Meatless Monday

     Apparently it's not Monday anymore, because it's late, but I always say "It's not tomorrow till I go to sleep and wake up!" I'm actually going to start this cleverly titled article with a dinner I made Saturday night, not Monday. :P I've been wanting to try some new recipes, and have been scouring the internet for healthy and inexpensive meal ideas. It shouldn't come as a surprise that about half of the meals I found to make did not call for any meat. Meat can be expensive, and when used for dinner every night, that can end up costing quite a bit more than you and your wallet might like.

Minestrone

"a rich thick vegetable soup usually with dried beans and pasta (as macaroni or vermicelli)" -- Merriam Webster Dictionary

The recipe I followed for this was found from the well-loved Better Homes & Garden's website, http://www.bhg.com/recipe/minestrone/.

Ingredients

• 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
• 2 cups water
• 1 (14-15 oz) can cangarbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained [the cheapest can I found was actually 19 oz. yea!]
• 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth [I chose chicken]
• 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, OR each of dried basil and garlic powder [I chose option two]
• 1 cup dry rigatoni or penne pasta
• 2-3 cups baby spinach
• Shaved Parmesan and/or fresh basil, for topping (optional) [I used an Italian cheese blend that had parmesan, mozzarella, asiago, and romano in it, since I had it on hand already.]

Directions

• In a dutch oven combine the tomatoes, water, beans, broth, yellow pepper, seasoning, and pasta. Bring to boiling over high heat then reduce heat to medium. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until pasta is barely tender.
• Stir in spinach. Ladle into soup bowls. Top with Parmesan cheese and/or fresh basil.

It really wasn't complicated to make at all, and was quite delicious! One thing I might change when I make it in the future is to have people stir the spinach into their individual servings, because with the way it wilts into the soup, it really is best eaten right away, which can pose a slight problem if you have leftovers. I've mentioned the economic value of going meatless at least one or two nights a week, well, I decided to add up the amounts of ingredients used and divide it by the servings. The recipe says it makes 4 servings, but really, I had a couple bowls the night I made it, and then Nate and I each had a couple bowls for lunch after church, and I also had a bowl of it for lunch today. . . . 7 servings?! 

• 8 oz. broth - .66
• 3/4 of a yellow pepper - $1.75
• 28 oz. can of tomatoes - $1.88
• Penne Pasta - .75
• Chickpeas - 1.06
• Baby Spinach - 1.69

divided by 4 servings was $1.90, but since it was more like 7 servings for us, it was a lot closer to a $1 a bowl! Try cooking at home with some vitamin-rich, veggie-filled recipes and see how good you feel and how happy you make your wallet. I'd love to hear about it!

Tilapia, two ways

So, a month ago I made some delicious tilapia with a grape chutney . . . or "fruit sauce", as Nate calls it, since "no one knows what 'chutney' is." I had a college roommate who was a culinary student. I'm pretty sure some people know what chutney is. :)
The recipe that served as my inspiration is from the Better Homes & Gardens website.
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/chicken/tilapia-with-grape-chutney/

Ingredients:
4 fillets of sole or tilapia ( I only cooked 3, because I was splitting up a package of six fillets, and am only feeding two. . . or two and a half, as some might say.)
salt
ground black pepper
2 tablespoons cooking oil (I used olive oil, I believe)
1/2 cup tropical fruit bits
1/3 cup sliced green onions (omitted)
1/3 cup apricot fruit spread

Directions:

1. Thaw fish, if frozen (mine was). Rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In your skillet heat oil over medium-high heat; add fish. Cook fish for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until it easily flakes when tested with a fork. Chop grapes in half while fish is cooking. [I actually did my fruit chopping before putting the fish in the skillet, because I did not want to feel rushed and have my fish burn! Cooking is always smoother when any prep work is done ahead. It is good to thoroughly read your recipe before starting.] 
3. Transfer the fish to a plate and keep warm [I threw some foil over it to keep it warm]. Add grapes, fruit bits, fruit spread, and green onions to the skillet. Cook and stir for two minutes. [Some bits of the fish might have stuck to the skillet when cooking, that is ok, it will get mixed in with the chutney and be delicious. Trust me.] Season to taste with salt and pepper. Server sauce over fish, and enjoy. The recipe suggested serving over brown rice, but we just had some spring lettuce mix on the side.

