Quick holiday recap...

The holidays this year were merry and bright. We celebrated Hanukkah for 8 nights (errr... make that 7, as I completely forgot the last night which luckily was totally overshadowed by a piggy blocker-wearing ride around town looking at lights with Gran and Grandpa... whew...). We celebrated Christmas all day and night on Xmas eve and again from sun-up to sun-down on Xmas day. The presents were wonderful and reasonable, keeping the girls in-check and in-line with our thoughts about "stuff", yet providing endless joy and satisfaction. When asked "what do you want for the holidays this year?", Elise's response perfectly represented the de-emphasis on "things" that I hope stays with our family forever. She said: "Momma, I just want everyone to leave the lights up on their houses." That's my girl. 

Among the presents that were opened, the girls were thrilled to receive jammies, snow boots, books (they are quite into Olivia and Ladybug Girl right now), puzzles, binoculars for bird-watching, games (Candyland, Hungry Hippos, Chutes and Ladders), a play-doh cake maker, a paper-bag puppet kit, gum, a bird calendar, cozy socks, and wooden patterning blocks. It sounds like a lot, but considering the gifts were coming in from parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends, I feel like we acquired great new activities and projects to enjoy together. Thank you all for making the holidays fab-u-lous.

Happy Hanukkah!

On the first night of Hanukkah,

There were no pear trees. 

We got new piggy blocker jammies!

Happy Hanukkah!

Walkin' in a woodsy wintertime!

We went hiking at Clinton Lake last weekend, thanks to an invite from Uncle Travis. Four adults, two kids, and two dogs. It was cloudy and cool, but a great way to spend an afternoon. It's easy to fall into the "indoor" trap once the temp falls, but I just read somewhere that at least 15 minutes outside everyday makes a difference. Granted, I'd much prefer that the girls are outside for much longer but every little bit certainly counts. The holiday homemade-gift extravaganza is underway here, so the food pics are fewer while the paper-cutting, mod-podging madness takes hold! Thought for the day: go outside and play!

Lentils with Brown Rice

Lentils are a staple food for us, especially as the weather has gotten colder. We buy them in bulk at The Merc, they come in a variety of colors, and they are so versatile. My mom often made (and still makes) lentil soup, which is great, and John started making lentils and rice a couple of years ago. They are a great go-to meal, packed with protein, fiber, and folate, and (big surprise) our girls love them. Here's a quick fix for some lentils and rice, but google away as there are so many different combinations of lentil meals!

Lentils with Brown Rice

• 1 C organic short grain brown rice (cook separate from lentils: 2 C water, 1 C rice, cover and simmer until done - approx 35 minutes)
• 1 C organic french lentils (these are green ones)
• Organic carrots
• Organic onion
• Bragg organic apple cider vinegar
• 3 C organic low sodium chicken broth
• Wash lentils and pick through, discarding bad ones
• Chop and saute carrots and onion in olive oil (garlic would be good, too)
• Add lentils and 1/4 C vinegar
• Cover and simmer approx 10 minutes
• Add broth, bay leaf, spices
• Cover and simmer until lentils are of desired tenderness (I probably left these for 45 minutes, or so)
• Salt and pepper
• Serve with rice

John discovered the vinegar step in this process, and I think it seals the lentil deal. Bacon is also a great addition, as it is to many recipes, but it works quite well here. Bottom line: lentils are worth a shot, if you haven't tried them. And if you have, leave some recipe ideas in the comments for us! I'm sure they'll be making an appearance again this week! Happy Monday!

Wordless Wednesday: It's beginning to look a lot like...

A little something on the side...

"Variety is the spice of life"... right? And variety is most definitely the key to eating - I love to graze. A perfect meal for me is an entire appetizer spread - delicious bites that I can sample, taste, nibble, and enjoy. As far as feeding little ones, I've always offered a great deal of variety - 4-5 different choices, focusing on quality not quantity. And anytime I can add a side dish to my "go to" choices, more power to me! Here are a couple of my newer faves:

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

• 1-2 organic sweet potatoes
• 2 T organic olive oil
• 1/2 - 1 tsp kosher salt
• Slice sweet potato into fry-shapes (can do with or without the peel)
• Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt
• Bake at 450° for 20-30 minutes, flipping over halfway
• John and the girls love these with A-1 sauce for dipping

Roasted Brussel Sprouts
adapted from HERE

• Organic brussel sprouts (I probably had about 15-18)
• Organic olive oil
• Organic real maple syrup
• Whole grain dijon mustard
• Bragg organic apple cider vinegar
• Wash and halve brussel sprouts
• Toss with 2 T olive oil and roast at 425° for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through
• Mix 1/4 C olive oil, 1 T maple syrup, 1 T Dijon mustard, 1 T vinegar
• Toss roasted brussel sprouts with sauce and serve
• Yum-O!

