My Favorite Non-Dairy Spread

About 4 years ago I was researching food allergies for a condition that Two had. Through the course of studying up for him I realized that I had a dairy allergy. I quit eating it cold turkey the next week. It took nearly 6 months to get it out of my system. After that the pain in my joints went away, the headaches went away and I went for a whole winter with out getting sick once. Previously it seemed like I had a perpetual cold all winter. This year I did try goat cheese but as it was in my mouth I could feel my body changing in a negative way. So once again I have sworn off cheese of all types.

Loving all things cheese this has been really difficult on me but literally every time I eat dairy products I wonder why I put myself through that again.

My mother has been very supportive and has noticed health benefits of limiting cheese (My father had been diagnosed as allergic to dairy products years ago). She shared the following recipe with me about a year ago and it has been one of my favorites. Last night I was craving it and whipped up a batch to eat on the Matzos someone had recommended to me for morning sickness. Proeun is also trying to eat better. When he got home he willing tried it, but only to support me. On the first bit he was hooked. Though most of the ingredients are not local to us we buy from a bulk company that buys from farmers. 

Ranch Dip or Dressing

3/4 cup raw cashews
3/4 cup raw macadamias (can  use all cashews or macademias)
1/2 cup water (more for dressing)
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1-2 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp dried dill (or 1 very small sprig fresh dill)
1/2 tsp dried basil (or 2 leaves fresh)
1 stalk celery

Mix all ingredients in blender of Vita-Mix of blender until smooth and creamy. Makes 2 cups. This is a nice spread for bread instead of butter. If making dressing, use an extra 1/2 to 1 cup of water. Keep for two weeks in the refrigerator.

I am addicted to TV

There I have said it, I own it. Though I consider myself a recovering addict there are still times when the old tendancies rise up, like when I or one of the children is sick or late at night when I don’t want to go to bed and am too exhausted to even talk to my husband. I am not sure how it all began, boredom maybe way back some 25 years ago when I first discovered TV and found it was way better then actually using my imagination or thinking.

I normally did more than one thing though, reading in the commercials, knitting while watching movies, etc. But now I am raising children and my tendencies are passing on. We have good times, when TV is limited, we have plenty of quality time, the kids are using their imaginations and playing well together and a lot is accomplished around the house.

Then there are days when I go to bed thinking, I can’t believe I let it happen again!

I am still working on it. As with any addiction I may struggle with it for the rest of my life, unable to do the things normal people do because it is far too easy to slip back into the old habits.

And what of the children? Two is already showing signs of too much interest in TV. It is a really really good day if he watches less then 4 hours of TV (this is a confession here). The girls luckily are not so interested in TV. Normally as soon as Two is up in the morning he wants the TV on. I am trying a new tactic. Limiting the types of shows to only the highest quality shows. I should have been doing this all along but it is so easy to get distracted and lazy. If he chooses not to watch those shows he can play. This morning he chose playing. Bringing his box of dinosaurs to bed to play with his sisters.

I had to smile. Even in the midst of the day to day struggles with children in your life there is always something to be happy about. We were even able to have worship before I got out of bed. A good thing since morning sickness has really been messing up my mornings for going on 5 weeks now.

Mavis especially loves it when her siblings give up the TV and pay attention to her.

First Fishing Trip of the Year

Last year we vowed to fish more, we also wanted to camp more and just be together, outdoors enjoying ourselves more. Farming certainly gave us an opportunity for that but there is something to be said about fishing, especially when we have an avid fisherman on our hands. So amid a weekend of celebration we took time for our first trip of the year to nearby Keller Lake.

When we got there Two was off like a shot to pick out the best spot with his rod and tackle.

The girls were a little more distracted by a hole in the bridge

and our neighbors.

It was cold and windy. The wind was in our face and with the lay out of the lake there wasn’t really anywhere we could go that would carry our bobber away rather they pushing it towards shore. There were a ton of carp jumping but try catching a picture of them. We didn’t catch anything but Mavis had a great time feeling the wind in her face and Two and Avril explored while I reveled in the idea that my children were completely content and happy in this setting and being there as a family.

We did find some other treasures though, like this mummified frog

and a fresh water snail.

In the end it was a perfect end to a wonderful day and weekend. Even if we didn’t catch anything.

Egg/Plant Urban Farm Store

I am on the list serv for “Chickens in the City.” Yesterday a post came through about a new urban farm store opening up called Egg/Plant Urban Farm Store. The grand opening was yesterday and since it was close to my house and I am all about supporting local food I loaded the kids in the car and popped right over. If you are a novice or experienced, “urban homsteader” there are plenty of supplies for you from organic seeds and growings supplies, to


organic chicken food and


cheese making supplies.

