Getting harder

This is when it starts to get tough.

I thought having a baby was a really hard job. Like, needed lots of help and lots of breaks kind of hard.

Lately I've been reminding myself that I've had it really easy. Kids that sleep pretty well, two in diapers, two in cribs, two that do almost exactly what I want them to. Two naps that coincide in the afternoon (sometimes three, depending on how exhausted I am!).

Now we're talking big girl beds, potty training and back to school. Sophie is aware now when someone is being not-so-nice to her, and her feelings and thoughts are advancing at warp speed. She is more conscious of the people around her and changes her behavior accordingly. Questions are no longer appeased with "well, because mommy said so," she wants more information.

Sophie came home from school last week and within 24 hours used these three words for the first time:

Ugly

Fat

Stinky

I know she'll be exposed to way worse than ugly, fat and stinky in her lifetime, but where did that little bubble go that she used to live in? I'd like it back, please. And while we're at it, I'd like to Tucker to keep babbling baby nonsense, worming across the floor and being easily entertained. Mmm-kay?

Flashback Tuesday

Fall, you're making me oh so sentimental.

Remembering when Sophie wore the Janie & Jack pumpkin hat...
October 2010

And now my sweet baby brother TuckTuck...
October 2012

FoxHollow Farm

Oh, fall, how we love you. Fall, football, cool weather, pretty leaves, beer, pumpkin flavored everything... and FoxHollow Farm! Today we took a trip to the farm which is a hop, skip and a jump from our neighborhood. It is a Biodynamic, self-sustaining farm. Incredible food, incredible people and a great fall festival. Here is the photo essay of my kids' adventure.

Love this place.

One hand, two hands, drumming on a drum.

SO happy. Understatement, actually.

Even dad got in on the pumpkin picking.

Holy hay!

Sophie and her school friend, Charlotte.

Mr. Big Stuff pulling up and standing everywhere.
Oh, and don't miss that wisp of hair.
We're very proud.

Sibling love

We stopped to take a few pictures in the pretty leaves before the raking madness began. Love my little blue-eyed beauties. Sophie's teachers were really impressed by her picture taking ability on school picture day. I wonder where she got all that practice :)

Mwah!

Superman.

Ma, check out this hair I've finally started growing!

No words, just love :)

Weekday Chicken Pot Pie

Family recipe hour... This was seriously SO easy and Bryan said it was better than one he frequently orders at a Diner when he travels. And it made the house smell delicious. And it's just yummy and warm and filling and perfect for fall... Make vegetarian with omitting the chicken and using Cream of Celery soup!

Adapted from this recipe.

Chicken Pot Pie


1 large chicken breast, poached and chopped1 small onion, diced2 cups fresh frozen mixed veggies (I used Fresh Frozen from Earth Fare)1 can cream of chicken (or make your own... far more healthy!)1 frozen pie shell1 refrigerated pie dough

Preheat to 400. Sautee onions, add chicken and veggies to warm through, add cream of chicken until warmed through. Pour mixture into pie shell and cover with pie dough. Seal edge and crimp. Bake for 30 minutes, or until browned on top to your liking. Note: if you have chicken cooked ahead of time (we do that often at the beginning of the week for quick dinners), it makes this a really easy prep!

Disclaimer - this has been kid tested, but she hasn't approved. Not yet anyway. We will keep trying!

Bombay Sloppy Joe's

Family recipe hour continues...

Bombay Sloppy Joe's!

This recipe was given to us by our dear friend, Renu. I've been reluctant to share because I didn't write it, I can't improve on it, and it is in no way originally from my kitchen. However, it's too good not to. Bonus: it's vegetarian friendly, too, if you so choose. My only omission from the recipe are the pistachios. Not a fan of pistachios.

Have a hard time finding Garam Masala? You can always make your own via Google, or try your local ethnic or spice store. I was lucky enough that before we left North Carolina, Renu gave me this awesome Indian spice container all stocked up with unique Indian spices!