Let's face it: the more options there are on the table, the longer everyone stays. The longer everyone stays at the table, the more powerful family dinners become. The more powerful family dinners become, the more we talk, eat, laugh, and love. To say that family dinners are a big part of our life would be a tremendous understatement and, after our 90+ minute dinner at Freestate last night, I think it's safe to say that Abby and Elise have a good understanding, and appreciation, of our mealtime routines.
Lastly, I'll leave you with a few sides from the girls:

• Abby to me, as I was nabbing a bite of her ice cream: "Now Momma, this needs to be your last bite."
• Elise to me, as I was trying to hide the chocolate-covered pecan that was in my mouth:
• Elise: "Momma, what do you smell like?"
• Me: "A pecan."
• Elise: "Hmmm.... that's funny because it smells like a chocolate chip."
• Abby, singing herself to bed one night (as overheard through the baby monitor): "I drink a beer... I drink a beer... Hi-ho the dairy-oh... I drink a beer."
• Elise to Gran, talking about something that happened over the summer: "Gran, that was so long ago I can't remember what I was wearing!".
• Abby to John: "Fix your attitude, Daditude."
• Elise to me, at bedtime: "Thank you for snuggling with me, Momma. I just love you."

Blogging Hiatus - OVER!

Well... hello there! Yes, I've been on a bit of a blogging-hiatus. No reason, really. I have lots to say, lots to share - food, pictures, stories. I'm planning to get back in the game and get you all filled in on our happenings during the upcoming week(s). Thanksgiving is behind us, Christmas and Hanukkah are just ahead - so much excitement, family, friends, and fun. Enjoy a few fall pictures of the girls (Grandma and Bubbe - these are for you two!) and stay tuned for some quality blogging. G'night!

Indianapolis!!!

Thoughts on our most recent road trip:

• Despite the excruciating hatred of the car in their early months (12 months, to be exact), the girls are now rockstar road-trippers
• Go crazy in the bulk section before departing (The Merc, Whole Foods): stock up on lots of fun (and healthy) treats to offer throughout the day (nuts, dried fruit, yogurt-covered pretzels)
• Also for food, take advantage of all the easy-to-eat, packaged, organic kid-friendly finds such as: Stonyfield organic yogurt squeezers, Happy Tot Pouches. While the girls are well past 3 (say, what?!?!?!!), I have no problem giving them things like the happy tot pouches, which might be geared for younger ones, because what harm could it possibly do?
• Get books on tape from the library!! The girls LOVE stories, and while my ginger pills help protect me from getting queasy in the car, I still can't ride and read. With their carseats side-by-side, they shared the book-holding and listened to book after book. 
• Start enforcing naps in the car at an early age. We began taking the girls to visit their great grandma at Lake of the Ozarks when they were one. We'd always travel at naptime and, after letting them enjoy the ride for a bit, we got them in the habit of taking their nap, as usual. We turn on some quiet music, tell them it's time for naps, and stop interacting with them. The girls had their normal 1 1/2 - 2 hour nap on both the drive to and from Indy. 
• Have a few "aces in the hole". For us, it was a couple of new notepads, some new little colored pens, and assorted stickers. They are also very into babies right now, so I snagged a new outfit for each doll while we were in Indiana for the trip home. A little "special something" goes a long way while in the car.
• We continue to greatly limit screen-time. The girls rode for 8-9 hours, each way, without a DVD, computer, or video of any sort. We all really enjoyed the trip! There was a lot of talking, a lot of singing, some "I spy", and endless sightseeing. We were about 1/4 of the way home and the girls were already asking for another roadtrip. Those are my kind of girls!

BOO!

We had two of the friendliest... and CUTEST ghosts that you've ever seen this evening! This year Halloween was FUN... for all of us. The girls were into it 100%, they got to trick-or-trick with their besties, and the candy... oh, the candy. The beautiful thing about not over-indulging your child 24/7 is that it makes nights like tonight so incredibly exciting. We don't keep candy in the house and the awe of being handed piece after piece tonight was sweet and sincere.

