VALENTINES DAY

Here is a quick look at what the C Monster and I were up to this week to celebrate the day of love...

We made these cake pops for a Valentines day party that was at our house for C and all his friends.  They may look complicated but it was one of the easiest things I have ever made. 

• Buy pound cake cut it up in hearts with a cookie cutter
• Stick popsicle sticks in the bottom
• Freeze overnight
• Use store bought frosting (this is important) melt it in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds on medium heat
• Once it's pretty liquidy dip your frozen cake pops in; let extra frosting drip off
• It's good if you can find a way to stand up the cake pops while they dry not to mess up the frosting on the back
• Once dry, decorate as pleased
• Store in refrigerator until ready to eat (you can pull out about an hour before)

This was Geoff Valentines day present C Monster selected the tool box and then said we need fill it with tools. When I asked what kind off tools he said tool treats.

Valentines day breakfast at the Wiseman's. Heart shaped Wow Butter and Honey sandwich with a side of chocolate dots and oranges.

NOEL...

This is not only C Monster's first Christmas in our new house but it's the first Christmas that we spend all together in Toronto as we typically go home to New Brunswick.  Here is our morning in video and pictures...

The C Monster got us up at 7am after a good night sleep....

The C Monster giving Papa his Tardis Cookie Jar.  He selected this all by himself for papa.

The aftermath...

Hot chocolate; pancakes; egg and sausage for breakfast.

Breakfast for the squirrels; they need Christmas presents too.

Thank you everyone...

Peanut Butter 4 All - Part 2

About a week ago I went on a Nut Butter kick and a new household favorite waffle recipe came out of it.

I love making waffles I find they are easier to make then pancakes and you can freeze the extras and just pop them in the toaster like a Eggo to heat them.  Best of all C Monster will eat pretty much no matter what I hide in them.  Such a sneaky mom I am.

The original recipe was from Global Gourmet and was called Peanut Butter Waffles. As always I changed it up a bit here is the recipe I came up with:

Almond Butter Waffles


Ingredients:
 1 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
 2 tbsp. baking powder
 1 tbsp. panella or brown sugar
 1/4 tsp. salt
 2 large eggs
 4 tablespoons canola oil
 2/3 cup almond butter
 1-3/4 cups milk
 2 banana, diced
 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

Directions:
1. Heat the waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. In a large bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, using a whisk or with an electric mixer on low speed, beat the eggs, oil, almond butter, and milk until foamy, about 1 minute. Pour the peanut butter-milk mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened and smooth. Fold in the diced banana.
3. cook as per your waffle iron's directions
4. Enjoy with real maple syrup

Looking Forward Too

Crossing all the items off my to do list... (it's getting long :-)

Menu planning? / art / and a bit more

Menu Planning - What's that?

I was asked by a reader a few weeks back -  "What does a meal plan look like in the wiseman house??How do you find the time to make everything??"

Lets start by answering the first question.  I will address the second half in tomorrow's post. We don't have a menu plan.  I used to plan all the meals every second Friday; then make sure the groceries were all bought and so on.  I found that I was spending too much time researching what to cook and then things would happen and the planned meals were not mad; then food would be wasted.  So sometime over this last winter I stopped pre-planning my meals.  I like it better this way - some of my best cooking comes from just opening the fridge and getting inspired but what's in there.

To give you an idea of what C Monster eats (he does not always eat what we do - he is 2 and 2 year olds are picky - at least mine is) I decided for the next 3 days I will post a diary of everything that goes in his mouth plus recipes if applicable.  As you will notice as you read C Monster food intact we are not perfect he also eats a lot of crap - well sometimes.

