Kitchen Stewardship | A Baby Steps Approach to Balanced Nutrition

How to Feed 25 People Real Food & Not Lose Your Mind {Eat Well, Spend Less}

May 22nd, 2013 · Special Situations

Real Food Big Party Plans (10) (317x475)

My husband really wanted us to go with pizzas for my son’s First Communion party, especially once we branched out from immediate family and invited some extra uncles and cousins, but I promised him I’d plan real food well and make it an unstressful day.

If you’re reading into that and assuming that I’m usually a basketcase for big events when I’m trying to do all real food, you might be right. It might be more of a stressed-in-the-head-and-short-tempered case than a real basket, but I’m not committing. I plead the fifth. Winking smile

As it turned out, we fed 18 adults and a handful of children for a lunch, and we had enough food for at least 25. We arrived home from the First Communion right along with everyone else, so logistically, that’s always tricky because you can’t be in the kitchen preparing things for the hour or two before guests descend on your home.

I’m very proud to say that my husband’s assessment after the fact was, “You did it, babe. It was a really good party; you pulled it off.” The amazement in his voice was the part that said, “Whoa, I really didn’t think you could do it without seeming stressed…”

Woot!

He was also justifiably surprised that the entire week had included more, “I was really productive and felt good about my day,” sort of days than the, “Ahhhhhhhhhh I didn’t get anything done today and am SO behind on my LIIIIIIIIIIIST!” kind of days.

Not that I know anything about those.

It’s all about what my high school Math teacher used to preach, the 7Ps: “Prior Proper Planning Prevent [Pretty] Poor Performance.” (That’s been edited for a family-friendly blog.) Winking smile

1st Communion party - pizza toppings 2 (475x356)

I started planning the menu over a week in advance, and I worked backward to prepare stuff all. week. long.

It paid off! Everyone had plenty to eat, truly enjoyed themselves, my attitude remained good (plus I knew the consequence would be pizza at all future parties if I failed), and we had leftovers that lasted us a good many days of lunches and parts of dinner.

Plus, we didn’t really spend that much on the party, so it’s perfect for the Eat Well, Spend Less theme of “Entertaining on a Budget” this week and my own Monday Mission of “Share the Real Food.”

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Sun-Dried Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad for a Crowd {Gluten-free Recipe}

May 21st, 2013 · Recipes

Sun-dried Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

What happens when a recipe is not a recipe?

No, that’s not just a bad joke, although I’m pretty famous for those sort of knee-slappers.

It’s just that some “recipes” are so fluid and adaptable, they’re more like a set of general suggestions, or a chart you can fill in with your favorite options.

I call them “framework” recipes, and I think they’re fabulous.

I’ve never been one to run to the store for one item or buy something especially for a recipe, so it’s important to me that my arsenal of standby recipes includes many flexible options that can use “whatever is in the fridge.”

With most soups, skillet dishes, and even some casseroles, I switch things up a lot. Pasta salad is a great example of an open-ended recipe that can even be a great fit for a party or potluck without a special run to the store, perfect for our “real food for company” theme this week.

Although this “recipe” is titled “Sun-Dried Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad, you may be surprised to find out that both the tomatoes and peppers are optional. No matter what you have on hand, you can make a good pasta salad to share!

Sun-dried Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

This recipe is sponsored by Door to Door Organics, where you can get a box of fresh produce delivered to your door – the perfect reason to have lots of framework recipes in your arsenal, so you can use whatever shows up! Click HERE to see more about the boxes and a $10 off code on your first order, expires 8/31/13.

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Monday Mission: Share Real Food with Others

May 20th, 2013 · Monday Missions

Real Food Company Meals

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to plan a specific opportunity to introduce someone to real food and show them how delicious it can be.

Impact Ratings: healthpositivepositive?

Level of Commitment: Baby Steps (maybe Making Strides if you’re a bit introverted…?)

I think this mission is not only FUN, but perfect for summertime.

I want to challenge you to “share the real food.” You might choose to:

  • invite someone (or a group of someones) over for dinner with the secret purpose of showing them how yummy real food can be
  • host a neighborhood or family party and serve real food appetizers
  • invite a friend over for lunch and have awesome dinner leftovers that just happen to be available to heat up
  • take a meal to someone who could use one
  • make an effort to take real food dishes to potlucks and BBQs you’re invited to this summer (the added bonus there is that your family has at least one real food option)
  • if you camp with friends or family, offer to cook for a meal, and make it a great one that looks easy (I have a couple prepare-at-home meals in The Family Camping Handbook that are a cinch once you’re out in the woods – you can get a glimpse of the food in there by signing up for the monthly newsletter, as I just started offering 10 printable recipe cards and 3 meal plans, which happen to be Paleo (1) and gluten-free (2) as the freebie with newsletter signup.)

