Grandparents . . .

Yesterday was Grandparents Day - for those of you who didn't know. If I had my act together I would have had lovely cards and flowers ready for each of these important people but well . . . I didn't. Shame on me!


However, I want to acknowledge all of the wonderful grandparents in our lives. We are blessed with grandparents (not only ours but our kids' as well) that are loving, supportive, and always willing to lend a hand.

Grandparents are so important in our family! So let me introduce you to some of the best grandparents that this world has ever known! :)

(in no particular order . . . this was just how the pictures loaded up).

My mom with her granddaughter, Abigail. February 2010

Andrew's Grandma Myers with Great-Granddaughter Abigail in February 2009.

My Grandma Helen with Great-Granddaughter Elsie in August 2010.

My dad with his grandbabies, Isaac and Elsie.

My Grandma Fairchild with Great-Granddaughter Elsie August 2010.

My mother-in-law Susan with Granddaughter Elsie in April 2010.

My father-in-law (sorry you can't see his face very well but this picture shows him adoring Elsie) Wayne with Granddaughter Elsie.

Andrew's Grandpa Schechter and dad with Abigail in Spring of 2009.

Andrew's Grandma Schechter with Great-Granddaughter Abigail in Spring 2009.

Are we blessed or what?!

Thanks to all these wonderful people for loving and caring for us!

Addressing Canola

Okay, so I have gotten a few questions about Canola Oil since my last post, so . . . let me explain. Or at least try to guide you to where you can find answers.

I started out not using Canola Oil about a year ago when my mother said to me "Don't use Canola Oil". Now . . . do I do everything that my mother tells me to? Sorry Mom, but no. However, she's a smart lady and when it comes to health issues, the woman does her research.

Here are a few of the sites with information that I have found (and there are opposing views, of course):

http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/559-the-great-con-ola.html

http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2009/04/canola-oil-last-time-random-reader-question.html

http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2009/03/healthy-cooking-oils-whats-wrong-with-canola-info-from-nina-planck.html

http://www.truthaboutabs.com/the-canola-oil-deception.html

Here is more info directly related to Saturated Fat (which is not actually what makes us fat. . . did you know that?).

http://www.fathead-movie.com/

http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/04/does-fat-make-you-fat-dieting-answers.html

Especially check out the last one!! :)

Having listed all those links for you to view yourself, I also want to say . . . feel free to use Canola Oil in your own homes. I am not one to tell other people what to do (it's the people-pleaser in me). If you think it's good and good for you- go for it.

As for me though . . .

I just don't trust "new" and "refined" oils from plants that I am unfamiliar with (see information above). I have never tasted or noticed a difference in my baking or cooking by not using Canola so we will continue to avoid it. I also don't view Saturated or Animal Fat as an enemy. People ate that way for generations and didn't have the obesity epidemic that we have now.

I'm just sayin. . . :)

Hopefully that cleared things up - at least as far as wondering why we don't use Canola Oil. If you have other questions please email me (jaime_schechter@yahoo.com).

Oatmeal Maple Cookies

My toddler loves cookies! I try not to make cookies that fill her with too much white sugar, flour, and especially hydrogenated oils. These is a great recipe that I found at Whole Foods. Believe it or not, I even modifed it more to make it better! The original recipe called for Canola Oil. I also avoid that at all costs. After all . . . can someone explain to me what a canola is? No seriously, most of these modified oils are what can cause heart attacks and stroke.



I'm not providing much info but . . . you're all smart . . . you can research it for yourself!



So here we go.

If you can see, I had two little helpers in this picture. Elsie didn't last long though. She'll help me some day.

Take 2 cups rolled oats.

Pour it into a skillet or pan ("oops, mama I spilled a little") and toast for about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and add 3/4 cup spelt flour,

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

and 1/8 teaspoon sea salt.

Melt butter in a separate pan (or you can use melted unrefined virgin coconut oil).

Mix together maple syrup (1/2 cup), 1/2 cup of melted butter and . . .


2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract in a separate bowl.

Having a cheerful helper helps speed the process up considerably! :)

Combine maple mixture to oat mixture in a mixing bowl and combine completely. (Yes, I scraped the sides of the bowl down to get the flour after I took this picture).

