Reading: The Fault in Our Stars (finished it, liked it, definitely a downer) and Impact My Life: Biblical Mentoring Simplified (still reading it, loving it, recommend!)

Listening to: Ho Hey on the Nashville soundtrack. (It’s been on repeat for two weeks straight.)

Cooking: Shauna’s risotto on repeat and scrambled eggs with pesto. (I’m still on an egg kick!)

Baking: Trader Joe’s boxed coffee cake. It’s good y’all! 

Watching:  Nothing besides a few regular TV shows on Hulu. I’m saving up my Netflix queue for when the baby comes. The next 2+ months are for reading and writing.

Wearing: Lots of maxi skirts- getting my wear on before heat makes them not as comfy!

Working hard on:  Little home projects, budgeting (and sticking to our budget!), and intentional time spent walking and exercising.

Thankful for:  Our time away last week in New Orleans, and a mother-in-law who left dinner in the fridge to heat up.

Anticipating:  Spring weekends at home

Any good music, book, tv, movie or recipe suggestions? 

The post The Goings Ons; Volume 10 appeared first on Barefooton45th.

“When you eat, I want you to think of God, of the holiness of hands that feed us, of the provision we are given every time we eat. When you eat bread and you drink wine, I want you to think about the body and the blood every time, not just when the bread and wine show up in church, but when they show up anywhere- on a picnic table or a hardwood floor or a beach.”

-Shauna Niequiest, Bread & Wine: Finding Community and Life Around the Table

On Sunday we celebrated Easter with some of our favorite families. Nine adults, three toddlers, a crawler, and an infant made for all kinds of crazy. Our conversation was scattered and hurried at best, but we had a lot of fun. That’s Anna, Me, Ashlee and Sharon. Ashlee took all the pretty photos. Please ignore the weeds in my yard… I can’t bend over anymore to take care of them.

Anna wore a pretty pink dress given to me at her baby shower almost two years ago. At the time I couldn’t imagine having a child big enough to wear a 2T! Oh, how time flies. There’s something so sweet about little girls in dresses, tights and Mary Jane’s. I had to buy her a little headband from Little Lady Accessory on Etsy- the same seller who made her headband last year! Soon after taking the above photo, Anna skinned her knee. Today’s chore? Figure out how to get blood stains out of an Easter dress.

Sunday’s affair was potluck style because it’s more fun that way. Also, I didn’t do the best job budgeting for a big party on the last day of the month. I think Dave Ramsey would be pleased with my frugal potluck choice, although I wish I’d planned a little differently. Live and learn. Let’s move on to cute pictures of kids! (Note: Anna’s outfit change, required by aforementioned blood stains.)

Entertaining with toddlers is a very tricky art. Egg hunting helps. I’m not above bribing with food. Forcing them to eat outside on the ground (while rain threatens) is also key. It’s a very good thing my sweet husband and Shane sat in the backyard with the kiddos so the rest of use could regain our sanity during dinner. While we have plenty of food pictures to share, there are no group shots, or any table pictures. We were too busy chasing, scarfing and eating!

Ashlee and I cooked out of Shauna Niequist’s Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes (Check out my other review here.) You definitely need to buy this book. It’s debuting any day and the recipes are fantastic. Here’s what we made:

Mini Macaroni & Cheese (Pictured above, recipe on Ashlee’s blog)

Bacon-Wrapped Dates (Pictured above)

Goat Cheese Biscuits (Pictured below)

Nigella’s Flourless Chocolate Brownies (Go to Ashlee’s blog to see photos)

Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Butter Toffee (Pictured above)

We also got spoiled with Sharon’s stuffed mushrooms, Anna Q’s kale salad and gooey cake, and Zach’s roasted cauliflower. The only thing missing from my day was a good glass of wine. Next year. Next year.

Shauna’s recipes were quick, and many of them can be made ahead, which made entertaining easier than it normally might be. I threw together the toffee on Friday night, prepped the dates on Saturday afternoon, and only had to make the biscuits on Sunday. So nice, right?

My favorite dish were the goat cheese biscuits, so I’m sharing that recipe today. Here’s a tip you musn’t overlook: take the time to make some type of honey butter for these bad boys. Although many guests loved them plain, I think their tartness is balanced perfectly with a bit of sweetness. If honey butter isn’t your thing, try strawberry jam instead. I actually split my honey butter batch in two and mixed strawberries into one half. SO GOOD.

Goat Cheese Biscuits *Adapted from a recipe created by Art Smith, Table Fifty-Two

Makes 12 (I doubled the recipe, and you should too, because everyone eats more than one biscuit!)

