Could You Please Stop Being So Sensitive? (+ 2 Recipes)

My beautiful baby boy is sensitive. I knew he would be before he was even born because a soothsayer at the San Diego Zoo told me so.  Zac and I were happily walking and waddling, respectively, toward the panda bear exhibit when a strange woman began keeping pace with us about a yard and a half to our left. This was our encounter:

"Hey little momma! When you gonna let that little baby out so the world can see 'em?"

 "In about three weeks," I replied, choosing to be my smiling and happy pregnant self.

"Keep on walkin' momma, it comes faster than you think." She picked up her pace now, moving ahead of us.

"Ok," I said quietly, thinking she had lost interest in us.

I was wrong.

She used her lead to make a u-turn and stop right in front of us. Then she held her hand out to my belly, looked at my face, and finally placed her outstretched hand on my bump, and proceeded to make small rubbing motions.

"Thank you for not being offended. Let's see...." she began, "are we having a girl?"

"A boy," I said-- my smile felt much tighter now.

"Oh," she said with a gasp. "Then he is going to be very sensitive. You be careful with his heart, ok?"

"Ok, I will."

Then she turned and started walking back up the hill.

"Um...thank you." I called.

"Mhmmm," she called back, "and keep walking, momma.  It's coming sooner than you think!"

She was right about his sensitivity, but it's not his heart I need to worry about. Henry is very sensitive to cow's milk products. It took eleven weeks of a crying, miserable baby to figure this out, so the transition to no dairy was totally worth it...but the rewards don't make it easy. Think about it: No cheese. No ice cream. No cream cheese. I went from the thrilling freedom of being able to eat whatever I wanted, to a diet far more restricted than my pregnant one had been. To make matters worse I learned a few weeks in to the dairy-free lifestyle that Henry is also sensitive to nuts. But, this is not the complain-a-lot blog--it's the live happy thoughts blog, so that is what we are going to do.
Here are two dairy free recipes among many that have made my eating life happy without dairy or nuts.

The first is a delectable pie that incorporates the ingredients of s'mores. If you like s'mores you will love this pie, and if you don't like s'mores you might still love it--it's that good!

Sensational S'mores Pie 

Meringue crust:
2 egg whites
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 C sugar
Pie Filling:
1/2 C margarine/butter
3/4 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 oz dark chocolate, melted
2 eggs
You will also need:
1 package of graham crackers, crushed into crumbs
1 1/2 C miniature marshmallows
Make the magic:
Heat oven to 275. Generously grease pie tin with margarine or butter. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Add in sugar, one tablespoon at a time. Beat until stiff and glossy. Spoon mixture onto pie tine, pressing against bottom and sides. Bake for 45 minutes in pre-heated oven. Then turn off the heat, and leave in oven with door closed for another 45 minutes. Cool away from draft.

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer cream the margarine/butter with sugar. Blend in melted chocolate and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beat for five minutes after each. Pour chocolate filling into tin with meringue crust and chill for at least two hours.

Once pie is chilled spread graham cracker crumbs over the top, and then top with mini marshmallows. To melt the marshmallows use a torch or the frying pan method (heat up an empty frying pan on high heat. Remove from heat, and throw in marshmallows. Immediately begin shaking vigorously, continue shaking pan for 30-60 seconds before pouring onto pie).

Printable Recipe


And now, for ice cream...well, it is actually frozen custard. I got my inspiration from a recipe on this cute little blog: wholefoodsforwholefamilies Unfortunately, I struggle with embracing the strong coconut flavor, so I adapted the recipe a bit.

When I finally got it right, it was so delicious, I wept for joy. 

Chocolate Frozen Custard

3 cups canned full-fat coconut milk (about 2 cans)
8 large egg yolks
3/4 cup honey
½ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup mini marshmallows (optional)
 
In a large saucepan, heat coconut milk over medium heat until it just starts to simmer.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, cocoa powder and honey vigorously. Ladle a small amount of warm coconut milk into the egg mixture and whisk to combine to temper the egg yolks. Continue doing this until about 1/3rd of the coconut milk has been added to the yolks. Pour the remaining coconut milk in with the egg yolks, whisk to combine. 

