Today with it being so hot I knew the kids would appreciate something cold to sip on for snack time. Knowing that the veggies had been a little lacking for lunch (someone please figure out why they don't like baby carrots!), I decided to go all sneaky chef on them. A while back I had in my possession an email that told of a chocolate pea smoothie. I have been thinking about it ever since. Could the taste of peas really be covered up by bananas and cocoa?
Of course once I set out to find said recipe, it was no where in sight! After a few minutes searching, I opted to just wing it. When I sampled the smoothie it just tasted like soft serve chocolate ice cream, I knew it was a go. The mmm's that my ears heard had told me I was successful. This is a very loosely based recipe, so take it as it is!
2 handfuls frozen peas
1 frozen banana broke into segments
splash of vanilla
1 tbsp cocoa powder
milk to thin to desired consistency
(Upon tasting it seemed just a bit bitter from the cocoa, so then I drizzled the top with just a dab of maple flavored agave syrup.)
blend until smooth and somewhere in between milkshake tendency and soft serve ice cream. Serve and smile because you just got some greens in your kiddos :)
Note: I did tell the kids that they had a vegetable in their smoothie later after they had eaten it and declared it yummy. I told them they wouldn't believe what was in there even if I said so. They chose to know and were totally surprised, and then asked if we could try that with frozen corn sometime.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
The Power of Friendships
Today was the last day of MOPS for the 2011-2012 school year. We had a few of the ladies share their stories 'how I became the mother I am'. All of three of them were so very touching. One gal shared about how she woke up at 5wks pregnant with heavy spotting. My heart skipped a beat, and I'm sure my breath caught. And as she told the story of how not only was she afraid of losing her baby, her eldest had been 'misplaced' at church and she was frantically running around looking for her child asking God if she was supposed to lose both of her babies that day. Thankfully, her baby lived, and her child was found.
All of the sudden I was right back to my own story. Bleeding, but not knowing whether life remained. And also remembering how terrified I was that day of losing my oldest as well when she didn't come home from school and no one could find her. I can imagine there was a lot of raw emotion on my face as those memories came flooding back. Then my dear friend Rebecca caught my hand and just held it through the rest of the speaker's story. I didn't tell her how much I needed that. She won't have a clue (unless she reads this) that her holding my hand got me through the speaker, helped me keep my composure. What a testament to the power of a true friend. She knew my pain and reached out to me in such a simple, but powerfully needed way. Rebecca always says that women need each other, boy was that true for me today!
I have been reflecting on friendship this week. See, after the miscarriage I took a long break from Facebook. It was a time that I needed to crawl inside of myself to grieve. Sure I felt lonely and disconnected, but I have never felt closer to my Maker than I did in those months. I have 'reconnected' with Facebook in the last week. At first I told myself only at night. Then it was only during times when Wesley was nursing. Then all of the sudden I am finding myself checking Facebook every few hours, looking to see if anyone has posted. I am especially curious about posts in a few of the groups I am involved in. I wouldn't call myself obsessed with Facebook, but I can see that it has taken an unhealthy role in my daily life. I just want to know what other people are doing, and it just strikes me as odd that I am more interested about people from distant pasts, or strangers whom I've never met instead of my friends. I realized that I haven't reached out and met up or called many people this week, because I was finding friendship fulfillment through cyber relationships!
What a sad culture we live in that we are more connected with our devices than people. That we would rather read about or watch others lives on a screen than know our next door neighbors. I am guilty. In the almost three years we've been on our block I have only met people from four of the eight houses that are in the cul de sac.
I don't know how to change our society, but I can be the change I want to see right? I can choose to seek out people instead of screens. My computer will never give me a hug or a shoulder to cry on. Because when I see ((((hugs)))) on the screen, I sure don't feel comforted. It just makes me feel more alone and isolated.
I am not a rock, I am not an island. I am a woman who needs the power of her friends to carry her through this life, as only friends can do.
