Thursday, July 15, 2010
Comfort Zone...
I wanted to start off by thanking everyone for making me not feel like a freak for my OCD thing with walking. Either I am not a freak or I have found my peeps (all of you) in freakville! Either way, I feel more comfortable in my oddities! As for the walk yesterday, we went super fast. It was like we were walking with a vengeance. We don't keep track of the exact numbers, we just look at the clock when we go and check it when we get back. We actually had to mentally take it easy because both of us were getting sore shins. Don't get me wrong, we are walking to get some exercise, but at that point we should have just started running and neither of us wanted to do that. I think it was the conversation. We have so much going on that I think we were walking at the pace that our brains were going.
I know I have talked about coconut oil before, but I got some Nutiva Coconut Oil the other day and I LOVE it! It smells incredible and the consistency is so great to bake with! The other brand I used before was something that I had picked up at the International Market and it was completely different from this.
I kept it room temperature and it is really easy to scoop in a measuring cup. I think it looks like snow!
I roasted vegetables before with coconut, but this took it over the top. I roasted whole peeled carrots and frozen brussel sprouts the other day when we roasted a chicken for the boys.  I didn't think the boys would be into it, but they finished off the pans of vegetables! 
We actually ate this during the cleaning extravaganza on Saturday evening.  Honestly, there is nothing better than working your butt off on your house and then sitting down to an incredible comforting home cooked meal!
We were so busy that day that I didn't think about a protein to go along with my roasted vegetable medley.  Luckily, I had a stash of Hemp Seeds to go to.  I am really working on learning about different types of protein sources.  I love being able to enjoy the foods I love and get complete nutrition.  The illustrator tried some too and we thought they tasted a lot like sunflower seeds.  
There is a lot of good stuff in these little seeds! Tasty and nutritious...I am sold! I put them in my maple mixed nut and seed butter too!
The boys had a good meal too! Max (9) said the Brussel sprouts tasted a lot like a cross between broccoli and asparagus. I don't know if I was more shocked that he ate them and loved them or that he compared the flavor to other vegetables. This will tell you about our divided food family...Jay (11) would not touch the brussel sprouts with a 10 foot pole. You know, I might be trying to kill him with nutrition and deliciousness!

Oven Roasted Carrots or brussel Sprouts

6 large carrots (peeled) or medium bag of brussel sprouts
2 tsp coconut oil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Place the peeled carrots in roasting pan.  Rub the carrots with the coconut oil.  Cook for 35-45 minutes.
Sadly, the applesauce cobbler is gone, but the boys have already ordered up another one! I am more than happy to oblige!

Do you like trying something new with food or do you stick with your favorites?  Are you interested in learning about new foods that are loaded with nutrients or do you think it is just a fad?

Did you like vegetables as a kid?  I did, but no collards or okra or canned peas!

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 5:00 PM  
17 Comments:
  • At July 15, 2010 at 5:16 PM, Anonymous homecookedem said…

    I'm totally OCD, but the sad part is I don't know it until someone points it out to me! Like when someone touches something at my house I'll casually put it back in place and they'll say "You TOTALLY just moved that back into place..." and I'll go omg, I totally did! haha!! ;)


    Your roasted veggies look so good!! I didn't like veggies as a kid, well unless you count french fries... :/

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 5:25 PM, Blogger Stephanie P said…

    Freakville is more fun to live in, I think. ;P

    I would love to try the Nutiva. I remember you posting about the roasted veggies with coconut before and it sounded so good.

    Also I wanted to lick that nut and seed butter right off the monitor!

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 6:40 PM, Anonymous Heather (Where's the Beach) said…

    You are sooo not alone for better or for worse ;-) I loved veggies as a kid (go figure right). I do enjoy trying new foods and recipes. Sometimes it may take me a while to get the nerve though. I still have not tried goji berries, chia seeds, or coconut oil. Hope you guys are on the up and up.

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 6:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I have the same hemp seeds but have yet to open my nutiva coconut oil since I have been using so much of my homemade coconut butter recently! I definitely love hearing about new nutrient rich foods...nutrients can't be fads, right?

    I always loved veggies actually but not always cooked when younger...now I like cooked carrots, etc. but didn't at all when young!

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 7:24 PM, Anonymous Jessica (Healthy Exposures) said…

    I've been eyeballing coconut oil for a while now. I love coconut, coconut butter, coconut anything - just haven't done anything with the oil yet!! Sounds like the carrots would be a real winner here, though.
    I hated veggies as a kid. Yes, hated. Can you even believe that? I think other than the "normal" lettuce and tomato salads, I would only eat sweet peas. and broccoli was definitely poison. Hmm...and now it's my favorite... ;)

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Anonymous Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) said…

    I've actually always liked veggies, I wasn't a fussy eater as a kid. However, I didn't eat them as much as I should have and ate other things instead, lol. I did like the taste of them, though.

    I'd kill for a roasted carrot right now... that sounds so good. :)

    Jenn

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 8:13 PM, Anonymous Estela @ Weekly Bite said…

    What a great dinner! I hope my daughter enjoys brussel sprouts like your boys do :)

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 9:51 PM, Anonymous Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg said…

    I definitely had a long list of veggies I wouldn't eat, like spinach, okra, and peas. The funny thing is, I love them now!

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 10:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I've always loved veggies except mushrooms and eggplant. I remember my mom trying to get me to eat a portabella when I was little and I sat at the table and cried because she wouldn't let me leave until I tried a bite.

     
  • At July 15, 2010 at 11:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Coconut oil = it isn't just for cooking! Amazing for beauty too :)

     
  • At July 16, 2010 at 8:46 AM, Anonymous MelissaNibbles said…

    I don't like coconut so I probably wouldn't like coconut oil. I love roasted veggies though!

    I'm the same way with walking. I should just jog at some parts hahaha!

     
  • At July 16, 2010 at 9:10 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I think everyone is a little ocd about some things!

     
  • At July 16, 2010 at 9:57 AM, Blogger Becca said…

    I love that coconut oil! I have tried other brands that are ok, but there is something about Nutiva that is SO much better! It smells wonderful and is definitely my favorite brand of coconut oil. By the way - your roasted carrots look amazing!! I made roasted ratatouille last night (zucchini, yellow squash, onion, mushrooms, tomato & tons of garlic) and my 6yr old boy ate 3/4 of the 9x11 pan!! So much for leftovers, but what a great food for him (& us) to feast on!

    I need to find your recipe for the apple cobbler too!

     
  • At July 16, 2010 at 11:19 AM, Anonymous Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter said…

    I always see coconut oil on other people's blogs but I had no idea what it looked like! Now I may actually find it in the grocery store ;)

     
  • At July 16, 2010 at 11:19 AM, Anonymous Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter said…

    I always see coconut oil on other people's blogs but I had no idea what it looked like! Now I may actually find it in the grocery store ;)

     
  • At July 16, 2010 at 11:53 AM, Anonymous Amy B @ Second City Randomness said…

    I love trying new food! That being said, I prefer to try it first in a restaurant than make it myself at home (just so I have a point of reference of how it's supposed to be... lol).

    I had no real issues with veggies as a kid- but my world was pretty limited in the "standards" like peas and corn. I wasn't introduced to things like artichokes or zucchini until much later.

     
  • At July 16, 2010 at 6:11 PM, Blogger Jolene - EverydayFoodie said…

    Yep, I loved veggies as a kid, and still do!! I have never tried a vegetable that I don't like :-)

     
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Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen
Home: Atlanta, GA, United States
About Me: Lactose Challenged
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