A Beautiful Mess

Pumpkin Baked Ziti with Carmelized Onions and Sage Crumb Topping

2011-01-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

This is very good and filling. I'm not huge on onions, and the recipe originally called for 2. I used one, and it was still a bit much. I'll try 1/2 next time. But if you are a big onion lover, go for it. I also found that 2 cups of bread crumbs was way too much. I would only use 1 or 1.5 next time. I tasted the cashew ricotta after it was done and was disappointed in the flavor, but after I put it all together, it worked. If you don't want to go vegan, you could probably buy ricotta. But where's the fun in that?

Ingredients
3/4 lbs uncooked ziti or penne pasta
1 onion, sliced very thinly
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
white pepper and cayenne
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/4 cup vegetable broth

Sage Bread Crumbs:
2 cups bread crumbs, preferably fresh and homemade
1/3 cup walnut pieced chopped in a food processor until resembling coarse crumbs
1/4 cup Earth Balance (you can substitute olive oil, canola oil or a blend of these)
2 tsp dried, rubbed sage
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp ground paprika
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cashew Ricotta:
1/2 cup raw cashew pieces (approx 4 oz)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves fresh or roasted garlic
1 lb firm tofu, drained and crumbled
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp salt

Directions
To make the Cashew Ricotta: In a food processor, blend together the cashews, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic until a thick creamy paste forms. Add the crumbled tofu to the food processor, working in two or more batches in necessary, until the moisture is thick and well blended. Blend in the basil and salt.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 x 11-inch lasagne type baking pan with olive oil, or use two smaller pans.

Prepare the ziti according to the package directions, about 10 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again. Set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, make the caramelized onion: preheat a large heavy-bottomed pan, preferably cast iron, over medium heat. Saute the onions in oil until some onion bits are very brown and caramelized, 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside.

Place the Cashew Ricotta in a large bowl and fold in the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, nutmeg, white pepper, cayenne, and vegetable broth and mix. Add the cooked ziti and caramelized onions, stirring to coat the pasta. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press lightly with a rubber spatula to level it.

Make the Sage Bread Crumbs:
Melt the Earth Balance in large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Stir in the bread crumbs, walnuts, dried herbs and paprika, and season with salt and pepper. Stir constantly until the mixture is lightly coated, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and sprinkle evenly over the ziti.

Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, until the top of the ziti is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Number of Servings: 12

Green Chile Tortilla Bake Recipe

2011-01-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

This is really good. I know it has cream cheese AND cheddar cheese, but I only used half the package of cream cheese (it's all I had) and probably half the cheddar cheese. But most of us are lactose intolerant so it's a necessity AND it lessens the evils. So try it with half and see if you notice!

(note that the ingredients are listed in TWO different areas - don't forget the bottom list when you shop!)

First- make your green chile sauce:
Green Chile Sauce Recipe
2 cups fresh or frozen roasted chiles, skinned, stemmed, seeded, chopped (I used canned)
5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 vine ripe tomatoes, seeded, chopped
3 cups vegetable broth- reserve 4-5 tablespoons
Pinch of sea salt, to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
A dash of golden balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon agave syrup
2 tablespoons potato starch or sweet rice flour (I used corn starch)

In a large saucepan, combine the chiles, garlic, tomatoes, broth, sea salt and pepper, vinegar and agave syrup. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat; reduce the heat a bit and maintain a gentle, constant low simmer for ten minutes.

Add the potato starch to the reserved broth and whisk to make a thickening paste.
Stir the paste into the green chile and continue to cook, stirring, for another 7 to 10 minutes, until the sauce is thickened but not gluey.

As always, taste test. If you used very hot chiles and the sauce is too spicy, add more agave to soften the heat. Remove from the stove and set aside.

Make your casserole:
2 1/2 cups green chile sauce (see above)
10 to 12 corn tortillas
1 8-oz. package soft cream cheese- room temperature (I used half)
1 cup grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, or vegan cheese (I used half)
1 medium red onion, diced fine
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 teaspoon cumin, to taste
Juice from 1 large lime

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray or oil an 8x8-inch baking dish.

Spoon a half cup of the chile sauce into the baking dish to cover the bottom. Tearing some tortillas in half, if necessary- to fit- take four tortillas, one at a time, and dip each one quickly into the hot green chile sauce, then place it into the baking dish to make a bottom layer.
Spread the softened cream cheese onto the tortilla layer; add the grated cheese.
In a bowl, combine the onion, garlic and beans. Season with cumin and lime juice.
Add the or bean mixture to the casserole and spread evenly.
Spoon a half cup of green chile sauce over the beans.
Follow with another layer of dipped tortillas. Press down with a spatula.
Pour the remaining green chile sauce all over the top, allowing it to seep in around the edges.
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 to 30 minutes until it is hot and bubbling.
Allow the casserole to sit for a few minutes before cutting and serving. Serves 4.

2011-01-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

This is a great option for a picnic or gathering. No mayo - no eggs - no spoiling!! And it's so healthy! If you use quinoa, you may have to adjust the water. Check the package to see how much water it requires. I've used frozen corn in a pinch and it is great too!!

GARDEN TABOULEH

3/4 c. bulgur wheat (or quinoa)
1 1/4 c. water
2 scallions (green onions)
1 med. red or green pepper
1 cucumber
2 ears of corn
2 med. tomatoes
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 c. chopped mint leaves
2 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme
1/4 c. lemon juice
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar

Bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil. Add bulgar wheat. Remove from heat. Let stand 30 minutes until water is absorbed. Steam corn for 5 minutes or until tender but still firm. Let cool, then scrape off the kernels. Chop scallions, pepper, cucumber and tomatoes. Add to wheat along with corn kernels. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar.

Blend in garlic, mint and thyme. Add dressing to wheat and vegetable mixture. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Yield: 6 servings.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

2011-01-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

Good stuff! Not sure where this recipe came from, I think it was shared with me over facebook or email.

2 TBL Olive oil or Coconut Oil
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1 Medium Red Onion, diced
4 cloves Garlic, minced
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 large Garnet Yam, cut into cubes (1/2 inch)
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 28-oz can of Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
3 cans Black Beans (or 4 cups freshly cooked)
1 c. water
1 TBL. cumin
1 TBL. Chili Powder (I use a Chili Blend)
1 tsp. Cocoa Powder
1 c. chopped Cilantro for garnish (optional)

In large pot, heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic, onion, red pepper & sea salt until soft (about 4-5 min). Add the cumin & chili powder and stir to combine. Cook for another minute. Add chopped sweet potato, water & lime zest & tomatoes, cooking about 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add the black beans, lime juice and cocoa powder. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until potatoes are soft.

Top with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime, if desired. Serve over rice.

Banana Oat Bundles

2011-01-11T10:50:00.000-08:00

These got me through my gluten free, sugar free month long challenge I did a few months back. They're surprisingly good, especially chilled!! They only have a few tbsp. of oil, but I'm sure you could replace it with apple sauce. Let me know if you try it!

A cross between a cookie and a mini-muffin, these bundles are a tasty, wholesome treat that are fast to prepare and can be enjoyed hot from the oven, or cooled to pack in lunches!

1 cup quick oats
1 cup ground oats (grind quick oa...ts in a processor until fine and crumbly)
1⁄4 cup unrefined sugar (I used agave)
1⁄4 tsp sea salt
1⁄4 tsp cinnamon or ground cardamon
1⁄4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup overripe banana, puréed (roughly 2 large bananas) (see note)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 – 3 1⁄2 tbsp canola oil

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). In a large bowl, combine the oats, ground oats, sugar, sea salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and sift in the baking powder. Stir through until well combined. In another bowl, combine the puréed banana, vanilla, and canola oil, stirring through. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and stir through until just well combined. Drop large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly golden. Remove from oven and let cool on pan for 1 minute, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Makes 12-15 bundles.

Note: Use a food processor or blender to purée the bananas. It produces a smooth, almost liquefied texture, which takes a long time to achieve by mashing.

Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Brownies

2011-01-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

These are really good. I think I even shocked Tim. The original recipe called for brown rice flour, but I tried it with that and didn't like them as much. Walmart used to carry sorghum flour, but I haven't been able to find it lately (which is probably a good thing). I'm sure Whole Foods has it though.

I got the original recipe from here: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/01/dark-chocolate-brownies.html

5 ounces Belgian dark chocolate (I used an unsweetened dark chocolate bar)
1/2 cup butter or vegan margarine such as Smart Balance (or Spectrum Organic Shortening)
2 organic free-range eggs
1 cup packed organic light brown sugar
1/2 rounded cup almonds, processed into a fine meal
1/4 cup sorghum flour
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon vanilla plus 2 teaspoons peppermint extract for mint brownies)
1/2 cup extra semi-sweet chocolate chips for the top

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with foil and lightly oil the bottom.

Using the microwave, melt the dark chocolate and butter in a large (microwave safe) measuring cup. Stir together to combine. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs on medium high till frothy. Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is smooth.

Add the melted chocolate mixture into the egg-sugar mixture a little at a time - incorporate it slowly- and beat well for a good minute. The chocolate will look smooth and glossy.

