Quotable Sunday :: These are a Few of My Favorite Things...

"When the dog barks, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember a few of my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad."

- Oscar Hammerstein II

Oh that Julie Andrews. She is definitely one of my favorite things.

I'm actually not feeling bad, but thought I would share a few of my favorite weekend things to do:

Eat yummy (and sometimes not so healthy) breakfast foods. One of my recent discoveries is Stuffed French Toast from The Joy of Cooking.

Bake! I baked another blueberry pie this weekend.

 

This one is vegan, and was MUCH harder to put together. The crust was crumbling apart and was not a joy to work with. The secret is...

 

...wax paper. (That is, rolling the dough between two pieces of wax paper.) I also used Earth Balance shortening which is healthier than Crisco, put probably also why it was harder to roll out, shape, etc. I will let you know how it tastes after tonight.

Which brings me to another favorite thing....eating with friends. Tonight we will see some dear friends who have two very beautiful babes.

 

Finally, bathing with my beauty. Oh how she enjoys her bath times in the tub. Yahoo!

  

 

What do you enjoy doing on the weekend?

***
For more Quotable Sunday visit the are so happy blog.

On Being a Housewife

There are certain days I love being a housewife. There are other days that I think, "Wow, this again!" But those days are more because it is a routine (which most jobs contain a lot of) and I am definitely a lover of variety and change. Either way, I am SO glad I have a choice to be a stay-at-home-mom.

The day that I made this blueberry pie for instance was pretty grand. I love expressing my creativity and challenging myself to do new things. This was the second pie I've made from scratch.
The crust was a cream cheese pastry crust, from the Joy of Cooking, and was incredibly yummy.

Diaper laundry day has a new dimensional zen to it. While not as pretty as Red Laundry Day, it was oh so satisfying to hang those wet diapers on the line and enter a contemplative space. Also, it feels good knowing that I'm making as minimal impact possible upon our mother earth.

Watching Little B on the swing for the first time, dressing her up in whimsical outfits that reflect her personality, and enjoying the world through her eyes.

These are the moments that I cherish, and look forward to more of.

Sweet Potato

With Little B's couch potato days behind her, we moved to the sweet type of potato. Monday brought Bronwyn's first time in the high chair and eating 'solid' food.

She took to both rather well, as evidenced by the epicurean mess on her mouth (uh, and her shirt, her hands, her arms, the highchair, the tray, the floor, and mama and dada...).

Wow! Breastfeeding seems so much simpler we might forgo solid food all together.

Pickle also spent some time in her high chair to watch mama make Sweet Potato Muffins. I recommend the recipe for both savory and sweet muffins. I cooked the potatoes beforehand, not realizing that the recipe meant for them to be raw. I also substituted half the canola oil with coconut oil. Next time I will definitely try raw shredded potato and add more raisins, maybe even rum-soaked raisins.

They turned out so moist and yummy. I noticed that a few reviewers were pleased that it got their kids to eat sweet potatoes. I guess they've never tried the marshmallow thanksgiving dish. That is the best way I've gotten my big boy (a.k.a. my husband) to eat sweet potatoes.

Happy Birthing Day, Mom!

Today is the day I was born back in 1978. Thirty-one years ago my mom gave birth to her last child - her fourth child - at the very young age of twenty-two. My mother was single at the time, my father having left her and my siblings when I was about three months old inside her. I can't really get a grasp of what that would have been like. Just getting past the part about her having four kids, after having only one of my own, is hard enough. But to have four in my early twenties as a single mom! I am not worthy, Mom.

Fortunately, my mother was very close to her parents, and they gave her a lot of support. Her mother was one of the most dear persons to me in the world. Which is why I'm so elated that Bronwyn has her Grandma Jo in her life now. The friendship between a grandkid and grandparents is invaluable. I learned so much from my grandma Thelma, especially how to love someone unreservedly.

So, to celebrate the day my mother gave birth to me I woke up next to my baby girl and lovely husband - all smiles despite the fact the little B was up about eight times last night (teething time??).

We then met up with some dear friends, Renata and Ruben for coffee at Centro Espresso. They introduced us to this little hidden gem that serves damn good espresso.



My love and I shared a caramel cappuccino; think a latte with just a slight caramel taste, barely sweet.


We brought a piece of Coconut Layer Cake for them to indulge in. This cake is definitely the best coconut cake I've ever had and was made by my very dear friend, Rachel.....mistress of many things in the kitchen, garden and library.


Later in the day, to beat the 95+ degree weather, we went to the Russian River in Healdsburg. Bronwyn got her first dip in a large body of water and handled it with much grace. It was very cold water, resulting in many quick inhalations but not tears. We were happy to see our water baby at home once again in the water (she hasn't been loving her baths very much at all).



It's weird that my birthday this year made me a bit melancholic. I was excited to turn thirty but somehow thirty-one isn't as exciting, despite my many accomplishments last year (new house, new husband, new baby created, and new business). I'm still so young. Hey, I don't even have my first strand of gray hair to marvel at yet.

Anyhow, this is my brief love letter to my mom, to say having you back in my life is one of the best birthday presents ever. Thank you for birthing me. Thank you to the divine in you, and the universe, for giving me life.