All of the sudden I was right back to my own story. Bleeding, but not knowing whether life remained. And also remembering how terrified I was that day of losing my oldest as well when she didn't come home from school and no one could find her. I can imagine there was a lot of raw emotion on my face as those memories came flooding back. Then my dear friend Rebecca caught my hand and just held it through the rest of the speaker's story. I didn't tell her how much I needed that. She won't have a clue (unless she reads this) that her holding my hand got me through the speaker, helped me keep my composure. What a testament to the power of a true friend. She knew my pain and reached out to me in such a simple, but powerfully needed way. Rebecca always says that women need each other, boy was that true for me today!
I have been reflecting on friendship this week. See, after the miscarriage I took a long break from Facebook. It was a time that I needed to crawl inside of myself to grieve. Sure I felt lonely and disconnected, but I have never felt closer to my Maker than I did in those months. I have 'reconnected' with Facebook in the last week. At first I told myself only at night. Then it was only during times when Wesley was nursing. Then all of the sudden I am finding myself checking Facebook every few hours, looking to see if anyone has posted. I am especially curious about posts in a few of the groups I am involved in. I wouldn't call myself obsessed with Facebook, but I can see that it has taken an unhealthy role in my daily life. I just want to know what other people are doing, and it just strikes me as odd that I am more interested about people from distant pasts, or strangers whom I've never met instead of my friends. I realized that I haven't reached out and met up or called many people this week, because I was finding friendship fulfillment through cyber relationships!
What a sad culture we live in that we are more connected with our devices than people. That we would rather read about or watch others lives on a screen than know our next door neighbors. I am guilty. In the almost three years we've been on our block I have only met people from four of the eight houses that are in the cul de sac.
I don't know how to change our society, but I can be the change I want to see right? I can choose to seek out people instead of screens. My computer will never give me a hug or a shoulder to cry on. Because when I see ((((hugs)))) on the screen, I sure don't feel comforted. It just makes me feel more alone and isolated.
I am not a rock, I am not an island. I am a woman who needs the power of her friends to carry her through this life, as only friends can do.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Hospitality Hostess
For the first time in a long while, I accepted a leadership position. It didn't come easy. You see, I consistently score so low on leadership for personality tests that it's not even worth the while to figure my total. The few times that I've tried to take up a leader role, it has miserably failed. Groups disbanding, not ever even starting outside of me and my ideas. So I did not go lightly into the venture of accepting a leading role for MOPS next year. I prayed and felt convicted that serving for hospitality would be something that I could do.
MOPS--mothers of preschoolers. It has been my link to nearly every person I know in Grand Island outside of family. I love going, it's a wonderful time to connect with other women, and the kids are in their own little rooms, much like Sunday school. Every year I have been asked if I'd be willing to help serve, and every year the response was 'no thanks I just want to come and enjoy, I'm not much of a leader anyways'.
What changed? Certainly not me. I'm still just as much as a follower as ever. Just my perspective on what leading can look like. Which is why hospitality is the perfect place for me to lead. Because it's not really leading, it's serving. I will be in charge of arranging who is bringing brunch, setting up the meeting room, and tearing it down each time. There isn't any public speaking. No one will be looking to me for answers or guidance. Our little branch of MOPS won't collapse (hopefully!) just because I'm 'leading'.
I will get to make the room be what everyone has always seen. Set up, organized, decorated, welcoming. All ready for them to come and enjoy. Do you see what I am getting at? It's behind the scenes work. A place to give back, but not in a very obvious way. It's a job that people don't think about, because it is done when they are away. And that's the way I like it. I love working in the background where no one notices. It's the perfect place for this follower, and I'm excited to give back to an organization that has brought so many positive people and experiences into my life.
MOPS--mothers of preschoolers. It has been my link to nearly every person I know in Grand Island outside of family. I love going, it's a wonderful time to connect with other women, and the kids are in their own little rooms, much like Sunday school. Every year I have been asked if I'd be willing to help serve, and every year the response was 'no thanks I just want to come and enjoy, I'm not much of a leader anyways'.
