Heard this on the staticky FM classics station on my way home from dropping Juan off at school the other day. Had a good laugh. "Oh, they are oldies but they're sure goodies."
We just got home from the airport where we had to say goodbye to Juan for the weekend. He's attending an Hispanic Dental Association conference in Chicago and presenting his chapter's work with some other students from Temple. Last year he got to go to Houston, and had a good time; however, with all of the stress that comes with being a fourth-year student, he's just waiting for it to be over. I hope he is able to relax after his presentation, because it's been non-stop busy for him lately and he deserves a break. So far we've heard from two Universities and it looks like we will not be going there. Today's letter was from Oklahoma, a school he was pretty interested in, so that was a bummer. Oh well, we can continue to hope for good news from the other schools, but prepare for a year-long internship in the meantime.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Whole Wheat Potato Gnocchi with Pesto--Presto!
I have a long-lost high school friend who has a SCRUMPTIOUS recipe blog. Before her decision to quit the foodie-blog work, I e-mailed her with a special request--a yummy gnocchi recipe. I LOVE gnocchi and keep a couple packages of it on-hand, but I was getting bored of the same-old recipes. Well, she e-mailed back and told me she'd keep me posted. I did notice that she made sauteed gnocchi with pesto one weekend, but it was only made mention. I assume that since I never heard back from her, the task of writing the recipe was left incomplete(... she has a life too, Stacia!) However, the void was left unfilled and those potato gnocchies were needing some lovin'.
Today, as a I sat the girls down to eat lunch, I realized that there was nothing I could feed them for lunch that screamed "Lunch!" So my mind wandered through my Tired Mom's Typical Lunch List: "PB&J- nope. Had that two days ago. Mac & Cheese- nope. It hasn't been brought inside the house ever since Siena started to disdain the stuff. Quesadilla- nope. The tortillas are too dry now." In my frustration, I looked from left to right and back again; luckily, I spied a lone gnocchi package, waiting to be rediscovered. It took just a few ingredients, and a little curiosity to come up with my new favorite way of eating gnocchi. Enjoy!
Whole Wheat Potato Gnocchi with Pesto--Presto!
1 package of 100% whole wheat potato gnocchi (near the pasta) (recommended: Trader Joe's)
2 Tb. butter
1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves
2 Tb. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup + splash of milk or cream
Directions:
Melt butter in large sauce pan and add the gnocchi. Saute over medium-high heat until soft and a golden crust forms on the gnocchi.
In a blender or food processor, add the rest of the ingredients (minus the extra splash of milk.) This will be the pesto sauce (...see how simple. I left out the pine nuts because the whole wheat in the gnocchi gives it the nutty taste, and it cuts calories to leave the nuts out.)
Back to the gnocchi: over medium-high heat, add the splash of milk to the sauteed gnocchi and stir to coat throughout. Now add the pesto and stir to disperse sauce evenly.
Done! No extra salt is even needed. Thanks for the inspiration Whitney!
The girls and I gobbled it all up with slices of fresh mango on the side and lunch was over in less than 30 minutes. A RECORD! (Siena has been testing my patience lately with her drawn-out eating, so this was a highly successful mealtime production for us all.)
Today, as a I sat the girls down to eat lunch, I realized that there was nothing I could feed them for lunch that screamed "Lunch!" So my mind wandered through my Tired Mom's Typical Lunch List: "PB&J- nope. Had that two days ago. Mac & Cheese- nope. It hasn't been brought inside the house ever since Siena started to disdain the stuff. Quesadilla- nope. The tortillas are too dry now." In my frustration, I looked from left to right and back again; luckily, I spied a lone gnocchi package, waiting to be rediscovered. It took just a few ingredients, and a little curiosity to come up with my new favorite way of eating gnocchi. Enjoy!
Whole Wheat Potato Gnocchi with Pesto--Presto!
