Toiling in the Yard

By the sweat of our brows…

Unearthing and hauling rocks, ala Fred Flinstone, kicks our buns– but in the best way. It just feels so good to work outdoors, to work HARD and use our muscles the way God intended.

The kiddos quickly tired of the work, deciding instead to focus their energies on playing. I told them they could do whatever they wanted, so long as they remained outdoors. Montanans quickly learn to carpe diem when the weather cooperates.

Here’s another simple, unnamed one-pot dinner that’s a favorite in our casa: Stir fry sliced bell peppers and onion in coconut oil with a pinch of salt, remove from pan after just wilted and set aside. In same pan brown ground turkey (or whatever) with cumin, chili powder, paprika, and another pinch of salt. Once cooked, add corn & black beans (I don’t measure anything, y’all) and a squirt of lime juice. Fold in cooked rice, or quinoa, or bulgar, and a big scoop of salsa or canned tomaotes (I’m finally out of the ones I canned from my garden last summer), and return the peppers and onions. Remove from heat and top with fresh cilantro and green onions.

Another home remedy we employed to overcome this week’s gnarly stomach flu is turmeric tea. It’s the Bomb Donkey Kong… whisk 1/2 tsp turmeric, generous squirt of lemon juice, 1+ tsp raw honey*, 1 tsp fresh grated ginger into hot water.

Little Man gets it warm, in milk, sans lemon. Health Guru Bestie Kelsey introduced us to this magic.

* Our sweet new neighbor gifted us a jar of pure, raw honey from her dad’s farm. She’s my new favorite.