I am usually not one to make resolutions but this year I have a few habbits that I would like to cultivate so I guess you could call them resolutions. And yes, I realize this post is way late! Better late to the party than to not go at all. With 3 kids I find myself running late more often than I care to.
RESOLUTION
1. Get out of bed before my older girls, have coffee or breafast ALONE with hubby each day
2. Get dressed each day- not in sweats or yoga pants
3. Get back to making more things from scratch, like breads, tortillas, etc.
4. Eat less processed foods
5. Have at least 2 hours of me time each week.
So what are your resolutions or habbits that you are working on? How is it going?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Gluten Free Mac and Cheese
I have been researching gluten intolerance for a while now. A few people I know have some digestive issues that seem to be a symptom of gluten. In my research I came across Celiac disease and started reading about the sypmtoms. I had assumed that Celiac disease was a very "obvious" disease and if you ate gluten you would basically, well, die! This isn't the case (I tend to be over dramatic). Anyways, as I started reading more about Celiac some of the symptoms started to point to my middle daughter. She has been struggling with Anemia for 6 months in spite of my efforts to feed her a healthy diet of iron rich veggies, meats and fruit. Anemia is a symptom of Celiac because of the lack of absorbtion that happens in the intestines. She is also very small- anywhere from 3-5 percentile on the growth chart. In 9 months she had only gained 3 oz. and didn't grow taller. I was puzzled and became increasingly worried about the anemia. Thankfully the Anemia doesn't seem to keep her from being an energetic 3 year old. Ok- I am getting of track. Long story short after some prayer and consideration of her syptoms we spoke to her pediatrician and had her tested for Ciliac. We are still anxiously waiting for the results but as I am waiting I am doing tons of research and trying out a few gluten free recipes. My biggest concern is that I can still feed my baby girl her favorite kid foods, like, Mac and Cheese.
I have recently been making mac and cheese from this recipe. It takes no time at all and is the perfect comfort food.
I adaptated it to be gluten free for my little P!
Gluten Free Mac and Cheese with Bacon- Because bacon makes everything better!
2 Cups Cooked Gluten Free Pasta
2 TBS Butter (I like salted for this recipe)
2 TBS Arrowroot powder
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Shredded Cheese
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 Cup **Frozen peas
3 Slices Uncured Cooked Bacon, Crumbled
1. Melt butter in sauce pan. Add arrowroot powder and whisk making a roux, about 2 minutes. Add the milk and cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in noodles, bacon and peas.
**I usually add the peas to the boiling noodle water for the last minute.
The results speak for them self when my two girls gobble it up and ask for seconds and thirds! I was a happy mom and had a little hope that if we do have to be a gluten free family, at least I can make a kid favorite taste as yummy as the gluten filled dish they love. Follow this up with some peanut butter bars and you will have a happy tummy too!
I have recently been making mac and cheese from this recipe. It takes no time at all and is the perfect comfort food.
I adaptated it to be gluten free for my little P!
Gluten Free Mac and Cheese with Bacon- Because bacon makes everything better!
2 Cups Cooked Gluten Free Pasta
2 TBS Butter (I like salted for this recipe)
2 TBS Arrowroot powder
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Shredded Cheese
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1 Cup **Frozen peas
3 Slices Uncured Cooked Bacon, Crumbled
1. Melt butter in sauce pan. Add arrowroot powder and whisk making a roux, about 2 minutes. Add the milk and cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in noodles, bacon and peas.
**I usually add the peas to the boiling noodle water for the last minute.
The results speak for them self when my two girls gobble it up and ask for seconds and thirds! I was a happy mom and had a little hope that if we do have to be a gluten free family, at least I can make a kid favorite taste as yummy as the gluten filled dish they love. Follow this up with some peanut butter bars and you will have a happy tummy too!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Cold Season
Cold and Flu season is upon us. This is a scary thing for a mom of 3 small children! I voiced my fear to a good friend of mine about cold season during the fall and she reccomended I give the older girls grapefruit seed extract.
I currently have a cold and ever since I was young I suffered from cronic sinus infections. In college I had a sinus infection for 3 months.
I currently have a nursing baby and although there are some safe over the counter cold/sinus meds, I really wanted to try something natural. I was talking to my same beautiful, sweet, smart friend recomended using my neti pot with a few drops of gse in it to prevent/treat the sinus infection I think I am getting.
