Favorite of the Day: Baby Babble

Some of Gemma's favorite phrases:

Wambahammwaaam

Awah bawah

Daaaaaaabwah

Mmmmmmmwaaaaaaa

Dah dah dah dah dah dah

Waaah da

Nnnnnnnnn haa

Mwahdadaaaaaammm

It makes the day seem so much more cheerful when I can chat with my baby. Maybe none of it makes sense to us yet, but I just love to listen to her talk. And all day long it is so amusing and comforting to have her little voice fill up the whole room. One thing is for sure, this is one vocal little baby! Heaven help me when she actually starts speaking English! :)

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Here too! Thank you :)

Favorite of the Day: Bathtime!

You know what I'm talkin' about people. Little baby butts. Rubber duckies. Splishes. Splashes. There's nothing quite like it. 

There are three things Gemma loves to do in the bath.

1. Attempting to eat Mr. Duckie.

2. Attempting to eat her own foot.

3. Splishing. And Splashing.

Yes, bathtime with the little Gem is totally my favorite. We sing songs, splash around, get all bubbly and squeaky clean! Sometimes getting out of the bath isn't so fun... no one like the freezing cold air after a nice warm bath! But hey, we're not talkin' about after-bathtime, we're talking about the favorite of the day:

Bathtime!

Two Inspiring Tidbits

Whenever I find great things in my travels through the world wide web, I try to share them with others. A friend of mine shared this with me, and I'm happy to pass it along!

It's an article from one of my favorite websites (I have the link on the side). Anyway, here it is:

A Baby's Best Start

The other thing I wanted to share is a song. I was listening to my favorite station on Pandora yesterday, and a new Regina Spektor song I had never heard came on. I have always been a fan of hers, and I am so impressed with her candor and courage in writing this song. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Laughing With

Lyrics:

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say, "We've got some bad new, sir"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

Recipe for a 5 Month Old Baby Gemma

I live with an amazing little girl named Gemma Therese. 

She's five months old, smart, chubby, happy, and she is SO cool. I have hoards of people constantly crowding around me, asking me, "CA, how can I get a baby like that?" (This mostly only happens in my head, but still, even imaginary fans deserve answers!) So I say to them, read my blog, I'll post the recipe soon. It's so simple, anyone can do it! So. Here's the recipe:

 Start with one fresh-from-the-oven newborn baby born on August 13th, 2010. Name her Gemma Therese. Then, each day, for five months:
- Give plenty of mother's milk, straight from the source
- Shower with a near-constant stream of hugs and kisses
- Keep clean with regular diaper changes and baths
- Make time every day for song singing, story telling, belly tickling, face making, and other entertaining frivolities
- Introduce baby to and see that she has plenty of playtime with friends, especially with Jesus

Carry out these activities with great care and dedication, ensuring it is all done in an environment of endless love, happy laughter, excellent music, and that classic Californian "chill" factor. (I know, she lives in Ohio, but she's genetically 50% Californian. Roots are important, people.)

And there ya have it, folks. My secret Gemma recipe, now yours to enjoy :)

Black Bean Hummus

Ok, people. This hummus is to DIE FOR! I brought it over to a friend's house recently, and it was gone in 5 minutes. Now, I have made MANY a hummus in my day. The classic garbanzo bean varieties, other bean varieties, super spicy, super mild, etc. This recipe is a nice crowd-pleaser. I love the flavor of black beans, plus it's something different than what you see in the store.

I also really enjoy experimenting with hummus. Once I've got a good base to work with, I just start adding stuff, and coming up with new varieties! (This is why I'm a cook, not a baker. I cannot follow directions very well. I just use them as a loose guideline... which doesn't work very well with baking!)

Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this recipe, and then make it your own! Once you make a good hummus or two from scratch, you can say goodbye to the days of the store-bought stuff!


