Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Menu Plan Menu Plan by Laurie Our two-year old is experiencing some (more) food intolerance issues, and we are taking a homeopathic approach to dealing with it (under the care of a physician).  When one is a two year old boy, there is really no reasoning with him that what he has to eat is different than what the rest of us can eat. Therefore our family is now not only Gluten Free, but also Dairy Free and Cranberry Free (weird, I know) until close to the end of the year. I choose to view this as a fun challenge, rather than so much of a bummer.  It's amazing what can be done without dairy or gluten these days!  And don't Keep Reading

Menu Plan by Laurie Summer is flying by, and I am making the most of the last few weeks of my summer vacation.  In other words, I am canning like a fool these days.  Rain and cold will soon be upon us, and my little people sure do light up when we open a jar of home-canned fruit (see our Canning Guides for more!) on a long gray day. What does all this mean?  In a nutshell, between the sunny hot August days and a stove full of boiling jars my house is much warmer than I prefer.  So my solution is to use the kitchen as little as possible while still preparing good food highlighting the bounty that Pacific Northwest summers bring to us. Here's Keep Reading

Menu Plan by Laurie I have been in a planning funk lately. This time of year always feels like the "home stretch" for our family with school and the many activities we are involved in.  More often than not, I get overwhelmed trying to keep up with everything going on, and dinner is the big loser. Thankfully, my family loves surprises like "breakfast for dinner!" It's always so much easier to carry on when my lack of planning is met with grace. Now that the sun is back behind the clouds where it's supposed to be I am ready to jump back into this and commit to having a dinner plan for the week. Here's what's for dinner at my house this Keep Reading

Menu Plan by Laurie Have you picked up some whole chickens at New Seasons yet (sale price good through 3/5)?  I did and am roasting one in the oven today to use the meat in a few different recipes this week.  Simple Roast Chicken is a favorite in our house, and we make it often.  I will remove the meat and then stick all the rest of it in the crockpot with a few random veggies and spices to make a stock for soup. A few years back I made a New Year's resolution to learn how to make a new soup each month of that year.  I honestly think that resolution was one of my best, as I am now pretty confident turning random assortments of ingredients and Keep Reading

Menu Plan by Laurie The beginning of the year is always a time for me to get our family budget back on track, and we have started this year out with cutting way back, just to see if I can do it for a while. I prepared for the arrival of baby #3 by stocking up the pantry and freezer last fall, and since the first of the year have managed to spend less than $30 a week on groceries.  I have been trying to only purchase dairy and produce on a weekly basis, and just being creative with what we have on hand for our meals. Here's what our gluten-free household is eating this week: Monday -- Chicken Enchilada Chili (I triple the beans and omit the Keep Reading