1/2 lb. Bulk Italian Sausage
1 Mayan (Sweet) Onion, sliced
6-10 Garlic Cloves, sliced
1 Large Can Diced Tomatoes
1 tsp. Basil
2-3 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 lb. Whole Wheat Pasta
Olive Oil
Salt
Parmesan Cheese
Cook pasta in boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan and brown sausage. Add onions and cook until they begin to color (about 5 minutes). Add garlic, tomatoes, basil, and red pepper. Cook 10 minutes until sauce has been reduced by 1/3. Cover and cook 5 minutes more until onions are soft. Season to taste with salt. Serve sauce over pasta with parmesan cheese.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Leonidas Update - 4 month dr. appointment
Leonidas had his four-month appointment today. He is 25 1/4 inches long and weighs 20 lbs. 7 oz.! :O Yes, he's a mighty boy. He is just above the 75th percentile for height and head circumference and WAY above the charts for weight. The Dr. loved the idea of baby-led-weaning and said she was going to suggest it to some of her patients. She advised continuing to exclusively breast-feed until 6 months, but that offering him food the way I have been is great.
He got two shots today and didn't even cry at all for the first one and cried for about 3 seconds after the second one. What a brave kid! He is in perfect health and doing just peachy :) Here's to fat and healthy children!
He got two shots today and didn't even cry at all for the first one and cried for about 3 seconds after the second one. What a brave kid! He is in perfect health and doing just peachy :) Here's to fat and healthy children!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Onions
1 Whole chicken
4-5 garlic cloves
1 large Mayan onion, peeled and quartered
8 medium potatoes, quartered, peel left on
3 cups water
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
Salt and Pepper to taste
Mince garlic cloves. Clean chicken and loosen skin on breast and legs. Stuff garlic under skin and distribute evenly. Rub entire chicken with butter and place in roasting pan. Surround with potatoes and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Pour water into pan and roast at 400 degrees for 1 hour.
4-5 garlic cloves
1 large Mayan onion, peeled and quartered
8 medium potatoes, quartered, peel left on
3 cups water
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
Salt and Pepper to taste
Mince garlic cloves. Clean chicken and loosen skin on breast and legs. Stuff garlic under skin and distribute evenly. Rub entire chicken with butter and place in roasting pan. Surround with potatoes and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Pour water into pan and roast at 400 degrees for 1 hour.
Roasted Sweet Onion Potato Salad
I used the left-overs from my roasted chicken with potatoes and onions the night before. If you want to make it without left-overs, just roast quartered potatoes and onions at 400 degrees for 1 hour.
4 roasted potatoes, diced
1 roasted Mayan onion, quartered
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 green onions, diced
1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
Put the roasted onion in a food processor, along with the vinegar, olive oil, and brown sugar. Process until smooth. Pour over diced potatoes and green onions. Add salt and pepper. Chill at least 1 hour.
4 roasted potatoes, diced
1 roasted Mayan onion, quartered
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 green onions, diced
1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
Put the roasted onion in a food processor, along with the vinegar, olive oil, and brown sugar. Process until smooth. Pour over diced potatoes and green onions. Add salt and pepper. Chill at least 1 hour.
Left-Over Chicken Salad
Ok, so last night I made roasted chicken with potatoes and onions, so this is what to do with the left-overs.
1/2 roasted chicken
7-10 green grapes, cut in half
1/2 granny smith apple, diced
1 green onion, diced
1/4 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
Dash of red wine vinegar
Salt
Pepper
Take the chicken off the bone and dice. Combine with the grapes, apple, and onion. Add mayonnaise (the amount is up to you, depending on how much mayo you like), vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least an hour, and serve on whole wheat rolls.
1/2 roasted chicken
7-10 green grapes, cut in half
1/2 granny smith apple, diced
1 green onion, diced
1/4 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
Dash of red wine vinegar
Salt
Pepper
Take the chicken off the bone and dice. Combine with the grapes, apple, and onion. Add mayonnaise (the amount is up to you, depending on how much mayo you like), vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least an hour, and serve on whole wheat rolls.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tzatziki Sauce
2 cups of yogurt
2 cucumbers
1 garlic clove
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar or lemon juice
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 Tbsp. dill
Salt
Strain the yogurt through a double thickness of cheesecloth for at least 2 hours. Peel, seed, and dice the cucumbers, sprinkle with salt, and let sit in a colander to drain while the yogurt is draining. Put cucumbers, garlic, yogurt, vinegar, oil, and dill in a food processor or food chopper and process until well combined. Add salt to taste.
2 cucumbers
1 garlic clove
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar or lemon juice
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 Tbsp. dill
Salt
Strain the yogurt through a double thickness of cheesecloth for at least 2 hours. Peel, seed, and dice the cucumbers, sprinkle with salt, and let sit in a colander to drain while the yogurt is draining. Put cucumbers, garlic, yogurt, vinegar, oil, and dill in a food processor or food chopper and process until well combined. Add salt to taste.
