Recipes

Ok, so for awhile now, I've been thinking about posting some of my favorite recipes. I find myself wondering what to make for dinner (now that I'm home full-time, it's breakfast, lunch AND dinner) and I always ask others for ideas, so I figured I'd start posting recipes that I love, are crowd-pleasers or are just fun. So I'm going to start with what I made for dinner last night, since I had several requests from friends via Facebook last night!

California Pizza Kitchen's Thai Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:
***Dough*** (or any pre-made dough you like)
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

***Topping***
3 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter
3 tablespoons brewed tea
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons chili oil
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
2 teaspoons honey

2 tablespoon green onions
1/2 poundchicken breast, cut in 1/4-inch strips
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 carrot, shredded
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions:
For the dough: In a small bowl, dissolve the honey in the warm water. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and stir until it dissolves. Let the yeast mixture stand for 5 minutes, until a layer of foam forms on the surface.

In a large bowl, combine the flour and the salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the olive oil and the yeast mixture. Stir the flour into the wet ingredients, until all the flour is incorporated. If its too dry, add more water. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for 15 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic.

Shape the dough into a ball and put in a well-oiled bowl. Cover with a moist towel and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk (about 1-1/2 hours).

For the topping: Combine peanut butter and next 7 ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Set aside.

In the meantime, season chicken strips with red pepper and salt. Sauté in 2 tablespoons olive oil, until done (about 7 minutes). Coat chicken with 2 tablespoons peanut sauce. Set aside in the refrigerator.

Punch the dough down, and divide into 2 equal portions. Roll out each portion into an 9-inch flat circle. Spread 1/4 cup peanut sauce over the surface of each of the doughs. Distribute 1/2 of the cheese over the sauce. Repeat with other pizza. Distribute 1/2 of the chicken and green onion over the cheese. Repeat with other pizza. Place the pizzas in the oven (on top of pizza stones). Bake until crust is crispy and cheese is bubbling (8-10 minutes). Remove pizzas from the oven and sprinkle each with carrot and cilantro.

I usually add a bit more cheese and chicken because we are eating it for a meal. I also add bean sprouts too!

Quick Lemon & Garlic Quinoa Salad

Quinoa has an excellent nutritional profile (10.5 grams of protein per cup). This unique whole grain, which was the staple food of the Incas, is also rich in calcium and iron. (from Feeding the Whole Family cookbook - AWESOME whole food recipes!)

Salad:
1 cup dry quinoa
1¾ cups water
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup carrots, chopped
1/3 cup parsley, minced
¼ cup sunflower seeds
Dressing:
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1-2 tablespoons tamari/shoyu/or soy sauce

Rinse quinoa with water and drain. Place rinsed quinoa, salt, and water in a 2-quart pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer 15-20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed. Tip pan to the side to make sure all the water has been absorbed. Let stand for 5-10 minutes then fluff with a fork.

Prepare vegetables and dressing. Place cooked quinoa in a large bowl. Add carrots, seeds, and parsley to quinoa. Mix thoroughly. Combine garlic, lemon juice, oil and tamari or shoyu; pour over quinoa and toss well. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Bike Riding

So, the day before school started, Zoe wanted to go out and ride her bike. She's been having a hard time with letting go of the training wheels and it's been sort of frustrating all the way around. Duffy was out with her, just watching, while Zoe was riding on Teagan's bike (a bit smaller and seems to make her feel more confidant) when the neighbor kid, Iaan, rides over on his bike. Iaan is 6 years old and 2x Zoe's size. We asked him to give Zoe some pointers. Next thing you know, he is telling her to take her training wheels off (which she did) because she doesn't need them. She does a few pedals here and there and is gaining more confidence. Next thing you know, Iaan is telling her she is the worst bike rider he has ever seen! And off she goes - she was riding her bike!! All it took was getting the neighbor to tell her how horrible she was????? Why didn't we invite him over sooner??? Needless to say, Duffy and I just sat back and watched in amazement as Zoe kept practicing, riding and letting Iaan tell her how bad she was. She told me later that it was okay, she told him to say that and she was just ignoring him! Nothing like a little reverse psychology from a peer to get you going!

First Day of Kindergarten

Zoe had her first day of kindergarten yesterday and she did GREAT! Her teacher is awesome and seems really good and directing the kids and making things fun and interesting. Zoe was a little timid at first but had so much to talk about when we picked her up yesterday. When we were talking about the fact that she gets to go to school everyday, she was concerned when she would get a day off! Duffy is off this week, so he took her this morning and we can't wait to hear all about her 2nd day! She, all of the sudden, seems like a bigger kid.

Stuff

Wow - I can't believe 4 weeks have gone by since Harper was born! She is doing great and is a great addition to our family. Both Zoe and Teagan adore her, checking on her all the time. Teagan still hasn't figured out the whole touching/poking part yet and we are constantly having to remind her to be careful. Zoe is quite the little "mother" and always wanting to help, with Harper and Teagan both! Some of Zoe's adjusting has been taken out on Teagan, so the last couple of weeks have been trying in many areas, not just getting used to a newborn again.

School starts in a couple of weeks and both girls are getting so excited. I am looking forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays when they are both at school in the morning - ahhhh, a bit of peace and quiet maybe??? I doubt it!

We haven't been sitting around at home all this time though. We've enjoyed some trips to the park, a picnic at the beach and a trip to Seattle. We took the girls to the Space Needle and it was a big hit. This next weekend, the girls and I are heading south to my family reunion in Montesano. It will be the first time for all of my extended family to meet Harper and spend some time with all the grandparents and cousins. We are also going to visit Nathan's Grandma Ingrid in her new place and introduce her to Harper. Should be a busy, fun-filled weekend!

