NNM--Dessert

I don't know if I would go as far as to call dessert itself nutritious but I certainly believe desserts can be a part of a balanced, healthy diet.  I made these cupcakes last week and they were a hit (even for a couple people who normally don't like carrot cake OR coconut). I'm not going to focus on a key ingredient with this recipe as, although the cupcakes contain both carrots and pineapple, you won't be able to get enough of the produce in one cupcake to really count it as a good "source" of either.  However, when compared to your average carrot cake, this recipe is MUCH lighter and MUCH better for you (don't be fooled by the word "carrot"--carrot cake is typically one of the fattiest, most calorie-laden cakes you could pick!)
**Fine print: this recipe only makes 12 cupcakes. Make a double batch if you want more!

Carrot Cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 1 dozen

Cupcakes:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup finely shredded carrot
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, well-drained
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup raisins

Frosting:
1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, chilled
1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine, softened
1/8 teaspoon imitation coconut flavor (optional)
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons flaked sweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare cupcakes, beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add carrot and pineapple; beat well. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (flour through nutmeg) in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat well. Stir in raisins.

Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups lined with paper liners. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter, and coconut flavor at medium speed of a mixer just until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar (do not overbeat). Spread frosting over cupcakes; sprinkle with flaked coconut. Store, covered, in refrigerator.

CALORIES 220 (27% from fat); FAT 6.6g (sat 2.5g,mono 1.8g,poly 1.9g); IRON 0.8mg; CHOLESTEROL 25mg; CALCIUM 38mg; CARBOHYDRATE 38.7g; SODIUM 133mg; PROTEIN 2.4g; FIBER 0.9g

Cooking Light, OCTOBER 1999

31 Weeks

On Friday, Isla figured out how to suck her toes! Funny thing about it though is that she only does it when she's not wearing pants. Weird.

I'm pretty sure Isla is teething. She was a major drooler between 3-4 months and then pretty much dried up. All of a sudden this week she is back to completely saturating her burp cloth, chewing on everything (including her toes) and acting a bit off during the day, particularly last Saturday. I keep giving her cold things to chew on and she loves it.

Isla has sort of quit eating on the days that I work. She used to take 12-20 oz while I was gone but now she's lucky to get even 10 oz in. Of course, she's eating some solids too but hasn't been very interested in those when I am away either (Maybe teething issues again? Or I'd like to think she misses me since so far it seems as if she could care less whether or not I leave her which sorta bums me out---watch me eat my words later!) Thankfully she nurses really well before I leave and again when I come home so hopefully it all evens out.

Isla has been showing that she has a stubborn side this week. Oh dear. How can such a mellow child also be SOOOOO opinionated? She definitely lets us know when she doesn't like the fact that she is on our lap or alone on the floor or not being held etc. This picture sort of summarizes her up as right before she was smiling sweetly and then as soon as the camera clicked, she did this:

I started adding (gasp) cumin and chili powder to some of Isla's foods. Surprise surprise, she still gobbles them up. I was reading someone's hypothesis somewhere that always giving babies bland foods when introducing solids may be what leads to kids who only like plain foods later (i.e. crackers, white bread, grilled cheese etc). I'm sure there is no science behind it but hey, it's worth a try! I mean, in Mexico, babies get meat with chilies and in Indian, they get curry!

In addition to cumin and chili powder, Isla also has been eating pears and her first meat--beef! I sauteed up some beef and onions, added apples and sweet potatoes (and a dash of cumin and chili powder) and simmered it before making it into puree. She didn't really eat it the first day (nor did she eat anything else--teething?) but then yesterday she at a whole dish of it! Oh and I let her chomp off of a whole banana on Sunday which I think she thought was pretty special (see video below). It's amazing what she can do despite having no teeth.

Isla is a cat person! (Hooray! At least she got ONE thing from her mother!) She loves her G+G Wilson's two kitties, as well as her Aunt Lani and Uncle Michael's cats. But this week, her life got even better. She met G+G Crozier's fake stuffed cat, Biscuit, and she was in heaven because he DOESN'T RUN AWAY! (I don't remember how they acquired Biscuit-maybe he was a gag gift-but he looks real and lays curled up in a sleeping position). Reportedly, she loved petting him and grabbing and sticking her face into his fur. Since Graham and his dad are allergic to cats, we might just have to buy her a fake kitty like Biscuit.

