A Boring Title – You woulda thought I’d come up with something better for my first post of the year.
So anyways, two whole weeks without posting! But what a fabulous 2 weeks we had. I spent many hours baking away in the kitchen making gifts for our family and neighbors. I bought ingredients I haved used in years and felt so very guilty indulging as much as I did. You know, taste testing and all.
We had an awesome Christmas spending time with both my family and Todd’s family. And while I know the politically thing to do is NOT buy women kitchen stuff for gifts, it’s what I ask for! I got a new stock pot, mini ladel, stainless steel measuring cups, and a whole lot of new kitchen towels. (whoo hoo, I got new towels!! 
My other ones were about rags now that I don’t use paper towels anymore) I also got the wonderful gift of a zoo membership for the next year and can’t wait till it gets warm enough so I can use it!
And for the first time ever I went out on New Years Eve with my family! I headed downtown and spent a good portion of the evening eating and laughing and having a great time. Though I did head home so I could spend some quality time with my love watching the ball drop.
I’ve also been having a great time reading the answers to the survey I asked you all to take for me! It’s been great “getting to know you all” a bit more. I’ve found out that:
- my male readership stands at 1% (hi guys!)
- a lot of you live down south (I’m jealous, very jealous)
- that while many of you already eat a nourishing diet, there are quite a few fessing up to their junk food habits!
- a LOT of you love to cook!
- some of you would like a forum for more of a community/support atmosphere – would more of you be interested in a fertility forum? And would any of you like to volunteer to be co-moderators? I personally would love to set up something like this, but would need help running it. Please let me know if something like this would be beneficial!
I thank you immensely and appreciate all of you who took the time to take the survey. I now am a bit more focused on my writing and have lots of fun new ideas for the next few months.
And now since I’m a bit more focused, here’s my list of 10 things to start in 2010!
- Uh – can we say sugar detox folks? I need one. Desperately. How about you? And weight loss will hopefully happen as well.
- A toss the microwave challenge. I think I’ve finally been convicted.
- A series on “The Living Kitchen” showing all the goodies ‘growing’ in my kitchen.
- Starting up “Try it Tuesdays” again! I need to get out of my comfort zone. Again.
- A new “Adventures in Soaking” series showing my flops and successes.
- Nourishing Nutrition for different stages in life
- More natural living and some “detoxing your home” posts
- I also have an idea on a book. But I need to do some thinking and praying and researching. Please pray for me as it’s linked with….
- my motto for the year…… “Give Back”
- I also thought it would be fun to do some “Menu Makeovers” for those of you still not eating the greatest. (I know you’re out there!) Anyone up for it? I’d makeover either your breakfast, lunch, or dinner menu for the week into something a bit more nutritious. Nothing to crazy, just giving you some new ideas1 If you’re interested shoot me an e-mail at donielle (at) naturallyknockedup.com
And that’s what I’ve got going on, what about you? Any goals you’re looking to hit this new year?
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Glad you’re back and you had a refreshing time away from blogging.
Your 10 in 2010 list sounds great! All fabulous!
Some things I’ve been working on and am planning to carry into the new year:
Buying more natural foods to use in scratch cooking
Be more active (physically, socially, spiritually)
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donielle Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
@AbbyJ, I always think of being active as something physical, I LOVE the idea of it being a social and spiritual thing as well. Awesome!
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Donielle-
Your line posting line-up on your blog looks great! Cannot wait until it begins! Glad you had a good week!
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I love all the stuff you’re planning! And I’m loving reading everyone’s plans and resolutions! So much of what you’re going to do is stuff I wish I knew! Can’t wait to see it all!
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Your 10 in 2010 list looks good!
I finally convinced my husband that tossing our rarely-used microwave was a GOOD thing a few months ago. It was hard, at first, to reheat certain things …. and I kind of missed it at first (even though I know it was NOT a good thing to have in our home). But I’m GLAD it’s gone now.
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donielle Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@Brandy, I used to be REALLY dependent on it and while I don’t use it that much anymore, my husband uses it all the time. Plus he uses one at work for his lunch. I wish I could just get rid of ours, but it’s a built in and would not look good if we took it out!
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Brandy Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
@donielle, I was more dependent on our when our 6yr old was younger. Especially for heating up bottles and baby food. With our youngest? I breastfeed her still … and all her solids are eaten already warm off of my plate. As for leftovers? Reheating pastas and similar meals were hard, at first, to get used to … but I just do a double broiler method and it works just fine.
My husband still uses a microwave at work. Nothing I can do about that. I want to continue to give him healthy foods (which he loves!), so he’ll just have to keep using it until we’re able to bring him home to work
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Ok, so I know I’m way behind in posting this comment, but bear with me….. I haven’t had internet for 3 months.
I was just thinking the other day that I desperately need to give my recipes a makeover. Example: I have an AMAZING brownie recipe, but I haven’t figured out what the best sweetener substitution would be, and I really want to figure out how I can incorporate soaking the flour first, but I haven’t gotten to it. I have so many recipes in need of a makeover, could I just email you a bunch of them and you can pick a couple? haha. Seriously though, could I do that?
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donielle Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
@Audrey, I thought I hadn’t seen you around in awhile!
And I’m trying to figure out all this soaking stuff too…so I may not be the best to convert yours!
It’s all trial and error for me. With sweeteners it’s a bit easier. What sweetener do you want to use?
As per soaking – I’ve heard you add about 1/3 the amount of liquid plus the flour for soaking. If there isn’t enough ‘wetness’ in it, you can add in the oil too. As for myself, I’d love to get a grain mill this year because I could sprout and grind my own flour and not have to worry about soaking at all!
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Audrey Reply:
February 7th, 2010 at 4:48 am
@donielle,
My brownie recipe is very different though…. here is the original recipe.
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup flour
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in sugar, cocoa powder, and flour and heat until combined. In small bowl, combine eggs and vanilla. Slowly stir butter mixture into the eggs (VERY slowly, so you don’t scramble the eggs!). Pour into greased 8×8 pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
It’s very different from regular brownies, and I really have no idea how to change it. I’ve done it using whole wheat flour, and it was still delish, but I haven’t totally switched to natural sweeteners yet. I’m getting there…. I have honey and maple syrup, but I have yet to try anything else (lack of resources was an issue, and now that we moved to a brand new town, it’s an even bigger issue…. I barely know where the regular grocery stores are, haha!).I plan on getting a new one (whichever one it is they have at Fred Meyer…can’t remember) and trying that, but we’ll see. I guess it’s the soaking part I’m having issues with in this recipe, since it just doesn’t seem possible. And I definitely plan on doing the sprouting thing…. but I’m afraid the grain mill is way out of our reach. We’re getting out of debt first, then I can start saving, but that might not be for a while. I’m saving my Homescan points to get a coffee grinder though, which will hold me over until I can save up for a grain mill. Maybe I’ll just skip the soaking until I can get a coffee grinder and sprout and grind my own flour. Gah. Sorry the comment is so long and rambling, I guess I was typing out my thoughts.
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