Ingredients

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

3 teaspoons salt

1 cup plain yogurt

6 tablespoons cold butter, divided

4 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled

Extra butter to grease pan and top biscuits

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (I love Trader Joe’s big bags!)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place a 10-inch cast-iron pan into the oven while it’s preheating. (I don’t own a cast-iron pan but we borrowed our neighbors’ for the afternoon. They’d made us Southern-style cornbread in it the night before, so I’m convinced their Southern roots somehow added extra magic to my dish.  Also, I’ve now added a cast-iron skillet to my “someday soon” list.)

Pour flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Cut 4 tablespoons butter into small pieces and add to the bowl with goat cheese and the yogurt. Stir until the mix is moistened, adding an extra tablespoon of yogurt if needed.

Remove the hot skillet from the oven and place a tablespoon of butter into it. When the butter has melted, divid the batter into 12 biscuits (about golf ball size) and drop them into the pan.

Brush the biscuits with one tablespoon of melted butter, then bake for 14-16 minutes. (Mine didn’t brown as nicely as I’d hoped, so I left them in a bit longer.) Remove from oven and sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese.

Don’t forget the honey butter, strawberry honey butter or jam! Then, EAT, EAT, EAT.

 Thanks, Ashlee, for co-hosting with me and taking photos! 

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Back in January I decided to set 10 food related goals for 2013, mostly to hold myself accountable for trying new recipes rather than just wasting time looking at food on Pinterest. (Update: I’ve made my own bread-it turned out okay-and tried the Strawberry Banana Breakfast bake which was good but not sure it’ll become a staple.)

I really love to cook and bake, but I’m a bit impatient and tend to cut corners. I tend to say things like, “That looks like a teaspoon of salt, right?” or “It says to refrigerate first for 30 minutes, but 10 will do, right?” 

If I don’t have an ingredient a recipe calls for, I usually don’t stress. Sometimes my substitutions work out in my favor, and sometimes they’re a complete and total disaster. I’m still learning when to follow a recipe and when to let my creative/lazy tendencies take over.

In addition to being creative/lazy about following recipes, I also don’t do the best job recognizing how certain ingredients, heat, and cooking time can make (or break) certain dishes. For example, I make fish all the time and sometimes it turns out fantastic and sometimes it’s overcooked or tasteless. In an attempt to try lots of different recipes I’ve failed to perfect a few “go-to” dishes that always turn out right, and I’ve failed to acknowledge that little steps make a big difference.

I just finished reading Shauna Niequist’s new book, Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes. (While I have plenty to say about the book, including another blog post in a few weeks, the main takeaway is: pre-order this book! It’s available on Amazon in early April and you’re going to love it. My mother-in-law, a great cook, devoured the book when she was visiting us earlier this month so if my opinion doesn’t convince you, at least take hers.)

In the chapter titled The Chopping Block, Shauna talks about some of the tips she learned during a weeklong culinary bootcamp. Her favorite chef urged the group to be less timid. “He told us that the difference between restaurant cooking and home cooking- and often, too, the difference between great flavor and tasteless food-is two things: more heat and more seasoning.”

The night I read her chapter I cooked basic chicken thighs on high heat with more sea salt than normal. You know what? They were some of the better chicken thighs I’ve ever cooked. I know so because Jonathan actually complimented me and went for seconds. (Usually he isn’t the biggest fan of my too-dry chicken.)

Another tip I learned from Shauna is when you’re making a recipe for the first time, follow the directions exactly. Taste, test, evaluate, then decide what you could do differently next time. The second time you make it, try a few changes or substitutions. Then, by the third time, try to do it without looking at the recipe! As I’ve been trying new recipes lately I’m really trying to force myself to follow.the.directions.no.ifs.ands.or.butts.

I’m curious, for the chefs out there, do you follow recipes exactly or do you make modifications? 

If you’re not a cook, but you love food, I’d still recommend Shauna’s book. As she says, “It’s not strictly about food for me. It’s about what happens when we come together, slow down, open our homes, look into one another’s faces, listen to one another’s stories.”

Can’t wait to share a few more of Shauna’s stories and recipes in early April!

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You’ve probably gathered that I love what everything a New Year holds. So much promise. So much opportunity. So. much. good. food. to. come.