Lil' Monkey

NNM--Vegetarian Entree

Oh how I love this recipe! It was featured in Sunset Magazine this past year as a "spectacular main dish" for a vegetarian Thankgiving. I could not agree more! I knew from previous experience that making gnocchi from scratch is a time investment so I went ahead and made a double batch of the gnocchi so I could freeze half of it for a later date. Since I've already highlighted sweet potatoes this month, I chose the SPINACH in the "sauce" (which is actually more brothy that saucy) as the key ingredient. Spinach is very high in vitamins K and A as well as iron (think Popeye!) It's important to keep in mind that the form of iron found in spinach (and any other plant sources of iron) is not well absorbed by the body. Pairing it with a food that is high in vitamin C (such as citrus, strawberries, bell peppers etc) will improve absorption.

Sweet-Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Spinach

Yield: 12 servings

Gnocchi
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
3 pounds orange-flesh sweet potatoes (often labeled "yams"), boiled until tender, peeled, and flesh puréed
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
About 3 cups flour

Assembly
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup sliced shallots
1 pound mixed mushrooms such as chanterelle, cremini, king trumpet, matsutake, and oyster* (I used cremini and shitake)
2 cups vegetable broth
3 tablespoons butter
12 ounces baby spinach leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided

1. Make gnocchi: Drain ricotta in a strainer over sink, stirring occasionally, 1 hour.
2. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups sweet- potato purée (save extra for another use), strained ricotta, sugar, cheese, salt, and nutmeg. Gently stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms.
3. Working on a floured surface, divide dough into 8 portions. Roll each portion with your hands into a 15-in. rope, then cut into 1-in. pieces, sprinkling dough with flour if it gets sticky. Transfer gnocchi to a rimmed tray lightly dusted with flour.
4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Working in batches of 15 to 20, drop gnocchi into water, stirring to prevent sticking, and cook until gnocchi are firm and float to top of water, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer gnocchi to a strainer and then to a lightly oiled rimmed pan to cool.
5. Assemble gnocchi: Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add gnocchi to pan and cook, stirring often, until browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large serving dish.
6. Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tbsp. oil in a second large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook garlic and shallots until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth, butter, spinach, salt, and pepper; cover and cook until spinach wilts, about 3 minutes.
7. Spoon vegetables over gnocchi and pour in broth. Sprinkle with thyme and half of parmesan. Serve with remaining cheese.

*Leave whole any soft mushrooms such as oysters and slice or quarter large, dense mushrooms like the cremini and king trumpets.

Make ahead: Prepare through step 3. Cover and chill up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 weeks.

CALORIES 364 (31% from fat); FAT 13g (sat 5.3g); CHOLESTEROL 24mg; CARBOHYDRATE 49g; SODIUM 1021mg; PROTEIN 14g; FIBER 4.2g

Sunset, NOVEMBER 2009

NNM--Entree (Seafood)

You thought I forgot, didn't you?

This recipe is AWESOME! And the best part is that it is so simple. All you have to do is stir together the delicious spice mixture and rub it over the fish (you can make a double batch of the spice rub for an even quicker meal the 2nd time around). I don't think I need to say much about today's key ingredient: SALMON. We all know it is high in omega-3 fats; did you know it is also a great source of vitamin D? If you have high triglycerides, eating just 2 servings a week can help bring them down. Oh and please choose wild salmon whenever possible, even though it is more expensive than farmed. Farmed salmon has been found to have high amounts of harmful carcinogenic chemicals (PCPs). Now for the recipe...

Maple-Glazed Salmon
Cooking Time: 11 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon maple syrup

1) Prepare grill, heating to medium.
2) Combine first 5 ingredients. Sprinkle fish with salt; rub with paprika mixture.
3) Place fish on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 7 minutes. Drizzle fish with syrup; grill 1 minute or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

CALORIES 286 (42% from fat); FAT 13.5g (sat 3.2g,mono 5.7g,poly 3.4g); CHOLESTEROL 87mg; CALCIUM 30mg; CARBOHYDRATE 2.9g; SODIUM 670mg; PROTEIN 36.5g
Cooking Light, MAY 2003