Kid tested, grand mother approved. Sophie gave it TWO thumbs up this weekend. And my mom no longer thinks all Indian food is made with curry :)

Ingredients

For the Sauce• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger• 2 cloves garlic, minced• 1/2 serrano chile pepper, seeded and minced• 1 teaspoon garam masala• 1/2 teaspoon paprika• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce

For the Sloppy Joe's
• 3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Small handful (about 1/4 cup) raisins
• Small handful (about 1/4 cup) shelled pistachios 
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 large white onion, finely diced
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
• 1 serrano chile pepper (don't chop it unless you like things spicy!)
• Kosher salt
• 1 pound ground turkey OR beef OR veggie crumbles
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• Small handful fresh cilantro (soft stems included)
• 4 sesame buns

Directions

Make the sauce: Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic and chile pepper and cook until the ginger and garlic brown a little, about 1 minute. Add the garam masala and paprika and cook 30 seconds. Add the tomato sauce and 1 cup water, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes. 

Meanwhile, prepare the sloppy joes: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the raisins and pistachios and cook, stirring occasionally, until the raisins swell up and the pistachios toast slightly, about 1 minute. Remove from the skillet and set aside. 

Return the skillet to medium heat and add the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add the cumin seeds and let sizzle about 10 seconds, then add the onion and bell pepper and cook until softened and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the chile pepper and cook 2 more minutes, seasoning with salt. Add the turkey, breaking up the big lumps, and cook until opaque, about 5 minutes. 

Add the prepared sauce to the turkey-and-onion mixture in the skillet. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the mixture thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
Remove the whole chile pepper (unless you want to eat it, like my dad does!) and stir in the honey, half-and-half, raisins and pistachios. Taste for seasoning. Stir in the cilantro right before serving.
Toast the buns and fill with the sloppy joe mixture.

Granola

Alternatively, Grammalla (in Sophie-speak). Or, You Had Me At "I need that recipe"

Is this my foray back into the blogosphere? Thank you to anyone and everyone who asked for the granola recipe so that I would actually sit down and write in my children's blog/journal/baby book/family recipe holder... I never believed my friend Leigh who told me that I might not have as much time to write once baby number two came around. Or, it could be those eight thousand other things I'm trying to do at one time.

I digress, and here is your recipe, adapted from my first take at Granola bars here, which was adapted from this recipe, but oh-so-different-and-totally-way-better. Because when you've made 30 batches, you kind of nail it down.

Granola Bars

The base:
4 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt (optional, but amazing if you like salty/sweet)
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup coconut oil (I like to barely warm it in the microwave so that it mixes better)
1/2 cup honey (my SIL says to use the local/expensive stuff!)
2 tablespoons ground flax*

The additions, per your taste
1 cup chocolate chips
6 dried apricots, chopped
12 dried cherries, chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped raw almonds

I mix the dry ingredients separate from the wet and then combine them all together. Pour onto parchment lined baking sheet. It will look too dry, but I promise it is going to work. Pat it down, maybe 1/2in in height and then make a rectangle shape (less waste when you go to cut your bars out). I like to use a rubber spatula because the granola is less likely to stick to it as you form your rectangle.

Bake in a 325 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove and let completely cool before cutting. I make rectangular bars that are smaller than your typical granola bar, because I can guarantee you I'm going to eat more than one a day, and if they're smaller than normal I don't feel as guilty :)

*Flax seeds are an awesome source of Omega 3's - among other things. We don't eat a ton of fish as we live in Kentucky, and, well, I like my Florida seafood. SO, Omega 3's are something we try to supplement through fish oil and flax seeds. However, when heated, flax loses it's Omega 3's. Dammit, right?! They are still an excellent source for fiber and protein, and, why not?

Also, original recipe had Vanilla Extract in it. New recipe does not ever since I read that "Natural Vanilla Flavoring" includes something extracted from a chemical derived from the anal glands of beavers. Yeah. Gross.