Here are 10 foods I can’t wait to try in 2013

Breakfast used to be my least favorite meal, but now I love it. There is never, ever a day I skip breakfast. Ever. I think it’s the key to keeping my metabolism happy and healthy. Usually I eat oatmeal, a healthy cereal, a smoothie, and/or toast. For weekends, I’d like to try these Mini German Pancakes (so pretty!). For a healthier weekend option, this Strawberry Banana Breakfast Bake looks delish.

When I was a kid my mom had a bread machine. Remember those? They were awesome. This year, I want to learn how to make my own white bread. I might start with this sourdough experiment challenge.

I’m reading through Rachel Held Evan’s book A Year of Biblical Womanhood, and from it I’d like to attempt Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon.

I’ve been experiencing China homesickness recently. The food there is incredible, especially their eggplant! This spicy eggplant with pork is added to my list.

Last summer in Hawaii, Allison made Mexican Roasted Corn. As soon as the weather gets warmer, these puppies are getting made. I might also have to get lights up all over our back patio. They are, believe me, the perfect summer food.

Speaking of Hawaii, poke is one of our favorite appetizers when we’re on the Big Island. As soon as I’m not pregnant, this poke is getting MADE like it ain’t nobody’s business.

Maybe Anna’s birthday or baby’s arrival will force me to try these Sugar Cookie Squares. Don’t they look so pretty?

I’ve been meaning to try a recipe from Dinner: A Love Story. Why not go with classic chicken of the year? We sure eat a lot of it around here so this dish could become a staple.

You can bet that once Shauna Niequist’s new book Bread & Wine debuts this spring I may have another 10 to add to my list. 

photo credit of Mini German Pancakes, credit to Real Mom Kitchen

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Naturally, after Anna refused her lunch today, I’m all set to talk about FOOD.

Here’s the thing: I really, really, really want kids who grow up to be good eaters. My definition of a good eater is someone who eats a wide variety of foods, enjoys healthy foods, knows how to moderate “bad” foods, and has a healthy relationship with food (i.e. they know when they’re full, they don’t eat when they’re bored, etc.)

Anna is 15 months. Sooooo I know we have about 17 years left to work on all the things listed above. There is no need to panic. That being said, I shared with you last week that I’m all about start as you meant to go on. 

As we raise kids, I don’t want to be a short order cook. I want to cook meals the whole family will eat and enjoy, not prepare additional chicken nuggets or mac & cheese because it’s the only thing Anna will eat. It’s very tempting to force Anna to eat foods I prepare for her. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more frustrating (at this point) than spending a bunch of time on dinner only to watch her refuse to take a single bite.

{Some of you are thinking to yourselves: Anna has a Santa Clause belly. Clearly she can’t be starving. Why are you so concerned?}

When it comes down to it, I’m not really concerned. To be honest, I know the issue is less about Anna and more about me. I like feeling in control. I like feeling that my cooking (and the work associated with it) is validated.

A few rules we’ve been trying to follow around here come from the Raising Healthy Eaters website. I think I’ve maybe shared it before? Anyway, I keep reminding myself:

Pickiness is normal.

We decide what food and when; she decides how much.

We will not force, bribe or beg.

If she doesn’t eat what we offer, we don’t prepare something different. We’ll continue to trust that she knows when she’s hungry, and it’s okay to send her to bed with only a few bites of her dinner eaten.

Another thing I am trying to keep in mind is that things will change (a little bit) once she better understands us. My parents always made us TRY whatever was on our plate. We didn’t necessarily have to eat all of it, but we had to try. I read it can take between 8-10 times before many toddlers will try a food they don’t recognize. Crazy, right?

I’ve love to hear about your thoughts on raising good eaters. Are you a picky eater, and why do you think that is? Did you raise children who are now good eaters–and if so–what’s your secret? Any other must-read books around this topic?

p.s. My whole blog header disappeared last night and I can’t fix it! Please ignore the lame look of my site right now. 

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Have you ever heard of organic juice detoxing? Last week, Jonathan and I did a five day juice/fruit/veggie based detox. Some might call it a cleanse. Some might call it crazy. I’m here to say that we survived, and to give you the full scoop on how it went in case you might ever find yourself interested in doing one.

To clear up any assumptions–we did not do this to lose weight. While my tummy could most certainly use some tightening, I’m doing a little workout routine to fight the flab before Hawaii.

Most of you know that Jonathan had a lot of nasty chemicals poured into this body this last year and at the end of treatment we asked his doctor how to help get his body back to proper function. His doctor said that Western medicine does not have an answer to that question. “Eat more mushrooms,” he guessed with a smile.