I followed it pretty closely, with a few exceptions when it came to the ingredients. Instead of apricot fruit spread, I used orange marmalade (I already had it on hand). I could not find a bag of tropical fruit tidbits, so I bought some chunks of dried pineapple that I chopped into smaller pieces, and this worked just as well. I also did not use green onions. Not really a big green onion fan, and didn't want to buy some for just one recipe. We did have some cilantro, so I chopped that up to put in my chutney. The picture was taken on Nate's phone, and can't figure out how to get it on, when I do, I will edit to show you the finished product.

The other three fillets had been in my freezer since I had made that dinner a month ago. Every time I would open the freezer door they would remind me they were still there and that I needed to make another fish dinner that was as equally delicious as the last one. I'm not even a big big fish eater, and truth be told, I don't believe Nate is much of a fish fan either. I bought the fish because it was on sale, and fish is good for you. :)
Tonight I made foil-baked tilapia with a lemon-garlic butter. This is what my mom called a "girl scout dinner" when I was describing it to her over the phone. On the back of the fish package it gives instructions for bake or broiling. It says to wrap the fish in foil and heat for 12-15 minutes in an oven preheated between 350 and 400 F. Well, I knew better than to just put fish in foil and heat it up. For someone who isn't big on fish, that didn't sound too appetizing. I know that lemon juice goes well with seafood, so I wondered what I could do with that. Went to handy-dandy Google and found a couple different recipes that I blended together, and added my own twist to.
Foil baked tilapia with lemon-garlic butter
Ingredients:
4 fillets of tilapia (I used 3. 1 and 1/2 in two foil packets)
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon of lemon juice (it could have used another for more of a lemony flavor)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
dashes of salt, pepper, & cayenne pepper [the recipe I looked at called for paprika. One red spice is as good as another, right? ;) ], and a pinch of parsley
a little bit of thinly sliced vegetables (I used bell pepper, onion, and baby carrots that I cut in quarters length-wise. Squash, zucchini, or other such vegetables might work just as well.)

Directions:
In a saucepan combine the garlic, butter, lemon juice, salt, pepper, parsley, and cayenne. Once melted, spread a little bit of butter sauce onto prepared foil [when I say "prepared" I mean "a piece of foil large enough to fit the fish, and be folded over, turned up on the ends, so the butter won't run away"]. After spreading a tiny bit of the butter down, you will then layer the vegetables evenly and place each filet on top of the vegetables. Drizzle the rest of the butter sauce over the fillets and then fold up the foil and put in the oven (preheated to 350 or 375) for 12-15 minutes. Once the fish is in the oven, start on some rice to accompany it. Normally when I make rice it is just water with rice, but the bag does suggest an optional tablespoon of butter. I thought this would taste good with the savory fish. Yup! It did. :D

Before, ready to be folded up and placed in the oven!

After. so beautiful and delicious.

This is dedicated to my dear friend, college roommate, and foodie, Emily Bearden. :)

What is your birth plan? Part 1 -- Where?

     Not long ago this would be looked at as a silly question. The obvious answer being "I'm going to go to the hospital after laboring at home for a bit, and the doctor will deliver my baby after I labor for some time at the hospital. I'm sure they will give me something for the pain too, most likely an epidural -- I hear they work really well. . ."

There is a lot more publicity nowadays about the many different options women have when giving birth. There are options regarding where you will give birth, who will be there to help you deliver your baby, and options about how you will deliver your baby. Many of these options have always been available, but since the 1920s when going to the hospital to have your baby with a doctor started to become more common, many other options have gotten forgotten about.

 Where are you giving birth? What are the options?

