another rant. sorry. but with a happy ending!

I am a full-time student.  I am a full-time mama.  I work on the days I don't go to school.  And I love my life.

But you know what I don't love?

Being made to feel guilty that I've got my priorities straight.

Having friends that consistently try to demand time from me is ridiculous.  After my daughter is asleep, it's time to do homework.  Weekends are for working.  What little time I do get to myself, I prefer not to schedule things so that I can do something spontaneous and whimsical.  Or do nothing at all.  Or (and here's a really crazy thought) get caught up on housework.

I am so unbelievably regretful that you have a problem with my goals, my plans, and my schedule.  I'm not sorry it's mine...I like how I'm living.  Mostly I'm regretful that I currently have people in my life that are so short-sighted.

The flip side of that coin: I have the most supportive and wonderful immediate family.  I have extended family all over the country that's cheering me on every step of my journey.  I have friends who are keeping me laughing and keeping me sane every day.  I have wonderful professors who are not only giving me their knowledge, but are helping me to be a better student.  And my saving grace, my greatest blessing, my daughter.  No matter how tired or defeated I am feeling, I have a 3 foot strawberry blonde dynamo to remind me why I'm doing this.  Her humor is a delight and her curiosity towards the world is a wonder.  I'm so blessed to watch her grow.

Someday, I hope she's as proud of me as I am of her.

snowbound!

Winter in Washington state is generally cold, wet, and gray.  Not to be confused with spring, which is windy, wet, and gray.  In case you've been living under rock, we are at the tail end of a pretty nasty storm.  Lots of snow, ice, power outages, traffic accidents, etc.

School's been closed early or cancelled every day this week.  Good by me, Alaina is sick with her umpteenth snotty nose, so I'd have to find alternate childcare anyway.  But let me tell you, we are on each other's nerves something fierce.

Short of two walking trips to the grocery store, we've been inside since Monday.  We've watched movies, colored, played with yarn, cooked, and enjoyed general silliness.  But you're talking about a couple girls who love to be out and about...we have our homebody moments, but those are made sweeter when they come at the end of a day full of adventure.

According to weather reports, relief from this nastiness is coming.  I can only hope it's soon.  At the moment, my daughter is asleep on the floor, pizza dough is rising, I've got several half-complete crochet projects I'm toying with, and the snow has stopped falling.  It would be idyllic, if I weren't so freakin' stir crazy.

being a grownup

I apologize, but I'm going to deviate from our regularly scheduled program.  This is a rant.

In the last few months, I have been confronted with the most ridiculously childish behavior.  I get it from work, from friends, and from strangers.

I don't generally make resolutions (I am of the firm belief that if you need to change something in your life, there is no time like the present), but perhaps I'll make an exception this year.  Perhaps I will resolve to call people on their bullshit.

In relationships: if you are not happy, do what you need to be.  Maybe that means ending the relationship.  Maybe that means compromise.  But most of all, QUIT COMPLAINING TO OTHER PEOPLE.  I am not your partner.  Complaining to me (or on Facebook) doesn't fix anything, it just makes me resent you.  Moreover, if the relationship has ended, MOVE ON.  Yes, you can hurt all you want privately.  But put on a happy face.  Moping in public is for children.  And if it ends, don't trash talk your ex.  Makes it very awkward when you have friends in common.  Even more awkward when you get back together a week later.

In a bar: if you are of legal age to drink, then you are of legal age to stop being an asshole in public.  Do not throw a tantrum because I charged you for all your drinks, won't serve you after last call, cut you off due to your visible intoxication, or send you away because you didn't bring your ID.   JUST STOP IT.  It is the law that you must be able to provide proof of age upon request in an establishment that serves alcohol.  It is the law that I can't serve drunk people.  It is the law that purveyors stop selling alcohol after two a.m. More importantly, I've been dealing with you for 8 hours....I'm ready to clean up and go home.  I'm not doing these things to be mean.  I'm not trying to wreck your night.  But remember: I can refuse service to any person, at any time, for any reason.  Just think about that the next time you start being an asshat to your bartender.  And for the last time, please do not vomit in a bar, then wonder why I won't serve you.  YOU SMELL LIKE PUKE.  CLEARLY YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH.  And may God have mercy on your soul if I find out you made a mess.  Seriously.

In general: No one owes anybody anything.  Entitled isn't a good look on anyone.  There is a right way and a wrong way to make your point; the right way involves manners and diplomacy, the wrong way is defensive with a side of name-calling and snide remarks.  If you use coupons at the grocery store, have them ready!  There is someone behind you waiting.  Be polite to your server/barista/dog groomer/cashier/mailman/bank teller/government agent - I'm sick of them being rude to me because that's all they've seen all day.  But rest assured, I'm still being kind.  And on that note, rude people in the service industry: no one is forcing you to keep your job.  If you hate it so much that you are incapable of performing it correctly, and with courtesy, please quit.  It is not my fault that your last customer stiffed you on the tip...but I'm getting some inkling as to why they might have felt it appropriate.

