tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1345776987248152882024-03-12T21:06:07.068-07:00Containing Multitudesmsdanielleannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030769596436618849noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134577698724815288.post-57332875463523589892014-07-15T18:12:00.001-07:002014-07-15T18:12:41.733-07:00Depression and Food Porn
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So, it’s
been awhile. That was predictable. It was a busy month – my sister in law got
married in BC so that involved a cross-country trip with a small baby and all
the related preparation and recovery afterwards. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But
truthfully, it was more than that. Lately I haven’t really wanted to reflect on
things, or write about things. I've been pretty down, so reflecting on things
ain’t my jam at the moment. I’ve tried getting more sleep, going to a mom’s
support group, and some other self-care techniques recommended when you’re
trying to raise a tiny human and your brain is ready to ooze out through your
ears.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It's helped a bit, but realistically, I know it's going to take me quite some time to get back to my old self - that's what happens with post-natal depression. There's no quick fix. But you can find moments of motivation. I'm still bummed. But I’ve
been slightly kicked back into gear by a book, of all things. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Specifically,
<a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/9780061718946/medium-raw">Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For those of
you who don’t know, Anthony Bourdain is the bad boy of the North American
culinary scene. He spent years working in restaurant kitchens, is a recovering
drug addict, and has traveled all over the world in search of amazing meals. His
current TV program, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/shows/anthony-bourdain-parts-unknown/">Parts Unknown</a>, involves him trekking all over the world and
exploring the local culture through food, history, and sometimes politics. It’s
super interesting and totally devoid of bullshit, and usually involves him getting a little tipsy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He has an
entire chapter dedicated to paragraph-long descriptions of phenomenal meals
from through his life. From tacos on the streets of Panama to yakatori eaten at
a Japanese sake lounge to pasta in the foothills of Italy, I was drooling by
the end of it. Complete and utter food porn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Time to
start cooking like I mean it again. Here’s the most recent share-worthy
creation:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Spicy Sriracha
Endive Chicken Tacos (makes 8 tacos)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrJBNwgDuhSpctB_JHidfUQUq9hI2xZbItTCVgrabrWRlmH1_qcZlDSvaNH7bbEDm-nHtgtzIj0bbToB6ioOYy3DNiyMMfgEdbLL564fbEoeTxIjCS8qAwPPk1DRyGQaWYumtA4M_dL8/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrJBNwgDuhSpctB_JHidfUQUq9hI2xZbItTCVgrabrWRlmH1_qcZlDSvaNH7bbEDm-nHtgtzIj0bbToB6ioOYy3DNiyMMfgEdbLL564fbEoeTxIjCS8qAwPPk1DRyGQaWYumtA4M_dL8/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tbsp Sriracha
chili sauce</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tbsp olive
oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1tsp minced
garlic</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2 tbsp lemon
juice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2 tbsp lime
juice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tbsp chili
powder</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ tsp cumin</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2 shakes
liquid smoke (about 6 drops)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2 large
chicken breasts (about 1 lb)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
4 green
onion stalks, chopped</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 orange
bell pepper, chopped into 1 cm cubes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3 small
Belgian endive, separated into leaves</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
8 whole
wheat tortillas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ cup 2%
greek yogurt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tsp
cilantro</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ tsp ground
thyme</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2/3 cup
shredded white cheddar (the stronger the better – I used a mix of Millbank
organic old white cheddar and Fifth Town goat cheddar)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Whisk
Sriracha sauce, olive oil, garlic, lemon and lime juice, chili powder, cumin,
and liquid smoke into a marinade. Chop the chicken breasts into small chunks
and add to marinade. Let the chicken marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Add chicken,
marinade and all, to a frying pan and cook on medium heat until chicken is
cooked through. Add orange pepper and onions, and cook until they begin to let
off moisture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drain off the excess
moisture and marinade from the pan, return to low heat, and add the endive.