• The hospital. The most common place nowadays to give birth is in the labor & delivery ward of your local hospital. Many hospitals have taken great strides in making it as comfortable a place to give birth as possible. It used to be that there would be separate rooms for laboring, delivering, and recovering, but many hospitals now have "birthing suites" where everything takes place all in one room. The baby is sometimes even allowed and encouraged to room-in with the mother during their stay in the hospital after the birth, rather than being taken to a nursery. 
• Pros:
•  Access to medical staff in the case of an emergency complication during or after the labor & delivery.
• It is the safest place for a woman with a high-risk pregnancy, or history of complications during previous pregnancies.
• No need for an emergency transfer in the case that a surgery (or other medical intervention) is needed.
•  Cons: 
• The mother will have to travel to another location to give birth while in labor. If her labor is a fast one, or she is farther from the hospital, she might not make it in time.
• A hospital birth is more expensive than other options (though most insurance companies will cover a majority of the cost).
• It could be seen as a less-comfortable option, since the mother is out of her "element" and many people feel uncomfortable simply setting foot in a hospital.
• Many women who give birth in a hospital setting end up getting pressured into interventions (pitocin, epidural, episiotomy, forceps/vacuum delivery, cesarean section delivery) that was not needed or desired in their original plan.
• The home. Laboring in your bathtub (or birthing tub) full of warm water, giving birth in your bedroom or living room.
• Pros:
• The mother might be more relaxed in an atmosphere she is more familiar with. What is more comforting and familiar than your own home?
• There is no need to travel to a separate location to give birth.
• The least expensive option. You certainly aren't going to charge yourself a fee to give birth at your own home. :)
• The mother might feel more control in regards to possible interventions, and her care provider respecting her birth plan.

• Cons: 
• In case the need for a surgeon arises, the mother would need an emergency transfer to the nearest hospital.
• While it is inexpensive to give birth at home, some insurance companies might not cover a home birth, so it would need to be paid for out-of-pocket by the parents.
• The part of the house where the birth took place will need to be cleaned afterwards. This is most often done by the father and birth team (midwife and other helpers), not the mother. Her job is to care for the baby! :)
• The birth center. A comfortable, home-like atmosphere that is either connected to or independent of the local hospital. Independent birth centers are run either by licensed or CNMs, certified nurse midwives (I will get to them in part 2). Hospital birth centers would have doctors and/or CNMs providing the care for the mother and baby.
• Pros:  
• This is looked at as a nice middle-ground between the two previous options, for mothers looking for a comfortable, home-like atmosphere who don't want to give birth at their own home.
• The independent birth center is less-expensive than a hospitable birth, and insurance companies are more willing to help with the cost (unlike home births).
• Whether independent or part of a hospital, women who give birth at birth centers are typically closer to medical personnel, if an emergency arises.
• Cons:
• There is a need to travel to a separate location to give birth during labor.
• Unless it is a birth center connected to the hospital, it might not be the best choice for a woman experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, or certain labor complications.

I am planning on giving birth at an independent birth center. Where did you give birth? What were your reasons? Did I forget any?

Long Time No Write. . .

SO yeah, apparently it's been over a year since my last blog entry. A lot has happened in the past year.

A few big highlights. . .

•  I graduated from Bob Jones University on May 4, 2012, with an Associates of Science in Christian Ministries (and no. . . that does not mean I want to be, or am qualified to be a pastor. There is a lot more to ministering in a church setting than being a minister. Counseling, administrative work, teaching, etc. . .).
• I married the love of my life in a beautiful church wedding on Dec. 21, 2012. It wasn't the end of the world, like people had thought, based on the Mayan calendar, but rather the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of me and my man. We were blessed to have his dad (an ordained pastor) perform the ceremony and to have our closest friends and family be there with us as our groomsmen and bridesmaids. It was a simple ceremony & reception compared to others' weddings, but it was perfect just the same, because at the end of the night, I was married to my best friend, and that's what counts, right? The most unique part of my wedding was that Chick-fil-A hosted our first dinner date as a married couple. We went from the reception to the Chick-fil-A where I had worked, where we had a special dinner (white tablecloth and candles included) of waffle fries, grilled chicken with salad, their fresh lemonade, and even sparkling grape juice. I had a mini sundae and Nate had a cookies n cream shake after the meal. It was wonderful to see everyone and say one final goodbye to everyone who couldn't make it to the wedding. 
• Wedding tip - don't change into "going away clothes" before heading to the hotel, if you did not reserve a special room. When checking in, the guy at the desk noticed Nate wearing his tux and asked if he had come from a wedding or something. He said "yes, my bride is out in the car." The desk clerk upgraded our room to a bigger suite for no additional charge, and congratulated us as we carried in our bags. :)
• Nate graduated from Bob Jones University on May 3, 2013, with a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry. His next step in to be ordained as a pastor the last Sunday of July, and for us to find a church desiring him to be their youth pastor. He has a heart for youth (teens, and even the younger kids too). He is patient with children, and shows interest when they tell him things. He desires to help teens grow closer to the Lord and live for Him while living in a world where it is easy to get distracted by peer pressure and temptations that Satan likes to entice many with as being "fun, innocent, and harmless."