EC - 18 week update
I think we're nearing the end of our potty strike. Supposedly they go through those when they are about to reach a big milestone, and since Leo sat up last week, I guess they were right. We only had 2 misses today, so I'm pretty happy about that. He's actually been signaling again, and I've been paying attention a lot more as well. It seems easier when we're out and about - not sure why. Maybe it's because I don't want to look like an idiot in front of strangers, lol! He's even been going for quite long car rides (30+ minutes) without wetting, so maybe his bladder's growing a bit. I sure hope so! Taking him to the potty 20+ times a day can get a little old. I'm just glad we're communicating again.
Leonidas Update - 18 weeks
New this week:
Sitting up! - Leonidas can now sit up all by himself :) He still falls sometimes, especially when he's trying to reach for something, but he's pretty much got the hang of it.
Pushing up on all fours - He's mastered this a handful of times, then face-plants into the floor :/ But it's a start...
Driving - yeah right. But he can reach the floor now in his walker (that looks like a car) and he pushes himself up in it. He hasn't figured out how to make it move yet, but he's trying.
And he found his tongue. He's been sticking it out at us all week.
Sitting up! - Leonidas can now sit up all by himself :) He still falls sometimes, especially when he's trying to reach for something, but he's pretty much got the hang of it.
Pushing up on all fours - He's mastered this a handful of times, then face-plants into the floor :/ But it's a start...
Driving - yeah right. But he can reach the floor now in his walker (that looks like a car) and he pushes himself up in it. He hasn't figured out how to make it move yet, but he's trying.
And he found his tongue. He's been sticking it out at us all week.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Vegetable Lasagne
One box of whole wheat lasagne noodles
1 eggplant
1 zucchini
8 medium-sized mushrooms
1 Mayan (sweet) onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 15-oz. container of ricotta cheese
1 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
Salt
Pepper
Basil
Olive Oil
13 X 9 inch baking pan
Cook the noodles until done, drain, and lay flat on pieces of foil so they don't stick together.
Cut the zucchini lengthwise in half, then cut in long, lengthwise slices. Do the same with the eggplant. Peel and slice the onion and slice the garlic. Slice the mushrooms. Place the zucchini in one layer on a microwave-safe plate (in batches) and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Do the same with the eggplant and onion, cooking the onion for 5 minutes instead of 3. Set aside with the mushrooms and garlic for assembling the lasagne.
To make the sauce, melt the butter over low heat until melted. Do not disturb the butter while it's melting or it will begin sizzling and might burn. Add the flour and whisk. Cook, whisking occasionally, over low heat for 5 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Stir in 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
To assemble: Grease bottom of pan with olive oil. Lay 6 lasagne noodles to cover bottom. Spread 1/2 of the ricotta cheese over the noodles. Layer 1/2 of the eggplant, 1/2 of the zucchini, 1/2 of the onions, 1/2 of the mushrooms, and 1/2 of the garlic. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the mozzarella and pour over 1/3 of the sauce. Repeat to make another layer. End with one layer of noodles, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and the other 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with basil, cover with foil, and bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour, uncovering during the last 15 minutes to brown.
This is what's for dinner tonight. Don't try it until I've had a chance to tell you how it turned out, haha! It was actually supposed to have spinach in it as well, but I forgot to put it in. It would probably be a lot better with it, though. I'm seriously, like, really mad at myself for that...
1 eggplant
1 zucchini
8 medium-sized mushrooms
1 Mayan (sweet) onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 15-oz. container of ricotta cheese
1 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
Salt
Pepper
Basil
Olive Oil
13 X 9 inch baking pan
Cook the noodles until done, drain, and lay flat on pieces of foil so they don't stick together.
Cut the zucchini lengthwise in half, then cut in long, lengthwise slices. Do the same with the eggplant. Peel and slice the onion and slice the garlic. Slice the mushrooms. Place the zucchini in one layer on a microwave-safe plate (in batches) and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Do the same with the eggplant and onion, cooking the onion for 5 minutes instead of 3. Set aside with the mushrooms and garlic for assembling the lasagne.
To make the sauce, melt the butter over low heat until melted. Do not disturb the butter while it's melting or it will begin sizzling and might burn. Add the flour and whisk. Cook, whisking occasionally, over low heat for 5 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Stir in 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
To assemble: Grease bottom of pan with olive oil. Lay 6 lasagne noodles to cover bottom. Spread 1/2 of the ricotta cheese over the noodles. Layer 1/2 of the eggplant, 1/2 of the zucchini, 1/2 of the onions, 1/2 of the mushrooms, and 1/2 of the garlic. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the mozzarella and pour over 1/3 of the sauce. Repeat to make another layer. End with one layer of noodles, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and the other 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with basil, cover with foil, and bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour, uncovering during the last 15 minutes to brown.
