Biting the Big Apple, Part II

I'm finishing this semester in the next couple of weeks so I've been up to my eyeballs in homework! I've been looking for a chance to finish writing about our New York trip so let's pick up where I left off.

We arrived at our hotel a little after 2 a.m. on Friday and woke up a few hours later to find it pouring rain. Our breakfast reservation was at Balthazar so we hailed our first taxi and enjoyed a delicious first meal in New York- Parker had their doughnuts and I enjoyed eggs (they were the best eggs I've ever had) and a chocolate croissant. (There's a couple things I should probably mention at this point. Firstly, hailing taxis was probably my favorite "New York" thing to do in the city- enjoying all the amazing food was a very close second.)

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After breakfast we still were feeling a little tired from all our travels, so we headed back to the hotel. After a little snooze I got a text from my best blogger friend, Chrystal, and we decided to try out DreamDry, Rachel Zoe's blow dry bar. I took a peek out of the window as I was putting on my coat and it didn't look like it was raining so I didn't grab my umbrella. Mistake. As soon as I stepped out onto Madison Avenue, the sky opened and it started absolutely pouring! Of course, all the taxis were taken so I had the craziest time running around trying to find a car but eventually I found one and was soon on my way. I was pretty excited to meet Chrystal (yes, we've been friends since before Miles was born but had never met) and get our hair done! Our experience at the salon was mixed. I had a great stylist, Ian, who gave my hair volume that initially felt more like Toddlers and Tiaras volume than fab volume but it did settle into a great look by the evening. Chrystal's stylist, on the other hand, looked like she was completely over it and was irritable from the get-go. Chrystal wound up finishing up her own hair! As we were leaving I realized that I was about to walk out into the rain with freshly styled hair, so Chrystal and I huddled under her umbrella and rushed over to Mario Batali's Eataly where we enjoyed some fantastic lunch and wine in the upstairs restaurant. It was so nice to finally chat together not just online but in person over some great food. 

The Crosby Hotel (photo credit)

I could go on and on in detail about all the wonderful restaurants we enjoyed so I'll list them all and spend a moment on the places that truly stood out.

Restaurants:

Prime BLT Bistro- Chrystal was so right when she suggested the potato au gratin as a side. It was life-changing.

Serafina- besides the bumping club music at 11 a.m., not bad but not great.

Poco- no...just no. We wondered what took so long for our food to arrive, and it wasn't worth the wait.

L'Artusi- a must-visit; try the potato gnocchi with lamb shank ragu. We loved it so much we ordered a second serving!

Rubirosa- I had their vodka sauce pizza- beyond delicious.

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Drinks and Snacks:

Pegu- nice atmosphere for drinks with friends; tasty drinks.

The Crosby- delicious small plates to pair with an afternoon drink; Chrystal and I spent all afternoon here chatting and snacking. If you visit, try the goat cheese and pumpkin croquettes or the lamb kebabs. Note: beware of the $25 cocktail!

Soho Grand- after snacks at The Crosby, Chrystal and I snagged a comfortable sofa and enjoyed some chocolate lava cake while we people watched and rested from all our retail therapy.

Russ & Daughters- Best. Bagel (and Lox). Ever! It was delicious and we even met the owner, who stopped to talk with us and asked us if we had any Santa Barbara golfing connections (we don't). 

Parker and I visited the Met and the Museum of Natural History and loved both. We could have walked around for days just absorbing all the beautiful pieces of art and looking up at the dinosaur fossils in amazement. Sadly, we didn't get to visit any other art museums but that's just something to look forward to on our next trip.

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Leaving New York was bittersweet, but the memories of our trip will be a happy reminder of all the fun that was had. Many, many thanks to Chrystal for showing me off the touristy path. If you've visited New York, leave a comment with your favorite spot so I can keep a little list for next time!

"Things Are Happening!"

The SATC girls are calm, cool, collected. A long weekend in NYC with my man? How lovely.
Liz Lemon/me: "New York- the land of infinite food options! Get a map and a pen- this is not a drill!"

