Now This I Had To Share

I've taken some time off from blogging.  There have been moments in the past few months when I've thought, "I should write about this", but nothing has really compelled me to get back to sharing our story.  Especially during that horribly depressing election.

Until this.

This week's literature story in the 3rd grade is about a tailor and his three sons - two of which want to also become tailors, and one who is a "dreamer" and wants to travel the world.  Ben's teacher asked the kids to write a paragraph about whether or not they'd want to "work aside their parents" and why. 

Here is Ben's rough draft response (translation below):

Translation:

"This is how I won't want to work aside.  I won't want to work aside my mom because it's boring.  All you have to do is sign papers that's boring.  I'd want to work aside my uncle.  His job is at the same place, but he is a lectrician.  He cuts wire and some times he gets candy.  Now this is not boring.  This is how I want to work aside." 

I love it.  And if our son wants to cut wire and eat candy, as long as he is the best wire cutter and candy eater he can be, we fully support his dream. 

Heck, there are many days I'd much rather be a wire cutter and candy eater, too. 

Trade It Tuesday: Ice Cream & Toppings

For Ben's 8th birthday this past weekend he requested ice cream sundaes.  YUM!  Our family loves ice cream (and I love toppings) so we've found the all-natural versions of our favorite flavors.  You'll be happy to know they are relatively easy to find. 

But first, here are the ingredients you can find in Dryers flavor Cookies & Cream:
SKIM MILK, CREAM, SUGAR, CHOCOLATE COOKIES (SUGAR, ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], SOYBEAN OIL, PALM OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, INVERT SUGAR, CORN FLOUR, CHOCOLATE, CORN STARCH, SALT, BAKING SODA, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, WHEY, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SOY LECITHIN), CORN SYRUP, WHEY, MOLASSES, ACACIA GUM, NATURAL FLAVOR, GUAR GUM, ANNATTO COLOR, CAROB BEAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN, XANTHAN GUM

And here's what you can find in Dryers flavor Nestle Butterfinger (sure sounds good until you see this):
SKIM MILK, CREAM, SUGAR, BUTTERFINGER ® PIECES (CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, GROUND ROASTED PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL, COCOA, MOLASSES, ANDD LESS THAN 1% OF WHEY [FROM MILK], CONFECTIONER’S CORN FLAKES, NONFAT MILK, SALT, LACTIC ACID ESTERS, SOY LECITHIN, SOYBEAN OIL, CORN STARCH, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID [TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS], YELLOW 5, RED 40), PEANUT BUTTER SWIRL (PEANUT BUTTER, SUGAR, PEANUT OIL, SALT, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM OIL), CORN SYRUP, WHEY, MOLASSES, ACACIA GUM, NATURAL FLAVOR, GUAR GUM, ANNATTO COLOR, CAROB BEAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN, XANTHAN GUM.

Plus, I've already taught you that the LESS ingredients in food, the BETTER, right?  The list above scares me.

For the past two years, our family has eaten the Breyers All Natural Ice Cream in the black cartons.  However Breyers recently changed its packaging, eliminated the "All Natural" from their products, and no longer cooperates with the Feingold Association with regards to their ingredients list.  They've made it easy to assume that their product is no longer all natural.  Big bummer for us, because you can find Breyers at most stores. 

So now, here's what ice cream we buy (but there are many other brands available, just read your labels):

Fresh & Easy store brand ice cream, many flavors.
I like the small containers because they don't contain corn syrup
like the larger containers do, though all sizes I've researched seem all-natural.

Ben & Jerry's Product Mission:
To make, distribute and sell the finest quality all natural ice cream
and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome,
natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth
 and the Environment.
(We all know B&J's has TONS of flavors!)

Haagen-Dazs All Natural Ice Cream
(many flavors)
Vanilla Flavor Ingredients: Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Egg Yolks, Natural Vanilla.
(Isn't that a nice, short list of ingredients?)

So how about toppings?  I love chocolate syrup!  Here are some options:

Santa Cruz Organic
(other flavors:  chocolate mint, chocolate raspberry)
I've found this at Whole Foods & Bel Air.

Ah!Laska Organic
They also make a great hot cocoa powder.
I usually find this at Whole Foods, Bel Air or Sprouts.

Ben loves to also put the all-natural equivalent to M&M's on top of his ice-cream, and Whole Foods carries their own brand of these great candies. 

I've barely touched the brands available out there for your all-natural ice cream craving.  Please check out the labels next time before you buy this treat, and find a brand that doesn't add artificial flavors or colors (why would vanilla ice cream need yellow food coloring anyway?!?). 

