5 minute Breakfast Burritos for one

Source: LizzyB original

Prep/Cook Time: 5-6 minutes (includes cutting and clean up!)

Serves: 1*

Ingredients:

1 small potato, cut in 1/4 inch dice

2 eggs

1 green onion

1 oz shredded cheddar cheese

2 flour tortillas

olive oil

kosher salt

Tajin Clasico Seasoning (red pepper with lime)

Place diced potato on a small plate, toss with a teaspoon of olive oil, a 1/4 tsp of kosher salt and a dash of the Tajin seasoning. Microwave for two minutes.

Warm up a saute pan on med-hi and add a teaspoon of olive oil to coat the pan. Add the potato mixture to the pan, saute, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, chop up the green onion and set aside.

Remove the potatoes from the heat once they are slightly browned. Crack the eggs into the same pan, turn the heat to low and scramble. They only take about 30 seconds to cook all the way through.

Place 2 tortillas on a fresh plate, add eggs, potatoes, cheese, and onions. You may have a little potato left over depending on the original size of the potato and how full you make your burritos (it makes perfect breakfast potatoes).

To clean up quickly, put some tap water in the pan, place it back on the burner as it cools. The egg and potato will scrape off nicely right on the stove. There's nothing harder than getting dried egg yolk out of a pan- here's a quick way to leave the pan for later without the harsh scrubbing. Enjoy your breakfast instead!

*Of course, multiplying this to accommodate a family is pretty simple, just add on an additional minute for every potato you add, up to five minutes.

Mission update

I'd like to track any progress our family has made in the last few months in our attempt to lead a healthier life; spirit, soul, and body. Here is a quick run down of our areas of development:

Eating: Home cooked meals are occurring much more frequently due to my staying home instead of working. I've been eager to try new recipes and include a variety of ingredients. With the fall, it has brought out a desire for more soups, roasted vegetables and more meat. We have been going to the farmer's market where we purchased grass-fed beef and lamb. Our garden has responded fabulously to the rain, so more vegetables are sitting in our backyard awaiting their recipe. Overall rating: 8 (on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being outstanding); we could stand to eat out a little less than we have been.

Stress: Given the high rate of stress we have been under, things are going much better. Russ is able to focus on school, I focus on the needs of the kids and household. Afternoons are full of homework and dinner prep, and the kids' activities are extremely limited. Weekends are spent in relaxation and not on the soccer field (a nice reprieve). Overall rating: 9; handling things better than a month ago.

Health: The overall health of family has been good. We did have a bout with an intestinal parasite in our girls (caused by close quarters at school and undisciplined hand washing). Russ and I have been going to acupuncture to work on some chronic pain we both had, and have experienced over a month pain free. (What a welcome relief!) There's been some other great benefits to our treatment as well, but I'm a shy girl and wont tell you! We have not been exercising the way we'd like to, so weight loss has been nill. Overall rating: 6; still feel tired and crave caffeine plus I've got a head cold right now, winter weight gain has begun as well.

Daily Habits: Bedtime routine has officially been conquered! With two kids in the reading age, and another preschooler, Bedtime stories are at a critical point. Last month we read Narnia as a group, now we're on to Mouse and the Motorcycle. We follow it with the big kids reading out loud and a short story to the little one. This process takes a good hour to complete, but when done right, they fall asleep instantly. (Oldest daughter had a problem falling asleep, but now with brushing her long mane while she reads to me, followed by a lavender lotion back massage, she's dropping off to sleep pronto.) Overall rating: 8; some times we run late, and it's cut short or skipped.

Organization: We have made huge strides in the home organization department. The garage was cleared out and is staying clean, the game room got an overhaul and is now a dedicated kids artist studio, and one cabinet at a time is getting in order throughout the house. The best part is that we are moving into the maintenance phase of organization. Things are not slowly regressing as they tend to do- we are on top of it! Yeah! Overall rating: 9; everything could stand to be a little better, but ship-shape for my lax standards.

Spirituality: I hate to measure this in terms of tasks, because that rarely translates into a strong spiritual life. But, Russ has conquered a inner battle with school and is doing better than ever thanks to a change in spiritual thinking. We are experiencing a peace beyond understanding, and that is no doubt in relation to the prayers from our friends and family during this time. I would like to take more time to do a bible study, and less time focusing on daily tasks. Overall rating: 7; not quite where we'd like to be, but still mindful of the movements of God in our lives.

Soul: I have taken up a new hobby of reading. I never enjoyed reading much, but now, the library is our big friend (especially after I paid off that gargantuan late fee). I enjoy reading books on food and ecology, the dreams of our farm are cropping up again, and who knows, maybe we can carve a way in our path to get there. The point is: We are all dreaming, we are thinking beyond our current circumstances to a life down the road. It's motivating and exciting. The best part: today still looks good- it isn't just the future when we will be blessed. Overall rating: 9; we can't complain- life is good.

