Esme: Mom, I used to go to day care, then to school, then to day care again.
Me: Yes, you did.
Esme: That was really fun, Mom. I liked that.
Me: Yes, and now you get to stay home with me.
Esme: (silence)
Me: Would you rather go to day care again?
Esme: Yeah, Mom, I would.
Me: (silent meditation on the fact that children do NOT know what is best for them and internal struggle between Rational Me and the me who wants to drop to the floor and throw a temper tantrum)
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Ah-Ooooh-Ga!
The kids were treated recently to a ride in the rumble seat of a Model A Ford with my friend Pat's husband Steve, who is Isaac and Simon's new hero (sorry, Anakin, you've been bumped). Look how shiny and cool this car is! Even I, who can't change her own tires or oil or tell the difference between a Mustang and a Camaro, can appreciate this black beauty.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Food
I've made some pretty awesome food lately - in my own opinion, anyway. It's "health" food too. Kinda.
First, buttermilk and oat pancakes (it's the "and oat" that qualifies this as health food...the peanut butter and real maple syrup that I drowned them in notwithstanding): http://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/super_buttermilk_oat_pancakes.php. I didn't add the cinnamon, because I thought that sounded weird. These were the first pancakes I've made (and I've made LOTS of pancakes) that actually rival the pancakes you get at a diner. Soft, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouthy goodness, and the oats were barely noticeable. I ended up soaking them for two nights, because of a surprise invitation to dinner at my parents' house.
My advice on the buttermilk is to buy powdered buttermilk, to which you just add water. They have it in the grocery store (even Fareway) in the baking aisle. You can also make buttermilk with regular milk and lemon juice or vinegar. Put one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup and add enough milk to get to one cup. Let it sit for five minutes and then use it in your recipe. I don't think this turns out as well as the powdered stuff, but it means that you don't have to plan ahead quite as much.
Next, homemade pizza. I was going to make a homemade crust, but I wanted a thin crust, and when I read the instructions for thin crust online, I got a little bit intimidated. You have to refrigerate it overnight and roll it with a special rolly tool, and it sounded like something best left to my friends at Mama Mary's. I bought their thin whole wheat crust (there's the "health" component) and added:
Red sauce
Grape tomatoes (plus a few cherry tomatoes from our garden)
Sun-dried tomatoes
Green onions
Basil from the garden
Mozzarella (I grated a chunk of it - way better than the pre-shredded kind)
Feta cheese
I think I liked this way more than John did, but he was too nice to say anything. If I had a goat, I would have added goat cheese. Hint, hint.
And finally, the Dulce de Leche cheesecake, which I made with Stevia in the Raw (just screams "healthy", doesn't it?): http://splenda.tastebook.com/recipes/1397040-Dulce-de-Leche-Cheesecake. Supposedly, Stevia is "natural" and therefore better than Splenda. I have to say, I would never have known that this wasn't made with real sugar. And it was easy, because you can substitute Splenda or Stevia in any recipe in a 1:1 ratio to the amount of sugar it calls for. Check out my artistic photography:
Speaking of artistic photography, I was very sad to learn that the only DMACC in Iowa that offers a photography class - in the fall 2011 semester - is in Ankeny. I thought it would be cool to take a class with my stepmom, who is already a great photographer but has a love-hate relationship with her digital camera, but it doesn't look like there's anything available. Anyone have any ideas? An online class just sounds so boring and unhelpful. Do photography studios offer this? Starving artists? Starving high school art teachers??
First, buttermilk and oat pancakes (it's the "and oat" that qualifies this as health food...the peanut butter and real maple syrup that I drowned them in notwithstanding): http://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/super_buttermilk_oat_pancakes.php. I didn't add the cinnamon, because I thought that sounded weird. These were the first pancakes I've made (and I've made LOTS of pancakes) that actually rival the pancakes you get at a diner. Soft, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouthy goodness, and the oats were barely noticeable. I ended up soaking them for two nights, because of a surprise invitation to dinner at my parents' house.
My advice on the buttermilk is to buy powdered buttermilk, to which you just add water. They have it in the grocery store (even Fareway) in the baking aisle. You can also make buttermilk with regular milk and lemon juice or vinegar. Put one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup and add enough milk to get to one cup. Let it sit for five minutes and then use it in your recipe. I don't think this turns out as well as the powdered stuff, but it means that you don't have to plan ahead quite as much.
Next, homemade pizza. I was going to make a homemade crust, but I wanted a thin crust, and when I read the instructions for thin crust online, I got a little bit intimidated. You have to refrigerate it overnight and roll it with a special rolly tool, and it sounded like something best left to my friends at Mama Mary's. I bought their thin whole wheat crust (there's the "health" component) and added:
Red sauce
Grape tomatoes (plus a few cherry tomatoes from our garden)
Sun-dried tomatoes
Green onions
Basil from the garden
Mozzarella (I grated a chunk of it - way better than the pre-shredded kind)
Feta cheese
I think I liked this way more than John did, but he was too nice to say anything. If I had a goat, I would have added goat cheese. Hint, hint.