I know, I know- more 30 Rock quotes. Apologies and condolences to those of you who have never watched. You definitely should give it a shot if not to enjoy it then to at least understand many of my quotes. (I am a big fan- I even brought along DVDs to the hospital when I was in labor with Miles. Not sure why... I guess I figured if a woman could have an orgasmic birth- which is a whole other topic and conversation- that I could laugh my way through it? Labor may not be the best time of sound logic.) Anyway, I like the show, and I've been thinking about it and all my other favorite shows based in New York because...drumroll... Parker and I are taking a long weekend there next month! I've never been (I know, horrifying) and can't wait to soak it up. I just know I'll love it. Parker knows too, and is worried that I'll want to move there. It may happen.

I immediately emailed my friend Chrystal, really the only true New Yorker I know, for information. She only scoffed a little at my first and only reservation (before talking to her) at Cipriani Downtown. I didn't know and this is part of the reason I love her- she knows all the good spots to eat and shop. Because as much as I tend to think that Liz Lemon is my spirit animal, I do have a bit a lot of a Carrie Bradshaw shoe thing going on.

This will be the longest I've ever been away from Miles, but I am so so excited to have a nice "grown-up" trip with Parker. It will be amazing, I just know it..

If you are a New Yorker or have visited before, what are your favorite spots? Priority goes to food and shopping, as you can tell.

Have a great week!

CheeZe + Other Things

So, remember on my last post how I was all like, "Yeah! Fast food sucks! I haven't even given a drive-thru a second look!" and nonchalantly rocking this new diet change? I haven't caved and I'm super happy about that, but I have wanted to and it has been difficult to drive past McD's and into the health food store for a green juice. However, I do feel much better after having the juice so I try and focus on that. Miles is all for the juice and fresh fruits and veggies so that's an added bonus and I love mealtime where he and I can sit and eat together. Oh, and before I move on, I just want to reiterate that it is of the utmost importance to keep kinds of the "right" foods in the house! Between shopping trips is where things get real real.

Not as bad as it looks!

I've been doing a lot of research and looking into all these different diets (vegan vs. vegetarian vs. Paleo vs. Anne Hathaway's Les Mis diet) and instead of looking at where they differ, I've realized that they are all suggesting a plant-based diet (with the exception of Anne's starvation diet- obviously not suggesting it!). This isn't so bad- over the last month I've eaten way more veggies than I'm used to and I not only survived but also feel pretty good- however I know that I love bread, macaroni and cheese (note: I tried the Amy's Vegan Mac n' CheeZe- you know something isn't going to taste right if it's spelled with a Z- and did not enjoy it), and other things that definitely aren't "plant based". What I realized is that changing habits is a very slow process and it doesn't need to be all or nothing from the beginning. Changes take time, and all I need to do is the best I can. If I enjoy some real mac n' cheese every once in a while, it's okay. But I need to make sure I'm getting in a mostly plant-based diet. I forsee a juicer in my future.

Since 2013 is the Year of the Snake (my year) and my goals are to relearn how to take care of myself, what dietary change should I try next? I am thinking March will be No Dairy March. Gulp. That scares me and it's probably a sign that I should go for it.

Here's some photos of Miles and I from this last weekend (we are hoping to be in the next installment of Sakura Bloom's Sling Diaries so my sisters took pictures of Miles and I doing our evening neighborhood walk)!

We're always goofing around...

One of my favorite reasons to babywear- snuggles!

On our walk

Daily uniform- yoga wear, hat, and shoes without socks

I hope you're all having a great week!

Halfway!

"Enjoy your vegan cheese and lentil soups, sucker!"

I'm excited to say that Fast-Food Free February is already halfway over! I am feeling pretty great and have really only felt like caving once- two days ago, when Parker brought In-N-Out home for his dinner. It smelled so so good. Words can't describe how I wanted to jump into the car and get myself a cheeseburger and a chocolate shake! Thankfully, I stuck to my goal and today I when I stepped on the scale I noticed a new low which was a nice little incentive to keep going!

I thought I'd share one of my new substitutions for my typical Starbucks drink along with some of my guides and inspirations for eating better:

I've started ordering the Light version and the taste isn't different enough to keep ordering the regular version, which is great. If I absolutely need to have whipped cream I can just add it but I'm starting to get used to not having any. 

I've been watching various food documentaries on Netflix like Food, Inc. and Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, and I've started thinking more and more about trying a vegan diet. Don't get me wrong, I still love a beautiful leather bag, shoes, or jacket- I just want to see the difference a vegan diet would make in how I feel, my energy level, my skin, and my weight. I think my favorite movie I've watched so far is Food Matters because although it recommends a total vegan diet, it comes from an approach of "do what you can" instead of quitting every food you know and love cold turkey. I definitely recommend watching this movie first.