Anniversary Celebrations

We celebrated our anniversary in stages and in the end did quite a bit of fine dining. Initially I thought Graham had class on our actual anniversary but when I found out he actually didn't, a coworker kindly offered to watch Isla so we could go out. It turns out March is a great time to have an anniversary in Seattle because of the Dine Around Seattle promotion where you can get 3 courses for $30 at many of the finest restaurants in the area. I think we unintentionally started a new tradition because for the 2nd year in a row, we visited the Barking Frog in Woodinville which is probably in my top 5 fav restaurants. Graham had the Grand Marnier Prawns, Mixed Greens, Lemongrass Vinaigrette for his starter, the Ginger Crusted Sea Scallops, Beluga Lentils, Apple Bacon, Pea Vines, Maitake Mushrooms, Cipollini Onions, Smoked Almonds, Green Curry Coconut Sauce for his main and the Chocolate Molten Cake for dessert. I had the Roasted Beet Salad, Orange Supremes, Toasted Hazelnuts, Laura Chenel Goat Cheese, Vanilla Honey Drizzle to start, Braised Short Ribs, Baby Bok Choy Kimchi, Shitake Mushrooms, Asian Barbeque Sauce as my entree and also had the Chocolate Molten Cake for dessert (To! Die! For!) We had the option to add wine pairings with each course for an additional fee which we indulged in, given it was our anniversary afterall! Everything was so delicious and I'm pretty sure this anniversary tradition is here to stay!

On Friday, we welcomed spring break with a trip to Bellingham to attend the Brandi Carlile concert as well as drop Isla off at her grandparents so we could continue our celebration. The concert, by the way, was AMAZING! If you do not yet know Brandi, get on I- Tunes and meet her! I am usually not 100% into concerts but this one was phenominal--she is particularly excellent live. I must admit the highlight for me though was realizing that I actually knew a song that Graham had never heard of before!! He has been in shock and awe for days that I could possibly be that muscially hip.

On Saturday, we hung out a bit with the fam (which included watching the first part of Ben's baseball game in Mt Vernon) before heading off for our getaway.

After much debate, we ended up booking at night at the Woodmark Hotel on the Kirkland waterfront. This was an excellent decision, particularly because, as it turned out, a very close childhood family friend's wife (did you follow that?) is the guest services manager there, saw (and recognized) our names and gave us an upgrade to a waterview king room on the top floor with a balcony AND a complimentary fruit and cheese platter with a bottle of Syrah, and a rubber ducky to take home to Isla (which she loves by the way because it squeaks!) Oh and did I mention that our breakfast that we charged to the room the following morning was removed from our bill? It was so amazing and I felt like royalty!

For dinner that night, we went to Cafe Juanita (in Kirkland) which stole the position of "my new favorite restaurant" back in January when we first visited. This time we had the Seared Foie Gras with Apple, Candied Ginger and Cocoa nibs (again), Alaskan King Crab with Green Apple Sorbetto and Sweet Crab Butter Powder (Sorbet with crab...SO good! We left wondering what other savory foods we could pair with sorbet), Rabbit Agnolotti dal Plin with Sage Butter followed by Local Rabbit Braised in Arneis with Ligurian Chickpea Crepe, Pancetta and Porcini (yes, we really ate little bunny foo foo times two!) I learned a few things about myself through this dining experience: a) I'm not a huge fan of sauces that star the meat's own juices (ie the Braised Rabbit) and b) it really irks me when wait staff pressures you to order more or when they give you a dirty look when you don't order dessert. One should never, ever feel guilty about what one chooses to and not to order, regardless of how nice/expensive the restaurant. I don't care who you are or what your restaurant's reputation may be, but pressure and guilt trips do not equal good service!! All in all, our meal was great, I just would prefer not to have L_ _ _ _ as our server again.

The overnight portion of our trip went well (despite Graham's work calling just before 6 AM to see if he wanted to come in to work....so much for a full night's sleep!) and Isla didn't seem to miss us a bit. Thanks G + G Wilson for taking her so we could get away to celebrate three very good years!

30 Weeks

Isla spent her very first night away from us on Saturday night. She reportedly did great (although her caretakers were at Starbucks in the morning when we called to check in...did she by chance keep them up?) and I did okay too but I was ready to have her back when we picked her up.

She is becoming quite rambunctious and seems to have a bad case of the wiggles this week. She has started to kick her legs and squirm when she doesn't like the way she is being held or when she wants to be put down--What?! She's never wanted to be put down before. Ever! There have been a couple times where she is sitting on my lap but will lean over and twist and spin to move off my lap and onto the couch next to me.