In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: almond meal, rice flour, fine sea salt and baking soda; whisk together. Add the dry flour mix into the chocolate mixture and beat well for a minute. Add the vanilla, beat another half a minute or so.

If you are adding nuts, stir in the nuts by hand and spread the batter into the prepared baking pan [this brownie batter is much thinner than any brownie mix batter I've tried- don't worry, it's going to be wonderful]. Shake the pan a little bit to even out the batter. Layer the semi-sweet chips all over the top of the batter and press them in slightly, if adding.

Bake in the center of a preheated 350 degree F oven for 33 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are set. Don't overcook. (Err on the side of gooey, if you must- that's what I do; I find gluten-free brownies taste better slightly undercooked and soft in the middle than over-cooked and crumbly.)

Cool on a wire rack; and remove the brownies from the pan by gripping the foil edges. Chill before cutting.
Makes 9-12 servings.

Jelly Donut Cupcakes

2011-01-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

So yummy! These are from Veganomicon. My favorite part is that you can eat the batter! No eggs! The recipe calls for the cheapest jelly you can find. I used our "healthier" jelly once and it wasn't as good. So get the smuckers! And they're good right out of the oven AND the next day. Two different experiences! So try to save some.

Ingredients

1 cup soymilk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbs cornstarch
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3/4 cup + 2 tbs sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup raspberry, strawberry
2 tbs powdered sugar

How to make it

Preheat oven to 350º and line a cupcake tin with paper liners. In a mixing cup, combine the soymilk, vinegar and cornstarch and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt. Create a well in the center of the flour for the wet ingredients.
Mix the soymilk mixture with a fork to dissolve the cornstarch and pour into the flour mixture. Add the oil, sugar and vanilla, and mix well.
Fill the liners with batter 3/4 full. Place a heaping spoonful of jam into the center of each cupcake, being careful not to overfill. The jam will sink into the bottom of the cupcake during baking.
Bake cupcakes for 21 to 23 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack, and then set uncovered overnight in a cool and dry place. This will make the tops slightly crispy, like a donut crust. Using a sifter, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with coffee.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Icing

2011-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

I got this from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. So far all the cupcakes I've made are delicious so they may just do that (take over the world, that is). These are our favorite so far. I made these for Sam's birthday.

1 cup canned pumpkin
⅓ cup oil
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup soy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup chocolate chips (I use mini choc. chips)

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with liners.

Step 2
In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin, oil, sugar, soy milk and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir with a fork. Once well combined, fold in chocolate chips.

Step 3
Fill liners 2/3 full. Bake for 22-24 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before icing.

Cinnamon Icing (doesn't make much - pipe or spread on a tiny amount):
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. margarine - melted
1 tbsp. soy milk (I used almond)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Place sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add the margarine, soy milk, and vanilla and stir with a fork until smooth. Keep at room temp. until ready to use. The mixture should look opaque and honey brown. If it's glistening a lot or looks too liquid (mine was) add a little extra powdered sugar.

Black Bean Tacos with Roasted Peppers and Onions

2011-01-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

I can't find where I found this recipe but it's really good!!

SIDE NOTE: I leave most of the toppings at the end and these are yummy as is. I also don't think you need 1 tbsp. of olive oil in the taco mixture. Just spray a bit of Pam in there.

Roasted Peppers and Onions:
·    2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
·    1 large onion, thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
·    1 Tbs. olive oil (I use less)

Tacos
·    1 Tbs. olive oil
·   1 medium-size onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
·   6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 Tbs.)
·   2 15-oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
·   1 15-oz. can diced organic fire-roasted tomatoes
·   1 Tbs. chili powder
·   1 Tbs. ground cumin
·   1/8 tsp. hot sauce, or more to taste
·   16 organic corn taco shells, warmed

Toppings (optional)
·    shredded lettuce
·    salsa
·   2 large tomatoes, diced (2 cups)
·    avocados, diced (about 2 cups)
·    shredded Cheddar or Jack cheese
·    low-fat sour cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450F.

1. To make roasted peppers and onions: toss peppers and onion with oil on large baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast 15 minutes, stir, and roast 15 minutes more, or until vegetables   are tender and peppers are beginning to blacken. Transfer to small bowl.

2. Meanwhile, make tacos: heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more, or until fragrant. Stir in beans, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce and 1 cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. Mash beans until filling is thickened, but chunky, and most beans remain intact. Adjust seasonings, if necessary. Transfer to serving bowl.

Pass taco shells, filling, roasted peppers and onions and toppings around the table.

Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons and Portabella Mushrooms

2011-01-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

This recipe came from Fat Free Vegan - http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/04/gnocchi-with-zucchini-ribbons-and.html

It's good. It's a light, easy, quick meal that Syd and I like. And then Tim made it. And did his "thing" to it. And of course made it better. Butt head. Always has to out-do me. As long as I profit from it, I guess. Tim added the onion, bell pepper, and spaghetti sauce so if you want something a little lighter, try it without those. It's good both ways!! Tim's changes are at the end. OH - and get sweet potato gnocchi - it's the best kind!! This serves around 4, if you're eating small portions. I'd double it so you have left overs.

Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons and Portabella Mushrooms

one 17-ounce package prepared gnocchi
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounces portabella mushrooms, cut into cubes
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 cup vegetable broth
2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise into ribbons (I used a serrated vegetable peeler) or cubed

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain immediately and set aside.

Lightly spray a large non-stick skillet with olive oil. Add the garlic, and mushrooms, and sauté over medium-high heat until mushrooms soften. Add the tomatoes and basil and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the broth and zucchini and cook until it is just tender (ribbons will be done in just a couple of minutes while cubes take longer). Add the gnocchi and salt and pepper to taste.

Tim's way:
ADD:
1/2 cup sweet onion cut into thin strips
1/2 cup bell pepper cut into thin strips
1 cup spaghetti sauce
Saute the onions until translucent and yummy. Add the bell peppers with the mushrooms. I'd warm the spaghetti sauce separately and add it at the end. Enjoy!

Happiest Place on Earth (aside from the 2 billion people getting in my way)

2010-12-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

Focaccia heaven.

2010-06-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

This is the BEST bread ever. And I made it! And it turned out! There were a few precarious moments where I almost panicked because I couldn't get it out of the pan, but I prevailed!

Recipe from My Bread - No Knead Method by Jim Lahey. Awesome book with lots of easy and yummy bread.

Equipment: A 13 by 18 inch rimmed baking sheet

Ingredients:

about 1 cup peeled yukon gold potato, cut into 1 inch chunks (I used red and it worked too)
2 1/2 cups cool water
4 1/2 cups (600 grams) bread flour
2 1/2 teaspoons instant or other active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
1/4 cup EVOO

1. Put potatoes and the 2 1/2 cups water into a small saucepan, cover, bring to boil over high heat. Cook until potato chunks fall apart when pierced with a fork.

2. Use a blender, immersion blender, or food mill to puree the potatoes with the 2 1/2 cups cooking water until smooth. Let mixture cool to 120 degrees F; it will feel very warm to the touch but not scalding.

3. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, yeast, sugar, and half the salt. Add the potato puree and, using a wooden spoon or your hands, mix until you have a wet, sticky dough, about 30 seconds. Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature until the dough is tripled in size, 2 to 3 hours.

4. Oil a 13 x 8 inch rimmed baking sheet (make sure you oil the sides as well or it will get stuck like mine!). Use a bowl scraper or spatula to scrape the dough onto the baking pan; it will still be quiet loose and sticky. Gently pull the dough and stretch it across the surface of the pan. Then oil your hands and press the dough evenly out to the edges. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining salt. Use your fingertips to create dimples all over the surface of the dough. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft free spot until it has risen just over the edges of the pan, 45 minutes to an hour.

5. Half an hour before the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, with a rack in the center.

6. Gently place the focaccia in the oven on the center rack (the risen dough is delicate; a bump going into the oven could collapse it) and bake for 30 to 45 minutes (mine took 30) until the top is evenly golden brown. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool, and give it at least a few minutes before slicing and serving warm or at room temperature. (if it gets stuck in the pan like mine did, I ran a knife around the edge and the bottom as far as I could, turned it over, and tried to twist it out like an icecube tray. It was messy but eventually worked without too much damage!!)

Try not to eat it all in one sitting.

Chocolate Chip Scones

2010-06-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

These are YUMMY. Sydney's favorite part (aside from eating them) was squishing the butter into the flour mix. I cut them in half (with a sharp knife) after they cool because they are pretty big.

6 tablespoon (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/4" pieces
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole grain flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips (I used white chocolate swirled with milk chocolate)
3/4 cup buttermilk (I used soy milk!)
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon demerara sugar (I don't know what this is so I just use sugar)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400F. Spray baking sheet and dust with flour, shaking off excess.

In a large bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add butter: rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix in chocolate chips.

In a medium bowl, mix milk, egg yolk, and vanilla. Whisk to combine. Add milk mixture to dry ingredients. Stir until combines (dough will be sticky). Using floured hands, turn out dough onto a floured work surface, form inot a 7 to 8 inch round, and cut into 8 wedges. Use a small spatula or the side of your knife to transer wedges to prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart (it's ok if wedges are mishapen).