As far as books go, the two I've read are Skinny Bitch and Mama Glow. They are both great for practical tips on what to avoid and lists of foods to try. If you're trying to get pregnant, Mama Glow has a pre-conception chapter that will help prep your body for pregnancy (and, of course, focuses mainly on pregnancy, birth, and motherhood).

Have you ever tried a vegan or vegetarian diet? If not, would you ever consider it? I'd love to hear.

Happy Weekend!

Baby Steps, Part II

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I have to tell you all that this is possibly the slowest week I've experienced in a long time. I decided that for the month of February, I wouldn't eat any fast food. I know to some of you this is no big deal, but for me this is hopefully the first baby step in what will be a lifelong appreciation for my physical body and what it is capable of.

Since Miles was born it had just become so much easier to head to the nearest drive-thru and grab something I could eat in the car on my way home. The more I thought about this new habit, the more I felt grossed out by it. Obviously, the number on the scale started going up bit by bit and then I just felt helpless and grossed out and tired. Once Miles was old enough to start on solids, I researched to no end and put all my efforts into making sure Miles was introduced to healthy foods; meanwhile, I didn't care at all what was going into my own body. The New Year came and went, taking a pregnancy with it. When I had the miscarriage I just felt foggy and so physically heavy with sadness that I didn't even feel like eating- when I did, it was fast food. A big part of why I'm going back to the basics of eating well is because I'm desperately trying to find tangible ways to treat my body more carefully and with respect, because all I've felt lately is that it's a failure which just disappoints me again and again. I think it's normal to feel that disappointment; however, my body also gave me the gift of Miles and the ability to nourish him in his first months of his life. The more I study science, the more I appreciate the endless to-do list that my body goes through every second of every minute of every day, just to function as it should. I am starting to see the value in this body, and I am grateful for it.  

Like many of the realizations I've had since becoming a mother, Miles has inspired me to live more fully in ways I never expected. Before he started walking on his own, he would grip my hands so tightly that it would cut off circulation to my fingers. We've walked this way together for months, and I don't know what changed in his mind on that first day he decided to finally let go and try to walk on his own, but the look of pure joy on his face when he realized for himself what he can do- that was my inspiration. It's been a week now and I can already tell a difference in my energy level and, overall, I feel pretty darn great. That's not to say that I don't crave a cheeseburger, but I have plenty of healthy alternatives stocked up in my fridge and that has been key in keeping hunger and the temptation to drive-thru at bay. So, while I'm cautiously optimistic about continuing on, I do still have twenty-one days to go! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

PS- If you have any go-to recipes that are healthy and somewhat quick to prepare, leave a link or the recipe in the comments! I'm planning on trying some new ones in the next weeks and I will share all my favorites.

Much love to you all!

Sunday Brunch

This afternoon, Parker and I headed to SLO for a late brunch at the Granada Bistro. The recently renovated restaurant and hotel has quickly shot to the top of my favorite places to eat on the Central Coast. It was the perfect location for us to have some time to ourselves while savoring some amazing food and dessert (yes, in case you didn't know- dessert after brunch is perfectly acceptable but positively dangerous for a waistline!). Here are some photos from our brunch date:

Parker, the handsome devil that he is.

Such a gorgeous, sunny day in SLO!

Cherry cheesecake for dessert

After we got home, I decided to go out thrifting and found some amazing steals! A brand new Ali Ro dress for $5.95, jeans, and more dresses. I was so excited! This is my happy face after a successful outing to the thrift stores:

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend. Happy Sunday!

Me Want Food!

Virtual high-five if you got the 30 Rock reference, but this is actually how I would describe Miles as of late since he is really discovering food. We've stuck with baby-led weaning and I have to say that Miles has done so well with it. Here's the rundown of his culinary journey:

• He didn't try any solids until six months
• No traditional "baby food" (purees, homemade or otherwise)
• Started off with large pieces of food that he would mostly gum to a paste (shudder): toast, apples, chicken, cucumber, carrots, etc. This was mostly to help him get acquainted with the taste and texture of various foods.
• Continued giving Miles these foods, but as he became more proficient he taught himself to take bites and learn to swallow. This was the hard part (for the adults) as he would often gag- not choke; there is a difference- bring the piece back up, chew some more, and then successfully swallow the bite. Now he's a pro!

