Peanut Sprout

Mommy Confessions: Couch Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:29:00 +0000

When my kids are sick they are pretty much allowed to watch as much TV as they want. In an ideal world I'd have them rest, read books with me, play quietly, sip their juice and have lots of quiet time. But I have two very rowdy boys...the only way they WILL rest is if they are watching a DVD. Plus, this winter I've caught every bug they come home with. So all I want to do is watch TV and sip my tea.

Breakfast for Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:37:00 +0000

I do not have a special recipe to share with you this week. Now that everyone in my house is done being sick (for now), my husband is traveling for work. In our house that means one thing...breakfast for dinner. Sometimes it's pancakes, sometimes eggs, toast & fruit. Tonight it was scrambled eggs, bacon and sliced oranges. When I'm feeling extra fancy, I make Rookie Cookie's Candied Bacon. If you haven't tried it, do.

Mommy Confessions: Never Say Never

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:28:00 +0000

Being a parent means you sometimes do things you thought you'd never do.

Back in October I "confessed" that my kids had never eaten at McDonald's. My husband and I can't stand the place. Everything is really unhealthy and the food gives him digestive issues and me migraines. Well, guess what we did yesterday. That's right. I took the boys to McDonald's. I COULDN'T HELP IT! It wasn't my fault! Our dentist office gave the boys a McDonald's gift card for being such good patients. What was I to do? Plus, I do miss having the occasional chocolate sundaes with nuts. Those are goooooood!

When we left McDonald's after our lunch of chicken nuggets, apple dippers and sundaes Peanut said, "Mommy, the food isn't very healthy here. But it sure is a tasty treat!" I agree. But I think it will be a long time before we go back.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:01:00 +0000

When you really need a good bowl of chicken noodle soup you probably don't have time to make it from scratch. But it is almost impossible to find a decent canned chicken soup. Well I've got a chicken noodle soup recipe for you that will hit the spot without taking all day to cook.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 tsp dried thyme
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
6 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup dried pasta
salt & pepper for seasoning

Heat olive oil in large pot. Add onion and cook until tender. Add thyme and cook 1 minute. Add carrots and celery and cook until tender. Add chicken and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then add pasta. Let the soup come back to a boil, then turn down heat to let it simmer for 20 minutes or until pasta is cooked. Season with salt & pepper. Serve with bread.

Library Picks: Farewell to Shady Glade

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:01:00 +0000

Farewell to Shady Glade by Bill Peet

We bought our first Bill Peet book this December when we visited a train museum in the mountains near Seattle. At the gift shop Peanut picked out The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet. It was a pleasure to read, so I decided to search out more books by Bill Peet. This week at the library we found Farewell to Shady Glade. A very sweet story with a subtle tale about the dangers of overdevelopment. Both boys, at 4 and 2, love listening to the story and waiting for all of the little animals to catch the train to their new shady glade. It's a bit longer than our usual bed time book, but it's just too cute to resist.

Mommy Confessions: Parenting is Hard

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:29:00 +0000

Where have I been for over 3 months? Well, ignoring my blog of course! Why? Oh, so I could handle the rest of my life. I won't bore you with details. But let's just say it started with Peanut's birthday, Halloween, Sprout's birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas....next thing I knew it was February and I had just come up for air. And while I wasn't looking, our kids learned how to step all over us. Peanut started acting like a typical four-year-old (extra stubborn, opinionated, difficult, rude, etc.) and Sprout decided to act like a typical two-year-old ("No! No! No! No!").

Last night I was at my wit's end. All of us have been sick with a bad cold and I felt like I spent all day cleaning, feeding and giving time-outs. I was exhausted, emotional and losing my voice. I got out of the house for an hour when Hubby got home. Once I had time to breath I reminded myself that just like every parenting hurdle, we will get through this time too. Our children are testing their boundaries. While it would be much easier in the short term to throw our hands up and let them have their way, in the long term we'd only be hurting them. It's our job to show them where their boundaries are...again and again and again and again. They seem to test us every waking moment. And then at the end of the day they remind us that they also need our unwavering love, attention and acceptance. With all of the chaos that ensues during the day, at bed time both boys soak up as many hugs and kisses as they can get. Almost like they are saying, "Thanks for letting me push all your buttons today so that I can learn what my boundaries are. And thank you for loving me with all of your heart anyway."

