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Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Everyday Homebirth
I came across this today and it was an interesting read. They seemed a little more mainstream than most folks I know who birth at home and it opened my mind to a slightly different perception of homebirthing and the question of the placenta.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
No new-fangled techno gadgets for me!OR Can I limit it to six?! OR Racking my brain is not helping!
Well, I need to respond to a 'tag' which in the blog world is when you follow in someone's footsteps and post a something-something that tells a story of yourself in a creative way...
I was tagged by Karen MS
I really didn't know what to come up with so I thought and thought and thought...and then tonight (while I should have been paying attention to something else) I came up with a whole slew of them. Which is really not the point. \I always thought of myself as 'simple' but I guess deep down inside, I wouldn't be able to describe myself simply. It made me realize that right now in my life I am at a crossroads again and trying to find myself and my niche again.
I wear a few different hats right now and then a lot less than I did before.
So back to this "memoir" thing. I way overshot the mark of course. I thought maybe of doing six of the six word memoirs or 6 X 6 of them... I could not for the life of me narrow it down.
Depending on what I was relating myself to at the time, it changed.
Maybe that is my whole problem, maybe why I am so scattered and I feel so cluttered.
**I first thought of ones that were already out there in the world:
Insanity is merely one's own judgement
Clean house, trust God, help others
Shade grown, free trade, organic beans
**Then I thought of a few fun mommy ones:
Raising very thirsty babies from birth
Fluffy moms don't poke their kids
we're not airconditioning the whole yard!
**and a Daddy one:
Two kids. They're perfect! GET SNIPPED!
(heehee)
**Then few 'different' ones that pertained to me sometimes:
There's really no place like home
No booze. No meat. No regrets.
Still crazy after all this sobriety
If you only knew what happened
Noone noticed that it's always four-twenty.
Smoked pot. Followed Dead. Settled down.
crispy crunchy granola hippie. that's me.
I guess it might be easier to do someone else's memoir then my own right now.
Well, here's the original post:
As I read yet another book review of a memoir this weekend, my husband told me that I should write one. I said that my story would be much too short and rather boring so when I ran across the following book I decided it was just my speed. A six word memoir! Written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure is a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were- For Sale: baby shoes, never worn. There’s a video on Amazon with examples from the book, it sounds like a fun read! I’d like to start a six word memoir meme and here are the rules:
I was tagged by Karen MS
I really didn't know what to come up with so I thought and thought and thought...and then tonight (while I should have been paying attention to something else) I came up with a whole slew of them. Which is really not the point. \I always thought of myself as 'simple' but I guess deep down inside, I wouldn't be able to describe myself simply. It made me realize that right now in my life I am at a crossroads again and trying to find myself and my niche again.
I wear a few different hats right now and then a lot less than I did before.
So back to this "memoir" thing. I way overshot the mark of course. I thought maybe of doing six of the six word memoirs or 6 X 6 of them... I could not for the life of me narrow it down.
Depending on what I was relating myself to at the time, it changed.
Maybe that is my whole problem, maybe why I am so scattered and I feel so cluttered.
**I first thought of ones that were already out there in the world:
Insanity is merely one's own judgement
Clean house, trust God, help others
Shade grown, free trade, organic beans
**Then I thought of a few fun mommy ones:
Raising very thirsty babies from birth
Fluffy moms don't poke their kids
we're not airconditioning the whole yard!
**and a Daddy one:
Two kids. They're perfect! GET SNIPPED!
(heehee)
**Then few 'different' ones that pertained to me sometimes:
There's really no place like home
No booze. No meat. No regrets.
Still crazy after all this sobriety
If you only knew what happened
Noone noticed that it's always four-twenty.
Smoked pot. Followed Dead. Settled down.
crispy crunchy granola hippie. that's me.
I guess it might be easier to do someone else's memoir then my own right now.
Well, here's the original post:
As I read yet another book review of a memoir this weekend, my husband told me that I should write one. I said that my story would be much too short and rather boring so when I ran across the following book I decided it was just my speed. A six word memoir! Written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure is a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were- For Sale: baby shoes, never worn. There’s a video on Amazon with examples from the book, it sounds like a fun read! I’d like to start a six word memoir meme and here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4 .Tag five more blogs with links
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!
When I read the Hemingway quote, it saddened me because those six words would have a deep meaning to some. It speaks of sadness, loneliness, regret, and loss to me...
I am tagging Jen B,
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Back
**Sigh**
We're back from TX and getting re-adjusted to the 110+ degree heat (w/o humidity though...)
