Let's talk about the weather

I hate talking about the weather.  But really, what is up with the triple digits in October?  Everyone around me is either pinning pumpkin spice everything or talking about how dang hot it is here.  Tomorrow is another day and fall may actually make it to our neck of the woods.  While I wait for fall, I've been obsessing over figs and gum balls. 

So I bought some figs (first time!  I've never bought a fig before in my entire life!).

And made some jam.  Balsamic Fig Jam by Celeste.  Super easy and true story.... we already ate an entire jar!  It is great on toast, sandwiches, and this weekend I'm making my man a fig and brie pizza.  Lauren just eats it by the spoonful (she consumes all of her condiments like that).  The boys refuse to even try it.  more for me.

The Littles and I worked on gum ball necklaces.  We will count this as our first draft since Lauren tried to eat her necklace before I could spray it.  She took a couple of good chunks out of it.  Good thing this was cheap and easy.  total cost $1.

This is how I roll with the craftiness.  Right in the middle of everything else.  Making a mess on top of a mess.

Lauren's finished product! 

Keith working on his necklace.  Learning patterns... Poking his fingers.... Begging to eat a gumball.

Green Smoothies: Life Change

 No lies!  We have struggled with Keith's horrible eating habits for a long time.  At one point he was existing on macaroni and cheese, McDonald's, cereal, milk, and the occasional piece of cinnamon toast.  Ok, that's an exaggeration.  Let's put it this way, months ago we cut him off from Mac and Cheese and McDonald's now he routinely skips dinner in favor of 3-4 breakfasts (eggs, cereal, yogurt, pancakes, toast).  The only vegetable he regularly eats is carrots.  Short of shoving healthy food down his throat we were at a loss and Keith was grumpy and hungry. 

Enter, the Green Smoothie.  I had heard about the Green Smoothie from several (mostly normal) people but it still kind of scared me.  I'm not a big smoothie person and a green one just doesn't seem appetizing at all.  It's basically a smoothies with spinach to make it green.  Allegedly it is delish. I'll subject my children to anything in the name of healthy eating so it was on.

There are lots of variations on the recipe on the Internet, after a lot of pinsearch (that's research on Pinterest!) I found this one.  Once I bought the ingredients I forgot about looking at the recipe and just rolled with it.  Here's the "recipe" and pricing for my first batch.
A couple of handfuls of fresh spinach (0.29)
Some OJ (.10)
Frozen peaches (.50)
Frozen pineapple (.52)
Banana (.28)
Total $1.69

That's a Daddy serving.  All three kids can split one and be satisfied (or so they've been told).  I still think it's a little pricey so I tried a Costco version and got it down to less than $1 per serving.  I also froze about 30 servings. 

The verdict is in: they love it. We call them Shrek smoothies and they beg me to make them every day!

Variations:
Protein powder: I mostly make them for snacks after school. If I know Keith isn't eating what I'm cooking for dinner then I add some protein powder and milk.
Yogurt: They liked the vanilla yogurt addition.
Cucumbers!: My large freezer batch also included cucumbers and strawberries. You can use any light colored fruit.  Dark berries will make it an odd color (if green isn't already odd enough).
Sweetener: There were a couple of batches that needed a squeeze of honey or agave.

I have yet to drink one.  I've tasted it as I was making the smoothie and it's good.  I just have no desire to consume that concoction or really any smoothie for that matter.  I also don't really like ice cream and fried food so there you go!

Day 12

Of Summer Break... only 60 days until school starts.  Here's an idea... let's enjoy it while it is still here. 

Today was the first full day of summer AND it was hot... 107.  We threw out our pool plans in favor of other air conditioned loveliness.....

First of all, you have to have strawberries.  With this heat, these might be the last berries of the season.

Crafts are an excellent indoor activity!  We played with beads and made necklaces. Patrick's had a Harry Potter theme and Keith's were Star Wars.  We were all kind of grumpy so we napped and read books.

Why not turn on the oven?  Made some chocolate cake and licked the spoons.

Decided to have the cake for dinner.

Chocolate Cake for dinner? Yes! On the floor watching Episode II.