Things Coming Up. . .

        Well, as mentioned, we are still a bit unsure of where we are headed. We have goals and ambitions, and are looking forward to seeing them come to fruition, but until then, we greatly covet prayers regarding our next steps. One big thing that we are both looking forward to is the arrival of our first child this coming fall. We found out we were expecting after only 3 weeks of wedded bliss. It was (and still is) a bit overwhelming. But God does have a plan, and His timing is greater than ours ever could be. He knows the big picture, and we are trusting that everything will work out, be it baby or job related. Matthew 6:26-34. He knows our needs, and as His children, will take care of us. We have even seen prayers answered in just the short half-year that we have been married! 

A Tribute To My Mother

     There is a yahoo article where the ignorant question of "what do stay-at-home-moms really do all day?" gets answered. It is a good article, except for language near the bottom of it, and the fact that the toddler and her friend (one of which is still in diapers) is in ballet. The reason I don't agree with the whole ballet at age two thing is that I can't imagine many dance studios taking an non-potty-trained student, or one who is prone to tantrums and short attention spans all day long. . . I know because I was a dancer myself. Anyway, Yahoo always has a comment section at the bottom of their articles. One woman addressed a question to SAHM (stay-at-home-moms). This is a question I will answer here in my blog, rather than on Yahoo.com. I feel it is one that needs to be answered and I have seen first-hand what a SAHM does!

    "SAHMs-- I understand that you're super busy if your child is still young, but what will you do when your child gets to junior high and high school, when they can be entrusted with some responsibility to take care of themselves between the hours of 3 and 6ish? I believe it's best for younger children to have a parent around as much as possible, but I have met a mom who actually got pretty insulted when I asked what she does as a homemaker taking care of her kids.. when her son is 16. I didn't mean to insult her-- I just wanted to know what she does all day with a child that old. When I was younger, my mother worked full time, but the house stayed clean, and there was always food when we were teenagers, because my siblings and I were responsible enough not to mess up the house. :) When I have a kid, I would want to spend a lot of time at home, because I think it's important for a young child to have someone there all the time, but if he or she gets to be in junior high or high school, I need something else to do-- like work. So, if you're still a SAHM when your kid's a teenager... what do you do?"

 Answer: 

      My mom was not "merely" a SAHM, but a homeschooling mom. My two brothers and I never "went" to a traditional school (well, older brother did for a couple years out of his 13, but anyway. . .). She had to make sure we were getting our schoolwork done (which meant helping us with things we didn't understand as we got older, but was a lot more involved when we were younger. And I admit, none of us were as studious and obedient as we should have been.), cooking, doing dishes, laundry, going grocery shopping, paying the bills (in person, because she's old fashioned like that), driving me to dance classes from the time I was 5(by the time I was 11 dance was twice a week), driving my brothers to basketball practice, taking us on field trips (sometimes by ourselves, sometimes with our homeschool support group), taking us to outsourced school classes over an hour away (things like science and art), mowing the lawn, sewing dresses for me. We (the kids) helped in the area of dishes, laundry, and cooking when we could, or needed to, but other than that it was all put on her since my dad was a submariner in the Navy, and away at sea for multiple months at a time. 

      She did not take the break that many seem to take when her youngest turned five by sending him off to school. When her youngest was five she was teaching him to read, while helping her seven year old with her handwriting lesson, and her ten year old with his math. And lets not forget the phone calls everyday. I'm sure people thought that she was not doing much and surely had time to help them out with their problems. This woman asks about teenagers. . . let's fast forward to when my mother's children were all teenagers, ages fourteen, sixteen, and nineteen. The oldest was not in high school anymore, although he was working and taking classes at community college (thankfully he had his own car). The younger two were still in school, dance, and basketball, and on top of that, work was added to the list (my younger brother and I started work at age fourteen, or before, if you count yard work and babysitting. . .), all of those, except for school of course, were all things she needed to drive them to. She would drive us half an hour (one way) to take us to church every Sunday (sometimes just in the morning, sometimes also at night). School also did not ever seem to end for the year, because, as I mentioned earlier, her children were not as studious as they should have been. (Sorry, Mom!) Whenever the teens wanted to get together with friends who were not in the neighborhood their mother always drove them to the friends' houses, because the other mothers were too busy, weather was too bad, or some other reason. It is a wonder she ever had time to play a quick game of minesweeper on the computer, read her Christian romance novels, or go for a 2-5 mile run (doesn't everyone need a break "after work"?) . . . . I don't know why, but someone would always call, or one child teen would tattle about what another did to hurt them right as she was going into the shower, while in the shower, or right after getting out of the shower.