I love before-and-after pictures... so here's the change from last Halloween to this one, with these four girls:

Abby and Elise had decided upon ghosts within the last week so after all was quiet last night, I went to work with two pillowcases, some black felt, and my sewing machine. Then today I made some little hair bows and hot-glued them to barrettes. I love all things handmade, and Halloween costumes are at the top of my must-make-by-hand list. These little ghost outfits were so simple and, need I repeat myself, so CUTE!

The night ended with a stop at Gran and Grandpa's, and a final raiding of the sugary treasures. Despite a fall (Elise), a good time was had by all tonight - great friends, great girlies, and great fun. My little friendly ghosts are sacked out and will awaken, without a doubt, full of stories to tell of their Halloween night.

Roasted "Peachicks"

Ahhhh... it is that time of year when, if so desired, I can mess around in the kitchen with the oven on all afternoon and not think twice about it. That gives post-nap snacks a million more options, which recently included oven-roasted garbanzo beans. When the girls woke up, I told them that I'd made them some chickpeas for their snack and the following 15 minutes consisted of a snarfing-down of the "crunchy little peachicks" (Elise). Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are high in fiber, contain some worthwhile vitamins, and are the main ingredient in hummus (yum!).

Oven-roasted Chickpeas
adapted from here

• 1 can organic garbanzo beans/chickpeas
• 1 1/2 T organic olive oil
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• pinch of cumin
• Preheat oven to 350°
• Rinse and pat dry beans
• Roast plain for 20 minutes
• Remove from oven and toss with olive oil, salt, and spices
• Return to oven for 20 minutes, or until desired crunchiness is achieved (they do crisp a bit more once cooled)
• Before offering to others, save some for yourself because these crunchy little peachicks are irresistible to the little ones. Case in point:

Sugar-High Friday: Monkey Bread Muffins

I try to limit my use of sugar in this house for multiple reasons: 1) it's not good for you; 2) there are healthier and tastier alternatives; 3) I want the girls to see non-sugar treats as tasty and worthwhile; 4) I can't keep my fingers out of the batter/dough/frosting/ before, during, or after the baking. I am frequently at my computer drooling over the sugary goodness that people are creating. Many of the blogs I read are only food, with little to no pictures of the people. I want to see the people because, if they surround themselves with that much sugar yet maintain a slim and trim physique, I want some schooling from those people in self-restraint!

We had some very special friends for a visit this morning and, to make the snack extra special AND to celebrate a birthday with them, I gave in to the temptation and turned the morning into "sugar-high Friday". I saw this recipe for Monkey Bread earlier in the week and bookmarked it. We were up and about early today, so there was time for some dough to get a-rising. The original recipe makes the Monkey Bread in a bundt pan; I did individual muffins instead. The dough had a great texture, it was easy to work with, and the bread was springy and delicious. I changed the ratio of white flour to whole wheat flour but kept everything else basically the same. The dough requires two rise times - mine was about an hour the first and 35 minutes the second. It was easy and will remain bookmarked!

Monkey Bread Muffins

• 2 C organic whole wheat flour
• 1 C organic whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 C organic white flour
• 1 tsp kosher salt (I was just out of table salt, otherwise would've used table)
• 1 package rapid rise yeast
• 1 C warm organic milk
• 1/4 C orange juice
• 1/4 C local honey
• 2 T organic unsalted butter, melted
• In the bowl of stand mixer, and using the dough hook attachment, combine flours, salt, yeast
• Slowly add milk, orange juice, honey, melted butter
• I heated the milk in the microwave and got it fairly hot; slowly stirred the orange juice into the milk to cool it a bit and to avoid having to heat the OJ as well
• Let mixer run for 5-8 minutes, until the dough is well mixed and holds its shape
• I added 1-2 T flour while it was mixing as the dough was sticking to the bowl; after about 7-8 minutes, a very nice dough ball had formed
• Transfer dough to an oil-coated bowl and leave to rise for 1 hour
• I heated my oven to 100°, turned it off, covered the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it sit
• Once dough has doubled in size, punch down
• For the cinnamon-sugar coating:
• In one bowl, combine 2 T melted butter and 3 T milk
• In another bowl, combine 1/4 C brown sugar, 1/4 C white sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon
• To make muffins:
• Form 1-inch balls of dough
• Roll each ball in milk/butter mixture and then in cinnamon-sugar mixture
• Place 3 balls in each muffin liner
• Cover entire muffin pan with plastic wrap and return to warm (but off) oven for 30-40 minutes
• Once dough has risen a second time, bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes
• For a glaze, I just mixed some powdered sugar and milk (approx 3 T sugar and 1 T milk) 

To the LJ crew: thanks for trekking to Lawrence to spend the morning. We are so happy to have you close and have now celebrated, in person, 3 birthdays with you in the past 3 months! That is, without a doubt, worthy of a little sugar. Now I'd better go see about the whispering in the next room - sounds like "sugar-high Friday" might be synonymous with "no-nap Friday"! :)

Wordless Wednesday: Ready...Set...GO!