Little B is also one of the best birthday presents ever. As well as her dada, who gave me a wonderful camera to show them both off with!

Luscious Apricot Tastes Upon a New Tongue

So, little B has been super interested in what we're putting into our mouths as of late. I talk to her about what is on our plates and in our glass, how it tastes, why we eat it, etc.

Her first flavor outside of breast milk was when her nana put a taste of frozen yogurt on her lips a couple months ago. I was definitely nonplussed but was trying to not be uptight about it either, reminding myself that it was put there out of love and that's all. It happened and so we move on.

Her first real taste of something came this past week when I decided to put some apricot up to her nose to smell. She was very interested in it, so I put it near her mouth. Just like a puppy, bring it to the mouth first, ask questions later (umm, if at all). So, that's what B did and here's the result.

In the end she probably got 1/4 tsp worth of apricot in her mouth. A few minutes later I pottied her and it came out with the spit up (as with many babies, B spits up when she needs to pee, or is actively peeing).

It was beautiful to watch the reactions on her face. I admit to being surprised that she took to it so well. I thought she would poo-poo anything other than my liquid gold. I hope this is a foreshadow of her upcoming foray into food.

As for more play with food, yesterday I had a complete mommy brain moment and gave her a gluten-free cracker. At the time I thought it was a great idea. It wasn't plastic; it was an uberhealthy Mary's Gone Crackers cracker (made out of brown rice, quinoa, flax, etc.). A few minutes into our fun the cracker broke. A split second later I had a realization. Oh yea, crackers break into smaller pieces. Pieces that can easily be lodged into the throat. So, of course, seconds after I was data processing all of this, B starts coughing. Super (dumb) Mommy swoops into her mouth to get out the broken bits.

(Notice the aftermath of the apricot stickiness)

Deep breath. This will only be the first of many (very stupid) things I will do. Better start learning to forgive myself now.

Almond Coconut Rice Pudding (vegan)

So, I am on my third attempt to figure out what Ms. Bronwyn is allergic to. The first time, I was on a highly modified diet for 4 weeks, and the green poop/red butt never got better. I then tried it again for a week, not eating any dairy or wheat, and stopped because her symptoms got worse. I've now been off wheat and gluten for a week and a half. Still, nothing is getting better. A couple times I got excited since her butt wasn't red, but then it would come back. Just yesterday she had a fairly red-free butt, and then the green stools increased throughout the day. And today the red bum arrives.

Despite Bronwyn's obviously well-nourished body, this process has been very disheartening, particularly to see her red bum. If you have any ideas or know of any mom who has gone through this, please, please, please forward me their contact information.

On the up side, the changes in my diet have gotten me to be awfully creative with my cooking. I whipped up some rice pudding that is heavenly, and thought I would share.

Almond Coconut Rice Pudding

3/4 C rice (I like jasmine)

1 1/1/2 C water (if you want more nutty or coconut flavor use almond or coconut milk)

1/4 tsp. salt

Let all ingredients above come to a boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes, until all water is absorbed. Then add,

2 C almond milk

2 C coconut milk (I used 1 C full fat, 1 C low fat)

1/3 to 1/2 C sugar

1/2 to 1 C finely shredded coconut

Cook over medium-low heat until thicker, but still soupy (about 30 minutes).

Let cool for about 5-10 minutes then add 1 tsp. vanilla

Eat warm for maximum flavor enjoyment.

What's In a Box?

"This is Better Than Sex Cake," Mama Fran pointedly said after opening the fridge and setting down a whipped creamy rectangle of goodness. Greg's grandma has a way of dead pan frankness that can catch one offguard, that is, if they're not used to seeing sweet looking ladies tell like it is sometimes.

The second time I met Mama Fran she went from one topic to the next, inserting a conversation about pandas being shown porn to stimulate copulation, like she was discussing yesterday's weather. This is of course why I was instantly won over by her. A sweet little lady who isn't afraid to share her thoughts! Can't get enough.

It makes one pause, at least it did me. No sense in trying to assume how a sweet looking lady is going to act. She doesn't have to look rough around the edges to be able to let loose.

Back to the cake. It truly was quite delicious. Not, better than sex. Well, then again, I guess that depends upon your history.

So, for those of you who want to try it out, here you go:

Better Than Sex Cake

1 yellow box cake (plus whatever the ingredients are on the back of the box)

1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple

1 C sugar (or less depending upon your sweet tooth)
1 small instant package of vanilla pudding + milk (for the pudding)

1 1/2 C heavy whipping cream
1/2 C sugar

1-2 C shredded coconut

1. Bake the cake per the directions on the box. If you have something a little larger than a 9 1/2" by 13" pan, use that. Otherwise, your end product will be over the top of the pan.

2. While the cake is baking, put the pineapple and 1 C sugar in a pot. Bring it to a boil.

3. Let the pineapple sugar mixture cool down. Poke holes in the top of the cake with a fork. Spread pineapple mixture on top of the cake.

4. Make the vanilla pudding and spread on cake before it sets. Refrigerate until set.

5. Make thick whipping cream by mixing the sugar and cream with a blender until it's sufficiently thick. Spread the whipping cream on top of the pudding and put the cake back in fridge to set.

6. Sprinkle liberally with shredded coconut.

7. Enjoy! Before...during...or after!