I have a very vivid childhood memory that my mom swears never happened. She's wrong, though, because it so DID happen and it has affected me ever since. I was scarred for life and she's just in denial!
This must be something big, right?
Right. Because when I was little I liked to eat my food one at a time, moving in a circle around my plate. I don't know why. It's just the way I wanted to eat. Until one day...
One night we were eating dinner and I was doing my usual eat around the plate thing, when my mom flipped out. (Ok, 'flipping out' MAY be an exaggeration, I just remember wondering WHY she was making such a big deal out of this). So, she may or may not have yelled, but she was definitely stern about it when she told me I couldn't eat my food like that. I HAD to eat a little bit of everything at a time. I remember sitting there having been eating one thing and her saying, "Now take a bite of something else." I may or may not have willingly complied. But I do remember being coached through that meal on how to "properly" eat my food.
Ever since then, I CAN'T eat all of one food before I eat some of something else. Even if there is something soooo good on my plate that I could easily devour the whole serving plate of it...that good ole Lutheran guilt kicks in and I HAVE to take at least one bite of something else before I completely finish the one food. Just as much as I used to have this inner desire to eat one food at a time, now I have an inner compulsion to NOT eat all of something at a time. If I even get close, I remember my mom that night at dinner...and I HAVE to take a bite of something else. Scarred, I tell ya. I'll never be the same.
Fast forward from that night to tonight at my dinner table with my kids. Here's the conversation:
Micah: JOSIAH! You've GOT to try this bread! It is sooooooo good!
Josiah: I can't. I'm eating my salad.
Micah: But you could stop and take a bite. (Duh!)
Josiah (rolls his eyes and with a bit of a snooty attitude, pitying those who clearly just don't understand): MI-cah. One thing at a time!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mommy's Little Helper
This morning I was making applesauce and wouldn't you know I had a little helper? (All my kids love to help) Miss Emilia was my helper this morning and she was a good little helper, too! She started out helping me push the apple slicer through the apples (she skipped the peeling part). She thought that was a lot of fun and was quite possessive of the apple slicer. We'd push it through the apples, she'd pull out the core, I moved the slices to the pile and if I forgot and put the slicer out of her reach while I was getting another apple, she'd "Hmph" me and reach over and move it back by her.
When we got to the cutting up of slices, do you know what she did? Well, obviously I didn't give her a knife! I was thinking she'd either stand and watch or wander off to play, but no. She grabbed a slice, bit off a bite and put it in the pot!! I laughed out loud the first three times she did it! It was so cute and so funny and so like her to be dead set on doing something! I did manage to convince her that it might be yummier to just EAT a couple slices of apple, instead of having to take the bites out to put in the pot. She fell for it and spent the rest of the time eating apple slices and playing with the apple cores (I think she was pretending they were people or something.) What a cutie we've got.
When we got to the cutting up of slices, do you know what she did? Well, obviously I didn't give her a knife! I was thinking she'd either stand and watch or wander off to play, but no. She grabbed a slice, bit off a bite and put it in the pot!! I laughed out loud the first three times she did it! It was so cute and so funny and so like her to be dead set on doing something! I did manage to convince her that it might be yummier to just EAT a couple slices of apple, instead of having to take the bites out to put in the pot. She fell for it and spent the rest of the time eating apple slices and playing with the apple cores (I think she was pretending they were people or something.) What a cutie we've got.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wow...200 Really?
Did you know my last post was my 200th post? Who knew you'd read so many snippets of my life!
I have quite a lengthy to-do list these days and somewhere on that list is a post about soccer. There's one big problem (with 2 parts) that is keeping me from being able to check that off my list. The main problem is this: I don't really have any good pictures to share with you! You're probably wondering how in the world that could be since I take over 500 pics a month...well, here's the two parts of the problem:
1 - While the boys are playing soccer I am busy chasing a 1 year old all over the soccer complex. I've SEEN parents with 1 year old kids who sit calmly in their strollers and watch the game. And sometimes I secretly envy them because...yeah, my little girl just isn't one to sit on the sidelines (not that that's bad, it's actually GOOD, but sometimes I just want to sit and watch!). She wants to be IN the game and since I won't let her go out on the field we end up walking/running/pushing the stroller (her pushing, not me because she won't sit in it, of course) all over the place. She's also really fascinated by the dog park that is connected to the soccer fields, but I won't let her go over there, either. I'm such a mean mom. With all that chasing, I don't actually get to see much of the soccer that is being played by my boys, let alone take pictures of them.
