Misadventures of Being a Mom

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of May 13 – 19, 2013 Links to...

Tue, 14 May 2013 03:36:00 -0400

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of May 13 – 19, 2013

Links to recipes and sources listed if available.

Monday: Portobello Fajitas in Corn Tortillas

Tuesday: Pudla with Pepper, Mushroom, Cilantro Filling. Pudla from Kittee Burns.

Wednesday: Zucchini Fritters with Greek Salad. Fritters from New York Times.

Thursday: Buffalo Cauliflower with Sweet Potato Fries. Cauliflower from Skinny Taste.

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Tempeh (and Turkey) Tacos. Hard and soft shells. Homemade Pico.

Sunday: Tortilla Soup. Soup from Appetite for Reduction.

Mother’s Day 2013. This family of mine. In lieu of going...

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:39:00 -0400

Mother’s Day 2013.

This family of mine.

In lieu of going out to eat this morning, we walked through our local farmer’s market. Stopped at Starbucks, then walked to Trader Joe’s for champagne and orange juice.

At home, we filled the kiddie pool, and splashed and played for the rest of the morning, before grabbing Chipotle for lunch. Mimosa’s were had.

Everybody napped.

After naps, there was more pool/outside time, a family trip to the park, then more mimosas and Chinese food.

Gifts: Oliver and Ryan worked on a page in our (blank) Mother’s Day book, like they do every year, a new hair brush and a new apron.

Today was such a beautiful day, I’ve been reminiscing about my last few years as a mother. While there are times when life is much more difficult than I’ve anticipated - I wouldn’t change a thing. I only hope that someday these little know how much love I feel for them.

Not to be outdone in the cuteness dept today, Oliver ran around...

Sun, 12 May 2013 23:47:55 -0400

Not to be outdone in the cuteness dept today, Oliver ran around the house saying “Stunna Shades” with a pair of my sunglasses!

First Mother’s Day as a family of 4!

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:45:03 -0400

First Mother’s Day as a family of 4!

While I was finishing making Oliver’s lunch today, I left...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:23:00 -0400

While I was finishing making Oliver’s lunch today, I left Bina in the middle of Oliver’s bedroom with a few toys. This is what I came back to. Now she doesn’t quite crawl yet, she sort of scoot/crawls/rolls, but somehow she got over to the bed and pulled herself up.

We are in so much trouble.

Working for the Weekend

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:08:59 -0400

I’ve been in a rut. I am having a hard time writing much these days outside of Meal Planning Monday (if you can even call that writing) and My Dear Little Ones. It isn’t that we aren’t off having fun adventures, or learning new things, but I just haven’t felt like sharing I guess.

I wouldn’t say I am depressed, but I do think my hormones are finally starting to level out somewhat (or at least I have quit losing my hair, so thats a good thing!) and I’ve been feeling sort of ‘off.’ I am hoping to start another weekly feature soon, and then hopefully get back into writing about everyday stuff again.

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 29 - May 5, 2013 Links to...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:45:00 -0400

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 29 - May 5, 2013

Links to recipes and sources listed if available.

Monday: Spicy Indian Chickpea and Cauliflower Stew.

Tuesday: Zucchini “Lasagna with garden salad. Lasagna from Skinny Taste.

Wednesday: Buffalo Cauliflower with Sweet Potato Fries. Cauliflower from Skinny Taste.

Thursday: Loaded Crockpot Baked Potatoes.

Friday: TLT’s (Tempeh Lettuce Tomato) Sandwiches with Trader Joe’s Roasted Red Pepper Soup.

Saturday: Stuffed Salmon, Kale, Asparagus (for the hubs while I go have dinner drinks with my girlfriends).

Sunday: Vegan Tot Pot Pie. Pie from Bake and Destroy.

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 22 – 28, 2013 Links to...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:24:00 -0400

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 22 – 28, 2013

Links to recipes and sources listed if available.

Monday: Beer Battered Deep Fried Avocado Tacos with Spicy Corn Relish. Tacos and Relish.

Tuesday: Tofu/Mushroom Lettuce Wraps.

Wednesday: Calzones with Garden Salads.

Thursday: Homemade Veggie Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries. Burgers from Homemade Pantry.

Friday: Baked Spaghetti with Garlic Bread.

Saturday: Spinach, Mushroom, Refried Bean Quesadillas

Sunday: Baked Falafel with Greek Salad. Falafel from Appetite for Reduction.

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 15 - 21, 2013 Links to...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:31:00 -0400

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 15 - 21, 2013

Links to recipes and sources listed if available.

Monday: Zucchini Fritters with greek salads.

Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner: Pancakes, Scrambles (Tofu for me, Egg for the hubs).

Wednesday: Buffalo Cauliflower with Sweet Potato Fries.

Thursday: Spicy Peanut Tofu with broccoli over Brown Rice.

Friday: Slow Cooked Black Bean Chili.

Saturday: Big Fat Taco Salad.

Sunday: Spicy Lentil and Vegetable Soup with homemade rye bread.

—This week I am also making homemade graham crackers from Alana Chernila’s The Homemade Pantry

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 8 - 14, 2013 Links to...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:34:35 -0400

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 8 - 14, 2013

Links to recipes and sources listed if available.

Monday: Leftover’s and Must-Go’s.

Tuesday: Tempeh Tacos with Pico De Gallo

Wednesday: Homemade Pizza with Bread Machine Pizza Dough. Pineapple, Jalapeño red onion for me. Pepperoni, Jalapeño, and red onions for the hubs. Cheese for Oliver.