I will add more later. I have a lot to dish and a lot to read and a great pizza recipe to try!!
Denny's on the way home...
We're back from TX and getting re-adjusted to the 110+ degree heat (w/o humidity though...)
I will add more later. I have a lot to dish and a lot to read and a great pizza recipe to try!!
Denny's on the way home...
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
To Foo Young
I want to say up front that Egg foo young was one of my all time favorite Chinese foods...
I used to judge a place by it EFY.
So, I was a bit skeptical that I could reproduce the same w/o eggs
I gave it my best shot.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised! I thought it tasted all right. My "testers" really enjoyed it.
I again got the recipe from Tofu Cookery. A book I think I will be buying.
It called for
1 C of snow peas, cut in 1" pieces.
1 C fresh mushrooms, sliced
8 green onions, cut in 1 1/2" pieces
1 (8oz Can) of water chestnuts sliced.
Saute that over low heat for 5 minutes then add;
2 C fresh bean sprouts
Remove from heat and set aside
Preheat oven to 325.
Blend until smooth and creamy
1 3/4lbs tofu
2 TBSP soy sauce
Pour in bowl and mix in
3/4 C flour
3 TBSP Nutritional yeast
2 tsp baking powder
Mix all ingredients together and make 5" rounds about 1/2" thick using about 1/2 C mixture for each/ Leave about 1" space between them. Bake fore 30 minutes, flip and bake for 15 minutes more. Serve hot over rice or noodles with Mushroom gravy
Mushroom Gravy
2 C cold water
4 TBSP soy sauce
2 TBSP cornstarch
1/2 C fresh mushrooms diced small
Mix together in a saucepan and cook over low heat stirring until thickened.
OK, the changes I made:
I thought the gravy was a little thin but really enjoyed the rest AND I have a couple left over...
All this was created without going to the store again also. I had gone to Lee Lees the weekend to make a stir fry on Sunday and all of the veggies (and the rice) was left from that.
OK, I am gonna address an email that was sent to me.
I HAVE read about the "dangers" of soy. We don't eat an overabundance of soy in our house, probably no more than the average person who is eating A LOT in their processed food that they are unaware of. We eat a lot more healthy vegetables, beans and rice than most folk. We enjoy tofu dishes and I have been lately cooking a lot from the Tofu Cookery cookbook but we don't just toss random amounts of tofu or soy product into our meals as a meat sub like some vegetarians tend to do.
I am far more concerned with the negative agricultural effects of soybean farming as well as the risk GMO infiltration. I have been seeking out only organic non-GMO soy products and even that still leaves me questioning if I have done the right thing by the world. I wish I could grow my own, but, eh, maybe in another life..
Also we do usually decrease the amount of tofu in our recipes just because I feel that it tastes better with more veggie, less tofu sometimes. We also use rice milk or almond milk in place of soy milk.
Sooo that I hope addresses my feeling on the 'soy panic' issue.
Group...On another note about that, I recently read an article laying out the 'dangers' of soy and when I read the footnotes discovered one of the studies was funded by the American Cattlemen's. Group. Hmmm, now WHY would they care how much soy we ate?
There is some interesting info on soy here
I have read it and was really educated on soy, the myths surrounding.
That being said, I think a diet that includes a variety of vegetarian/vegan ingredients is the best. For continued health and to keep your family's interest!
Oh yeah, here's 2 cute pics of the kids from lunch yesterday at a bagel shop. I was "working" so they got to eat a free lunch.
I used to judge a place by it EFY.
So, I was a bit skeptical that I could reproduce the same w/o eggs
I gave it my best shot.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised! I thought it tasted all right. My "testers" really enjoyed it.
I again got the recipe from Tofu Cookery. A book I think I will be buying.
It called for
1 C of snow peas, cut in 1" pieces.
1 C fresh mushrooms, sliced
8 green onions, cut in 1 1/2" pieces
1 (8oz Can) of water chestnuts sliced.
Saute that over low heat for 5 minutes then add;
2 C fresh bean sprouts
Remove from heat and set aside
Preheat oven to 325.
Blend until smooth and creamy
1 3/4lbs tofu
2 TBSP soy sauce
Pour in bowl and mix in
3/4 C flour
3 TBSP Nutritional yeast
2 tsp baking powder
Mix all ingredients together and make 5" rounds about 1/2" thick using about 1/2 C mixture for each/ Leave about 1" space between them. Bake fore 30 minutes, flip and bake for 15 minutes more. Serve hot over rice or noodles with Mushroom gravy
Mushroom Gravy
2 C cold water
4 TBSP soy sauce
2 TBSP cornstarch
1/2 C fresh mushrooms diced small
Mix together in a saucepan and cook over low heat stirring until thickened.