Perfect indoor triple digit  day.  Even with the grouchies, bickering, lack of patience, and pee pee pants. 

Happiness is....

Happiness is a fat 3 month old.  Even though we are battling yet another cold, this one invited his good friend dry cough.  lovely.

Happiness is also homemade ricotta! I haven't purchased ricotta in months.  Frankly, it is expensive and gross.  But I love cheese, especially fresh cheese.  When I realized how easy it is to make ricotta, the cheese heavens parted.  There are lots of recipes out there.  I used one from Hide the Cheese.  Now it is your turn.....

 First things first.  Get a nice big stock pot and scrub it with cold water.  This will prevent the milk from scorching.  Scorching is bad, I have proof positive of that.... observe.

Next, gather the gang.  Half a gallon of whole milk (I have also used low fat combined with half and half), salt and vinegar.  You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar.  I use white vinegar because I need a lemon tree.

Now plan on babysitting some milk.   You want to bring the milk and a 1 tsp. of salt to a simmer.  Don't boil it, get it going to about 180 degrees.  It will be nice and frothy.

 

 Now for the science experiment, add 3 TBS of vinegar to the mixture.  It will start separating....

 Simmer it for a couple of minutes and at that point you might realize that you forgot to get your strainer, bowl and cheesecloth out.  Quick! Grab a bowl and a strainer.  The cheesecloth makes it easier and cleaner but you don't have to have it.

 And then you get this little pile of love.

 I recommend spooning some into your mouth while the cheese is still warm. 

 If you are making a pasta dish, cook the pasta right in the leftover liquid (is this whey?).  Yum. 

 At this point, the baby starts to fuss and Super Dad comes through to close.  By the time you are done feeding her, this delish is in the oven. 

Super cheese!!! 

Something to look forward to

Kevin and Keith brought me a piece of Red Velvet Cake the other day.  Kevin wanted to buy me chocolate cake and Keith said, "no, I want that one!"  Smart boy. 

The second night of the Red Velvet Cake (good things are meant to be savored), Patrick returned to the kitchen wondering about dessert (i.e., the Red Velvet Cake).  I told him he good have one bite, albeit a big bite.  His big bite was the size of a cupcake, smart boy.  As he returned to cake to the refrigerator, this is what he told us, "When I'm a teenager I can get into my car and drive to the store to get my own Red Velvet Cake."

Other "when I am a teenager" proclamations have included planning and cooking meals, putting extra garlic on food and purchasing various food items. 

For the love of sweet corn

We made the papers!  The boys and I braved the sweet corn crowd at Fresno State's market to feed Patrick's NEED for sweet corn.  The Fresno Bee was there to capture the experience.  You can see me and Keith waiting in line in the background of the picture.  I'm surprised the photographer didn't use the shots of Patrick methodically choosing his corn.  Here's the link to the story in the Bee: Sweet Corn Shoppers.

Luckily we got there early to secure our ears because they sold out by afternoon.  A great day yesterday! 

I just crush a lot

Patrick is growing... again.  One evening while I was making dinner, I was torturing him with the Food Network.  We watch a lot of Food Network in our house and even when it is right after dinner Patrick is always HUNGRY.  So, watching it before dinner left him writhing on the floor.  And then SHE came on......

And suddenly, "I'm so hungry!"  Turned into: "Mom, my heart is starving for love."

First crush, make a note.  Giada DeLaurentis has captured my oldest son's heart and stomach.  Sigh.

Lies....it's all lies!

The art of storytelling... that's what blogging is really all about.  Well, the art of storytelling meets a little whole lotta ego and a smidge of well-executed exaggeration.  That is blogging.  Did you know that some bloggers actually lie and steal content?  It's a thing. 