Drop by teaspoonful onto a baking sheet. Flatten slightly. (I used my spatula to flatten and it worked fine).

Bake about 15 minutes at 350.

Cool cookies on a wire rack before enjoying.

Then enjoy!

Abigail LOVED these cookies. Andrew liked them but thought they'd be better with butterscotch chips (perhaps). They just weren't as sweet as conventional cookies so his sweet tooth was missing something, I think. Anyway, these are delicious and a decently healthy choice (at least with no chemicals like store bought cookies have) as an occasional snack for kids.

I think we may make more today. This batch is gone! :)

Complete Recipe

Oatmeal Maple Cookies

jaimeschechter.blogspot.com

original recipe from whole foods

2 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons spelt flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup melted butter or melted unrefined coconut oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Place oats into a pan and toast for 3 minutes or until slightly golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In a separate saucepan, melt butter. In a mixing bowl, whisk together maple syrup, butter and vanilla until combined. Add oat mixture to maple syrup mixture and stir to combine completely. Dough will be warm. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Flatten dough slightly with a spoon or wet fingers. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool cookies and enjoy!!

Future Ball Player?

This girl LOVES balls. Perhaps she enjoys it so much because she's finally getting some attention away from her older sister when we play "catch" with her. Anyway, thought you'd enjoy seeing my girl (Elsie) enjoy playing ball with her mama!

Comparing

They look very "sisterly" . . . don't ya think?

Here are comparison photos of both my girls at roughly the same age. I think Abigail was 9 months on the dot and Elsie was almost 10 months.

Elsie is smaller than Abigail (which is okay - Abigail is VERY tall) and isn't wearing the outfit that Abigail has on in her picture yet.

Elsie - September 5, 2010

Abigail - November 2, 2008

Elsie @ 9 months

So . . . Elsie is technically almost 10 months (tomorrow!!!) but we are two busy parents with two busy kids so we finally got around to taking Elsie's 9 month pictures yesterday.

I apologize in advance . . . these were taken with a very wrinkly background in our basement and have not yet been edited. Photoshop can do amazing things. You're getting the raw picture.

Here it goes:

Our sweet darling girl

Who loves to crawl

Elsie's sweet darling sister who wanted in on the photoshoot. Nevermind that she didn't have any pants on so you can see her pull-ups.


Mama and her girls (again would be a great shot except for my pant-less child).

Sisterly love. You can kind of see Abigail's nose in this picture. She fell while doing push-ups (what can I say, the child loves to exercise) and scraped her nose.

Dear Elsie,

You are a sweet, loving, and fun little girl and . . . you are growing up way too fast! We love you very much and despite wanting to keep you a little baby forever, I am also excited about seeing you grow into a little lady. Your sweetness and joy will take you far, my darling. Always remember that you have a very proud mommy, daddy, and perhaps and even more proud big sister (if that is possible).

Your Mommy

Is it time?

I've been struggling with a decision lately. I am trying to decide whether to cancel my online weight watchers membership. I've never gone to a meeting. I have just done their online program. I just can't quite let go!

Officially I have lost 31.6 pounds. That's just okay in my books. I have another 19 to go before I would really be satisfied.

Still, I haven't lost any weight - or significant weight in months.

Also, without going into detail, we could really use the $18 back in our budget every month. New medical bills are coming due, kids need things, etc.

Also, I have copied most of the information from the site (all my weight tracking, recipes, some points calculations, etc) so I think I can keep going on my own.

Also, I went 2.5 weeks without tracking during my vacation and only gained a very negligible amount. Seems that my eating habits have changed somewhat.

Also, I would still track my weight every Monday. If it starts going up, I'd just join again. Seems easy, right?

Okay, I've talked myself into it. Maybe in the next few days I'll cancel!!

Yikes!

I feel like I'm losing a big safety net!

Trip 2010: Kansas City

I'm finally getting around to the very last part of our trip! I'm sure you're all thankful you won't have to read about this anymore. Ha!

Anyway, we stopped in Kansas City for two nights for a family reunion with my mom's side of the family. We are spread out from Ohio to Chicago to Arkansas to Denver so we don't see each other that often.

