Chocolate 'N Children

June 15, 2015May 27, 2015

Daddys

With Father’s Day coming up, I start thinking about my Dad and my husband. Both great men. And just think about how blessed I am to be surrounded my entire life by men who care about me. Starting with my Dad.

Now that I have kids of my own it’s so much fun to watch my husband play with my daughters. It always brings back so many memories of my own childhood.

I remember…

1. Dad pulling me around in diaper boxes (I don’t remember this so much as I have pictures of it, because I was pretty little). He would attach a string, I would climb in, and he would pull me around the house.

2. Dad chasing me through the house. When my dad blows his nose it’s basically like he’s trumpeting. So as a child, whenever he blew his nose I would go running through the house screaming “Ahhhh, it’s the Water Buffalo!”. And he would chase me. Until he ran into a doorway and broke his toe. After that, I did all the running.

3. Dad swimming with me. Actually, what I remember is playing in my little kiddie pool and mom constantly telling me to stay in the pool and not get so much grass in the pool by climbing in and out. Then, when my dad finished his yard work he would come flop into my pool and make a gigantic splash – also he would get LOTS of grass in my pool.

Once I got older and we graduated to one of those back-yard 3ft pools. We would all walk in one direction around the edge of the pool and make a whirlpool.

4. Horse rides. Riding on Dad’s back down the hall to bed at night. Also, I would walk on his feet. Stand facing him holding hands and put my feet on top of his. He walks backwards and I walk forwards. It’s better than just sticking my feet in Dad’s shoes and clomping around.

5. Angry Alligator. Basically, just chasing us kids around on a playground. But it’s way more fun if you’re trying to escape an alligator.

We would build “tents” from chairs and blankets and “shoot bears”, and we would even play this game (I can’t remember what we called it) where dad sat in the middle and we ran around him trying to get as close as we could without getting caught. Kinda like blind man’s bluff without any blindfolds.

I received lots of good advice from my dad, and he always did a good job taking care of his family, but thinking back to when I was a kid, I most remember all the fun, laughter, and play.

So, Daddys, play with your children. It means so much more than you think it does. And please, don’t run into any doors.

June 12, 2015June 9, 2015

Food Friday – Mixed Veggies

I needed to use up a bunch of “leftover” vegetables. So I turned them into a vegetable medley. This combination of veggies was so colorful, and I love eating colorful foods.

1 Carrot – sliced
1 Green Bell Pepper – chopped in 1/2 in pieces
2 stalks Celery – sliced
2 Green Onions – sliced
1 small bunch Cauliflower – cut in small pieces
2 small Radishes – sliced
1 handful fresh Spinach
2 Tbsp butter
Salt & Pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Warm butter in skillet over medium heat

Add all vegetables except for the spinach

Pan fry until veggies are to desired doneness. I like mine just a tad bit crispy still so about 7 minutes.

Add spinach and cook until spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes.

Season with salt & pepper to taste

Serve with Grated Parmesan Cheese on top.

June 11, 2015June 9, 2015

CSA – Week 4

This week we have beets again. I made more pickled beets because I think the kids will like them. I’m just hoping I like them. I’m not a fan of beets.

Cauliflower. You can’t see this in the picture, but the undersides are purple. The girls were so excited about this! I’m not going to have any trouble getting them to eat it however I make it.

Radishes. Currently, I’m grating them into salads and everyone eats them this way. I even like them this way.

Green onions, four weeks in a row. I have got to come up with something other than slicing one in a salad!

Tomatoes. Last week’s were so delicious. I’m not having any trouble eating all of these.

Greens. It’s not broccolini, but something similar to kale. It’s a bit strong but I still like it.

Red lettuce. This stuff is so tasty. I love it in salads.

Kale. I still haven’t found a recipe for kale that the kids will eat. I’m going to try something new this week.

Come back tomorrow and see what I’ve been cooking!

June 10, 2015April 9, 2016

Adovia Exfoliating Body Scrub Review

I received this product free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

I received a container of Adovia Exfoliating Body Scrub with Dead Sea Salt and Natural Oils for review.