 Pour the entire mixture back into the large saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat until it reaches about 170 to 175 degrees. The mixture will be thick and easily coat the back of a spoon.
Transfer the custard base to a large bowl and for about an hour. Add vanilla extract and stir to combine.
Refrigerate overnight (at least 6 hours). Pour into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions. When the custard is almost set add in the marshmallows and any other mix-ins.

Printable Recipe

I love dairy, but I love my son more. He is sensitive, but I can't say I wasn't warned. So, thank you, Zoo Lady whose sense of appropriate boundaries was a bit different than mine, for your surprisingly relevant warning. And thank you, Internet, for inspiring me to create and adapt recipes that allow me to eat my feelings without making my baby sick. Give them a try, and happy eating to all of us!

 

"But It's So Wonderful..."

I think that there probably comes a time in every first pregnancy when a terrifying realization hits you harder and faster than your latest case of volatile heartburn. You already know that there is a sweet little baby growing inside your lovely, round belly, but you suddenly understand with shocking sharpness that the baby has to come out of you somehow, and soon.

No matter how often you have thought about the birthing process, and regardless of the trepidation you may have already felt, you inevitably experience a paralyzing fear as you notice that there are more incredibly swollen fingers on your hand than weeks left on your kick counter.

And that baby has to come out somehow. When I experienced this realization, I alternated between moments of courageous calm, and moments of frantic panic. I racked my brain trying to think of ways to escape. And because my brain was no longer fully functional my ideas for escaping were completely absurd. For example:
"I'll hide behind that pole." Yeah, right.
"Maybe I can cryogenically freeze myself and defrost when I feel ready." Um...Seriously?
"I will hop that fence and make a run for it." Bahahaha! 

I was fine through my due date--ready as I would ever be for my son to come. But then, as I continued to exist with no signs of labor, I really felt that I could stay that pregnant forever, and it seemed silly to mess with that possibility.

But, everyone around me had other ideas, and an induction was scheduled for six days after my due date. Cue the rapid fire of implausible escape routes. The suddenly dreaded day arrived, and I found myself waddling into the hospital with an almost tangible weight of fear on my shoulders, though I was already heavier than I thought possible.

To my relief and amazement the induction started well, and by well I mean amazing, because even though I was having major contractions, and hadn't been given any pain medications, I didn't feel a thing. My nurse was declaring things like, "maybe you'll just sail through this whole thing. That happens you know." I didn't think I would be that lucky, but maybe it wouldn't be too bad. Um... no, definitely not. Discomfort swept in at an alarming rate, and within minutes I was begging for my epidural. If you are familiar with the course of a normal delivery without complications then you know the gist of what happened during the rest of my childbirth experience. All in all it wasn't that bad. But it was bad.Without giving you a play by play of the gory ordeal, let me just say, unspeakable things happened to me in that room, unspeakable things.

Equally ineffable was the result.

Before I was pregnant, even before starting a family had even become a topic of interest for my husband and I, my mother-in-law would regale me with horror stories about her own pregnancy and child birth experiences. At the end of each episode, upon noticing the expression of terror on my face she would conclude with one of the following phrases: "but it's so wonderful," or, "but it's really magical," or, "but when ________ (insert beautiful aspect of pregnancy) happens you feel so happy." I felt sure that this was done to prevent me from swearing off motherhood forever.

Throughout my pregnancy this was a running joke. Every time a pregnancy symptom was bothering me my husband or I would comment, "but it's so magical," and laugh it off. But by the end of my nine + months of gestational misery-bliss, I knew that it was true, and true of childbirth as well. It is wonderful that a woman's body can grow another human, it is magical to be a participant in that process, and when you hold your new baby in your arms for the first time you feel so happy. 

I have been told that you forget it all once it's over, and that the pain is softened by memory. In my experience this is not true. I remember with perfect clarity the things I had to endure to bring my son into the world. Yes, childbirth can be horrifying (and raising your baby isn't always a picnic either), but the reason I hope to do it all over again is this: it. is. so. magical. and wonderful. and happy. I have been gloriously blessed to bear my son, and I think about that every day. Not all women are given this most precious opportunity, and knowing that makes my heart ache, but also reminds me to have gratitude. This is not a fate you want to escape, so set aside any fence hopping, sneaky hiding, and self-freezing plans you may have, and instead repeat these words in your mind: "it is so magical".

