NorCal Enchiladas or a Return After Many Months!

So, it's obvious that I let this fall aside... I'm not sure what happened really. I meant to take a few days off while I wasn't feeling well and not cooking anything (my husband cooked or we went out for almost 2 weeks!) Then suddenly it was May and I hadn't written anything, but I was just too busy to pick it up again. And now, as we near the end of July, I feel a real need to blog about my day and my food! It is pouring out my pores, and so it must be brought to fruition!

Today was a fairly good day with twins behaving for the most part, but a sick husband threw a wrench into things. It all turned out for the good after a coffee run that seems to have settled everyone down for the evening. As everyone else watches Mulan, I am eating my dinner, taking a break from tying tutus, and typing this up!

I took 3 small zucchini and peeled, speared and cubed them, throwing them into a large saucepan to begin cooking. Then I took 3 ears of sweet corn and cut them off the cob, adding them to the pan. I had some leftover Carne Asada from a few days ago (about 1.5 cups)which I cut up into small pieces and put that into a saucepan with 1.5 small cans of green chili sauce (organic from Whole Foods)! I let the mix simmer in the pan over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes, then began filling the corn tortillas (La Tortilla Factory Flax & White Corn Tortillas) rolling each one in line in a 9x13 cake pan. I then covered the enchiladas with the other half a can of green sauce and with about 1 cup of mixed Light Cheddar and Mozzarella cheese (that my husband so lovingly shredded for me!) I had preheated the oven to 375 and I placed the pan into oven to melt the cheese. We serve with plain yogurt on the side!

They are a little spicy, but oh so good! The twins loved it, but you can probably cut the heat by using less green sauce in the pan to begin with and adding something else (I'm not sure what, but I will keep thinking on it!)

And now I will return to my tutus and my family, having successfully restarted this blog and put my enthusiasm for this meal in print!

Crock Pot Chicken, or Crazy Tuesday!!!!

Today has been a day of change and surprises, which makes life so very interesting. Especially with kids. We woke up in a cuddly mood and stayed in bed for about an after after having awakened (and after I retrieved 2 milk cups to stave off the horrible hunger that haunts our house). Then we finally got up and ate some apple sauce and some mixed berry jam yogurt, while seat-boogying to Pandora kids folk songs. Seeing that the twins were covered in milk drips, yogurt crusts and little tiny specks of apple, and needing a shower desperately myself, I decided it would be a family shower day! So I turned on the shower and undressed both babies, and pt them into the shower. I received a phone call just as I was about to join them in the shower. The PG&E man was calling to say he was 10 minutes out from our appointment. WAIT! what?? Today is TUESDAY??? Oh my goodness, did I forget the appointment? So I jumped in the shower and quickly washed the necessary. As quickly as possible got dressed, and called Moose out of the shower. I dressed him feverishly, and as I was done and about to call Ana out, the phone rang again! So I pulled her out and left the shower running while I rushed to open the door. I apologized profusely and ran back to my room, turned off the shower, and dressed her in 1 minute flat! All the while he went about his business looking at the heater, and checking it out. When I was done, he had his assessment ready: the filter was absolutely filthy! So replacement will be very very necessary.

As soon as that was finished, I carried our wash down to the car with twins in tow and dropped off the promised gas money to Ray's car. Then we went on our way to Burlingame to work. Today was our first day of Milo's new schedule, since he officially moved up another bracket in his swimming (YAY!). His practice is now at 5:15 instead of 4:30. So after wrangling with the boy over how much homework he must finish, and discovering his desperate need for a snack through his strikingly rude attitude, we got to the fun times of playing. Then suddenly it was time to go! So I packed up everyone and everything in the car (with a surprise visit from the Christians bearing Milo's forgotten Valentines), and dropped the kid off at his practice. Then I rushed home trying to beat both the traffic and the financial planners to our house!

When I got home I rushed over to check on the chicken I had previously coated with Italian seasoning and salt and pepper, as well as covering with water, and placing on low. It was very well done, so I turned it off. I quickly cut up some potatoes and placed them into some water to boil, and steamed some kale at the same time. The phone rang alerting us that the planner was here and we let him in, along with his boss, who happened to be with him! Strange, but nice, as they both are very lovely gentlemen. As soon as the potatoes were done I mashed them up with a little yogurt and garlic powder and cut up 2 stalks of kale, and fed the kids. Ray and I ate as soon as our meeting was over. I think I turned the chicken on too early, and that I under seasoned it for the time period, but the meal was delicious!