Strawberry Shortcake Recipe - AWESOME
Okay, I know I've committed to healthier living, but I think I can healthen (is that a word?) this up. It is the most delicious strawberry shortcake I've ever had...we went to a potluck last weekend and I ate about a quarter of the pan (that is not an exaggeration - I went back for fourths or fifths). Here's the recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/strawberry-angel-food-dessert/detail.aspx
Again, why is it that I'm just discovering this? Where have I been? I've gone to at least a hundred potlucks and have never seen this stuff before.
So, I'm thinking that I'll try to make the angel food cake with fake sugar, then use low-fat cream cheese and low-fat whipped cream, and either find a sugar-free glaze or make one myself. A lot of effort, I must say, but it'll be worth it if I can eat this on our new, healthier diet.
My question to you - which fake sugar is best? I might have to make the same recipe a few different times, using different fake sugars, just to see. This one would be a good candidate, since I love it and could live off it exclusively for a while. It does have four food groups in it, right? Fruit, dairy, fats, and grains? Is processed white flour a grain? I say yes.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/strawberry-angel-food-dessert/detail.aspx
Again, why is it that I'm just discovering this? Where have I been? I've gone to at least a hundred potlucks and have never seen this stuff before.
So, I'm thinking that I'll try to make the angel food cake with fake sugar, then use low-fat cream cheese and low-fat whipped cream, and either find a sugar-free glaze or make one myself. A lot of effort, I must say, but it'll be worth it if I can eat this on our new, healthier diet.
My question to you - which fake sugar is best? I might have to make the same recipe a few different times, using different fake sugars, just to see. This one would be a good candidate, since I love it and could live off it exclusively for a while. It does have four food groups in it, right? Fruit, dairy, fats, and grains? Is processed white flour a grain? I say yes.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Healthier Cheesecake?
I have a special weakness for cheesecake. I love to buy those mini-cheesecakes at Wal-Mart ($6, in the bakery section, makes 6 perfectly-sized servings) and top them with whipped cream, caramel syrup, and chocolate and/or peanut butter chips. It is my all-time favorite treat, discovered while I was pregnant with Grace. The best part is that the kids don't like it, and John feels guilty eating it, so I get pretty much the whole thing to myself. I'm drooling right now thinking about it. The salty, graham-crackery crust, the smooth cheesy cake, the fluffy whipped cream...Anyway, I really am trying to make healthier food for all of us, so I am going to TRY baking with Splenda. Fake Splenda, actually. So, in honor of my favorite cheesecake concoction, my first recipe is going to be Dulce de Leche cheesecake. Here's the recipe...I'll post a photo and a rating when I'm done:
http://splenda.tastebook.com/recipes/1397040-Dulce-de-Leche-Cheesecake
Now, you can probably buy Dulce de Leche, but probably not in Carroll. So, here's how to make it using sweetened condensed milk (I think I'm going to do the microwave method): http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Dulce-De-Leche
I think they make low-fat and/or low-sugar sweetened condensed milk, so I think that's what I'm going to use.
http://splenda.tastebook.com/recipes/1397040-Dulce-de-Leche-Cheesecake
Now, you can probably buy Dulce de Leche, but probably not in Carroll. So, here's how to make it using sweetened condensed milk (I think I'm going to do the microwave method): http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Dulce-De-Leche
I think they make low-fat and/or low-sugar sweetened condensed milk, so I think that's what I'm going to use.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Pickled Radishes Smell BAD
They smell like farts. Really, really bad farts. They taste okay, but it is not worth it. Don't do it. I can't even imagine what they might do to your digestive system. Take this OFF of your list of things to do with your garden produce. I had to put new Scentsy wax in my Scentsy after opening up the container, and I'm afraid to open it again to throw them away. If they weren't in my favorite tupperware bowl, I would throw the whole thing in the trash.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Things to Put on Salad to Make it More Fattening
Tell me your favorite salad toppers. We're trying to eat more healthfully, and if I have to eat plain lettuce salads, I will die.
Here are mine:
Avocado
Mushrooms
Grape Tomatoes
Craisins and dried fruit of any kind
Almonds
Honey-Roasted Peanuts
Sunflower Seeds
Feta Cheese
Bacon
Honey-Mustard Pretzels
Cottage Cheese
Chex Mix
Tuna Salad
Sugar Snap Peas
Pasta Salad (Suddenly Salad Classic is the BEST)
Pesto
Fresh Basil
Wonder Roast (rotisserie chicken)
Tortilla chips
Salsa
Yellow and Orange Peppers
Mozarella - the kind you buy in chunks or balls
Greek yogurt
Here are mine:
Avocado
Mushrooms
Grape Tomatoes
Craisins and dried fruit of any kind
Almonds
Honey-Roasted Peanuts
Sunflower Seeds
Feta Cheese
Bacon
Honey-Mustard Pretzels
Cottage Cheese
Chex Mix
Tuna Salad
Sugar Snap Peas
Pasta Salad (Suddenly Salad Classic is the BEST)
Pesto
Fresh Basil
Wonder Roast (rotisserie chicken)
Tortilla chips
Salsa
Yellow and Orange Peppers
Mozarella - the kind you buy in chunks or balls
Greek yogurt
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