Saint Patrick's Day Layered Drink Recipe

I come from a home where holidays are a BIG deal! An, I can't find  a free patch of carpet or wall for all of the Christmas decorations, home. As a child, this habit of my mother's was completely magical, and I still love it today. Now, I have my own little family, and part of our philosophy is: "never miss an opportunity to party." As a result, I am always planning ahead to make a holiday noteworthy so that we also have the magic by the time Henry is old enough to notice.

Happy Pi day, by the way! I'm off to the kitchen to make pie as soon as this is posted!

This year we are expecting dinner guests on Saint Patrick's day, and so I wanted to offer something something tasty and fun to look at. I decided on a green layered drink, (you know, like the cool red, white, and blue ones everyone makes for Independence Day), but couldn't find a recipe anywhere! So, I came up with one myself, and here is how I did it:

You will need:
Lemon lime soda
Green sparkling water (I used kiwi-strawberry sparkling ice)
Pineapple juice
Ice
Green food coloring (I used wilton's brand gel food coloring)
Green straws

1. Refrigerate all three beverages at least one day in advance.
2. Take a cup of pineapple juice and dye it green, make it as dark as you want. Sadly, there aren't too many green drinks without vegetables in them, and that is not what I was looking for! I love Wilton brand gel dyes because they don't thin out what they are coloring, and a little goes a long way. I bought an eight pack at Michael's with a 40% off coupon making it a great value!
3. Start with which ever drink is highest in sugar (for me that was the pineapple juice). Pour it until the glass is about a third full.
4. Now fill the glass with ice, and add the straw--wedge it between a few cubes.
5. Carefully pour the drink second highest in sugar next (soda), make sure to pour it over an ice cube. This technique keeps the layers from mixing.
6. Now pour in the last drink (sparkling water) again making sure to pour it over an ice cube.
7. Enjoy your festive beverage! The three distinct layers have a very cool effect. You can drink it in layers, or use your straw to mix it together, making a nice green.

The flavors mesh well together, creating a sweet, yet zippy drink!
Have a happy Saint Patty's day!


By sure to check out my  my mommy-brain themed guest post if you missed it last week!

 

Let's Be Awesome!

I think we can all agree that it is always a good idea to be more awesome. Last year I accomplished this by doing something amazing...I had a baby! Every time I marvel at how perfect my son is, or catch him smiling at me I want to give myself a big high five!

This year my resolution has been to become more awesome by actually doing things (not just thinking about them). As a result I have tried many new things, including starting this blog. I have also started a new Etsy shop, recovered my couch pillows, and as of this week I took the first step in trying to get published. A few days ago I submitted my manuscript for a children's book to a publishing company. I shook as I clicked on the submit button, but I felt like a million bucks once it was sent because I did it. Really, I felt awesome! I had been sitting on that manuscript for over a year, and finally doing something with it was a success whether it gets published or not.

My most recent attempt at increased awesomeness was inspired by Zac's uncle, a published author, who also mentored me through the submission process.(To see his super cool books check out his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Todd-Huisken/560055780696280). That family is full of do-ers. It seems like every time they think of something cool they make it happen. Their awesomeness includes throwing amazing parties, running marathons, taking cool trips, and of course, writing books.

There are so many different ways to be awesome. Basically, anytime you do anything, you're being more awesome. Choosing not to be stagnant is choosing awesomeness. 

The following was a conversation between my husband and me as we are falling asleep. 

Zac: If your book gets published who will you dedicate it to?

A mock-up illustration

Me: Um…

Zac: You should dedicate it: “to Jeffrey, the best spider I have ever known,” and then when people ask you about it say, “what? Who?,” like you have no idea what their talking about.

Me: Haha. That’s a hilarious idea, but I would probably dedicate it to our family, and the true meaning of Christmas, or something like that.

Zac: Well, I’d dedicate it to Katy Perry, cause she’s a fire work.

Um...maybe I should let him write all dedicatory statements for our family. But seriously, this facetious comment from my husband got me thinking. We shouldn't get hung up on the giant list of things we want to do. Pick one and do it. Let's be awesome, cause we're all fireworks!

Have an awesome week!