Sure, most bloggers edit their content to some extent.  Whether it is cropping the dirty dishes out of the "perfect house picture" or leaving out a part of the story.... we all edit, by virtue of not telling you about every little thing... we are editing.  And we only tell you about the shiny happy kid stories.  Since I just posted this post, I could make an argument that my kids may be happy but they are not shiny.  But sometimes, they may seem a little unbelievable....  Do you believe this picture?  ***Yes, I got a copy of Pioneer Woman Cooks. WOOHOO  A beautiful book, nothing like any other cookbook I own (and therefore fabulous)*** And yes, Patrick is studying the book.***

Do you believe that I had nothing to do with this picture except to pick up my Nikon and steal his moment?  Do you believe that he later commented that "She seems like a really nice lady and I was wrong to think she was Giada, she has red hair.  I think I am going to like her, let's make her food."


Do you believe that he begrudgingly handed my book back to me when I demanded it asked for it.  Do you believe that I didn't eat anything all week (save a handful of mixed nuts, a doughie, and half a carrot) in preparation for a weekend of PW Cookin'?  Ok, that last one is an exaggeration.  I'll stop with this: Let's make some prune cake!!!

What is this all about?  The story tells itself.... sometimes too well and you just have to let it.... sometimes you want to save face....
Which is why I owe you (my dedicated reader) the truth.  Remember that oh-so-truthful "my kids aren't perfect" blog post (the poop one, remember, I was just bragging about it)?  Well I am dizzy with editorial guilt.  The poop catastrophe was my fault.  I feel bad about it.  My child hadn't been napping and I just wanted to take a shower without wondering whether he was destroying my belongings or flooding the bathroom or roaming the streets.  So I locked his door (from the outside remember).... which I never do anymore.  And I treated myself to a nice, long, hot shower ( do I get points if I cleaned the shower while enjoying my nice, long, hot shower?  okay, I was cleaning it) so lovely and so not worth it in the long run.
BM stands for Bad Mommy.




THE UNEDITED TRUTH THAT IS ME (blogging penance).....  Mid work-out, puffs around the edges, crazy brows and my eyes accented by dark circles.  The good news for me is that I have a fancy mirror that makes me think I am skinny with perfect skin.  Then I take a picture of myself and ruin it... oh well.

Poop is not funny.

There is nothing funny about poo.  So if you want funny go HERE or HERE.  We'll be talking about poop over here..... Enter at your own risk.

One day ten or so years from now, Keith is going to be very angry with me for sharing this with you.  I figure that at that time we will officially be even.

Keith has (and always has had) a serious poop issue.  We started buying diaper cream by the case when he was 4 months old.  Just the other day I had to use diaper cream on his bottom.... HE DOESN'T WEAR DIAPERS!!!!

Remember I told you about the Grosser than Gross with the crib and Pooplo Picasso?  What happened at Serenity today was so much worse.  I can't even begin to recount the inventory of all of the things that were destroyed.  I will say this: if he didn't have wood floors in his room we would be tearing out carpet.  for reals.

How much poop is too much poop?  When you are the mom of this charmer (his outfit, my cowboy boots)?  I think you know the answer.  This is post clean-up on our way out of the house to see Alvin and the Chipmunks.

I rarely take my kids to the movies so tonight we headed out in celebration of the Poopfest 2010.  They were excited, I was just hoping to forget.....  It worked. 


Triple bonus alert!  1) We got to see the movie.  2) The sound was messed up (not bad, it just switched lower than the usual eardrum busting level and some lady complained) so we got three free passes.  3) And then there was the trip to In N Out Burger. 
Patrick: Plain Hamburger with Grilled Onions AND a Chocolate Shake. 
Keith: Plain Cheeseburger AND a Strawberry Shake.
Meat-eating love.

They are both posing for these pictures.  And they both insisted on multiple takes.  DIVOS!

Good times.  Good times.

Skinny Letters Only

Last night I had a dream that I was back in the pool burning some KCals.  HA! Tonight I am eating m&ms and sitting on my backside.  I've got a problem.  I've been on a workout fast (as in the act of abstaining) since July and an eating splurge since October.  I long since passed the point of blaming my tight jeans on the dryer.

Welcome to the tail-end of my three-week cold.  Me and Mr. Chest Congestion are going to part ways this weekend come hell or high water.  We have to because I might have to buy new pants next week if I don't get moving. 

