Category Archives: Healthy Lifestyle

Green Smoothies, Raw Foods, Whole Foods, Kickboxing, Tennis, Workout, Walking

Sun Lakes – Dry Falls Scout Camp Out

It is officially summer break. Camping is a great way to kick off the summer, especially when you get to explore somewhere new. This camping trip was planned by my oldest son’s BSA troop. It is their annual kick off to summer.

We spent four days and three nights at the Sun Lakes/ Dry Falls State Park. The park is set in the valley of historic Dry Falls. One of the scouts commented it looks like a mini-Grand Canyon.  The lakes are surrounded by cliffs that were once covered by water, forming waterfalls that dwarfed Niagara Falls. Continue reading

Mountain Man Breakfast

This breakfast was so good, we ate it twice during the camp out! It was slightly different each time but delicious both times.

This was my first weekend camp out with my oldest son’s Boy Scout troop. He crossed over from  Cub Scouts in February and until now, it had worked out best for dad to go with him. Needless to say, I was excited and ready to learn new things.

Dutch Oven cooking is great when cooking for a crowd. Our family loves to use the Dutch oven on camp outs and even in our own backyard. We cook everything from whole roasted chicken to pizza and of course lots of soups and stews. But breakfast casserole was a first for me.

Cooking with a Dutch oven can be intimidating. (See the Scouting Magazine’s article for a general tutorial.) The first Mountain Man breakfast was for adults only while the boys planned oatmeal for their breakfast. Other adults on the trip commented they had never used one before and were worried they would ruin the meal. Our kind Scoutmaster reassured them it would be fine.

The Dutch oven works just like an oven. It is made of thick cast iron. It is heated with charcoal on the bottom and top. The trick is to use more charcoal on the top than the bottom. This creates a hot oven without burning the bottom. The next trick is to keep the lid steady and flat when you open it so that ashes don’t fall into the food. Luckily the third tip is not to open it very often to keep the heat inside the oven!

The last morning of our camp out, we made it again for everyone. The second time, we cut up and added all of our leftover onions and tomatoes from the previous nights taco bar. We also used up pur leftover sour cream and salsa!

Ingredients (Modify as desired)

  • 8 eggs
  • Bag frozen hash browns o’brien
  • Bag little smokies
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  • Hot sauce or salsa and sour cream

Directions

Start charcoal in a charcoal chimney. A charcoal chimney is a a device that looks like a giant metal coffee cup with a wire bottom. Your charcoal will be ready in 10 minutes or less using this method.

Beat the eggs and cut any veggies or special ingredients while your charcoal is starting.

When charcoal is hot, pour 10-15 briquettes on a fire proof surface. Then set the Dutch oven on top of the coals. Cover the top with 15-20 briquettes. Let warm for about 2 minutes.

Open Dutch oven and add beaten eggs. Stir to scramble eggs, cover and let cook for two minutes.

Open Dutch oven and add potatoes o’brien and little smokies. Stir and cover for 15-20 minutes.

Open Dutch oven, stir and then top with cheese. Cover for two minutes to melt cheese.

Open and dish up! You can top with salsa, hot sauce, sour cream or fresh veggies. Enjoy!

Blueberry Oatmeal Green Smoothie

The work week can get very busy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a delicious homemade meal.  This morning was cool and I felt like oatmeal. Unfortunately, I did’t have time to make any.  Luckily, I always have time to whip up a green smoothie.

I love the versatility of smoothies. I am constantly trying new combinations and this morning I really enjoyed my creation. It tasted like blueberry oatmeal but was quick and easy to grab and go on my way to work. The recipe below is half of what I made because I made some for my husband and son. They both loved it.

Next time you crave something yummy, try this:

Ingredients

1/2 banana
1 cup blueberries
1 cup kale
1/8 cup whole oats
1 cup water
1/2 tablespoon chia seeds
1 scoop collagen powder
good dusting of cinnamon
6 ice cubes

Directions

Add ingredients to high speed blender in the order listed and blend until smooth. I use the Vitamix and it is always smooth and delicious.

Strawberry Shortcake

Another busy weekend at the urban farm. There is something about working outdoors that really stirs up the appetite. We ate home-grown eggs, locally harvested oysters and fresh strawberry shortcakes.

Our weekend was filled with more big tasks.  Since we ordered the new shed, we are working hard to make the site ready.  The back corner of our lot was overgrown with blackberries. There was a tree that was infested with bugs that we had cut down a few years ago. Later, we found our shed was also infested with bugs and because life was busy, we abandoned the building.  Over time, the blackberries engulfed the building.

We were left with logs under several feet of blackberry bushes.  With the help of family, we rented a wood splitter one weekend and removed the logs.  We will now have firewood for the next few years.

The next weekend, we borrowed an industrial weed whacker and chopped the blackberries to the ground.

This weekend, we rented a large rototiller and churned the roots up.  We went through after the rototiller and pulled as many of the root systems as we could find in the loose dirt. The chickens helped us.  They loved finding bugs and worms in the loose soil.

I can hardly wait for the old shed to be torn down and a new barn style shed put up in its place…now what to plan in my newly opened up space?

Unlike all of the work we did this weekend, this recipe is simple.  I like that the majority of the work is done in advance. This recipe is so easy I wonder why I ever bought that chemical filled easy-whip in the past.

Easy Strawberry Shortcake 

1 pint fresh strawberries
6 tablespoons sugar or sweetener of choice
1 teaspoon vanilla
16 oz heavy whipping cream
1 package pre-made angel food cake

Directions

Place mixing bowl and electric mixer whisk attachment in freezer until ready to serve dessert.

Cut fresh strawberries into small bite-size pieces. In a bowl, mix cut strawberries and two tablespoons of sugar. Stir well. This will encourage the strawberries to release their juices and absorb the sugar.  Let rest for a few hours in the refrigerator.

Using the chilled mixing bowl and whisk, add whipping cream and start mixer.  Slowly add remaining four tablespoons or sugar and vanilla.  Mix until stiff peaks form.

Assemble shortcakes with angel food cake as the bottom layer, strawberries and a large dollop of whipped cream on top. Enjoy!

 

Taking the First Step

It is June in the Pacific Northwest and the rain has returned. My garden and I are both very happy.  Go outside and enjoy it!

As I sang along to the radio on my way to work, Natasha Bedingfield’s song, “Unwritten” played.  I can’t believe how perfect the song matched how I was feeling. I’m getting my blog going and feeling so energized about the direction my life is taking me. I feel like I am staring at a blank canvas and I can make it look anyway I want to.

I am taking steps that scare me and I want you to do the same thing. I want you to be happy too. Follow these three steps this weekend and let me know how you feel.

Step 1: Identify what you did as a child that you enjoyed but no longer do because it isn’t a grown-up thing to do.

Step 2: Go and do it anyway.

Step 3: Share and be proud of what what you did to be happy.

Seems pretty simple right?  I know it isn’t.

Taking pictures of myself is not something I usually do.  The photo above took a lot of guts to post.  My inner voice is telling me I will be judged, people will think poorly of me if it isn’t perfect, look how big my nose is, and isn’t she conceited taking pictures of herself.

Shut up inner voice!  Have fun, feel free, be happy and let your excitement shine through.  If people don’t like it, then that is their problem.

My goal for this weekend is to take more fun pictures and maybe even let someone else take a picture of me!

As the song says, “The rest is still unwritten.” What are you going to do this weekend that scares or excites you?

-Martha