There and Back Again: A Tucker Tale

So we finally went on our first real vacation!  Exciting, I know!  We traveled to California to see lots of family, and did fun things on the way.

Stop 1: My cousin Meghan's House.  She just had her 5th, darling baby... who was so good, that most of the time I forgot he was even there.  When we stopped by, the baby was less than two weeks old, and my cousin had an entire BBQ ready for us, and a clean house, and sparkling pool for us to splash in!  It was so much fun.  She even had two little turtles living in her pool!  Talk about crazy!  I didn't know turtles could acclimate to chlorine.  Sadly, we didn't get a single picture here : (

Stop 2:  My Nan and Papa Merl's House.  Nan is the candy keeper, so needless to say, my children were in   heaven with all the sweet treats!  They just moved into the cutest little place in El Centro, and have really done it up nice.  Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures here too!  My Dad and brother also came to stay there while we were there, so that worked out fun.

Stop 3:  My Aunties Houses.  My Dad has a brother and sister.  They live right next door to each other, and have a gate connecting their backyards (neat right!).  We decided to drop by for another BBQ and splash in the pool, where I did remember I had a camera!  We saw all of my Dad's family... minus a few people.  It was so good to catch up, and see everyone.  Jesse and I always leave there thinking, "wow, they are such down to earth good people, we love visiting!"  

 

Stop 4:  We then headed up to San Diego, where lucky for us, the temple was open on a Monday because it was a holiday.  Hooray!  So Jesse and I took turns going in and doing initiatories. It is a beautiful temple.  When I went in the lady at the inititory desk apologized for the lack of organization... they were alittle crazy because of the busy holiday.  I laughed, because there was no wait time, I had a booth and 3 ladies completely to myself, and I did 5 names in 15 minutes.  I made the comment that they weren't that busy.  My temple district was Mesa, Az, and you can't do initiatories there without at least a 30min-1 hr  wait!  They thought I was kidding.  I assured them.... I was not.  So here is our little family in front of the temple!

Stop 5:  La Jolla Beach!  Where else would we go in San Diego?!  Ok so Lyla and Jess had a blast!  Spencer slept through it all on the sand ( I kid you not).  And I sat there sifting through the shells my kind hubby brought me from the ocean!  I am a mountain person.  I love the smell, the sounds, the feel.  I am not a beach girl!  I find it smelly, and crowded, and sandy, and salty, and all around pretty unpleasant.  My dislike for the beach is  probably due to the fact that I have super sensitive skin, and stepping in the water burns like I just stepped in to acid!  I hate it.  And it continues to burn after I get out of the water, for like 15 minutes!  So I did not enjoy the freezing acid water, but Lyla did.  She was very wary at first, "Mom, I can't go to the beach until I am older and bigger, I might get lost in that big water!"  But she warmed up to the waves right away.

 look hard, there is a Spencer in there!

 Stop 6:  LA, where Jesse's grandparents live.  This was a neat stop.  I was a little apprehensive because his grandmother has Alzheimers, and I wasn't sure how things would go.  It went great.  My kids didn't even mind giving Grandma hugs and kisses every 3 minutes!  Until day 2, when Lyla and Spencer put their foot down.  Lyla: "No I will not hug you again, but you can play my IPAD with me." Spencer: "Don't do that!" every time she reached for him.  It was such a wonderful visit and the weather was wonderful!  Jesse's grandpa has the best sense of humor, and we all laughed alot.  The only run in we had was Jesse's grandma "cleaning up" the bathroom counter.  She took his contacts and his glasses case.  We searched for about 2 hours, but alas, I do believe they are gone forever!

 

Stop 7: Back to San Diego to visit the Olea's.  The Olea's are basically grandparents to me.  They are neat people!  And they have a super groovy patio, where we sat and let the kids play to their hearts delight.  We had tuna sandwiches, lays potato chips, and 7 up.  Does summer get any better than that?  No!  Even though we only stopped for a bit, it was wonderful, and we had so much fun.