It really is amazing how difficult parenting can be. But the rewards are priceless and precious.

Mommy Confessions: Fabulous Fours?

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

#54 I think four might actually be easier than three, thank goodness! Peanut is starting to show signs that the terrifying threes are over...and that maybe we are headed toward the "fabulous fours." On Wednesday of this week he was throwing me every curve ball imaginable: refusing breakfast, pulling all the books off of his book shelf, tormenting his brother, etc. But at one point I came into the play room and he was cleaning up and putting toys away...WHILE singing a little song about cleaning up!!! My jaw hit the floor. I made sure to shower him with thank yous, hugs and kisses. I'm looking forward to more of these little improvements.

Black Bean Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

I have been a slacker in the blogging department, but it's for good reason. On any given day in my house, someone is sick. We have had cold after cold...plus a little teething thrown in for fun. So I haven't been doing much but taking care of the kiddos and trying to keep myself healthy.

Along with the colds has come a lot of soup. Tonight I made a yummy black bean soup. Like most of my recipes, this one is the blending of various recipes plus some random ingredient substitution along the way. I like to keep mine pretty chunky so that you can see there are beans and carrots in it. I like to plop a little sour cream on top and that usually gets the kids to eat it too. Enjoy!

Black Bean Soup

2 slices of bacon, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, pealed and diced
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
4 cans black beans
3 cups chicken broth
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
salt & pepper to season

In a large pot, cook bacon and then set aside. Saute onions in bacon fat until tender. Add garlic and saute for another 2 minutes. Add carrots and cook until they are tender. Add chili powder, cumin and oregano. Add black beans and chicken broth and reserved bacon. Bring to a boil to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Cover and simmer for 15 - 40 minutes. Add lime juice and mix well. Season with salt & pepper. I also like to add a little Tabasco for spice.

Once the soup is seasoned well, use an immersion blender to puree (or put it in a blender...but that gets messy). You can make it as smooth or as chunky as you like. I've made it all ways, but prefer it slightly chunky so that you can tell what is in it.

Garnish with sour cream!

Mommy Confessions: Mommy Brain

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:26:00 +0000

#53 Why didn't someone tell me it was Friday when I got up this morning? I don't know why I thought it was Thursday, but I did. Normally this would make for a nice surprise, but I swear I must have lost a day in there somewhere. Seriously...mix sleep deprivation with "mommy brain" and you just get Stupid.

Brave Birthday Boy

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:36:00 +0000

My older son, Peanut, turned 4 on Sunday. Saturday we had his birthday party at a local park that has cabins you can rent and actually camp in. Originally we were just looking for a cheap, outdoor birthday party option with some shelter if it rained. It was a wonderful party (and it did rain).

My husband decided that for Peanut's birthday the two of them would sleep overnight in the cabin after the birthday party. I do not camp and Sprout had a cold. So after the party we cleaned up, Hubby brought Sprout and I home and then Hubby and Peanut left for their birthday camping trip. I was so proud of my little dude for being willing to brave the "wild" in the middle of October...and proud of my husband for subjecting himself to camping with a very picky preschooler. I was convinced that by 11pm Peanut would be missing his own bed and they would throw in the towel and come home. I stayed up waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

At 12:41 AM I realized they were probably not coming home. Then I realized everyone in my family was asleep but me and that I should probably go to bed.

It also occurred to me that it was officially Peanut's 4th birthday. He was getting to be such a big boy that he was out camping with his Daddy. For the first time since he was born I would not be the first person to wish him Happy Birthday. I reflected on the very moment he was born and I clearly remember, in my epidural haze, saying to him, "Hello. Happy Birthday." I actually started to wonder if he would seem different to me when he got home in the morning...older, more mature. It's insane how quickly they get from Day 1 to Year 4. It's fun to see him grow up, but it's sad to see him need me less and less as the years go by.