My apologies if you were expecting a light-hearted account of a midget anecdote, or a recipe.  Just needed to get a few things out in the open.

things from Christmas not to forget

• "All done." (Alaina deciding she had already opened too many gifts)
• My midget growling with joy.  Literally, growling.
• Trying to help everyone open their gifts.
• Thinking all the presents were her.s (close, but not quite!)
• Insisting Eva wear the ladybug headband and wings meant for Alaina.
• Needing her Coraline doll with her at all times
• Toasting everyone from a cordial glass (i.e. teeny tiny wine glass)
• "Little bit more, please" x50, asking for more sparkling cider in her fancy "wine" glass.
• Forgoing homemade crazy-delicious lasagna because she ate too many vegetables.
• Using her chopsticks to eat pumpkin bread.

photo op

Just when I think I couldn't possibly love her more, she falls asleep in my silver platform wedges.

christmas!

I've always been a fan of Christmas.  I love hot apple cider, sweaters, decorations, Christmas trees, carols, and traditions.  As I've gotten older, I learned that I love to find perfect gifts for my family.  But this year, THIS YEAR, is even more special.

I get to start teaching my daughter about Christmas.

Yes, this is her third Christmas.  But this is the first Christmas that she understands that something is happening. She recognizes Santa and knows that he brings presents.  She's mesmerized by Christmas lights.  Anytime we leave the house, she says bye-bye to our Christmas tree (and with her toddler speech, it comes out as "BYE, CRIMUSS TWEE!"  It is one of the most adorable things I've ever heard).

She might be a little too young to put out cookies for Santa, or carrots for reindeer.  No Elf on the Shelf here in 2011.  And we're going to skip church this year (you're welcome, fellow parishioners).  But she's starting to understand the magic of the season.

Which has renewed the magic for me immeasurably.

kids say the darndest things

Here's a short list of adorable things my daughter has said recently:

• "Stop that, mama!" "Stop what, baby?" "Being drunk!"
• (watching "The Wizard of Oz" at the point that it switches to color) "Mama!  Not Kansas!"
• "Mama, time out!" (she was suggesting I needed a time out.  What I really needed was for her to stop climbing on me.)

She's the sweetest candy cane on the tree!

too. much. cute.

Picked up yakisoba and teriyaki for dinner tonight.  Alaina asked me to feed her some rice with chopsticks.  After a few bites, she decided to try on her own.  She was surprisingly successful for a two year old, and for a first timer.  Just when I think I can't love her anymore, she does stuff like this. *sound of heart exploding*

That's her Lower Lip of Determination.

My daughter is a constant source of inspiration.  Her willingness to try new things, her perseverance, and her unbridled joy at her successes are amazing.  She teaches me new things everyday.  Even if it's just a new method of controlling my temper!

motherhood: a glimpse into mental illness

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  

She never existed before.  

The woman existed, but the mother, never.  

A mother is something absolutely new."  

~Rajneesh

I didn't anticipate running the gamut of emotions daily when I found out I was going to have a baby.  I expected the sleeplessness, the constant mess, the influx of animated movies into my home, and playing second fiddle for the rest of my life.  But I didn't expect to be constantly overwhelmed.

Being a mother is the most wonderful title I have ever, and will ever, hold.  It is also the most maddening, frustrating, and thankless job I've ever had.  I understand now why some animals eat their young.  I also understand why my own mother "hated" me from ages 12-18....and to be honest, it probably would've lasted longer had I not moved out.  (Of course, she didn't hate me, but my smart mouth and disregard for rules probably is the reason for her high blood pressure today)

I have never felt so accomplished and so worthless.  I have never been more tolerant, and never more unforgiving.  Little things can send me into an hours-long anxiety attack.   Big things can send me into an hours-long anxiety attack.

It's this kind of crazy that I'm so blessed to have in my life.  Thank you, Alaina, for making your mama nuts.

roasted pineapple with spiced whipped cream.

Winter is pineapple season!  I love them, but find raw pineapple to be too acidic to eat comfortably.  Canned pineapple is terrible, too.  But I couldn't resist the siren's call of its spiky green top.  So I bought one, and figured I'd decide what to do with it later.

Enter roasted pineapple with spiced whipped cream.  It's not too sweet, easy to make, and a nice change from winter cobblers and crisps.

This recipe is made infinitely easier if you own a pineapple corer/ringer.

roasted pineapple
1 c. sugar
1 c. white wine (I used apple juice, didn't have wine on hand)
2 tsp. vanilla bean paste  OR
1 vanilla bean pod, scraped and pod & seeds mixed in.
(I'm sure vanilla extract would do just fine)
1 pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into rings.