I am absolutely exhausted from a day of change, which not only I am not exceptional at dealing with, but also throw the twins off and make them even more silly and cuddly than normal! The storm is starting to rage outside, or at least the wind to blow heavily, so I think I'll stop now, and go finish the dishes, before the power goes out and this post is useless! Nos pars.

PS. It appears I was an idiot and completely forgot to press "POST" on the last two posts, so now they are up as well, however needing pictures, which is what I suspect I was waiting for. I will edit in the morning. Thanks for being patient!

Fondue, or Date Night with My Honey

Today was a crazy crazy day! We started it by getting everything ready for our big commute to Kelly's house, via mass transit! Having had no car throughout my college career, I am actually very good at taking public conveyance, but I have never taken the twins and was feeling very nervous. We gathered all our supplies and piled the twins into the stroller and off we went. First we walked to the big bus stop up a stop light on ECR to catch the express bus. We got on the low deck bus with no problems, and two very nice people popped up and lifted the seats for the stroller to park in the wheelchair area. Our driver had a propensity for stopping VERY quickly and the twins were very scared on the bus at first. After about 10 minutes though, they relaxed into the experience and started noticing all the people INSIDE the BUS with us, and it got to be very fun! As soon as we got to the train station, we disembarked from the bus and hurried into the station. After having gotten some coffee for mama and some lavendar cake for the babies, we grabbed our tickets and went under the tracks in the tunnel to the proper side. This is where I started to get very nervous. Most of the trains require you to climb up 5 stairs to the seating area, and have very little areas for wheelchair users, and thus would be very very hard for a stroller. I was not excited about the prospect of getting each kid out and sticking them individually up on the train then grabbing the compacted stroller and STUFF and then finding a seat, so imagine my delight when a low deck "baby bullet" train pulled up to our station for the "every stop" schedule! With the help of two very lovely people I got the twins onto the train in stroller very easily. As soon as the next stop was called, a couple vacated their seats providing us with the golden opportunity of a 4 seater all to ourselves. I quickly unbuckled the twins and unburdened the stroller and collapsed the stroller down, moving everything swiftly to our newly acquired seats! Soon enough it was time for our station to be called, and I repacked the gear with the kids and we disembarked from the train! To the sounds of our yelling goodbye and waving, the train pulled off, and we walked to Kelly's house.

My brother in law generously offered to watch the twins for me while I went and got my hair done, and as soon as they were fed, and diapers changed, and happily playing in the back yard, I left! I got my highlights, my semi-permanent all over color and the most fabulous cut ever!

Then after a little chilling with my babies and my sister and her family, I got all dolled up and went to meet the hubs at the Melting Pot. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. It started with a shrimp cocktail, then some cheese fondue (Wisconsin Trio with crab, bread, green apples and veggies), then a loverly salad with a raspberry vinegarette, followed by the main fondue of coq au vin with lobster, steak, duck, pork, shrimp, chicken and veggies. The entire meal was accompanied by copious amounts of a California sparkling wine, and was finished by a delightful dark chocolate raspberry fondue with mixed deserts, including strawberries and cheesecake! Ah my mouth is watering and my stomach full just thinking about it! I'm typing this now as I am seriously ready to pass out. I will not be able to post again until Monday as this weekend is jammed pack and I need a tiny break! I'll chat with you all again in the new week! Nos pars!!

Kelly Makes A'Spicy Pasta Dish, or Make Up Post Number 1

Today was a gorgeous day again, so we went for a walk to Starbucks to pick up Daddy a coffee, and some chocolate milks for the twins and take it to Daddy's work for a little chat. Then we went for a nice long car nap, ending just in time to go and pick up Milo from school. After I picked up Milo, we all went back to his house to finish up his homework and play around. As soon as Kelly got home, she jumped out of her car, and Milo and I jumped into it, leaving the twins and Kelly at home. Then I dropped Milo off at swim practice and headed alone to the nail salon to get my beauty on.

I picked out my shellac color and got the nail polish to match for my toes! After having luxuriated in the washing, scrubbing and massaging, I had finished 2 mind-candy rags and was ready for my brow shaping. When we were all done, I paid up and walked on my slippery feet back to Kelly's car to drive myself home. This had taken much longer than I had anticipated and it was now 6:40. When I got back to Kelly's house at 6:45, I still hadn't eaten and decided to not go to BLAST class, as much as it pained me. I didn't want to miss my great exercise, but I hadn't eaten since 10 am, and really didn't think I could get by with no food or shovel it down fast and not throw up!