It'so interesting to see which foods he likes and dislikes. Most mornings he will have a blueberry waffle and some fruit-flavored Greek yogurt (both from Trader Joe's) for breakfast. Lunch is a variety but includes veggies or fruit. Sometimes I try to give him chicken, but he's usually unimpressed so I don't force the issue. Snack time is usually Trader Joe's pear sauce (like apple sauce but with pears) and crackers or we share a piece of a baguette with some cheese. And for dinner (or whenever we eat out) he'll have whatever I'm having! This was how we discovered that he really likes certain soups, cucumbers, beans, and potstickers- on the other hand, he's not a fan of rice and refuses to touch a pickle (like mama, like son). Super easy and fun.

Let me know if you have any questions about baby-led weaning! I highly recommend it and would be happy to help you with any questions.

Our Week (In a Nutshell)

This past week we've been reveling in the fall weather that has (finally) arrived. Other happenings: meeting friends for lunch and pumpkin scones from Starbucks, getting Miles his new car seat, and turning the car seat box into an awesome fort. Here are some of our photos from this week:

Morning: play with Mama, avoid getting nails trimmed by being cute (notice the nail clippers lurking in the background?)

Afternoon: go to lunch with friends and share a pumpkin scone together

Evening: go over to Grandma and Grandpa's house and play with Aunt Jessi

He sure loves his breakfasts!

We enjoyed some fresh-baked danishes to kick off my birthday week. They were so good!

Miles loves playing in his new fort!

We spent our Sunday afternoon at Parker's parents' house- Miles loves them so much! 

I hope you all had a great weekend!
Follow me on Instagram (@joiedev) for more photos throughout the week!

Simple Gifts (Eight Weeks 'til Christmas)

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I'm starting a new Monday series, "Simple Gifts", which is basically my affordable (with the exception of the "Give Luxe" item at the end of each list), extended version of Oprah's Favorite Things where I don't give anything away (the similarities are endless). Personally, some of the best moments of the holidays are finding presents that I know my friends and family will enjoy and hopefully this will make shopping a little less stressful, even if you are a last-minute shopper.

This week's list is for the foodies we all know and love. Always expanding their palates, these gourmands will try just about anything and love the best, purest ingredients they can get their hands on. Delight their senses this holiday season with the following:

1. The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, for the DIYer

2. Fennel and Black Pepper Bacon Spread, for the lover of all things bacon

3. Intelligentsia Celebration Blend Coffee, for the coffee snob

4. Fleur D'Oranger (Orange Blossom Water), for the passionate baker

5. On Food and Cooking, for the one who wants to know how the magic happens

6. Give Luxe: Fresh White Alba Truffles from Italy, for the foodie that has everything

Last minute gift ideas:
Subscription to Bon Appetit
Gift card to Gilt Taste

Stay tuned for next week's Simple Gifts, and let me know what you think of this week's list!
Happy Monday!

Foodie Love: Sweet Potato Muffins

As we edge closer and closer to the official first day of fall, I'm already beginning to dust off my favorite autumn and winter recipes and just had to share this one with you. This one is courtesy of my friend Chef Rick Manson, who is the executive chef at the Far Western Tavern (featured by Sunset Magazine as one of the top ten steakhouses in the West) here on the Central Coast. When Chef Rick closed his namesake restaurant early last year, I was heartbroken (his restaurant hosted my yearly birthday dinners, date nights with Parker, and our wedding rehearsal dinner, to name just a few events). These muffins were in his bread baskets at the restaurant (along with the best yeast rolls ever- still trying to get the recipe for those!) and they were always a fantastic start to what would surely be a delicious meal.

As I was baking them this morning, I was loving the smell of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice in the house- it definitely had me feelin' fall! Here's the recipe for these amazing muffins:

Chef Rick's Sweet Potato Muffins

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
7 ounces butter, softened

3 eggs

1 pound sweet potato, baked and pulp removed from skin (note: I baked the sweet potato in a foil lined baking dish for an hour at 400° F but I would recommend maybe another fifteen minutes to make sure the potato is nice and mushy)

2 cups all-purpose flour

Can the oven bake any faster?!

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. In a bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar at medium speed for about 3 minutes or until mixture is light and fluffy.

