There is a Hidden Tree Hugger in All of Us

"We have to move," I said to my husband in a self realization panic.  "What?  Why?  What are you talking about,"  he responded with a mixture of concern and whatever emotion comes along with eye rolling.  "I made my own granola today,"  I said quickly in hoped that the faster it came off my tongue the less true it would be.  I explained further,  "We live in California and I made my own granola, so we have to get out of here soon."  

Confession: We haven't moved and I haven't stopped making granola, cause it is so darn yummy.  

Here is a recipe but I encourage you to have fun.  I have used various dried fruit instead of dried cranberries including a yummy fruit medley from Trader Joe's that has mangoes and some other fruits,  as well as banana chips and dried blueberries.  Today's batch has dried cranberries and dried blueberries.  I use more pumpkin seeds than it calls for (I like the whole kind but Trader Joe's also sells just the pumpkin seed "meat" if you'd rather) because I omit the nuts for the finicky baby- but I am sure almonds would be delich in this!  Here is the recipe- adjust cooking time depending on whether you want crunchy or chewy granola (chewy less time, crunchy is more):

Fruit and Seed Homemade Cinnamon Granola (okay add nuts if you want)

Ingredients

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cranberry juice (not Ocean Spray cocktail- this is yucky unsweet, dare I say bitter, pure cranberry juice but great for this purpose)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped roasted and salted almonds (I omit these but would be good I am sure!)

Directions

(If you don't buy the already roasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds on a baking sheet . Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly toasted. Set aside to cool.

Preheat or Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. 

In a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup, brown sugar, cranberry juice, and cinnamon cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves.

In a separate bowl mix together the oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds (if using).

Pour the maple syrup mixture over the oats and seeds and stir.  Spread this mixture onto the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Stir in the cranberries (or whatever other fruit) and bake for an another 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture begins to brown.  Let cool but eat some warm as this is my favorite time to eat it!  Keeps up to a week but our doesn't last that long.  My husband loves it to go as a white trash parfait (in a Tupperware) with yogurt and fresh berries for his commute. 

Oh pizza how I miss thee!

Pizza is probably one of the things I miss most while not eating dairy.  It is like torture when someone orders it (someone being my husband:).  Though not quite the same as that with bubbling,creamy, salty cheese, the craving can be somewhat averted by getting some good pizza dough at a bakery or Italian deli (or making it yourself is really pretty easy) and topping either with sauce and sausage cut up or sauce and pepperoni.  Tonight, I decided to try goat cheese and see if the baby can tolerate it.  I made the following pizza and, boy, was it yummy!


Arugula, Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza


Ingredients:
1/3 a large red onion cut up
3 cups arugula
2.5 ounces goat cheese
pizza dough of your choice


Directions:
I carmelized the onions in Trader Joe's Organic Garlic Flavored Olive Oil.  Carmelizing onions is simple- just cook over low heat stirring occasionally make sure to use a large enough pan so that all the onions touch the bottom of the pan (this slow cooking brings out the sweet flavor and natural sugar in the onion- hence the term of "caramelizing" onions) until they are soft and turn a golden brown (about 15-20 minutes).  Add salt and pepper.  You can also add a little bit of sugar to help it along. Turn the heat up to medium and add the arugula. Cook until the arugula is wilted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

I use ready made pizza dough from a local Italian deli and roll it out with a little bit of flour (combination of rolling pin covered in flour and my hands- yes in the stereotypical knuckle rolling in the air NYC pizza shop window way (just for a minute or I end up with a hole in my dough from over zealous twirling).  Top the dough with the arugula/onion mixture. Crumble some goat cheese on top  and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Allow to cool for a few minutes, cut and serve.

Ready for the oven!!!

Yummy Curried Vegatables

With this non-dairy deal, I find I have been eating a lot of meat!  I love meat, don't get me wrong, but since finicky baby just turned 6 months I am realizing I'd like to drop the last 20 pounds (gradually but definitely) in the next 6 months or so.  This meal is so hardy it feels like you are eating meat!


The key to this recipe, and actually every successful dinner for me, is to prep during the day and refrigerate until ready to cook.  I know this can be hard if your baby is still taking 20 minute naps like mine was until recently- but this meal is actually pretty easy- it just involves a little chopping during the day and some time to let them simmer when you actually go to cook them.  Since you are just dumping all the veggies into a wok- it is pretty easy and does not require too much clean up.  