My friend Natalie has raved about a juice detox she’s done with a midtown Sacramento company called Integrative Wellness. When the holistic wellness center offered a Living Social deal in June, we decided to give it a try. I think both of us felt a little bit uneasy about the idea of a cleanse that required us to put odd powder drinks or vitamins into our body, or that required us to not eat for a week. This detox was different. I’ll explain.

First, Brandy at Integrative Wellness tested Jonathan’s body to make sure he was strong enough to do that detox. I won’t even try to explain the odd tests we watch her perform on the massage table in her office, but at the end of them she confirmed Jonathan’s intolerance for lactose/milk and suggested he has a small gluten sensitivity. She told us that the idea of her five day detox is to cut out all food items that could be causing the body to work improperly. (These items range from meats, gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, and sugar.) Let your body have a break from them, she said, and instead pour in lots of nutrients in the form of fruits and vegetables. By drinking lots of water and exercising, the body will flush out some of the toxins it stored.

Her program seemed basic enough, and lacked some of the extreme measures we were both not willing to try. Neither of us wanted to be chained to a toilet for a week. She promised we wouldn’t be.

The great part about working with Brandy is that she actually makes two juices and smoothie for her clients each day of the detox. We’d show up every morning around 8:00am, pick up the drinks, and set out for our day. She also gave us a booklet with recipes for the week, and suggestions for how to stay full.

Here are some things I learned last week:

1. When you’re not eating as much, drinking water become easier and more fulfilling. I definitely need to drink more water.
2. Juicing is yummy and refreshing, so much so that I think I’d like one of those fancy pants juicers for Christmas.
3. Greens taste good when you spend the time to cook them right. Costco sells a big bag of kale for $3.99- perfect for throwing into smoothies or sauteing with some garlic, olive oil and onions. Beet greens aren’t bad either.
4. When you’re not able to snack on normal items like granola bars and string cheese, staying full becomes more challenging. BUT, you’re forced to think creatively about what might fill you up. Detoxing is as good for the body as it is for the mind. Repeat after me: M&Ms are not a good snack choice.

And the biggest surprise? Besides feeling hungrier than I’d have liked, I actually had a TON of energy. I woke up several mornings at 5:30am without my alarm. I went on morning runs and didn’t feel any different than I normally would. And, I had absolutely no gas whatsoever. I really can’t believe I’m talking about gas in such a public venue but it really just has to be noted. I mean, people, think about it. When was the last time you went a week without passing ANY gas? Yeah, probably never unless you’re Sleeping Beauty.

The moral of the detox week is this: I feel like I did something great for my body. I let it have a rest and I challenged my mind to think differently about how I eat. I felt good, and I still do. I can’t tell you if I lost weight (because I never did a before/after weigh-in) nor can I tell you if my body is free of all crappy environmental chemicals. All in all though, I consider last week to be the kick-start of looking at food differently, especially as Jonathan and I attempt to cut a lot of lactose and wheat from our diet.

Have you ever done a detox or cleanse? What did you like about it? If you haven’t done one, what are your thoughts? Weird? Intriguing? I’d love to know what you think! 

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So, I disappeared last week because our front porch makeover and my family’s visit kept me away from the computer. I can’t wait to take a few photos of our “new” house. In the meantime, here’s what else has been keeping me busy and entertained:

Reading: A Shelter in the Time of Storm and John Stott’s Galatians study. Both are great for my quiet time each day.

Listening to: This American Life’s ‘Americans in China‘. I might like this segment more than the average person since I’ve spent extensive time in China, but, it’s a great show. Give it a listen when you’re cleaning, cooking or driving.

Thankful for: A new front porch! Shane made us a cute wooden railing, and with the help of my brother and sister-in-law, we now have a re-done porch swing. Jonathan painted our front door red yesterday. We just need to update the hardware and porch light…and maybe get a rug and a pillow but don’t tell that to Jonathan. Pictures to come whenever I get my act together.

Hoping: Colorado’s wildfires stop soon. California will always be my favorite state, but Colorado is really a very close second. It makes me sad to think of it’s beauty being burned away.

Anticipating:  This weekend’s stay-here-retreat with the girls in my bible study. It will involve a slumber party, lots of food, candy and tanning. There will probably be trashy tabloids passed around too.

Cooking: Grilled brie sandwiches with a touch of our neighbor’s apricot jam. One word: divine.

Baking:  Are you even kidding me? It’s too hot to bake!

Watching: The Olympic swim trials, like, every single night. I almost made an advent calendar to count down for London. I love the games THAT MUCH.