Ingredients:
1 16oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tbs tahini
2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4-1/3 cup olive oil
turmeric to taste
chili powder to taste
crushed black pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine beans, tahini, garlic, salt, and half of your olive oil in a food processor. Pulse about ten times to get it going. Add your spices, as much as you like, and pulse another ten times. Add the rest of your olive oil (and you may need extra, so have it handy), and run the processor until you have a smooth puree.
Chill and serve with pita, crackers, and/or fresh veggies.

Notes:
With hummus, the ingredients have lots of shimmy room. The tahini is a sesame seed puree. If you like a nutty flavor, go a little heavy-handed, if not, one tablespoon will due. If you don't have tahini, or don't like it, you can always make an alternative nut puree ahead of time. Pine nuts are my favorite alternative.
The salt is a necessary ingredient (trust me, I've made hummus without it, and it really suffered for it), but again, you can go a little light or heavy-handed depending on your preference.
I do recommend finely chopping your garlic beforehand, that way you don't get anybody biting into a huge chunk that didn't get processed well. Remember, those beans really crowd the blades.
I like a spicy hummus (well, spicy anything, really), so I add lots of turmeric, chili powder, and black pepper, but again, this is your dish. Play around with flavors! Add different spices and see what you like.
Annnnnd, the olive oil. Gotta be careful here. If you use too little, you have a very stiff hummus, and if you use too much, it's runny and the olive oil flavor is too strong. I'd say start with about a quarter cup and work your way up until you reach the consistency that satisfies you. If you find your hummus to still be stiff, add some water! If you used canned beans, reserved starch water from the can works best. If not, regular water works fine too! Again, start slow and add as needed.
Most people prefer a chilled hummus, so pop it in the fridge for about an hour before serving. Or don't. I think it tastes great at room temp as well!

My Top Words of 2010

Something random I did on Facebook but didn't bother to post there. I honestly love this list, and the order it's in! Totally captures me :)

My Top Words of 2010

Here are top words from my Facebook status messages!

1:Love - used 16 times

2:Baby - used 14 times

3:Today - used 13 times

4:Happy - used 11 times

5:Day - used 8 times

6:Life - used 8 times

7:Gemma - used 8 times

8:Com - used 7 times

9:Blogspot - used 6 times

10:Time - used 6 times

Chores with a Baby: Sorting Laundry

Okay Gemma...

I love you so much and I want to play with you too! But I have lots to do today, so here, play with some toys. ::Lays Gemma on back with various toys surrounding her. Walks to other side of the room to start sorting laundry.::

::Looks back over at Gemma. She has rolled over and somehow found an electrical cord to play with, ignoring all the soft, intricate, colorful toys specifically designed to stimulate the minds of infants.::

::Runs over and removes cord completely from Gemma's vicinity. Baby commences crying.::

Gemma... it's okay! That's not a toy though, that's not a baby Gemma toy. Here, play with this one!

::Pushes belly of a seahorse which then lights up and starts playing soft music. Gemma reaches for it and grabs on. Success. Back to the laundry sorting.::

::Gemma becomes bored almost instantly and begins fussing.::

::Picks baby up and sets on lap while continuing the sorting. Baby squirms out of lap. Lays baby back down on blanket to play. Continues the sorting. Moment of eery silence followed by ear-splitting scream of protest.::

Okay, okayyyy sweet-pea! I know you don't want to be set down, I'm sorry! ::Runs over and picks Gemma back up and rocks for a few minutes to calm down. Finishes sorting with one hand.:: 

::Takes baby into living room to nurse before even attempting to go to the laundry room. Writes blog post to chronicle the amazingly entertaining details of this weeks edition of Chores with a Baby.::

Salsa Chicken with Spicy Beans & Lentils

I love this recipe because there are so many ways to mix it up! I swear, we have some variation of this meal once a week. My original version of this meal is the Salsa Chicken over a bed of rice, smothered in cheddar cheese. IIIII know! Delicious. However, it being the new year and all, I decided to cut back on the cheese a bit. I also substituted lentils for the rice, because lentils are supposed to be a symbol of prosperity in the new year, and it's traditional to cook/eat lots of lentils in the month of January!