Real Food “Company” Meals with Kids

While my friends are mostly moms like me, my husband’s friends are largely at a different stage of life since we had children before most of them met their future spouse.

We recently decided to have a monthly “dinner at the Kimballs” with some secret purposes (and here Katie is hoping they’re not reading today!):

  1. share real food in a delicious way
  2. demonstrate the joy of family life

Our kids love company, and they know we’re going to have an awesome meal, so we don’t actually have to bribe them with candy or anything. Winking smile We do pray that no one throws a monumental fit, because even though we try our best to be spectacular parents, kids still throw fits. (We just pray it doesn’t happen on these evenings.)

We make an effort to include them in some way in meal preparation, too, so that we can laud them at the dinner table and boost their ego a bit when everyone says to Paul, for example, “Wow, this ranch dressing is amazing!” (You can see him making it with me in our bonus video that comes with the Better Than a Box premium package, screen shot below).

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"This Book Changed my Life" & a Crazy KS eBook Collection {SALE}

May 20th, 2013 · Uncategorized

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

If you’ve had your eye on one of the KS eBooks or perhaps wondered if they were any good, you won’t want to wait any longer.

The "Bundle of the Week" this week is all books from this site, an exclusive package, and it’s only $7.40 (through Monday, 5/27 at 8 a.m. only).

That’s a crazy good deal.

I’ve also just added sneak peek excerpts to each book, so you can really get a taste of what you’ll be getting with a purchase. Find them on each individual product page:

  • If you’re already on the newsletter list, the system is smart enough that you can get the freebies by entering your email address again but you won’t get duplicate copies to the same inbox. Winking smile

The excerpts all include a bit of the introductory section plus at least 2 recipes, including one of the more popular ones from Healthy Snacks.

For less than the price of one book, you can get a bundle of FIVE of them, and if you really want Better Than a Box, you can get all my eBooks for about what only that one would cost. See details HERE.

All purchasers will receive a 50% off code for Better Than a Box, which means that even if you just want that book, you can get 6 books for the price of one.

If you have some of my eBooks and want to complete your collection, you can gift the duplicates to friends and family, which could be a great way to ease someone into real food. My recipes tend to be super thorough for the rookie (and yet still unique enough that the seasoned real food chef can find something new to create).

What About Better Than a Box?

Better Than a Box

I don’t have an excerpt available for my newest book, Better Than a Box, but it’s coming. For today, I’m honored and humbled to share an email I received this month from someone who grabbed the book during launch week and didn’t know what to expect. Her email, which of course I opened immediately out of curiosity, was titled:

Better than a box changed my life

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What Does a Real Foodie Buy at…Tropical Traditions?

May 18th, 2013 · Frugality, Tips

What Does a Real Foodie Buy at Tropical Traditions

This is the last of the “What Does a Real Foodie Buy at…?” series, which has already covered:

Tropical Traditions is an interesting online shop to discuss through the lens of frugality, because for the most part, the products there are rather expensive. On the other hand, there are a few gems that are probably the best price on the web, especially if you wait until the free shipping weekends that happen about once a month or so.

(In fact, I was sort of hoping this would be a free shipping weekend, which is why I saved TT until last…but it’s not. Sad smile Maybe next week! I almost always make a note of it on Facebook, so “like” the page over there to be kept in the loop on little deals like those that I might not mention on the blog.)

I do a fair amount of food shopping at Tropical Traditions in spite of the prices, because they have a referral program that pays out in gift certificates – and you don’t have to be a blogger to benefit!

Here’s how it works:

  1. Sign up for the referral program HERE.
  2. If you see a good deal, or perhaps on the free shipping weekends, you can share it on your own Facebook timeline, via email, or on your blog if you have one. Anywhere you can type a link, you can share your special link.
  3. Create your referral links to specific products HERE. When you look at an individual product, there’s a “promote and earn” text link below it. Click there and generate your link.
  4. Anytime a new customer makes any order after clicking on your link, whether they buy what you recommend or something else, they get a free book about coconut oil and you get a $25 gift certificate to Tropical Traditions. Win-win!