Saturday April 3rd - C Monster's Food Diary

Breakfast: 

Organic Spelt Waffles with Organic Maple Syrup 

Strawberry & Kale Smoothie

Breastmilk

Morning Snack:

12-14 Organic Raw Unsalted Cashews

1 PCO Toddler Berry Granola Bar

Strawberry & Kale Smoothie (left over from breakfast)

Lunch:  

He refused to eat

Glass of Organic Almond Milk

Breastmilk

Afternoon Snack:

Kiju Organic Apple/Grape Juice (%50 juice / %50 water)

Supper:

1/2 Slice of Cheese Pizza from Amato

Glass of Organic Almond Milk

Breastmilk

Evening Snack:

1 Square of Chocolate

1/2 Box PCO Raisins

4-6 Organic Unsalted Raw Pistachios

Homemade Herbal Iced Tea

Breastmilk

 

 Strawberry & Kale Smoothie Recipe

300g frozen strawberries (1 bag)
5 curly kale leafs vines removed
1 banana peeled
3/4 cups yogurt
1 cup apple juice
2 tbsp maple syrup

Place Strawberries in blender and crush using your blender's ice crushing mode. Once all large chunks are gone add Kale and half of the apple juice blends scraping sides occasionally until kale is mostly chopped. Add all remaining ingredient and process until smooth. Makes 3 - 4 smoothies.

I place C Monster in his sippy cup with a few ice cubes; when he done I put it in the fridge - he knows to ask for it when he wants it back.

Organic Spelt Waffles Recipe

1/3 cup Spelt flour

1/4 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup milk

1 tbsp melted butter

2 egg whites

1/4  cup plain yogurt

1/2 zuchinni, shredded 

1 1/2 tbsp mixed seeds

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. In another bowl beat the egg whites until they are just stiff peaks (it’s better that they are a little soft than over beaten). Mix all wet ingredients (minus eggs) into the dry ingredients until just combined. Preheat the waffle iron.

Add the egg whites to the bowl and fold together quickly.  Brush or spray the hot iron with a little canola oil and then cook the waffles per your iron’s instructions.

Serve with butter, and maple syrup.

Makes 5 waffles.

Art - crocodile

Yesterday C Monster did some painting; I am particularly proud of this one.  He told me it was a crocodile. I see it do you?

Coxwell &  Fairford 

After some residents in our are complained about too much trew trafic the city temporarly blocked off one section of Fairford at Coxwell - to see if it would improve things.  The youth of the neighborhood did not waste time to take over this section of pavement that is now safe for them to play in.

 

Looking Forward To

Seeing Christophe reaction to his easter egg hunt and finally building a box around our vegetable garden tomorrow.

The Weekend - Guelph Style

Saturday

With the Grain

Grandmama treated us to breakfast at With the Grain. I have to say I have mixed opinions about this little cafe both good and bad. On one side of the street is their bakery were you will find some of the best breads and pastries I have ever had that were not home made. The Bee Sting was to die for. The service was fast and friendly nothing to complain about.

Where we had a negative experience was at the cafe; we got there and their was a wait of about 15-20 minutes. This would have been less annoying if their was not some tables for 2 free and some tables for 4 with only 2 people at them - we were waiting for a table for 4. (eventually some of the patrons moved to a table of 2 and we got a table - I just wish the waitress would have asked them to if they were willing to move) While we waited Geoff tried to go order a coffee at the "to go" side of the cafe to drink while he was waiting and they said it was too complicated to keep the orders straight if he ordered his coffee from the "to go" side and then sat down in the cafe.

Once we actually got seated the service was great and so was the food. - just a few annoyances before we got or table.

Nancy & I Monster

When we go to Guelph there are always friends we try to see; it's great to see old friends and also for C Monster to get a chance to play with other toddlers.

One of the moms from my "Mommy Group" has recently moved to Guelph and C Monster had not seen his little friend since before Christmas. As I guessed correctly C Monster did not seem to remember Nancy or I Monster but that did not stop him from having a good time.

Sunday

Sick C Monster & Me

Well it's official we are sick both of us; Geoff is the only one that has eluded this nasty cold. C Monster has a fever and his nose is dripping like a faucet. This means the Visit with Kim and her family that I was oh so looking forward to is canceled. Geoff is still going to sneak out to say hi but we are grounded at grandmama's.