(NOT) Excited about: paying our dental bills after Jonathan and I BOTH get cavities filled next Monday. Lame.

And, you, my friends? 

The post The goings ons, v.5 appeared first on Barefooton45th.

Reading: The Language of Flowers, because I bought it for Anna Q and then borrowed it back because I’m classy like that.

Listening to: Carrie Underwood’s new album, Blown Away.

Thankful for: the women in my life who continue to show up. Gals, you know who you are.

Hoping that: Anna’s tummy troubles go away, and fast. This mama is tired of extra stinky diapers, and red bums, and 5:30am wake up calls. Why, oh why, does the baby or I get sick every time Jonathan has chemo? Sympathy pains?

Anticipating:  Sarah’s graduation from Azusa this weekend, and listening to Shauna give the commencement speech.

Cooking: Quiche…I need an entirely separate post about my love affair with this food.

Baking:  Strawberry rhubarb cobbler and sweet potato biscuits. Mmmmmm, good.

Watching: TV? Movies? Who needs ‘em? I’m too busy reading (!!!)

Excited about: Two things. 1. All the roses in my backyard. We did it! We pruned! And now, we reap the rewards of our labor. 2. I won two free books this week thanks to Twitter. This is one of them.

And, you, my friends? 

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We are really exhausted around here. Like, a tired that we didn’t even experience when Anna arrived…because it’s a different kind of tired.

And yet, life goes on. The good and the bad. The parties, and the baking, and the friends, and the rough conversations- they are all happening.

I feel really fortunate that I get to be home in this season rather than working full time at an office. I am thankful I have the time and space to be a caretaker. To feed. To cook. To keep our house feeling cozy and clean. To go for walks. To listen to the quiet hum of the dishwasher. To look out my kitchen window and watch the clouds roll past. Even though I sometimes worry about the months to come, I know God has prepared the way.

So, this weekend has been full and slow, just like many of our days recently. It started out early Saturday morning at the Davis Turkey Trot 5K. I completed the run with these lovely ladies- my early morning running crew. (Above: Tammy, Anna, Me, Sharon.) We had intended to run the 10K but didn’t get our booties ready in time. The 5K felt perfect. It didn’t kill us, but it was still a nice challenge. Nothing beats cold fall air on your face, and lots of giggly kids and music and babies in strollers, and colorful leaves. Afterwards we stuffed our face at Cafe Bernardo where some of the hubbies and babies joined us in creating quite the spectacle.

I came home from the Turkey Trot, showered, and then got to hang out with one of my longest time friends, Sarah! I’m not going to write Sarah’s last name because one time I did on this very blog, and I realized that A LOT of people Google Sarah’s full name and end up on my blog because of it. Creepy, right? She’s a popular lady, apparently. Sarah is the ultimate gift giver and spoils me (and Anna) rotten every time we see her. Her visit not only brought a lot of laughter, brainwashing (she wants to turn Anna into a Democrat) and babysitting…but also an awesome Pottery Barn blanket and striped onesie seen above. Sarah works for Kaiser and has already given Jonathan and I lots of good advice. I am so thankful for her humor, honesty and love.

Have you seen the show Up All Night? It’s a new sitcom about a couple with a new baby. In the show, Maya Rudolph plays the couple’s single friend who knows nothing about babies but always wants to babysit. We joke that Sarah could be that friend in our life (although, to give her credit, she knows more about babies than she’ll admit.) Anyway, Sarah volunteered to watch Anna so that we could go to our friend Brett’s 30th Birthday Bash. His wife Ashlee did a really cute job with lots of yummy good, 80s music, and a photo booth.

And today? Well, Jonathan is radioactive today so I’m at home alone with the little one. No, really- I’m being serious. He went for a PET scan this morning at 7:30. The scan will see if there are any other tumors in his body. His oncologist has confirmed he has Hodgkin’s Lyphoma, and seems hopeful they’ve caught it early, but this scan and tomorrow’s bone marrow biopsy will help confirm or deny the doctor’s suspicions. We should know more later this coming week. The crazy thing is that the PET scan makes him radioactive for about 12-18 hours and he can’t be within 10 feet of Anna until late tonight. So, he’s off playing all day with friends while I stay at home and nurse a cold and a baby. I’ve read, baked, and played but I haven’t gotten dressed. That’s the best kind of Sunday, right?

Here’s Anna watching me make Mason jar oatmeal for the week and Vegan Banana and Chocolate Chip Oat Bars. We aren’t vegan but the recipe sounded yummy… and it is! Not too much banana- just the way I like it!

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