This recipe serves two. So. Here goes:


Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
3/4 cup salsa (your favorite store-bought or even better, homemade!!)
2 tbs shredded cheddar cheese
1 avocado
1 small onion
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup lentils
2 cups water
1/2 cup beans (kidney, black, pinto, you decide)
3ish tbs coconut oil
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp turmeric (optional)
A few shakes of chili powder or cayenne pepper (depending on how spicy you like it)
salt & pepper to taste


Directions:
Start with the lentils right away. In a small pot, combine your water and lentils and bring to a rolling boil. Pop a lid on it, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes or until tender. While that's a'boilin, dice up your onion and heat a cast iron skillet up on medium heat. Drop in a tablespoon of coconut oil. Once that's hot, toss in your onions and garlic, add a bit of S&P (salt and pepper) and saute them until just tender. Take them out of the skillet, and set aside. Turn your oven on and set to 350 degrees.

With your pan still hot, drop in about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Sprinkle one side of your chicken breasts with some S&P and place them into the pan seasoned side down once the oil is hot. Now season the other side with some S&P. (I also add a few dashes of chili powder at this point, but that's optional.) You'll want to let these sit for about 3-5 minutes on each side, until you get a nice golden color going on. Once they are golden on each side, put them into a lightly oiled baking pan, and transfer them into the oven to finish cooking all the way through, another 5-10 minutes depending on how thick they are.

At this point, your lentils should be ready. Drain any excess water. Add the sauteed garlic & onions from earlier, beans, 1/4 cup of salsa, and all your spices. Mix well. (It will smell AMAZING.) Put the lid back on, but keep the pot off the heat.

Slice up your avocado and shred up your cheese if it isn't already. When the chicken is cooked all the way through, take them out of the oven and turn it off. Then pour 1/2 cup of the salsa all over the top of them, and sprinkle the cheese on top of that. Pop them back into the warm oven for about a minute or so, just to melt the cheese.

And now we plate. Lay down a nice pile of the beans and lentils off to one side of the plate. Lay down your chicken on the other side of the plate, and top with avocado slices.

Sooooo good!

Notes:
The lentils. Check which kind you are getting. I use lentils that don't require pre-soaking, but many do! If those are the kind you have, you'll have to prep them ahead of time.

The skillet. You definitely don't need a cast iron one, I just like them. I think they cook food more evenly.

The chicken. If you can, fresh, local organic chicken is the way to go! If not, some nice fresh chicken from the butcher is good too. You can also use frozen chicken breasts, as long as they are completely thawed before you start this meal. You don't want them super cold either, that way they cook evenly all the way through.

The spices. You can really do what you want here. If you don't have turmeric, I would first suggest getting some. It. Is. So. Good. And so good for you! (Turmeric has been called one of nature’s most powerful healers. It has great anti-inflammatory properties which can address symptoms of arthritis. It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It is said to be a digestive aid that will settle the stomach. Turmeric contains a rich source of antioxidants that help fight against free radicals. It also is said to have anti-platelet properties that help protect against strokes and heart attacks. Studies have also shown that it has a beneficial effect on the liver.) However, if you do not have it, just use some more cumin. As for the heat, I like my food super spicy, so I use a bunch of cayenne and chili powder. You know your palette best. Be modest at first, and just add what you like; know that you can always add more spice later.

The cheese. If you're lactose intolerant or cutting calories even more, just omit the cheese. With everything else going on in this dish, you really won't miss it.

The avocado. Make sure you pick up a nice, ripe avocado. The best way to test this is to hold the avocado in your hand and feel around the stem area with your thumb. If it's soft up there, it's good to go. (Not too soft though, otherwise it'll just turn into mush... which honestly will still taste amazing, just won't be as pretty).

So there you have it. This meal is nutritious, figure-friendly, and to-die-for delicious. Hope you enjoy it!