2 - Second problem is that of the 5 scheduled games, 2 have been rained out. :( Josiah DOES NOT like that. I don't mind too much because it's nice to have a "free" Saturday, but does cut down on the picture opportunities.
Sooooo...now that I've made my excuses can I at least put a partial check by the soccer post? I mean, I kinda posted about it, right?? :)
I have quite a lengthy to-do list these days and somewhere on that list is a post about soccer. There's one big problem (with 2 parts) that is keeping me from being able to check that off my list. The main problem is this: I don't really have any good pictures to share with you! You're probably wondering how in the world that could be since I take over 500 pics a month...well, here's the two parts of the problem:
1 - While the boys are playing soccer I am busy chasing a 1 year old all over the soccer complex. I've SEEN parents with 1 year old kids who sit calmly in their strollers and watch the game. And sometimes I secretly envy them because...yeah, my little girl just isn't one to sit on the sidelines (not that that's bad, it's actually GOOD, but sometimes I just want to sit and watch!). She wants to be IN the game and since I won't let her go out on the field we end up walking/running/pushing the stroller (her pushing, not me because she won't sit in it, of course) all over the place. She's also really fascinated by the dog park that is connected to the soccer fields, but I won't let her go over there, either. I'm such a mean mom. With all that chasing, I don't actually get to see much of the soccer that is being played by my boys, let alone take pictures of them.
2 - Second problem is that of the 5 scheduled games, 2 have been rained out. :( Josiah DOES NOT like that. I don't mind too much because it's nice to have a "free" Saturday, but does cut down on the picture opportunities.
Sooooo...now that I've made my excuses can I at least put a partial check by the soccer post? I mean, I kinda posted about it, right?? :)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Favorite Recipes
I don't usually share recipes on here. I get most of my recipes online, so I guess I figure if you're looking for something new to make, you'll find it, same as I do! However, today I am making exception to this because I've got two AMAZING recipes that I just can't keep to myself. I'd hate for you to go through life and never find these keepers!!
The first one is for pumpkin pancakes. We frequently have breakfast for dinner around here and I made these one night last week. I'm not kidding you when I say it was DEAD SILENCE as everyone chowed down. That NEVER happens! Seriously, my kids have NEVER been so caught up with eating that they forget to talk!! Not with cake or cookies or anything! It was just amazing to me....silence....who knew 3 kids could achieve such a magical dinner experience?? :) On to the recipe:
Pumpkin Pancakes with Yogurt
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup milk
1 cup pumpkin, canned
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and spices. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, adding yogurt, milk and pumpkin puree. Mix well. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Spoon the batter onto a preheated, oiled griddle, using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes slowly over a low-medium heat for approximately 4-6 minutes, flipping after 3 minutes.
I did make a few changes to this: I only used 1/4 c sugar and I used Dannon Lite and Fit vanilla yogurt (because it's what I had) so I left out the vanilla. Mmmmmm...I'm tellin' ya--DELICIOUS! Next time I think I'm going to add some pecans.
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I've been making all of our bread for almost a year now, and this next recipe is BY FAR the BEST, BEST, BEST basic bread recipe I have found. It's easy, it's tasty, it's got a good crust but not so hard that my kids can't bite through it. It's not crumbly, it freezes GREAT, it makes three loaves at a time so I'm not making bread every other day, it makes great sandwiches, great toast, and it's great on it's own just as a side for dinner. So perfect. If you like baking bread or just want to try it, this is a winning recipe--TRUST ME.
Christy Dalling's Wheat Bread
Ingredients:
4c warm water
1/4c honey
1/4c sugar (you can use all honey or all sugar, if you like)
1 1/2 Tbsp yeast
1/3c canola oil
5tsp salt
8 or more cups flour (I used 6c wheat flour, 2+ cups bread flour)
Directions:
Dissolve honey, sugar, and yeast in warm water. Let this mixture sit 3-4 minutes, until bubbles form at the top and everything is dissolved. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer (fitted with a dough hook). Add canola oil, salt, and 4c flour. Mix 2-3 minutes.
