Dinner for us last Saturday night was pretty typical of us: fish, veggie, grain
The fish this time was roasted salmon. The veggie was roasted squash, and after a quick look in the pantry, we decided to have cous cous as the grain.
Plain cous cous is boring. I really like the texture of it, but if you are just making it with water, it needs a little help. Last night I looked around the kitchen and added the following:
Feta cheese
Pumpkin Seeds
Pine Nuts
Cranberries
Basal
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
I am not going to suggest amounts, because really it is up to personal preference. Add a little, taste, adjust. Easy Peasy!
Enjoy!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wesley Wednesday Update
So my sweet Wesley had a couple of rough days. He has a cold, and has been coughing a little and has a runny nose. I called my baby nurse and she assured me that as long as he is eating and peeing, there is not much to do for him except to let it pass. He has been a hungry hippo lately, so it made me feel better.
I also think Wesley is in a growth spurt. He ate every 1.5 to 2 hours yesterday!!! I don't mind because it finally seems he is learning what STTN means. Sleeping Through The Night is a common topic on my mommy forums.
Enjoy the pics!
Monday, July 25, 2011
"Very Good" Blueberry Muffins
My family has been talking about a blueberry muffin recipe for the past week. A coworker of Crystal's brought them to work, and so the story begins. The blueberry muffin recipe is called "To Die for Blueberry Muffins". I thought these better be good with such a bold name! I am not sure how many foods are "to die for" and even then would I pick a blueberry muffin?
I made these, and have to admit they are very good. I am notoriously known for having my family send me cake, cookie, and muffin mixes to me here in Denmark. DH even asked me which mix I used. Oops. I guess I better start baking a little more from scratch. Here is the recipe:
To Die For Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2.Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
3.To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
4.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.
Amber's Note: This recipe makes 8 HUGE muffins. I cut all of the ingredients in half (except the egg, just used a small one) and then made 6 muffins. It is a much better size.
Whip some up, and let me know what you think!
I made these, and have to admit they are very good. I am notoriously known for having my family send me cake, cookie, and muffin mixes to me here in Denmark. DH even asked me which mix I used. Oops. I guess I better start baking a little more from scratch. Here is the recipe:
To Die For Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2.Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
3.To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
4.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.
Amber's Note: This recipe makes 8 HUGE muffins. I cut all of the ingredients in half (except the egg, just used a small one) and then made 6 muffins. It is a much better size.
Whip some up, and let me know what you think!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wacky Wesley Wednesday
Here are two pictures that just make me smile. Sometimes I am doing something and I look over and he is just grinning. I love this baby!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Hummy Mummy
This is what DH was calling me yesterday after I made hummus for the first time.
Let me back up and explain why I would bother making this instead of buying it. We typically buy hummus from the Vestas canteen a couple of times a week. It is made with good ingredients, tastes fresh, and is a quick and easy snack. We hit a predicament when the Vestas canteen shop that sells the hummus closed for 3 weeks for summer holidays. We can't live without hummus!!
I bought some from Netto (local grocery store) that had a sticker advertising it was from Greece, so I thought it should be pretty authentic. Um, I was not impressed. It had a really tart taste like it had too much lemon, it was too smooth, and it changed colors after a couple of days.
I was on a mission yesterday to make hummus after deciding not to eat the crappy hummus anymore. After doing some research, I found this recipe:
Hummus with Tahini
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups of canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup of tahini
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon of salt
1/3 cup of water
parsley and olive oil to garnish
Preparation:
Put 1/2 the lemon juice and all ingredients into the blender except the chickpeas (and the parsley and oil for garnish) and blend for 5 seconds. Add the chick peas and blend on high until it reaches the the consistency of sour cream, but granular, about 10-15 seconds. Blend in remaining lemon juice to taste. If the dip is too thick but you don't want to add more lemon juice, add a little water slowly and blend until it reaches the correct consistency.
Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving. (It can be eaten immediately, but becomes even more flavorful if left to chill well.)
Drizzle of olive oil over the top and add a garnish of parsley or black olives before serving. Serve with pita wedges or slices of whole grain breads.
I actually followed the recipe exactly, and I recommend you do the same the first time. This makes a good, plain hummus. After making it one time and understanding the flavors, it would be a good chance to start jazzing it up. The possibilities are endless on what to add: more garlic, roasted red peppers or eggplant, jalepenos, etc.