Isla has added oatmeal and carrots to her food likes list. Actually there isn't anything that we've offered that she won't eat so far. She's turned into quite the little bird and sits in her seat with her mouth wide open, waiting for a bite (particularly when you are trying to multi-task and are not paying attention). She has quit trying to "help" and we no longer have to use the 2-spoon trick (which makes eating a bit cleaner, much to my delight).

Isla visited Snoqualmie Falls for the first time yesterday.  

We've caught Isla drinking from her sippie cup all by herself a few times while in her carseat-big girl!

Speaking of her carseat, she's turned into quite the happy car traveler. She'll be quiet in the back seat and then, out of nowhere, burst out with some crazy farm animal sounds and squawks. She seems to be quite entertained by herself.  

She is also loving her toys lately, particularly her singing mailbox from G+G Wilson and her colored stacking rings. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm thinking I might actually want to buy a couple toys for her as a lot of what we have is more for the newborn stage. Or I'll just give her my tupperware and measuring cups...

As for her sleeping habits, daylight savings changed up her bedtime a bit and she's been going down closer to 7 now. She wakes up usually once around 3:30 AM for the binkie but usually doesn't eat until 5:30 AM. She goes right back to sleep usually until 8 or 8:30. She is napping a little better now too and seems to have finally adjusted to our packing away the swaddle.

Thankful

Today I am feeling particularly thankful for:

-Grocery Outlet. I know people, it is sorta ghetto (Graham calls it a "used food store"), but where else can you find a Kashi frozen pizza with plantains and kale in a guava-infused jerk sauce? Or a giant wheel of President's brie for only $2.99? Or Annie's Naturals Organic dressings for a buck fifty? They never have everything (like good produce for instance) but they will often have deals on one-time specialty lines and other gourmet products. Only downside is that you're never gonna know what they have until you get there...it almost works better to plan your menu AFTER you shop.

-Isla's Grandparents. My parents took Isla on Friday night so we could go to concert #1 and then over Saturday night so Graham and I could celebrate our anniversary. It was so nice to know both parties were having a blast and we were thankful for the opportunity for her to bond with her grandparents and uncles. Then last night, my inlaws took Isla so we could go to dinner and a concert with friends. We ended up trading cars with them for the evening so they could have Isla's carseat. It was dark when we got back and so it wasn't until this morning that I realized our Jetta had been WASHED AND VACUUMED and the oil had been topped off!!! There is almost nothing that excites me more than a clean car (okay, that's a bit of a stretch) but I do LOVE when the floors are clean. We bring our cars to a certain gas station for oil changes specifically because they also vacuum the interior so this was a special treat! We'll let the Crozier's babysit Isla (and our car) anytime!

-Sunshine! Enough said.

-My Beaba BabyCook baby food maker. I have been busily making baby food today and it is so nice to be able to steam and puree all in one machine. This is great!

Awesome Weekend

It's supposed to be sunny and how could it not be wonderful with all we have planned?

At 3:30 PM today, spring break can officially start for Graham--school is out and we both have a week off work! We have lots planned. (If you recall, we initially got this chunk of time off in hopes of going to Mexico. We opted to do a staycation instead to save $$ for France...if it is still going to happen). Tonight we head to Bellingham for dinner with my fam followed by a Brandi Carlile concert, one of my Christmas gifts to Graham. Tomorrow, after watching a little bit of my brother's baseball game, we are going to leave Isla with my parents and celebrate our anniversary with our very first night away! We aren't going far. In fact, we'll be within 6 miles of our own doorstep in downtown Kirkland. I think it says a lot when you can go downtown in your own city and feel like you're on vacation. We love where we live! We have dinner reservations at my newest favorite restaurant (Cafe Juanita) and will probably also enjoy breakfast out before retrieving the little missy.