This Dead Sea Salt Scrub is an Exfoliator and Moisturizer. With dead sea salt and 21 minerals, this product is designed to exfoliate and moisturize your skin. You can use it in the shower or bath or just as a hand or foot scrub at your sink.

This product works great. I used it in the shower. It exfoliated well and was very moisturizing. I didn’t even have to use lotion after my shower!

It is a bit hard to get out of the container. It’s rather liquidy, so a small spoon would be helpful.

The only thing I didn’t love about this product is the scent. It has a perfume smell that I didn’t really enjoy. Fortunately, it doesn’t last long after your shower so it’s not a big deal, but I would like this product better in a different scent.

They sell this product on amazon. And free shipping is available.

4 Things I Love About My Husband

1. He’s an optimist – I’m more of a pessimist, so he keeps me balanced. Without him I would never try new things or do anything that I’m not 100% certain of success with.

He encouraged me to start my blog and always has positive things to say about it. Even when I’m sure it’s going terrible. He’s been so encouraging and has really helped me keep going and finally find my groove. (well, enough of a groove for now)

Also, I’m prone to stressing about things that could go wrong, he sees all the things that could go right, so between us, he doesn’t jump into projects uninformed and I actually jump into projects.

2. He’s patient – I want something to happen, right now. He’s ok waiting. And really, there’s no harm in waiting. I’m just impatient. I’m glad he’s more laid back about it.

3. He’s flexible – Last minute call, “can you pick up child from preschool?”. I had something come up and couldn’t make it. Even with a busy day at work he picked her up and let her tag along with him until I could get over there to get her.

Dinner isn’t going to be ready for another 30 minutes, no problem.

4. He works hard – He actually likes working. He enjoys his job so when he comes home he’s not all stressed about his work environment. Which is really nice.

Also, he doesn’t mind doing extra work when it’s needed. As long as I don’t ask him to cook dinner, life is good.

June 5, 2015June 2, 2015

Food Friday – Beets and Tomatoes

I had 5 giant tomatoes in my CSA box. 5. I love tomatoes. But they’re giant. No one else likes tomatoes, so when I cut one up I have to eat it all somehow. They’re delicious tomatoes and I’ve enjoyed them.

Tomato Basil Salad

1 medium size tomato or 1/2 a large tomato
1/4 cup cubed cheese – I used baby swiss
4 sweet basil leaves – broken in pieces

Slice tomato in squares, toss tomato, cheese, and basil together. Add a little salt, oil, or vinegar if desired. Enjoy.

And I just had to show off a sliced tomato. Isn’t it delicious looking!

Beets was a real stumper. I haven’t made beets since, well, ever. I’m not really fond of the taste ether so I haven’t eaten them since I can’t remember when. But, they came in my CSA box and part of the reason for getting a CSA is to try new things. I only had enough beets for 1 jar so I didn’t want to bother with canning just one jar. I decided to go with the refrigerator version.

Refrigerator Pickled Beets

3 medium sized beets
1 cup sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
2 cloves garlic – peeled and sliced
Beet juice as needed

Wash beets well and remove tops and stems. Place in a pan of water and boil until fork tender (about 25 minutes) Remove from water, peel, and slice into rounds. Place in Mason Jar.

While beets are cooking, heat sugar vinegar, water, and garlic on the stove. Simmer 5 minutes then set aside to cool.

Pour sauce over beets in mason jar. Top off with beet juice (leftover in pan from boiling the beets) as needed to fill the jar.

Put lid on the jar and refrigerate. The beets will be ready to eat in 1 week. They will keep in the fridge for 1 month or so.

June 4, 2015May 27, 2015

CSA Week 3

There were so tasty things in my box this week. And some vegetables I’m not that familiar with. Be prepared for fun recipes tomorrow!

More green onions – I have got to find a use for this. This is 3 weeks in a row, and they’re all sitting in my fridge…

Radishes – the recipe I tried last time was pretty good. But no one in my family really likes radishes, so I’m going to have to try something different. Also, I have the tops this time. I’m thinking I’ll try a pesto and see whether I like the carrot top pesto or the radish top pest best.