The good news, everything is in place for me to do what needs to be done.  The brand-new Wii Fit Plus my dad gave me, the freed jogging stroller that has been blocked by the old fridge for months, the now perfectly clean workout room (with mirrors!).  Oh and I found a new favorite Pandora station: ABBA (don't judge).   Two pant sizes.  That's what we need.  A little movement (with the aforementioned strategies) and a little Lindsay Diet and we are good to go.  And so I present you with: the lindsay diet (all skinny lowercase letters)

I don't know that there is a diet for people like me who live to eat. I do know that there is no MD out there who would endorse my eating habits.  This diet is whacked with a side of "heard that line before."  Do it, don't do it. We are all different, this is me, you have to be you. This is the true story of how I lost 4 pant sizes.

I'm going to use my skinny voice and pretend that I am actually implementing the lindsay diet.

1. I stop eating at least 3 hours before going to bed. My rule of thumb is that if I am hungry it must be time for bed. We eat dinner between 5:00 and 5:30 and I rarely eat after dinner is completed.  Generally bedtime is 10:00 pm.
   
2. Which brings me to the next rule, sleep is your friend.  I get 7-8 hours, it really does work.
   
3. No Diet Coke.  ever, well almost see #8.  I kicked my Diet Coke habit not so long ago. I went from two a day to none. Immediately dropped a size.
   
4. Portion control, read the labels. We used to cook a pound of spaghetti for the two of us. Now we divide half a pound between four of us.  I usually serve myself about the same size portion as the boys. 
   
5. If it isn't in the house it is a lot harder to indulge. For me this is mostly alcohol and cake.  I am SO guilty of buying ice cream and other things that don't call my name, torturing my husband or loving my husband? you be the judge.
   
6. During the week I drink my breakfast: it is called half and half in my coffee.  (that is a blog confession.  so embarrassing.)
   
7. And I am usually too busy (and/or stressed) to eat much for lunch.  When I do eat lunch it is after 1:30 which means 5:30 dinner comes way too early to consume thousands of calories.
   
8. I fully commit to indulging in food over the weekend and I never say never. I love Diet Coke, Bread and Butter, Red Wine, Red Meat, Pizza, Chocolate Cake, Mayo and Beer and BUTTER.
   
9. I have always been a 3-squares kind of gal. Now I embrace the snack.  A hundred calories at a time.
   
10. When in doubt I eat more vegetables.  I know, exciting.    It helps with #4.

That's it.  Time to get back on track.  You?

Food of Love Baby

Soup.  This is the time of year for soup, you can't beat it.  And I can't stop myself from making it.  I blame my mother, the soup queen.  One pot! Veggies included! Bread and Butter! A big pot of love! 

In the spirit of soup season, I wanted to share one of our favorites.  Pasta e Fagioli, minus the pasta.  Frankly I don't know what fagioli is but I think I still put that in there.  This is an Olive Garden knock-off by Top Secret Recipes guru Todd Wilbur.  Go get the recipe here and I will tell you about my version.


Patrick asks for this soup by name, as in, hey can we have that soup with the meat and beans.  If you have ever had dinner at my house during the winter you have probably had this soup.  I made this soup for kids before I had kids and they have all loved it (except Keith, who would probably eat it if I put the pasta back in it which I hadn't really considered until this very minute...hmmm.).

Other than dropping the pasta (because really this soup is plenty hearty and who wants to get another pot dirty), I also put an extra can of V-8 in instead of the tomato sauce.  With or without the pasta the soup isn't very brothy and this gives it some more liquid.....some lovely liquid veggies. 

A little bit of this.

As much of this as you want....

A bit of meat and wonderfulness in a bowl is all yours.

You can top it with fresh Parmesan and we love it with bread and butter (I mean: we love bread and butter)  You may be tempted to skip the vinegar but it is a necessary addition.  Dig in, you will love it.  Plus this is pretty cheap too...

For the love of cake balls

Our technical difficulties have been resolved and I have been (re)attached to my laptop.  What were the difficulties?  I don't know.  blah blah blah gateway blah blah blah cables blah blah blah new modem blah blah blah splicing blah blah blah bandwidth.  Oh me oh my, I can't live without you wireless internet.