Peat Willcutt, the father of the urban chicken movement in the Twin Cities (in my humble opinion) shared with me how when his family was living in Europe during World War II, “they were basically on a starvation diet.  Rationing was so strict.” He shared that to supplement, “everyone had a backyard orchard or garden, or the goose they were saving for Christmas.”

A couple years ago when the economy fell apart I had hopes that this would happen again, people would, “own their food choices,” as chef Oliver would say and take responsibilty for growing their own food. However the cities don’t always make it easy. Even our little consumer haven, “Egg/Plant” had problems with zoning, now luckily resolved. At least for the most part you can garden, tap your own maple trees, have a few fruit trees and bushes and luckily in my city have a few chickens.

Here’s one of ours enjoying a dust bath.

Jamie and Amy

Last week we were up late watching reruns of Oprah. Whenever she has food related guests we are always interested and today she had Jamie Oliver. We listened intently as he talked about his new project and reality TV program, “Food Revolution.” Ryan Seacrest of American Idol Fame is the producer. Later that week both Oliver and Searest were on Larry King Live. Seacrest shared that was a fat child and very shy.

The next logical step was to watch “Food Revolution” ourselves. It was really eye opening. Oliver is in Huntington, WV which has been labeled the unhealthiest place in America. He is on a mission to teach people about nutrition and healthy, farm fresh eating–starting in the school system.

Since we have been immersed in the local, organic, healthy food movement for a while now it is so easy to forget the arguments against it as well as the down right hostility. But Oliver, who comes off as a compassionate man and passionate advocate of both people and food, ploughs ahead. We have watched two episodes and are hooked.

I ordered some of his cookbooks from the library. Food Revolution, his most recent is out with many holds on it. But I did get Jamie at Home and I literally am astounded. Not only does it contain amazing seasonal recipes but Oliver grew most of the food himself in his own garden and so he offers growing tips and varieties (just be careful since he is in England so varieties may not be as successful here). Proeun suggested I work my way through the cookbook ala “Julie and Julia” I don’t think I am up to that, but some of the recipes will definitely grace our table and newsletter for CSA members. For more information on Oliver go to his website.

Today we are eating a recipe we saw featured on Oprah, here it is from Oprah’s website

Crunchy Garlic Chicken

This crumbing technique is so versatile—you can cook pork or even cod in exactly the same way. As there is butter in the crumb mixture, you can grill, fry, roast or bake the meat dry in the oven and it will go lovely and golden.

Servings: Serves 2

Ingredients:

Crunchy Garlic Chicken

  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 lemon
  • 6 cream or plain crackers , such as Jacob’s
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 4 sprigs fresh Italian parsley
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 heaping Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg , preferably free-range or organic
  • 2 skinless chicken breast fillets , preferably free-range or organic
  • Olive oil

Directions:

To prepare your chicken: Peel the garlic and zest the lemon. Put your crackers into a food processor with the butter, garlic, parsley sprigs, lemon zest and a pinch of salt and pepper. Whiz until the mixture is very fine, then pour these crumbs on to a plate. Sprinkle the flour on to a second plate. Crack the egg into a small bowl and beat with a fork. Lightly score the underside of the chicken breasts. Put a square of plastic wrap over each one and bash a few times with the bottom of a pan until the breasts flatten out a bit. Dip the chicken into the flour until both sides are completely coated, then dip into the egg and finally into the flavored crumbs. Push the crumbs on to the chicken breasts so they stick—you want the meat to be totally coated.

To cook your chicken: You can either bake or fry the chicken. If baking, preheat your oven to its highest temperature (475°), place your chicken on a sheet pan and cook for 15 minutes. If frying, put a frying pan on a medium heat, add a few good lugs of olive oil and cook the chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until cooked through, golden and crisp.

To serve your chicken: Either serve the chicken breasts whole, or cut them into strips and pile them on a plate. Beautiful and simple served with a lemon wedge for squeezing over, and a tiny sprinkling of salt. Great with a lovely fresh salad or simply dressed veggies.

This recipe is taken from Jamie’s Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver (Hyperion). ?? Jamie Oliver, 2009

Children Save Us

CHAT (Center for Hmong Art and Talent), a local non-profit has one of the best names for an after school program I have ever heard–“Art Saves Us.” I love this name, it feels good just to say it and it smacks of truth. Young people can participate in any number of specified programs ranging from break dancing and rap to writing. During the course they will create their own masterpiece to perform at the end of class.

