I've been letting things slide on here, so it's probably time to get caught up on family news, youngest to oldest.
Brooklyn
Eeek! That girl is the sweetest thing, I tell ya. She's cuddly, loves hugs and kisses, and still has a delicious smile. She's been walking solidly for a month now and loves to try to keep up with Jack. Although she never took a bottle, she's a fantastic eater. I didn't think Jack was that picky of a toddler until we had Brooklyn and realized that some children will eat anything. It's awesome! Tonight, she was fussing at the table, so I let her get down. She walked to the counter and pointed at a spoon. Turns out, she just wanted to have her own utensil! I gave her a bowl of applesauce, and she ate it with her spoon like she was a pro. *sigh* Why do I forget that she's not a helpless baby anymore?
Jack
Just when I think that he couldn't possibly become more fun, he does. Some of his favorites lately are monsters, Jesus, Jonah/large fish, wolves, ghosts, elephants, and trains. He's also becoming genuinely helpful too. He folds washcloths, sets the table, pours/stirs ingredients when I'm baking, uses the swiffer wetjet on the kitchen floor, and shovels the deck. Oh! And he's potty-trained! He still has an occasional accident, but I'm slowly starting to take him out in public in undies. Well....clothes too. By the way, how do you handle the super inconvenient potty emergencies? Like when you're in the checkout line at the grocery store with both kids or in the middle of a doctor's appointment?
Anyway. Here are a few recent quotes:
"Friday night is Jesus' birthday."
"Daddy go potty 'cause him go pee in his pants." (which did not happen, in case you're wondering)
"I want the light off and the door open. That might be fun." he told me at nap-time.
"HEY GUY! GET BACK UP ON THAT LADDER!" yelling to the man fixing the neighbors' tv dish.
"I'm too old to pick up [toys] because I'm getting big."
"I need to drink coffee so me feels healthy."
"I'm happy you came home Mommy."
Amanda
Mehh, not too much news to report here. I mean, the whole vegan thing has kept me busy trying new recipes, and I'm almost finished with the book, The China Study, dealing with nutrition and the typical American diet (which hardly belong in the same sentence together, it would seem). I feel great and have more energy, although I'm pretty sure I'll feel even better when spring hits. I don't mind the snow/ice/cold per se, but I'm not a huge fan of putting sixteen layers of clothes on my herd of wild cats every time we want to go outside. What? You have a herd of wild cats? Sorry, I mean, the kids.
Jeremy
Hold on to your hats people. Jeremy has been feeling pretty stinkin good lately. And in case you didn't know, that is big news. Jeremy's had chronic back pain for 6.5 years, catalyzed by the bridge+rope swing+shallow water incident, and injured further when we moved almost 2 years ago. Our chiropractor, Dr. Michael, has helped a ton since the move, and he helped to bring us out of a very difficult time. That being said, Jeremy's had to see him 1-2 times a week for nearly two years. Until this month. He hasn't gone yet. Yes, the same month that we switched to a totally plant-based diet, Jeremy's back pain improved dramatically. One possible explanation for this is that clogged/blocked arteries can cause pain and degeneration. As blood flow improves, pain decreases. Makes tons of sense, really. And it's probably all the incentive that we need to stick with this thing...because there's nothing like good health.
Alright, that should do it for tonight. I'm off to slaughter a vegetable.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What's For Dinner?
Oh hey. It's January 11. Remember when I was going to post a vegan meal plan of what we'd be eating this month? How about a list of what we've been eating and a link to a menu already planned out?
What we've had;
*Veggie sandwiches (think Subway with tons of veggies, no cheese, and a bit of oil)
*Spaghetti with garden vegetable marinara, steamed veggies on the side
*Rice and bean enchiladas using a bit of Daiya cheese instead of cheddar
*Stir-fry over rice (or noodles). Jeremy tops his with Thai peanut sauce; Jack and I stick to plain soy sauce
*Tacos with black beans, rice, salsa, tomato, onion, and whatever other veggies you like.
*Wild rice burgers with sweet potato chips/fries on the side.
*Pizza using this super easy crust recipe, topped with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms (or any other combination of veggies) and a bit of Daiya cheese
*Butternut squash soup, adapted from a friend's recipe.
Then, a friend sent me this awesome website for those that are trying out a vegan menu. It's super helpful, and has suggestions for dining out and other considerations. Thank Erinn!!
We're only eleven days in, but we can already tell a noticeable difference. We both have more energy and leave each meal feeling full but never overstuffed. If I'm hungry I eat and snack on fruit, veggies, bagels, nuts, etc. One interesting thing is that Jeremy's back pain has been greatly diminished. I find it hard to believe that it's a total coincidence, and I'm interested to see what the rest of the month brings. If changing our eating habits could mean pain relief for him, I would be sold for good.