Let there be ART!

I am seriously slacking in the recipe department these days. I'm just not feeling the food. This week, we had some tasty chicken and rice soup with sweet potato fries, grilled cheese and avocado sandwiches with leftover chicken and rice soup, dinner at a friend's house, and dinner-on-the-deck that consisted of PB&Js, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy tangelo. We are by no means starving (or eating poorly). I just haven't done anything blog-able.

What I have been doing is spending numerous moments each day in awe of the girls. Most of you know that the majority of my college and all of my career focus on early childhood development, specifically the 3-5 year old range. Abby and Elise are smack dab in that range. I have counseled more parents than I can count on why their child isn't talking, how to stop a tantrum before it starts, what to do when their child bites another, how to stop their child from running away, how to teach counting, letters, and colors, ways to provide positive reinforcement with the hope of eliminating a negative behavior, how to get their child to play with other children... and on... and on... and on. And the longer I'm in public education, the more discouraged I become because all of these parents look to me and my colleagues for the answers. I value school and education. I think teachers play an invaluable role in society. But I think the experiences, interactions, opportunities, situations, reactions, and expectations in the home are the make-it or break-it factor for countless children. 

The girls and I were at the Merc last week and ran into a woman who I used to work with at KU. She said "Are the girls in preschool this year?", to which I replied "Yes. And today they learned about mulch." They had spent the morning in Gran and Grandpa's backyard, taking pretend trips in the truck to Kalamazoo or California or Minnesota, while Grandpa unloaded mulch out of the back. They practiced taking turns driving. They worked on their social skills, conversing about the pretend drive and the scenery. They refined their awareness of distance. They relied on former experiences to guide and shape their thoughts and ideas for that day. Math skills were embedded, as they saw wheelbarrows "full" and "empty" and watched as the mulch in the bed of the truck lessened. And when I got home and said "how was your morning?", rather than reply with "I don't know" - as many parents in the past have reported their child stating about a day at school - the girls talked... and talked... and talked.

I'm getting asked frequently these days about whether or not I'll send them to preschool next year. If I had to decide today, I'd say no. We have read-aloud time at home. We have free play at home. We have outdoor time at home. We do math and science and dramatic play. We do art. Lots and lots of art. That's actually what I initially intended to share... somehow I got sidetracked. 

I think a great number of the children I've encountered professionally have struggles due to a simple lack of exposure. That's where I was heading with this. Give them markers - just be present to teach them to color on paper instead of on clothes or walls. Give them scissors - just be present to teach them to cut paper instead of fingers or hair. I feel sad for the children who don't have a parent or grandparent or uncle there to just. be. present.

Wordless Wednesday: My girls and me

Super Simple Spinach Enchiladas

Let's get right to the point: Spinach Enchiladas. Can you go wrong with chicken, spinach, sauce, and cheese? There is nothing fancy about what I'm going to share with you; I don't even have a picture of the finished product. But I thought the sauce was worth noting, so here's what happened in the kitchen today...

Spinach Enchiladas

• Sauce:
• Organic cottage cheese
• Canned tomatillos
• Canned whole green chilies
• Toss all into blender and give it a WHIRRRRRRRR!
• Add more of whatever to make it tangier, spicier, or thicker
• Other ingredients:
• Local, free range chicken breasts: poached and shredded
• 1/2 organic white onion; diced
• 3 C fresh organic baby spinach; roughly chopped
• Shredded cheese
• Organic whole wheat tortillas
• Pour a bit of sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan
• Fill each tortilla with a bit of everything, including sauce
• Pour remaining sauce over the top and add some shredded cheese
• Bake for 30 minutes at 350° and serve with organic brown rice
• Easy-peasy

And just because some of you enjoy the girls far more than the food... yes, they are still adorable...

Kale Chips and Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast? Seriously? Sounds whack, I agree. I first encountered this term "nutritional yeast" in my absolute favorite baby food book, Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. I reference this book on occasion to this day, and it's no secret that Super Porridge is STILL a staple in our diet. Anyhow, this book talks about all kinds of additions to baby foods, such as nutritional yeast. I never went that crazy when feeding the girls - I mean, I went porridge-with-pears-and-spinach-and-hardboiled-egg-crazy, but yeast was reserved for baking bread. Then I found this recipe for Kale Chips, which calls for nutritional yeast. And you know me - I love to try new (and strange) things in the kitchen. I simplified my own concoction and we are hooked - nutritional yeast and all.