On Sunday, we are going to dinner with friends downtown Seattle, followed by a Jamie Cullum concert (boy, we sure are living it up--2 dinners out and 2 concerts--I think this is a first!) We haven't mapped out the rest of the week exactly but we are hoping to do the following:

-get coffee and chocolates and hangout in the Four Seasons lobby downtown (this was highlighted as the "thing to do" in one of our Sunset magazines so we're going to give it a try)
-tour Theo Chocolate in Fremont
-travel to Tacoma to visit the Museum of Glass followed by some hushpuppies and other real southern food at Southern Kitchen. (We saw it featured on Food TV and my secret indulgence is hushpuppies so I've been dying to go ever since. Shhhh, don't tell).
-see the latest and greatest at SAM (curtosy of the free passes through Graham's work)
-revisit the Joe Bar for crepes, one of our favorite pastimes when we were dating
-replace and replenish my wardrope with a trip to the outlet mall

Believe it or not, we will actually be able to do all this AND save money (when you're comparing it all to a trip to Mexico of course!) I hear Isla waking so I'm gonna get this spring break kicked off when a nice walk in the sunshine. Enjoy your weekend!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hope you are wearing green! How are you celebrating?

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

There were smiles, dancing, romance, laughter, tears, rain, elegance, Thai food, music, beauty, family, friends, country two-stepping, photos, ballet slippers and cowboy boots, a whole lotta green, a huge bridal party, limes, apples and a pear cake, calla lilies, promises made and love between two people. Such a perfect day. Happy Anniversary Graham Blair! I never could have imagined what life with you would be like--so much adventure, joy, challenge and spontaneity. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love you!

By the way

There are moments when I actually enjoy Isla's middle-of-the-night feedings. After she eats is the best! She looks up at me and kind of seems shocked to see me sitting there, like wow, when did you get here? (Yes dear, I thought the whole reason you were crying was because you wanted me here). She's like a little bobblehead baby in the wee morning hours, like she's so tired and her head is too heavy to hold up. So she ends up "bobbling" and getting her face only inches away from mine. Such eye contact! Then she blinks with such intentionality. Sometimes she'll reach out and touch my face but she never makes a sound. These friends, are the sweetest of moments!

29 Weeks

The most notable thing from this week is how excited (hyper?) Isla gets when she is interacted with. If you say her name or stand over her or make faces at her or talk to her, she starts flapping her arms, kicking her legs, shrieking and panting. The louder and more animated you are, the louder she is and the more she flaps. It is quite hilarious and we love getting her all worked up (although I'm sure we'll soon regret encouraging this loud behavior).

Isla (finally) discovered her feet this week. She'd noticed them before but didn't seem interested. But this week, she is kicking up her legs, grabbing her toes and trying to pull her socks off. I've also noticed Isla tapping her foot or hand this week as if she is keeping a beat. Hopefully some of Graham's musical talent has been passed on!

Isla became ticklish this week! I didn't realize it was a "learned" behavior...

It seems like Isla is picking up on repetitive actions now. For instance, when I tip her backwards and then bring her back up, she tries to get me to do it again. She hasn't quite figured out how to tip herself back on her own, but I can tell by her face and subtle body movements that she wants me to repeat. She is also working hard on learning to mimic us (although I think mostly her "copying" is coincidence so far).

We have added peas and cooked apples to Isla's pantry. The first day she got the peas, she took one bite and then wouldn't open her mouth again (even though I switched to sweet potato). I ended up mixing the peas with avocado, gradually increasing the amount of peas and now she eats them just fine on their own. Apples were the first food we introduced that she DIDN'T make a face at.

Of note, literally EVERY time I put Isla in her little Bumbo chair to eat, she has to poop. I don't know what it is but it must put her in just the right position to do her business....

NNM--Salad

I just tried out this recipe from my "Cooking the Costco Way" cookbook (ha ha, I know...seems like a joke but I guess Costco makes their own cookbook). I tweaked the recipe a bit to cut back on the fat and have made it twice in two weeks and both times have been asked for the recipe. I think that means we found a winner! Key ingredient: AVOCADO.

I think we all have heard that avocados are "heart healthy," stemming from their high content of monounsaturated fat which is believed to help lower cholesterol (both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the "bad" form). Not only are they a healthy source of fat, they also contain potassium (more than is found in a medium banana), folate, lutein, vitamin E and fiber. Avocados work as a great substitute for mayo when mashed and spread on a sandwich. Enjoy!

Pear and Spinach Bistro Salad

SALAD:

1 (10 oz) bag of spinach
2 large pears (I used D'anjou but recipe calls for barlett or bosc), cored and sliced
1 avocado, peeled and diced
3-4 bacon slices, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 cup pine nuts (or other nuts), toasted
1/2 cup craisins

DRESSING:
1/3 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp dijon mustard
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp salt

1. Combine all salad ingredients together in a bowl.
2. To make dressing, combine ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until blended.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving and toss to coat.