      My mom is now the mother of a twenty-one year old, almost twenty-three year old, and a twenty-six year old. None are at home. The oldest is now in the army, the middle child is finishing up college and trying to plan her wedding, and the youngest lives five hours away while still figuring out what he wants to be when he grows up. She recently got a job at a fabric and crafting store. She was not just "trying to keep busy" when she sewed for her home and her family. She was showing her family that she loved them, which in essence, helped her build up a portfolio.
     My mom is amazing, and was never lazy. Whether I have more or less children than she did, I hope to be the example to my children that she was to me. I hope to be able to show my children what a homeschooling SAHM does. I hope to let my children know that I will (Lord willing) always be there for them.
Thank you, Mom, for always being there for us,
Love, Hayley

Drive-Thru Etiquette

Helpful reminders to those taking advantage of the convenience of a drive-thru:

1. Know what you want by the time the order-taker greets you.

• This can be difficult, but does help in keeping the line moving during busy hours.

2. Do not talk on your cell phone while completing your transaction. 

•      It is rude to try to divide your attention between the cashier and the person you're talking to on the phone. Many times this results in you not really listening to what the cashier is saying to you and you could end up paying for something you didn't want.
• Let your friend know you are ordering food and will call back, or pass the phone to a passenger while ordering and completing your transaction.

3. Listen carefully when the order-taker and/or cashiers repeat your order to you. You want to make sure you're getting everything you desire. Help us help you. ;) 

4. Have your payment ready by the time you get to the window. If you have a coupon, please let the order-taker know at the speaker box.

5. It is alright to quickly check and make sure you have all your food and drinks but please wait until you're out of the drive-thru line to pass out the food to all your passengers. Again. . . this helps keep the line moving.

6. It is sometimes difficult to hear through the headsets and speakers, and customers sometimes add extra food while at the window. Lets remember to be patient and understanding of the order-taker, cashier, and other customers. We understand that you are using the drive-thru because you are in a hurry, and we are trying to help everyone as quickly as we can.

Dairy-Free Challenge

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted anything. I've been at college this fall, it is the night before final exams and I've decided to give a quick update (smart, right? ;) ). 

I've been reading drmomma.org, a blog focused on different aspects of "peaceful parenting" recently. A few posts I've read have made me question the human consumption of dairy. I'm considering taking a Dairy-free challenge where I'll go a specific amount of time without dairy products (most recommend somewhere between 10 days to a few weeks), keep a daily record of the way I am feeling, and then after the time is up, have some foods with dairy and see how I feel. 

Why? I've never been able to link any health problems to dairy consumption, but many food allergies go undiagnosed, especially if the symptoms are slight, or not something usually associated with a particular allergen. My family does have allergies. My brother was even tested for allergies and given a whole list of things he was allergic to. Interestingly enough, dairy products were not on that seemingly endless list, but when reading about common symptoms of milk allergies I noticed one that stuck out to me. . . "shiners". My brother has had dark rings around his eyes all our growing up years. He was a big milk drinker. My other brother had bad skin problems when younger. His skin seems to be better than it was back then, but again, problems with eczema, acne, and itchy skin are usually treated with prescription medicines, ointments, and cleansers rather than elimination diets. 

What will I eat?

Simply put, dairy is in practically everything these days. I am wary of the excess use of soy products, so I normally try to avoid soy products, which makes soy milk (a common milk substitute) out of the question. I have been considering oat milk, rice milk, and coconut milk. 

What about my calcium?

As I've seen others say, "I'll get it the same place cows do. . .my vegetables!" In fact, what many people don't realize is that a lot of the nutrients naturally found in cow’s milk are killed in the pasteurization process. By law certain things have to be added back in, which is why milk will say "fortified with Vitamins A & D."

Once I start this (if I do), I will try to keep posted on what I am eating (including any recipes I try), how I am faring, and if I decide to go dairy-free for good. (As previously stated, I have no serious reactions to dairy, so eating the occasional dairy-laden dish would not kill me; it would be a lifestyle choice.) I fear that the cleansing period of the challenge might be the most difficult. For many years I have called ice cream my favorite food. Might need to find another favorite. :)