Seriously, we have a major problem buzzing around here and that is flies. They are EVERYWHERE and they drive me crazy. A mad kind of crazy! Like I’ve never seen so many flies. Could it be classified as the new plague? It is out of hand, like seriously out of hand. I’m pretty sure my children think that I’m some kind of crazy woman holding the fly swatter for hours on end trying to kill the dreaded bugs that come in anytime we open a door. On a side note, is it bad that I find pleasure in killing them? –>Insert evil laugh<–
But those flies, I have no idea where they came from and why they are sticking around. It could possibly have been the trash bags that have been sitting outside our back door because;
a. I didn’t want to walk down the driveway with two toddlers and a baby to drag up the garbage can that now only has one wheel (worthless).
b. My husband went on a work trip and garbage is his job therefore week two passed with more trash bags filling in by the back door.
c. We compost with no compost bin.
Um yeah, have I mentioned we are “those” neighbors. Well since my husband arrived home from his week long trip we have tried numerous methods to get rid of the pesky bugs. We have first put the trash in the cans, obvi that would be a genius idea. Yes I do realize if we had not been so lazy and done this in the first place we may not be in quite the situation we are in. We have then sprayed our house down with water, we put up fly traps, we made fly traps which works but we could use about 100 of them to get rid of all the flies in our garage and lastly we have resorted to using a bug bomb. Yes, we have gone to the dreaded toxic bomb in our garage. It had to happen, there was no other hope, other than a freeze to kill them for good but that is a few months off or so I hope. Is it bad that this bug situation has made me look forward to cold weather? Did I really just say that?
Ugh I did, it’s desperation. So hopefully the bomb works. I mean if it could possibly kill us, it should definitely take care of the fly problem, right? Anyone have suggestions? Anyone? We need them, the buzzing is seriously burning my ears. HHHHEEEELLLLPPPP! Ugh, that is one con of country life I guess.
And while crazy mom here is swatting flies like it’s my job, my older two daughters are out catching caterpillars and bringing those in the house. Apparently they don’t understand that mom does not like bugs, nope! We controlled that situation by creating a “home” for those cute little bugs if you can put cute and bugs in the same category. I think the cuteness comes from watching your two girls actually play together and work together to take care of these fuzzy little creatures. And the one sibling shot is as good as those get around here. Can you tell that is a very loving hug from my oldest? –>sarcasm<–
So we created a house for them, with grass and twigs and water. Really the mansion of caterpillar houses. Surprisingly one has already built a cocoon. Maybe that is a survival technique? I mean the conditions aren’t that favorable for survival…the jar gets shaken, rattled, and dropped daily by the little hands that always want to look at it. Regardless, they love their little caterpillar home. It’s going to preschool for show-n-tell and then they are getting let into the wild. I’m not sure how we will get over that hurdle without tears but we’ll think of something….ideas?
In the mix of all of this, we did manage to eat. We whipped up something fresh, something easy and oh so healthy. These portobello sliders are amazingly flavorful. And better yet, they are interchangeable. Kind of like a portobello bar, fill it with whatever your heart desires. We made them three ways, paleo, vegan and traditional BLT style. Take your pick, all three are worth making. Between the marinated mushrooms, caramelized onions, fresh garden tomatoes, smashed avocado and bacon, mmmm bacon for the traditional and paleo versions is a flavor explosion. No need for a bun around here when you have the perfectly cooked portotbello in hand. Full of veggies and oh so delish.
Now someone please tell me how to naturally take care of the fly problem!
- Mushrooms:
- 16 Medium Portobello Mushrooms
- 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup tamari sauce (soy)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tablespoon dried thyme
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
- Vegan:
- 2 Avocados
- 2 Tomatoes, sliced
- Lettuce
- 2 sweet onions, sliced
- Paleo add:
- 1 lb bacon
- Traditional add:
- Smoked Gouda Cheese
- Whisk together balsamic, tamari sauce, olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and salt & pepper.
- Clean mushrooms and discard stems. Pat dry and place in a baking dish.
- Pour the marinade over the mushrooms, flipping to cover. Let marinate 20-60 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare a cookie sheet.
- Add mushrooms in a single layer and roast for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
- Bake Bacon
- Heat a skillet over low-medium heat and add coconut oil (or butter).
- Add sliced onion and let caramelize stirring often.
- Prepare the rest of the ingredients; slice tomatoes, cut lettuce, smash avocado.
- Assemble mushrooms based off of your desires;
- Vegan: 2 mushrooms with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and smashed avocado.
- Paleo: 2 mushrooms with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, smashed avocado and bacon.
- Traditional: 2 mushrooms with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, smashed avocado, bacon. and smoked gouda cheese.
