aha!

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....

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....

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

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...

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...

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!

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.....

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....

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).