Kale Chips

• One bunch of organic kale (I often buy the fairly curly kind because it is a thicker leaf)
• 3 T organic olive oil
• 2 T low sodium organic soy sauce
• 1 tsp Bragg organic apple cider vinegar
• 2 T nutritional yeast (found in the bulk section at The Merc)
• Wash kale and tear off of stalk into 2-inch-ish pieces
• Combine olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, yeast
• Toss kale with sauce in a bowl; use hands to make sure kale is evenly coated
• Bake at 400° for 15 minutes; toss/flip chips over; bake for 15-20 minutes more
• I typically start removing some of the smaller pieces as they are crisping after 25-30 minutes, letting the bigger pieces bake longer

I can't lie - the nutritional yeast is a bit of an oddity to me. This combination of ingredients gives them a salty taste like chips (the soy sauce) but with a cheesy flavor (the yeast). They are by far the best kale chips we've made and the whole family devours them. These kale chips have been showing up regularly for post-nap snacks - they are quick to throw together and it gets yet one more super veggie into the girls. 

We are just coming off of our first illness since the pneumonia attack in early March. After that whole debacle, the slightest cough, sniffle, or whimper in the night makes me cringe to this day. The girls were in perfect health all summer and their eating habits are nothing shy of incredible. I expected the runny noses and the cough to linger for weeks this time around, again. But they didn't. The girls bounced back quickly, they never missed a meal while sick, and we only encountered one rough night each last week. So "Cheers!" to those super veggies and mega fruits, those whole grains and home-cooked goodness. I truly believe that every meal matters.

Wordless Wednesday: Owl Faces

I'm never sending them to school.

Why? Because what in the world could they learn at school that they aren't learning at home??? And, if they're at school, how will I know every little detail to document for posterity??? 

I love being home with the girls. Do I lose my patience? Yes. Do I sometimes feel like I never have a minute to myself? Yes. Do I sometimes calmly guide them to their bedroom and close the door to avoid a clash-of-the-titans moment? Yes. In fact, just this morning, they each spent some time in separate rooms as a result of their rudeness while I was on the phone with my brother. Why does the phone do that to children????

However, I would take all of the above in order to be present for moments like those that I'm about to share. And, from the things that they say and do, I feel so confident that their current teachers, with names like "Mom', "Dad", "Gran", "Grammy", "Gramps", and "Grandpa", are providing an excellent early childhood education.

• Elise: While explaining the concept of triplets, Elise says "So, if a momma have 3 babies in her tummy and 2 of her babies die, she will only have 1 baby left". (Please excuse the morbidity - I have no idea where that came from - but the emerging math skills were worth noting)
• Abby: Upon entering their room, I found this scene pictured below. I was informed that they were taking a road trip to Bubbe's and, when I came back later to make the bed, I lifted the far right pillow and discovered two pairs of shoes underneath. I said "Why are there shoes on your bed?" to which Abby replied in a very matter-of-fact way: "That our trunk!" (Ummm... hello dramatic play and imagination!)

• And, in the area of social interactions, I have several:
• Elise: Her new line, which was first rather successfully used with Grammy and Gramps and has continued to be implemented with Gran and others: "Please stay, because I love you so much." 
• Abby: "Elise, I so sorry you had to get a shot." (We're currently recuperating from our first bout with croup and had to take Elise in because I just don't handle that my-child-seems-to-be-struggling-to-breathe concept well)
• Elise: "Abby, will you be my best friend?" (and bestest buds they are)
• This morning, John and Abby went to The Merc, while Elise and I stayed home sick. This delightful conversation took place during lunch. I LOVE Elise's questions - and if you could see her face, you would know that she is asking each question in order to fully create a mental image so that she understands the whole scenario:
• Abby: "I saw a man with a white doggy."
• Elise: "Oh. Are you pet him?" (they both still substitute "are" for "did" and "is" for "do"... funny in an odd kind of way, I know)
• Abby: "Yeah. He was a friendly doggy."
• Elise: "Oh. Did he have a red leash or a blue leash?"
• Abby: "Well, I not see his leash."
• Elise: "Oh. Are you ask the man what color leash he have?"
• Abby: "No, I not ask."
• Elise: "Oh. They have groceries?"
• Abby: "No, just walking to the car."
• Elise: "Oh. I need to see this man with his white doggy."
• And, just for fun, at lunch last weekend Abby responded to my homemade mac-n-cheese with: "I not really a fan of noodles." 