Brush scones lightly with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until scones are golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

And finally.... the best for last.

2010-04-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

Random picture time...

You say you want a revolution, well....do you?

2010-04-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

It's a miracle. I've worked out almost every day for almost 2 months now! I've been watching those P90X infomercial for months thinking how much I wanted to be that fit. And a few months ago, when the dog bit Sam, I picked Sam up in a panic and my tweaked my lower back AGAIN. I realized that I've been throwing my back out way too much lately and that I HAD to do something about it before I really hurt myself. So I ordered it. And it works! I've lost 5 lbs. and gained a lot of muscle and I still have one more phase before I complete the first round. I feel great! And I enjoy it. Mostly. The best part is that you burn so many calories doing the workouts that you don't need to restrict your calories. You actually need to increase your calories to fuel your body! I am supposed to eat about 2200 calories to maintain! 2000 if I want to lose. Crazy! Highly recommended and two thumbs up!

And I'm obsessed with Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Great show. I hope he continues and the country is inspired to make the change. I know Michelle Obama is also trying to make some changes so hopefully between the two of them they can make a difference. Fast food does NOT belong in our schools. French fries aren't a veggie. Our kids deserve better. So do our teacher. Imagine trying to teach kids after eating that crap when their blood sugar crashes. If you haven't already, sign the petition. Please?? Sign Jamie's Food Revolution Petition!

I can't just stop at one....

2010-04-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

So Sydney is doing wonderful in school. Her teacher raves about how smart she is. She is doing great in reading - she's super fast! And she loves math (gets that from Daddy). She has a best friend named Nichole. She comes over for sleep overs all the time!
Watch how they amuse themselves...

Sydney went to "Uniquely Me" again this year for her Girl Scouts Troop. It's a fun day for the girls where they have different booths and information to support self esteem in girls. She did the fashion show again - this time in her own outfit. She did awesome!

Her and Sam have really picked up on roller skating. Daddy even comes sometimes. Now THAT'S fun to watch. :-) He secretly enjoys it too.Watch Sydney, Sam, and Daddy skate...

Writers block or pure laziness? You be the judge.

2010-04-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

It's been waaaay too long since I blogged. I have been busy but this is ridiculous. Where to start?

Sam started preschool in February. She did so well - not a tear or plea for me to stay. "Bye Mommy!" She didn't even look back. I was amazed since she had such a horrible week before. Between vaccinations, a cold, and the dog bite (more on that later), I was prepared for the worst. But she was ready. So was I actually. It wasn't as hard as I expected. I was very proud of my big girl. Preschool was short lived though - her last day is next Friday. Sydney is off in May and Sam starts kindergarten in July so we're taking the rest of the summer off for the last bit of mommy time. Here is Sam's first day of preschool. You can see how pale she is (from the cold) and the dog bite and bruising. She was such a trooper. This picture makes me want to cry.

So the dog bite. Well Sam loves our dog. Our dog loves Sam. But Sam has no fear of said dog (even AFTER the bite!!). We've been trying to tell her to back off and love her a little more gently, and from afar, but she just can't help herself. So I was sitting on the couch, Hannah was sleeping on the floor, and Sam walked up and lay her head on Hannah's belly. It must have startled Hannah from her sleep, because I hear a growl and looked up to see Sam on the floor with Hannah on top of her. Those 2 seconds it took me to get from the couch to the floor were the worst ever. So she bit Sam on the face, inches from her eye and left a few bruises and tooth marks. I grabbed Sam and ran down the street to urgent care in a panic. She was fine and not in need of stitches. Very lucky little girl. Lucky dog too because my first instinct was to put her down. But she's never done this before and I have myself to blame for not teaching Sam how to handle her pets. We're working on the rules and Hannah doesn't spend as much time inside as she used to. Poor thing was getting used to being spoiled too.

Winter blahs....

2010-01-27T09:57:00.000-08:00

Apparently I'm suffering from the winter blues. I don't think I went through this last year but I can't seem to get out from it this year. Maybe there was more sun? Maybe Sam was easier? She is going through a rough phase. Actually, both of them are. Syd is on break - it's been almost six weeks. YES, that's SIX weeks. We are going craaaaazy right about now. The countdown is on though. Syd goes back to school on Monday and Sam starts preschool on Wednesday!!! We are all very excited about that. Let me tell you. Syd and Sam are at each other for a good chunk of the day. And I'm running out of steam. One more week. That's my mantra.

Enough of the negative.....I'm lacking inspiration right now so it's time for random thoughts...

At this moment in time they are giggling and roaring at Hannah as she does laps around the table. She can keep this up for a good 5 minutes. I should see if the girls can go that long. Maybe I can get a nap out of them. Probably not. It's a good thought though.

I gave Sam a pair of my heels for dress-up and I am amazed at her talent for walking, running, and jumping in them. She doesn't get it from me. She wears those things around for hours sometimes. I keep telling her that suffering for style is NOT necessary yet but she doesn't seem to care.

I took Sam down for her vax and flu shots last week. She was so brave. She rarely cries at her vax appointments so I wasn't worried. The sweet nurse came in hiding the needles behind her back to prep when she realized we hadn't seen the doc yet, so she snuck back out with them still hidden. After the well exam, a new nurse came in (this time a young guy) with all 4 needles, which he proceeded to put down right next to her in plain sight. And took his time giving her a shot, taking forever and a day to plunge the liquid in, and another forever and a day to take the band-aid out of the wrapping, put it on, only to start over again. 4 times. She was hysterical by the end. I know how much it hurt. He sucked. When he finished, I looked over at Sydney and she had her face hidden in her hands crying for Sam. I spoiled them rotten with candy and toys from Raleys. Sigh.

So the next day was Sydney's turn - only two shots for her. But after watching Sam's experience the day before, she was nervous. So was I. This time, we drew an ace though and got the sweet girl from the day before. She was teaching two other girls how to do it so I had a good feeling. One, two, three and she was done. Quick and painless. We were all very impressed. I realize that I now have bad karma for thinking horrible thoughts about the nurse from the day before. But he did suck.

So since we were in shot mode, I went next door to the pharmacy and got my H1N1 vax. OMG it hurt!! But there were 2 small children and a gaggle of elderly watching so I toughed it out. And then proceeded to whine about how much my arm hurt for 2 days. I feel bad for rolling my eyes behind the girls back for complaining about their sore arms. They had 2 and 4 shots. I'm such a baby. Next stop, eye doctor. Wish me luck.

I would post pictures but the last one I took was from New Years Eve!!! Yikes! Bad mommy. I know. I'm on it.

I love good news...

2009-12-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

Every time I read his upates they make me cry. This one especially.
http://www.hope4peyton.org/

Squeezing in some random pics...cuz I promised I would!

2009-12-15T23:16:00.000-08:00

So we've gotten a bit of snow lately. And the girls are in heaven!! (me as well - as long as I have my new tires, that is!) They can't get enough of it. And they can't stop eating it. I keep reminding them to only eat the fresh stuff and watch out for the yellow (as well as the rabbit poop) but I keep catching them just picking up random pieces of the ground they just walked on. Yuck. My OCD is NOT wearing off on them. I finally just gave in and brought out the vanilla syrup to make snow cones. YUM. Not that I had any. I'll save mine for when I'm in an actual snow cone store. :-)

It definitely makes it feel like Christmas. I find it magical every time I see flurries. And that little hill combined with that little sled - makes me go wheee just as loud as the girls do! Who cares if I split it in two? :-) It's worth the $15!

Oh, and we made a fort! Now THAT brought back childhood memories. Although, I don't recall it being such hard work. My age is showing. We all had a blast though. And it seems to be lasting a bit longer than our snow girl (named Jill, by the way). She's wasting away. Apparently she hasn't been eating as well as I have.

Hopefully I have time to post again before next week, but if not, Merry Christmas!

Sending out positive thoughts for Anissa!!!

2009-12-15T22:58:00.000-08:00

Hold strong. I think about you and your family every day. If anyone is looking for updates - here is the link. Her husband is gracious enough to keep her fans and friends up to date.

http://www.hope4peyton.org/

Heavy sigh...

2009-11-18T08:08:00.000-08:00

I'm so sad. I don't even know this woman, but I've been following her blog and her daughter's fight with cancer. I can't count the number of times she's made me laugh out loud and do the ugly cry. She's amazing. Amazing. And she just had another stroke. Another heavy sigh. So unfair. I am sending positive thoughts her way. Lots of them. Stay strong Anissa!!

Updates here:

http://aiminglow.com/2009/11/hope-for-anissa/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AimingLow+(Aiming+Low)

Here are her blogs:

http://freeanissa.com/home/
http://www.hope4peyton.org/

Family Portraits....

2009-11-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

I pulled out my tripod last month just to see if I could get some good ones on my own. We haven't had family pictures taken since Syd was a year old or so. Yikes. I got a few sweet ones. I guess we should do this the right way and get all prettied up first. Ah, well.

And then I remembered that we got family pictures done at Wayne's Birthday party! Success!

Trick or treat....

2009-11-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Ahh, how I love Halloween. And luckily, so do my girls!