Speaking to Me

I had a really rough week last week for some reason, one of those weeks where I felt like I was wearing too many hats and wearing all of them poorly. Finding a healthy balance is my never-ending struggle-there's being a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, professional, housekeeper etc. Honestly though, I know the root of my issue. I've been skimping on my quiet times but craving some real good times of connection with God (how I expect to get that without investing the time/effort is another story...) So, Graham and I took a trip to the Christian book store to find a bible study for me that focuses particularly on motherhood and the new challenges it brings. LADIES, if you relate to anything I'm saying, may I recommend "Make Over. Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill" by Jen Hatmaker? I made it as far as the first chapter and already found a quote that I just have to share:

"He gets your weariness. He appreciates you fears. He understands your aggravation when you feel more like a maid than a wife. He has sympathy for your fatigue. God realizes your professional passions....Certainly He identifies with every tear shed over your children....His understanding no one can fathom."

Of course, this quote is refering to a passage of Scripture, Isaiah 40:29-31. "He give strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

If you come over anytime in the next couple weeks, you might just find these quotes plastered all over my house. I hope they speak to you as much as they are to me. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who gets overwhelmed by life as a woman!

SUNSHINE!

Saturday was beautiful and we took full advantage of the weather and spent the entire day in the sun! We met friends for coffee at the Kirkland Marina in the morning and then the 3 of us grabbed picnic foods from Whole Foods and drove to Discovery Park for the afternoon. Even Isla got to picnic (but notice we left the bib in the car and so had to improvise and use our sandwich wrapper). :o) Our friends met up with us later on and we walked around the park and played ladder golf. Glorious!

28 Weeks

Isla had her 6 month well baby check up this past Wednesday. She weighed 13 pounds, 13 ounces (10-25%ile), she measured 24 1/2 inches in length (10-25%ile) and her head circumference was 41.5 cm (25%ile). Her growth has definitely slowed since our last visit but she gained on all parameters so our doctor wasn't worried (I have to laugh though at the possibility of the dietitian having a child with growth troubles!) She figured that Isla's intake probably slowed with her illness/cough over the past couple weeks (which it did) and expects her growth will pick right up again. At the appointment, she got 4 shots (including the H1N1 and regular flu vaccines) and was a trooper!  

We officially stopped swaddling Isla when she sleeps this week, per our pediatrician's recommendation (we'd sorta stopped before then restarted). Isla did not sleep well at first and I was joking that I gave up Isla's swaddle for Lent and in turn Isla gave up sleeping. :o) She hasn't been napping for nearly as long and she started waking up between 3 and 4 AM to eat rather than 5 something for her early AM feed. But then, come Sunday night, she slept from 6:30 PM to 6:30 AM SOLID!!

Speaking of solids, Isla is loving her new diet. We have introduced her to the following (in order): avocado, sweet potato, black beans, homemade rice "cereal" (but it is hard to blend up so it has some actual whole rice grains in it) and banana. I love her reaction to each new food. Of course, it always looks like she HATES it, but she has warmed up to each one so far (although bananas are new as of yesterday and she just does not know what to think). When she first tried the beans, she gagged and gagged. The 2nd time she had them, she gagged so hard she didn't breathe for a few seconds and freaked me out. Now she gobbles them right up, especially when mixed with rice and avocado (who wouldn't!?)

Isla is an incredibly messy eater. Mostly because she absolutely insists on "helping." I'm learning a few tricks like 1) Use 2 spoons so she can hold one while I scoop up food with the other and 2) Feed her naked. There really is no other way! Rarely will she let you give her a bite without her first grabbing the food off the spoon with her hand, then rubbing her hand on her face, legs, the chair, table, her bib, under her bib....it's pretty cute but is a HUGE time investment. Graham says she likes to control what goes into her mouth, just like her mommy (ha ha, I guess it's true!)

This week, Isla added a Michael Jordan tongue to her bucket of tricks. This picture doesn't do it justice because normally she has her mouth wide open and her tongue out but she does it when she is excited. Then she pants like a dog. Don't ask me where she got it. I really have no idea!