It was really great to see everyone again and to have a chance to reconnect. We didn't do any real formal "reunioning" but just spent time together. So fun!

Of course, Abigail was instantly drawn to my Aunt Ronda. She is truly the ultimate aunt and is one of the most amazing people I know. She is great with kids so, of course, Abigail adored her!

Here they are checking out the view!


Me and my cousin, Rachel.


Rachel holding Elsie. Elsie was being a little fussy at this particular moment! :)

Alex (my nephew), Abigail, and my aunt Ronda have fun playing together!

My Grandma Helen and my Mom let the babies (Elsie and my nephew Isaac) have a chat.

My dad with his pride and joy - the younger 2 grandkids.

All of the younger generations at the Plaza Fountains pose for a picture.

All of us pose for a picture. Andrew took the picture and later photoshopped himself in but I didn't upload that one. Perhaps I will later!

The Walter siblings.

Elsie crashes for her morning nap. She took about a 2-hour nap in her stroller! She slept some outside and finished her nap in the Cheesecake Factory where we ate lunch.

Abigail did not want her picture taken at this moment. She showed her displeasure by not holding onto Papa Kurt's head! Ha! I'm sure she won't like me showing this . . . some day!

Abigail and her daddy share a tender moment at lunch.

Abigail and her cousin Alex had a lot of fun hanging out!

Abigail had no fear of the open atrium. She even went to the 12th floor with Aunt Ronda and Uncle Dale and peered over the edge.

Then on Sunday morning we headed home. Whew! It was a busy but super fun trip! I can't believe how great our kids did in the car and sharing a room together. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

Mardi Gras Eggs

So, I'm not from New Orleans, nor have I ever visited . . . but

I have visited Lucile's. It is a Creole restaurant in Colorado. It's yummy. If you live in Colorado . . . you'll do yourself a big favor by eating there!

What I really wish I could duplicate is their biscuits but I'm not THAT talented!

Anyway, I ordered a yummy dish called "Farmer's Eggs" which is something that I consider a "skillet" or "scramble".

I decided to dupliate or get close to the same recipe at home.


Start by dicing 2 medium sized potatoes. Saute them in a skillet with olive oil for 15 minutes or until tender.



After the potatoes are on the tender side, you'll want to add sausage. Here is a disclaimer: we usually (80% of the time) eat unprocessed foods (our meat is usually organic or nitrate-free). This sausage is well . . . not. It's what I had in the fridge. In my defence, my husband bought it. I only used about 1/3 of a pound, which means the other 2/3 is still sitting in my freezer!

Oh, this is hot sausage by the way.

Add the sausage to the skillet with the potatoes and cook until brown.

Chop your peppers (you can choose what type you'd like) and onion. I used red, yellow, green, and a teeny tiny bit of jalepeno.

Add the peppers and onion to your sausage and potatoes.

Cook until veggies are slightly softened.

In a separate mixing bowl, crack 8 eggs (you can vary the amounts, btw) and scramble with a fork. The add 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.

Cook until eggs are scrambed through. Salt and pepper to taste.

The last step (and most important) involves adding the Creole seasoning. Yum!

And can you believe that I didn't take an after picture? I know, all that work on this recipe and you're left with out the beauty of this dish! Oh well, you'll just have to make it yourself.

I served my Mardi Gras Eggs with corn on the cob. We also sprinkled a little Creole seasoning on the corn and it was also delicious!

Enjoy!

Recipe follows:

Mardi Gras Eggs

jaimeschechter.blogspot.com

1 tbsp olive oil

2 potatoes (cut into cubes)

1/3 pound hot sausage

1 red pepper (chopped)

1 yellow pepper (chopped)

1 green pepper (chopped)

1/4 jalepeno pepper (chopped)

1 small onion (chopped)

8 eggs

1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

salt

pepper

creole seasoning

Saute potatoes in olive oil until soft. Add hot sausage to potatoes and cook until browned. Add chopped peppers and onion to skillet. Cook peppers and onion until barely soft. Whisk 8 eggs in a mixing bowel and add cheese. Pour egg mixture into skillet and scramble until eggs are cooked. Add seasonings to taste.

Yummy!