We tried to trick or treat at a local outdoor mall but they ran out of candy before we got there. So we went trick or treating thought the neighborhood with Rebecca and her girls. Fun was had by all. Our bags were filled with chocolate and goodies. OK - "their" bags were filled but they love to share. Sydney was Hannah Montana (of course) and Sam was a scaaaary vampire. She even kept the wig on 95% of the night! Can't wait until next year!

Aloha and back....

2009-11-01T19:56:00.000-08:00

We spent a week in Maui in October with some friends. It was a wonderful and much needed break. We missed the girls tremendously though and were very happy to return home. Apparently - they missed us too. It's been two weeks and Sam still comes up to me numerous times a day and tells me she missed me - and can't get enough of me. Think they are laying on the guilt so we don't leave them behind next time? :-)

There were turtles in the bay nearly every time we walked down to the pool. Very cool. Impressed me every time!

We couldn't resist Momma's Fish House again. Great food AND atmosphere. Love it!

I know we were on the wrong island, but I had my eyes peeled for someone from Lost. This is the closest I came though. :-) Hey Hurley!

Party Time - Excellent!

2009-11-01T19:32:00.000-08:00

Syd and Sam took pictures too. Here's their take on the party...

Just for fun...

2009-11-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

Hot Air Balloon Races cont.

2009-11-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

We walked up to the top of the hill on the first day of the races to see what we could see behind our house. Impressive!! The rainbow was an added bonus at the end of the magical weekend!

Catch up time....

2009-11-01T18:25:00.001-08:00

It's been waaay too long since I blogged!! I guess I'll start with September. We had the Hot Air Balloon Races and my parents came up to go with us. We started bright and early and were on the road by 4:30 am for the Glow Show.

Say Cheeeeeese....

2009-09-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

'nuff said.

now???

2009-09-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

OK - I took out that annoying word verification thingy. You should be able to comment. I don't know. Give it a try.

aha!

2009-09-01T00:25:00.000-07:00

comments are now fixed. comment away!

Edited to add... nope, not fixed. sorry. working on it though... I know how much you all want to comment on my masterpieces. :-)

Odds and ends....

2009-08-31T22:54:00.000-07:00

Sydney decided to join us girls and hack her hair off. Now we all have bobs. She loves it and mommy didn't cry. She looks beautiful and can now brush her hair all by herself.... and no tangles!

And I actually got a good picture of BOTH of them. Shock!

Sydney told me (finally) that she loves living here. Mainly because of all the baby lizards and bunnies that share our property. I like the lizards but the bunnies, not so much. GO away and stop killing our lawn. I wonder if they have sticky traps for rabbits as well as mice? Sigh. No, I wouldn't do that. Not really. Ok, maybe. :-) Although, after cleaning out the entire garage last week and finding all the mice droppings, I no longer cry when I find a mouse in the traps. I actually do a dance and say "gotcha!". Not very vegetarian of me, I know. Now, when the cat gets stuck to one, that's a different word and a different dance. Dumb cat.

My garden is starting to produce some (small) odds and ends. We have cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, a few watermelons, the most pathetic zucchini's I've ever seen, and some strange weed that we thought may have been a plant that we forgot about. It's been pampered and fed until last weekend when I told Tim to yank it. Sorry little guy. You almost had me fooled. :-)

Things that make me go hmmmm....

2009-08-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

Link on article about Miss California:

http://www.popeater.com/2009/08/31/ex-miss-california-sues-for-slander-religious-discrimination/

I debate this one with myself quite often. On the one hand, she was asked a question and gave her honest opinion. That's how she feels. And I'm all for freedom of religion, freedom of choice, freedom of speech, and all that jazz. But if someone asked her if she agreed with mixed marriage and she said no, that would be an unacceptable answer and she would have been labeled a racist, right? But because of her religious beliefs it's supposed to be ok. Even I tried to justify her answer somehow. It's how she feels, right? Don't ask the question if you don't want to hear the answer, right? She started off good - she said "I think it's great that we live in a land where you can choose - same sex marriage or opposite marriage". (which is not true - although it should be) And then she veered off and ended with "In my country, and in my family, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."

Really, not that bad. That's what she believes, right? That's what her religion teaches her. But those words - remember - those few words and beliefs are the seeds that are blossoming into people actually going out of their way to take away someone's rights. Those words hurt us all. Most likely someone you know is being discriminated against because of that one sentence. It isn't even about tolerance - because you shouldn't have to tolerate someone's rights. It's about acceptance. We need to accept that regardless of your religious beliefs - there is still the issue of rights. We live in a country that prides itself on equal rights. Freedom of choice. And yes, freedom of speech. You have every right to voice your opinion, to speak your mind. But when you go into that voting booth and vote to take away your neighbor's rights - I believe that you are crossing a line. You are taking a step backwards. And you are hurting our children - our future.

Ideally, she would have said - "it's not what I would choose for myself but I believe in equal rights". Instead, she "spoke her truth". Sigh... No, really heavy sigh... So how do we get back to moving forward? How do we inspire equal rights to be priority again? I'm still in shock over California. We moved too soon. :-( Maybe my vote would have made a difference. You never know.

2nd grade picture

2009-08-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

This will be a quick post - but here is Sydney's 2nd grade picture. She wants to cut her hair off so it's good we got a good one! I have to keep checking myself as I write 2nd grade. It doesn't look right!! :sob: She's so grown up.

2 months and counting...

2009-08-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

until I need to wear a swimsuit. Two months. T-W-O M-O-N-T-H-S!!! I've been hinting, begging, and bribing my husband - "if you want me to get into shape, take me to Hawaii!". Nope, can't afford it. Not this year. 2011 - we'll go for our 10 year anniversary. Sigh. So over the weekend, our friends were visiting, talking about another friend's wedding in Maui. And they oh-so-graciously offered for us to stay with them if we came!! Whoo hoo!! Don't have to ask me twice. I found tickets that night and bought them the next day. But now - only two months to undo 2 years of maybe 2 hours of yoga? Yikes. I had 8 months prep time last time. In two months though.... maybe I'll go buy one of those skirted swimsuits. :-) Aloha!!

Stressing over the heat...

2009-08-02T09:44:00.001-07:00

102 temperatures are something new in this house. Sore throat, coughing, body aches, constant fever, headache - every symptom of the flu - she has it (I do NOT recommend googling "swine flu" in the middle of the night, by the way). I believe this is the first time Sydney has had the flu. And this is the first year we skipped the flu shot. I am definitely switching back to a pediatrician. I thought a family doctor would be easier and less "germie" in the waiting room - but our doctor doesn't keep vaccinations in her office. Which means we have to go to some clinic to get shots. Which means we didn't go. That and Sam is apparently behind on HER vaccinations that she should have had last year - but I wasn't informed of - I only found out in CA when I had to take her to the ER for an ear infection.. I've NEVER missed a vax on either of these girls. Bad mom. Bad. I especially thought about this as I comforted my feverish and miserable daughter in the middle of the night - contemplating whether or not she had the swine flu and fighting the urge to take her to the ER in the middle of the night. Every time I went in to check on her - which was every 30 minutes it seems - she was awake. Which is unheard of for Sydney. That girl falls asleep 5 minutes after her head hits the pillow and is unwakable until morning. She's like daddy. Sam on the other hand - wakes up if I sneak her door open - she's like mommy. Sigh.

Back to Sydney - she sounds better this morning and her fever is down for now. Let's hope this was the worst of it. There's nothing more humbling than watching your child suffer - with nothing to do but feel helpless. I'm definitely getting that flu shot this year. Definitely. And Sam's vax - next week. Fingers and toes are crossed that this passes her by. I need sleep.

This will make you younger!

2009-07-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

OK, not really. But it's really healthy. And pretty good. And really healthy. Wait, did I already say that?

Out of curiosity I picked up a book about this new trend that I've been hearing about - calorie restriction as a way to live longer and healthier.

http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Aging-Plan-Nutrient-Rich-Life-Scientifically/dp/1569243832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248929452&sr=8-1

They pack highly nutritious meals into low calorie packages. And eat less. And supposedly it helps you live longer. Sounds good to me. Not that I would ever be able to eat a low calorie diet, let alone count my calories. But I do like the idea of packing more nutrients into my meals. And eating less calories. Just not losing a large chunk of my body fat (a little would be nice but we all know if I lost too much body fat I'd be concave. You know where.) So anyways, back to the nutrition part. There are recipes in the back of the book that don't sound too bad so here is the first. Sydney AND Tim both gave it 2 thumbs up. Sam, well... do I even need to give you a hint? I didn't think so. Sigh. She ate cheese.

This is enough for 8 people. I made it thinking that it would be enough for 4 people since it's supposed to be for calorie restriction, but apparently they eat big dinners and tiny meals the rest of the day because I had plenty left over to freeze for another night!