Ingredients:


2 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 teaspoons  high end curry yellow spices.  Both curry spice blends I use are from Whole Spice http://wholespice.com.  (It contains mustard seed, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, cardamom, cinnamon, chili and tumeric)
1 teaspoon curry vindaloo (It contains black pepper, coriander, cilantro, turmeric, cumin, chili california, chili passila,chili cayenne, ginger, garlic, yellow mustard seed, green cardamom, cinnamon, fenugreek, cloves, citric acid, tomato)
1 onion peeled and chopped into slices
6 tomatoes, chopped
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 zucchini cut into 1/2 inch slices
3 long yellow squash  cut into 1/2 inch slices
3/4 cup coconut milk
a handful of thin green beans
1/2 tablespoon of sugar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper


Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat and cook onion until soft.  Add curry powders (both regular and vindaloo), then stir in the chopped tomatoes.

Add your potatoes and squash to the sauce. Pour in the coconut milk and cook until the potato is soft and cooked through. If needed add more coconut milk but the tomatoes will release water and create a nice sauce.  Throw in the beans.  Add sugar and more curry powder (if desired) and salt and pepper to taste.  Cook for a few more minutes until tender, then serve with rice. 

Head shoulders to your ears, to your ears

Determined to safeguard some time for myself, I signed up for an Alexander class. the Alexander Technique is named after Frederick Matthias Alexander, who in the 1800's developed it after he developed breathing problems and started going hoarse while acting on stage. I was first introduced to Alexander work in college where it was primarily used to create a neutral body that is being used efficiently in order to create characters. 


After having baby #1, I ended up with a severely herniated disk (an 11.5mm herniated disk to be precise- but more on that and the power of accupuncture later) and remember a fellow mom saying she was having back issues and worked with someone on Alexander and how much it helped. So, when I saw a listing in the local adult education bulletin, I took it as a sign and a great opportunity to put my money where my mouth (or back) is! I signed up for 2 two hour classes. 


It is amazing, once you become aware (or many times re-aware) of your body and tension, how much of the day we walk around with our shoulders to our ears. Some of the principles of Alexander work are to connect with our primary pattern, which is the layer of muscles we use to move until around age four.  After four, we start developing various habits and engaging layers of muscle particularly around the neck, scapula, and hips that are not needed to move and when engaged actually lead to fatigue and injury. By connecting to the axis of your spine ( think of the spot inside your facebetween your ears and behind your nose) and imagining it has a string and that your head is a helium balloon floating upward and then as a second point to ALLOW your shoulders to release one at a time (usually a first and second wave of release) while floating your head- this engages the deepest and only muscles necessary to hold our heads up. I have been working simply on this since my first class three weeks ago- checking in throughout the day - especially when doing activities such as nursing the baby or holding the baby or burping the baby (detect a pattern here) , particularly when she is really fussing (the guru called activities such as these "charged" activities). It is amazing how many times I could literally sing "head, shoulders to my ears to my ears"- my shoulders and neck are so tense. Many times I can feel a release down my whole back.  What a relief it is to work with those two steps in the hopes that they will become second nature someday!

Finicky baby freeze

Is this worth it? Will she sleep? All of us in 1 room for 7 days? When you have a finicky baby it can feel scary to go anywhere. Even when they are going through an "easier phase" you feel like you'd be nuts to jinx it or to mess with the routine that has worked (even just for one night). Superstition and baby sleep is for real, but I say.... jinx away. In fact, you may be surprised and find that the finicky baby is a bored baby sometimes and the freedom from schedule that even a mini vacation provides does you and your baby good.