What changed? Certainly not me. I'm still just as much as a follower as ever. Just my perspective on what leading can look like. Which is why hospitality is the perfect place for me to lead. Because it's not really leading, it's serving. I will be in charge of arranging who is bringing brunch, setting up the meeting room, and tearing it down each time. There isn't any public speaking. No one will be looking to me for answers or guidance. Our little branch of MOPS won't collapse (hopefully!) just because I'm 'leading'.
I will get to make the room be what everyone has always seen. Set up, organized, decorated, welcoming. All ready for them to come and enjoy. Do you see what I am getting at? It's behind the scenes work. A place to give back, but not in a very obvious way. It's a job that people don't think about, because it is done when they are away. And that's the way I like it. I love working in the background where no one notices. It's the perfect place for this follower, and I'm excited to give back to an organization that has brought so many positive people and experiences into my life.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Lentil Sandwich Spread
I adore peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They are super yummy, filling, cheap, and good for you. That being said, the humble sandwich leaves much to be desired in the warmer months, especially when it comes to picnic fare. We think that picnics are wonderful, but sometimes that sweet sandwich just doesn't fit the bill for me. I like more savory sandwiches for lunch, pb&j is more of a breakfast food for me personally.
Yesterday morning the phone rang, and Phil's mom decided that since it was so beautiful out we should picnic for lunch out at Hall County Park (which if you've never been there, it is such a wonderful hidden little slice of heaven for Grand Island!). I said we'd bring the sandwiches and fruit if she brought the chips. Then I realized once I hung up that I had neglected to remember that I didn't have anything to fill my sandwich with! As Phil was slapping together some meat and cheese sandwiches, I was huffing to myself about what to make. I didn't have any beans made, otherwise a chickpea salad sandwich would have been perfect. I almost threw in the towel to opt for pb&j but then decided it would be worth the effort to cook up some lentils. Let me tell you I am so glad that I did! The color and texture reminded me of tuna salad, but the flavor was all it's own. With some smoky chipotle chili's in the background, this sandwich filled my need for a savory sandwich.
My measurements are just approximate as I dumped and whizzed it up in the mini food processor until it seemed about right.
1 cup cooked lentils
2 tbsp ranch dressing
1/4 chipotle chili pepper (I just snipped a piece off a canned chili pepper)
1/4 roasted red bell pepper (I had the jarred variety sitting in my fridge)
I made it fairly thick so it was pretty 'pasty' and able to stay on the bread. I think it would also be an excellent dip if thinned out with some more ranch and/or mayonaise. The only thing that would have made it better was to have some banana pepper rings on top!
Yesterday morning the phone rang, and Phil's mom decided that since it was so beautiful out we should picnic for lunch out at Hall County Park (which if you've never been there, it is such a wonderful hidden little slice of heaven for Grand Island!). I said we'd bring the sandwiches and fruit if she brought the chips. Then I realized once I hung up that I had neglected to remember that I didn't have anything to fill my sandwich with! As Phil was slapping together some meat and cheese sandwiches, I was huffing to myself about what to make. I didn't have any beans made, otherwise a chickpea salad sandwich would have been perfect. I almost threw in the towel to opt for pb&j but then decided it would be worth the effort to cook up some lentils. Let me tell you I am so glad that I did! The color and texture reminded me of tuna salad, but the flavor was all it's own. With some smoky chipotle chili's in the background, this sandwich filled my need for a savory sandwich.
My measurements are just approximate as I dumped and whizzed it up in the mini food processor until it seemed about right.
1 cup cooked lentils
2 tbsp ranch dressing
1/4 chipotle chili pepper (I just snipped a piece off a canned chili pepper)
1/4 roasted red bell pepper (I had the jarred variety sitting in my fridge)
I made it fairly thick so it was pretty 'pasty' and able to stay on the bread. I think it would also be an excellent dip if thinned out with some more ranch and/or mayonaise. The only thing that would have made it better was to have some banana pepper rings on top!