Manicotti (from the Anti-Aging Plan)

Stuffing:
1 large sweet potato, cooked and peeled
8 oz. low fat or nonfat ricotta cheese
3 scallions, whites only, chopped (I used a diced sauted leek)
2 tblsp. Fresh parsley, chopped
Sauce:
Olive or canola oil cooking spray
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots, diced
1 can (25 oz) peeled tomatoes, drained
1 can (24 oz) tomato sauce
8 oz. ground turkey or firm tofu, minced (I don't put either)
Half of a six ounce can tomato paste
3 sheets (8 x 5) nori - broken up and crumbled in
1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
8 oz. fresh shitake mushroom (I used portabellas) chopped
2 tbsp. wheat germ
1 oz. bran flakes
2 tbsp. chopped fresh oregano or 2 tsp. dried
2 tbsp. chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ lbs. manicotti or lasagne noodles
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a large nonstick skillet with oil. Over medium heat, stir 3 cloves of garlic until it begins to brown. Add the onion, celery, carrots,. Add ¼ cup of the peeled tomatoes. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are barely soft. Remove from the heat and save in large pot.

Return the skillet to the stove and brown the remaining 2 cloves of garlic. Reduce the heat and add the turkey or tofu. Stir while the turkey browns, breaking up the clumps. Mix the turkey/tofu in with the vegetables, along with the remaining tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and nori.
Spray the skillet with more oil and return to heat. Add the soy sauce and mushrooms and stir fry until the mushrooms are soft and chewy. Add to the vegetable and sauce and heat over medium heat until barely boiling.

Add the wheat germ, bran flakes, herbs, and salt and pepper to the sauce. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, then rinse under cold water.
Mash the sweet potato in a food processor. Add the ricotta cheese and blend until velvety smooth. Mix in the scallions (or sauted leek) and parsley. Set aside.

Spray a large baking dish with canola oil. Spread a large spoonful of sauce over the bottom of the pan. If you are using manicotti noodles, stuff each noodle with the filling and arrange in the baking dish. Pour sauce over all. If you are using lasagne noodles, layer half of the noodles, all of the filling, then the remaining noodles, and spread the sauce evenly over all. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake for 30 minutes.

Calories per serving (with turkey): 623. Percent of calories from fat: 13%, protein: 20%, carbs: 66%, 35 mg. cholesterol.
Nutritional profile (% of RDA) per serving: Vit. A: 220/ Vit. C: 328/ Vit. D: 30/ Vit. E: 46/ Vit. K: 425/ Thiamine: 69/ Riboflavin: 53/ Niacin: 53/ Vit. B6: 121/ Folacin: 61/ Vit. B12: 64/ Pantothenic Acid: 83/ Biotin: 16/ Calcium: 28/ Phosphorus: 61/ Magnesium: 59/ Potassium: 137/ Sodium: 24/ Iron: 58/ Copper: 17/ Manganese: 28/ Zinc: 81/ Selenium: 105/ Chromium: 95

Chicken Pot Pie without the chicken.....

2009-07-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

Oh how I've missed you. This is definitely one I'll make again. I'm thinking that there are a few changes that I will try next time. I'm not big on cauliflower, so I thought I'd try it with broccoli and add some peas next time. And you definitely want to roll the dough thin. I couldn't find the rolling pin so mine came out thick. The crust is more like a biscuit than a crust. Good stuff though! Sydney and Tim loved it. It's a given that Sam will hate it if it's not from a box or - well - anything tasty. :-) She's a work in progress. Thanks to Isa from Veganomicon. Although, mine was not vegan.

Cauliflower & Mushroom Pot Pie with Black Olive Crust

For the Sauce
3 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste

For the Veggies
1 pound cauliflower, trimmed, washed, and cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 leek, thinly sliced
1 small carrot, diced
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon white wine or sherry vinegar

For the Black Olive Biscuit Crust
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch of dried thyme
3 tablespoons butter, chilled
4-5 tablespoon ice water
1/3 cup pitted black olives, chopped

Oven preheated to 375

A Dutch oven is a handy for this recipe, if you have one. If not, any heavy-bottomed pot will do.
Heat a saucepan over medium heat and make your roux by melting the butter adding in the flour. Stir the mixture until it is the consistency of a thick paste, and cook for about 5 minutes until it is browned and bubbling. Remove the pot from the heat for a moment and slowly add in the milk, whisking until the mixture is smooth. Add the herbs, mustard powder, salt and the bay leaf. Return to medium heat and whisk constantly for about 10 minutes until it thickens into a nice sauce. Remove the bay leaf and correct the seasoning. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Heat the oil in your Dutch oven over medium and sauté the leeks and carrots for around 8 minutes, until they are soft. Add the mushrooms and vinegar and continue to cook for another 8 minutes. Add the cauliflower, partially cover the pot and allow the veggies to steam for a final 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

For the crust:
Sift the dry ingredients together, and cut the cold butter into the mixture until it is crumbly. Add 3 tablespoons of ice water and mix. You may add additional tablespoons of water in one at a time until it comes together as a soft dough. Fold in the olives.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly flour surface and roll it out into a circle a bit smaller than your dutch oven. Cut the dough into sections.

Bring it all together:
Whisk the sauce to get rid of any skin that has formed and pour it over the veggie mixture. Stir so that everything is coated and arrange your dough pieces on top. Brush with milk. Bake for 35 minutes until the veggies are tender and the dough is cooked. Allow to rest for a few minutes before digging in. Enjoy!

Self reflection time....

2009-07-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling really bad about myself lately. I know I've gained a few inches around the middle - those love handles are definitely easier to grip, and I haven't worked out since we were in Maui TWO YEARS AGO (I was in the best shape ever then - between the new vegan diet and the daily dose of yoga). Not to mention the fact that I'm closer to 40 than 30, which means my metabolism that I've been so blessed with my entire life is starting to turn it's back on me. Factor all that in along with two babies (one of which was a giant - thanks to daily 7-11 slurpies) and I have definitely lost my flat tummy. Sigh. But the past year my body image has taken a slam. Mostly brought on my me. I've been hard on myself - completely over critical. When I look in the mirror I see something completely different than what other people most likely see. Who knows what my husband sees because he no longer disagrees with me when I complain about my body. Most likely because he's tired of hearing it. That's what I'm telling myself, anyways.

I try really hard not to make any comments in front of my girls because I don't want them to turn this on themselves. I try to teach them to eat healthy for the benefit of their health and immune system. That they are worthy and should express that by being health conscious, yet not to obsess over it. But yet, I wonder if they are picking up on my bad attitude about myself. I am trying to raise confident, strong women yet that doesn't describe me lately. How can I pass that on to these wonderful little girls if I'm not living it myself?

This reflection was brought on by a picture that my four year old took of me last week. When I uploaded it - I just stared at the picture. I kept thinking - is this really how I look? Why am I being so hard on myself? I am thin. Why don't I see that when I look in the mirror? Stupid fashion magazines. And damn me for letting myself feel like this. So where do I go from here? How do I break the cycle? Every weekend I make a promise to myself that I am going to eat really healthy and work out - starting Monday. And every Monday comes and goes with out disturbing the dust on my elliptical. I know that I need to work out - even if I'm not as out of shape as I've convinced my brain. I know that lifting weight is vital and necessary as I get older. But I can't seem to find the inspiration. I keep hinting to Tim that a trip to Hawaii will definitely inspire me. But that's not going to happen (this year, anyways) and I'd probably end up dropping it as soon as the trip happens again anyways. I need to find inspiration to do it for myself. So this is my reminder, a pledge to myself. To find balance in my self image, and to find inspiration to get myself strong and healthy again. But the challenge is to do it in that order. Can I find myself without having hard abs? :-) I'll let you know. Oh - and here's the picture (along with a few other gems she took that day).

Craft time...

2009-07-20T20:20:00.001-07:00

We made a craft run to Michael's yesterday and found this great idea. They are paper doll shapes cut out of particle board that we painted with black chalkboard paint. We cut out dresses from some great scrapbooking paper and attached them with sticky back velcro so we can change them when they get bored (or ruined). The girls had a blast coloring in their faces, jewelry, and shoes. Giant paper dolls will never get old!! Definitely worth the $7.00 each for the cutout, and $7.00 for the paint. The paint also comes in white, pink, and blue.

2009-07-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

The following are great words from Jimmy Carter. In this day and age it's sad that these things even need to be said. Women are equal to men. Got it boys? The bible also says we should stone people for lots of really lame reasons, but I'm pretty sure that it's against the law. So tell me again, why is it legal to keep women from becoming ordained in some religions? Sexism at it's worst in the name of God. I know there are a lot of positive lessons in the bible, but there are also some really (really) bad ones. A lot of it is disregarded as being from a different time. Why isn't this one as well? I can think of a few others that I'd like to take a sharpie too, but that's for another rant.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.

I HAVE been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.

This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries.

At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.

In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.

The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family.

It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices - as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom.

I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy - and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.

The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have recently published a statement that declares: "The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable."

We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world's major faiths share.

The carefully selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place - and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence - than eternal truths. Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.

I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn't until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.

The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views."
Link:
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/losing-my-religion-for-equality-20090714-dk0v.html?page=-1

Mmmmm.....

2009-07-16T23:13:00.000-07:00

This is GOOD stuff. And EASY. And very CHEESY. And not the least bit vegan. Not sure where I found this one, but I'm glad I tried it. Sydney and Tim both liked it. And Sam liked it one bite, but not the next. It's a start... It was also good for breakfast!! (I'm not too sure about the nutritional facts at the end. There's an awful lot of cheese for less than 400 calories.)