If you want more information on the artificial ingredients commonly used in ice cream, check out these links:
http://editor.nourishedmagazine.com.au/articles/ice-cream-lies
http://feedingabear.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/chewing-gum-ice-cream-and-artificial-flavors/
http://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/03/14/6-scary-things-hiding-your-food

Trade It Tuesday: Salad Dressings

Sexy topic, this week, isn't it?  I mean, who doesn't love a good Buttermilk Ranch or Balsamic Vinaigrette?  Have you ever looked to see what the ingredients are in your favorite brands?  You'd be surprised to know that salad dressings can contain their fair share of artificial ingredients. 

The Hidden Valley Ranch website will show you the ingredients list for their products, for which I applaud them (there's nothing I hate more than a food brand that makes it difficult to figure out the ingredients).  Here is the label for Original Ranch (hint:  always look at the end of the list first, that's usually where the unwanted ingredients are listed). 



See them?  Monosodium Glutamate (MSG - which is natural and "generally recognized as safe" but we don't eat it), and Artificial Flavors.  Lord knows what lurks in that catch-all phrase "Artificial Flavors".  And those little packets of Ranch Mix that you use in recipes?  Well, I'm actually not sure what Carboxymethylcellulos is, but it's in there along with "Artificial Flavors".  YUM!

The good news is that there are a TON of all natural salad dressings available in mainstream stores.  The following are some of our favorites.

Ranch Dressing Mix:  I've never tried any of these but a simple Google search turned up a few options that you can find here or go here to make your own mix.  I've never looked for a mix at Whole Foods but I bet they have one. 

Ranch Dressing:  Our favorite is Marie's Creamy Ranch which is located in the cold section with the produce.  However you can also get Bolthouse Farms (also in the refrigerated section, usually with produce), Newman's Own, Annie's Naturals, or 365 (Whole Foods Brand).  The Bolthouse Farms dressings are made with yogurt and are much lower in calories and fat than regular brands, plus they're delicious.

Italian or Vinaigrette:  My FAVORITE Italian dressing is the Annie's Naturals Light Italian.  I can't find it everywhere, so I make special trips to Sprouts every couple of months and stock up on a few bottles.  It is THAT good. 

I've also enjoyed the 365 (Whole Foods Brand) Balsamic Vinaigrette.  That's what I always use when I eat at their salad bar. . . . every time I'm at Whole Foods.   

Basically, you can find a dressing in any given flavor that is an all-natural version, if you stick to the brands that use quality ingredients.  Click on the links for each of these brands to see what flavors they offer:

Annie's Naturals  and Organics (found at any grocery store and Target)
Newman's Own (also found anywhere, but their website appears to be down right now)
Marie's
Bolthouse Farms Dressings and Vinaigrettes

Are these dressings going to be a little more expensive than the mainstream brands?  Yes, most likely.  And there's a chance they could expire more quickly too, especially Marie's or Bolthouse which you find in the refrigeration section.  Remember that brands use artificial ingredients because they are cheaper and last longer.  But natural certainly tastes better. 

Next time  you buy dressing, swap out your usual brand with one of these all natural choices and see if you notice how much better real food tastes. 

The Magic of Sloppy Joes

Tonight was one of those evenings I always wish for.  I got home around 6:30, about the same time Darrin and the kids got home from Lia's soccer practice.  Darrin and I cooked dinner together while the kids sat quietly at the kitchen table doing their homework.  Then we all ate dinner together and discussed the day's events.  After dinner Darrin went out to mow the front pasture while the kids and I read an A-Z Mystery together.  The kids were so enthralled in the story that they begged for an extra chapter.  Then they brushed their teeth, put their pajamas on, and crawled into bed. 

No arguments, no fits, no yelling about homework.  It was a perfect evening!

I think it had something to do with the homemade Sloppy Joes we had for dinner.  Seriously.  You HAVE to try this recipe.  It rocked and I found it here.  I used all the same ingredients in the proportions it calls for, but I only used ONE pound of ground beef instead of two.  It was the perfect amount for the four of us, and very saucy. 

For the barbecue sauce in the recipe I used Annie's Naturals Organic BBQ Sweet & Spicy Sauce, which you can find anywhere (I bought it at Bel Air).

For the buns I used Fresh & Easy brand.  LOVE that I don't have to go to Whole Foods anymore to buy buns. 

I also used fresh bell peppers that I picked out of our garden tonight. 

Okay, now I'm just bragging.

Of course, I can't eat Sloppy Joes without singing this song (it's actually the only reason I make Sloppy Joes, Slop Sloppy Joes).  I tried to find the version with Chris Farley dancing around like the lunch lady, but couldn't find it on you tube.  This version is pretty good though. 



A Political Junkie Goes to Washington D.C.

Last month Darrin and I travelled to Washington D.C. for an industry association legislative conference.  Normally I'd go by myself, but this was Washington (during an election year!) and I knew I'd want to see the sights with my best friend by my side.  Darrin knew how excited I was about this trip, so he willingly went along.  Big shout out to my parents for taking our kids for a week so we could really enjoy this trip by ourselves!