Enjoy!
Let me back up and explain why I would bother making this instead of buying it. We typically buy hummus from the Vestas canteen a couple of times a week. It is made with good ingredients, tastes fresh, and is a quick and easy snack. We hit a predicament when the Vestas canteen shop that sells the hummus closed for 3 weeks for summer holidays. We can't live without hummus!!
I bought some from Netto (local grocery store) that had a sticker advertising it was from Greece, so I thought it should be pretty authentic. Um, I was not impressed. It had a really tart taste like it had too much lemon, it was too smooth, and it changed colors after a couple of days.
I was on a mission yesterday to make hummus after deciding not to eat the crappy hummus anymore. After doing some research, I found this recipe:
Hummus with Tahini
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups of canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup of tahini
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon of salt
1/3 cup of water
parsley and olive oil to garnish
Preparation:
Put 1/2 the lemon juice and all ingredients into the blender except the chickpeas (and the parsley and oil for garnish) and blend for 5 seconds. Add the chick peas and blend on high until it reaches the the consistency of sour cream, but granular, about 10-15 seconds. Blend in remaining lemon juice to taste. If the dip is too thick but you don't want to add more lemon juice, add a little water slowly and blend until it reaches the correct consistency.
Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving. (It can be eaten immediately, but becomes even more flavorful if left to chill well.)
Drizzle of olive oil over the top and add a garnish of parsley or black olives before serving. Serve with pita wedges or slices of whole grain breads.
I actually followed the recipe exactly, and I recommend you do the same the first time. This makes a good, plain hummus. After making it one time and understanding the flavors, it would be a good chance to start jazzing it up. The possibilities are endless on what to add: more garlic, roasted red peppers or eggplant, jalepenos, etc.
Enjoy!
Friday, July 15, 2011
My First After Baby "Long" Run
So I went and did a 9 mile run today. I am not in double digits yet with my marathon training, but today felt like a milestone. I felt ok the whole time (took it nice and slow), and had a good playlist to listen too.
I am one of these people who obsess before every run about the following things:
1. the weather
2. what I will wear (shorts or pants, long sleeves vs short sleeves)
3. what I will bring to drink
4. If I should wear sunglasses and/or visor
Today I went out with long sleeves, shorts, sunglasses (even though it was cloudy, they are like my blankie and make me feel safe), visor, music, heart rate monitor, fuel belt, one little bottle of water, and another one with water and an electrolyte tablet (DH hooked me up). This was all for a little 9 mile run.
I felt prepared until half way through I started experiencing "chub rub" also known as chafing. I FORGOT TO PUT ON BODYGLIDE! Oh well, I will definitely remember it next time. Now that my long run is over, I can relax because it is the WEEKEND!!
I am one of these people who obsess before every run about the following things:
1. the weather
2. what I will wear (shorts or pants, long sleeves vs short sleeves)
3. what I will bring to drink
4. If I should wear sunglasses and/or visor
Today I went out with long sleeves, shorts, sunglasses (even though it was cloudy, they are like my blankie and make me feel safe), visor, music, heart rate monitor, fuel belt, one little bottle of water, and another one with water and an electrolyte tablet (DH hooked me up). This was all for a little 9 mile run.
I felt prepared until half way through I started experiencing "chub rub" also known as chafing. I FORGOT TO PUT ON BODYGLIDE! Oh well, I will definitely remember it next time. Now that my long run is over, I can relax because it is the WEEKEND!!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wild About Mommy
I didn't realize how much fun picking out clothes everyday would be for Wesley. Babies can get away with having all sort of things on their shirts. Some of my favorites include:
"Party at my Crib, BYOB (Bring your own boob)"
"Hi, I am new here"
"I still live with my parents"
"50% mom, 50% dad, 100% me"
"My grandpa rides a Harley" (a gift from proud Grandpa Jim)
"Born to run"
What are your favorite quotes on baby clothes?
Monday, July 11, 2011
Detox
We had to say goodbye to Crystal and her boyfriend on Saturday. All of our visitors have come and gone and it is only me, Adam, and Wesley until we go to the states in August for a couple of months.