1 package of 100% whole wheat potato gnocchi (near the pasta) (recommended: Trader Joe's)
2 Tb. butter
1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves
2 Tb. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup + splash of milk or cream
Directions:
Melt butter in large sauce pan and add the gnocchi. Saute over medium-high heat until soft and a golden crust forms on the gnocchi.
In a blender or food processor, add the rest of the ingredients (minus the extra splash of milk.) This will be the pesto sauce (...see how simple. I left out the pine nuts because the whole wheat in the gnocchi gives it the nutty taste, and it cuts calories to leave the nuts out.)
Back to the gnocchi: over medium-high heat, add the splash of milk to the sauteed gnocchi and stir to coat throughout. Now add the pesto and stir to disperse sauce evenly.
Done! No extra salt is even needed. Thanks for the inspiration Whitney!
The girls and I gobbled it all up with slices of fresh mango on the side and lunch was over in less than 30 minutes. A RECORD! (Siena has been testing my patience lately with her drawn-out eating, so this was a highly successful mealtime production for us all.)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Recent Going-Ons
Straightened Qiana's hair for the first time. She didn't squirm once!
Made a "Fancy Nancy"/"Pinkalicious" cake with Siena... who still talks about it.
(Just wanted to show off one of the cake stands from our wedding that my grandpa made. Gorgeous!)Got a little nostalgic for the ol' biz when I made a little bridal bouquet for a member of the Branch the other day.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Figured it Out
I realized that the best way for me to push myself through an entire hour at the gym is to turn the channel to Food Network. I was sucked into two shows, both of which I decided to add to this week's menu. In order to justify eating Tyler's Spring Panna Cotta with Fresh Strawberries and Balsamic Syrup, Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe, Clams and Sweet Italian Sausage, and Garden Puree Bruschetta with Ricotta Salata, or Sunny's Easy Shrimp Potstickers, Pork-Fried Dirty Rice, and Quick Veggie Stir-Fry, I had to keep going.
(Actually, I was already feeling the guilt of eating it because I KNEW the meals would both carry more than the 450 calories I just worked off.)
(Actually, I was already feeling the guilt of eating it because I KNEW the meals would both carry more than the 450 calories I just worked off.)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
From Chile to UT to PA
A couple of nights ago I really got into the news coverage in Chile and haven't really stopped checking CNN every couple of hours since. Now that all 33 miners are safely to the top of the shaft, I have wanted to put into words the emotions I felt as part of the millions of breathless spectators. Well, it really can't be done properly. With the emergence of the first miner, my eyes remained fixed to the TV, my heart beating fast and bursting with prayers of gratitude.
I am probably so moved by this historic event because my own father worked in a coal mine in Utah for years. After some pretty hard experiences of dealing with the deaths of his partner and another colleague in two separate mining accidents, he decided to abandon the life of a mine worker and move his family--away from his hometown, family and friends. There were definitely some sacrifices made in order to ensure that his children would have a better chance of seeing Dad at their graduations and weddings, but he and my mother made those sacrifices, and with five kids in tow. This history of his life as well as some pretty harsh facts of mining were made known to me back in August when I was visiting my family--before I was even aware that the Chilean accident had happened.
The likelihood of these newly rescued miners being able to change employment was slim to none previous to their entrapment. Many of them still say they will continue mining, although they have more opportunities than ever before. They all had people waiting for them at the top, many with young families, and I wonder how likely it will be for them to resume their normal lives in the coming months and even years. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds for them, as I'm sure the media will keep us updated. (Actually, I really don't believe that; the media tends to go wherever the wind takes them and heroes are soon forgotten amid the breaking news elsewhere.) The important thing is that they survived and made history, inspiring people globally with their stories of hope and examples of faith.
