Ok, so it's been a long couple of weeks for me. I have tons and tons of work to do and NO SITTERS! Our last sitter {that I talked about before} had to start her teaching career and has officially left us! We have been sitter searching and have found some lovely ladies but nobody has yet to start!
So that means next week will be well over a month without any help around here and I'm starting to go CRAZY. It's been really fun at times, but mostly it's been 1 hour naps {just enough time to clean the house, or take a shower, MAYBE}, me falling to sleep in bed at night with my oldest, waking up at 5:30 and sometimes 6:30a every day to "mom, I want juice...can I watch a show? Where are my toys? Mom, I'm hungry. Can we have a treat?" and LITERALLY having NO time to myself.
We've had a biting episode {oldest biting youngest}; Older pushing younger child in the bathtub, clothes and all; House paint being dumped all over our nice patio floor and super exciting stuff like that.
The TV, that I normally despise, has become my best friend.
Having my house cleaned yesterday was the HIGHLIGHT of my week.
And driving in the car has become a nice relaxing time for me too: "ok boys, we're getting in the car and driving to my office for kale chips and kookies!!!!!"
I'm blogging now during nap time which means I'm in yet ANOTHER hurry!
I'd like to share with you a few snack and dinner ideas we have come up with over the past few days.
First, I have blogged about our kale chips once before, this time, I'm going to just rave about the cheese. I have been using the kale chips cheese as a dipping sauce {my son dips his finger in it and thinks it's the best treat in the world} and also as a substitute for macaroni and cheese.
Make up a big batch of this stuff and store in the fridge. Use it on rice pasta and then the rest on kale {then dehydrate the kale for some YUMMY crunchy chips!
My Cheese Recipe {easy amounts to remember}
1.5 red bell pepper
1.5 Tbls nutritional yeast
1.5 lemons, juiced
1.5 cups soaked cashews 1.5 Tbls miso
1 heaping teaspoon sea salt {or to taste}
Add all to a Vitamix. I would suggest you soak the cashews first, for an hour. If you don't do this, you might want to add like a tablespoon or more of water to mixture so it blends well. Blend in Vitmix until super duper smooth {no chunks or any funky texture, should look like yogurt}!
I have also been trying REALLY hard to not only make sure the boys are getting enough vit D but also protein and B vitamins as well. Since they don't eat meat. Nutritional Yeast is a GREAT source of B vitamins!
We've been turning a normal treat into an even more superfood rich meal. For example, sometimes I add a little New Zealand honey and high quality cacao powder to their milk. I did one today with hemp oil, hemp protein, probiotics and vitamin D drops! They gulped it down in seconds.
I used a mix of almond milk, fresh apple juice and goats milk! Random. I know. But they love it.
ANYWAYS! Youngest is up from his nap!
Gotta run. Hope this post gave somebody a few fun new things to try out for their kids. Happy Thursday!
laurie
I made the kale chips and they were a hit! We are definitely going to try the cheesy sauce on pasta.... yum. Thanks for the great ideas! Good luck in the sitter hunt 🙂
Juli Novotny
Laurie - AWESOME!!!!!!! Glad you are gonna try the pasta. I actually liked it too (shhhhh, haha).
Ange @ Health & Swellbeing
Making kale chips tonight thanks to your inspiration! I always love your posts and can appreciate how hard it is sometimes to squeeze in the time to do them. Good luck finding a sitter! xo
Ange @ Health & Swellbeing
Making kale chips tonight thanks to your inspiration! I always love your posts and can appreciate how hard it is sometimes to squeeze in the time to do them. Good luck finding a sitter! xo
SarahdB
I've been using a 'cheese' similar to those ingredients for my cheesy kale chips for over a year and those things don't seem to make it out of the dehydrator before I have devoured them all. Never thought to use it for mac and cheese but I copied you, and last night made it for my family and my son ate it all up happy as can be! Thank you for always sharing your food ideas that you make for your kids, they help me out when I've run out of ideas!
Juli Novotny
Ange - YAY. glad you guys not only made the kale chips but you liked the sauce and stuff too! Good right?
Sarah - I know, I have made the kale chips forever now, too. And yes, just now had the idea to use it on pasta. My son likes to dip his fingers in it. That's what gave me the idea.
Thanks for the comments LADIES!
laura ciavardini
Hi Julie,
I really like your blog and Im just about to buy myself a dehydrator. Could you make a suggestion on which brand? Thanks!!
Laura
Apple from office cleaning
Thanks for sharing the ingredients.
I really want to know how to make that kind of food.
A many thanks for the good ideas you shared.
Good work.
Juli Novotny
@Laura - didn't see your comment until now, sorry - you gotta get an Excalibur. have you heard of those? They are the best ones by far. Good luck!!!!!!!!!
Juli Novotny
@Apple - you're welcome. glad i could help!