Friday, March 23, 2012
sunny muffins revamped
Just in case I haven't mentioned it lately. I love Isa Chandra Moskowitz's Vegan With A Vengeance cookbook. Her whit and charm still delight me, even though I've read through it a few times now. Last night the kids peeked over my shoulder at a baked oatmeal muffin recipe. They were pretty disappointed that I didn't have everything to make them, but I cheered them up with the enticement of a new muffin flavor in the morning. I dutifully flipped open the previously mentioned cookbook when Isa's Suny Blueberry-Corn muffins caught my eye. I've read through it before, but haven't ever actually made them. I figured these babies would fit the bill.
This morning, I drug myself out of bed earlier than I would have liked (I know, strange words coming from this early bird's mouth!) and trotted off to the kitchen. Since I am dabbling in the world of gluten free baking, I really wanted to try to makeover these muffins. And I had the baked oatmeal gems on my mind too. I decided to combine them both and see what would happen.
The most helpful article I've read thus far about gf muffins inspired my mix for the morning. Here it is in case you need a reference:
http://glutenfreegirl.com/gluten-free-whole-grain-muffins/
The batter was a bit more stiff than I was used to, which caused me some concern, but the overall muffin was just divine! In fact, I usually make muffins on Fridays so the kids can munch on them for Saturday breakfast too. However, everyone gobbled these babies up (even Phil and Wesley who usually don't partake in anylove eating of muffins), and there wasn't even a morsel left! The crumb was silky smooth with an almost cupcake like texture, in between the toothsome bites of oatmeal (can you tell I read cookbooks for pleasure?!).
Ok, I won't keep you waiting any longer. I would wager to say that you could go whip these little delights up right now as almost everything is a pantry staple (at least it is for me!).
2/3 cup oatmeal
2/3 cup masa harina/ corn flour (used to make tamales, I would guess that corn meal would work great too)
2/3 cup corn starch
1 tbsp + 1/4 tsp baking powder
heaping 1/4 tsp salt
scant 1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup applesauce
3/4 cup soymilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp dried lemon zest
1 1/4 c blueberries (or more if you like them super fruity)
Preheat oven to 400. Grease or line muffin pan.
Mix dry ingredients together.
In separate bowl, blend wet ingredients.
Combine and stir until mixed.
Fold in blueberries
Scoop out into muffin pan
Bake 10 minutes or until done.
I think that my oven runs hot because it never takes me as long to get through my baking compared to the recipes I work with, so adjust accordingly. And yes, I know I should invest in an oven thermometer, but I don't make anything as of yet that calls for an exact temp, so I just roll with the punches!
This morning, I drug myself out of bed earlier than I would have liked (I know, strange words coming from this early bird's mouth!) and trotted off to the kitchen. Since I am dabbling in the world of gluten free baking, I really wanted to try to makeover these muffins. And I had the baked oatmeal gems on my mind too. I decided to combine them both and see what would happen.
The most helpful article I've read thus far about gf muffins inspired my mix for the morning. Here it is in case you need a reference:
http://glutenfreegirl.com/gluten-free-whole-grain-muffins/
The batter was a bit more stiff than I was used to, which caused me some concern, but the overall muffin was just divine! In fact, I usually make muffins on Fridays so the kids can munch on them for Saturday breakfast too. However, everyone gobbled these babies up (even Phil and Wesley who usually don't partake in any
Ok, I won't keep you waiting any longer. I would wager to say that you could go whip these little delights up right now as almost everything is a pantry staple (at least it is for me!).
2/3 cup oatmeal
2/3 cup masa harina/ corn flour (used to make tamales, I would guess that corn meal would work great too)
2/3 cup corn starch
1 tbsp + 1/4 tsp baking powder
heaping 1/4 tsp salt
scant 1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup applesauce
3/4 cup soymilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp dried lemon zest
1 1/4 c blueberries (or more if you like them super fruity)
Preheat oven to 400. Grease or line muffin pan.
Mix dry ingredients together.
In separate bowl, blend wet ingredients.
Combine and stir until mixed.