Stop 8:  Yuma, to visit my Dad.  This stop was wonky.  We enjoyed my Dad, but he lives in an apartment, so we were all  in tight quarters, and with 2 kids that was almost disastrous.  But lucky for us, he plans on buying a small home soon, so the next time we visit, perhaps we won't make him sleep on the couch!  He took us to the river and that was a blast.  The colorado was running low, so it was only a few inches deep for lots of the river where we were at, which the kids loved!  And we were right under the Ocean to Ocean bridge, so every time a train went directly over us the kids were enthralled.  We let them dry off in by playing on a playground, and then went to eat at Pizza Hut.  It was wicked hot in Yuma though.  I know I live in Tucson which isn't much better, but let me tell you... there is a huge difference!  This pregnant lady could tell.  At least it is cool in the mornings and evenings here.  It was like 100* at 7:30 in the morning there...ugh!

Stop 9: Back to the old homestead, which was so lovely to return to.  I am a homebody, and while I like to travel a bit, usually 2 or 3 days tops me out, and this trip was almost a week long.  But I must confess, my kids were champs!  They didn't cry once in the car.  Well Spencer whined twice for 5 minutes when he was overly tired before crashing out for a car nap.  But other than that, we scraped by relatively unscathed!  Now for a 3 and 1 year old, that is pretty good.  What can I say, I have good kiddos, whom I love so much.  And a dear husband whom I am blessed to have snagged!  We got home on our 4th anniversary.  May 31st.  We talked about how it feels like we've  known each other forever, yet it feels like we just barely got married yesterday!  He is the light of my life, and though we didn't do anything extravagant for our anniversary (because we were pooped)  it was nice to sit next to him on the couch, in our own comfy home, and share the moment and reflect about all the love between us, and what a lovely family and life we have created!

Adventures into Holistic Medicine

CAUTION:  Severe misspelling will follow.  Please bear with me.

Well as you all know, I'm very fond of new ideas.  Recently I had the bug to take my children to a "holistic" pediatrician.  Lately I've been fed up with the way my pediatrician prescribes my kids antibiotics (azithromyacin no less, because they get a rash from amoxacillan these days) everytime I visit.  HELLO, EARTH TO DR.  you just said my child had acute bronchitis... which is viral my friend!  I don't need to be handed a presciption to be happy, just tell me my kids are fine and send me on my merry way.  I just want to make sure they aren't on their death bed with phnuemonia or something.

So needless to say, I'm not a big fan of drugs anyways, especially heavy duty ones.  And I am always googling home remedies.  So when Spencer started getting these blister like lesions on his scrotum and penis, I was very concerned... because they would look like they were about to clear up, but then come back worse.  I didn't want to self diagnos and treat his man parts, so I thought I would take him in.  But I refused to go to my regular pediatrician: the last thing I wanted to hear was, "oh, it must be from the cloth diapers you use, just switch him to disposable for a while and it will clear up."  UGH!

So off I went to find a Holistic doc that would see infants.  Low and behold, there was only one in town.  Super.  I called, not only did I have a nice hearty chat with the receptionist, she had the doctor call me back, and we spoke on the phone for a half hour.  He said he could see me anytime, so I scheduled an appointment for the next day. 

I cart my children into this herbal smelling, and might I add very dirty office.  But office aside, the trip was just that... a complete trip!  The guy came out and I didn't know if he was the doctor or a homeless man.  He had long grey hair, but was dressed nice... although, I'm not sure he had shoes on. 
And he took me back to a small room, where he proceeded to hop onto the exam table (and sit cross legged at 65+ years old). 

But, I was totally digging the experience, so I went along with it.  First he helped me get familiar and comfortable with holistic medicine, then he proceeded to question me about everything!  And I mean everything.  My pregnancies, the births, the children's diet, their routine, their sleep, how they teethe, how often they poop and pee, how often they get sick, what they normally get sick with.  He felt them all over their bodies, and asked them questions.  We were there for an hour.  He was very thorough.  He also said in 30 years of practice... he had never had to resort to antibiotics for a child (I was astonished, and quite happy!)  And in the end he said Spencer had a localized skin irritation, and he would whip up a salve.  So he turned around and whipped up a herbal, botanical, salve (which is guacamole green no less) and slathered it on him.   And gave me the rest to take home, which was quite a bit, and told me I could put it on just about any skin irritation on the body.  I kid you not, the skin irritation was gone in less than 24 hrs, and he had 4 big lesions!

