Before & After: Painted Hutch

September 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Pretty, eh?

Well not too long ago this hutch looked completely different.

 We’ve had this china hutch for a while, along with a matching table and chair set that you can partially see in this picture.  Nothing was particularly wrong with the hutch, but I was growing tired of it.  We have three other black pieces of furniture in our combined living/dining room and everything was feeling too dark.  I spend a lot of time in here and was ready for something different.  Unfortunately, new furniture is neither realistic (our kids are still in their rough and tumble phase – does that ever end?) nor in our budget.  I had to get creative.

I had heard a lot about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on other blogs and how easy it was to work with.  I found a local stockist and went to their shop to check it out.  As soon as I was there, I was hooked.  No sanding?  No priming?  I’m sold.

 I started thinking I was going to make a big statement using the Antibes Green color with a dark wax.  Once I had put the first coat on, I got cold feet.  Fortunately I also had a can of Country Gray.  I was planning on using the Country Gray just for the inside of the hutch, but decided to paint it all over the green using somewhat of a dry brush technique.  The green peeks through here and there giving it a simple rustic look.

 This paint is so easy to use and very forgivable.  I had no idea what I was doing but I couldn’t be more happy with the result.  I started this on a Sunday afternoon and by Monday morning I was done with painting and waxing.  I just had to wait until Tuesday morning to put the piece back together.  I’m sure this could have been done faster, but I could only paint while the kids were napping or sleeping.  One coat of Antibes Green, one coat of Country Grey and finished with a mix of clear and dark wax.

I found some fun knobs at Anthropologie.  I had trouble deciding amongst all the options, so I got two different types.  I also painted our metal elephant lantern that was sitting on top.  The elephant is painted just like my original plan.  I like the pop of color, but I am really happy that I added the country gray to the hutch.

Here is a side by side before & after:

The “new” hutch brings such life into this room and now I have many more redecorating ideas.  We are going to sell our table and chairs and I have a pedestal table from family that will get a coat of paint along with some new chairs.  We are also planning on painting the room to the same neutral gray that is in our kitchen and playroom.

If you have never heard of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, here are some good resources:

Sassy Style gives a tutorial on the basics of chalk paint.

Perfectly Imperfect has video tutorials and sells paint too.

If you are in the Denver area, stop by The Little Black Chair.  The ladies there are so helpful and even offer painting workshops.

So what do you think?  Are you inspired to paint something in your home?

 

P.S. It seems I took a little blogging break this month.  I was relaxing and enjoying the end of summer.  I hope to get back into blogging more frequently now that we are back into our routine.  Stay tuned…

 

Filed Under: Family, Home Tagged With: , ,

Stone Fruit Salsa

August 14, 2012 By 1 Comment

Last week our CSA fruit share included a large box full of peaches and plums from the Western slope.  They were ripe, juicy and delicious. After one day of eating them with every meal and not making a dent in the box, I realized I needed to get to work so this fruit wouldn’t spoil faster than what we could eat.

So I spent a little time in the kitchen.  I made Peach & Plum Chutey, Peach & Plum Bourbon Barbecue Sauce, Peach and Plum Crisp and Peach Jam.  And we still had peaches and plums.  This fruit box was never-ending.

I was also cooking up some Beef Barbacoa in the crockpot for dinner, and realized we needed some salsa.  Inspired by a few recent fruit salsa recipes (here and here) I attempted my own version.  It’s a simple recipe and I used what I had on hand.  It was fabulous with our barbacoa and equally delicious on my eggs the next morning.