I am probably so moved by this historic event because my own father worked in a coal mine in Utah for years. After some pretty hard experiences of dealing with the deaths of his partner and another colleague in two separate mining accidents, he decided to abandon the life of a mine worker and move his family--away from his hometown, family and friends. There were definitely some sacrifices made in order to ensure that his children would have a better chance of seeing Dad at their graduations and weddings, but he and my mother made those sacrifices, and with five kids in tow. This history of his life as well as some pretty harsh facts of mining were made known to me back in August when I was visiting my family--before I was even aware that the Chilean accident had happened.
The likelihood of these newly rescued miners being able to change employment was slim to none previous to their entrapment. Many of them still say they will continue mining, although they have more opportunities than ever before. They all had people waiting for them at the top, many with young families, and I wonder how likely it will be for them to resume their normal lives in the coming months and even years. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds for them, as I'm sure the media will keep us updated. (Actually, I really don't believe that; the media tends to go wherever the wind takes them and heroes are soon forgotten amid the breaking news elsewhere.) The important thing is that they survived and made history, inspiring people globally with their stories of hope and examples of faith.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Imaginarium
Today in the bathtub Siena told me not to wash her "luna" (moon). I was completely confused. Turns out that her moon was the tip of a section of wet hair on which her eyes were fixated. If I dared touch that wet lock, she would back up to the corner of the tub and tell me with her pointing finger, "Don't get my moon wet!" (Sorry to break it to you, sweetie, but your moon was already wet.)
Qiana must have quite an imagination as well because her favorite things to do at the moment are: dress up with tons and tons of necklaces, bracelets and sunglasses like she's a movie star, make tents with the sheets, play "Grocery Store/Restaurant" with her sister, and talk on the phone (even if that phone is a plastic egg or hair bow.)
Recently the two have become better friends, for which I am SO grateful. I thought for a while there that we were going to have to hire the Super Nanny for all the kicking and bullying as well as the tattle-like tantrums. It still happens at times, but the frequency has noticeably declined.
I have a feeling that just as Siena exits this stage of selfishness, Qiana will enter it, and I will have to have learned how to deal with it better. I better get on that....
Qiana must have quite an imagination as well because her favorite things to do at the moment are: dress up with tons and tons of necklaces, bracelets and sunglasses like she's a movie star, make tents with the sheets, play "Grocery Store/Restaurant" with her sister, and talk on the phone (even if that phone is a plastic egg or hair bow.)
Recently the two have become better friends, for which I am SO grateful. I thought for a while there that we were going to have to hire the Super Nanny for all the kicking and bullying as well as the tattle-like tantrums. It still happens at times, but the frequency has noticeably declined.
I have a feeling that just as Siena exits this stage of selfishness, Qiana will enter it, and I will have to have learned how to deal with it better. I better get on that....
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Today's class: 911 101
Once upon a time there was a family by the name of Chavez and they had two little girls. Although the girls, like their mother, were somewhat clumsy, somehow they had managed to avoid calling poison control, calling 911 (on behalf of the girls) and paying a visit to the pediatrician's office for urgent medical attention for three years.
Then one day, they broke tradition and found themselves doing all three.
(Okay, it's really a boring story, I just wanted to be dramatic.)
We were finishing up some shopping in JoAnn's today when Siena told me she needed to use the restroom. We left the cart outside the door and I carried Qiana in my arms while Siena did her business. When she was done, I put Qiana down so I could wash Siena's hands and somehow in the next 30 seconds, she managed to find an open plastic container of air deodorizing gel. In those few short seconds, she dipped her hand in the cup and plunged the goop into her mouth. Once I heard Qiqi coughing, I dropped Siena to her feet and tried to scoop out as much as I could. The concoction was like a viscous petroleum jelly, so cleaning it under water was little help. After tearing open a box of paper towels nearby, I took to the task again and was a little more successful with whatever was left on the outside of her mouth and hands. She quickly developed a really red rash around her lips and chin.
