Sweet, Sweet, Valentine's Day

What I am about to say may make you think differently about me.  Maybe even less of me.  But I don't care, because this is just too exciting to keep to myself!

Rob and I aren't big into Valentine's Day.  I know a lot of people (or at least a lot of fictional move/tv people) go all out- have a fancy dinner with rose petals strewn all over the house while an airplane writes "I love you" in the sky, a string quartet plays romantic music, and an ice sculpture of cupid melts in the corner.  We're more the type to say "happy valentine's day" with an accompanying kiss.  Maybe something special for dinner, maybe not.  One year when I went to bed I found a box of chocolates under my pillow.

This year, though, Rob went a little crazy.  He decided that in the interest of improving our relationship, he would buy us ... a dishwasher!  I haven't had a dishwasher since I moved out of my parents house 81/2 years ago.  That's 3138 days of standing over a sink of hot water for at least half an hour, scrubbing, soaping, rinsing.  I didn't really mind doing them by hand, or at least I didn't mind before I had a crazy little girl to take up all of my time.  Ever since Isabella was born almost two years ago, I've tried to cram most of my tasks into the time when she's asleep (have you tried spending half an hour doing dishes while someone else is either tearing the house apart or howling for your attention?  It's very difficult).  

Our dishwasher was delivered Saturday morning (for free, of course).  We did a couple loads right away to get caught up; it was so nice to see bare counters after such minimal effort!  (By the way, our dishwasher is so awesome that it cleans off even weeks-old caked on nastiness; the secret is the steam cycle.)  When Isabella took her nap that afternoon my first thought was "Well, I guess I should do the dishes now."  I even went so far as to start walking toward the kitchen before I remembered there were no dishes for me to wash!

Maybe I'm a nerd, or someone who gets overly excited about kitchen appliances, but I have such a feeling of freedom!  Those precious minutes when Isabella is asleep do not have to be filled with the mundane task of washing dishes.  When I'm done with a dish, I just throw it in, and that night or maybe a day or two later (depending on how much cooking we've done) I press a button -- and go do the next thing on my list.  Or ignore the list and read a good book. 

Does anyone else do dishes by hand who can empathise with me here?  I wouldn't want to be labeled crazy...

Next, Please

I have many fond memories of growing up...climbing trees...eating oatmeal (or pretty much anything) slathered in thick fresh cream from our cow...playing trampoline ball with my siblings... eating bread fresh out of the oven.  My mother made pretty much everything from scratch, and I blame my current robust health on her excellent cooking.  She even made granola for us.

So when I saw a recipe for the "Ultimate Granola" in my quinoa cookbook, I knew I had to try it.  It's packed full of tasty yet healthy ingredients, like almonds, walnuts, quinoa, oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cranberries, and has a hint of cinnamon for a bit of extra flavour (like all that other stuff isn't enough).

Making it was super easy - just mix everything together and throw in on a baking sheet - and it looked so pretty and smelled so nice when it came out of the oven.

After it cooled, I tried to take it off the baking sheet.  Maybe I did something wrong, or maybe it's supposed to take half an hour and scratching up my favourite baking sheet to pry that stuff off.  I had my doubts about the recipe after that, but of course I still had to try it.

And it's good!  A bit of a jaw workout, perhaps, but delicious and healthy at the same time.  I keep a bucket of it in the living room (weird place, I know) so when I feel the munchies coming on I've got the solution right at hand.

Play Date

Because every 21-month-old should know their way around a Playstation.

True Love

 

Can you hear it calling?

Hidden Goodness

Yesterday I read a friend's facebook update describing how much her daughter loves spinach smoothies.  In my mind I pictured a dark green slurry that only an unsuspecting toddler would ever drink.  

But I decided to try it anyway. 

I filled the cup (does anyone else find the magic bullet cups super convenient?) half full of fresh spinach, then added yogurt, fresh strawberries, milk, and a few frozen blueberries.  And it was good!  I tumbled that smoothie on my tongue, searching for the spinach taste, but I couldn't find it.  All I could taste was yummy fruity goodness.  I let Isabella have a taste -- and she didn't give it back until it was almost gone.  

I'm converted!

Our breakfast: homemade raisin bread and a spinach smoothie.