Organic misconception

With my new awareness towards organic and sourcing where my foods come from, I have found that this venture is extremely confusing. No wonder our general tendency is to ignore the source of our meat, vegetables and milk! It is, by far, easier to turn a blind eye at where our food comes from because more often than not, it is an abused system and is prone to disappointment.
Even with the handy logo provided from the USDA that marks our food as organic, it rarely means that the technique is beneficial to the environment or humane in the treatment of the animals. For meat, it solely means that the animals were not given antibiotics and were provided organic corn feed. The animals are not grazing on the prairie, as we'd like to think. They are still overcrowded in their concrete and metal pens, endangering them further by the close quarters which lends itself to sickness.
For vegetables, the organic rating permits the use of organic pesticides. We experienced this with our garden; because the dense population of plants together, pests hopped from garden to garden. Because ours was not bathed in chemicals, it was ravished by aphids and ants. Growers have simply substituted approved chemicals (usually plant based) that still leech into the groundwater and plague our streams and oceans.
Large machinery, packaging and processing plants are used, just as in conventional produce. Organic milking cows are still subject to three milkings a day by machine and cannot be let out to pasture because they are tied down by that schedule. An that frozen organic TV Dinner? Again, the same processing as it's counterpart in the next door over, just approved organic preservatives and stabilizers to prolong shelf life and freezer time.
It's terribly confusing, and the consumer is not the priority. It's still the bottom line for these big producers. I find when I am shopping all the decisions between organic, all natural, cage-free, farm raised... can be seriously overwhelming. Often, I come down to the lesser of two evils when buying anything. Since I am a passionate animal lover, I opt for anything that ensures the animal I eat will be treated with respect and care. Finding that is difficult in a traditional grocery store and a whole other story. If I save money buying conventional produce, but splurge for grass-fed, pastured beef, I have still communicated a message and chose to provide a conscious meal for my family. It comes down to your personal convictions, what you can afford, and what you are willing to sacrifice. Short of having the cow out back, gathering your own produce, and baking your own bread, these are the decisions of getting our food from big multi-chain suppliers.

Food from day one

In our house, we have observed an accidental experiment in the habits of children's taste preferences. Each of our children grew up under different circumstances that translated directly into how they were fed as infants and toddlers.
Oldest daughter- of course, her being our first and only, she received so much loving attention at each developmental stage. She, however, was breast-fed the shortest time (about 6 weeks), she and I never quite got the knack of the whole thing, and pumping gave way to formula very quickly. When it came time for baby food, I insisted on making her food from the foods we were eating. I blended everything, carrots, bananas, soybeans, avocados, chicken, you name it. She grew up eating food that was vibrant in color, texture and flavor. The same food blended turned into tiny chunks, and then things like salt and flavoring were slowly added.
Middle son- with less time, and energy due to the demanding 2 year old, I supplemented jarred baby food with the fresh blended fruits and vegetables. He was breast fed until 10 months. At the same time I quit breastfeeding him, I quickly became pregnant with #3 (take that as a lesson!). With the pregnancy fatigue, trips through the drive thru and quick fix chicken nuggets and hot dogs became a more frequent occurrence at his most influential stage of eating.
Youngest daughter- this little one got the benefit of one of my health kicks in utero when I got turned on to cooking gourmet. As an infant, she was breastfed, again until 10 months. As she got older and demands of three little ones increased, I quickly turned to jarred baby food with the occasional fresh blended baby food. Drive thrus increased again, and gourmet gave way to whatever we could manage with 3 kids under five.
Over time, we have observed their eating habits and can see the direct relation to how they were fed as infants and toddlers.
Results:
Oldest daughter- now 8, eats anything we give her except intentional "kid food" like hot dogs, grilled cheese, and cold cut sandwiches. Prefers a real meal any day. This weekend, she ate beef and barley soup for breakfast! She will order off the adult menu when eating out, and eats PB&J as a concession. She enjoys the healthy meals I make that are full of vegetables.
Middle son- now 6, is more willing to try the healthy food I give him, but is leery of strange texture. Usually just getting the food in his mouth is the challenge, but once he tastes it, he is often okay with it. He will eat "kid food" any time, and prefers the sweeter vegetables.
Youngest daughter- nearly 5, is by far our pickiest eater. She would eat exclusively off the kid menu if possible. We demand she at least try everything on her plate. She definitely has a larger list of foods she hates. Until recently, the potato was blacklisted because of it's lumpy, mushy texture and was shunned every time. She is gradually improving because we never indulge her by cooking her a different meal than the other kids and we recommend she eat 4 bites of everything (one bite for how old they are).
My flawed conclusion is obvious, the more varied, fresh, and textured their primary foods are, the better their eating habits are as children and teens. It obviously had little to do with breast milk (as many will claim) but the exposure to foods the way they naturally taste. A freshly blended banana tastes nothing like jarred banana baby food. The latter is saturated in citric acid to preserve color and freshness and has little resemblance of it's original form.
If you've got an infant, please take the extra time to introduce fresh, whole foods. They will grow up to be strong, healthy eaters. You will not have to spend the time to reteach good eating habits later in life, as we are doing currently with number 2 and 3 in our family.