Highlights of our trip (in no particular order):

1. Arlington National Cemetery, and the tomb of the unknown soldier - breathtaking.

2. Spending a day at the Capital "talking shop" with Congressmen from California.  The Republicans such as Tom McClintock, Dan Lungren, Wally Herger and Jeff Denham welcomed us into their offices and discussed the serious issues facing businesses today.  Other than Jerry McNerny (who probably wished I hadn't come in his office because he didn't like my tough questions regarding his opposition to the Keystone Pipeline), the Democrats didn't bother to meet with us, and instead had their staffers take five minutes in the hallway to discuss our concerns. 

I can't even tell you how much I LOVED talking about the 2012 election with top leaders of the Republican party at the evening social events.  LOVED IT. 

Darrin and I pictured with Congressman Tom McClintock.

3. Darrin sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives with me for two hours while we watched John Boehner (Speaker of the House, R-Ohio), Eric Cantor (R-Virginia), Nancy Pelosi (D - California) and others debate repeal of the health care law.  Darrin turned to me after watching Pelosi speak and said "How can she just stand up there and LIE like that?!?"  

4. John Boehner and Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) speaking before our association on day two of the conference.

5. A cocktail event where I shook hands with Congressman Darrell Issa (R-California) and thanked him for going after President Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder for the screw up known as Operation Fast & Furious. 

6.  The White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the tour of the Capital.

7. The Smithsonian Museum of American History.  Seeing the original Stars & Stripes, the top hat Lincoln wore the night he was assassinated, a war boat from the American Revolution, a picture of my little sister's BFF (superstar soccer player) Megan Rapinoe on the wall of contemporary American history. 

8.  Meeting new friends, drinking ouzo and yelling "OPA" while we talked politics. 

9.  Trying to meet Congressman Paul Ryan, but getting turned away by his staffers because I didn't have an appointment - even after I told them he's been my political crush for at least two years.  Imagine that.

10. Five days, immersed in politics, in the place where it all happens.  Surrounded by the action that I read about on a daily basis.  Feeling like I should be doing something there instead of just watching. 

I will go back to Washington D.C. my friends.  It may be just to take the kids when they are old enough to understand the magnitude of our nation's history.  Or it may be to participate in the politics that I love.  Visiting this place gave me a renewed sense of energy that our amazing country will get through these tough times and come out stronger for it. 

But only if we stay engaged and make our voices heard. 

Pizzeria Peppers

With all the bounty from our garden, I'm constantly looking for recipes that will use our fresh vegetables.  I found one recently that was so easy and so delicious that I wanted to share it with you.  Everyone in my family loved it, even Ben who usually doesn't like bell peppers.  I found the recipe at www.cookinglight.com.

I doubled the recipe below for the four of us, and used about eight small peppers instead of four large ones.  Homegrown peppers are about half the size of the mutant ones from the grocery store.  We did have three peppers left over, which were great for lunch the next day.  The recipe calls for green peppers but we used green and red and they were equally awesome.

Pizzeria Peppers

Ingredients

2 large green bell peppers (about 1 pound)

1/2 pound Italian sausage (no casings, or remove from casings)

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons sliced green olives (I left these out, but would use black olives next time)

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1/4 cup (1 ounce) shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut tops off bell peppers, discard tops, seeds & membranes.  Cook peppers in boiling water 5 minutes, drain and set aside.

Brown sausage, onion and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring to crumble sausage.  Add mushrooms, saute 2 minutes or until tender.  Stir in Parmesan cheese, olives, Italian seasoning, salt and tomato sauce, cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently.

Divide sausage mixture evenly between peppers, and top with mozzarella cheese.  Place stuffed peppers in an 8-inch square baking dish; bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 

***

I served this dish with a side salad of spinach, fresh homegrown heirloom tomatoes, quartered artichoke hearts, chopped mozzarella, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Delicious! 

Food Snobs



Here are the food snobs eating the snow cones handed
out yesterday after gymnastics.  I informed them that
the blue and red liquid was made of sugar and petroleum.
I'm such a kill-joy, aren't I?



Yesterday I was driving Lia and her bestie Ella to their gymnastics class, listening to their conversation along the way:

Lia:  "Ella, look at that picture of Sponge Bob on the McDonald's window!"

Ella:  "Have you ever eaten at McDonalds?"

Lia:  "Yes."

Ella:  "I haven't.  We think that stuff is garbage to us."

Lia:  "ELLA, we only ate there BEFORE we knew it was garbage!"

(Full disclaimer:  I still have a random meal at Micky D's every now and then.  I'm a sucker for their cheeseburgers.  But I NEVER let my kids see me since McDonald's doesn't have much all-natural food to choose from.  It's a great example of what my Mom always told me, "Do as I say, not as I do!".)