So a friend asked me a simple question this week. “Are you going to support an Alley’s House family and if so, would you like to do it together?” Since, I donate to this charity, make a point to make sure my mommy friends know about this charity, AND told all my friends about adopting a family, this was a logical and simple question. I responded to my friend’s email with a long explanation about why I feel so overwhelmed. I signed off with a joke about being a good person at future time.
My dear friend gave me the greatest gift. She emailed me back and told me not to feel guilty because I am not doing ONE MORE THING. She said nice things and reminded me to have a good holiday season. It was a revelation to me. As a working mom, isn’t my life supposed to be one guilt ridden trade off for another? Aren’t I supposed to kick myself every time I cut a corner just to keep up with my own life?
How does this apply to food? Seriously? I went from wanting to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes (which I am wearing now) to totally cutting out grains, only buying meat from pastured and naturally raised animals, and giving the kids raw milk (well, really low temp pasteurized). I am in a word a bit obsessive. You know what keeps my crazies at bay with my family? The four year old. Yep, that little blond monster/princess is the pickiest eater ever and eats things that I never liked as a child. (Fine, I admit it. I did not like bread, pizza, or pasta growing up).
When I pick my girls up from preschool we usually talk about “what’s for dinner”. One afternoon, I told them we were having chicken and suggested we pick out the vegetables together. The 4 year old reminded me that we had chicken two days prior. She then stated “you can’t have chicken every day. It’s not like pizza. You can have pizza everyday”. Well, of course she ate the chicken. But, I did have to provided something to dip it in.
Do you have a dipper in your house? My 2 year old does not like to dip. She does not like sauces well, save a good cheese sauce but who doesn’t? Actually, give the two year old some queso and tortilla chips and she wont utter a word for 30 minutes. Yep, I let my two year old fill up on chips and queso. Probably, once or twice a month. I do order her a dinner but almost all of that goes home in a to go box. For a while, I hid this even from my husband. I mean he is not a Mexican food fan so, it would be just me & the girls out for dinner. Then, we were out as a family and he witnessed the pure love and joy that a little spicy queso brought to the two year old. He was shocked at my shoulder shrug attitude.
You know what, I have no guilt about letting her get her queso fix. And, I don’t feel guilty about letting the 4 year old have pizza every other Friday. Some meals, they are decent eaters. Some meals they eat a rainbow. Some meals they look at their plate, push it away and claim “I don’t like that”. It’s not a perfect world but, it’s my world.
Our favorite dips:
Barbeque sauce (I do have to reduce my homemade sauce down for the 4 year old)
Ranch (I just add the ranch seasoning to sour cream and thin is with a little milk – if I thin it at all)
Salsa
Almond butter (seriously dip some apples. Seriously)
Yogurt cheese (ok, I buy this from Lucky Layla Farms but, I posted below how to make)
Gravy (I reduce down stock or meat drippings then add a bit of arrowroot powder/flour and season to taste)
Yogurt Cheese:
Buy some good plain yogurt. It can’t be fat free as that will give a bad texture. I highly recommend a really good full fat yogurt. Those people that live in my house really love the yogurts from Straus Family Creamery. (Straus does not use the Ultra-High Temp Pasteurization process. But they do supplement grass their cows eat with feed that includes corn).
Take a mixing bowl, put a strainer on/in it, line with cheesecloth, dump in the yogurt, cover with cheesecloth, and put in the refrigerator. I give it a day or two. What you are left with has a thick texture and a wonderful tang.
I eat it plain with nut crackers or celery (or any cut up veggie). I love it with some pumpkin butter and pecans on top. Actually, any jam, fruit butter, nut butter & honey, fresh fruit is awesome on it.
When I make it for my girls, I add vanilla and honey. It is my “go to” dessert for them. Enjoy