Correction: Make that TWO cats.

It's been over a month. Our dear mainecoon rescue cat, Shakespere, has been missing. We have finally come to grips that he will not be returning.

We adopted him and his sister almost two years ago. They were an early Christmas present for our kids when our previous cat died earlier that year. These absolute sweethearts were left in a box with another brother almost identical to Shakespere on the driveway of a woman who worked with a local animal rescue foundation. These darling little balls of fluff came home and cuddled their tiny bodies together and tolerated being carried on their backs like infants by our three kiddos for weeks.

Shakespere grew up to be exceptionally different. His personality lied somewhere between the traditional playful kitten and an exhausted great dane. He would often be found laying on his back- legs spread wide open- at the foot of the stairs. During card games at the kitchen table, he would lay on his back right in the middle of the game. He certainly like being the center of attention!

He and his sister played wonderful games of chase around the house. He grew to be a pretty big kitty, so his tromping down the hall at full gait was heard throughout the house. He enjoyed the occasional feigned swat at the dog's tail to try to evoke a rise out of the big monster, but was never successful. The dog cared little for the cat, but was always eager to correct him, like a dutiful sheriff, when he was heard scratching his claws on the couch.

The sadness of his loss, swept through the house with a terrible force last month. We could all be found gazing out the back window eager to witness his return. He went out on a usual romp in the forest just before bed one night. It was their routine- a quick jaunt around the backyard, a dash into the woods, and back in for a cozy snuggle with our oldest daughter. His sister, Nina came in, and he and the little guy- Scrapper- were no where to be found. This wasn't the first time the boys stayed out all night, so we left them to their antics and went to bed. In the morning, Scrapper had stuck himself up a tree and was crying to be let down, Shakespere was nowhere in sight. We expected his return soon after Scrapper got the guts to get himself out of the tree, but "Shakes" never returned.

The whole family walked the woods, knocked on doors, put up signs, and turned up empty handed. A kind neighbor warned us about the foxes and coyotes in the area, and suggested that he was snatched by one of them. We all grieved his loss, especially given the fact that of all the cats to go, he was truly the house favorite. Our oldest daughter- who holds a unique bond with animals- took the loss especially hard. Her best friend and bunkmate was gone for good.

I can't say enough good things about growing children and animals together. My kids have learned a great sensitivity to things that are less than they are. In addition to compassion, they have also learned responsibility, unconditional love, and friendship. We all celebrate the silliness and joy that these creatures bring us on a daily basis. In fact, I think our house would be quite boring without the addition of all these friendly faces. They all offer a caring snuggle when we are down, come running when the children cry, and join in on stories and songs at bedtime. They truly live our lives with us, follow us from room to room throughout the day, and eagerly greet us as we return. What love they offer us. How beautiful... What an amazing gift God has given us in the domesticated animal. We are blessed.

Shakespere- we love and and miss you. You were truly loved, and will be forever treasured in our hearts.

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.

~Anatole France

What would the world look like in 2050...

if we answered the call to save the planet?

This question was asked to several green leaders in a recent article from Whole Living Body + Soul Magazine in their going greener guidebook.

Jeffrey Hollender, the co-founder of Seventh Generation imagines, "A SHIFT FROM DISPOSABLE CULTURE. In 2009, we came to understand that any product that consumes resources or creates waste- yes, even recycled paper towels- isn't sustainable. Although we are proud that our original products did less damage than their conventional counterparts, we worked to change the portfolio of what we sold. For instance, when we think about laundry, we now focus on fibers less likely to get dirty than on how to constantly clean them. We've envisioned a diaper that consumes a tenth of the resources. Our need for bathroom tissue hasn't gone away, but today's TP helps clean and purify the water when you flush it. Bottom line: Anything that requires disposal at the end of it's life span has to provide a greater value beforehand."

Joel Salatin, author and proprietor of PolyFace Farms in Swoope, Virginia, claims that "A HEALING ETHIC PREVAILS... Healing- not money- serves as a primary success yardstick. Farms in 2050 enjoy a newly energized and vibrant soil community that has reinvigorated our plants to preindustrial-era nutritional levels. These nutrients satisfy our bodies so we no longer crave Twinkies and Dunkin' Donuts. Pasture-based meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs rich in carotenes and omega-3s stimulate our brains to reach their full genetic potential. This has induced creativity, learning, and emotional balance and has emptied out hospitals and pharmaceutical treasuries. With a healing ethic dominating the food system, the sacred farm-to-fork relationship has fostered a culture that respects and honors an animal's natural behaviors, the land, and the people who depend on it. Transparency- the inherent integrity created when neighbors can see what goes in the front door of a farm and what comes out the back- has fundamentally transformed our food system."