OK, the changes I made:
- only used about 1 1/4 C tofu total,
- baked at 350 (just my stoves quirkiness),
- Used Bragg's wherever soy sauce is mentioned.
- baked it for 30 minutes on each side.
- DEFINITELY used a bit more mushroom and bean sprouts (about 1/2-3/4 C each more)
I thought the gravy was a little thin but really enjoyed the rest AND I have a couple left over...
All this was created without going to the store again also. I had gone to Lee Lees the weekend to make a stir fry on Sunday and all of the veggies (and the rice) was left from that.
OK, I am gonna address an email that was sent to me.
I HAVE read about the "dangers" of soy. We don't eat an overabundance of soy in our house, probably no more than the average person who is eating A LOT in their processed food that they are unaware of. We eat a lot more healthy vegetables, beans and rice than most folk. We enjoy tofu dishes and I have been lately cooking a lot from the Tofu Cookery cookbook but we don't just toss random amounts of tofu or soy product into our meals as a meat sub like some vegetarians tend to do.
I am far more concerned with the negative agricultural effects of soybean farming as well as the risk GMO infiltration. I have been seeking out only organic non-GMO soy products and even that still leaves me questioning if I have done the right thing by the world. I wish I could grow my own, but, eh, maybe in another life..
Also we do usually decrease the amount of tofu in our recipes just because I feel that it tastes better with more veggie, less tofu sometimes. We also use rice milk or almond milk in place of soy milk.
Sooo that I hope addresses my feeling on the 'soy panic' issue.
Group...On another note about that, I recently read an article laying out the 'dangers' of soy and when I read the footnotes discovered one of the studies was funded by the American Cattlemen's. Group. Hmmm, now WHY would they care how much soy we ate?
There is some interesting info on soy here
I have read it and was really educated on soy, the myths surrounding.
That being said, I think a diet that includes a variety of vegetarian/vegan ingredients is the best. For continued health and to keep your family's interest!
Oh yeah, here's 2 cute pics of the kids from lunch yesterday at a bagel shop. I was "working" so they got to eat a free lunch.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Who screams!?
I scream, you scream, we all scream for
ICE CREAM!!
So I have been on a (big surprise coming) Goodwill quest for a decent ice cream maker. If I was buying new things like that right now, I would just have hustled down to the local (1 of NINE) Targets and bought a Cuisinart one like my buddy's...
ANYWAY, I was trolling the aisle the other night and found, in the original box, unopened a Rival cheesy ice cream maker!!
It still had the cardboard on the containers and a plastic bag over the motor. Woot!
So my dream of vegan desserts (specifically ice cream) would be realized.
I found in Tofu Cookery several great vegan ice cream recipes.
First we did Banana Honey Tofu Ice Cream because we had some bananas that needed to go
The recipe called for
5 ripe bananas
1 lb of tofu
2 C of soymilk
3/4 C oil
3 TBSP vanilla
2/3 C of honey
1/4 tsp salt
Blend all in a blender until smooth and make according to ice cream maker specs.
O.M.G. It was so good, we made Chocolate Tofu IC the same day...
1/2C cocoa powder
2 lbs tofu
2 C soymilk
1 C of oil
2 C of sugar
2 TBSP vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
I was feeling pretty cocky so I made some modifications before blending and putting in maker.
SOOO, then we did the Peach Tofu IC
It had the following instructions:
Marinate in refer for one hour:
8 medium peaches, peeled and chopped
the juice of 2 lemons and
1 C of sugar
Combine with:
3 C of soymilk
1 1/2 lbs tofu
1 1/4 C sugar
4 TBSP vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
I left out the second 1 1/4 C sugar and it was NOT missed. I also did not peel the peaches but blended them up together with skins on. We're used to that so it was not an issue.
I think this vegan thing is not gonna hurt so bad after all...
My next few posts will concentrate on our continued efforts to downsize..
ICE CREAM!!
So I have been on a (big surprise coming) Goodwill quest for a decent ice cream maker. If I was buying new things like that right now, I would just have hustled down to the local (1 of NINE) Targets and bought a Cuisinart one like my buddy's...
ANYWAY, I was trolling the aisle the other night and found, in the original box, unopened a Rival cheesy ice cream maker!!