Cook until endive just begins to wilt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Stir
together the yogurt, cilantro and thyme and set aside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Warm
tortillas in the oven until soft.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Assemble
tacos and top with cheddar and yogurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Serve with a
good local beer. <a href="http://www.junctioncraft.com/">The Junction Brewery</a> is a current favourite.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->msdanielleannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030769596436618849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134577698724815288.post-41968164823924170502014-05-28T18:13:00.001-07:002014-05-28T18:13:49.517-07:00Mommy Training
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bear with me
kids, this is going to be a bit of a long one. I’ve been brewing this rant for
a while now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I have a
bone to pick with the parenting book industry. Drew and I have always taken the
same approach when we’re facing an unknown scenario – we read as much as we can
get our hands on. And it will, on occasion, become a baffling mess in our
heads. This is what happened with the parenting books. A few of them are great,
but many of them are over-the-top fear mongering, and others are just
roll-with-it to the point of not actually offering any advice or suggestions
for problem solving.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The first
was the whole breastfeeding shambles. Every book we picked up trumpeted the
benefits of breastfeeding. We get it. Breastfeeding has only become normalized
again in the last 20 years or so after a brutal takedown by the formula
industry began in the early 50’s, and women still face unacceptable harassment challenges
trying to feed their children, especially in public. *SIDENOTE: Any new moms
out there who have not checked out the nursing lounge at Toronto Eaton Centre
should do so – it is lovely with really big comfy chairs.*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That being
said, if I am reading a book on breastfeeding, safe to say I’m probably sold on
the idea. I don’t need to be convinced, I need to know what to do when I face
challenges. Instead we get “YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO FEED YOUR BABY
BREASTFEEDING IS NATURAL AND EASY. IT'S PROBABLY JUST YOUR LATCH.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ok. But when
you end up having three days of failure to progress labour before a failed
induction, fetal distress and an emergency c-section, your milk may not come in
right away. So your newborn ends up dropping 16% of their birth weight in 4
days before you know there’s an issue because they’re still giving the
recommended output. Then you see three different lactation consultants
(including one that sets you back $100.00 for an hour long session, 2/3 of
which is her taking a history irrelevant to the problem at hand and cumulates
with the incredible wisdom nugget “just keep doing what you’re doing.”) as well
as your midwives but no one catches the tongue-tie until 11 weeks. In the
meantime, you’ve had to formula supplement because weight gain is still under the
15<sup>th</sup> percentile despite the fact that your baby never stops eating,
and some of the more militant breastfeeding advocates make you feel like you
may as well be giving your child poison even though the alternative is that she
NOT GET ENOUGH TO EAT.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So by week 2 we’ve pretty much failed lefty WASP parenting 101. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Whatever.
I’m so over it. I gave my daughter formula supplements rather than let her
continue to go hungry. While she now has established feeding and gets very
little by way of formula each day, we will probably never have her on breast milk
exclusively – my supply never caught up because it took so long to catch the
tongue-tie. And I’m pissed, because I can’t help but feel if I had begun the
process with fewer lectures and more practical advice that would not be the
case.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The second advice
jamboree is sleep and sleeping arrangements. Good Lord. Like you’re not scared
enough about sleep as a new parent, the very thought of SIDS enough to make you
want to stay up for weeks on end ready to poke at your newborn at the first
sigh or cough. Then come the recommendations on minimizing risk and fostering
“healthy sleep habits”:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
ALWAYS CO
SLEEP. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
NEVER
CO-SLEEP. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
ONLY
CO-SLEEP FOR THE FIRST SIX WEEKS. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
PUT THEM IN
THEIR OWN BED BUT IN YOUR ROOM. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
PUT THEM IN THEIR
OWN BEDROOM RIGHT AWAY.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
CO-SLEEPER
BEDS ARE FANTASTIC. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
CO-SLEEPER
BEDS ARE DEATH TRAPS.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
CO-SLEEPER
BEDS ARE FANTASTIC DEATH TRAPS.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Jesus. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We ended up
getting a little travel crib to put in our room and it has been fine. But now
that Ellie is four months, our pediatrician has recommended that we start sleep
training. Which opens up a whole other can of worms. Once again, we are
swimming against the current. We are going against the grain. We are, god
forbid, listening to our pediatrician.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We, ladies
and gentlemen, are crying it out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To be fair,
it’s not without really compelling evidence that this is the best method for
us, and only now that she’s old enough to handle it. I get that babies can’t “manipulate”
their parents as some old-school proponents of crying it out claim, but babies
do start making associations by 4 months and so the sooner they get that
bedtime is for sleeping, the better. Ellie does not get this. Bedtime, to
Ellie, is for talking. And being picked up. And talking. And having Drew shake
her duck rattle in front of her face for 10 minutes non-stop. And talking. And
eating her feet. And talking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ellie is, to
put it mildly, an extrovert. We can play for hours (and we do) and I’ll be
exhausted long before she is. Getting her down for a nap during the day is a
10-step process that at her most difficult includes her noise machine, swaddling,
her swing, AND a pacifier after a massive feeding. She’s known to wake up at 4
am and just babble. She gets mad at us when we leave the room for a minute
because that means she has no one to talk to – she sits in her swing and
grumbles. The advice of her doctor is that without sleep training, she will
never learn to settle, and trying to train her as a toddler would be even more
of a nightmare, so here we are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It has not
been my favourite thing ever. Listening to her cry and not going to her immediately
is counter intuitive, but it has been almost a week and she is starting to get
that bedtime is bedtime, and she’s really none the worse for wear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I have
however, been hesitant to say that this is the case. It seems that cry-it-out
has a really bad rap, and I really don’t want to feel like the worst mom ever.