Now it is time for my detox. This happens after each of our visitors. We just spent a week having a little more wine/beer, chocolate, desserts, and afternoon ice cream breaks, that we would have not done if it was only us. We wanted our visitors to try the Aarhus Vaffel, koldskal and kammerjunkers (cold yogurt soup with cookies), Sharks Burger and Fries, Anthon Berg chocolates, Vestas Brownies, etc. Their trip would not be complete without it!! : )
Now I need to get back to eating "clean", which means lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and things close to their original state. Probably not dessert EVERY night, and a few less sips of wine. There is plenty of room for treats in my diet, but not everyday or so many. They are not special if you have them too often, right?
I need to eat my afternoon snack before my bike ride: hummus and carrots
Have a good week!
Now it is time for my detox. This happens after each of our visitors. We just spent a week having a little more wine/beer, chocolate, desserts, and afternoon ice cream breaks, that we would have not done if it was only us. We wanted our visitors to try the Aarhus Vaffel, koldskal and kammerjunkers (cold yogurt soup with cookies), Sharks Burger and Fries, Anthon Berg chocolates, Vestas Brownies, etc. Their trip would not be complete without it!! : )
Now I need to get back to eating "clean", which means lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and things close to their original state. Probably not dessert EVERY night, and a few less sips of wine. There is plenty of room for treats in my diet, but not everyday or so many. They are not special if you have them too often, right?
I need to eat my afternoon snack before my bike ride: hummus and carrots
Have a good week!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Mental Workouts
This morning I had planned on running 7.5 miles (12K) as part of my marathon training plan. The forecast said rain, and I considered just doing my run Saturday, but DH and Crystal said the typical "you can run in the rain" and "it rains on race days too" so I sucked it up, and went out.
It is a good thing Crystal ran with me. That is the only way I would have done the entire route. Running is a physical challenge, but there are days too that I feel that I am training mentally to be strong. There will be runs during my training where I will be tired, cold/hot, wet, etc, and I can't give up. I will have to remember I have Wesley cheering for me AT THE FINISH LINE and no sooner.
What do you do when you want to give up? What gets you out the door when you just want to take a 3rd rest day in a row? Sometimes I have DH pick me up this naughty brownie that I have as a treat waiting for me. Hey, I need the calories if I am training, right? : )
Stay strong mentally and physically.
It is a good thing Crystal ran with me. That is the only way I would have done the entire route. Running is a physical challenge, but there are days too that I feel that I am training mentally to be strong. There will be runs during my training where I will be tired, cold/hot, wet, etc, and I can't give up. I will have to remember I have Wesley cheering for me AT THE FINISH LINE and no sooner.
What do you do when you want to give up? What gets you out the door when you just want to take a 3rd rest day in a row? Sometimes I have DH pick me up this naughty brownie that I have as a treat waiting for me. Hey, I need the calories if I am training, right? : )
Stay strong mentally and physically.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
He gets it from his momma....
Check out that bottom lip. My family knows when I get upset, the bottom lip comes out. Seems Wesley has inherited this from me.
The second picture is from the Challenge Aarhus race on Sunday. Wesley did so good cheering on DH and my sister's boyfriend.
Have a good hump day!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Race Day - The swim is cancelled! : )
Do I seem disappointed? I am not. : ) I was not looking forward to swimming in the ocean with a wetsuit for the first time in 65 degree waters. Nope, not disappointed at all. The reason is because of a lot of rain yesterday, that flooded the sewer system, that ran into the ocean. They are just being really cautious, which I appreciate!
Now I just have to do a 18K (11.2 miles) bike, and a 4K (2.5 mile) run. It will probably take me an hour and 10 minutes.
I put Wesley in his "Born to Run" onesie from Aunt Katie. I think it is an appropriate outfit for cheering me on.
We will try to remember to take a picture to post on my blog.
After the race, it will be time to get really EXCITED about seeing my sister and her boyfriend tomorrow. They will be staying a week and I can't wait!
Have a good weekend!
Now I just have to do a 18K (11.2 miles) bike, and a 4K (2.5 mile) run. It will probably take me an hour and 10 minutes.
I put Wesley in his "Born to Run" onesie from Aunt Katie. I think it is an appropriate outfit for cheering me on.
We will try to remember to take a picture to post on my blog.
After the race, it will be time to get really EXCITED about seeing my sister and her boyfriend tomorrow. They will be staying a week and I can't wait!
Have a good weekend!
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