Chile Relleno Casserole

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 45 Minutes

Ready In: 1 Hour
Servings: 6

Ingredients:
2 (7 ounce) cans whole green chile peppers, drained & diced
8 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded

3 eggs, beaten
1 (5 oz. ounce) can evaporated milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ can green enchilada sauce (the small can)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 8x8-inch baking dish w/ cooking spray.
2. Lay half of the chilies evenly in bottom of baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the Cheddar cheeses, and cover w/ remaining chilies. In a bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, and flour, and pour over the top of the chilies.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, pour enchilada sauce evenly over the top, and continue baking another 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar cheeses, and serve.

Nutrition Information
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Calories: 387

Amount Per Serving (not accurate because I halved the cheese and added an egg and changed from tomato sauce to enchilada)
* Total Fat: 27.6g
* Cholesterol: 148mg
* Sodium: 1449mg
* Total Carbs: 12g
* Dietary Fiber: 1.4g
* Protein: 23.9g

Good stuff....

2009-06-29T19:32:00.001-07:00

Sam LOVES to take pics. She's always begging me to let her use my camera. I give in every once in a while, and the results are always priceless. It's always interesting to see things from their prospective. And now I know what I'm getting her for her birthday this year.

Self portrait? Or Sydney's shot? You be the judge.
g

Time for your closeup.

Hmmm.... no comment.

OK - quick, everyone pretend you're asleep.

Neiiiiiigh.

Love how she got the the midnight blue toes in there.

This one is perfect! Such talent.

So we partied like a rock star.... seriously.

2009-06-28T21:31:00.001-07:00

I don't know how those rock stars do it! Or seven year olds, for that matter. Whew. I've had a day to recover, and I'm still a mess (along with my house). Now, my 4 year old, she couldn't hang. Too much sun, not enough water, and no nap = one bad night. Poor thing. But I do believe she had a rockin' good time. And she was up and running this morning.

So for Sydney's 7th birthday party - she chose a pop star theme. We decorated the bathroom up like a stage - curtains, lights, and who else - but Hannah Montana. Sydney had pink hair, glitter, and sequins. What more could a pop star ask for? (besides a Jonas brother, but ewww. No thank you. skinny pants should NOT be worn by anyone besides teenage girls)

I didn't realize what a photo op our bathroom/stage would bring. Just call me the paparazzi, baby. I can't decide who had more fun with the stage - the adults or the kids. You be the judge...

Not tomorrow, next day...

2009-06-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

As I type this - my 4 year old is pretending to type into her "computer phone" (which is actually an old cell phone that I passed on to her) so she feels included in my computer time. She started swimming lessons this week. 4 days a week of splashing fun. It makes me choke up when I watch her play in the pool - no fear - no clutching the teacher with claws of steel. It's amazing what a difference a year will make. Last year she was terrified of the water. This year it's her favorite thing ever! I have choked up while watching her twice now, as I realize that my baby is growing up. And fast. This is a good thing, right? Sigh. I need to get out her baby book and log all the witty and funny things she says. And the few baby things she still clings too. For instance, instead of saying tomorrow, no matter how many times I tell her, she still calls it "next day". The promise that something is tomorrow is always followed by "that's next day, right?" "We're doing that next day?" And if you correct her that's it's tomorrow, she gets angry and corrects you that it's next day :-) She used to say yogurt funny. I loved when she said it. Yogret. Now she calls it yogurt. I miss yogret.

Every night at bedtime - she askes me to sing her Rock a By Baby. And then she sings to me afterward. It always starts out the same - "You're the best mommy. Don't ever leave me. Together, forever. I love you because you're the best" And then is usually followed by some parenting advice: "don't yell at me anymore", or "you need to play games with me more". And then ends with how I'm the best and she'll always love me. Breaks my heart, fills me with guilt, and brings tears to my eyes all at the same time. She's good. I'll give her that much. How I love my Sammy. Don't grow up so fast, mkay?

Now, Sydney is another subject all together. I am in denial that she is turning 7 in a week. :-( How can this be? Her last day of 1st grade is on Monday. She is starting 2nd grade in less than a month!! She reads at an incredible level and speed. She is doing great at math. And she stumped me with a homework problem that she had to create with her homework. Is it bad that I didn't know what a rhombus was? Yikes. She plans her wardrobe for school the night before. She has a CRUSH on a boy!! And she stomps, pouts, and slams her door like a teenager. Sigh. 7 going on 17. My big girl is growing up. OK, relax....take a deep breath. :sob:

Drink and be merry....

2009-06-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

Water, that is. Just don't leave it in your car. Tim sent me this email that made me go hmmm...

..........................................................................................................
Not sure if this is true or not................. but just in case: > Cancer Update from Johns-Hopkins > > Bottled water in your car is very dangerous! > On the Ellen show, Sheryl Crow said this is what caused her breast > cancer. It has been identified as the most common cause > of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer tissue. > Sheryl Crow's oncologist told her: women should not drink bottled > water that has been left in a car. > The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of the > bottle which releases dioxin into the water. Dioxin is > a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue. > So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that > has been left in a car. Pass this on to all the women in your life. > This information is the kind we need to know that just might save > us! Use a stainless steel canteen or a glass bottle > instead of plastic!..........................................................................................................

Of course, Snopes.com says it is a mixture of truth and bull, like most forwarded emails that come our way. But this one made me think. How many times have I left a partially full bottle of water in my car for days on end? Heating and cooling over and over again. That can't be good for anyone, let alone for all the bacteria growing in there. I don't heat plastic bowls in my microwave because of the chemicals, yet I let my girls drink water that has been through roughly the same thing. OOPS. I even have those ridiculously priced but really cool looking Sigg bottles that we forget to grab on the way out the door. Not anymore though. Just thought I'd throw that one out there because I'm sure I'm not the only one who never thought of that. And now I have a good excuse to Tim as to why I'm not drinking that half full bottle of water in my car. He sent it to me after all. HA!

Why aren't we flying? Because getting there is half the fun. You know that.

2009-05-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

Since Sydney was off track this month, Tim took some time off (gasp) and we drove up to Washington for a long weekend. That's 11 hours in a car (each way) with Sam (and Syd too - but mainly Sam. Sydney has always been a good traveler). Yikes. This was Tim's idea, obviously. But I figured we had to do it eventually. I was hoping for a few more years to pass, but I'm an adventurous soul, don't you know? It went a little better than I expected and we made it with our sanity (well - most of it. I suppose it didn't help that I stayed up late watching the 2 hour season finale of "Lost" the night before we left - thanks for nothing JJ). And the drive back wasn't as bad, even though I was up with Sam sick all night before we came home. Luckily my dear husband drove the whole way. Although, that left me to attending to every whim for the two passengers in back. Sigh. Wait - I'm onto you dear husband.

Once we covered that long expanse of road, we had a great time. On Friday all of us girls drove back down to Oregon to visit our aunt and cousins that just moved from Indiana a few months ago. Aunt Janice served us a wonderful lunch, including vegetarian fare for us leaf eaters. Oregon is beautiful. We were amazed at all the bright flowers and different shades of green. I forgot what green truly looks like after all this time in the dessert. It's like going from black and white to technicolor!! It was great to catch up and see how everyone has grown. Except for the adults of course. :-) Haven't grown a bit. And Sydney and Sam were very excited to meet their 2nd cousins!! Hopefully we will see them again soon!

And of course, the girls love their cousin Loren so they had a blast with her. We went to Northwest Trek on Saturday and saw lots of critters. We ate and shopped and ate some more. It was good to get away and see my family. On the way back through, we dropped the girls at my parents for 4 days. If I put into words how much I enjoyed THAT you will probably think I am a terrible mom. :-) I still get giddy thinking about 4 days alone in my house during the day, and alone in the evening with my hubby. Sigh. Crap, I think I was supposed to just talk about how much I missed them. Which I did. Eventually. :-) OK, pretend you didn't hear that. Here are some pics to help you forget...

White Wedding.....

2009-05-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

I have fond memories of trying on my mom's wedding dress when we were kids. So a few years ago I broke the seal on my gown and let the girls try it on. Here is this year's bunch. Sorry - no pics of me in it. It fits but just barely. :-( No more pizza for me...

Top Model

2009-05-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

So Sydney was in a fashion show last month with her Girl Scout troop. It was the highlight of her year. She wasn't the least bit nervous and stole the show, in my opinion. Although, I now have to try to convince her that she doesn't want a career as a model. Sigh.

Oh California.

2009-05-27T22:15:00.001-07:00

What in the world is going on over there? I had such high hopes that someone higher up would have some common sense. But nope. Nada. Seriously? Are we really going to continue to tell the gay and lesbian community that they are second class citizens? Are we really letting the voters decide the rights of a minority? Really? Why is this even up for vote? Why is this even something that is decided state by state? I'm pretty sure that the idea of equal rights is something that goes hand in hand with being an American. Along with freedom of religion, and freedom FROM religion. I get if it is something that your religion doesn't support. Fine. So your church doesn't have to perform gay marriage. You can tell me all you want how you don't support it. But should your religious beliefs REALLY take away the freedoms and equalities of others? Do you really have to put laws into effect that prevent a family from the same protections as yours, even if the family looks different or offends you? Can you imagine how it must feel? Can you for one moment, put yourself in their shoes? Isn't compassion and empathy something that Jesus taught? Not alienation and judgement. Sigh. One day. Some day. Soon I hope.