Fold in blueberries
Scoop out into muffin pan
Bake 10 minutes or until done.
I think that my oven runs hot because it never takes me as long to get through my baking compared to the recipes I work with, so adjust accordingly. And yes, I know I should invest in an oven thermometer, but I don't make anything as of yet that calls for an exact temp, so I just roll with the punches!
Monday, March 12, 2012
dabbling
I've been interested in eating more gluten free foods for quite some time now, due to having met people with Celiac's disease and gluten sensitivity. I've read some cookbooks, and followed some leads on the internet. However, it has just sat on the back burner for quite some time.
A month ago, I went in to see my doctor who thankfully happens to be my sister (in-law, for clarification's purposes), as my thyroid was swollen. This wasn't the first time, but to play it safe I had it checked out, family history and all being what it is. All the lab work came out fine (phew!), and sis charted it as postpartum thyroiditis (ah yes, another byproduct of my miscarriage, will it never end?). Being the motivated person I am, I asked sis if there was anything I could add or take away from my diet to help stave off any future problems. The answer I got back was 'if it's going to happen, it's going to happen'. I breathed a sigh of relief, gave her a hug and went my merry way home.
Her answer satisfied me for about a week. Then I remembered Hippacrates' saying "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." I truly believe that what we eat matters to our body, and so I set out on a quest to find out more.
Turns out there are quite a few foods that can impact a persons thyroid. And wouldn't you know it, but gluten kept coming up as the number one offender, even surpassing soy!
Last summer when the first swelling episode happened and a friend mentioned it could be a goiter I read through a few websites detailing foods containing goiterogens. It blew me away that so many of my favorite foods were on the list, but since I didn't know for sure what was going on (and the swelling went down in a few days), I abandoned ship.
Now is a different story. Now I want to eat in the best way to keep my thyroid functioning properly for a long as possible. Being a black and white all or nothing kind of girl, I am finding balance difficult. I realize that gluten is just about everything that we eat. Try going one day gluten free and you will see what I mean! Our budget and my sanity cannot afford to just abandon the gluten ship. So I am trying my best to limit gluten foods to just one meal a day. Easier said than done.
I've never really thought of myself as a big bread eater. And bread itself that's probably true. I'll be the first one to pass by a dinner roll. Then I realized I just like my 'bread' a whole lot sweeter. Cookies, brownies, muffins. Busted. Sandwiches, bagels, english muffins. Guilty as baked. Thoughts swirl through my head, ok, I can't just live on rice and corn tortillas. I know that will get old real fast, and then I'll pine for the sweeter things in life, and not care anymore. But I have to care, I must care. Until there is a full body transplant available, I need to care.
And so, I am dabbling. And gleaning. Gleaning through the (thankfully!) massive amounts of recipes on the internet. I am so thankful that there are others out there who keep on persevering through the trial and error process of gluten free baking. I've read so many times 'if I could build a home with the inedible bricks that I've baked'. I get to prosper from their mistakes, and that is a wonderful thing for me. Because I have always been a quitter. It's that dumb perfectionistic first born tendency. If I can't get it right the first time, I am too frustrated with my failure to try again. That, and my budget cannot compensate for too many failed recipe attempts.
I have loved the few things that I've been brave enough to try. The first was a gluten free chocolate chip cookie. And since there is nothing strange in the recipe I'm linking it. The hardest part is grinding up oatmeal in your blender to make flour. The whole family loved it, and Phil was so impressed by the cookie that he bragged them up to someone near to us who has Celiac disease. So in the off chance that you will ever entertain someone who doesn't eat gluten, here is a safe and easy recipe that is sure to please everyone!
The next recipe that I tried was the chickpea flat bread. I was in heaven, felt like I was eating something fried from the fair. No frying necessary! There are only three ingredients, but the main one might cause you a bit more trouble to find. Chickpea flour. Since I have the ability to grind my own grains, I was able to make my own chickpea flour. My Hyvee carries it, so I'm sure it cannot be too hard to find. Just please don't try and grind chickpeas in your blender, they are much to hard and will damage your blade.