Print
Stone Fruit Salsa

Ingredients

  • 2 large peaches, quartered and pits removed
  • 2 small plums, halved and pits removed
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
  • 1/3 cup diced red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • Juice from 1/2 of a lime
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Heat grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil. Grill peaches and plums for about 2 minutes per side. Not enough to cook the fruit, but enough to get pretty grill marks. (If you are too hungry/tired/lazy, feel free to skip this step. It will still be tasty with raw fruit.)
  2. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.
  4. When cool, dice the peaches and plums and add to the rest of the ingredients.
  5. Toss well and allow to sit for 15-30 minutes for the flavors to blend before enjoying.
Google Recipe View Microformatting by ZipList Recipe Plugin
http://feedingmysunshine.com/stone-fruit-salsa/

You could easily adapt this to use any stone fruit, like nectarines or apricots.  And definitely add another jalapeño if you can stand it.  Enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Real Food, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , ,

Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Grilled Oranges

August 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Growing up, pork chops and applesauce were a staple on our table.  It is such a perfect combination, that I now always think pork should be served with fruit.  My husband, however, isn’t a fan of sweet mixed with savory.  This recipe is the perfect mix of both of our tastes.  The pork has a hint of of sweetness, but not overly so.  Using citrus gives it just enough zing.

This is so quick to put together and while it is cooking on the grill, you can easily cook your other side dishes right next to it.  We’ve been enjoying this with grilled potatoes and onions and fresh tomatoes from our CSA.  I’ve made this many times this summer and always have trouble getting a good picture.  We’re usually so hungry, we gobble it right up – which I think means that I have to share this recipe with you right away.

One tenderloin provides plenty for our family of 3.5 (a .5 deduction since Ella eats so little still) with enough leftovers for my lunch the next day.  Sometimes pork tenderloins come  two to a package.  If you are serving a group, double the recipe and grill both, or split the doubled marinade into 2 bags and freeze the extra for another day.

The oranges are optional, but I think they’re a fun, bright visual and I have enjoyed squeezing the juice from the wedges over my meal.  Enjoy!

Print
Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Grilled Oranges

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 c orange juice
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • 1 lb pork tenderloin
  • 1 orange, cut into wedges

Instructions

  1. Place a 1 gallon zip-top bag into a medium bowl. Fold down the top of the bag about an inch or two so that the zipper is on the outside. (I do this so the top of the bag doesn't get messy when I add the marinade ingredients.)
  2. Add all of the ingredients to the zip-top bag, except for the pork. Hold up the bag and, without spilling the contents, mix the ingredients by smushing the outside of the bag with your hands.
  3. Add the pork to the zip-top bag.
  4. Make sure the pork is well coated in the bag, then squeeze all of the air out and seal the zip top.
  5. Store in the bowl(in case of leaks) and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
  6. Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium high heat.
  7. Grill the tenderloin for 15-25 minutes, turning several times to brown on all sides, until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees in the thickest part.
  8. Remove from the grill and place on a plate. Cover loosely with foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
  9. While the pork is resting, place the orange wedges on the grill and cook about 3 minutes per side, or until you see nice grill marks on the flesh.
  10. Slice the pork tenderloin and serve warm with the orange wedges.

Notes

Adapted from Ina Garten via Annie's Eats

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http://feedingmysunshine.com/marinated-pork-tenderloin-with-grilled-oranges/

 

Filed Under: Real Food, Recipes Tagged With: , , , ,

Fruit & Nut Baked Oatmeal – Dairy Free

July 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When we started our dairy elimination challenge, I knew that breakfast would be the most difficult for us.  Yogurt was a staple at our table.  The kids loved it, and I loved that it was easy and quick.  I’ve been transitioning our favorite breakfast recipes so they can be both dairy-free and quick to prepare.  This recipe meets those requirements.

My children aren’t big cereal eaters.  They’re still working on their skills with spoons, so I wanted an oatmeal that was easier for them to eat, though not too messy.  Once this is baked, it slices easily and can be eaten by hand, though it isn’t as portable as a granola bar.  We eat it as is, with a side of sausage and fruit.  But it would also be delicious in a bowl with milk or milk alternative poured on top.

