Labor Day Lesson

Initially I was planning a go live date of yesterday, but well life changed a bit.  Everyone in our family has been sick and the house has grown tired...I'm not kidding I think even the stone foundation may start to droop.  In the midst of it all, a very wise person asked me this weekend what I did for just me this Summer.  I was stunned into silence and I am a talker so that says something.  I had no answer...none.  Still having trouble, unless you count a badly overdue and needed haircut.  As I sit here and stew, I can come up with one thing.  I read two books....two WHOLE books mind you.  In mom world, of trying to be almost everything I deem important, this is huge.  Oh and I enjoyed them and did not read them for work.  So, apparently there is something important to one's psyche of doing things just for yourself.  Yes, I could have written a blog entry last night as originally intended and gone live on the internet...doing away with this silly practice-blogging-pretending-to-have-an-audience style of writing (Secretly I  picture all of my pretend audience in your underwear to dispel my stage freight...some of you should consider having a little more fun with your underwear apparel).  Instead, I enjoyed the recent break in our 100 + degree weather to sit on our sun porch, drink a glass of wine, eat previously prepared lentil soup and homemade bread, while being a human again with D.  By that I mean, the two of us just talking without interruption (this was after Mr. B was asleep).  Yes, there was silliness and joking and laughter and smiles.  In short, it felt great and not just because I was skipping school or the equivalent of this in blogger world. 

The Compromise: Disappointing blog audience self by not fulfilling deadline.

The Sweet Reward: Reconnecting with spouse on a beautiful night and learning an important lesson to do things just for me without worrying about everything else.

I celebrate my go live day with this important lesson that we all need to remember that we are 
Human Beings and not Human Doings!!!!

A hard lesson for me so if you struggle with it too, you have my support and sympathies.

Now go focus on the Being and do a good deed for you.

Love,
Tracy

Perfect Family Restaurant

Honestly, never thought that a restaurant review would be fitting for my blog, but I was compelled to tell you about this place.  To say the service was amazing would be too generalized and minimizing.  Just imagine a larger table that was half children.  Various staff were helpful and responsive to our particular needs in a manner that was quick, without prompting from us, and smooth.  Thus, I am left with the impression that the staff were well trained in the finer aspects of the vocation whether it was cleaning up water spilt on the table by my kiddo faster than even I could respond or returning a toy dropped on the floor before we realized it was missing.  I was impressed with the care given to the parent's needs including keeping my coffee cup filled with amazing strong but not bitter brew (reminiscent of good restaurant coffee from a past era).  Oh and the food was so good.  It was well prepared, well seasoned.  The menu included breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, meatloaf, plenty of vegetarian options.  Even the side salad looked good (and at a diner).  We did not have a special drink, but I will add that they have milkshakes as well as alcohol.  And on a side note, the diaper changer had a working safety belt and was well stocked with disposable liners for sanitation.  And the kids were entertained by the juke box; funny since they have probably never heard of Patsy Cline.  So, if you are ever in the St. Louis area and need a restaurant to please anyone and has an attentive staff finely tuned to handle kiddos (by the way, patrons were of all ages and situations), then you should head to City Diner on South Grand.  I know many others have reviewed this place, but I went this time with the new perspective as a parent. Here is a website to find out more.

http://www.saucemagazine.com/citydiner/

The Compromise:  Finding a place where parents can actually relax and enjoy their dinners while having kiddos in tow.  Or simply said, adjusting to eating out with children.

 The Sweet Reward: Someone else did the dishes and I have another new trick...Fill a snack trap with cubed tofu (next time though I will use firm style for less mess) and cubed fruit or vegetable (Mr. B enjoyed nectarine) to keep him busy, contain the food even without a tray on the highchair, and give him nutritious food on the go.

I chose this snack trap link not to promote the website, but because it shows the lid to give you an idea how it works.  This product is well worth the purchase although some clever kids may figure out how to remove the lid and spill the contents, nothing in kiddo world is full proof :)
http://www.amazon.com/Pack-Snack-Trap-colors-vary/dp/B0009FIMPG

Tempeh, aka Crunchewy

I know crunchewy is a buzz word right now, but it really does describe a protein we love and it is so good for you and so easy.  First, buy Tempeh.  No worries most grocery stores have it now.  Check the vegetarian section in the produce isle.  If not, healthy food stores will have it for sure.  The best part is that you cut the slab into desired pieces with any somewhat sharp knife and its ready to go.  I love to bake it to get that crunchewy texture that satisfies your hunger and mouth feel that tells you it is a protein.  I like it too because it is not a wolf in sheep's clothing, in that it is not pretending to be a carnivores meat, which means there is no fakeness about it. The health value is astonishing. Check this out http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/g/Tempeh.htm and http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4381/2

So, the other night I wanted a satisfying but easy to prep portein to pare with The Armored Turnips D had prepared earlier in the week. 

First open the tempeh and cut into planks with a semi sharp knife. This time I marinated the tempeh in the juice of half a lemon (the lemon juice will help your body absorb the iron more readily) and 1 1/2 teaspoons of soy sauce.  I would have doubled the soy sauce and maybe added ginger and garlic if this had been an Asian dish, but not that night.  Let it set while cutting 2 medium onions into strips.

 Spread on a cookie sheet, drizzle with favorite oil, and bake until done about 35 minutes in 350 degree oven.  (See my pretty heirloom tomato.  Had to savor that one since the yield was so low this year.

When nice and brown and onions are somewhat carmelized and still partly white to maintain a good texture, take out and enjoy. 

This time we dipped them in homemade BBQ sauce.  Mr. B learned how to dip his food with this dinner.  Now, he wants to dip everything.  I'm not sure if I will regret this lesson, but he is so cute and I love that little things like dipping his food make him so happy.

Oh, at last minute I spread some more onion and bell peppers on a cookie sheet to add to our vege intake and overall yum.  The cheesy discs you see in the front are the Armored Turnips with carrots thrown in from our garden.

Try tempeh!!!

The compromise:  May need to buy this ingredient in specialty store and does cost more than regular tofu.

The Sweet Reward:  Amazing nutrition, great texture, easy, could be cut with a butter knife, and fun for all ages to dip this un-fake vege protein.

Uncompromising protein satisfaction,
Tracy