As adults art still saves us, but I believe it comes in different forms. I am no longer considered youth, some may still consider me young adult but I am steadily moving out of that category as well. Last night I went to my brother-in-laws surprise 30th birthday party. Next year it will be my turn. My sister-in-law who is the same age says that she is just worrying about 29 and isn’t ready for 30 but I am there. I told my mom, “I already accomplished what I wanted to in life so bring on 30.” My mom acted surprised and said, “You already accomplished what you wanted to?” I said, “Well yeah–I’m a mom.”

It may sound simplistic but while I have gone off on occasional tangents this has been my goal. How lucky I am to find my soul mate whose life goal was to be dad. Of course we would love a farm, we would love to continue working to change the world through the local good supply, I would love to write a book, but when all is said and done the children are what saved me. They saved me from myself, from perpetually (and futilly) looking for the next thing that would bring me happiness, whether it was the next purchase or project or honor. I have discovered the more you seek to make yourself happy the more you need to be happy. Simple things are harder to find pleasing.

There is an art of raising children, the art of giving fully of yourself. If you can embrace that everything else in life will have a simple, unsurpassed beauty. Of course there are other ways to learn to give fully of yourself, but few rival the demands of child rearing. I have my soul mate by my side, we have a challenging and fulfilling career together raising 3 (soon to be 4 children) and for me nothing else really matters. Bring on 30!

Gate Keeper of the Home

This weekend has been an emotionally charged one. I grew up in what I believed was an extremely close extended family. We gathered nearly every week after church on Sabbath, or on Friday night for the start of the Sabbath and sit and talk and relax and just enjoy each other. Then about 7 years ago it all fell apart. It is a really long story, complete recovery is no longer possible at least from a human standpoint.

However over the past couple of years a tentative truce had been called and we were at least able to be cordial and spend time together at holidays and birthdays. Last year we all got together at my parent’s house for Christmas, a first since the trouble began.

Then last Thursday it all erupted again. Since then I have been dealing with all sorts of negative emotions–feelings of betrayal and abandonment, regret, frustration, helplessness, fury, loss, deep sadness, confusion, and even hate. It has been exhausting and draining. In addition I have been raising 3 young children, nursing a husband back to health and growing a baby. At times it has felt impossible to move, or get around, or get over the deep pain I feel over what has happened to my family, and it scares me for what it means for my children and immediate family.

Then the Lord gently reminded me, that I do not have to feel these emotions, I do not have to be stuck in them, I can give them to the Lord and move. This is extremely important because I, as mother, am the “Gate Keeper of the Home” to protect my children and family it is my job to keep the negative and evil out and when I let these emotions in my own mind I am not fulfilling my calling.

Above Rubies has a great study guide called, Gate-Keepers of the Home: How to Guard your Home it is a “study manual on the twelve gates of Jerusalem that Nehemiah and the Israelites repaired and relating them to building and guarding the gates of our homes.” The study asserts that in traditional societies while men had their place of leadership outside of the home, women guarded the home, the children and in essense the welfare of the men and the whole culture.

“Just as it was a honor to be chosen to be an elder and sit in the gates of the city, so it is an honorable position to guard the gates of your home. It may not be admirable in the eyes of society, but it is very important in the eyes of God. It is a God-ordained mandate.”

So now I must move on, reclaim my duty and and probably review the study. I don’t know what this means for my extended family, but I know with a certainty that I must focus on my children, raise them for the Lord and trust that the Lord if He so chooses can even redeem this dire situation.

Proeun is Back to Work!

Today is Proeun’s first day back to work after throwing his back out a week ago Saturday. That first weekend was really a scary experience for us as nothing that severe had happened to either one of us. Then of course you feel really vulnerable, like anything could throw your back out. I remember when I broke my leg in High School playing soccer. It was hard to mentally recover from the injury because I just felt so weak for so long after it.

Luckily Proeun is a strong guy and through analyzing what led up to the incident together and with the help of his chiropractor we are working on a plan to heal, strengthen and move on.

As the only healthy adult in the house for the past week it has been difficult to take on extra duties, especially while dealing with morning (all day) sickness. At least it gave me an opportunity to be thankful for my health. One thing that we are trying to do as a family is look for the positive in every situation in this one they include–enhanced appreciation of health, oodles of quality time, practice being a servant for me and the children, knowledge that you are loved no matter what condition you are in for Proeun (and I suppose for me and the children as well since we know daddy would do the same for any of us), appreciation of a good job with lots of sick time.

