Farewell, Freddie

It is officially the end of an era. And it feels surprisingly sad. :( Many of you didn't know about Freddie, some of you have heard of him, and some of you are thinking "Holy hell! He just died???". He already died twice. Once he was found, completely dried out, behind my bedroom door. I was around 10 at the time. The second time? In his cage in the garage, mid-summer, all the water evaporated. I was around 13 at the time. He wasn't really dead either time. I guess newts have three lives... Here's a picture of the only picture I could find of him:

Remember how I said that Aura was my journal? Freddie was not. Remember how I said that Aura knew every detail of my life? Freddie did not. But this newt deserves big props, and here's why: I had major reservations going away to college. I loved being home. I still love being home. And when I moved into the dorms, Freddie moved with me. I decided that, as long as Freddie lived, I would stay away from home. I was 18; he was 10. Then he moved into the sorority.... then into an apartment... and into a house... and into another house... and into another house... and then into my first house ... and then here. Freddie died today. He was 25. TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD. No, he was never replaced. Real deal. Freddie spent 25 of the last 33 years with me. Give that old man props. 

Snack time: Roasted chickpeas

We've been working on the art of roasting chickpeas over here, and it's going pretty well. :-) They are a nice, crunchy snack and, so far, have been a big hit! Here's what we put together today. As you can see, all ingredient amounts are rough estimates. I've seen a number of recipes for "sweet and salty" chickpeas or "honey/cinnamon roasted" - I haven't tried anything sweet, so if you've got a winner - please share! I do think the hotter oven temperature is a must - we've tried some at 350 degrees and they didn't get crunchy, and a non-crunchy roasted chickpea just doesn't cut it. When John got home, the girls said: "Daddy, we had roasted chickpeas for a snack today. But we didn't save any for you." Hmmm... better do a double batch next time...

Roasted Chickpeas

• 1 can organic chickpeas - drained, rinsed, and patted dry
• 1 T (or so) olive oil
• 1 tsp (or so) kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp (or so) onion powder
• 1/2 tsp (or so) garlic powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Spread the chickpeas on a silpat-lined cookie sheet
• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and seasonings; mix around with hands
• Bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping/stirring the chickpeas every 10 minutes
• After 40 minutes, increase oven temp to 425 degrees and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes

Bread and butter

Yesterday there was snow on the ground, we were enjoying an afternoon/evening at home, and the perfect accompaniment was most certainly fresh baked bread. We had fried egg sandwiches for dinner with bacon and spinach (on this bread). We had cinnamon/coconut sugar toast for breakfast (on this bread). We had tuna cheesy sandwiches for lunch (on this bread). And there are a few pieces that I tucked away in the freezer for later in the week. :)

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Bread
courtesy of Annie's Eats

• 1 1/4 C organic rolled oats
• 1 C boiling water
• 1/4 C room temperature water
• 2 T local honey
• 2 tsp yeast
• 1 1/2 C buttermilk (room temp)
• 1/2 C organic olive oil
• 2 1/2 C organic whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 1/2 C organic whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• Combine oats and boiling water; let sit for 10 minutes
• After oats are done soaking up the hot H2O, combine oats, room temp water, honey, yeast, buttermilk, and olive oil in bowl of stand mixer (with paddle attachment)
• Turn on low; add 2 cups of each flour; after combined, add remaining flour
• Switch to dough hook and mix on low for 10 minutes - I sprinkled a bit more flour around the sides of the bowl while it was mixing as the dough was very wet and sticky
• Transfer dough to oiled bowl; cover; let sit until doubles - approximately 1 -1 1/2 hours 
• On floured surface, flatten dough into a large rectangle; fold short sides until they meet in the middle; roll long side until a log forms; pinch seams closed and transfer to an oiled bread pan; combine 1 tsp honey and 1/2 tsp hot water to brush the top of the bread and then sprinkle with oats; let sit until dough rises above edge of pan - approximately 30-45 minutes
• Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour

Oh... and the butter? Nothing special about that - "bread and butter" just always sounds nice together! But here's a great pic for you from our Valentine's Day double-date with our sushi-eating, wine-drinking, dog-loving, party-hardying friends!

Valentine's Day!

Nothing says "I love you" like heart-shaped food, heart-shaped bowls and SHINY SHOES! :) Serious Valentine's happiness hiding behind a big heart on a shoe box:

Abby: "Elise! Get in here! Come see what's on the table!"
Elise: "When did you buy these? Abby- what color are yours?"
Abby: "Can you get me some socks? Thank you, Momma! Thank you, Daddy!"
Elise: "Thank you, thank you! Momma, you are so creative!"

Happy heart day to you and yours!

Valentine's Week: Days 2 and 3

Valentine's Week: Day 1

Blueberry Muffins (baked in a heart-shaped donut pan)

• 4 T organic unsalted butter
• 1/4 C organic coconut sugar
• 1/4 C organic pure maple syrup
• 1 local egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 C organic unsweetened applesauce
• 1 1/2 C organic whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 1/2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 C organic buttermilk
• 1 C organic frozen blueberries
• Combine butter, coconut sugar, maple syrup, egg, vanilla, applesauce
• Combine (separately) flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon nutmeg
• Mix wet with dry; add buttermilk; fold in blueberries
• Grease muffin/donut pan; bake at 350 degrees: 10-12 minutes for donut pan or mini-muffins; 18-20 minutes for regular sized muffins

It's too bad...

It's too bad.... they aren't expressive.

We've really been targeting emotions and talking about feelings lately. Partly as a developmentally appropriate teaching opportunity... partly to help improve coping skills. The conversations contain a lot of "Use your words" and "You look (insert emotion here)" and "Let's think of a solution" and "When (insert frustrating situation here) happens to me, I would feel (insert emotion here) also". It's the whole acknowledge-relate-comfort-support process. 

Today, while trying out bikes at Sunflower Bike Shop downtown, Abby was cruising around the shop on a bike and, when she went to park it, the damn thing toppled over. Now, I guarantee you that two weeks ago, Abby would have gone to pieces. She might have cried. She might have yelled. It just might have been a very unfavorable scene. Today? While still under the bike, she loudly, clearly, expressively stated: "I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED". While holding back laughter, I reaffirmed her feelings ("You're right, Abby. I wouldn't be happy either if my bike had fallen over") and we smiled (along with the staff at the store). 

On an entirely different note, at dinner tonight, Elise announced that she was making a picture for Uncle Travis because he "probably doesn't get that many pictures". :) She was tracing her hand and wrist, drawing on a bracelet, and coloring the fingernails KU colors. Uncle T informed her that a monster would be nice, too. After a few more minutes, Elise held her picture up to me:

Elise: "Look, Momma. I drew a monster for Uncle Travis. It's green because it has the schwamp all over it". (say schwamp out-loud, please. it needs to be spoken for the full effect)
Me: "It's lovely! But what is all over it?"
Elise: "The schwamp." (stated very matter-of-factly)
Me: holding back laughter because of how awesome this child's /s/ sounds are: "Of course! The SWAMP! I love your swamp monster!"


Happy Sunday. I hope your day was full of freely spoken feelings and the schwamp. Both made me happy. Very, very happy.