Mix sugar, wine, and vanilla in a large bowl.  Add pineapple rings.  Let sit for approximately 20 minutes.
Pour mixture into a glass baking dish, doing your best to make it one layer.  Cover with foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until syrup is slightly thickened, and pineapple has begun to caramelize on the bottom.

spiced whipped cream
2 c. heavy whipping cream
1/4 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. cardamom
1/8 tsp. ginger

For best results, pour whipping cream into metal bowl and chill while pineapple is marinating and cooking.  Whip to soft peaks.  Add sugar and spices.  Whip to firm peaks.

Be sure to plate this with a little of the syrup!  It's a delicious end to a winter meal.

sno-isle co-op.

I am smitten.  I discovered my local co-op a few weeks ago, and I'm literally creating excuses to go.  I love that all the produce is organic AND local.  I love the old building.  I love the classes that are offered, even though I have yet to attend one.  I love that the staff is almost as excited as I am about what I am taking home.

I picked up celeriac (celery root), purple potatoes, salad mix, Fuyu persimmons, Chioggia beets, a sugar pie pumpkin, and some other assorted grocery items.  The co-op is also a great spot to find ethnic foods that the local grocery store might not have.  While I love PCC, Whole Foods, Central Market, etc, I still feel like I'm in a store.  At Sno-Isle Co-Op, I sort of feel like I'm poking through a friend's kitchen.

Their bulk section is awesome, they have the whole gamut of personal and home care products, and all sorts of neat handmade goodies, too.  You can check them out here:  http://www.snoislefoods.coop/

menu!

I plan out my meals about a week in advance.  I like knowing what to expect.  I dislike getting halfway through a meal preparation and realizing I'm short an ingredient.  I like being able to balance our diets over several days, rather than focusing on each meal.  I dislike spending too much money, especially for food items that spoil.

For me, planning a menu for the week is a wonderful thing.  I get to research new recipes, organize my cupboards, and plan on nourishing my daughter and myself.

This week, I'm planning on: vegetarian supper plate (sort of like a Spanish style ratatouille), broccoli and brown rice casserole, split pea soup with homemade bread, and ground bison stroganoff.

What are you making?

how to cook bacon naked.

Traditional methods of cooking bacon involve splattering grease.  If you're a fan of cooking naked, bacon should be off the table.  Until now.

**For the record, I'm not a fan of naked cooking.  Or being naked in general.  I'm not judging if you are, it's just not my thing.

You will need a cookie sheet.  An oven.  Bacon.  Parchment paper, if you're fancy.

Lay out bacon onto cookie sheet (line with parchment first, fancy folks!).  Place bacon in COLD oven.  Set temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (that's 447.444 Kelvin) and set timer for 17 minutes.  Walk away.
Check bacon when timer dings.  Continue cooking if you like, or remove from oven (Carefully!  You're naked and now you've got a platter full of grease!).  Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate.  Do what you want with the grease, just don't put it down the drain.

You can enjoy while it's hot, or be like me: put it in a container to enjoy all week.  Pro.

lentil bread

Fresh out of the oven!

Going through my pantry last night, I came across 3 bags of lentils.  THREE WHOLE POUNDS OF LENTILS.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good lentil soup or summer salad, but a little variety never hurts.  And I was out of homemade bread, so I began wondering: what would happen if I put lentils in bread?

The answer: MAGIC.  Magic happens when you put lentils in bread.

Lentils are a great source of protein, fiber, iron, folate, vitamin B, amino acids, and minerals.  Not to mention they're cheap and delicious.

Fairly straightforward recipe.  Makes delicious toast and sandwich bread.

lentil bread
1/2 c. lentils (I used brown, but I think any would be good)
2 cups warm water, divided
2 1/4 tsp. yeast (or one packet)
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 c. whole wheat flour
3.5-4 c. bread flour (I'm sure all purpose would be fine)

Soak lentils in one cup of water overnight.

Add additional cup of water (be sure it's WARM!), sugar, and yeast to lentils.  Let sit 15 minutes.

Mix egg and salt in large mixing bowl.  Add lentil mixture.  Stir gently.  Add flours, incorporate to form dough.  Turn onto floured surface and knead 5-10 minutes.  Place in oiled bowl and let rise, about 60 minutes.

Divide into two loaves and shape.  You can do round loaves on a cookie sheets, but I prefer just using my loaf pans....easier for toast.  Grease the pans just a bit.  Let rise until doubled in size (about an hour).  Bake at 375 for 50 minutes.  Let cool in pans covered with a towel.  Keeping the loaves covered will prevent the lentils from hardening.

