Relaxing...Productive...Weekend? What is that???

The Holidays are here and there is something happening every weekend, almost every weekday, plus work, plus the everyday stuff, and it was beginning to be to much.  I needed a relaxing weekend to GET STUFF DONE and that is what I did.

I had the house to myself.  So it was pretty quiet, the TV was off most of the time, except for when I was watching Pretty Woman.

I achieved so much and now I can say I feel ready to take on all of our festivities.

Here are all of the items I checked off my To-Do List:

1. Went through my childhood boxes, consolidated 3 big tubs into one small shoe box of the best pictures. 

2. Dropped clothes, books, and toys off at the Good Will. 

3. Cleaned out my closet and rearranged my clothes in my drawer like they did here.

4. Made Home-Made Sausage and breakfast casserole for the week.

5. Ate Trade Joe's Joe-Joes and watched Pretty Woman.

6. Made Spaghetti Squash and Tomato sauce for the week. 

7. Cleaned my stove.  I placed the burners in ammonia.   I tried the all natural salt, vinegar, and baking soda for the stove top, but that didn't seem to work great, so I used 409 after.  It still isn't as clean as I would like on my main burner, but I will try again soon.  I need more vinegar and baking soda.

Ta da...

8. Cleaned my bath tub with Borax.  (The marks on the bottom are from a previous tenant and won't budge, any ideas?)

9. Made grain-free Pumpkin Pancakes and Apple Butter from Apple Hill.

What's for Dinner?

Lemon "Pesto" Salmon with Spinach

Last night I planned to cooked my wild salmon, but I had no idea what to do.  7pm came around and I had made no progress, but I was hungry.  TIME TO ACT FAST! 

I decided even though I didn't have the exact ingredients to make pesto I was going to try and make something tasty... And I think my creation worked AMAZING!!! 

Sarah's Garden Lemon "Pesto"

Juice from 1 lemon (From my lemon tree)

10 basil leaves (From my basil plant)

1 tablespoon of Almond Butter

Few shakes of Garlic Salt

1/4-1/3 cup of olive oil

Put all ingredients but olive oil into a blender or food processor slowly add the olive oil while blending until the basil is the size you desire. 

Place the Salmon in foil and make a little boat around the salmon to keep all the sauce in while grilling.  

Pour Sarah's Garden Lemon "Pesto" on the salmon.

Pinch the foil at the top to create a tee-pee over the salmon.  Cook in the foil on the grill for about 7 minutes.  

Sautee Spinach in a pan on the oven. Top the Spinach with the Salmon. 

EAT

Smoothies are the new black!

Summer is almost here and getting in shape is a must.  I have been very good at working out, Pilates at least 4 days a week, plus a little running and cycle here and there, but it isn't doing the job.  Most people say 80% of weight loss is your diet.  So I guess eating bone marrow, pizzas, cupcakes, croissants, and fried fish isn't helping me get ready for beach wear! So bring on the smoothie!

Now this isn't the smoothie you pick up at one of those places that could be filled with sugar, this is made right at home, and it is simple, quick, cheap, and easy! 

Banana Coconut Green Smoothie

1 frozen banana

2-4 cups of fresh spinach

1/4-1/2 cup of light canned coconut milk

1/4-1/2 cup of water

Place all into a blender. 

Blend until completely smooth.  

Viola!  Drinking 4 cups of spinach in a delicious smoothie is much easier than eating it!