I, however, am quite the fan of you two, Abby Rose and Elise Autumn. Maybe your number one fan.

Crockpot yogurt

You're right: "crockpot" and "yogurt" do not seem to go together. Or do they?

Guess what? The two actually mix... quite well. I found this recipe for homemade yogurt in the crockpot and, partially because I love homemade and partially because I had to see it to believe it... I gave it a go. I have a Donvier Yogurt Maker which I've used frequently and get good results with. But everyone knows that the crockpot is the epitome of easy in the kitchen, so if this recipe was a success, bam! I've made it twice now and, while you might think that a vat-o-yogurt would be too much, we plow through the stuff like there's no tomorrow. Plain yogurt, loaded with good bacteria, should be a staple in every diet. It is so good for you. The girls have had organic yogurt almost daily since we could first feed it to them. John and I eat yogurt almost daily (and maybe twice-a-day now that it floweth over).

Crockpot Yogurt

• 1/2 gallon organic whole milk
• 1 C organic plain yogurt (this is the "starter", which now I just reserve 1 C of the homemade stuff and stick it in the freezer for the next batch)
• Pour 1/2 gallon milk into crockpot
• Put lid on and turn to high for 2 hours (the milk should be bubbling a bit, with steam rising, but not quite boiling)
• Take lid off and let sit, uncovered for 1 hour (this cools the milk to a safe temperature to add the starter without killing the bacteria - I have the yogurt thermometer from my Donvier maker, so I used it the first time and it took 1 hour for the milk to cool)
• In a separate bowl, whisk 1 C of the hot milk into the 1 C plain yogurt starter (this slowly raises the temperature of the yogurt rather than dumping it all at once into the hot crockpot)
• Pour the milk/yogurt mixture back into crockpot and whisk until fully combined
• Unplug crockpot, put lid on, and wrap with a towel (I used a clean bath-sized towel; this creates some insulation so that the milk cools very slowly, allowing the bacteria to multiply, etc...)
• Place towel-covered, whole crockpot into the oven and let sit for 10 hours (the oven should be turned OFF, this is just a nice draft-free place to tuck it away)

So, last night I started the process at 6:00 pm, pouring in the milk and turning in on to high. At 8:00 pm, I took the lid off the crockpot and let it start to cool. At 9:00 pm I added the starter and moved it into the oven. At 8:00 am this morning, I transferred the yogurt to the fridge and it's now firm, cool, and ready to eat. I saved two 32 ounce store-bought yogurt containers and both are filled from this batch, with 1 C in the freezer for the next one. For $3.99, I have 64 ounces of homemade, whole milk, organic yogurt. 

And, if you are a Greek yogurt eater, this makes incredible Greek yogurt - just strain it through some cheesecloth (as pictured above). We discovered Greek yogurt when I was pregnant with the girls - I craved full-fat milk and yogurt my whole pregnancy and nothing in the world tasted better than Greek yogurt with a swirl of honey. Which, by the way, is what we typically use to sweeten, if needed. I prefer plain yogurt because it has no sugar and it couldn't be easier to jazz up yogurt. Also, when you have plain on hand, it's so easy to toss into savory dishes, sauces, or dressings instead of sour cream or mayo.

Crockpot yogurt. A nice combination, afterall.

Obsessed with butterflies

We are slightly obsessed with butterflies right now. It started with our homegrown caterpillars... continued with the transformation to butterflies... and today's visit to KU's Monarch Watch was the grand finale. Friday morning, we sat and watched our third and final butterfly emerge:

After storytime at the library, we took the butterfly outside to be free. Sadly, this is the one that I carefully tied up with dental floss because the chrysalis fell - and she came out with a hole in her wing. I love the top right picture where Abby looks so concerned as she's telling Elise that the monarch may not be able to fly.

And, as I mentioned above, our visit to the Monarch Watch this morning was grand. Butterflies everywhere! I think Abby would have spent hours in the butterfly house, talking to, kissing, and holding the butterflies. Elise fell in love with a little swallowtail caterpillar. As with many things, I want to kiss their little faces every time they say "monarch" and "chrysalis".

