Yumm-a-licious

I'm always on the look out for simple, go to dinner recipes. I love this one because it's packed with veggies (could add in/substitute any that you happen to have in the fridge) and cooks up in one dish. I was able to clean up all the prep while the dish was in the oven, so the after dinner clean up was a breeze. Made plenty for one meal and lunch leftovers! I've also become a huge fan of recipes that are free from gluten, processed sugar and dairy and don't call for a lot of fussy/odd replacement type ingredients.

Simple. Clean. Delicious.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pork tenderloin (1.5-2 lbs.)
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large sweet potato
1 red bell pepper
1 red onion
2-3 cups of cauliflower florets
1 gala apple
sea salt
pepper
dry rosemary
dry basil

Heat the coconut oil and crushed garlic in a skillet then sear the pork tenderloin on all sides. Once seared, remove from skillet and place in a baking dish.

Slice the sweet potato, red bell pepper, red onion and cauliflower into one inch pieces. Add the vegetables to the skillet with the olive oil, sea salt, pepper, dry rosemary and dry basil. Cook on high heat, searing the edges.

Add the vegetables to the baking dish and top with a chopped gala apple (skin on).

Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes, uncovered. (tenderloin should reach internal temperature of 145 degrees)

Joining Kim for

Little Things Thursday

and Tabitha for

Dream. Create. Inspire.

Black & White Wednesday ~ Simple Treasure

I was so surprised, as I opened the boxes of Christmas decorations, how pleased I was to see these nativity silhouette blocks I made two years ago. Just a few glass blocks, some black paper and modge podge...put it all together, add a few twinkle lights, and a pretty manger scene comes to life.

Something about the simplicity of the silhouettes...reminds me to step back and keep it all simple.

Something about the simplicity of the baby in a stable...reminds me that we have all that we'll ever need.

Something about the simplicity of those who came...reminds me to be a giver in this 'gimme' season.

Wonderful, isn't it, the magic we can create with the bits and pieces we have around us!!

Please join us and share your

Black & White photos!

And I'm sharing my 'DIY' with

Dream, Create, Inspire

When the going gets tough...

....the tough get crafty.

It's been a strange two weeks.

Lots of "urgent" upsetting my routine,

getting in the way of what I want to be doing,

and - well - just plain annoying me.

Yesterday's basement flooding was the proverbial icing on the cake.

I stayed fairly surrendered to it all

until some subtle {and not so subtle} signals

started coming my way about how I wasn't handling it properly.

I mean really - it should just be against the law to

kick someone when they're ankle deep in flood water.

....ok, maybe not ankle deep...

It's been nice to have some craft projects to distract me these last few days.

These wreathes that I made for the front and side doors

were so simple!

And turned out perfectly, don't you think!?!!

To quote the wonderful Katherine Hepburn,

"If you always do what interests you,

at least one person is pleased."

So I've been crafting decorations and making gifts...

anything to keep my mind distracted,

my hands occupied

and my spirits lifted!

{Pinspiration here}

Linking up with

Little Things Thursday

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

and

Dream, Create, Inspire

O, Christmas Tree

It took me a while to figure out
how to decorate our tree this year.
Childhood ornaments have been
given to each child,
so I've had a few years to think about
what I'd really like our 
"empty nest"
tree to become as the years march on.
I think I've come up with a long term idea,
but I don't quite have the funds to make that happen this year.
So...
I found myself looking for a theme for this year's tree.

As you might know, my husband and I have made
 some big changes this year.
We've set off on a path towards 
healthier living.
Nothing could better represent this year than a tree adorned with real food.

So, from our perch at the top of our "empty nest" tree,

we look out over some delicious and nutritious treats!

I strung popcorn and cranberries.

That was a given.

Then, I dried some oranges...which turns them into beautiful bits of stained glass!

{slice 1 cm thick, and bake on a rack, in a 250 degree oven for about 3-4 hours...turn them a couple of times}

And then...

I took cinnamon sticks and coconut flakes and made some snow covered branches!

{so easy....just a little Elmer's glue, cover them in coconut flakes, let dry and shake off the extra}

I'm so happy with the way our little tree turned out.

Not only does it look pretty,

but it smells just as delicious as you'd imagine!!

"He hangs in shades the orange bright,

Like golden lamps in a green night."

Andrew Marvell

Linking up with
Dream, Create, Inspire

Home

"Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home."

Phillip Phillips

As I've mentioned before, I'm not really one who loves to cook.

The kitchen and I have a love/hate relationship...

the crock pot and I, however, are best of friends!

This weekend I discovered a new crock pot recipe that

not only

cooked up one VERY tasty bird,

but filled the house with that comforting smell of

good home cooking.

Funny how certain foods and meals connect us to that

soothing sense of home.

As the holidays approach,

I am looking forward to traditional meals

and the gathering of friends and family.

My poor family

{especially my kids}

are wondering how the traditions of meals past are going to "feel"

now that gluten, dairy and processed sugar

have left the building!

So...

this month I have my work cut out for me!

The kitchen and I are going to continue to work on our

on again - off again relationship

as I try out some more new recipes.

I'm determined to 

chase the demons,

alleviate all fears

and

make these healthier holidays 

just as homey and traditional as ever!

This simple and delicious chicken recipe was a good beginning...

you really should give it a try!

{Find the Wonderful Recipe Here}

Linking up with Kathy for

Song-ography

and also with

Dream. Create. Inspire.

{ healthy } Fall Deliciousness

With a chop, a boil and a blend,

I whipped up my new absolute favorite thing.

Maybe ever.

Who knew I liked butternut squash?

Not me!

Who knew one could make a creamy, delicious soup with NO dairy, gluten or sugar?

Not me!

Fortunately for me,

I have a wonderful nutritionist...

She loves creating healthy recipes and menus

like I love photos, paper and storytelling.

As she's inspired me

and taught me to re-think most everything in my life where food is concerned,

she's also become a dear friend.

With her encouragement,

I cooked up a large pot of this yummy soup on Monday ~

Served it with a side salad of spinach, avocado and roasted pumpkin seeds ~

and had plenty left over for the week.

The soup stays fresh, well blended and re-heats really well!

I hope you enjoy Anna's Butternut Squash soup as much as I did!

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

- 32 ounces cut up butternut squash

- 16 ounces water or gluten free veggie stock

- 2 medium onions chopped

- 3/4 tsp cinnamon

- 1/4 tsp nutmeg

- 2 TBS pure maple syrup

- Sea salt to taste

- *1/2 cup coconut milk

In a large pot over high heat combine squash broth/water, and onion  Cover and bring to a boil. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup. Allow to boil with cover off for 5 minutes. Put cover back on and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Check to see that veggies are fork tender. Working in batches, add half of contents into blender. In order to vent, remove the small top of the blender cover (it is a good idea to place a dish towel over opening to avoid a mess). Blend until smooth and creamy. Salt to taste. Place back into pot and simmer over low heat to re-warm.

*If you are feeling creative, you can add 1/2 cup coconut milk to soup once all pureed and back in pot warming.

{find more of Anna's gluten-free recipes here}

Linking up with

Simple Things Sunday
and
Dream, Create, Inspire