Remember how I said we're saving lots of $$ on diapers with her once weekly poo schedule? Scratch that! I seriously think she pooped 6 times today if not more. Poor girl! Now that she eats solids, you can totally tell when she's trying to go and sometimes it is painful. Our Dr is having us give her a sippie cup of water every time we feed her so she can learn to drink from a cup (and avoid constipation) but she's not very good at it yet. Oh and for the record, everyone always warns you about a baby's poop changing for the worse when they start solids. For Isla it is a welcome change as her previous diapers were SO smelly and messy!

Enough of that....it's been a while since I mentioned Isla's nicknames. We've taken to calling her Isla Bear quite often and I've caught myself calling her Peanut Butter on a number of occasions (????). Guess it sorta goes with her other nickname, Peanut.

It feels like Isla is definitely becoming a little girl now that she is eating solids, sitting, pooing, laughing at appropriate times. We love her!

Life Is Always an Adventure

We were planning to get something done today...finalize the opening of a new checking account in fact. We've only been meaning to do this for about 9 months now (any financial decision we make seems to take about that long to implement). Anyway, so the hope was to transfer all our savings to this local, FDIC-insured bank that offers incredible interest rates if you meet a couple monthly criteria (i.e. have one direct deposit going into the account and make "x" number of debit transactions in a given time period.) It is a smaller bank with only about 6 branches in the NW, but since we plan to mainly just let our savings earn interest and not use this one too much, the limited access shouldn't be an issue. Plus, there are branches in Edmonds and Everett which isn't all that bad (especially since I'm in Everett 1-2 times/week for work).

Anyway, we actually already opened the account but wanted to go into one of the branches today (in person) to hand deliver/deposit/wire the check with all our life savings (not something we wanna just throw in an envelope in the mail....) The Edmonds branch was the closest so off we went. As we neared the address for the Edmonds branch on the bank brochure, we realized it was listed as being at Stevens Hospital. Okay, that's a bit odd, but we perservered. Maybe it's just on the hospital's campus? We arrive and don't see any sign of the bank anywhere. Hmm, so maybe it is actually inside the hospital. Kinda like how there's Starbucks and banking branches inside grocery stores?? That's normal, right? Well, sort of. Still no sign of the bank inside. So we go to admitting and they direct us to the elevator, up to the 2nd floor by the cafeteria. Okay yeah so it will probably be like gift shop, bank, cafeteria, post office. Ya know, the usual. But still we get there and see no bank. We ask inside the gift shop and the lady directs us to the very back corner of the cafeteria where we find what is literally a CLOSET with no windows with a nice sign saying the bank's name and that it is open. Perfect. We casually sneaked a peak inside to spot the ONE lady at the ONE desk in the 5 ft by 5 ft "Edmonds Branch." OH. MY. GOODNESS. You have got to be kidding me! Graham and I both kind of looked at it each and said there is absolutely NO way we are "despositing" our money into that closet!! I mean, can you even deposit money in a closet? The door to the "bank" looked like it just had one of the punch-button locks on the door handle. So weird.

So we turned around and left without letting the banker lady see us. And we spent quite some time wondering if this was "for real" and smirking at the comedy of it all. We concluded (or at least are choosing to believe) that maybe the hospital offers a special program or benefits with this bank and so they need on-site respresentation but that actual cash flow happens elsewhere.

Normally I am not one seek out opportunities to offer feedback to companies unless a survey is placed right under my nose. But in this case, I think I may just give the bank a couple tips. It might be in their best interest NOT to call the in-hospital, back-of-the-cafeteria closet a "branch." Maybe next time they should just leave that off the brochure?

NNM -- Soup

West African Chicken and Groundnut Stew

2 chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (15 oz) can great northern beans, undrained
1 (11 oz) can vacuum-packed whole kernel corn, drained
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3 cups hot cooked brown rice
Chopped peanuts
Cilantro, chopped

In dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook chicken in oil until lightly browned and no longer pink, stirring frequently. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 3-4 minutes or until onion is tender. Add remaining ingredients except for rice, mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until sweet potato is tender, stirring occasionally. If stew becomes too thick, add additional water. Serve over hot rice and top with peanuts and cilantro.

Yield: 8 (1 1/2 cup) servings

Nutrition Information: Calories 370, Protein 22g, Fat 8g.

I absolutely LOVE this recipe! It is so easy to throw together, it's filling and perfect for cold days. I discovered recently that it also freezes really well so you can thaw/reheat it to serve at a later date.

