The Ants go Marching AKA Spring Cleaning

Spring has sprung at our house. The sunshine called our names. We all ran outside in 3 fewer layers than we have worn all year. Lovely spring. Wonderful mud. Freedom in flip-flops. Bonfires. Garden plans. Yard work. and Bugs! Yep it is that season again.

There is nothing like an ant marching through your living room at 10:00 at night to inspire you to a spring clean! Last night battling all odds, with the little ones tucked in bed, we cleaned the entire main floor of the house, hopefully staving off those foragers until the bug man can get over here and spray.

We have another motivation for spring cleaning around here. Every time it rains the basement floods. And, the other day we got our first spring rain. So, we mopped the basement. I am starting to wonder if spring cleaning didn't first come about because of these seasonal changes.

So, the house is all clean for spring, and in order to keep it that way, I intend to spend as much time as possible out side.

We have big plans for our yard this year. Several raised garden boxes are in the works. A solar powered water feature is on the dream board. The boys have even cooked up something major, our very own neighborhood park with a mansion in the tree.

Yes spring is here, so bring on the farmer tan, because vitamin D here I come!

Pumpkin Breakfast Bread

This bread is full of yummy things. My family loves it. It is not really cakey sweet- but, just enough to have my kids call it dessert. I feel good about calling it breakfast.

2.5 C of pumpkin puree

3 c whole wheat flour or 1.5 c coconut flour

1 c butter

1/4 c molasses

1/8 c maple syrup

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp ginger

1 tsp vanilla

1 c pecans

Mix all of this together and spread it in a 9x13 pan

Then toss the almonds on top of the batter. Lastly drizzle the maple syrup

1 cup sliced almonds

1/4 c maple syrup

Bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour and half (14 servings)

Nutrition Facts
14 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		354.3
Total Fat		23.4 g
	Saturated Fat	9.3 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	3.2 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	9.1 g
Cholesterol		34.9 mg
Sodium		349.1 mg
Potassium		344.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate		34.5 g
	Dietary Fiber	6.2 g
	Sugars	7.2 g
Protein		6.3 g

Vitamin A	144.4 %
Vitamin B-12	0.5 %
Vitamin B-6	4.7 %
Vitamin C	3.4 %
Vitamin D	2.3 %
Vitamin E	14.2 %
Calcium	9.7 %
Copper	17.6 %
Folate	2.5 %
Iron	12.9 %
Magnesium	13.4 %
Manganese	55.8 %
Niacin	3.0 %
Pantothenic Acid	3.4 %
Phosphorus	7.8 %
Riboflavin	5.9 %
Selenium	3.0 %
Thiamin	5.8 %
Zinc	7.5 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Valentines Day remorse

Oi' I did it to myself again. I ate the cookies, and the candies, and by the end anything I could find with sugar in it, until I put myself in to a sugar coma and went to bed, with sugar crash. Why do I keep doing this? I am addicted to sugar. I am feeling it today. I can't believe I used to feel like this every morning. The first step is admitting it right? Well I admit it.

The end- V-day is over and I am starting over today.

over and out

Leek and Potato soup

3 Tbsp Butter

2 C sliced leeks

3 C vegetable broth

6 yukon potatoes

1/2 c quinoa

2 c rice milk

1 large onion

1 clove garlic

6 carrots peeled and chopped

salt to taste

Melt butter add chopped onion, minced garlic, leek and fry till see through. Then add broth potatoes quinoa rice milk, and cook for about 1/2 hour. Blend the soup in the blender. then add carrots. Cook for another 10 minutes till carrots are soft. Salt and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
8 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		444.7
Total Fat		5.8 g
	Saturated Fat	1.1 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.7 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	0.6 g
Cholesterol		3.8 mg
Sodium		1,291.2 mg
Potassium		1,312.7 mg
Total Carbohydrate		88.4 g
	Dietary Fiber	10.6 g
	Sugars	7.1 g
Protein		14.9 g

Vitamin A	19.7 %
Vitamin B-12	12.5 %
Vitamin B-6	47.7 %
Vitamin C	97.5 %
Vitamin D	2.7 %
Vitamin E	1.6 %
Calcium	7.5 %
Copper	21.2 %
Folate	18.0 %
Iron	39.8 %
Magnesium	21.8 %
Manganese	34.9 %
Niacin	16.1 %
Pantothenic Acid	11.9 %
Phosphorus	59.7 %
Riboflavin	92.7 %
Selenium	6.0 %
Thiamin	18.7 %
Zinc	7.6 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.