By the way, this whole no meat/dairy/eggs thing is really pretty easy and delicious! You just have to be willing to try new things!
What we've had;
*Veggie sandwiches (think Subway with tons of veggies, no cheese, and a bit of oil)
*Spaghetti with garden vegetable marinara, steamed veggies on the side
*Rice and bean enchiladas using a bit of Daiya cheese instead of cheddar
*Stir-fry over rice (or noodles). Jeremy tops his with Thai peanut sauce; Jack and I stick to plain soy sauce
*Tacos with black beans, rice, salsa, tomato, onion, and whatever other veggies you like.
*Wild rice burgers with sweet potato chips/fries on the side.
*Pizza using this super easy crust recipe, topped with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms (or any other combination of veggies) and a bit of Daiya cheese
*Butternut squash soup, adapted from a friend's recipe.
Then, a friend sent me this awesome website for those that are trying out a vegan menu. It's super helpful, and has suggestions for dining out and other considerations. Thank Erinn!!
We're only eleven days in, but we can already tell a noticeable difference. We both have more energy and leave each meal feeling full but never overstuffed. If I'm hungry I eat and snack on fruit, veggies, bagels, nuts, etc. One interesting thing is that Jeremy's back pain has been greatly diminished. I find it hard to believe that it's a total coincidence, and I'm interested to see what the rest of the month brings. If changing our eating habits could mean pain relief for him, I would be sold for good.
By the way, this whole no meat/dairy/eggs thing is really pretty easy and delicious! You just have to be willing to try new things!
Butternut Squash Soup
1 shallot, finely chopped
4 T olive oil
3 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cubed
11 whole leaves of fresh sage, washed, divided
4 cups vegetable stock
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup vegan cream cheese (I think you could probably use almond milk too?)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1. In stockpot, saute the shallot in olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add squash, 3 sage leaves, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 20-30 minutes, until squash falls apart when stuck with a fork.
3. Puree soup by portions in a firmly covered blender, 2 cups at a time. When you've finished, return pureed mixture to stockpot.
4. Stir in cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg over low heat. Taste the soup to determine whether or not to add more cinnamon, sugar, salt, and pepper.
5. Serve garnished with whole leaves of fresh sage.
4 T olive oil
3 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cubed
11 whole leaves of fresh sage, washed, divided
4 cups vegetable stock
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup vegan cream cheese (I think you could probably use almond milk too?)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1. In stockpot, saute the shallot in olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add squash, 3 sage leaves, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 20-30 minutes, until squash falls apart when stuck with a fork.
3. Puree soup by portions in a firmly covered blender, 2 cups at a time. When you've finished, return pureed mixture to stockpot.
4. Stir in cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg over low heat. Taste the soup to determine whether or not to add more cinnamon, sugar, salt, and pepper.
5. Serve garnished with whole leaves of fresh sage.
Vegan Rice Patties
Mix in a medium bowl:
*2 cups cooked wild rice
*1 cup (or less) Daiya cheese
*3 T flour
*1/2 cup minced onion (I use onion powder)
Whisk together:
*1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
*3 Ener-G "eggs" (the original recipe called for 3 egg whites)
Combine with rice mixture.
Heat oil and spoon approximately 1/3 cup of rice mixture onto the skillet. Press down to make a patty shape. Cook patties, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Top however you like!
Here's the original recipe, using egg and cheese.
*2 cups cooked wild rice
*1 cup (or less) Daiya cheese
*3 T flour
*1/2 cup minced onion (I use onion powder)
Whisk together:
*1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
*3 Ener-G "eggs" (the original recipe called for 3 egg whites)
Combine with rice mixture.
Heat oil and spoon approximately 1/3 cup of rice mixture onto the skillet. Press down to make a patty shape. Cook patties, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Top however you like!
Here's the original recipe, using egg and cheese.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
No Seriously, What Would Jesus Do?
Here's one of my all-time favorite answers to a relatively common question/idea among Christians, from The Simple Way.
Should I give money to homeless folks or beggars?