We are doing it with love though and making sure that she gets lots of
reassurance during the day, and it seems to be really effective. I guess this
is one of the issues with being a parent in the age of instant information –
it’s also the era of instant judgment and instant doubt. Really, you just do
the best you can to let them know they are loved and try and not screw them up.
People would tell me that but I never really got how true it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At any rate, thanks for listening. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->msdanielleannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030769596436618849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134577698724815288.post-59047234287685936132014-05-22T17:23:00.001-07:002014-05-22T17:41:47.287-07:00Enjoy the Silence<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As you’re
probably aware, Ontario is currently in the middle of a Provincial election. It
is the first time in almost 10 years that I have been involved in a campaign
only marginally. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am volunteering
for my local candidate, Jonah Schein (pending Ellie cooperation) at least once
a week, but am not completely steeped in the campaign every waking moment, not
by a long shot. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DjDdf6v3xbcMiwHJFPfy1ika4VAGDpewiTJwUw9-HrmrnKqfOpItTpBqbtXV9qbvteSLvqcFjV7cYxOcxBvvr6WBnEI0UMOqY7s_c1-fTk5M1OQUjW9hLWCZK3Vh65N_ySckqf3fyno/s1600/Jonah+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DjDdf6v3xbcMiwHJFPfy1ika4VAGDpewiTJwUw9-HrmrnKqfOpItTpBqbtXV9qbvteSLvqcFjV7cYxOcxBvvr6WBnEI0UMOqY7s_c1-fTk5M1OQUjW9hLWCZK3Vh65N_ySckqf3fyno/s1600/Jonah+Sign.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i>That's one fine lookin' lawn sign.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With this,
comes an almost crushing sense of guilt, which is irrational, I know, but
cannot be helped. In a lot of ways, political activists seem to have an
unspoken competition with one another during election campaigns – who can sleep
less, eat less, basically drive themselves towards an early grave faster. It
was honestly kind of fun in some ways. Definitely exhilarating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
environment I worked in undoubtedly has had an impact on my health in the long
term. One of the reasons that I began practicing yoga is for the stress
reduction aspect – I spent my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday in the ER after
experiencing severe chest pains that turned out to be an anxiety attack. I had
numb patches in my legs that were so bad that I was tested for MS – it turned
out to be nothing more than nerve compression related to muscle tension. It was
crazy. It also forced me to take a good long look at how I treated myself, and
led to me being much more conscious of how I treated my body and what kind of
pressure I put myself under.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
While this
health crisis did make me change the way I approached my work, it remained a
very busy and draining way to make a living - especially during campaigns.
Campaigns meant 60-70 hour weeks (at least) and the highest highs mixed with
the lowest lows. That’s just the way it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Observing a campaign now as a citizen (albeit highly
engaged) instead of staffer is a really strange sensation. It’s very, very
quiet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At the end
of the day, I am going to make an effort to let go of guilt and to absorb the
experience as a citizen rather than as a staffer – do only what I’m able to and
no more, and to allow my life and it’s needs to remain a priority for the first
time in a loooong time. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->msdanielleannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030769596436618849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134577698724815288.post-83661494217257301522014-05-13T17:46:00.001-07:002014-05-13T17:46:35.647-07:00Re-think
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I just had
my first Mother’s Day as a mother. As requested, it was understated. All I
really wanted to do was stay in my pajamas and eat a lot of bacon, so dreams
really do come true.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It’s still
kind of strange to think of myself as someone’s mom. Still getting used to it.
It’s making me re-think my entire identity. It’s making me re-think a lot of
things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My mom was
down for the weekend, which is always wonderful. Took her to the farmer’s
market on Saturday morning. This is the last weekend that the market is inside
and then it moves outdoors again. Can hardly wait. Love the outdoor market.