So I told you how much I love The Pioneer Woman, have I told you about what Bakerella gave us?  You've had cake balls right?  No?  Well, let me tell you, go make some right now so you can live the rest of your life with a fat smile on your face.  CAKE BALLS ROCK!  The cake ball variations... you name it you can have it. And they are so much fun on a stick!

Welcome to the cake ball:  Cake (baked and cooled in a 9x13 pan) crumbled and mixed with frosting.  Formed into balls, frozen and dipped in melted chocolate or whatever your heart desires.  See.... cute and yummy!

Kevin and Patrick wanted chocolate with peanut butter.  I also made Bakerella's classic red velvet with chocolate.
The most difficult part of the cake ball (other than eating all of them) is the dipping.  I used some dipping chocolate from the grocery store on my first round.  It was okay.   There wasn't enough for all of the balls but the chocolate did dry nice and hard.   I got candy melts at Michael's for my second round.   Mostly because Kevin wanted peanut butter.  It was worth it.







 Cake balls are absolutely perfect for kids.  The Cake Pops go the distance.  There is little or no mess with these things and they can eat three and feel like they got an extra special serving of dessert.  See how happy these kids are, make your kids cake balls....TODAY.

Oh and your husband and brothers-in-law may like love them too, maybe, just maybe.
My little homies (Taleen, Tayler & her friend, Tayler, the boys, Tylee) loving some cake pops.

Merry Christmas do you wannabe my friend?

I already told you about my Johnny-Come-Lately obsession with THE PIONEER WOMAN (really, she needs all CAPS).  I'm fan number 3,924,210 (LATEly).  I made my first Pioneer Woman recipe this weekend. stand. by.  When she told me to try a new holiday tradition of delivering cinnamon rolls to my friends and family, well I did just that ("fan" isn't the right word for me, let's call me a "student."  I always listen to my teacher.).  I had my doubts, I've made cinnamon rolls before and find them to be a pain in the bun.  I also doubted the maple frosting.  I'm not a big fan of the maple desserts and treats.  I would never intentionally eat a maple bar (I know, I know, you love the maple bars).  ALL OF MY DOUBTS HAVE BEEN ERASED!

First of all, the recipe is really easy.  I made it and volunteered in Patrick's class and went shopping and made French Dip and took the kids to see Peter Pan.  And I am really not that talented, so this has to be easy.  Seriously, go now and see Ree Drummond @ The Pioneer Woman

My Highlights:

 You might have great plans for holly, berries and a beautiful bow.  Figure that out and prepare that before you are walking out the door.  Otherwise, you get this.  I did use my homemade Christmas tags that I recycled from last year's Christmas cards (simple, cute and cheap).  That's Thrifty Decor Chick.... Maybe I'll blog on that project later.  Anyway, all of the stuff I did on Friday coupled with waking up at 4:30 on Saturday didn't leave me time or energy to pull off the decorative bow etc.  Sorry.

Bring a washcloth.  Some people might eat three four cinnamon rolls in the car and you might think you have some type of cleansing towelette, you would be wrong.  Always pack a back-up washcloth or you will have to borrow a damp paper towel at every other stop (THANKS!).  The boys also wanted to get out of the car at everyone's house.  It was early and I made them stay in the car.  I know, I'm mean.   We did have fun singing and dancing and remembering special things about the next house we were visiting and of course discussing St. Nick and his friend Baby Jesus (we're trying folks!). 

Do all of your friends and family live in the same general vicinity?  Mine don't.  It took all morning to deliver the cinnamon rolls, I'm not complaining it was a great way to spend the  morning.  The only drawback to that is the lack of fuel in the Ford.  13.8 MPG?  That is very generous. I'm considering doing my own calculations.

You may or may not eat two rolls before you get the frosting put on the family pan and you may or may not eat two more before anyone is awake.  Take a shot of the pretty finished product prior to consuming half the pan.  Also, you have to put lots of frosting on (can you see how much is left in the bottom of the pan?  That's my mid-morning sustenance).  Trust the Pioneer Woman, drown them.  They will love you for it.

 I'm a Pioneer Woman wannabe.  More to come I'm sure.  I'm taking requests.