Being the sneaky chef that I am, I tried these little babies. Pretty good if you like your brownies on the gooey side. But if you are more of a chewy dry brownie lover, I wouldn't suggest them to you. The seven-year-old-who-doesn't-like-any-of-my-cooking-named-Abi thought they were ok until Phil asked what they were made of. When I said beans she promptly abandoned her half eaten brownie. Wesley and Lizzi loved them. Phil is a chewy brownie lover so they weren't a big hit. I thought for being a healthy food they were great! Not my favorite, but good enough to make again.
I've got a few more recipes waiting on my pinterest board, so off I go!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tea Party
Happy leap day everyone! Not that this post has anything to do with leap year, but I thought it would be fun to put something out since it only comes around every few years.
My mom is so crafty that it slays me sometimes. She is constantly whipping up something with her hands. If I had to guess, she's made everyone in the family a new homemade Christmas ornament for about 20 years now. How amazing it that? Crochet is her passion, and she does a great job with it. We, meaning mostly our kids, are so blessed to be on the receiving end of her hobby. I am always giddy when I see a package come in the mail. I probably get more excited to see what 'grammy' has made for the kids then they do! It never ceases to amaze me that she keeps coming up with new things to make them. And they are so stinking cute too. Perhaps someday I'll do a full photo feature of her handiwork, but for today we'll stick with her latest--a tea party set. For Valentines day none the less.
The little set has a tea pot with lid, two adult cups and saucers, four kiddo cups and saucers, eight cookies, four of each fruits--apples, peaches, strawberries, along with little serving bowls to hold the 'goodies', and a handy little bag to store them in.
I wasn't sure how it would go over to only pretend to have a tea party instead of doing the real thing. But it was an instant hit! The best part was watching Wesley pour the tea, complete with sounds. I decided that in an effort to keep this treasure away from the black hole that presides in our home, I would keep it tucked away in my closet. That way someday when I'm a 'lita' (yes, call us crazy but Phil and I already know what we want our grandbabes to call us, Pito and Lita), I'll have the complete set still.
Ok, enough babble, on with the pictures! Apology in advance, I just cannot figure out how to rotate pictures on here, so bear with me and tilt your head to the side for full enjoyment, and I know I kinda went overboard on the photos, but my mom lives eight hours away and hasn't seen her 'grands' since Christmas :)
My mom is so crafty that it slays me sometimes. She is constantly whipping up something with her hands. If I had to guess, she's made everyone in the family a new homemade Christmas ornament for about 20 years now. How amazing it that? Crochet is her passion, and she does a great job with it. We, meaning mostly our kids, are so blessed to be on the receiving end of her hobby. I am always giddy when I see a package come in the mail. I probably get more excited to see what 'grammy' has made for the kids then they do! It never ceases to amaze me that she keeps coming up with new things to make them. And they are so stinking cute too. Perhaps someday I'll do a full photo feature of her handiwork, but for today we'll stick with her latest--a tea party set. For Valentines day none the less.
The little set has a tea pot with lid, two adult cups and saucers, four kiddo cups and saucers, eight cookies, four of each fruits--apples, peaches, strawberries, along with little serving bowls to hold the 'goodies', and a handy little bag to store them in.
I wasn't sure how it would go over to only pretend to have a tea party instead of doing the real thing. But it was an instant hit! The best part was watching Wesley pour the tea, complete with sounds. I decided that in an effort to keep this treasure away from the black hole that presides in our home, I would keep it tucked away in my closet. That way someday when I'm a 'lita' (yes, call us crazy but Phil and I already know what we want our grandbabes to call us, Pito and Lita), I'll have the complete set still.
Ok, enough babble, on with the pictures! Apology in advance, I just cannot figure out how to rotate pictures on here, so bear with me and tilt your head to the side for full enjoyment, and I know I kinda went overboard on the photos, but my mom lives eight hours away and hasn't seen her 'grands' since Christmas :)
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