I sat down to a lovely meal with my husband who had also shown up late. Kelly had started with some ground meat (I think it was beef) and added a touch of Italian seasonings to the mix. Being Kelly, she boiled two boxes of pasta because "there is no way one box is 8 servings"! I personally think that you should always have too much pasta, and not too little, so that no one has to go without, and you can always use the rest later! She added some jar sauce and for the adults, a little red pepper. Oh my goodness was it good! It had a whole mess of flavor and just enough heat on the back end to perk it up!

At the end of all that pasta, we decided to walk down and get some ice creamy stuff at BR. Moose and Ana got mini cones with soft serve, that Moose ate upside down. Kelly got some sorbet, and Ray and Milo, ice cream. I was still way too full from pasta to even THINK about anything more to eat! Then we walked over to grab some allergy meds at Walgreens, because this beautiful weather has all the plants twitterpated, and it is driving our little family up a wall with itchy eyes and runny noses! So having completed our tasks of finding sweet and drugs, we finished off our chilly night walk and headed back to Kelly's for jammies and drove on home. The twins are in bed, and I am soon after. Nos Pars!

Supermarket Meal, or How Terrible it is When I Forget to Prepare

I read an article today that really disturbed me. Strokes in younger people are rising dramatically. While I walk with the twins every day, and run 2-3 days a week and go to BLAST class 2 days a week, I still eat a fairly high fat diet. Our plan was to start by eating mostly whole foods and creating our meals at home, while simultaneously increasing our activity level. Then we were going to take a hard look at what we cook and begin substituting healthier options for the ones we were already working with. We are doing really great at eating whole foods at home, and rarely eating out now. We are doing fairly well at the increasing our activity level. I walk every day and attend my BLAST class, but I am finding it hard to keep my running up. Ray goes to the gym every morning, but has skipped some days when the night was hard.

With this in mind, when I got home from work with the twins, knowing that Ray had an after work meeting and would not be able to join us for dinner, I realized I had completely failed to appropriately plan! I had NO protein-substance thawed, hadn't set up anything to cook while I was gone, and had nothing except some beets, apples and oranges in the fridge! So I piled my cranky pants into their stroller and walked us over to the local supermarket. Saying that I was disappointed at the utter LACK of anything healthy and prepared would be a major understatement. My twins were hungry and I was running out of time! I had to find SOMETHING to feed them that would be already ready to go! The only food they had prepared were aisles of cookies, cupcakes, cakes and other sweets, loaves of bread, mayonnaise-y salads that looked mildly questionable, and deep fried pieces of dead animals and root plants. After circling the market and grabbing a can of organic no-salt mixed vegetables, a slab of cornbread, a box of tissues, and some more of the "delicates" detergent, I ended up back at the "deli". With dissatisfaction, I ordered 5 very over cooked chicken strips, as they were the only thing I thought both I and the twins could eat. I am utterly appalled at the lack of healthy prepared food at the supermarket!




Whole Paycheck, er I mean Foods, while protentious and overpriced, has a great selection of not terrible for you prepared foods. However, being across town, it is not an option I can really entertain. I suppose my best option is going to be overcooking a few meals and freezing them myself, so that all I have to do is pop them into the microwave, into the oven, or onto the stove to have a real meal to feed us. This however is going to take a great deal of planning, and a little time to set into order. Small price to pay for not eating to kill us.

I must end this post rather abruptly as the twins are showering each other with cornbread they grabbed off the counter, and it is quite obvious that it is time for this single-for-the-night mom to put these two to bed. Nos pars?

Shrimp Alfredo, or A Day Gone From Nightmare to Pleasant Dream

Today started out fairly bad again, with everyone in one big bed again after screaming fit and coughing and running noses all night long. I once again had a pounding headache, a sore throat, and to boot, my arms were beyond sore precisely where I had worked them out the night before! Figures! Ray gave the twins a quick breakie while I laid in bed bemoaning the world and all its inhabitants, especially whatever it was that had put me in this state. So once again, as soon as I could I loaded up on Claratin-D, ibuprofen and peppermint tea!