Love the indoor market too, but there’s something about the outdoors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5VJxp07bsf8-lwwbSVHWOLZQDj_SKmVU2QMK5lVdxg2RXiXslxgn4ACaZjUUUy9wKagzKR3ddzfeN3gn1ALe3up93xyrwZdmjtr_Tk3IUkF7o1Q0D-fSMMPZ92vLfFaIS5_T33c1JW4/s1600/Wychwood+FM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5VJxp07bsf8-lwwbSVHWOLZQDj_SKmVU2QMK5lVdxg2RXiXslxgn4ACaZjUUUy9wKagzKR3ddzfeN3gn1ALe3up93xyrwZdmjtr_Tk3IUkF7o1Q0D-fSMMPZ92vLfFaIS5_T33c1JW4/s1600/Wychwood+FM.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i>A busy Saturday morning at the market.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At any rate,
it was a lovely weekend with plenty of visits from family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I debuted a new recipe, and am sharing
it here. I am also trying to re-think fruit right now, so decided that pears
might work in a stir-fry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Chicken
stir-fry with pear and baby bok choy</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(makes 4
servings)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVwVpVPn2IPGX6UcU6yjzQOtTrSoeuQPxiGMK91QuP_2k4Dzw1KxJw9wAcpz6qCkSieTWG72wjcCSwAF-w94r-jKjX4mpl1WpZthyTPRPe7ERC0WOSG-Sxwd9llJE8d9Bf51a-0pLIYg/s1600/Pear+Stir+Fry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVwVpVPn2IPGX6UcU6yjzQOtTrSoeuQPxiGMK91QuP_2k4Dzw1KxJw9wAcpz6qCkSieTWG72wjcCSwAF-w94r-jKjX4mpl1WpZthyTPRPe7ERC0WOSG-Sxwd9llJE8d9Bf51a-0pLIYg/s1600/Pear+Stir+Fry.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ingredients:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 ½ lbs
chicken breasts, cut into strips</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ cup soy
sauce</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tsp
mustard seed</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tbsp
ground dry ginger (or ½ tbsp fresh ginger finely chopped)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tbsp olive
oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ lb baby
bok choy, separated into leaves and roughly chopped</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2
medium-sized bartlett pears, cut into strips</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
¼ cup green
onions, finely chopped</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
¼ cup
mushrooms, finely chopped</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 package
thin rice vermicelli</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Whisk
together the soy sauce, mustard and ginger. Fold in the chicken strips and allow
to marinate in refrigerator for one hour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Add olive
oil to wok, add chicken and marinade and begin to cook over medium heat. Once
cooked through, remove the chicken from the pan to an oven safe bowl and set
aside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Add bok
choy, pears, onions and mushrooms to pan and lightly sauté until bok choy
begins to wilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Return chicken to
the pan and fold in veggies. Reduce heat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cook rice
vermicelli according to package directions. Do not overcook.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Divide
vermicelli into four servings and plate. Top with veggies and chicken.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Enjoy!</div>
<!--EndFragment-->msdanielleannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030769596436618849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134577698724815288.post-18440410013967316532014-05-07T10:54:00.002-07:002014-05-07T10:54:40.142-07:00Stuff that in your pepper and smoke it. Or eat it. Whatever.
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One of the
things that happened to Drew and I when we became parents was a sudden
hyper-awareness of the fact that we should be taking better care – of
ourselves, the planet, of our fellow humans. While we have never really been
slouches in that department - we have always tried to respect the environment as a whole and
shop ethically - it has until now lacked the rather intense commitment that is now part of our lives. A purge is underway
in our household, one that will hopefully leave us healthier people and make us better
global citizens.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It began by
signing up to two grocery delivery services: <a href="https://www.mamaearth.ca/">Mama Earth Organics</a>, which
delivers organic produce and other groceries weekly within the GTA, and a
subscription to the <a href="https://www.honest.com/">Honest Company</a>, a US company which delivers non-toxic, organic,
plant-based household and personal care supplies on a monthly basis. A weekly
trip to the <a href="http://thestop.org/the-stop's-farmers'-market">Wychwood Barns farmer’s market</a>, with occasional trips to Bulk Barn
and our local Portuguese butcher shop round out our grocery needs. Let me tell
you, there is REALLY something to be said for having most of your groceries
delivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I dearly
wish that I could grow more of my own produce, but a highly shaded yard in
combination with my own brown thumbs means my few attempts at plant cultivation
have never resulted in anything other than frustration, so this is one area I
will leave to the professionals. I have way more luck with the cooking aspect
of food preparation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cutting out
major grocery chains has been freeing in a way I never anticipated – it forces
one to be creative about menu planning, but has also led to me re-discovering
my love of experimenting in the kitchen. I will be posting my most successful
creations here – beginning with last night’s success story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Sausage and
Quinoa Stuffed Peppers </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>(makes 4
stuffed peppers)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kMRRP-sP0gslZS12qbXCwp9rM_5I_bi3MQrcMCHI6rgcfoo6m0NIdsSBAwLcWkUkgXs6D_NZMK8CNXn2hLBoyRMhx-wZSLGfA55Y092FpeXswgasjOwlSFCERVDNy0q4N0-n4Xk1xfM/s1600/Stuffed+Peppers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kMRRP-sP0gslZS12qbXCwp9rM_5I_bi3MQrcMCHI6rgcfoo6m0NIdsSBAwLcWkUkgXs6D_NZMK8CNXn2hLBoyRMhx-wZSLGfA55Y092FpeXswgasjOwlSFCERVDNy0q4N0-n4Xk1xfM/s1600/Stuffed+Peppers.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ingredients:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2 red bell
peppers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ lb (approx
3) pork or turkey sausages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ cup quinoa</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ cup
chopped white mushrooms</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ cup
chopped black kale</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ cup
chopped green onions</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
½ cup
crumbled feta (I used sheep feta but whatever floats your boat)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2 bay leaves</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
1 tbsp
Montreal steak spice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2 tbsp olive
oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Begin by
slicing each red pepper into two equal halves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove seeds and membranes, and line the inside of each
pepper with some crumbled feta cheese.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In a frying
pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat until warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add sausage and sautee until almost cooked
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove from heat and chop
sausage into rounds approx ¼” wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Return sausage to the pan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Add the
mushrooms, kale and onions to the pan. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sautee until sausage is cooked through (about 5 minutes).
Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Toss in the Montreal steak spice and allow to cool for a few minutes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In a
saucepan, bring two cups of water to a boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drop in the bay leaves and allow to steep for two minutes.
Remove the bay leaves and discard. Add the quinoa and cook, uncovered and
stirring occasionally, until the water is absorbed (around 10-15 minutes).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Add the
quinoa to the sausage mixture and toss until well combined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set aside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Place the
pepper halves in a glass or ceramic baking dish large enough so they are not
crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dish should be
lightly greased with olive oil.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Divide the
sausage mixture amongst the four halves of each pepper, gently pressing the
mixture down into each half.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bake at 350
degrees for 45 minutes, or until peppers are beginning to soften and the top
layer of quinoa is beginning to go golden brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow to stand for 2 minutes before serving.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->msdanielleannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030769596436618849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134577698724815288.post-55675378100650226342014-05-06T16:24:00.000-07:002014-05-07T11:08:56.434-07:00Song of Myself<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Do I contradict myself?</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Very well then I contradict myself,</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(I am large, I contain multitudes.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-Walt Whitman, <i>Song of Myself</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i><span class="Apple-style-span">While I find the actual poetic work a bit of an odyssey of ego, this particular stanza of Mr. Whitman's famous poem has always spoken to me, and spoken to the oddness I have always felt within - my difficulty in reconciling different aspects of my personality. This has never felt as apparent as it has in the past few months, as I experience life as a stay at home mom to my new baby daughter, Ellie.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">She is already my world, both literally and figuratively.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">To me, it never really made sense that some progressive individuals looked upon women who stayed at home with their children as failures of feminism - respecting women means respecting their choices, after all - but I never really thought of it as a choice I would make until the last few years. And now that I'm in it, I'm finding the actual experience stranger than I ever anticipated. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Time, for example, has started having an odd property to it. I feel like I get little to nothing done on a day to day basis and it takes me forever to do it. My OCD means that letting the house go to shambles with a baby taking over is not an option for me - I require a certain level of cleanliness to function. By the time I finish loading the dishwasher and tossing a load of laundry in the dryer, I need a nap because the middle of the night feeding is catching up with me. The never ending winter we have experienced means that long walks have only recently become an option, so add in a lack of sunlight and I'm one wonky lady.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">One may be tempted to ask "Why not just let your husband do the dishes and the laundry?" He does, but I try to take on as much of the housework as possible. Why? The answer is simple - because dumping all the housework's not fair to him either. He has to function in a sphere I don't have to right now. If Ellie has a bad night, I can stay in my pyjamas all day and have a mid-afternoon cry (and, if she cooperates, a mid-afternoon nap!). He can't. So I look at it as a balance in our partnership to tackle the lion's share of the domestic stuff and ensure we are not wallowing in our own crapulence.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">I started this blog because I feel like I need a reporting system that will force me to report on the things I used to do, and that I actually enjoy: crafting (badly), yoga, and cooking. My current goal is to post something once a week while Ellie sleeps or plays with her dad - something that serves as a touchstone to other aspects of my life besides motherhood. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I don't want it to sound as though I am unhappy - the exact opposite is true. But the first fifteen weeks of my daughter's life have been so all-consuming I know that I need to make an effort to re-charge in some way - Eleanor Brownn once said "you cannot serve from an empty vessel" and this blog represents an effort I am making to ensure my vessel remains full. </span>msdanielleannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15030769596436618849noreply@blogger.com0