Must blog

2009-05-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

Oh my dear blog. I promise tomorrow I will update you. Truly, I will. I have lots of wonderful pics and good stuff to add. Although, not so much on the recipe side of it. Kind of hard to find new recipes when I am not cooking. Even the cookies I made yesterday were pre-made. BAD. BAD. I know. But the weather is too nice and the girls are such a joy. No time for slaving. Next week, maybe?

On another note, I went to Babiesrus on Tuesday for a shower gift. I should have known the reaction that place would have on my uterus. Although it was tough, I did actually make it out of there without bursting into tears. Seriously, mother nature. Leave my hormones ALONE. Tim's done. Apparently, so am I. :-( I should watch back to back episodes of Jon & Kate Plus Eight. That should cure it.

That poor family. Unlike most people (apparently), I like Kate. I relate to her on so many levels. Although, I would hope that if I watched myself treat my husband like a child for 2 years on prime time TV, I would find it in me to improve on myself. It was really sad watching them in two completely different places. I really hope they make it. My fingers are crossed. I can't imagine raising 8 kids alone, let alone 2.

Quick, someone hide my scissors...

2009-04-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

So we took the plunge and turned them into real bangs this morning. She's even happier today. I'm still adjusting. What have I done to my baby? She looks WAY too old. Sob (that's sob, as in cry, not s.o.b.) She said she looks JUST like me now. Well, maybe that means I look young?

Seriously good stuff...

2009-04-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

I realize this blog is turning out to be more recipes than pictures, but I have so few dishes that any living person would actually dare to eat again. No, really. So these need to be on record. That and so I don't forget for next months menu!

I made this on Monday and it was a huge success. I sprinkled shredded cheese on top as well.
(from fatfreevegan.com of course)

Mexican Lasagna

1/2 large green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 large red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
corn tortillas--at least 12
3 cups (28 ounces) fat free refried beans (if you're vegetarian - check the ingredients for no pork fat)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 tsp. chili powder, divided
1/2 tsp. cumin, divided
3 cups black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup salsa
1 can enchilada sauce
sliced black olives

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a non-stick pan with a little water (1 tbsp.), sauté the peppers, garlic, and onion for about 3 minutes, or until softened. Set aside.

Spray a 9 X 13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray. Line the bottom with a layer of tortillas (you may cut some of them to fit). Make sure you cover the entire bottom of the pan.

Stir the refried beans and spread half of them evenly over the tortillas. Cover the refried beans with half of the pepper-onion mixture and half of the tomatoes; sprinkle with half of the seasonings and half of the black beans.

Add another layer of tortillas and repeat the layers of the other ingredients. Spread the cup of salsa over the final layer of black beans. Cover with a final layer of tortillas, pour the enchilada sauce over the top, and sprinkle with black olives. Cover and bake for about 30 minutes or until hot throughout. It will be easier to cut if you allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Note: Fresh corn is a great addition to this. I use about 2 cups of uncooked (or frozen) corn and add it as one more layer. You will need a deeper pan, though.

Makes about 8 large servings. Each serving contains 319 Calories (kcal); 5g Total Fat; (13% calories from fat); 15g Protein; 56g Carbohydrate; 9mg Cholesterol; 601mg Sodium; 14g Fiber. Weight Watchers 6 Flex points.

Spring break me?

2009-04-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

It's spring break for Sydney this week. And it's cold. Wait, isn't this supposed to be spring? It snowed yesterday. Craaaazy. So we're going nuts trying to find inexpensive ways to stay busy. It's not working very well and we're watching too much TV. Plus my house is a disaster area. I give up trying to keep up with them. I'm beginning to think Jon & Kate plus their 8 (that's 2 Sydneys and 6 Sam's!!) MUST have an entire team of house cleaners on standby - at least on filming day.

The girls have set up a tent in the dining room and have spent the last few evenings staying up late and watching movies on our portable dvd player in there. Works for me!! And we bought crafts yesterday but they did them all in two days. Yikes. I still have a few days left....

And Sydney has been BEGGING me to cut some bangs for her. Apparently "so people can tell she's my daughter". Funny girl. Well, Mimi is coming this weekend so I gave in today, knowing that if I butchered them too much Louise can make everything better. :-) She now has long side swept bangs and looks like a teenager. We're off to get her drivers license. Seriously. She giggled at herself in the mirror for 10 minutes. Apparently, she likes it. Sigh.

Melted candy time....

2009-04-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

It's Easter time again. And it warmed up enough on Easter Sunday to melt all the chocolates just enough to make it difficult for Mommy to sneak candy in the morning. How can I pop that candy in my mouth without being caught when the packaging is melted onto the candy? What's up with that?

Sam came down with a terrible ear infection on the way over to California so we spent Friday evening at urgent care. It was her first ear infection and it was a painful one, for her and myself. It's always heart wrenching watching your baby suffer. Fortunately, moments before we got in to see the nurse, the pain went away and she's been great ever since. (I however, got a girls night out and the band took away the hearing in my left ear. I'm definitely old.) The girls had a great time finding eggs and weren't as eager to get home as mommy and daddy. Ah, well. At least they slept great.

Yawn.

2009-04-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

This should be a post with Easter pictures, but I'm too lazy to get up and get my camera. Maybe tomorrow?? Sydney is on spring break this week and we are having a lazy day to recover from our weekend of candy and craziness. Showers? Maybe. Pajamas all day? Definitely. Unless I find the energy to get up and go grocery shopping. I doubt it though. There's always tomorrow.

So here is a meal that I made on Thursday that turned out pretty good. Tim even gave it a thumbs up! I've never cooked with eggplant before, so this was a first. I thought it was a little tough, so I wish I would have sliced it thinner and broiled it a bit longer, but overall - the sauce was delicious. I was a little skeptical because usually vegan "cheese" sauces are a failure in this house, but this was GOOD. Although, I sprinkled real parmesan instead of vegan. Yummy. This is another recipe from fatfreevegan.com. She really needs to come out with a cookbook. My life would be easier.

Vegan Eggplant "Parmesan"

1 large eggplant, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 pieces of whole grain bread, toasted and made into breadcrumbs
2-3 tbsp. soy parmesan (or ground almonds)
fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn
olive oil spray

Tomato Sauce:
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 tbsp. tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste

"Cheese" Sauce:

1/2 cup extra-firm silken tofu
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 tbsp. cashew butter or tahini
1 tsp. onion powder
1 1/2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1/8 tsp. white pepper
2 tsp. corn starch

Salt the eggplant slices and put them in a colander to drain.

Prepare the tomato sauce by sautéing the onion in a non-stick saucepan until it becomes translucent (you may use a little water if you like). Add the garlic and sauté for one more minute. Add the remaining tomato sauce ingredients, and cook for 15-20 minutes.

Prepare the cheese sauce: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until completely smooth. Blend again right before using to make sure that the ingredients haven't separated.

Rinse the eggplant slices and pat them dry with paper towels. Spray a baking sheet lightly with olive oil and place the slices on it (you may have to do this in two batches). Spray the tops lightly and place under the broiler. Watch carefully, and remove when the slices start to brown, about 3 minutes.

Assemble the casserole: Preheat the oven to 350. Spray or wipe an 8x8-inch non-metal baking dish with a small bit of olive oil. Place half of the eggplant slices on the bottom of the dish, edges overlapping. Sprinkle with half the breadcrumbs. Spoon half the tomato sauce and pour half the cheese sauce over the breadcrumbs and sprinkle lightly with soy parmesan. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients (reserving some bread crumbs for on top, as mentioned above). Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, until slightly browned on top. Sprinkle with fresh basil just before serving. Serves 4.

Each serving provides approximately: 238 Calories (kcal); 9g Total Fat; (30% calories from fat); 13g Protein; 32g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 477mg Sodium; 8g Fiber. (These figures, especially fat and sodium, vary drastically depending on the exact ingredients you use.)

Another success!!

2009-04-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

I'm amazed. I have found 3 - count 'em - 3 delicious vegan meals - in the past few weeks that I can't live without. Of course, by the time we finish with them, they aren't technically vegan, a bit of cheese here and there - but they are still healthy vegetarian meals that my husband and at least one of my children will eat AND enjoy! :-) Such excitement! This is another one I found on fatfreevegan.com

(I added a big scoop of cream cheese to the mashed potatoes and Sydney ate them up!!)

Skillet Gardener's Pie

2 pounds Yukon gold or red potatoes
1/2 cup soy milk
salt and pepper, to taste
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large carrots, diced
2 ribs celery, diced, leaves minced and reserved
8 ounces mushrooms, diced
2 cups fat-free vegetable broth
16 ounces kidney beans, cooked
2 cups green beans, cut in 1" pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons thyme
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced (or 1 tsp. dried)
1/4 teaspoon sage
2 cups baby spinach leaves, packed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water (or veg. broth)
extra rosemary for garnish

Scrub the potatoes and cut them into cubes. (I leave mine unpeeled, but if you want you can peel them before dicing.) Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until potatoes are tender. Reserve a cup of their cooking water, if possible, and drain. Place in a large bowl, add the soymilk, and mash until smooth, adding a little of the potato-cooking water if they seem too dry. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and set aside in a warm place.