Creativity isn't only for the arts and technology. Let's start imagining where our choices that we make today can bring us in the future. A girl can dream can't she?

Saving the environment, while saving money.

What I won't promise is "saving you time". If you're thinking about switching to Green to save on waste and pare down on your spending, then good! In my painting business I was given some good advice when dealing with customers:

You can only pick two: Cheap, Fast, or Quality. (Hereon referred to as the 2/3 rule.)

Same holds true everywhere, I've found. You can have convenience, thrift, or the job done right, but you can't have all three. Green only has one formula: we will be obliterating "convenience" from our vocabulary and sticking with quality and cost-effectiveness. It's a call to go back in time, not revolutionize the world with another invention. It's a change in lifestyle, one of quality that lives within it's means.

Think about the string of word pictures that come into your mind when you imagine convenience: Fast food, remote control, instant oatmeal, microwaves, freezer meals, quick dry, take-out... Take the 2/3 rule with the food you eat, which two are you picking? Please, let us stop skimping on quality for the sake of cheap and easy!

It also involves the other conveniences that our lifestyle dictates that we can't live without. Things like paper products. The invention suited for those who are not willing to wash their own dishes or towels. (Before you think I am being self-righteous- this comes from experience- earlier this year, with my husband in grad school, me working and going to school full time, two kids in elementary school, another in preschool- we were taxed big time. One luxury we afforded ourselves was the paper plates rule. It made life easier. We needed fast more than anything!) It concerns me that we are a generation who is not willing to care and clean up after ourselves on so many different levels. Shows like Clean House and Clean Sweep are now extremely popular because we can't own up to our own messes on a daily basis.

So convenience means: packaging, manufacturing, one-time use, disposable, marketing, consumable, etc. Grocery stores and big manufacturers like "consumable items". Especially the ones they think we cannot live without. Things like paper towels, napkins, shampoo, detergent, soap, cereal, bread. They all come in a package, they are not reusable in anyway, and cannot be refilled. Now, I am not saying stop washing your hair and quit using toilet paper. I am here to be a voice of reason and encouragement towards living a greener life, not hammer down a bunch of rules none of us can follow!

In our house, we have eliminated the paper plate and implemented our collection of inexpensive plastic plates for casual meals (bought at Target 4/$1). Because we no longer purchase paper plates which cost roughly $6 per month, we'll save about 70 bucks this year. The paper napkins have given way to cloth, which are not only nice to look at, but teaching the kids some table manners nearly foreign to them in this day and age. We have cut back considerably on paper towels by using bar mop towels to wipe down the countertops, and hand towels to dry hands. Granted with all this cloth, I am doing maybe an extra load or two a month, but the savings of money and waste make up the difference. We have walked away from disposable cleaning devices like Swiffer and opted to use the mountain of mismatched socks like my mom used to.

One product I really enjoy is Simple Green. It's been around forever, and is extremely concentrated and non-toxic. I keep a couple of spray bottles left over from countertop sprays and pour in a tablespoon of Simple Green and fill the rest with water. A gallon jug costs about $8 and will last your forever. Because it is concentrated, and comes in such a large package, the manufacturing and transportation costs are dramatically lower. If diluted, you may only buy one jug every couple months to clean your whole house. That is a TON of savings when you factor in how much household cleaners can eat up a monthly grocery budget. You can clean everything with it. Floors, toilets, counters. I used it in my painting business to clean baseboards and door jambs, spilled paint on carpet (oops), and soak my brushes in it. Actually, I recently found a stash of brushes that were not cleaned after a job and still had paint on them from 4 months ago. I soaked them in full-concentrate for a few days, and now are all workable and soft.

I have found that with just these changes in lifestyle, I can save a little bit of money and know that I am not adding to my garbage heap when I keep my house clean or cook a meal. Take a look at your habits, what is expendable? Could you live without the convenience of the dishwasher if it saved you money on water and electrical bills? How about cloth diapering? Sadly, my conscience wasn't swaying me strong enough to invest in cloth diapering until my third was already born and the disposable habit had been ingrained. I am going to look into fabric recycling to make sure that when these rags and cloths have had their wear, I can send them to be broken down to become home insulation or fabric shopping bags or some new boutique line of clothing.

Hopefully, we can move past creating new inventions that bring moderate change, and dig deeper to bring the change within us about by working hard and being responsible.