Jesus said give to everyone who asks. That’s a tough command. Sometimes we wonder what Jesus would do in the Calcutta slums or in these heroine-haunted streets where folks ask for change on every corner. What we can say with confidence is that we are to give something to everyone who asks – dignity, attention, time, a listening ear. Sometimes we may give money, sometimes not. But we can always give love. And there are times when giving money can even be a way to insulate ourselves from friendship or the messiness a real relationship might demand. So you can toss a few coins to a beggar or write a check to charity precisely as a way of insulating ourselves from relationships (and still appease our consciences)… but at the end of the day Christ’s call is to relationship and compassion. When Jesus speaks in Matthew 25 about caring for “the least of these”, the action he speaks of is not about distant acts of charity but personal actions of compassion – visiting the prisoners, caring for the sick, welcoming the strangers, sharing food with the hungry. Better than sharing money is sharing life, a meal, a home. Having said that, most Christians need to get taken advantage of more. And we can usually spare some change. Sometimes folks say this question about giving to beggars and panhandlers with suspicion, speculating that homeless folks will just use their money for drugs or alcohol… which happens sometimes. But we don’t always ask what CEOs are doing with our money when we give it to their companies (and the recent events on Wall Street raise some flags about how responsible they are!). In the end, if we cannot take someone to dinner or give them a ride when they ask for money, we might as well give some money. It’s better to err on the side of grace than on the side of suspicion. And we doubt that Jesus is going to reprimand us for giving too much money to addicts… more likely, we will discover we could have been a bit more generous than we were.
Thanks, Shane and friends, for that reminder!
Should I give money to homeless folks or beggars?
Jesus said give to everyone who asks. That’s a tough command. Sometimes we wonder what Jesus would do in the Calcutta slums or in these heroine-haunted streets where folks ask for change on every corner. What we can say with confidence is that we are to give something to everyone who asks – dignity, attention, time, a listening ear. Sometimes we may give money, sometimes not. But we can always give love. And there are times when giving money can even be a way to insulate ourselves from friendship or the messiness a real relationship might demand. So you can toss a few coins to a beggar or write a check to charity precisely as a way of insulating ourselves from relationships (and still appease our consciences)… but at the end of the day Christ’s call is to relationship and compassion. When Jesus speaks in Matthew 25 about caring for “the least of these”, the action he speaks of is not about distant acts of charity but personal actions of compassion – visiting the prisoners, caring for the sick, welcoming the strangers, sharing food with the hungry. Better than sharing money is sharing life, a meal, a home. Having said that, most Christians need to get taken advantage of more. And we can usually spare some change. Sometimes folks say this question about giving to beggars and panhandlers with suspicion, speculating that homeless folks will just use their money for drugs or alcohol… which happens sometimes. But we don’t always ask what CEOs are doing with our money when we give it to their companies (and the recent events on Wall Street raise some flags about how responsible they are!). In the end, if we cannot take someone to dinner or give them a ride when they ask for money, we might as well give some money. It’s better to err on the side of grace than on the side of suspicion. And we doubt that Jesus is going to reprimand us for giving too much money to addicts… more likely, we will discover we could have been a bit more generous than we were.
Thanks, Shane and friends, for that reminder!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Randoms
1. My piano students had their Christmas recital tonight, and they all performed splendidly. Tonight was the first winter recital in four years that was not canceled/rescheduled due to snow or missed so I could deliver a baby. Score! Also, I was given several sweet gifts from students, including a Starbucks gift card. Someone knows me well, and it can be assumed that I will be taking a little outing with the kiddos tomorrow. :)
2. I've eaten a lot of cookie dough this week. And leftover cupcakes from Brooklyn's birthday. And an abundance of junk food in general. And while it's been a delight to my taste buds, I'm starting to feel pretty nasty. If you've had extra sweet treats around your house, then I'm guessing you know what I mean. So.....for the month of January, Jeremy and I are going vegan. Honestly, I just want to see if we can stick with it for a month, and if so, see how we feel at the end of it. Want to join us? My plan is to create weekly menus and post them for anyone that's interested in joining in. (I mean, really, what else is there to do in January?) Mostly, I just need a little accountability to stick with it. We tried it for a week last summer....and made it 2.5 days. I would love meal/recipe ideas!
3. In case you're just waking up from a cryogenic slumber*, Christmas is almost here. Which means that there has been a lot of talk about Baby Jesus around this house:
"I want Baby Jesus to sleep in my room!"
"I need to feed Baby Jesus!"
"Baby Jesus is in the sky outside. I need to listen to him in my ear!"
It is a pretty exciting thing, really. Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save humanity. The greatest act of sacrificial love. Yep, definitely something to celebrate!
4. Our house is a disaster. I have approximately 2,734 projects that I would like to accomplish in the next two weeks. Here's hoping that I can make it through the first two...
5. Jack got a haircut (thanks Aunt Sonya)! And it's sooo much more manageable.
*Is that even an appropriate usage of the term? My sci-fi-knowledgeable husband is currently sleeping...
2. I've eaten a lot of cookie dough this week. And leftover cupcakes from Brooklyn's birthday. And an abundance of junk food in general. And while it's been a delight to my taste buds, I'm starting to feel pretty nasty. If you've had extra sweet treats around your house, then I'm guessing you know what I mean. So.....for the month of January, Jeremy and I are going vegan. Honestly, I just want to see if we can stick with it for a month, and if so, see how we feel at the end of it. Want to join us? My plan is to create weekly menus and post them for anyone that's interested in joining in. (I mean, really, what else is there to do in January?) Mostly, I just need a little accountability to stick with it. We tried it for a week last summer....and made it 2.5 days. I would love meal/recipe ideas!