Mommy Confessions: I Drive a Minivan

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:40:00 +0000

#52 We bought a minivan yesterday. In '99 I bought a little sporty coupe and called it my-last-before-kids-or-dogs-car. Five years later I bought a Honda CR-V, which I thought would be my kid and dog car. But I learned quickly why the automobile industry calls a car like the CR-V an "entry level" SUV. You think you have a lot of room...and then you add two kids to the mix. Not just two kids, but two car seats, two sets of books, two sets of toys, two sets of sippy cups, two sets of snack cups, two extra coats...you get the idea. I still can't believe it, but we just grew out of that car. So today our crazy family took over the waiting room of a used car dealership as we wheeled and dealed ourselves into our first minivan. Oh boy. Did I just say "first?" But it's a pretty blue, has plush leather heated seats and LOTS of room. It's hard to admit it, but I LOVE MY MINIVAN! There. I said it.

Roasted Root Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:08:00 +0000

Yummy sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, tender carrots, perfect baby red potatoes, a little garlic and some good olive oil. Need I say more? Oh, you might want to serve some meat with it. I served this along side a roasted pork tenderloin with balsamic vinegar, garlic and rosemary. Hello, Fall!

I hate to admit it, but my kids love to eat this with ketchup.

Roasted Root Vegetables

2 medium sweet potatoes or yams, cut into 1" wedges
1 lb small potatoes, cut in half
2 carrots, pealed and quartered (or use baby carrots like I did)
1 onion sliced
1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread vegetables on a large baking sheet (I like to line mine with parchment paper for easy clean up). Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil over the vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss well and place in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss the vegetables one more time. Bake for another 10 - 12 minutes.

Mommy Confessions: Big Fat F

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

#51 Some days I just feel like I am terrible at my job. At the end of some days I feel like I've failed as a mom, failed as a wife, failed as a homemaker, etc. On these days I can't get anything done and I'm not very nice. When my kids are arguing nonstop, I feel ill-equipped to teach them appropriate ways of dealing with each other. Days like this are usually wrapped up with a tall glass of wine and some stupid TV.

Mommy Confessions: French Fries

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

#50
I'm not sure if I'm sheltering my kids or just teaching them healthy eating habits. We don't go out to eat that often. When we do eat out, we try to choose healthier restaurants. My kids have never seen the inside of a McDonald's. A couple of weeks ago we were at a burger place for a special treat and Peanut asked, "Can I get some of those yellow things that you dip in ketchup?"

Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

I make this recipe for steel-cut oats at least twice a week. It makes just enough for all four of us and the boys love it. Plus, you can't beat a warm, healthy, hearty breakfast that only takes 1 to 2 minutes to prepare! I like to cook the oats with some cinnamon, then we add our own toppings. The kids like frozen blueberries, which also help cool things off for them. Hubby likes raisins & milk and I like brown sugar, milk & blueberries. Make it your own & enjoy!

Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal

1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
pinch of salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

You'll need a slow cooker and a separate bowl with a 5 cup capacity. In a glass or other oven-safe bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. Set bowl into slow cooker. Fill slow cooker crock with water up to line in the oats bowl...almost like a double boiler (see photo below). Put lid on slow cooker and cook on low overnight.

Library Picks: First Human Body Encyclopedia

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:29:00 +0000

photo from barnesandnoble.com

First Human Body Encyclopedia by DK Publishing

As I am sure most almost-four-year-olds are, Peanut is fascinated with anything regarding the human body. When he started asking a lot of questions like, "How come by bones don't fall down when I stand up?" or "What's that funny thing hanging in the back of my mouth for?", I did what I always do...I went to the library. The fabulous children's librarian helped me choose this book. At first I thought it might be a little too graphic for a kid so young, but he loved the detailed drawings and photographs. The book explains everything from what your bones are made of to how your taste buds work. It doesn't make for the best bedtime book, but it is excellent for answering nonstop questions about body parts...in an age appropriate way. We have renewed this book twice and I think we'll be making it a permanent part of our home library.

Mommy Confessions: When Mommy is Sick

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:58:00 +0000

#48 I think I'm in biiiig trouble today. I woke up sick this morning and the kids seem fine. I almost prefer to have them sick and me well! I'm sure I'll spend most of the day saying, "Please calm down. Mommy doesn't feel good." and "Want to watch another DVD?"

#49 My husband gave Peanut bourbon-soaked fruit cake for breakfast this morning. I don't think I need to elaborate.