2.  Add the eggs and sweet potatoes and mix for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture is smooth, stopping the mixer to scrape down the bowl once or twice.

3.  Sift the remaining ingredients together in a separate bowl then add them to the sweet potato mixture.  Beat only long enough to blend the ingredients.  Over beating will result in tough muffins!

4. Spoon the mixture into 12 greased muffin cups.  Bake at 350° F until golden brown and tops spring back when gently touched.  Remove from pan.  Muffins are absolutely delicious served warm or at room temperature.

If you try this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think.
Also, what are your favorite fall recipes? 

Our Week (In a Nutshell)

I have to say, I'm so glad to be writing these weekly posts because Miles is growing in such leaps and bounds that it's nice to be able to look back and see all the different stages of his life. 

This week, I've really noticed some developments as far as our experience with Baby-Led Weaning goes. Miles is much better at chewing and managing his bites, and he really hasn't turned down anything we've offered him except the brief minute I tried offering him a jar of Earth's Best baby food. The reason I tried giving him a jar of baby food was because of our last pediatrician's appointment- we weren't seeing our normal doctor, and the doctor who did see Miles was shocked that I had never given him purées, or even any rice cereal (I just want to make sure you all know that I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with giving a baby rice cereal or purées- I’m just trying a different way for Miles that I’ve seen other families use successfully as well). I asked him if it was nutritionally important that I give Miles rice cereal or purées, and he said, “Well, no. His main source of nutrition will be the bottle until he's at least one, but giving him rice cereal and purées is usually just how it's done.” I then asked him if there was anything wrong with continuing on with BLW and he said there was nothing wrong with it, however, it “isn’t how I’d do it”. So I left the doctor’s office with a bit of Mama Guilt, second-guessing myself about BLW, and decided to grab a few jars of baby food at Target and see how he liked them. Miles was not a fan- he would purse his lips and turn his face away from the spoon. But once I gave him a slice of pear, or a piece of zucchini, he would happily sit and munch away. It’s nice to see him enjoying his food and it’s really enjoyable for me too, since we’re usually eating together and having some fun bonding moments!

"She touched me!"

As I’m sitting here replaying this week in my mind, I’m realizing that this week has been full of good food and family. My husband’s cousin Andrew, his wife Amy, and their sweet girls Alice and Emma were all in town for a couple days and we enjoyed so much great food- I loved seeing so much family sitting together around the table. It’s exciting to think that these are the cousins that Miles will grow up playing with and creating mischief along side with. So many memories to be made!

Other highlights of this week- Miles becoming mobile (!), getting this month’s Birchbox (which I will be reviewing soon), going to the spa to enjoy a pedicure, and savoring one of the best meals of my life- although my husband says that I’m always proclaiming that I just had one of the best meals of my life, this really made the list- with my favorite mother-in-law and sister-in-law at Trattoria Uliveto (I was definitely having an Eat Pray Love moment).

Today I had an opportunity to work off all those delicious eats with a trip to the gym. I was all signed up to start my first of four personal training sessions and suffice it to say that I definitely reached my limit, thought I was going to hurl, and I’m going to be so sore tomorrow! As we were filling out the evaluation forms before the workout, the trainer was asking me about my fitness history so I told her that I used to be very involved in gymnastics. Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, “Oh! So you’re an athlete!” and checked the box marked “Athlete” on the form as I sat next to her panicking, shaking my head furiously and interjecting, “Oh no no no- I’m not an athlete…oh crap.” All I wanted to do after that workout was eat a donut (I didn’t, thank goodness) and take a nap (which I definitely did when Miles took his afternoon siesta).

I hope you all are having a fantastic start to your week- thanks to everyone who entered the August giveaway (winners have been posted!) and linked up for Mom’s Monday Mingle! 

Sometimes I Just Shake My Head at Myself...

Must...save...laptop...

Yesterday, I found myself doing the most ridiculous thing. I had grabbed the laptop from our living room and brought it into bed with me (mistake- let's leave technology out of the bed!) during Miles's morning nap, and all of a sudden a notification popped up for a low battery. I ignored it initially, trying to finish up what I was doing, but then it started going into hibernation mode. I jumped out of bed frantically, and ran down the hallway back to the living room to get the power cord as if I were responding to a Code Blue on Grey's Anatomy. Sadly, I felt probably felt just a little less relieved to get my laptop revived than a surgical resident bringing back their patient from the brink. 