I want to talk about what I take when I am sick. Since I still breastfeeding the C Monster I am super careful as to what I put in my body. Many drugs are "compatible" with breastfeeding however some of the drug still passes threw to your child in your breast milk; this being said it is my belief that due to this you should try to avoid drugs all together unless necessary. Also always talk to you doctor before taking any drugs while breastfeeding - even over the counter drugs.

So what do I do to make myself more comfortable? Here is a list of the products I like and find effective. Remember I am not qualified to give medical advice, I am just a mom and this is what I find works - if you are sick for a prolonged period of time always talk to your doctor.

Thayers Slipery Elm Lozenges
These are great alternative to traditional lozenges; they help sooth an irritated throat from too much coughing.

Wedderspoon Organic Manuka Honey Lozenges with Ginger and Echinacea Active 15+
Double hitter has the healing power of Menuka Honey combined in a lozenges, these are great to suck on when your throat feels dry.

Wedderspoon 100% Raw organic Manuka Honey Active 16+
"Manuka honey is from bees who feed on the flowers of the Manuka bush, also known as the "Tea Tree" to produce a honey that has anti-bacterial properties. Tea tree oil is commonly from the related Melaleuca tree native to Australia and is used as a topical antibiotic and antifungal for wounds that fail to close." - Wikipedia

Herbal Teas I drink lots of herbal teas, the warmth is very soothing to the throat. If you are a breastfeeding mama make sure to vary the teas you drink to much of one tea could end up with a concentration of that herb or plant in your system and some herbs in large quantities are contradictory to breastfeeding. Such as: Sage; Peppermint; Ginseng; Rhubarb to name only a few.

Their is a great article about this on Kellymom.com.

Febriplex by Unda
This basically helps your body cope with a fever, we take one immediately upon onset of a fever.

Drosera Plex by Unda
This basically helps your cough be more productive.

Looking Forward

To finishing assembling C Monster Frog & for my cough to go away.

Breakfast /No Nap / Exercise / Smells Like...

Breakfast

Geoff had been asking for scones the last few weeks - "so you know the good little wife I am " - I made scones this morning. It was the first time I tried this recipe and man was it a score; definitely a keeper; C Monster even ate a little bit of a scone - and he eats noting. I found the recipe on Epicurious - Cranberry-Orange Scones; as always I modified the ingredients as follow:

1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoon grated blood orange peel
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1 blood orange peeled, seeded, sectioned and diced
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

No Nap For You

The last past few weeks have been trying on us and C Monster at bedtime; he has been going down at around 9:30 - 10pm. Because he is going down so late he is also waking up extra late around 8 - 9 am just encouraging the vicious cycle. So we decided to take advantage of the great weather to drag him outside just after lunch and keep him fully distracted and awake. That does mean it has to be with Geoff and not me because if I am around he will want to nurse and well as any nursing mother knows it will knock him out. So far so good as I write this it's almost 4pm and C Monster and Geoff have been out all afternoon in the plus 10 degree pre-spring day. All I have to say is wish us luck for tonight; because man does mama ever need her evenings with papa back.

Exercise

Well the time has come; breastfeeding alone is no longer a suitable exercise regime. Breastfeeding will burn anywhere between 200 to 600 calories a day depending on how often your child nurses. I think C Monster is starting to cut back on his milk consumption and well my waist band is noticing it. To counteract this; today while the boys were out I dug out the basement and found; cleaned and set up our exercise machine. We are pretty fortunate almost 5 years ago now my father in law got us a "gym quality" elliptical trainer; however it has been sitting in the basement gathering dust for over 3 years. Well I did 5 minutes on it today and burned 60 calories. I want to start off easy 5 minutes a day for a week then slowly bring it up to 20 minutes a day. Here is hoping for my pants sake that I stick with it.

Smells Like Home

As I am writting this the aroma in my home is magnificent - all day their have been maple baked beans simmering in the oven...