I have been working on having fewer expectations from myself, family, friends, (strangers even- especially when driving in LA traffic) and my baby. When tied to a schedule you have the expectation they are going to say go to sleep at noon and for at least an hour (seriously - until recently my now 6 month old was a 20 minute napper on most days).  When you expect that nap time you naturally start mentally or even physically creating your to-do list. So, when, inevitably, finicky baby takes a 20 minute- I- can't-even-call-this-a-nap, you feel disappointed, frustrated and upset.  I have found that on a trip I have fewer expectations and, since we are on the go, I am less concerned when the baby will fall asleep and many times she sleeps better and longer from all the stimulation and noise (and this is a baby who is a super light sleeper at home).  Also I find there is less before naptime crankiness.  It really is easy to be stuck in the finicky baby freeze, but I encourage you to let go of your schedule, at least a few times a year, and go to dinner (what's the worst that happens - you ask for the food to go) and even better- take a trip with your baby!  It is really nice to get away from the ever reproducing laundry pile and bottles to be washed!

Oatmeal, Cranberry Chocolate-like chip cookies

Here is one of my favorite adapted recipes for the non dairy, non nut, low to no soy eating peeps.  They are nice and sturdy great for a snack (I made them as a post ice skating for my family).  My four year old who is a chocolate snob couldn't believe it wasn't real chocolate:

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis' recipe:
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 stick Earth Balance shortening at room temperature
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 4-ounces of Enjoy Life dairy, nut and soy free chips (recommend the chunks)
• 
  

Directions

Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. With the machine running, gradually add the flour mixture. Add the oats, cranberries and chocolate chunks. Mix until just incorporated (dough will be stiff). Using a 4-ounce cookie scoop, scoop slightly rounded mounds of the dough into 12 (2-inch-diameter) balls. Arrange 6 balls of dough, spaced evenly apart, on each baking sheet. Using the back of a spoon, flatten the tops slightly and bake until the cookies are slightly golden on the edges, about 13 to 15 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 20 minutes before serving.

I thought I'd never bake again

Recipes to come:
Pumpkin Chocolate-like cookies
Almost like Grandma E's Pumpkin Pie

Almost like Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats (can make into a football shape for a Superbowl Party)

Tips of the Cow-free trade

• Coffee:  If you have as finicky a baby as I do, you may not even be able to drink decaf coffee regularly.  I seem to be able to get away with 1-2 times a week -if I spread it out.  Another option, especially if the place doesn't have decaf coffee, is to order a decaf Cafe Americana, which is espresso and water (with a shot of flavoring if you're feeling sassy) and then add your own Mocha Mix or So Coconut milk creamer to it. 

• When traveling, bring along a travel coffee mug and either bring your Mocha Mix in a cooler or buy it when you get there.  Then you can pour some in your little travel mug and bring it with you to restaurants or Starbucks to add your own non-dairy creamer to your coffee or Americana. (You can also start slurring your words at breakfast to give the waitress a good laugh since you know they are wondering what you are spiking your coffee/tea with).

• Don't be afraid to ask if something has dairy and remind people that butter is dairy.

• You can have most mayonnaise.  

• Most fast food does not have butter-it is too expensive and they are too cheap.

Snacky and don't know what to do

Snacking has been the most difficult for me as I am an almonds, apples and cheese kinda gal.  Here is a list of my most favorite snacks:

• Trader Joe's already sliced organic apples (sometimes coupled with Wheat Thins or pretzels or dip them in honey or Wow Butter (fake peanut butter)
• Homemade Granola (I take Giada's recipe which follows, omit the nuts and play around with carious dried fruit including TJ's dried fruit medley, or dried blueberries and banana chips):  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/homemade-cranberry-nut-granola-recipe/index.html.  You can okay around with the baking time to make it chewy (less time) or crunchy (more time).
• Trader Joe's savory thin crackers and hummus (or their pretzel thins and hummus)- usually also eat some carrots to get some veggies in.
• Sunflower Seed butter and a hearty grain toast (am curious to use this instead of peanut butter in some baking recipes).  If your baby is not too bothered by some soy products you can also try WOW butter at Whole Foods- tastes  like peanut butter so great spread on graham crackers.  Also spread on celery or a banana.
• Hearty grain toast with some preserves or other fancy jelly.
• Newman's Own Simply Salted or salt and black pepper microwave popcorn
• Salt Water Taffy and good red licorice (Sprouts has awesome taffy and Lassen's has some yummy licorice options).
• Julian's Sorbet Bars (I get them at Whole Foods or Sprouts)
• Cut up cantaloupe - if feeling fancy can eat with some proscuitto
• Chips and salsa mixed with Sour Supreme (really not so bad fake sour cream- especially when mixed with salsa!!)
• Make your own dried fruit or trail mix.  Some of my favorite combos are banana chips (I like the TJ's brand they give a nice crunch factor since I am missing nuts- ha ha that sounds funny) and dried apples or I do dried cranberries (I like TJ's orange flavored cranberries), roasted dried pumpkin seeds (Sprouts bins), and roasted salted sunflowers seeds (TJ's or Sprouts)
• Nature's Own honey and oat crunchy granola bars or cinnamon flavors
• Pumpkin and flax granola bars sometimes don't have nuts
• So Delicious Coconut yogurts (available at Sprouts)