Birth

Ok, I'll spare you any gross details, but I wanted to write about Harper's birth, more to recount it for myself and if anyone really cares, read on!

I had to be induced. I've been induced with all three girls, so it was sort of a bummer that I didn't get to experience going into labor totally on my own, but it just isn't meant to be! The morning started for me at 5am when I woke up to Teagan wanting to get in bed with me. Once she climbed in, Zoe showed up. I didn't feel like sharing my bed, so back to their room we went. As I was getting Teagan back into her bed, she started making these funny noises and I realized she had thrown up in her bed (before coming to my room). We rushed into the bathroom, trying not to wake my in-laws in the next room and trying to wake up Duffy, sleeping on the couch (he said I was snoring!) so he could help me. We get Teagan cleaned up and moved to our room, then have to deal with Zoe not wanting to be in her room alone - DRAMA! Teagan continues to be sick every 15 minutes or so and by now, it's 6am and time to call the hospital to check if we are supposed to be there at 7:30am. Duffy calls and we get the green light. Teagan is continuing to be sick, as we wake up my mother-in-law to give her the heads up before we leave. Talk about stressing me out - I hated leaving Teagan but I wanted to get this show on the road!

We got to the hospital at 7:40am - we were supposed to be there at 7:30 but Duffy HAD to stop at Starbucks. We get all checked in and head up to the OB floor. I had been in a week earlier for a Non-Stress Test, so I was pretty much set for everything. My Dr. was already around, so they started me on Cervadil by 8:40am. With Cervadil, you have to be laying down for 2 hours, hooked to the fetal monitor before you can move around, etc. Contractions started towards the end of the 2 hours and I was ready to be out of bed. Duffy and I walked the main floor and the OB floor a few times then back to the fetal monitor. By then, contractions were about 2 minutes apart but not unbearable. They took the Cervadil out and I was only dilated to 3, so we waited to see if I would continue having contractions on my own. The contractions kept coming but I wasn't progressing at all. All the while, Harper was doing just fine and didn't seem in too big a hurry to make an appearance! When my Dr. checked be around 4pm, I still wasn't dilated much past 4cm and Harper hadn't dropped enough to break my water, so we talked about starting a low dose of pitocin to move things along.

Ok, I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of Pitocin, but I also didn't want to be laboring with no progress either. They started the Pit around 6pm and my contractions changed immediately - at first, they weren't really painful, just different. I knew within 1 minute, every time they increased the Pit because the contractions would get more intense and eventually, more painful. Harper kept hiding from the fetal monitor, so that was a constant struggle finding just the right place for it, while letting me labor wherever and however I was comfortable. My nurse was awesome (she was my nurse when Teagan was born too!), very patient but not overbearing or passive. At some point we discussed pain medication and I made it clear I did not want an epidural and unless things dragged on and on, didn't want any pain medication. Around 10pm thing got going enough for the nurse to call my Dr. in (he had been at home and I swear, he must have ran from the parking lot up because he was out of breath!). My contractions were getting longer and harder yet I wasn't at 10cm yet and not ready to push. I couldn't get comfortable and my back was killing me, something that had never happened with Zoe or Teagan. My water finally broke but I still wasn't dilated enough to start pushing.

Since I was Strep B positive, I was being pumped full of IV fluids and antibiotics and I remember around 11:25pm feeling like I really had to go pee. Duffy went in with me and I swear I peed for a minute straight. As soon as I was done, I had the strong urge to push. Everyone was moving rather quickly to get me situated to deliver and with 3 pushes in 5 minutes, at 11:34pm, Harper was born. She came out with her right hand up by her face, part of the reason it took so long for her to drop down. She loves her hands up by her face and we are curious to see how if that is something that she will continue to do throughout her life.

I do remember asking Duffy at some point near the end, why I didn't want pain meds but I'm really glad I did it without. I feel, as I did with Teagan's birth, that I was more aware of what was going on with my body and felt so much better in the days after their births. The nurses I had were wonderful and so encouraging and helpful. Duffy kept making jokes, that I found hilarious and helped take my mind off of everything, the entire day, so I'm sure they think we are totally crazy but I caught them laughing most of the time!

My Dr. is WONDERFUL! He is not only my OB doc but our family doc and pediatrician as well. I decided right before Harper was born that I wanted him to be the kids doctor because he is so laid-back, patient, kind and down-to-earth that it just made sense. It is so nice having one doctor to deal with everything for our family. I love that he is open to alternative medicine and that he treats the whole person.

Ok, so there it is, in it's condensed form. I'm glad it's over and Harper is here with our family. I think Zoe and Teagan will be great big sisters and Duffy is now, totally surrounded my girls! I think it's good for him though!

Harper Finley Moore

She has finally arrived!

Harper Finley Moore was born on Tuesday, July 14th at 11:34pm. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces (the biggest of the 3 girls!) and is 20 inches long.

She is doing great and we are glad to be home. Labor was long and tiring and I'm glad it's over. I remember asking Duffy at one point why I had said "No" to pain meds but not long after, with 3 pushes in 5 minutes, she was born!










We are home and getting settled before Duffy goes back to work on Monday - I'm dreading that day!

What I woke up to today

When I woke up this morning, this is the child that I found. At first I thought it was just a trim in spots......

















.....until I really looked at the back.....

....and side views! We called Katie, our stylist extraordinaire, and were lucky to get in at 10:30am!

And boy, did she make it look beautiful! Katie blended all the chopped up parts right in (even the bangs that I didn't notice until we were at the salon) and now, Teagan looks like a big kid!

I think she likes it! She asked if this meant she didn't have to wear ponytails anymore! She also told my mom she wanted to look like Zoe!

***Excuse the weird layout - Blogger is so frustrating sometimes with getting things to line up and look good!***