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!".)

Trade It Tuesday: Fresh & Easy

A new Fresh & Easy store recently opened up in our area.  Any new grocery store prompts at least one visit because I'm a grocery store junkie.  It's always like a treasure hunt to see what new treats the store may carry that our family can have. 

I was NOT disappointed in Fresh & Easy.  In fact, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Several factors contributed to my joy:

1. I got to cross a picket line to enter the store because the grocer's union is picketing the store's non-union status.  (Seriously, if the employees wanted to be union, wouldn't they have gone to work for a unionized grocery store?!?)
2. All Fresh & Easy store brand products are labeled right on the front if they have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.  
3. They have tons of prepared, chopped or portioned food, and most of it is all-natural - things like hummus, popcorn chicken, pizza, and prepared vegetables or marinated meat.  
4. Even though you check and bag your own groceries, the employees are always there to help.  They also roam the aisles and ask if you've found everything okay.  And they do this with a lot less employees than you find in a typical grocery store, which theoretically means lower prices.
5. Their prices are much lower than Whole Foods Market, although the shopping experience isn't quite the same (I'm a sucker for WFM - that salad bar!!!)
6. They have a rewards program that is easy to use and in just a couple of months has already earned me about $20 or so in cash back.   

A couple of things to warn you about beside the fact that you have to check and bag your own groceries.  First, the store near me only has a liquor license for beer and wine - so no hard alcohol.  Second, you wouldn't go there for ALL your groceries all the time, because they don't have everything a typical grocery store would have.  For example, you can't find all the cuts of meat or fresh spices that you would find at a Bel Air. I go there about every other shopping trip and fill in at Bel Air with the things I can't find at Fresh & Easy.

Here are some examples of the products we buy at Fresh & Easy.  I show a lot of store brand products, but they do carry other brands as well!

These are my kids' FAVORITE granola bar.  They can't get enough of them.

Come on, I don't always cook from scratch - especially on school mornings.

The pint sized F&E ice cream does NOT contain corn syrup, but the larger size does.
Since Breyers is no longer all-natural, this is now our go to ice cream.

Haven't tried this yet, but I thought it would be easy for busy nights
after soccer practice.

I just found these!  We tried a Thai Curry simmer sauce the other night and
really liked it.  I mixed it with chicken, eggplant and green beans
and served it over rice.  They have about eight different flavors. 
Chile Verde is on tonight's menu. . . maybe with that Spanish Rice!

I'm always excited to find all-natural bread in a store.  We like the taste
of the Nature's Pride better (I find it at Bel Air) but this is a close
second and says right on the package that it's preservative free.

As far as I know, the Feingold Association has not yet researched Fresh & Easy products.  So if you are a new Feingold Family, you may want to avoid these products until you are well established on the program.  Not all of the store brand products are preservative free - for example the sausage only says "No Artificial Colors or Flavors".  The absence of "No Preservatives" tells me there are preservatives.  But the labeling is awesome and requires a lot less reading of ingredients!

These stores are popping up all over town.  If you aren't immediately dissuaded by having to bag your own groceries like my Dad is, then I suggest you give this store a try.  You may find a few snacks, cereals, breads or other items that can replace things with artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. 

A (Not So) Quiet Summer

You've probably noticed by now that I took a two month break from blogging.  When my friends asked me about it, I told them, "I don't know, I feel like I just lost my voice".  It's not that I didn't have anything to write about - Lord knows we've been very busy this summer.  For some reason, I just didn't feel like I had it in me to tell you about it. 

But over the last few weeks I'm feeling the urge to start writing again.  I'm home with a sick kid today which tends to be the perfect opportunity to get caught up.  Unfortunately, I realized that I have taken NO photos with my good camera in the past couple of months, and the only pictures I have are iPhone shots.  Oh well, here's how we've spent our summer:

My Little Sister's Bachelorette Party

My sister is ten years younger than me.  The thought of partying with her and her 25 year old friends in San Francisco scared the crap out of me, so I called in an expert - my lifelong bestie, Sarah.  I could be in a padded room and still have fun if Sarah was there.  Plus she brings out the "Catalina Dina" in me, and can help me party like I'm 25 again.  The result?  My little sister's bachelorette party was a blast for us all.  Here's some proof:

You would not believe the amount of STUFF we fit in this vehicle. 
There was hardly room to sit.

Carla's besite, Peter Pecker, and her other friend Rachael.
Ha, see what I did there?

Evening #1, drinks at an Irish Bar.  That's the Ghost Hunter at the bar behind us.
Seriously.  The guy with his back to us.

Day #2, a Giant's game!

Sarah and I came to the costume party dressed as CJ's conscience. 
Oddly enough, we didn't even have to discuss who played the angel
and who played the devil.  I guess if the shoe fits. . . .

Somewhere during the night CJ traded her pink cowgirl hat for a
greasy diner hat.  Sort of goes with the outfit, though.

The beauty of being 35 instead of 25 after a bachelorette party?  Well, certainly not the recovery time, because I guarantee it took me longer.  But the welcome message from my kids that I found waiting for me when I arrived home.

 
Boating & Camping

We haven't done as much this year, mostly due to our busy schedule and finishing the landscape in our backyard (pictures to come soon!).  But we've gotten a couple of trips in - Lake Comanche, New Melones, Silver Lake.  It really doesn't matter where we go, we always have a good time.

In our hand-me-down 1977 Avenger.  Good times.

In our hand-me-down 1969 Gregor, towing a 2011 Raft.

Scott drew the short straw and rode with the kids in the raft,
while Darrin, Kate & I rode in the Gregor with the dog. 

Ben and Nick chilling in our tube at New Melones. 

Another Bachelorette Party

Recently I made a last minute trip to Phoenix for my bestie Morgan's bachelorette party.  Morgan gets married tomorrow!  Woot woot!  The pictures are fuzzy, but so were our brains after all that wine.

Enjoying daiquiris by the pool at The Phoenician. 
It was only 103 degrees by 10am.

Shannon, Morgan and I.  The only picture we remembered to take
all night! 

Between the events above, Darrin and I also took a trip to Washington DC, but I'll make that a separate post.  Otherwise it's been work, backyard, gardening, housekeeping, soccer practice, family dinners, zucchini bread, homemade ice cream, backyard barbecues, swimming in our pool, sangria and rap music with best friends, and more. 

Our summer has been a great one, but the kids are looking forward to starting school, and I'm actually excited for them, too.  This fall brings three weddings, first and third grade, our first sports season with two kids playing, business is picking up, and we have a very important election in November.

I think I got my blogging voice back just in time!