Add 4c flour, and mix until dough pulls away from the sides and is cohesive. Flour a large work surface and pour out dough. Knead with hands until dough is elastic and a large ball. Place in a large bowl that has been greased or sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with a damp towel or piece of plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 40-60 minutes.
Turn out dough and divide into 3 for large loaves, 4 for smaller loaves. Shape each section of dough into a loaf and place in a loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-40 minutes or until tops are golden brown and loaves sound hollow when you tap the tops or test with a toothpick.
Allow loaves to cool 2 minutes in pan and then turn out loaves to cool completely. Wrap any loaves not being used immediately securely with plastic wrap and place in zip-top bags in the freezer.
Makes 3-4 loaves.
I use all honey in ours and not quite so much salt. I've used all different amounts and types of flour (bread, all-purpose, wheat) with this recipe and it's always fantastic.
If you want to make something especially yummy, add 1 c chopped walnuts, 1 c chopped craisins and the zest of 2 oranges to the dough. Makes GREAT ham sandwiches and I'm soooo making it at Thanksgiving for sandwiches with leftover turkey. Of course it's great as toast for breakfast, too!
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We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming....
The first one is for pumpkin pancakes. We frequently have breakfast for dinner around here and I made these one night last week. I'm not kidding you when I say it was DEAD SILENCE as everyone chowed down. That NEVER happens! Seriously, my kids have NEVER been so caught up with eating that they forget to talk!! Not with cake or cookies or anything! It was just amazing to me....silence....who knew 3 kids could achieve such a magical dinner experience?? :) On to the recipe:
Pumpkin Pancakes with Yogurt
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup milk
1 cup pumpkin, canned
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and spices. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, adding yogurt, milk and pumpkin puree. Mix well. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Spoon the batter onto a preheated, oiled griddle, using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes slowly over a low-medium heat for approximately 4-6 minutes, flipping after 3 minutes.
I did make a few changes to this: I only used 1/4 c sugar and I used Dannon Lite and Fit vanilla yogurt (because it's what I had) so I left out the vanilla. Mmmmmm...I'm tellin' ya--DELICIOUS! Next time I think I'm going to add some pecans.
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I've been making all of our bread for almost a year now, and this next recipe is BY FAR the BEST, BEST, BEST basic bread recipe I have found. It's easy, it's tasty, it's got a good crust but not so hard that my kids can't bite through it. It's not crumbly, it freezes GREAT, it makes three loaves at a time so I'm not making bread every other day, it makes great sandwiches, great toast, and it's great on it's own just as a side for dinner. So perfect. If you like baking bread or just want to try it, this is a winning recipe--TRUST ME.
Christy Dalling's Wheat Bread
Ingredients:
4c warm water
1/4c honey
1/4c sugar (you can use all honey or all sugar, if you like)
1 1/2 Tbsp yeast
1/3c canola oil
5tsp salt
8 or more cups flour (I used 6c wheat flour, 2+ cups bread flour)
Directions:
Dissolve honey, sugar, and yeast in warm water. Let this mixture sit 3-4 minutes, until bubbles form at the top and everything is dissolved. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer (fitted with a dough hook). Add canola oil, salt, and 4c flour. Mix 2-3 minutes.
Add 4c flour, and mix until dough pulls away from the sides and is cohesive. Flour a large work surface and pour out dough. Knead with hands until dough is elastic and a large ball. Place in a large bowl that has been greased or sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with a damp towel or piece of plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 40-60 minutes.
Turn out dough and divide into 3 for large loaves, 4 for smaller loaves. Shape each section of dough into a loaf and place in a loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-40 minutes or until tops are golden brown and loaves sound hollow when you tap the tops or test with a toothpick.
Allow loaves to cool 2 minutes in pan and then turn out loaves to cool completely. Wrap any loaves not being used immediately securely with plastic wrap and place in zip-top bags in the freezer.
Makes 3-4 loaves.
I use all honey in ours and not quite so much salt. I've used all different amounts and types of flour (bread, all-purpose, wheat) with this recipe and it's always fantastic.
If you want to make something especially yummy, add 1 c chopped walnuts, 1 c chopped craisins and the zest of 2 oranges to the dough. Makes GREAT ham sandwiches and I'm soooo making it at Thanksgiving for sandwiches with leftover turkey. Of course it's great as toast for breakfast, too!
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We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming....
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
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