Monarchs and Marshmallows

The butterflies met the world today! This morning, we could see the orange peeking through the darkening chrysalis and, by the time naps were done, there were two lovely monarchs clinging to the mesh. We went outside and let them go. So very, very cool. Their release would not have been complete without a kiss from Abby and an "I love you, my little monarch butterfly." We then loaded up 3 more caterpillars and drove them to Gran and Grandpa's. There is not a single leaf left on our milkweed.

The butterflies, along with the cooler temperatures, seem to be telling us that fall is near. And there is no better way to welcome this season than with a campfire and s'mores.

The lovely ladies tried their hands at photography and they get full credit for the following pictures. I'm quite impressed with their mad skills and I'm grateful to finally have someone else shutter-bugging for me. Fall, we welcome you and look forward to many jeans-wearing, marshmallow-eating, star-gazing nights.

From caterpillar to chyrsalis to...

The butterfly garden has been bountiful! We have three chrysalises hanging in the living room - one of which we sat and watched form. Talk. About. Amazing. It literally took less than 3 minutes. The caterpillar squirmed and wiggled and twisted... and out of nowhere the chrysalis appeared, enveloping the caterpillar, until it sealed up at the top. I'm baffled by things like that. And we have transported 5 caterpillars to Gran's garden, because our milkweed has been decimated, and I couldn't stand the thought of hungry caterpillars. 

Today... we had butterflies. Two beautiful, healthy, animated butterflies. They flew about the living room... and down the hall... and when we released them out on the deck, they didn't want to leave us. They fluttered near the edge, thought about venturing out into the world, but danced their way right back into our house....

The monarchs aren't out yet, but Abby and Elise are damn cute, aren't they? We were at happy hour on Friday - teaching them early to appreciate social outings - and Lana, one of their favorites, mentioned her "sweet tooth". Elise said "Lana, may I see it?" and Abby turned to me and said "Momma, which one is my sweet tooth?". Adorable. I'm excited for the monarchs, but I'll take my butterfly babies anyday. 

Peanut... peanut butter! (no jelly)

The local coffee shop, Z's Divine, has great peanut butter bars. They are dense and packed with peanut butter. And it's no secret that PB is a staple in our diets. Again, kind of like eggs get a bad rap because of the cholesterol issue, nuts get a bad rap sometimes because of the fat issue. And, like cholesterol, there is good and bad. In my opinion, peanut butter = good.

Back to the PB bars, I'd love to have a go-to recipe that might come close to the taste and consistency of the ones from the coffee shop. I found this recipe and decided to give it a whirl. Snacks are a biggie for us - I am constantly searching for new recipes and/or creations that are not-processed, easy to make from scratch, and will give the girls that little "something" between meals that will tide them over without requiring the consumption of large quantities. We're definitely talking quality here, not quantity. I'd much rather feed them a nice, little peanut butter bar than a bowlful of goldfish crackers (which we've never purchased) that will leave them thirsty from the salt and hungry in 27 minutes. Back to the recipe...

Peanut Butter Bars

• 1/2 C organic whole wheat flour
• 1/2 C ground flaxseed
• 1 C organic oats
• 1 tsp baking soda (I felt like I could taste the baking soda, so I think I'll reduce to 1/2 tsp next time)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 C organic brown sugar
• 3/4 C organic peanut butter (no salt added)
• 1 T organic vanilla extract
• 1/2 C organic 2% milk
• 1/3 C mini chocolate chips
• 350° oven
• Combine PB and sugar (I mixed it by hand); add vanilla
• Add flour, flaxseed, oats, baking soda, salt
• Mix in milk; add chocolate chips last
• Squish into an 8x8 pan (I buttered the pan)
• Bake 15-18 minutes

This really is a nice recipe - and in terms of ingredients, it has no eggs and no butter. I might experiment with replacing the sugar with honey and/or sorghum (shocker!) but would I blog about something that I didn't find worth sharing???

Or, if you're feeling a little peanut butter crazy... this was one of last week's post-nap snacks. The girls found them hilarious and named them "crazy man", as in "Momma, you make this crazy man for me to eat again?". Yes, part-Yoda, part-cavechild. Momma make this for you again, I will.

Caterpillars!!!

If you came here looking for a recipe, I disappoint yet again. If you came here looking for caterpillars... you got 'em!

Honestly, I don't know who is more excited: Abby, Elise, or me. Last year we had swallowtail butterflies take over our dill and parsley, leaving us with beautiful caterpillars. We didn't catch any last year, so we missed out on the caterpillar-chrysalis-butterfly transformation. This year, we packed the small planting area around the light post in front with butterfly plants: tropical milkweed and lantana. I have been keeping those blooming beauties alive all summer and the monarch butterflies found us! We have at least a dozen caterpillars out there and the girls picked 3 to bring inside. We set up a nice little box with freshly cut milkweed and some sticks and, as I type, the first of the three is hanging beautifully preparing to move into the chrysalis stage.