And guess what it is working! This morning when I woke up I had the tale tale sighn of a sinus infection (anyone who has had a sinus infection knows what that is) and after doing two rinses with a combination of saline, warm water and gse the SIGN is gone! I am less congested and don't feel as much sinus pressure either. I also used the gse in some warm water and gargled with it and my sore throat felt better by morning. I don't know for sure that I had a sinus infection because I didn't go to the doctor but all the symptoms were gone after using the gse a few times a day for 2 days. I think if I had waited much longer I for sure would have needed an antibiotic , but again that is just my assumption from previous experience.
I currently have a cold and ever since I was young I suffered from cronic sinus infections. In college I had a sinus infection for 3 months.
I currently have a nursing baby and although there are some safe over the counter cold/sinus meds, I really wanted to try something natural. I was talking to my same beautiful, sweet, smart friend recomended using my neti pot with a few drops of gse in it to prevent/treat the sinus infection I think I am getting.
And guess what it is working! This morning when I woke up I had the tale tale sighn of a sinus infection (anyone who has had a sinus infection knows what that is) and after doing two rinses with a combination of saline, warm water and gse the SIGN is gone! I am less congested and don't feel as much sinus pressure either. I also used the gse in some warm water and gargled with it and my sore throat felt better by morning. I don't know for sure that I had a sinus infection because I didn't go to the doctor but all the symptoms were gone after using the gse a few times a day for 2 days. I think if I had waited much longer I for sure would have needed an antibiotic , but again that is just my assumption from previous experience.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Birth Story, part 1
So I decided I better write down some thoughts about my Home Birth with our 3rd daughter. I get so excited when I think about this birth because it was just so AWESOME! But before I write the birth story I decided to gather my thoughts about why we,my hubby and I, decided to have a home birth.
My interest in home birth started before I was pregnant. I had watched the Documentary Business of Being Born and it opened my eyes to so many things about labor and birth that I honestly never really thought about. I had two vaginal hospital births with the "help" of pitocin and an epidural. Before watching this movie I was one of those people who just went with what is the norm, without really researching or questioning stuff. When I became pregnant I convinced my husband to watch another documentary called Pregnant In America. After watching it he said to me, "I think we should try to have the baby at home." The trick in getting your husband to do something you want is to let them think it is their idea! (Someone wrote that in a "Marriage Advice" book at my wedding shower.)
So we did some research about the safety of home birth and I talked to an acquaintance who had a HBAC (home birth after cesarean)and decided to work with a midwife who could help us achieve the birth we wanted. Now before I go any further, home birth isn't for everyone and had it been my first birth, I probably would not have done it. I am blessed in that I have fairly easy pregnancies, haven't suffered from any complications like high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, and even though I had "help" with my two previous labors I knew that I could have a normal vaginal delivery. I was "the perfect candidate" because I had no prior medical history or complications.
Over the course of the pregnancy I read several books suggested to me by my doula friend who I credit for encouraging me to educate myself about birth. These books really helped me to get excited about the birth.
As I neared the end of the pregnancy it really became about two things. The first thing was furthering my faith and my relationship with God. He created women to have babies and I really needed the healing that came from doing it the way He intended it to be. The second was about the environment in which I wanted to be in and bring my baby into.
So that is how I came to my decision to have our third baby girl at home. It may seem like it was a "light" decision but my husband and I really talked about it, prayed about it, researched it, and in the end we both feel like it was one of the best decisions we have ever made.
My interest in home birth started before I was pregnant. I had watched the Documentary Business of Being Born and it opened my eyes to so many things about labor and birth that I honestly never really thought about. I had two vaginal hospital births with the "help" of pitocin and an epidural. Before watching this movie I was one of those people who just went with what is the norm, without really researching or questioning stuff. When I became pregnant I convinced my husband to watch another documentary called Pregnant In America. After watching it he said to me, "I think we should try to have the baby at home." The trick in getting your husband to do something you want is to let them think it is their idea! (Someone wrote that in a "Marriage Advice" book at my wedding shower.)
So we did some research about the safety of home birth and I talked to an acquaintance who had a HBAC (home birth after cesarean)and decided to work with a midwife who could help us achieve the birth we wanted. Now before I go any further, home birth isn't for everyone and had it been my first birth, I probably would not have done it. I am blessed in that I have fairly easy pregnancies, haven't suffered from any complications like high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, and even though I had "help" with my two previous labors I knew that I could have a normal vaginal delivery. I was "the perfect candidate" because I had no prior medical history or complications.