Just so you know, I don’t get anything for referring you to the referral program, but I love helping you all figure out creative ways to get food for less…and free is always a great deal.

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Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil {GIVEAWAY}

May 17th, 2013 · What to Buy

What’s the difference between the regular cod liver oil you can buy at any pharmacy and fermented cod liver oil, produced solely by Green Pasture Products?

The stuff at the store is often deodorized, sterilized, and generally processed, sometimes including adding synthetic vitamins. Synthetic Vitamin A can be harmful if one gets too much of it. image

Fermented cod liver oil is made using a 6-month process (more at my Interview with Dave Wetzel, owner of Green Pasture), traditionally fermenting the oil similar to what the ancient Romans did when they relied on FCLO for the strength of their soldiers.

My little soldiers actually enjoy fermented cod liver oil sometimes – they go in streaks, which may make sense because each batch is a little different (that right there shows you you’re not dealing with modern food factory production). Mint is the preferred flavor for my son, the 4yo girl likes chocolate cream (be warned; that one is nasty without a little honey on top!), I love cinnamon tingle, and 20mo John is so excited to get what everyone else is having, he likes everything. I think he’s been pretty trained to like fermented foods, as he laps up very tangy water kefir like it’s sugar water.

We used to make these faces, so if you aren’t a fan upon the first few tastes, don’t despair. There’s hope!

We don’t remember to take it every day, but one nice thing about the fact that fermented cod liver oil is a food is that, unlike sleep, you can take a bit more on one day to “catch up” for days missed. You won’t overdose on Vitamin A because it’s the natural balance with the D and not synthetic.

Here’s where I’ve talked about fermented cod liver oil before:

Want Some?

As we head into (or are already entrenched in) cold and flu season, Vitamin D can help boost your immune system. It’s been said that all Americans need more of it, and FCLO is one of the top sources outside sunshine itself.

FIVE winners will get a $44 coupon (enough for a bottle at regular price) to Green Pasture!

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What Does a Real Foodie Buy at…Country Life Natural Foods?

May 17th, 2013 · Frugality, Tips

I really wonder what my neighbors think when a humongous trailer truck backs into my driveway and slides out the ramp from the back.

Are they moving?

Did they buy a new couch?

What are those boxes?

(takes a minute to read the side of the truck: Country Life Natural Foods)

Is that really all FOOD?

You betcha, neighbors – it’s called buying in bulk and getting together with friends so the truck will come right to you!

What Does a Real Foodie Buy at Country Life

Country Life Natural Foods delivers wonderful bulk selections to certain parts of the Midwest. They’re not nearly as widespread as Azure Standard, for example, but for me, they’re a great deal and the best bulk option.

As long as I can rustle up $400 total in an order, the truck comes to my house, no shipping charge.

It’s scary how fast I can get a large portion of that $400 total tallied up with just my own order.

Every time I send out an email asking if people are interested in ordering, they ask, “So what do you buy there, anyway?”

This post is for them…and for me, so I can remember when I run out of things. Winking smile

If you don’t live in the Country Life area, you might still get some ideas about bulk ordering procedures, and here are some other online bulk ordering options for you to peruse:

Then when I made an order, it came smelling like pickle juice and looking like this:

Vitacost crushed order 3  Vitacost crushed orderVitacost crushed order 2

You’re seeing wet, open boxes of crackers, dented cans, and fragile apple chips crammed in the middle of the box, under the crackers. I thought, “Whaaaa???”

My mad detective skills led me to believe the the UPS man dropped something very, very heavy on my box – then repackaged it so he wouldn’t get caught. !!! Seriously. Vitacost handled the situation well and refunded me for the pickle jar that was missing, and I could have had replacements for the crackers, but I decided that since the inner packaging wasn’t damaged, I wasn’t willing to take the time to send them back.

  • If you are a first time shopper at Vitacost, you’ll want to use this link to get $10 for your first order (and I’ll get some bucks off as well). Otherwise, use this link, my affiliate share – and thank you!!
  • Mountain Rose Herbs is another potential online store for certain bulk purchases, and there are many others (I’ll cover Tropical Traditions in the final post of this series).

The “What Does a Real Foodie Buy at…?” series is generously sponsored by Plan to Eat, where you can use the Grocery Store Menu to organize your shopping by grocery store and even set defaults for certain items to go on the list where it’s least expensive. See the other shopping ideas:

Now, on to Country Life!

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