This got me thinking: technology probably has a way higher spot on my priority list than it should. Sure, it's so great to be able to journal my thoughts and happenings and share them all with you- and yes, computers and phones are wonderful for so many reasons (like this, this, and this). But sometimes, it's good to focus on actually doing instead of just watching someone else take charge (hello, Fitness section on Pinterest). So, today Miles and I went to the farmer's market and bought fresh fruit, eggs, and flowers instead of doing our same ol' same ol' at home. It wasn't a big deal, but it was a whole lot of fun to wear Miles around the market and let him try a slice of peach for the first time. He was definitely a fan.

Are you all addicted to technology, too? Or am I the only one? :) 

Our Week (In a Nutshell)

Happy Monday, everyone! I just realized that I completely forgot to do our recap post last week- the combination of Miles turning six months, enjoying the experience of him starting solid foods, studying, and Parker home with a bit of extra time off last week was just completely time-consuming in the best way!

This past week has been so much fun, I don't know where to start- I suppose I can backtrack a little bit with Miles starting solid food. So far he has tried bananas, watermelon, strawberries, apple slices, chicken, beef, carrots, strips of pancake, scrambled egg (don't worry, it was egg-yolks only- I got called out on Instagram for not clarifying!), and his absolute favorite- clementine slices. He loves gumming the little slices to absolute oblivion, dropping them, and then looking over at me (that's my cue to hand him another). I think it must feel good on his gums- he's got a tooth coming in, but it's not where I expected at all! It's on the bottom on the right side of his mouth- isn't that interesting? I thought for sure he'd be getting some of his front teeth first. In any case, he loves clementines. I'm really happy that he's had no adverse reactions to any of the foods he's tried thus far. 

Since Parker had a little extra time off this week, we started the Couch to 5K program (which I mentioned in last week's WIWW post) and I hate it. With a passion. Firstly, I hate running. And secondly...I hate running. I'd much rather do two P90X workouts back to back than go for a run. One time this week, my two little sisters joined us and it was absolutely hilarious- I do not miss the years of teen angst, let me just say! The combination of, "People can see us! I look fat!" (girlfriend, please) to "Veralynnnn, I wish you could go get the car..." and then lots of giggling. Parker noted that there usually isn't quite so much girlish laughter on his workouts...poor guy, at least he had Miles to commiserate with. We ran around in the sprinklers once we got home while Parker and Miles pointed and laughed. I love my sisters!

Gotta love Rosie Pope!

Thursday afternoon my sister from another mister, Deja, came over to chat while I baked. Let me tell you something about Deja- she doesn't like to just sit back and chat in the kitchen while I pretend I'm a baker extraordinaire/domestic goddess. Nope, nine out of ten times she comes over she starts cleaning (I don't know if you were aware, but I'm not really a neat freak). I used to try and stop her, but now she pretty much has free reign and cleans as she pleases while I cook. We get so much done when she's over, because I wind up cleaning too and before I know it- voila!- the house is clean and there's two loaves of challah in the oven. Then we sit on the couch to watch Pregnant in Heels, and good times are had by all. 

My sis-in-law Jessica and I went to the farmer's market in SLO on Thursday night. I really do enjoy a good farmer's market, and this one is tough to beat. We noshed on Mediterranean pita wraps for dinner, savored freshly-baked chocolate eclairs, and sampled many other treats. What did I walk away with this week? A jar of the best strawberry jam I've ever had, a quart of fresh milk (so delicious), and a very happy stomach! 

The rest of the week and weekend was mostly filled with studying and just "laying about the castle", as Parker likes to say. My courses are going great and the summer session is just flying by- thank goodness!

I hope you all are having a fantastic Monday- don't forget to enter this month's giveaway!

Foodie Love: Challah (...Holla!)

Image via Smitten Kitchen

It's no secret that I am a lover of all things carbohydrate. One of my favorite recipes is challah, a delicious egg bread with a pretzel-like crust (it's no wonder I enjoy it so much). It's a kosher bread traditionally baked for Shabbat dinner- however, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy it! Here's a little secret- if you have any left over the next day, it makes the most amazing French toast. A-mazing. Here's the recipe (via Smitten Kitchen) with my simplified instructions on the six-strand braid: 

Challah

1 1/2 packages active dry yeast (1 1/2 tablespoons or 3/8 ounces or 11 grams)

1 TBSP (13 grams) plus 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar

1/2 cup (118 ml) olive or vegetable oil, plus more for greasing the bowl

5 large eggs

1 TBSP (14 grams) table salt

8 to 8 1/2 cups (1000 to 1063 grams) all-purpose flour

1/2 cup raisins (about 70 grams) per challah, if using, plumped in hot water and drained

Poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling.