Print
Fruit & Nut Baked Oatmeal – Dairy Free

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts, toasted (walnuts, pecans, almonds, any nuts that you like)
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit, chopped or sliced (raisins, cranberries, cherries, apricots, etc.)
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 3/4 cup milk substitute (I like almond milk or coconut milk for this)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil or melted butter substitute (like Earth Balance)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or spray the pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, nuts, dried fruit, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  4. In another medium bowl, add the egg and lightly beat. Add the milk substitute, vanilla extract and coconut oil or butter substitute. Mix until well blended.
  5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
  6. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. The top should be slightly browned and it will smell delicious.
  7. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Adapted from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Everyday

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http://feedingmysunshine.com/fruit-nut-baked-oatmeal-dairy-free/

Filed Under: Real Food, Recipes Tagged With: , , ,

What is Bugging Us? Dairy Elimination {Part 2}

July 25, 2012 By 1 Comment

In my previous post, I talked about some interesting symptoms my family has been having, specifically Ella.  Today I will share what we tried in order to figure it all out.

Finding Help

After seeing a few doctors who seemed to ignore my concerns and suspicions, I contacted a holistic nutritionist to see if she could be of help.  Tracy Stevens of Intuity Wellness works with clients all over the country through phone and web conferencing but, luckily for me, we live in the same area and were able to meet in person.  She instantly put me at ease, understanding my mother’s instinct and need to investigate this further.  I started working with Tracy to not only figure out this situation, but also to further my own health goals of better eating, more energy, etc.

Our Plan

Under Tracy’s guidance, we decided to do a 10 day dairy elimination, since that is what I initially thought might be the problem.  For this elimination to be effective, we had to remove every bit of dairy from our diet.  This meant scrutinizing food labels and asking questions at restaurants.  We became familiar with more obscure sources of dairy, like whey, lactose, caseinate and others.  If we ate dairy during the 10 day period, we would have to start over.  On day 11, we would then add dairy back into our diets for the next few days and note any changes or side effects.  Go Dairy Free has some great information on products and methods that do not use dairy.

How Did We Do?

Initially, the elimination was hardest on Ella.  She loved her bottles and since, in the beginning, she rejected milk alternatives anyway, we decided this was just as good of a time as any to ditch the bottles.  After a few days, she was better and happily drank almond milk from a sippy cup.  I missed my morning yogurt and cheese the most, but was surprised at how much I enjoy almond milk in my latte.  As the elimination went on it was pretty easy to handle at home.  The season certainly helped – we have been cooking simple meals on the grill or roasting vegetables with olive oil.  Winter would have been more difficult, when I typically use more butter  or cheesy sauces.

And as you can see from the photos, popsicles are an equally delicious substitute for ice cream on a hot summer day. ;o)

I was nervous about removing such a major source of calcium and protein from our diets.  Mark Bittman recently wrote an article on milk and why we don’t really need it in our diets.  Perfect timing for me.  The article caught some controversy, but it was helpful for me to hear how we don’t actually need to drink milk for good nutrition, something that has been ingrained into our thought by the USDA and dairy industry.  I’ve added a lot of calcium rich foods to our diet, like kale, beans, salmon and sesame seeds.

Eating out was the most difficult.  Apparently restaurants like to put butter on everything (and I totally get it – it makes a sandwich taste so much better!).  We had to be diligent in asking about everything.  Not just removing cheese from a sandwich, but making sure there was no dairy in the bread (which I found in almost all sandwich bread).

Our Results

We completed the elimination almost perfectly.  Jackson had some crackers on Day 5 that we didn’t realize had “natural cheese flavoring” in them.  After that, we still kept to our dairy free diet to see if by Day 10 we could still see anything.  On Day 11 we added dairy back in and I noted some changes and side effects.  Officially, however, our results were inconclusive.  There was nothing so drastic or obvious to say that dairy was an issue, which is great!  Could some of our symptoms be because of dairy or maybe it was a placebo effect?  To find out for sure we are going to try it again, especially since Jackson wasn’t fully complaint the first time.

Ella’s diaper rash went away completely during the elimination.  When we added dairy back in she got a slight rash, but not as awful as it had been.  For me, I noticed changes in my energy level, mental clarity and digestion.  These were all slight.  If I get the same results from the next elimination, I will have to decide how diligent I will be in my dairy consumption.  Should I eliminate it forever?  Or maybe just have some once in a while.  We shall see.  In the next few weeks I will have more information to share with you.

Until then, I have been working on some dairy-free recipes that I will post soon…

 

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