The Countdown to Four

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

My oldest, Peanut, turns four in October. I am literally counting the days. Not because I'm excited to celebrate the anniversary of his birth or to shower him with gifts. But I'm hoping his fourth birthday will be the day he suddenly decides to chill out! Three-and-a-half has been hard on all of us, Peanut included. Tantrums, attitude, yelling, hitting his brother, talking back, no naps, noise noise noise! I dread meal time. I dread time in the car. I dread any time I have to leave a park, friend's house or school. It seems every attempt to get him to do something we want is met head-on with resistance.

The "terrible twos" were nothing. Two was like a spa day compared to three-and-a-half. I keep hearing from other moms that four is better. "Four gets so much easier." "Four is much more fun." "All of that will get better once he's four."

Please, please, please be true. I need it to be true. Come on, four! Deliver!

The Last Caprese Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Today is the first day of fall & I am afraid this is the last time I'll see a beautiful plate of fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and basil from our garden until next summer. The basil that hasn't gone to seed is starting to turn brown and our tomatoes are starting to crack from the moisture in the morning air. Last week we savored every bit of this yummy caprese salad. So tasty, so simple and so summer!

Caprese Salad

1 large tomato, sliced
1/2 lb fresh mozzarella, sliced
small handful of fresh basil (about 10 leaves)
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper

Arrange tomato slices, mozzarella slices and basil leaves on a plate. I like to layer mine in an alternating pattern. Drizzle with olive oil & season with salt & pepper.

Note: You can also drizzle a little balsamic vinegar on top, but we prefer ours with just some really good olive oil.

Mommy Confessions: Secretly Eating Cookie Dough

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:07:00 +0000

#46 I promised the kids I'd take them to the beach "as soon as I was done with my chores." But right now I'm sitting in the basement eating frozen cookie dough.

#47 I believe I mentioned this about 100 times already. But I CAN NOT WAIT FOR PRESCHOOL TO START!!! 3 more days. 3 more days. 3 more days. 3 more days....

How to Avoid Eating an Entire Batch of Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:40:00 +0000

I love love love chocolate chip cookies. I live for warm, homemade Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookies. I swear it's the best chocolate chip cookie recipe ever. I love love love these cookies so much, that I'll eat the entire batch myself. My husband might get two, my kids a couple. But then I eat my unfair share, plus the raw dough.

A wise woman in my family (Aunt Colleen? Mom? Cousin Kim? Other Cousin Kim?) taught me that if you freeze your dough in little balls A) You can make fresh baked cookies whenever you want them, and B) You will be less likely to eat them all at once.

Here's what you do:

Make your favorite cookie dough recipe as you normally would.
Bake up a small batch, if you'd like.
Put the rest of the dough in the refrigerator to chill for a couple of hours. I just through my KitchenAid bowl right in the frig!
After the dough is firm, use a small ice cream scoop to make portion-sized balls.
Place balls in a freezer bag, making one flat layer.
Store in freezer.*
When you are ready to bake some cookies, just pull out a couple of dough balls and bake them according to the recipe. You may need to add a little more time since the dough is frozen, but follow your recipe first to be safe...then add time as needed.

*I have no idea how long the dough will keep in the freezer...we usually eat ours up in a week or two.

Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

The other day I was watching Tyler's Ultimate on the Food Network. I think he may have been making fried chicken or something, but his oven roasted corn on the cob is the only thing that stuck in my brain. So when my father-in-law brought by some fresh picked homegrown corn last night I knew I had to try Tyler's technique. It's so simple. Try it. You will never boil corn again. You will not even bother grilling corn again. If you are like me, you'll probably find a way to make corn part of every meal for the rest of the season just so you can eat corn this way. I'm totally serious.

Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
recipe by Tyler Florence

4 ears fresh corn (that's it. nothing else.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place corn husks directly on the oven rack and roast for 30 minutes or until corn is soft. Peel down the husks and use as a handle when eating.

Note: I actually put mine on a cookie sheet because I was afraid some of the silk would fall off and burn. I also twisted the husks off when the corn was done...the husk and silk freak my kids out. You can add butter and salt if you really want to, but you won't need it.