While the potatoes are cooking, make the "pie" filling. Spray a large non-stick or cast iron skillet with canola oil. Heat it on a medium-high burner and add the onions. Sauté until onions are translucent. Add the garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms, and sauté for 3 more minutes.

Add the vegetable broth, kidney beans, green beans, and herbs. Simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes and all vegetables are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste (I added a little hickory smoke salt). There should still be some liquid in the pan, but if it has become too dry, add a little of the potato-cooking water. Add the spinach and stir until it's completely wilted. Mix the corn starch with the water until smooth, and add it to the pan. Cook, stirring, until mixture has thickened.

Spoon the potatoes evenly over the top of the filling and sprinkle with chopped rosemary. If potatoes have cooled, put the skillet under the broiler for a minute or two. Serve immediately while hot.

Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 272 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (3% calories from fat); 13g Protein; 56g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 46mg Sodium; 11g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core/ 5 Flex Points.

Our dinner tonight....

2009-03-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Even Tim said yum to this one! He sprinkled real parmesan cheese on top and used spinach instead of kale. But it was almost vegan!
It's from fatfreevegan.com

Polenta Lasagna with Portabellas and Kale

If you use packaged polenta, slice it into 18 thin slices.
1 18-ounce package prepared polenta
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 large portabella mushroom, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (about 2 cups, chopped)
4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1/2 bunch kale (about 8 ounces after trimming), center rib removed and chopped into bite-sized pieces (may substitute spinach or other greens)
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
Cheese sauce (below)
1 1/4 cups marinara sauce (homemade or in a jar)
1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
vegan soy parmesan

"Cheese" sauce:
1/2 cup extra-firm silken tofu
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 tbsp. cashew butter or tahini
1 tsp. onion powder
1 1/2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1/8 tsp. white pepper
2 tsp. corn starch

Preheat oven to 375° F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 8x8-inch baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.

Place the cheese sauce ingredients into a blender or food processor and puree until completely smooth. Set aside.

Sauté the onions and portabellas in a non-stick skillet until the mushrooms begin to exude their juices. Add the garlic and sauté for one more minute.

Add the kale, basil, and 1/4 cup water. Sauté until the kale is wilted and tender and the water has evaporated. Add the cheese sauce and cook, stirring, until thickened. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Remove from the heat.

Cut the polenta into 1/4-inch thick slices. Line the bottom of the baking dish with half of the slices, overlapping slightly if possible. Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce over the polenta, and then spread the kale mixture over the sauce. Sprinkle the chopped olives over the kale and top with the remaining polenta. Spread the remaining marinara sauce over the top and sprinkle with soy parmesan.

Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 or 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 6 servings—if you can resist eating the whole pan yourself!

Roller girl...

2009-03-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

Sydney is a little, shall we say, less courageous in regards to the whole roller skating thing. Perhaps she's intuitive about her daddy's feelings about skating, since every time I mention going he finds some other exciting activity to partake in. Hmmm....

So I somehow convinced her to go with me for a special day out with mommy to take roller skating lessons at the local rink. Alright, I bribed her with a new video game. Sigh. Her teacher must have been in his 80's. Very inspiring. She did really good for the first half of the lesson. Brave and tough - each time she'd fall, she'd get right back up. The last half, she must have fallen a bit too hard so with tears in her eyes, she wanted to give up. But thank goodness the sweet young girl that was helping out convinced her that she could do it. And she did. Without falling! I was very proud of her!! Now if I could only get Tim to take lessons. Maybe next week?

Yummy and easy - perfect combo!

2009-03-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas

Filling:

Beans:
1 14-oz can black beans, rinsed, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
fresh lime juice from 1 lime

Potatoes:
2 cups cooked sweet potatoes, smashed
1 Tbs chopped canned green chiles
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp gluten-free curry or chili powder
sea salt and black pepper, to taste

To Assemble:
8 corn tortillas (*tip:: wrap in paper towel and reheat briefly in microwave before stuffing, to soften)
1 cup vegan "chicken broth"
1 Tbs white rice flour or arrowroot starch
1 cup salsa verde (green salsa) or chopped canned green chilies
cumin or chili powder, to taste

Preheat your oven to a moderate 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a non-stick spray into a rectangular baking dish that would hold 8 enchiladas.

In a mixing bowl combine the drained black beans with minced garlic and lime juice. Toss to coat the beans and set aside.

In a separate bowl combine the smashed sweet potatoes with a tablespoon of chopped green chiles; add the spices. Season with sea salt and pepper.

To make a vegan sauce: combine the vegan broth with a tablespoon of rice flour or arrowroot; heat in the microwave till thickened. Whisk in the salsa verde. Add cumin. Pour 1/4 cup of the sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Begin stuffing the warm (*see above) tortillas by laying the first tortilla in the sauced baking dish; wet it with the sauce to soften. Spoon 1/8 of the sweet potato mixture down the center. Top with 1/8 of the black beans. Wrap and roll the tortilla to the end of the baking dish. Repeat for the remaining tortillas. Top with the rest of the sauce. If you like, top with a sprinkle of GF vegan cheese.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Serve with a crisp green salad spiked with Mandarin oranges or halved grapes.

Servings: 4

Things that make you go hmmmm...

2009-03-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've been sitting here debating this with myself. Whether or not I need to edit my "about me" section, so as not to offend. Apparently, the word atheist is an issue. Really? But apparently it is - as even Sam Harris advises fellow atheists not to label themselves. And it really is a generic way to describe my beliefs. Or lack there of. And for some reason, the word has negative connotations attached to it. So I borrowed a description from a Unitarian Universalism website to give a better description. Hopefully this helps.

"Most of us do not believe in a supernatural, supreme being who can directly intervene in and alter human life or the mechanism of the natural world. Many believe in a spirit of life or a power within themselves, which some choose to call God."

This sounds about right to me.

My inspiration.

2009-03-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

It took me a long time. A really long time for such a great book. But I finally finished it on Tuesday. And I LOVED it. I will probably keep it on my shelf and re-read it again and again to re-inspire myself as I forget to stay present, so I'm not loaning this one out. Get your own! And don't give up a few chapters into it, as I almost did. It really is worth it. The message is important, regardless of your religious views. At least in my humble opinion.

Just one more....

2009-03-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Really? Am I too old? I can't shake this feeling that I want one more. Just one more. If the octumom can have 14 - is it really too much to ask for 3? I keep getting shut down. The man is stubborn. And although I'm not too old - my clock is ticking. His isn't, but mine is. Tick tick tick. Getting louder every day. I'm constantly drawn to baby clothes and tiny shoes as I walk though Target. I long for that feeling of a tiny life growing in my belly. Have I lost my mind? Because I see my girls growing bigger and more independent every day. Things are easier and I cherish that life is getting less complicated as we pass on our baby stuff and finish with potty training and enjoy sleeping through the night. And Sam is such a joy now. Turning four is the best thing that ever happened to her. I can't get enough of her and Sydney these days. They're amazing girls. And I see how hard that man of mine works, the stress he endures, and the fact that he is done. I get it. It has to be something we both want. So what is this? Nature's way of making me forget all the craziness to keep the world populated? Is it the loneliness of moving away from my family and friends? Or is it that I really do need one more baby to complete the family? Sigh. I don't know but I wish either my husband would cave or the feeling would pass. Because fighting back tears at the sight of newborn footed pajamas is not much fun. So I've been thinking that maybe a puppy would cure me of this need. Oh honey??

Misc. pics

2009-03-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Easy 'do

2009-03-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

So Sam and her sensitive head decided she wanted to cut all her hair off this time around. To her ears (not her personally. not yet anyways - note to self - hide safety scissors too). Who am I to argue? The less screaming in the morning, the better. She sat very still at the beauty salon and was very happy with the results. Although a little shorter than I imagined, it turned out cute. My little tomboy.

Success!!

2009-03-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

So we had two tiny visitors last night. Syd and Sam made leprechaun catchers last week in hopes of using it to negotiate their freedom for gold. There's a recession, ya know. However we can get it. Well those sneaky little leprechauns made a big mess and got away - but they left their gold behind! Woot! They also turned the girls toilet green. Revenge for trapping them in tiny boxes, perhaps? The girls were delighted and grossed out at the same time. Unfortunately, Sam was NOT as excited to realize that they turned her milk green. Tears were an unexpected reaction. I guess a trip to the grocery store is in our future.

Snow days...

2009-03-14T16:38:00.001-07:00

We haven't had many snow days this year, but the few days we have had the girls have enjoyed! Sam loves helping me throw snowballs at her sister. And Syd likes to eat the snow. Yum. Yes, we've had the conversation regarding what color snow she should avoid. :-)

Welcome to our blog!

2009-03-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

We are starting a blog to share pics and stories with our friends and families!