This is what's for dinner tonight. Don't try it until I've had a chance to tell you how it turned out, haha! It was actually supposed to have spinach in it as well, but I forgot to put it in. It would probably be a lot better with it, though. I'm seriously, like, really mad at myself for that...
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Leonidas update - milestones and such
New this week:
Rolling over! Leo finally rolled over from his back to his tummy this week. He thinks it's a great game now, and since he hates to be on his back, he does it all day long. He still hasn't mastered going from tummy to back yet. I think he's either too fat or he just likes being on his tummy too much!
Crawling - ok, well not yet. But he's creeping, anyway. He gets on his tummy and inches forward, sometimes with his butt straight up in the air, which is hilarious. He can't get on his hands and knees yet, but he's almost pushed himself up there on occasion, so I don't think it will be long. For now, he's got this sort of hopping-army-crawl going on. He's moving, but it's slow-going, and he gets so frustrated with himself!
New food adventures: We began offering solid foods during the last few weeks. He's been given bread, french fries, chicken nuggets, and broccoli. Mostly he just takes it and doesn't know what to do with it, but this week he's figuring it out. He sucked the life out of a french fry a few days ago and chewed the hell out of some broccoli last weekend. He LOVES the broccoli (good boy!) and is moderately impressed with chicken nuggets.
Sitting on the potty by himself - he can now sit there for quite some time without assistance. I still have to be there though because he can't catch himself if he goes backward. Earlier this week I let him go for a second and he ended up flipping over backwards with the potty landing on top of him. He was not amused.
"All Done" - As many of you may or may not know, I'm not big on baby sign language. There are conflicting reports about whether it enhances or delays speech, so until I find more convincing evidence, it's just not my thing. I am, however, attempting to show him the sign for "potty" (I think it's actually "toilet") and "all done." He began signing potty a week or so ago, although not consistently, and this week he did "all done" a few times. Since he's taken to blowing raspberries in an attempt to communicate his elimination needs, I figured I'd help him out by giving him more specific gestures so I know the difference between "I'm playing" and "I have to pee."
"Pfthththth" - oh yeah, and he found his lips. My whole house is now covered in baby spit. Lovely.
Join us next week for (hopefully) more fascinating updates!
Rolling over! Leo finally rolled over from his back to his tummy this week. He thinks it's a great game now, and since he hates to be on his back, he does it all day long. He still hasn't mastered going from tummy to back yet. I think he's either too fat or he just likes being on his tummy too much!
Crawling - ok, well not yet. But he's creeping, anyway. He gets on his tummy and inches forward, sometimes with his butt straight up in the air, which is hilarious. He can't get on his hands and knees yet, but he's almost pushed himself up there on occasion, so I don't think it will be long. For now, he's got this sort of hopping-army-crawl going on. He's moving, but it's slow-going, and he gets so frustrated with himself!
New food adventures: We began offering solid foods during the last few weeks. He's been given bread, french fries, chicken nuggets, and broccoli. Mostly he just takes it and doesn't know what to do with it, but this week he's figuring it out. He sucked the life out of a french fry a few days ago and chewed the hell out of some broccoli last weekend. He LOVES the broccoli (good boy!) and is moderately impressed with chicken nuggets.
Sitting on the potty by himself - he can now sit there for quite some time without assistance. I still have to be there though because he can't catch himself if he goes backward. Earlier this week I let him go for a second and he ended up flipping over backwards with the potty landing on top of him. He was not amused.
"All Done" - As many of you may or may not know, I'm not big on baby sign language. There are conflicting reports about whether it enhances or delays speech, so until I find more convincing evidence, it's just not my thing. I am, however, attempting to show him the sign for "potty" (I think it's actually "toilet") and "all done." He began signing potty a week or so ago, although not consistently, and this week he did "all done" a few times. Since he's taken to blowing raspberries in an attempt to communicate his elimination needs, I figured I'd help him out by giving him more specific gestures so I know the difference between "I'm playing" and "I have to pee."
"Pfthththth" - oh yeah, and he found his lips. My whole house is now covered in baby spit. Lovely.
Join us next week for (hopefully) more fascinating updates!
EC - 16 week update
Ok, so a little late, but here it is. EC adventures - not as good as last week started out, I must admit. We have anywhere between 2 and 10 misses per day. I started keeping track of when he goes. It turns out he pees 20-24 times a day, and poops 15-20 times a day! So I guess half a dozen "misses" isn't really all that bad. He is seriously on the potty every 15-30 minutes when he is awake. He usually sleeps through a 1-3 hour nap without wetting, so that's good. He's only woken up wet a handful of times, and that's when he woke up slightly, peed, and went back to sleep, so at least he's not actually going in his sleep. I really need to get a waterproof pad though. I put him on a fleece blanket, which works really well - when he stays on it. I am so tired of washing my sheets, lol. But it beats washing diapers for sure! Now if only we could get those teeth to finish coming in - maybe we could go back to normal...
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