Ray came home at lunch to eat and gave me just a little more time to get ready for the day. I quickly got ready (bless those Aura Casia people and their aromatherapy shower fizzers!) and rushed the now crying twins out the door. In my haste, I evidently forgot to lock our door (nothing taken, whew!). As soon as we pulled onto the road the sweet sounds of toddler snoring began in the backseat! I drove straight to hell and comfort: McDonald's. I ordered two cheeseburger, two plain cheeseburgers, and a LARGE caramel mocha, please. And yes my order IS correct on the screen, thank you. I pull around the corner to park and eat my delicious comfort to ease my pain, and there are only two plain cheeseburgers in my bag. I whip around, and carefully try to keep the sleepers sleeping as I take them INTO the restaurant. I get my two cheeseburgers, put my gigglers back in their seats, distribute the plain cheeseburgers and proceeded to cry in the parking lot, right into my caramel mocha.

As soon as I got to my sister's, I felt so much better! My head had finally stopped pounding, and the soreness in my throat had become bearable. My neck still ached, but repeated lane changes had stretched the muscles out very nicely indeed. Milo was a true gem today, being silly and sweet on the walk home, wonderfully cooperative in getting snacks for himself and the twins, and doing his homework with out even a pout! And the twins, they only caused mild distruction today, and played ever so nicely with each other, even laughing histerically together at Ana's ability to produce snot bubbles on command!

Needless to say, when I got home (after having picked up some goodies at the mail room!!!!), I was ready for some good old fashioned comfort food with my hubs. I put the big pot full of water on to boil and the steamer all set up. First I cut the rough ends off the asparagus, then cut them in half so they'd fit into the steamer. Setting them on to steam, I de-tailed the shrimp them threw them into a frying pan with a little olive oil and some finely chopped garlic (about 6 cloves). I sauteed them until the garlic became soft and slightly translucent. Then I added a whole box of cream cheese (I am seriously trying to rid myself of these!) As I stirred, Ray shredded some parmegianno into the pan, because cheese is just that good! The water in the big pot was boiling so I added the thick spaghetti noodles to the water and set the timer for 8 minutes. As soon as the timer went off, I drained the noodles and threw everything into the pot together! Nummers!

I feel so much more relaxed now, with the twins lotion-jammied-milked-storied and in bed, listening to my husband giggle from our bedroom and the neighbors walk around upstairs. I will be downing a nice BIG glass of OJ before heading to bed early, because I do not need another morning like this. So to you all, good night, sleep tight and do NOT let the bed bugs bite! Nos pars.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Salad and Bread, or Day Two of the Gym!

Today started out very bad with two toddlers who were incredibly needy and runny-nosed. I had a sore throat and just was feeling terrible. Ray went into work and as soon as he could see that he wasn't needed he came right home and allowed me to take a little nap, a few pills, and a wonderfully hot shower with a peppermint effervescent aromatherapy tablet. After another nap at noontime and a few more ibuprofen, I felt pretty dang good to go! So to work we went, and it being Monday, it was my night to cook dinner for our families and I must do it meatless for my sister's family!

First I cut the butternut squash into quarters and peeled about 8 cloves of garlic and boiled them all for about 2 1/2 hours in plain water. After the flesh was soft I put 6 cups of the water I boiled them in aside and drained the squash and allowed them to cool to the touch. I then scooped all the flesh off the skins and put it into the now empty pot. I added back the garlic and mashed it well. I added 1 pint of plain soy creamer (and sometimes I blend this with a chunk of wet tofu) and 3 tablespoons of curry seasoning. Then I added about a teaspoon of red Hawaiian sea salt and stirred the soup until it was well blended. I take the 6 cups of boiled water and add it back to the soup until it reaches the right consistency (never actually the whole six cups, but more like 3 or 4). I place the soup back onto low-medium heat to warm up again.

Then I took 4 small-medium tomatoes and cut them into thin wegdes. A large red bell pepper I chopped into 1/4 inch pieces, and shredded the radashio finely. Then I took a bunch of mint and loosely chopped just the leaves, then added about a cup of raw sunflower seeds. I left now to go to my class and the boys (Gavin and Ray) sliced the bread, and washed and chopped the lettuce.

As I sit snarfing down my food, post workout, the twins are being whiny and everyone else is watching something that appears to be supremely hilarious. I have a mini cannoli sitting next to me waiting and a warm feeling that I know will be a delicious soreness in my arms tomorrow, and I am so very glad to be able to eat this delicous food and work out vigorously in order that I may enjoy it for many years to come! Nos pars!