Good, and good for you!  Happy baking!

domesticity

Last night, I started a new crochet project, put black beans down to soak, prepped lentils for bread, planned today's breakfast, and read a silly grocery store checkout magazine (not the gossipy kind, the housewifey kind).

Today's list includes cook beans, make bread, read other silly magazine, plan menus through next Thursday, work on crochet project more, grocery shopping, and trip to the craft store.

And I will do this all with a clever, capable, and beautiful two year old dynamo at my side.  I am so blessed!

zucchini and carrot muffins

My daughter is OBSESSED with cupcakes.  Fortunately, she doesn't really register a difference between muffins and cupcakes.  


In between grocery store trips, I found myself with a zucchini, a nearly full bag of mini carrots, and no ready-to-go snack foods.  Muffins seemed pretty logical.  This recipe would probably work as a quick bread, but that's not nearly as manageable or fun for a two year old.


As written, this recipe makes 12 small or 20 mini muffins.  I double it, mostly because I have a need to share what I cook.


zucchini and carrot muffins

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 cup grated carrots (the food processor is great for this if you're using baby carrots)
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (I prefer hazelnuts, but whatever you like)
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line 12 cups of a standard muffin tin (or 20 mini-muffin cups) with papers, or grease each cup.
2. Whisk together the sugar, oil, salt, and egg.
3. Add the zucchini, carrots,  and nuts.
4. Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl, then add to the batter. Stir till just combined.
5. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Let the muffins rest for 10 minutes before placing them into the oven.
6. Bake the muffins until the edges are lightly browned and they feel firm if gently pressed, about 18 to 25 minutes for the regular sized muffins (about 10 minutes for the minis).  A cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin should come out clean.
7. Remove the muffins from the oven, and cool them in the pan for 10 minutes; transfer to a rack, and cool. 

So good!  And a great way to sneak in extra veggies.  I'm a clever mama.

boiled blueberry muffins

Yes, I know: they sound bizarre.  But they are good.  And even better, they are good for you.  If you are a fan of muffins that are more like unfrosted cupcakes, these are not for you.  Don't get me wrong, I love those kind of muffins.  Problem is, if I make them, I eat them.  So I figured I'd make muffins I wouldn't feel guilty about polishing off.

The original recipe calls for raisins and only whole wheat flour.  Alaina ADORES blueberries, and I had just picked up a large quantity of dried blueberries (thanks, Winco!), so I used those instead.  I also used flax meal and buckwheat flour in addition to whole wheat flour.  Go grains!

boiled blueberry muffins


1 1/2 c. dried blueberries (or other dried fruit of your choice....I would cut larger fruits [apricots, cherries, etc.] to raisin size)
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. honey (or agave nectar)
1/2 c. butter

Bring the above ingredients to boil.  Simmer for two minutes.  Remove from heat and let sit for about an hour.
In the meantime:

1 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. buckwheat flour
1/3 c. flax meal
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda

Sift above ingredients.  Discard flax meal that won't sift nicely.  Flours you use are of importance only to you....you're just aiming for about 1 1/2 cups worth.  Add fruit mixture to this bowl and:

1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix well.  It will look hideous.  And smell a little funny, too.  Fill muffin cups.  Should make about 1 dozen muffins.  Bake in 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  Toothpick should come out clean, unless you stabbed a berry.

I think I'll try cherries next time, and substitute almond meal for flax, and almond extract for vanilla.  That's the blessing and the curse of cooking: each new project leads to many more ideas!

it's only been 5 months!

Clearly, I'm a lackadaisical blog updater.  I will do my best to fix this.

New home, new job, delay in school.  The times, they are a-changin'.  My daughter gets cuter, smarter, and more capable every minute.  I'm afraid to let her sleep, because she changes so quickly, I'm not sure who's going to wake up.

Lots of wonderful food projects on the horizon....I will post them as I make them!  I'm sure my Facebook friends are tired of seeing the photos.

birthday

On Thursday, I'll celebrate my 29th year.  I'm looking forward to it, and not just because I suckered my dad into making potato salad (might not sound like a big deal to you, but it is LITERALLY my favorite food, and I would eat it every day if it weren't such a pain to make).  But I am truly celebrating my last year of my second decade.  I'm enjoying the person I'm growing into, I am loving learning how to be a mom, and I'm cherishing the way the relationships I hold dear have grown.

Not to mention the loot.  Birthday loot is almost as good as Christmas loot.

winning. a contest, that is.

I want more followers of liliesandpoppies.  I'm selfish like that.

So I'm holding a contest.  Once we hit 50 followers, I'll hold a raffle for a meal or baked goods.

Pleasepleaseplease, tell your friends.  Get us to 50, and maybe you can be the proud new owner of an almond cheesecake, lemon cupcakes, or a few loaves of artisan bread!