Key ingredient: SWEET POTATO. I cannot say enough good things about sweet potatoes! I find it tragic that so many people eat them but once a year, at the Thanksgiving table, completely smothered in syrupy-sweet sauce and topped off with marshmallows. Oh and the fact that this infamous Thanksgiving dish is usually made with CANNED potatoes makes me just quiver. Fresh sweet potatoes are SO easy to make and they are packed with vitamin A, iron and fiber (particularly when eaten with the skin). Rinse them off, prink them a few times with a fork and bake in a 425 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until tender when squeezed and enjoy. The natural sugar in sweet potatoes caramelize when baked so they are delicious eaten plain or with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

NNM -- Appetizer

It's National Nutrition Month! Did you know? My goal this month is to celebrate it with you by posting some recipe favorites for each course from my kitchen, along with nutrition information about some of the key ingredients in each dish. Of course, that was sort of the initial intent of this blog (hence the title "Kelsie's Kitchen") but sometimes things like babies distract. :o) Seeing as we're already 4 days into this month and I've only just begun, we'll see how well I can keep up with the challenge.

I'll start off with a great appetizer. Key ingredients: PEANUT BUTTER, TOFU. Peanut butter is a great vegetarian protein source. Although high in fat, peanut butter contains the heart-healthy varieties (mono and polyunsaturated). Avoid low fat peanut butter as the removed fat is replaced with sugar. Make it a goal this month for switch to a "natural style" peanut butter (two ingredients: peanuts and salt) as the "regular" brands have added sugar and trans fat.

Tofu is a very lean source of protein. It is also high in iron and most brands of tofu are fortified with calcium, a nutrient a lot of women do not get enough of. Many kids find the texture and mild flavor of tofu appealing and it makes a great, high protein snack when cut into cubes.

This dip is easy to prepare and great served with fresh veggies (bell peppers, carrot sticks, celery) for dipping. It can also be used as a spread on a gourmet sandwich. Add a little water or chicken broth to the leftovers (to thin it out) and use it as a peanut sauce rendition to serve over chicken, stirfry or noodles.

Asian Peanut Dip
(From Cooking Light Magazine)
Yield: 1 cup (serving size: 2 tablespoons)

Ingredients
1/2 cup natural-style peanut butter (such as Smucker's)
1/3 cup reduced-fat firm silken tofu
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 garlic cloves, crushed

Place all ingredients in a blender, and process until smooth, scraping sides. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 days.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 122 (57% from fat)
Fat: 7.7g (sat 1.5g,mono 3.8g,poly 2.5g)
Protein: 5.4g
Carbohydrate: 7.4g
Fiber: 0.5g
Sodium: 131mg

27 Weeks

Not a whole lot to report on this week that I haven't mentioned already....We continue to work on solids and I'll just say there very well may be a pot of black beans simmering on the stove tomorrow. (What could be better than smashed black beans with avocado??!)

I think we can officially say that Isla is sitting up! She still requires supervision but she'll do it for a minute or two at a time. Of course there are also the times where she only lasts 2 seconds before she falls but those are becoming much less frequent.

I've noticed this week that Isla is really hands-on into everything. She wants to reach, touch, grab, hold anything and everything. Her hands are always busy. She's probably been doing this for a while now but we actually made note of the fact that she was intentionally transferring an object from one hand to the other on Sunday.

Isla has been such a GREAT sleeper while she's been sick. I really do hope she gets better fast but I'm kinda hoping she keeps this sleep schedule. She's been taking awesome naps and has been doing 10-12 hour stretches at night, gradually moving her morning feed later and later. And she's cut out the middle-of-the-night waking for the most part. I'm not counting on this lasting....but it would be nice...

Seems so comical to me now, given Graham and my long, skinny faces, that I ever worried about Isla not having a round, cute baby face...  :o)

Gobble Gobble

So today is day 5 of trying solids with Isla. She was gung-ho on day 1 when we tried avocado and then only mildly interested on days 2 and 3, seemed offended by sweet potatoes when I tried them on day 4 and this morning. But I must have hit her at a good moment this afternoon. She was inhaling the avocado and so I decided to mash up some sweet potato and add it to the mix. This is what happened. She literally could not, would not keep her hands out of it! She insisted on "helping."