Kosher is more than kosher

I have been going to Stoneground Bakery ever since moving to the area about 1.5 years ago.  I never realized they are a Kosher Bakery- all I knew is I liked their sweet treats. I also didn't know what Kosher Parve meant....until now.  What does it mean?  It means... sweet Jesus I can eat it!  As a breastfeeding mommy of a finicky baby- boy does it matter and man am I happy.


I also recently tried a new restaurant in the area and literally sang my way through breakfast I was so happy.  Here are a few places where I can actually order something with confidence that I am not poisoning my baby (because really that is what it feels like when she is screaming and arching as I try and nurse her):

• Stoneground Bakery: It is off of Canwood before Trader Joes in Agoura Hills. Because they are a Kosher bakery look for the cases that have Kosher Parve (which means it is non-dairy), not Kosher Dairy (which means it has dairy).  A few favorites include their black and white cookie (takes me back to my NYC deli days), Cinnamon Chopper,  carrot muffin, and their ginger scone.  They also do Caffe Americanas and have the powdered Mocha Mix non-dairy creamer.
• Hugo's in the Whizins shopping plaza in Agoura Hills:  They have vegan options and rice milk for lattes. (I recommend their Decaf Chai Latte made with steamed rice milk and a little side of steamed soy milk).  They even have non-dairy butter (insert angels singing here)...I could go on and on.  I am going to try their lunch and dinner menu very soon and will let you know...
• Bean Scene in Oak Park has a decaf black tea option and non-dairy creamer (though it may have a milk derivative in it- so depending on the sensitivity level of your baby you may want to clarify with them).
• Costco's fruit smoothie, I was told, has no dairy in it-so I went for it and it was yummy.  Of course you can also get a juice only smoothie from Jamba Juice and from The Tomato Patch in Agoura Hills (next to Golden Spoon). So you can stop feeling sorry for yourself when you stop to get your toddler some frozen yogurt as you too can now have a frozen concoction to help you hang on - thank you Mr. Buffet).

Staple Products

Products saving my life right now:

• Coconut Milk for smoothies, pouring over granola, and some baking
• Combination of rice milk and Mocha Mix non-dairy creamer for morning cereal and baking and homemade Decaf Tazo Chai lattes
• I am getting ready to try SO Delicious Coconut Milk creamer (they have regular, hazelnut and vanilla flavors at Sprouts) tomorrow in my decaf coffee- will let you know how it is
• Enjoy Life, Eat Freely non-dairy, non-soy chocolate chips and chocolate chunks
• Marie Calendar's frozen pie crust (one of the few out there that is non-dairy)
• Lenny & Larry's protein cookies: https://www.lennylarry.com (you can order by the box on Amazon.com if you like them and it is less expensive than buying per cookie at the health food store)
• Earth's Balance sticks (butter substitute) for baking (takes a little longer to melt)
• Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread mix
• Julie's Organics Sorbet Bars
• Van's Organics Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
• Trader Joe's Caramel Corn (which is usually made with butter but their's is not!)
• Alternative Baking Company (Vegan) Cookies (the Espresso Chocolate Chip is my personal fav)

What? No dairy? Or nuts? Or caffeine?

A die hard baker and overall lover of good food, I have been sideswiped by not being able to eat dairy or nuts or caffeine (including chocolate) while nursing my second child.  Since I can still eat eggs, some of my recipes are not vegan- but some of the tips and inspiration I received (after coming out of mourning) were from vegan websites -so a little internet search and reading is a great place to start.  Determined not to pout forever, I have adapted a few of my favorite recipes and found some great products that fool me into thinking I am still part of the yummy eating crowd.