We need to be really careful for the rest of the year however and save up a bit of that time for the birth coming in October.  I am also thankful for the opportunity to return to a more normal schedule.

Treating the Children to a Movie

We have made a conscious effort to do as much together as a family as possible. This is not always convenient, but it is well worth it. This afternoon I went to a class for our Farmer Training Program on Record Keeping. I brought Mavis with me and Two and Avril stayed with Proeun at home. When we returned home little Mavis at 19 months was so excited to see her siblings. Avril apparently was excited to see Mavis as well. Proeun had called me to warn me the Avril was in a bad mood and asking for me. When I walked in the door with Mavis Mavis immediately went up to Avril with arms wide open. Avril stopped fussing for a while and gave Mavis a big hug.  I have seen this time and again. They are all so used to being together that if any member of the family is missing for even a brief time that person is sorely missed. Being apart is not a common thing in this house.

One sort of down side is that the children often come along to events they would rather miss. I tell myself being together as a family makes it worth it for them (as in the case of the Midwest Organic Conference). But I am not kidding myself that it does ask a lot of a 5 year old, soon to be 4 year old and 1 1/2 year old. So whenever possible we try to treat the children. This lets them know they are appreciated and loved and that we understand we are asking a lot of them.

This weekend “How to Train Your Dragon” came out. We had been watching and waiting for this movie and I knew Two in particular was really excited about the movie–and it was in 3D! So at the spur of the moment we decided to take the children to a movie

complete with popcorn and pop. The movie did set us back a bit financially (by about a tank of gas) but it was worth it to see how excited the children were at this new outing that includes fashionable eyewear.

Unfortunately the interest in the 3D feature wore off about half way through the movie for Avril and a little longer for Two. It was fun to see a movie in  3D but I think next time we may have to opt for a regular presentation just so the children don’t have to stare at a blurry screen if they want to take their glasses off.

Mavis was a little harder to keep occupied, but one good thing about doing things together–even if one person doesn’t care for the activity at least we were together.

St. Paul’s First Birth Center!

Last night, March 25th, I went to the open house of St. Paul’s first free standing birth center. Way back when I was looking for birth options with my 2nd child (after a horrible hospital experience with me first) having a birth center available would have been great. However at that time there were no centers in Minnesota and the nearest one was Menomonie, Wi about an hour and a half from our house. Now there is one right on Grand Ave.

It has a very in home feel. I have always removed my shoes in our home and most homes I visit, unless directed to leave them on by the people I am visiting.

The waiting area even takes into account the needs of the youngest family members showing that the center is really for families.

I talked with Kate Saumweber, midwifery assistant, she said that the center is really for families. The Center services families interested in homebirth as well as a center birth. “The center is often for families looking for an alternative to hospital birth but not ready for a homebirth,” Kate said, “once a woman has had a homebirth she is normally comfortable with that and doesn’t want to get in the car once she starts labor.”

I mentioned the amazing birth rooms (one pictured above), Kate laughingly replied that some woman do like to take little “vacations” at birth time to the rooms.

I have to admit when I saw the rooms I thought, “maybe I should consider this.” I mean look at this tub.

I guess I do fall into the category though of comfortable with homebirths–I have had 2 and am planning my 3rd.

I asked Kate how she got interested in being a midwife, she said, “I was going to school for music. I had no idea that midwives were a possibility. I thought they were just from the Bible. Once I found out about it I knew this was what I wanted to do.” Kate has attended around 100 births in the Twin Cities. Amy Johnson-Grass, main midwife, has attended over 350 births in the Twin Cities and practiced in Seattle for several years before coming here.

I talked with Catherine Burns, a doula and member for the Childbirth Collective. I asked if the Collective was excited about the birth center, “we are really really excited. We want famlies to have the best birth experience possible.” Burns added that the people who run the Menomonie Birth Center will open a 2nd one in St. Louis Park sometime this spring and that Abbott Northwestern Hospital plans to open one called, “My OB Home” across the street from the hospital.

In addition to a birth center also houses a yoga center, Naturally Aligned Family Chiropractic Care with Amber Moravec and Amy Johnson-Grass also practices natureopathic medicine. If you are unfamiliar with natureopathic medicine (as I am) here is a description from their website, “Naturopathic Medicine is not just the use of natural therapies; it is the art and science of individualized health care, going beyond superficial symptoms, and getting to the root cause of the illness or disease. Naturopathic physicians are primary care and specialty physicians who address the underlying cause of disease through effective, individualized natural therapies that integrate the healing powers of body, mind and spirit.”

Here’s a picture of the kid’s bed. For more information about the center go to Health Foundations.