Beets – I’ve never ever cooked beets. I’ll be looking at lots of beet recipes this week! They have the tops too. I’m pretty sure I can use these like any green similar to kale. I’ll be finding out what the taste difference is!

Spinach – we love spinach salad! I doubt I’ll have enough to do more than just salads. Especially since this is our preferred way to eat spinach.

While we’re discussing salads, here’s a head of red lettuce. I see some delicious salads in my future!

More Kale – I love cooked greens but the kids and my husband are not impressed. I’m going to try kale chips this week, maybe those will be better received…

Tomatoes – I love tomatoes. And these are huge and delicious looking. Can’t wait to start eating these.

Come back tomorrow to see what I did with all these familiar and unfamiliar vegetables.

June 1, 2015May 21, 2015

The Thing About Little Boys

Remember those old rhymes about what girls and boys are made of?

Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice for Girls

Snakes & Snails and Puppy Dog Tails for Boys

I had two girls and then a boy, and boy are they different!

My girls are very girly, glitter, sparkles, dresses. If it’s girly, they love it. They don’t like getting dirty, and they sit still and quiet in Church. They want to have tea parties (with sugar and milk). They want to wear makup and have their hair fixed up. They talk a lot, but they’re really not loud.

Then, along comes the boy. He’s oh, so different. And I’m loving all of it.

1. He just won’t sit still – The girls have no problem sitting through a 1hr meeting (with snacks or something to color of course). The little guy? Sitting is always optional, anywhere. And sitting through a meeting is just out of the question.

I remember moms with boys commenting on how well my girls sat still and quiet, and being polite I would always reply with something along the lines of “it’s just easier for girls to sit quietly”. I’m so glad I said that!

It really is true. My Father in Law tried to take my almost 2yr old boy to the Church service with him the other Sunday. He didn’t last long before he took him to the nursery. He apparently wanted to talk the entire time and wanted to explore instead of sitting still. Yup, and that is why there is a nursery. For all those active little boys.

2. He loves to get dirty – really dirty. A real conversation between me and my husband.

Husband – “what does he do outside?”

Me – “gets dirty.”

Husband follows son into the yard and watches what he does.

Husband – “it’s like he wants to get dirty.”

Yes, he wants to get dirty. What fun is the outdoors if you don’t come inside covered in it?

My girls on the other hand, refused to go down the slide the other day because it was a tad muddy at the bottom. –

Girls, don’t let your brother know…

3. He loves sticks – I’m still teaching him that “we do not hit our sisters with sticks”, and he does pretty good about it. So he is allowed to play with sticks.

Every time we go out the door he feels compelled to get a pile of sticks. He brings them in the car and when we get home my 6yr old throws them out in the yard.

Sticks are great for a variety of things. Stirring puddles so that they become mud puddles, banging the swingset, running around the yard with one in each hand – also very effective for clearing a path as everyone wants out of the path of a stick-wielding child, and of course they’re just great to have on hand.

4. He also loves balls – and he can identify them all, football, baseball, basketball, bouncyball. And all round objects are balls. He thought baked potatoes were awesome until I cut one open, then I had ruined his ball. The same thing with tomatoes, he loves to play with them but he wouldn’t dare destroy a ball by eating it.

5. And cars – before he came along my house was filled with dolls and barbies, now we’ve added hotwheels and thomas trains. I keep a couple of hotwheels in my purse for emergencies. It’s amazing how calming a tiny car is to a little boy.

They’re also great for plopping into your sister’s tea cups if you want to join their tea party, and they’re just the right size for dropping in the Children’s Hospital donation box at the grocery store – yes, he dropped his favorite car in there while we were checking out. They were really nice and got a manager with a key to come up and rescue it for him.

And it’s not just the little cars that he likes. He wants to play with the big ones. He would like to run out in the street and he’ll actually run towards moving cars in the parking lot!