I highly encourage those of you in this area to plant a little butterfly garden next year. The cost is extremely low - we put in 6 milkweed plants and 6 lantana. The monarchs love the lantana, so that draws them in, and then the milkweed is essential for the caterpillars. Abby and Elise hold the caterpillars, they talk to them, and they are so excited to see the "beautiful butterfly". Nature is amazing. And these simple little projects teach our children about nature... and life cycles... and care for living things... and curiosity... and they provide endless conversations that bring up new questions and new ideas. Isn't it wonderful?

For those of you that live near us, KU has a fabulous Monarch Watch program. Check out this link for information about their open house, which is a great opportunity to see butterflies in action! In the past, they have often had caterpillars and/or chrysalis to send home with kids.

And I just checked the caterpillar. Still hanging, no chrysalis. It's totally going to happen as soon as I go to bed...

Pork chops and eggs

Say what? Pork chops and eggs? Okay... sounds a little strange... but sometimes you've just gotta think outside the proverbial box, right? Here's the real deal: it's hot again, I'm back at work (still part-time), and cooking just isn't the highlight of my life right now. The girls have had a busy week, adjusting to the new routine, and we needed a well-balanced, filling, and easy dinner. Here's what went down:

Pork chop and egg sandwich:

• 2 thin-cut pork chops 
• Whole wheat bread, toasted
• Local, free range eggs
• Unsalted organic butter
• Salt and pepper
• Cook pork chops whole on the stove top with salt and pepper; set aside and cover with foil
• Cook eggs on stovetop (John is the fried-egg master in this house, so I handed that part of dinner over to him)
• Toast bread
• Thinly slice pork chops
• Assemble and eat

We had some nice organic green beans and organic kiwi on the side. Some A-1 sauce was thrown in the mix and everyone cleaned their plates! Dinner tonight was a good reminder for me that it can be so easy to make a home-cooked meal. I love new recipes and interesting ingredients but at the end of the day, a pork chop and egg sandwich with green beans and kiwi gets the job done. Fresh, clean, local, healthy. 

Since the food on here isn't all that interesting or entertaining, allow me to digress....

The girls are hysterical right now. They are laugh-out-loud funny... What's that? You want me to prove it? Done.

• After a marching band session up and down the hallway playing their harmonicas, our friend Lana asked the girls "What's your next number?", to which Abby replied "3, 3, 6, 9".
• On their way into my bedroom, Abby said "I'm going to toot in your bed", to which I replied "Abby! Why would you say or do that?". Abby had a leggo in her hand that had been her "flute". She clarified and said "No, Momma, I'm going to toot with my flute in your bed." Elise overheard our conversation, realized what I was thinking, and said "Momma, don't be gross."
• After 9 hours in the car on the way to Minnesota, we asked the girls if they remembered the name of the lake we were heading to, Little Pine Lake. As they sat and pondered the lake name, Abby followed up with "There going to be pine trees there?". I thought this question was brilliant. Elise then thoughtfully inquired "There going to be PINEapples there?". Another great question, my dear.
• We had many conversations about my return to work, which often involved all three of us saying "I don't want to go back to work!". Elise had the ultimate solution: "Momma, maybe you can retire like Grammy and Gramps and then stay home with me all the time!". Yes, please.

Frozen banana? Yes, please!

Okay, so does everyone know about frozen bananas???? I just discovered them. Go right now. Buy some bananas. Let them ripen. Freeze them. Once they are frozen, don't assume that the ugly, brown peel is a sign of what you'll find inside - slice that unattractive thing open and you will find a cold, in tact, perfectly preserved banana. Talk about a tasty treat! So far we've used them in smoothies, popsicles, and psuedo-ice cream (did you know that if you throw frozen, sliced bananas in the blender with a splash of milk to get it going, the consistency totally mimics ice cream????)... I feel like there is a lot more that could be done. Ideas, anyone????

Strawberry Banana Popsicle

• 1 frozen organic banana
• 8 medium-sized organic strawberries
• 1 C organic apricot nectar
• 1/2 C organic plain yogurt
• 1 T local honey
• Place all ingredients in blender
• Follow Zoku popsicle maker-instructions, adding a few strawberry slices before filling

Wordless Wednesday: Teach a man (or woman) to fish...

And you feed him (or her) for a lifetime...