It still had the cardboard on the containers and a plastic bag over the motor. Woot!
So my dream of vegan desserts (specifically ice cream) would be realized.
I found in Tofu Cookery several great vegan ice cream recipes.
First we did Banana Honey Tofu Ice Cream because we had some bananas that needed to go
The recipe called for
5 ripe bananas
1 lb of tofu
2 C of soymilk
3/4 C oil
3 TBSP vanilla
2/3 C of honey
1/4 tsp salt
Blend all in a blender until smooth and make according to ice cream maker specs.
O.M.G. It was so good, we made Chocolate Tofu IC the same day...
1/2C cocoa powder
2 lbs tofu
2 C soymilk
1 C of oil
2 C of sugar
2 TBSP vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
I was feeling pretty cocky so I made some modifications before blending and putting in maker.
- cut the oil to 1/2 C
- Cut the sugar to 1 cup.
SOOO, then we did the Peach Tofu IC
It had the following instructions:
Marinate in refer for one hour:
8 medium peaches, peeled and chopped
the juice of 2 lemons and
1 C of sugar
Combine with:
3 C of soymilk
1 1/2 lbs tofu
1 1/4 C sugar
4 TBSP vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
I left out the second 1 1/4 C sugar and it was NOT missed. I also did not peel the peaches but blended them up together with skins on. We're used to that so it was not an issue.
I think this vegan thing is not gonna hurt so bad after all...
My next few posts will concentrate on our continued efforts to downsize..
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Apple of my eye
Yesterday, we made applesauce out of our basket apples. I got a tip that I should use them quickly!
We started by peeling, coring and slicing:
Then put them in the crock pot:
Added Cinnamon and allspice:
C voiced his approval:
After they cooked on low for 6 hours or so, Amy blended them up:
That's her ring
The final results were beautiful!
AND tasty!
I used a recipe from Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker
It called for :
3 lbs apples
1/4 C sweetener or sugar (I used maple syrup)
1/2 C apple juice (I used water)
1TBSP fresh lemon juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
It was delectable!!
We started by peeling, coring and slicing:
Then put them in the crock pot:
Added Cinnamon and allspice:
C voiced his approval:
After they cooked on low for 6 hours or so, Amy blended them up:
That's her ring
The final results were beautiful!
AND tasty!I used a recipe from Fresh From the Vegetarian Slow Cooker
It called for :
3 lbs apples
1/4 C sweetener or sugar (I used maple syrup)
1/2 C apple juice (I used water)
1TBSP fresh lemon juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
It was delectable!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
mmm chocolate
Tonight we made Banana chocolate chip cookies from Tofu Cookery.
Blend in food processor until smooth:
1/2 C oil
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C tofu
2 ripe bananas
1 tsp vanilla
Pulse 4 x to mix in:
2 C whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
Fold in:
1 C Choc chips
1/2 C chopped walnuts
Bake about 15-20 minutes
I found the pulse not easy to do so after I blended, I put the smooth mixture in a bowl and added the rest of ingredients
AND
I added cashews, hazelnuts and almonds instead of walnuts..
Yeah, they were good...
Blend in food processor until smooth:
1/2 C oil
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C tofu
2 ripe bananas
1 tsp vanilla
Pulse 4 x to mix in:
2 C whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
Fold in:
1 C Choc chips
1/2 C chopped walnuts
Bake about 15-20 minutes
I found the pulse not easy to do so after I blended, I put the smooth mixture in a bowl and added the rest of ingredients
AND
I added cashews, hazelnuts and almonds instead of walnuts..
Yeah, they were good...
Sunday, June 1, 2008
37 degrees
That's how cold it was at night in Flagstaff where we camped this past Thursday- Sunday. We all survived enough to enjoy the great weather in the 70's during the day.
We were amongst the pines with quite a few of our friends. The kids had a blast and the adults enjoyed themselves too!
L got to practice her drumming
We had great S'mores
The kids rescued and relocated a crawling creature
Even the 4 legged folks got to crash in the tents for naps now and then...
Ahh, off to read the 547 items on my Google Reader.
Tomorrow is a new day.
We were amongst the pines with quite a few of our friends. The kids had a blast and the adults enjoyed themselves too!L got to practice her drumming
We had great S'mores
The kids rescued and relocated a crawling creature
Even the 4 legged folks got to crash in the tents for naps now and then...
Ahh, off to read the 547 items on my Google Reader.Tomorrow is a new day.
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