I took the cup o' gel to the manager and told him that he really needed to keep things like that off the ground because little children could easily get to them. I had looked on the cup for precautions and it said that although it was non-toxic, it should still be out of the reach of children. I wasn't worried about any crazy acids eating away her stomach, but a lady who was in the restroom at the time and who had helped me told me that I should call poison control, just in case something were to go wrong. While we were making our purchase at the register, I asked if they had a phone book or a number for poison control. They didn't have either, but said that if I just called 911, they could direct me to the right number.
I made the call.
The dispatcher told me that poison control would not be able to do anything for me, and that I should wait for the ambulance to get there. (I can't even describe how embarrassed I was. It's not like I wasn't watching my kid, I just had to put her down for second to help the other!) Anyway, the EMTs came and checked her out at the top of the escalators and told me that I needed to bring her to the ER or her pediatrician for further assessment. I declined their offer to ride in the ambulance (although that is secretly something I've always wanted to do... but only as a joy ride.) Luckily, her pediatrician was just down the street, so we went there and waited for a nurse to check her.
During this whole time, Qiana was so good and even happy after her mouth stopped burning. She coughed pretty hard a few times and vomited about 4 times, but I guess that's a good thing.
After checking Qiana, the nurse said that I should call poison control to see what the active ingredients were in the gel. This I did and after speaking to an operator, we decided that a close monitor would be the best thing rather than going to option 2: stomach pumping. No, thanks.
Poor Qiana had a hard first few minutes after eating the stuff, but it turns out that she may do this more often because she loved all the attention she was getting.
As for me, well, I feel like I have just passed through the portal to official motherhood.
Then one day, they broke tradition and found themselves doing all three.
(Okay, it's really a boring story, I just wanted to be dramatic.)
We were finishing up some shopping in JoAnn's today when Siena told me she needed to use the restroom. We left the cart outside the door and I carried Qiana in my arms while Siena did her business. When she was done, I put Qiana down so I could wash Siena's hands and somehow in the next 30 seconds, she managed to find an open plastic container of air deodorizing gel. In those few short seconds, she dipped her hand in the cup and plunged the goop into her mouth. Once I heard Qiqi coughing, I dropped Siena to her feet and tried to scoop out as much as I could. The concoction was like a viscous petroleum jelly, so cleaning it under water was little help. After tearing open a box of paper towels nearby, I took to the task again and was a little more successful with whatever was left on the outside of her mouth and hands. She quickly developed a really red rash around her lips and chin.
I took the cup o' gel to the manager and told him that he really needed to keep things like that off the ground because little children could easily get to them. I had looked on the cup for precautions and it said that although it was non-toxic, it should still be out of the reach of children. I wasn't worried about any crazy acids eating away her stomach, but a lady who was in the restroom at the time and who had helped me told me that I should call poison control, just in case something were to go wrong. While we were making our purchase at the register, I asked if they had a phone book or a number for poison control. They didn't have either, but said that if I just called 911, they could direct me to the right number.
I made the call.
The dispatcher told me that poison control would not be able to do anything for me, and that I should wait for the ambulance to get there. (I can't even describe how embarrassed I was. It's not like I wasn't watching my kid, I just had to put her down for second to help the other!) Anyway, the EMTs came and checked her out at the top of the escalators and told me that I needed to bring her to the ER or her pediatrician for further assessment. I declined their offer to ride in the ambulance (although that is secretly something I've always wanted to do... but only as a joy ride.) Luckily, her pediatrician was just down the street, so we went there and waited for a nurse to check her.
During this whole time, Qiana was so good and even happy after her mouth stopped burning. She coughed pretty hard a few times and vomited about 4 times, but I guess that's a good thing.
After checking Qiana, the nurse said that I should call poison control to see what the active ingredients were in the gel. This I did and after speaking to an operator, we decided that a close monitor would be the best thing rather than going to option 2: stomach pumping. No, thanks.
Poor Qiana had a hard first few minutes after eating the stuff, but it turns out that she may do this more often because she loved all the attention she was getting.
As for me, well, I feel like I have just passed through the portal to official motherhood.
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