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon (13 grams) sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.

2. Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading, but be careful if using a standard size KitchenAid–it’s a bit much for it, though it can be done.)

3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out bowl and grease it, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Dough may also rise in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees then turned off. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.

4. At this point, you can knead the raisins into the challah, if you’re using them, before forming the loaves. To make a 6-braid challah, either straight or circular, take half the dough and form it into 6 balls. With your hands, roll each ball into a strand about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place the 6 in a row, parallel to one another. Pinch the tops of the strands together. Here’s how to braid the challah:

Outside right strand over 2 strands.

Second strand from the left and move it to the far right.

Outside left strand and move it over 2.

Second strand from the right over to the far left.

Start over with the outside right strand. Continue this until all strands are braided.

For a straight loaf, tuck ends underneath. For a circular loaf, twist into a circle, pinching ends together. Make a second loaf the same way. Place braided loaves on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches in between.

5. Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour.

6. If baking immediately, preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush loaves again. Sprinkle bread with seeds, if using. If freezing, remove from freezer 5 hours before baking.

7. Bake in middle of oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden. (If you have an instant read thermometer, you can take it out when it hits an internal temperature of 190 degrees.) Cool loaves on a rack.

Note: Any of the three risings can be done in the fridge for a few hours, for more deeply-developed flavor. When you’re ready to work with it again, bring it back to room temperature before moving onto the next step.

So, as you can see, a lot of this is inactive prep because of the risings- however, it is well worth the wait! There is nothing is like fresh bread- holla!

Unwanted Baggage & My Favorite Two Diet Tips

Scale say what now?!

There's no nice way to say this- I may have partied just a little too hard on National Doughnut Day, because lately I've noticed a little extra muffin on my muffin top. It's become a regular on what I've affectionately dubbed The Cycle of Sad, which is the best way to describe how I feel as my hormones are regulating themselves post-breastfeeding. You see, I didn't really gain that much weight during pregnancy (don't hate me- I was super sick for most of it). Once Miles was born, I lost all of it almost right away and was below my pre-pregnancy weight about a week afterward (okay, you can hate me a little). I'm sure it was breastfeeding, because now that I'm not really effectively producing or nursing, there is a noticeable difference in my weight. And has anyone else noticed that you gain weight in crazy weird places post-baby? It seems like everything just...I don't know...sits differently? Maybe that's just me. Anyway, The Cycle of Sad isn't helping. It goes like this:

Step 1. I'm sad about the whole breastfeeding thing.

Step 2. I should eat a pretzel.

Step 3. That was tasty, but now I feel sad and chubby.

Step 4. Ugh. I don't feel like exercising because I feel sad and chubby. I also probably shouldn't have had that cookie and Dr. Pepper for lunch. 

Step 5. Repeat.

So I've started implementing my two favorite diet tips which are so simple. They totally work, though! Firstly, eat oat bran or oats for breakfast. Plain. (I mean, you can add hot water but don't add sugar or anything...and if you have to add sweetener, at least don't use Splenda! That stuff is no bueno.) And secondly, don't eat past seven o' clock at night. That one is the toughie for me. But trust me, it makes a huge difference. 

Here's to hoping The Cycle of Sad turns into The Cycle of Awesome soon! Plus, I'm looking forward to having a Mamas Morning In with Becky, Morgan, and Whitney tomorrow- those ladies always bring a smile to my face. :)

Our Week (In a Nutshell)

Ah, the day I've been waiting for- June 18th. The beginning of two months of absolute insanity! I'm taking ten units of coursework this summer, and I've been filled with anticipation, ready to dig in and learn...I may be one of the few crazies out there who enjoy this sort of thing. I'm getting ahead of myself, though- let's backtrack through the last week!