Over the course of the pregnancy I read several books suggested to me by my doula friend who I credit for encouraging me to educate myself about birth. These books really helped me to get excited about the birth.
As I neared the end of the pregnancy it really became about two things. The first thing was furthering my faith and my relationship with God. He created women to have babies and I really needed the healing that came from doing it the way He intended it to be. The second was about the environment in which I wanted to be in and bring my baby into.
So that is how I came to my decision to have our third baby girl at home. It may seem like it was a "light" decision but my husband and I really talked about it, prayed about it, researched it, and in the end we both feel like it was one of the best decisions we have ever made.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Raspberry Rhubarb Muffins
I don't really like to bake so it is funny to me that my second post is about baking. I am not exactly sure why I don't like baking- I guess because it makes lots of dirty dishes, or maybe because of my perfectionist personality I get discouraged when what should be fluffy looking baked goods look more like a floppy disaster. Everyone once in a while though I get that urge. My friend Kelly contributes to a food blog and a while back this recipe was posted. My mouth was watering! So I rounded up the ingredients and the girls and I made these today. They turned out a little floppy and not so fluffy- but they tasted delicious. I ate two before I knew it. (Hey I can- I am growing a baby!)I used whole wheat pastry flour in place of the all pourpose flour and greek yougurt instead of sourcream. I doubled the recipe and ended up with 41 muffins so I can freeze some for later and enjoy some through out the week. Lets just hope they last that long.
Friday, June 17, 2011
What to do with a kid that won't nap- Bake of course!!
I don't like bananas. The texture. The flavor. I just plain don't like them. They also give me HORRIBLE stomach aches. My girls will eat them but the prefer other fruit to bananas. So last week when we had an abundance of fruit thanks to the awesome Bountiful Baskets program we had some bananas that got to ripe to eat. So I did what I always do and tossed them in the freezer. That day about a week ago I had promised Raegan we would make banana bread.
Raegan isn't much of a napper anymore. I usually have her do some quiet time in her room but today she just wanted quality mommy time. This girl loves to bake. She asks me daily if we can make some sort of baked good. Cupcakes, cookies, pancakes, anything! So I followed through with my promise today and we did some baking. We made banana bread. I may not like bananas but I LOVE me some banana bread hot out of the oven with some butter.
So here is my go-to banana bread recipe.
1 Cup of Butter Softened- (I use coconut oil in most my baking- GOOD FAT!!)
2 Cups Organic Sugar/Sucanat
4 Large Eggs
3 Cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
1 cup sour cream.
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chooped raw walnuts (extra protein and good fats!!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease two 4x8 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and eggs.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt, using a fork. Add to butter/oil mixture and blend well. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla;stir well. Add nuts if using.
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each loaf comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely. Once cool, wrap the second loaf and freeze it for later if you like.
The sour cream in this recipe makes it really moist and delicious. Today I replaced it with Fage Total Greek Yogurt and the resutls are even better than with the sour cream. I could ramble on and on about Fage... but I will save that for another day.
Ok, now I'm going to go enjoy some with my little helper.
Raegan isn't much of a napper anymore. I usually have her do some quiet time in her room but today she just wanted quality mommy time. This girl loves to bake. She asks me daily if we can make some sort of baked good. Cupcakes, cookies, pancakes, anything! So I followed through with my promise today and we did some baking. We made banana bread. I may not like bananas but I LOVE me some banana bread hot out of the oven with some butter.
So here is my go-to banana bread recipe.
1 Cup of Butter Softened- (I use coconut oil in most my baking- GOOD FAT!!)
2 Cups Organic Sugar/Sucanat
4 Large Eggs
3 Cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
1 cup sour cream.
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chooped raw walnuts (extra protein and good fats!!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease two 4x8 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and eggs.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt, using a fork. Add to butter/oil mixture and blend well. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla;stir well. Add nuts if using.
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each loaf comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely. Once cool, wrap the second loaf and freeze it for later if you like.
The sour cream in this recipe makes it really moist and delicious. Today I replaced it with Fage Total Greek Yogurt and the resutls are even better than with the sour cream. I could ramble on and on about Fage... but I will save that for another day.
Ok, now I'm going to go enjoy some with my little helper.
Testing. Testing.
I have wanted to start a blog for a long time now. For those of you that know me you are probably thinking "How in the world will you have time for that?" To answer that question, I don't honestly know how. But here goes anyways...
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