Delicious Homemade Peanut Butter

Wow. This is absolutely incredible! So cheap. So easy. So delicious.
Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:
4 cups unsalted dry roasted peanuts
2 tbs coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
2-4 tsp honey
--have some extra oil on hand as well

Directions:
 Pour the peanuts and oil into your food processor. Start with a slow-speed blend and then work your way up to a liquefy/puree setting. Let it run until desired texture. Add extra oil as you need it, to yield a smoother texture. Lastly, add the salt and honey into the processor and give it a quick blend on a slow-speed setting (20-30 seconds should do it).
Transfer your peanut butter into an old container or other container with a tight lid. Should be refrigerated (due to the lack of preservatives) and will last about 2 weeks.

Notes:
You can buy the peanuts already roasted, or roast them yourselves. Be sure not to add any salt if you do roast them yourself.
Coconut oil is my preferred choice, but most oils will work - peanut oil, grapeseed oil, or a mild olive oil (NOT extra virgin- much too strong tasting) are good choices. If you do choose coconut oil, soften it up in the microwave first. Over time, and with many nut butters made in our house, we have found that if we want a smoother, more store-bought texture, we have to add more oil to the mixture. 
You may also use another type of sweetener if you desire. Agave nectar is another great option. Or, if you prefer, regular granulated sugar will do the trick as well.

Also, if you have a smaller food processor, like I do, you may only be able to fit 2 cups of peanuts in at a time. If so, simply half the recipe and repeat.

Health Kick!

"Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food."

-Hippocrates

I've been hearing about the benefits of a raw food diet and superfoods for quite awhile now. A few months ago, the hubby and I watched a documentary called Food Matters. It's a fantastic documentary if you're at all interested. I absolutely recommend it! We watched it again tonight, and I'm feeling super motivated.

Now, making a switch overnight to an all-natural, all organic, all raw, superfood rich diet is simply not going to happen. However, we are ready to start taking some small steps every week to add more good foods into our diet, and take the bad food out! 

This week, we added organic coconut oil and homemade peanut butter!! I could not believe how insanely cheap and easy it was to make and how INSANELY delicious it is.
I. Will. Never. Go. Back.

Anyway, I'll be adding a segment to my blog soon specifically for recipes and kitchen creations, so I'll be sure to include the homemade peanut butter into it. You can look forward to it, and in the meantime, go rent yourself a copy of Food Matters and enjoy!

Resolutions.

Happy 2011, people!!!
 

 

Honestly, I cannot believe that's what year it is! It sounds so... futuristic or something. Regardless, here we are. Last year officially over, and ready to take on a new one. I really love the positive boost everyone gets at the new year. We all take a sprint down the diving board and wildly spring ourselves into the new year with confidence and motivation. Of course, everyone is coming up with their new year's resolutions and hoping to stick with them for longer than a month. Or a week. Or a day.

I was trying to come up with my NYR (new year's res.) and I couldn't just pick one. There are so many things I feel I need to improve upon... I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing! So anyway, instead of saying my NYR is to .... [insert a huge list of at least ten activities].... I narrowed it down, and cleverly compiled it all into ONE resolution:

Make a schedule, and stick to it.

I've never been the most organized person, and certainly could never brag about my time management skills, so I figured having a schedule is something I could really benefit from. And on this schedule, I will include all the things I had in mind for NYRs. Things like working out regularly, assigning a certain day to do certain chores, allotting time each day for quiet prayer, posting a new blog every Monday and Thursday, etc. etc.
What are your NYRs? I love hearing unique and challenging ideas. 

As for me, before we get any further into this new year, I'm going to go make that schedule! As a final note, Gemma went out of 2010 with a BANG. On New Year's Eve, surrounded by and with the encouragement of many friends, my little baby finally rolled over back to belly!!! She had rolled over belly to back two weeks before and had been trying SO hard for those following weeks to get back to belly. It was so exciting for me to finally see her do it, because I know how hard she had been working to do figure it out. I was such a proud mama. The best part was, she only had to do it once to understand the whole thing, and then she did it over and over again after that!

I'm so looking forward to 2011, and all the many, many milestones Gemma will reach! So, cheers to a fantastic 2010, and here's to an even better 2011!