Pleasant Dreams Farm: Meatless Monday.

Our Mickey Mouse waffle maker got a little more use this morning. I can't remember the last time I had a waffle, I didn't today either...but they sure smelled good. The kids ate 2 each...and I think a couple of them could have put one more away LOL.

I am glad when the munchkins wake up a few minutes before the grown ups all they do is play with their toys....and raid the fridge, I'm looking at you Jericho. I woke up to this...which kicked off a day of fort making fun.

I kinda suck at this fort thing....good thing they don't seem to mind.

Too cute!

Lily, oh my goodness Lily. This girl is a real kick LOL. She came out dressed up like Santa...ringing her "bell" so funny!

Tonight we decided to start up Meatless Monday's around here, we actually were supposed to implement this change last week but forgot...hope that doesn't mean this will be short lived for us LOL. I have gone veggie in the past, for a few months at a time. I love meat...even if I probably couldn't kill an animal myself, unless it was life or death, so I could never go veggie for good. Also I have never been able to get Jason on board, even for a short period of time...until I shared with him the history of "Meatless Monday" I didn't know all of it myself, but it is pretty cool.
In case anyone is curious...here is some info I learned at http://www.meatlessmonday.com/about-us/why-meatless/

Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

Read about these benefits below. But keep in mind that just going meatless is not enough. That’s why we give you the information you need to add healthy, environmentally friendly meat-free alternatives to your diet each week. Further, if you do eat meat on other days, we strongly recommend grass-fed, hormone-free, locally-raised options whenever possible.

Health Benefits:
LIMIT CANCER RISK: Hundreds of studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risk. Both red and processed meat consumption are associated with colon cancer.
REDUCE HEART DISEASE: Recent data from a Harvard University study found that replacing saturated fat-rich foods (for example, meat and full fat dairy) with foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fat (for example, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) reduces the risk of heart disease by 19%
FIGHT DIABETES: Research suggests that higher consumption of red and processed meat increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
CURB OBESITY: People on low-meat or vegetarian diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices. A recent study from Imperial College London also found that reducing overall meat consumption can prevent long-term weight gain.
LIVE LONGER: Red and processed meat consumption is associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.
IMPROVE YOUR DIET. Consuming beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.

Environmental Benefits:
REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation. And annual worldwide demand for meat continues to grow. Reining in meat consumption once a week can help slow this trend.
MINIMIZE WATER USAGE. The water needs of livestock are tremendous, far above those of vegetables or grains. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. Soy tofu produced in California requires 220 gallons of water per pound.
HELP REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE. On average, about 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S. Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein. Moderating meat consumption is a great way to cut fossil fuel demand.

Hey check us out, making life better and changing the world, one Monday at a time!
Today we decided that our first Meatless Monday dinner we would do a little homemade pizza night. Keeping up with our "Skinny" mission I found an amazing recipe at my BFF Gina's page.
Lavash flatbread pizza.
The girls have been excited for dinner all afternoon, they even drew up the recipe they wanted to follow for their pizzas. Hayden wanted a smiley face with hair..Lily wanted a heart made out of pineapples.

This is going to be good!

You will need:

9x12" lavash flatbread (Gina made 1 piece of the bread feed 2 people...we had one each, with no sides, but you can always keep it lighter by keeping at half)
olive oil spray
3- tbsp marinara sauce*
2 oz reduced fat shredded mozzarella
Fresh basil
1- carton of sliced baby bella mushrooms (opt)
1- green bell pepper, chopped (opt)
1- can of artichoke hearts, chopped (opt)
1- cup of baby spinach (opt)
1- teaspoon of olive oil (opt)

*We made her "Skinny" easy marinara sauce...
Ingredients:

1 tsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 small bay leaf
1 tsp oregano
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
salt and fresh pepper to taste

Sauce Directions:
In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn.
Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, and bay leaf. Stir and reduce heat to low.
Cover and let simmer about 15 - 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add fresh basil.

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While the sauce simmers...saute up the olive oil, green bell peppers and mushrooms...set aside. *******************

Pizza directions:
Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°. If you have a pizza stone, heat it as well.
Spray lavash lightly with oil then top with sauce. Too much sauce will make the bread soggy so don't over-do it.
Top with cheese add spinach, mushrooms, bell pepper, artichoke hearts then bake until the cheese melts, about 6 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cut into pieces. Top with fresh basil and eat immediately.

1 whole pizza will set you back 490 calories and 9 grams of fat. It was so good...one of the best things we have made from the Skinny Taste recipes. I know I have said that before, but this was really amazing. This is totally going to be our new pizza...and will probably have meat added, as long as it is not Meatless Monday. It was probably better than Papa Murphy's...and actually better that Papa John's too, and waaayyy better for you...by like a lot. The last time we had Papa Murphy's I had 3 slices of the pepperoni delite to the tune of 595 calories and 33 grams of fat...and the last time we had Papa John's, 3 'The Works' pieces cost me 945 calories and 53 grams of fat. Yup, won't be doing that again.

The kiddos had a great time making their own too.