First, Happy birthday to my younger, but not-so-little-anymore brother Andrew! I can’t believe you’re 20! I still remember the day you were born!
This week is the start of October Unprocessed! I’m so excited to try out some new recipes this week, and I’m even more excited about the pledge we’ve taken for the month–a month of eating no processed foods. Now, this holds different definitions depending on the family. For us, it means we’re cutting out foods that we couldn’t make at home (even if making it at home would take significant effort). So things like wheat flour, almond flour, buckwheat flour are in, things like white flour are out. It means natural peanut butter and preservative-free jam are in, but commercial peanut butter and Smuckers are out. It means bread we make at home is in, and commercially-prepared bread is likely out. Here’s a quick note–we’re making conscious exceptions to the “unprocessed” rules–we’re allowing leaveners like baking powder and baking soda. Without those things, I don’t know how to make bread or any baked goods. Since this isn’t the “October without bread products,” ie. a really long Passover, we’re going to allow them. Another exception is pasta. We’re allowing whole-wheat pasta, despite the preservatives, etc. on the ingredient list. I just don’t have time to make my own pasta, unfortunately. So the change is to whole-wheat, and it will only be on the menu sporadically. Maximum of once a week, though I’m shooting for once every two weeks.
I keep talking to you all about joining a CSA. This month, in honor of both Eric’s new job and October Unprocessed, we’re finally going to take the plunge. Hold me accountable! We’re deciding between two, and I’m so excited to try it out. I’m especially excited that they deliver to our door. That was the only drawback the last time we were in a CSA–so I think having delivery will make a big difference.
There’s also a phenomenon going around this month called Crocktober. That’s right. Crockpot + October = Crocktober. So in addition to being a month where we focus on eating things that are really good FOR us, we’re going to be trying out some new recipes in the crockpot. I got a start yesterday at brunch with a really tasty frittata. Recipe coming later in the week.
Here’s what the first week of October Unprocessed is scheduled to look like in our kitchen:
Monday
Breakfast: Green smoothie (Spinach, frozen peaches, ground flax, maple syrup)
Lunch: Unknown. Going to a banquet. Which means I need to pack a sandwich.
Dinner: Also unknown. Going to an awards reception. Which means I’ll be eating brunch leftovers from yesterday when I get home, and eating some veggies at this reception.
Tuesday
Breakfast: Farina with almond milk, fruit
Lunch: Quinoa veg bowl
Dinner: Salsa chicken in the crockpot, using the salsa from my September Foodie Pen Pal box.
Wednesday
Breakfast: Oats with almond milk, fruit
Lunch: Leftover quinoa veg bowl
Dinner: Leftover salsa chicken
Thursday (Here’s where the recipes start to get good)
Breakfast: Breakfast Pumpkin Cake (Clean Eating, October 2012) + fruit
Lunch: Salad with nuts and raisins + homemade lemon olive oil dressing
Dinner: Creamy Pumpkin Pasta (Clean Eating, October 2012)
Friday
Breakfast: Leftover breakfast cake, fruit
Lunch: Salad (on the road for work, I’ll pack this and take it with me)
Dinner: Sandwich + fruit (on the road for work, I’ll pack this and take it with me). Eric and Ethan will eat pasta leftovers.
Saturday
Breakfast: Eggs, Avocado-Chocolate Chip Muffins (Clean Eating, October 2012)
Lunch: Salad, muffin
Dinner: Sweet Potato Gnocchi (homemade, Clean Eating, October 2012)
Sunday
Breakfast: Omelettes with veggies
Lunch: Leftover gnocchi
Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie (homemade, Clean Eating, October 2012)
What’s on your table this week?
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