Last Monday began with a checkup at Miles's pediatrician's office to see how his weight is doing since we began the sudden transition to formula over the last month or so. He's almost fourteen pounds and the doctor was very happy with his weight gain- such a relief! I still try and nurse him, even if it's just a comfort, so it's not such an abrupt change for him to no longer be nursing. After his appointment, we walked around downtown SLO and got our lunch favorites: I enjoyed The Habit, while Parker got his favorite tri-tip sandwich from Firestone. We were going to take Miles on his first beach adventure, but it was quite cold and overcast so we decided to postpone it for another day.

The next couple days we spent at home (soaking up as much time as possible to just relax before the summer session starts), and Miles sat up unassisted for the first time! I was one proud mama. I can't believe how fast he's growing and changing. On Thursday, we spent another afternoon with Morgan and her little ones, enjoying boba and chatting.

Before I knew it, the weekend was upon us yet again! I love having Parker home, and one of our weekend routines is to set aside periods of time for ourselves individually, together for a date, and together as our little family. It's so nice to have Parker's parents in the same area, because they love having Miles over on Saturdays so we can do this!

Saturday night was a laugh and a half, no doubt about it. It started with Miles waking up and having a hard time going back to sleep- I think it was around four-thirty in the morning. He had just fallen back asleep when Gus started barking incessantly. Parker said, "Well, that's not good if only Gus is barking...I know that bark! It's his 'Roscoe's got something I want and he's not giving it!' bark. I better go check." I was already back half-asleep at this point, and tried to convince him it was the neighbor dog and that Gus would stop barking in a minute...but of course, Parker was right. We tiptoed past Miles's room, out to the backyard to discover that our dogs had killed a possum in our backyard and were playing tug-o-war with it! I was horrified, and Parker went and unceremoniously picked up with possum with a shovel, tossing it over the fence into our front yard so he could put it in the trash bin without the dogs trying to get at it. When we finally got back into bed, we were laughing at how ridiculous our dogs are and how I'm convinced that possums are evil. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Ugh gross gross gross! I hate possums!
Parker: What's the difference between a possum and a raccoon? How do they even get around? Do they hang from trees?
Me: All I know is that they are the spawn of Satan- I don't know if they teleport, or just spontaneously appear, but they are nasty! PS, Happy Father's Day!
Parker: ...thanks.

So Sunday was Parker's first Father's Day- Miles and I gave him his card and presents in the morning, did some errands at Costco and Trader Joe's, and then we went over to Parker's parents' house again that evening for dinner with his side of the family. I just have to say, I am amazed at how my honey has just taken to being a dad so naturally. He is great with Miles and I know Miles is going to look up to him and have so much fun with his dad growing up!

Happy Monday, everyone!
PS: Today I'm linking up with Naptime Review's Mom's Monday Mingle! Go check it out. :)

Foodie Love: Goulash

Over the span of time I lived in Germany, I visited Salzburg- just a short train ride into Austria- twice. It was in a little restaurant nestled along a tiny side street in Salzburg that I had one of the best meals of my entire life- goulash. I was shocked that I could enjoy two of my favorite ingredients (noodles and potatoes) in the same dish! Needless to say, when I stumbled across Urban Accent's spice mix at World Market, I knew I'd need to do make this for dinner ASAP. It was delicious! Here's my recipe (adapted from here) and directions:

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Total time: 2 hours

Prep and portion the onions, herbs and spices, tomato paste, and chuck roast.

In a large saute pan or stock pot, heat the olive oil and saute the onions and sugar until carmelized. Add the garlic (and caraway seed, if using). Cook for one minute. Add the spice mix (or remaining herbs and spices) and saute for another minute. Add the tomato paste. Deglaze with the balsamic vinegar (I didn't have any balsamic vinegar on hand, so I substituted each tablespoon of vinegar with one tablespoon apple cider vinegar + 1/2 teaspoon sugar) and chicken stock, and then add the pieces of chuck roast. Lastly, add the salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook until very tender, about 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally.

Cook the egg noodles in a separate saucepan about ten minutes before the goulash is finished. Once everything is ready to serve, portion the desired amount of noodles on the plate first, with a helping of goulash on the top. Serve immediately.

And there you have it! It may seem daunting to have the total cook time at two hours, but most of that time is the goulash simmering on the stove. I already had a lot of these ingredients in my pantry, but the total cost for four servings was around $15. Not bad on the wallet, and it was so delicious!

Leave a comment here!

~VP~