Thursday: Vegetable and Tofu Stir Fry over Quinoa “fried rice”

Friday: Buffalo Seitan, Sweet Potato Fries, and Carrots and Celery

Saturday: Sliced Portobello Salad with Spicy Mustard Dressing

Sunday: Vegetarian (Seitan) Gyros with a greek salad. Inspiration for Gyros here.

Super Easy Vegan Mac and Cheez

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:27:00 -0400

This has been my go-to recipe over the years. I recently I tweaked a few ingredients to make it gluten free, and seriously - I think it is now the best tasting Cheez sauce I have ever made. The sauce comes together in under 10 minutes. This recipe makes A LOT, so I usually end up freezing half since of it since I can’t eat that much all at once.

Ingredients:

1.5 cups plain soy milk

1/2 cup water

1 cup vegetable broth

1.5 cups nutritional yeast

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1.5 tablespoons salt

1 block firm (NOT silken) tofu

1 cup vegetable or canola oil

1 tablespoon mustard

1.5 pounds pasta of your choice (I usually use whole wheat rotini, but have used corn pasta to make it gluten free)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit

2. Begin to boil water to cook pasta as directed

3. Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth, 5 - 7 minutes.

4. Once pasta is cooked, drain and put into a casserole dish. Pour sauce on top. I give the dish a good wiggle, then few turns of the pasta with a spatula to combine.

5. Bake for 15-18 minutes until top is slightly brown and crisp.

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 1 - 7, 2013 Links to...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:16:00 -0400

Meal Planning Mondays - Week Of April 1 - 7, 2013

Links to recipes and sources listed if available.

Monday: Grilled Vegetable Panini’s with (Trader Joe’s) Roasted Red Peper Soup.

Soak Brown Rice.

Tuesday: Chickpea & Vegetable Curry (Carrot, Cauliflower, Onion, and Peas) over Brown Rice. Inspired by The Vegan Stoner.

Soak Black Beans.

Wednesday: Tofu, Bell Peppers, and Spinach over Udon Noodles.

Make Black Beans.

Thursday: Big Fat Black Bean Taco Salad with Homemade Corn Salsa. Salsa Recipe can be found here.

Friday: Tortila Soup with Homemade Jalapeño Cheese Bread. Tortilla Soup Recipe Inspired by the one in Appetite for Reduction. Bread Recipe found here.

Put together Mexican Casserole.

Saturday: Mexican Casserole (for the hubs).

Mom’s NIghts Out for this lady!

Sunday: Chimichurri Quinoa & Corn Patties with Avocado over shredded romaine. Patties recipe found here.

Top: Easter 2013. Bottom: Easter 2012. Promised the hubs I would...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 03:10:00 -0400

Top: Easter 2013.

Bottom: Easter 2012.

Promised the hubs I would reel in the craziness of last years’ baskets.

This year, considering there are gifts from my Mom, the cellophane packages are also gifts, a basket for my favorite couple (who are joining in our festivities), and we have an additional basket for Bina’s first Easter - I think I did pretty well!

This is the mantra of my dear cousin, sanfranciscochic in...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 02:43:52 -0400

This is the mantra of my dear cousin, sanfranciscochic in celebration this week. But I must say, this is almost always my mantra - just because :)

Oliver loved the Easter egg hunt.

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:42:50 -0400

Oliver loved the Easter egg hunt.

Albina’s first Easter party.

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:28:00 -0400

Albina’s first Easter party.

Vegan Cookies and Cream Cupcakes I slightly modified the recipe...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:17:01 -0400

Vegan Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

I slightly modified the recipe used in Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Recipe as follows.

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

1 cup coconut milk (the kind in the carton with the other non-dairy “milks”)

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

10 coarsely chopped vegan cookies such as Newman’s O’s or Oreos

6 cookies cut in half for topping/decoration

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line muffin pan with paper liners.

2. Whisk together the coconut milk and apple cider vinegar in a large bowl. Wait a few minutes to let curdle.

3. Add the sugar, oil, and vanilla to coconut milk and beat until foamy.

4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat until no large lumps remain.

5. Fold in chopped cookies and pour into liners, filling 3/4 full. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Transfer to cooling rack and let cool completely.

Once cool, frost generously, and top with half a cookie.

Frosting

1/2 cup nonhydrogenated shortening

1/2 cup nonhydrogenated margarine (like Earth Balance)

3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup coconut milk (the kind in the carton with the other non-dairy “milks”)

12 coarsely chopped vegan cookies such as Newman’s O’s or Oreos

1. Beat margarine and shortening until well-combined and fluffy.

2. Add sugar and beat for 3 more minutes.

3. Add the vanilla and milk, beat for another 5 to 7 minutes until fluffy.

4. Fold in chopped cookies until well combined.

Tea/juice date at Starbucks while waiting for my car to get...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:57:17 -0400

Tea/juice date at Starbucks while waiting for my car to get fixed down the street.

Of course O decided he liked my ice tea better than the carrot/orange/mango juice he picked so I (begrudgingly) switched.

The only way I know how. Yesterday was one of the half dozen...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:46:46 -0400

The only way I know how.

Yesterday was one of the half dozen times a year I cook meat for Ryan. I made him corned beef, braised cabbage, and mashed potatoes. I partook in the cabbage and potatoes, and, of course, a little bit of Jameson.

This morning while we were waiting for Ryan, I turned around to...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:18:56 -0400

This morning while we were waiting for Ryan, I turned around to see this. Oh, sibling love. These two just melt my heart.