Author Archive for Lauren

Lauren’s Lentil Soup

Here’s my lentil soup recipe..its tried/true..we have made if OFTEN for years (after taking a number of years getting the recipe down pat).  :)  It makes a lot so have your containers ready for freezing. Or do like we do sometimes and eat nothing but lentil soup for lunch/dinner for a few days…lol.


Lauren’s Lentil Soup

This is another “meal” soup.  We always serve it with
tuna fish salad (actually it’s salmon salad but we call it tuna)
sandwiches piled high with lettuce and
tomato.

2 Cups (1lb) lentils - rinsed and sorted thru for stones
oil or ghee or whatever you saute in
9   1/2 c cold water
1   med onion - diced
2   bay leaves
5   carrots - sliced lengthwise - then cut into thick slices.
2-3 celery stalks - chopped
1   package frozen chopped spinach
1   28oz can of plum tomatoes or crushed tomatoes -
undrained
2   lg cloves garlic -minced
1/4 c parmesan cheese (optional depending on if you eat
cheese or not - we actually prefer Romano)
1 1/2 tsp salt
Pepper to taste

~  saute onions and celery in the oil in a large soup pot until
translucent.  Add carrots and simmer awhile longer to release their
flavor
~  add water and lentils, bring to boil
~  add balance of ingredients, lower heat, cover and simmer for
45 minutes.  Check salt and and add pepper to taste.  Add more
water/broth if too thick.
~  serve with parmesan cheese sprinkled over top

TWO Months?!

It has NOT been almost 2 months since I posted last!  Has it?  Has anyone else noticed that time has started to speed up at an increasingly alarming rate?  Or is this just life?  I thought since I have so little time lately, that I’d start a recipe category and post all my yummy recipes in it so if someone stops by to check whats going on, at least there’s something of some value.  ;)  Let me go do that.

Where am I?

Lately, life has been a whirlwind.  I keep making mental notes to log in and share something that happened in our lives and then the days get away from me.  So I plan to spend a day updating the blog on what’s been goign on.  Things like our summer guests (lots of them and loved every second of it).  How I got stung by a waspt for the first time in my entire life.  How I found out my 6 year old went across the street to play with the neighbors’ kids, rang their doorbell and told them firmly that…”I’m allowed to come in and play but only if you invite me”. LOL.  Cuteness saves that boy often.

Yesterday was the first day of school.  Owen woke up at 11pm the night before and has been throwing up every since.  Yep, a nasty stomach bug has hit our house on the first week of school.  Go figure.  My kids haven’t been sick once the entire summer (even with being in daycare a few days a week while I work).  Oh well, its how things work.

Connor woke up Monday and heard what happened with Owen and said, “yeah, I feel sick too”.  Sorry bud, but you’re going to school.  Wouldn’t ya know it, the school called an hour later and Connor got the distinction of being the first one this year to christen the floors with vomit.  Yikes.

More later.

Mispronounced Words…

crack me up.  How many times has your child come to you with a serious face and a mispronounced word or saying? Keeping a straight face isn’t always easy.

We’ve grinned and beared it through “appletite”, “marriage-go-round”, “teethpicks” and “boyly” but the best so far happened just the other day.  My 6 year old came to me very serious and told me that the little girl across the street had something he really wanted.  He did his typical starting his sentence over and over again as he stumbled over trying to get his thoughts across and finally spit it out.

He wants a “diarrhea book”.  A what?  I said, you want a “diarrhea book?”  “Yep, a diarrhea book” was the answer.

It took me a second to realize he was asking for a diary to write his thoughts in.  lol.

NJites have a chance to ban Bisphenol A!

Please pass this on to ALL your friends and family in NJ!  There is currently a bill in the works to ban bisphenol A.  The more folks that know about this, the better for NJ.  Maybe we can do this state by state?  :)

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=23858

Organic Label Lawsuit

An old friend to this gal, Dr. Bronner’s is pushing change in the coolest way.  This company that produces liquid soaps that I’ve used since I was 15, has brought about a lawsuit in conjunction with the OCA (Organc Consumer Association) against a list of so called “natural” companies using not so natural and often carcinogenic ingredients.  The gruesome list of offenders can be found on the press release below.  Its time we hold these companies using the term “Organic” on their labels, accountable!

Read the press release.

Sign the petition to hold these companies accountable!

Fish Expert on NPR

I listened to a very informative interesting show on NPR yesterday. We all know the hazards of some fish.  Most of us have probably printed out the little charts telling us which fish is high in mercury, etc.  But this Fresh Air segment provides some very informative information about fish that I never knew.  Many of the fish in stores are named with made up names!  Chilean Sea Bass, for instance is just a nice name made up because the real name of the fish is much less aesthetic. 

The marine scientist also shares information about farm raised fish and why some of it is less than desirable.  He also addresses which fish are bad for the environIf you have time, its worth listening to.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89807877

Bisphenol A Ban in Canada!

GO CANADA!!! This was shared last Friday by a commenter on my blog.
http://www.cbc. ca/canada/story/2008/04/18/bisphenol-a.html

For the whole story on this toxic chemical that babies are exposed to daily,
check out the Bisphenol A category.

Electronic Recycling

How very cool! Costco has teamed up with Greensight Technologies to offer an electronic recycling program. You can actually get a rebate for turning in your old electronics, depending upon its condition. What an amazing idea! Get an estimate at the link for your computer, printer, fax, camera, game system or MP3 player. Even if you don’t qualify for a rebate, they will still take the electronic in for recycling.

Buying Natural Personal Care and Vitamins

I’ve been buying from online shops for awhile now and am constantly
checking for new places. I was using (and recommended here previously)
A1Nutrition for awhile and was happy with them but they’ve since gone
WAYYY downhill with me having to cancel my last order AFTER they took
my money and then 2 weeks later nothing (only to find out that everything
was on backorder…when did they plan to tell me?) This happens from time
to time from these discount places but figured I’d share my current favorites.

I’m currently splitting my orders between Vitaglo.com and Vitaminlife.com
You really have to continually check pricing. For instance, I order
MegaFood Essentials Mini Tabs for the kids..most places online are selling
this for around $27.00 (for 270) but I found it at VitaminLife the cheapest, at
$18.00.

VitaGlo.com had the cheapest Aubrey Organics, except for some Mens
Aubrey that my dh uses, I found VitaminLife to have the better price there. Weleda
toothpaste (2.99) was the cheapest I’ve found at Vitaglo.

Shipping is really decent with being around $5-9.