6. He’s an explorer – The girls stay with me, if I’m more than half an aisle away at the grocery store they come running. Not the little guy, he’s pretty certain that getting lost is just a state of mind. Nevermind that the fish tanks at the pet store are at the opposite end of the store from mommy. Fish are awesome!

7. He’s oh so sweet – As full throttle as he is about just being a boy, he’s also so very sweet. He likes to snuggle way more than the girls ever did and if anyone starts crying he has to be right there to give a hug and tell them it’s ok.

He loves hugs so I’m going to enjoy them while I can because I know that in just a few short years he’ll be all grown up and won’t be quite as interested in hugging his momma.

May 29, 2015May 27, 2015

Food Friday – Second CSA Box Recipes

I still have green onions to use up. That’s on my to-do list for this week. “Find Green Onion recipes that the kids will eat”. This could be interesting…

Did you know that soups are hard to photograph? Or maybe it’s just me. I feel like I need to take a class in food photography to do this right. Anyways…we already had a bunch of carrots in our fridge and we got some in our CSA box. My 6yr old has been begging to make carrot soup, and with all these carrots I agreed that this would be a good time to give it a try.

Carrot soup

1 lb carrots – peeled, and sliced into small pieces.
1 onion – roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic – chopped
2 leaves fresh basil
2 Tbsp oil (I used coconut oil)
2 Cups chicken stock

Place first 5 ingredients in a skillet and cook, with the lid on, over medium heat until carrots are soft. About 30 minutes.

Transfer to a blender and blend until everything is blended well. Add chicken stock and blend until well combined and to desired texture.

Pour into a large pan and heat on low for as long as needed. I just let mine simmer while I made the rest of our dinner.

This soup was surprisingly rich, I was going to eat a huge bowl and just couldn’t.

We had a few carrots left over so later in the week I made carrot sticks and red pepper sticks and we dipped them in ranch dressing – which is the kids favorite way to eat carrots.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

These didn’t make it to the end of the day. They were eaten up almost immediately.

First, wash the strawberries and then cut off their tops. I put my tops in a tupperware in the freezer for later use in smoothies.

There’s two reasons for cutting the tops off before dipping. First, I want the tops for smoothies. Second, the kids will ask me to cut the tops off before they will eat them, so I may as well cut them off first and have tops for my smoothies.

Next, I highly recommend a decent quality dipping chocolate. I found this Ghirardelli dipping chocolate and it’s awesome. You melt it on the defrost setting in your microwave and it melts in just a couple of minutes. It’s also basically room temperature after you melt it so I don’t have to worry about the kids burning themselves on hot chocolate or melting something I don’t want melted with my chocolate when I dip.

Then, dip away!

It dries fast, by the time I had finished dipping all the strawberries, I could pick up and eat the first ones I had dipped. And they were delicious!

May 28, 2015May 21, 2015

CSA Week 2

Here’s what came in my second CSA box. Recipes for some of these items will be on the blog tomorrow!

Basil – I’m seeing lots of italian foods in my future! Did you know, basil is a spice that does better on the counter instead of the fridge. Just put it in a jar of water kind of like you would a flower, cover it lightly, and leave it out. It’ll keep longer. Not the most beautiful flower but it really does smell so good!

Kale, I really love kale. It’s one of my favorite greens. Plus I have a great recipe! (once again, come back tomorrow!)

Lettuce, luckily we love salads around here. This is such a big head! We’ve had a great spring for lettuce growing and it really shows.

More green onions, we got green onions last week as well. Apparently, it’s been a great spring for them. We don’t eat a lot of green onions so I’m struggling with what to do with them. I don’t mind them as toppings for salads, soups, tacos, etc. But no one else likes them, so I have to find a way to hide them when I cook with them. Check back tomorrow and see what I came up with.

More strawberries, they didn’t last long. We ate them up within hours of getting them home. They’re so sweet and juicy!

One green pepper. It’s pretty large, and looks delicious!

Carrots, my 6yr old has been begging to make some carrot soup. So we did, come back tomorrow and see how it turned out!