3. In case you're just waking up from a cryogenic slumber*, Christmas is almost here. Which means that there has been a lot of talk about Baby Jesus around this house:
"I want Baby Jesus to sleep in my room!"
"I need to feed Baby Jesus!"
"Baby Jesus is in the sky outside. I need to listen to him in my ear!"
It is a pretty exciting thing, really. Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save humanity. The greatest act of sacrificial love. Yep, definitely something to celebrate!
4. Our house is a disaster. I have approximately 2,734 projects that I would like to accomplish in the next two weeks. Here's hoping that I can make it through the first two...
5. Jack got a haircut (thanks Aunt Sonya)! And it's sooo much more manageable.
From this:
To this!
6. Brooklyn loves music. She dances uncontrollably the minute I start singing or playing the piano and tries to sing along. It's pretty precious.
In case you can't tell, she's singing "O Holy Night"
Alright, that's all for tonight. Thanks to items #1, 2, and 4, I'm getting pretty sleepy and in danger of rambling even more than usual. Here's one more picture of sweetness to hold you over.
*Is that even an appropriate usage of the term? My sci-fi-knowledgeable husband is currently sleeping...
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My Dearest Brooklyn...
When I found out I was pregnant with you, Daddy didn't believe me. Your Uncle Mark was the one who finally told him, "I think there really is another line there." I couldn't imagine loving another child as much as I already loved your brother, Jack. But your Grandma told me that my love would just multiply. She was so very right.
When we found out that you were a girl, I was the one in disbelief. I had no idea how amazingly sweet it would be to have a daughter. But I know now. You have a smile that lights up the room. You've always liked me to hold you, and I love that about you. I wish I could always hold you.
When you were born on that cold December morning, it was....incredible. I was the one to pull you into my arms, perfect little you. And I will never, ever forget the way that Daddy held you for the first time, as though you were the only two in the room. You are captivating like that.
When you got sick at five weeks old and we had to take you to the ER, I cried. I cried even more when they poked and prodded and gave you an IV in your tiny hand. But I look back on those next few days in the hospital with you fondly; we bonded during those quiet hours.
When you started to sit up and eventually crawl, Jack started to play with you more, and you two have become fast friends. I love how he says, "I need Brooklyn in my room!" and how you giggle at his every move. I hope you are always close friends and look out for each other.
When you were seven months old, Daddy and I took you to Florida. You were the best traveler and a delight to everyone. We got to see a lot of things and spend quality time together. I know you won't remember it when you grow up, but I have some incredibly cherished memories from that trip with you.
When I sing silly songs about being in the kitchen or I sit down to play the piano, you dance and squeal, and it warms my heart. I hope you'll let me teach you how to play the piano, but if you don't want to, that's ok too.
When we celebrated your first birthday today, I found it hard to believe that it's already been a year since that amazing day. You are a delight to Daddy and me (and a lot of other people, too!), and we thank God that we have the privilege of being your parents. We love you so very much, sweet Brooklyn. Happy birthday.
Love,
Mommy
When we found out that you were a girl, I was the one in disbelief. I had no idea how amazingly sweet it would be to have a daughter. But I know now. You have a smile that lights up the room. You've always liked me to hold you, and I love that about you. I wish I could always hold you.
When you were born on that cold December morning, it was....incredible. I was the one to pull you into my arms, perfect little you. And I will never, ever forget the way that Daddy held you for the first time, as though you were the only two in the room. You are captivating like that.
When you got sick at five weeks old and we had to take you to the ER, I cried. I cried even more when they poked and prodded and gave you an IV in your tiny hand. But I look back on those next few days in the hospital with you fondly; we bonded during those quiet hours.
When you started to sit up and eventually crawl, Jack started to play with you more, and you two have become fast friends. I love how he says, "I need Brooklyn in my room!" and how you giggle at his every move. I hope you are always close friends and look out for each other.
When you were seven months old, Daddy and I took you to Florida. You were the best traveler and a delight to everyone. We got to see a lot of things and spend quality time together. I know you won't remember it when you grow up, but I have some incredibly cherished memories from that trip with you.
When I sing silly songs about being in the kitchen or I sit down to play the piano, you dance and squeal, and it warms my heart. I hope you'll let me teach you how to play the piano, but if you don't want to, that's ok too.
When we celebrated your first birthday today, I found it hard to believe that it's already been a year since that amazing day. You are a delight to Daddy and me (and a lot of other people, too!), and we thank God that we have the privilege of being your parents. We love you so very much, sweet Brooklyn. Happy birthday.
Love,
Mommy
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