinegar, agave and salt and pepper. It was fast, filling and those sprouts pack a punch of energy. Real life salad...have you set your intentions today?