Mommy Confessions: Crazy Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:07:00 +0000

#44 I did NOT feel like writing anything this week. Why? Well, Sprout is not sleeping well due to teething, he is suddenly passionate about potty training, we are getting ready for preschool to start, we are still trying to wrap up our front yard landscaping, my mom was visiting, my house is a mess, our kitchen sink started linking, I had play dates scheduled that I forgot about and I haven't been sleeping much either. But here I am typing...well, venting.

#45 Have I mentioned...I CAN'T WAIT FOR PEANUT TO START PRESCHOOL!!! Only 1 week and 3 days.

Potty Training...What's My Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Apparently we are potty training right now. I say apparently, because it is sort of news to me. At 20 months, Sprout started asking to use the potty...and actually used it.

I couldn't wait for Peanut to be potty trained. We bought him his first potty when he was 18 months old, complete with a potty book. We didn't really start to encourage potty training until he was 2.5 years old. We started putting him in pull-ups for daycare, because he would use the potty there. But when I lost my job and became a full-time stay at home mom, he completely regressed. I threw in the towel completely and just put him back in diapers. We had a stack of full sticker charts by then, but it was clear he just wasn't ready. I waited until I knew he was really ready and then just moved him to underwear during the day and pull-ups at night. He was finally ready at 39 months old. One day he was in diapers and the next he was wearing underwear. By day 4 he was leaving the house in underwear. After two weeks he was fully potty trained with the occasional accident at night.

With Peanut being such a "late" potty trainer, imagine my surprise when Sprout wanted to use the potty at 20 months. He asks to use it constantly. He only wants to use the seat ring on the big toilet, not the little potty on the floor (Peanut was the opposite). This morning he woke up, asked me to read him a book & then went straight for the bathroom. Now, most parents would probably be jumping up and down with joy. But I think I'm in denial. I give him a high five, cheer him on...and then put him in a diaper and go on with our day. Am I just trying to keep my toddler a baby? Am I just too lazy to deal with potty training again so soon? Or is it just because it took Peanut so long that I'm hesitant to dive right in?

It's funny to me that I feel as if I've never done this before...even though I just did it 8 months ago.

Our Favorite Macaroni and Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Peanut Sprout) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:26:00 +0000

I originally adapted this recipe from the Pasta & Co. By Request cookbook. We made it for Peanut's first birthday party and it's been a family (and friend) favorite since. You can really use any cheese you like. The original recipe calls for half cheddar and half mozzarella, which makes for a creamier dish and lots of stretchy cheese. But our family prefers sharp cheddar, so that is what we used. You might be tempted to leave the Tabasco out if you are cooking for children, but please put at least a little in...it really brings out the flavor of the cheddar.

Our Favorite Macaroni & Cheese

1 lb sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 lb Colby Jack cheese, grated
3 cups milk (whole, 2%, or 1%)
7 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 lb dried pasta (radiatore or rigatoni work best)
2 tsp Tabasco sauce
1/3 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp paprika
3/4 cup milk (whole, 2%, or 1%)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Combine grated cheddar and Colby jack and set aside.

3. In a small saucepan, heat 3 cups milk until near boiling. Turn off heat.

4. Melt butter in a heavy pan large enough to hold the pasta after it is cooked. (It will take at least a 14" sauté pan or a large casserole that can take direct heat.) When foam from butter recedes, remove from heat, add flour, and mix well. Return to medium-low heat, and, stirring occasionally, simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to cook, but not brown, the flour. Gradually stir in hot milk. Raise heat to medium-high and continue stirring until mixture is smooth and thick, about 3 minutes. Add parmesan cheese. Whisk until smooth. Add Tabasco and pepper and blend.

5. Cook pasta until just underdone. Thoroughly drain pasta and fold it into the mik/parmesan mixture.

6. Layer one-half of the pasta mixture into a 9" x 13" pan. Top with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Top with paprika, sprinkled evenly over the top.

7. If not baking immediately, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze. When ready to bake, drizzle the 3/4 cup milk over the dish. Bake for approximately 1 hour. If frozen, add at least 20 minutes to baking time. The dish should be rusty brown on top. Should it appear to be browning too fast, cover with foil for part of cooking time. Be sure to check for doneness in the very center of the dish.