After that he said he was almost sure Spencer had a food allergy, because he had some slight puffiness around the eyes, and also his lymph nodes were more swollen than is normal in healthy children.  He said that would also explain his tendency to get bronchitis very easily.  He encouraged our entire family to go on a elimination challenge diet to help find Spencer's allergy.  He gave me all the material I needed for reading and then told me to hold on.  He left the room and came back with the most awful smelling "tincture" he had made for me.  He said if my kids ever had a cold/flu/cough/bronchitis/etc.  to put a dropper full in their water 5 times a day, or up to every hour if needed, and it would nip it in the bud. 

Well, I must say... I haven't found the courage to do the elimination challenge, which would be eliminating all wheat, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, oranges, peanuts, and like 7 other things from our diet for 2 weeks!  Yikes.  I am collecting recipes first!  So if any of you know any good recipes for preparing a filling, nutritious meal from air, please shoot it over : )

I really enjoyed the experience, and got some good tips on how to boost my childrens natural immunity to help prevent further needs for doctor visits.  The Holistic Medicine Man also told me to go get a home remedy kit at a health food store, which carries lots of different holistic medicines in them, and to call him for minor illnesses and he can diagnos over the phone and walk me through mixing my own medicine right from my kit at home.  Neat-O right?  At least I thought so.  I hate when I know what my kids have but I have to go to the doc just to get a prescription!  So all in all the experience was fun and enlightening.  And totally far out there!!! Even for me.  But I have really enjoyed how well the holistic medicine has worked for our family... it seems to work magic around here.  We even tried the tincture for a cough Lyla had. 

My one complaint... he encouraged us (children and parents) to give up dairy completely.  He said contrary to popular belief, it isn't really that healthy at all, unless fermented into yogurt or kefir.  I totally didn't believe him, but after reading some scientific journals, and research studies... it seems he is right.  There are tons of not so great side effects from consuming dairy.  Mostly because the dairy we consume has been homogenized and pasturized.  Apparently raw goat milk is the best option.  So I guess my chickens will be getting some new playmates sooner rather than later!  Good thing I love goats anyways, right?

But for now, we aren't going to give up dairy completely... cut back, sure.  Make sure we are consuming healthier forms of it, why not.  Limiting the amount my children get in their sippy cup every day.... yes!  But give it up, not at the moment.  I like milk... and well life without cheese really wouldn't be life at all : )

I'm not sure I will use the Holistic Medicine Man for my normal form of treatment all the time... I've been raised too mainstream to deviate so quickly.  But it was nice to have the experience.  Perhaps next time I will just try Osteopathic medicine, which is a more "whole" approach, integrating modern medecine with homepathic medecine.  Treating the whole person not just symptoms... that sounds good.  But be cautioned:  if you ever get the bug to try holistic medecine, they charge a small fortune. 

Bread Recipes for Meghan

Very Special French Bread

Sift together:
4 cups flour
2 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. salt
1 pkg. dry yeast

Add 1 cup warm water and mix.  Add more water (just a scant cup) to make a soft dough.  Dough should never be so stiff it cannot be stirred with a wooden spoon.  Transfer dough to greased bowl (never use metal bowls or utensils).  Cover bowl with a towel and let rise 4 hours in warm spot.  This is a very soft, moist dough.  Divide in half and place in 2 well greased loaf pans.  For a party look, turn entire recipe into a well-greased Bundt pan.  Allow dough to rise until double in volume.  Bake at 400* for approximately an hour.  Butter tops and remove from pans to cool.

Notes from me:  I find this bakes way faster than an hour... usually 40 minutes, just bake till golden.  I also like to turn it all into a 9x13 pan and bake it, then I like to butter it, put garlic salt on it and mozzerella cheese, then I let it bake for a few more minutes when the cheese bubbles.  Then when it comes out I take a pizza slicer and cut it into breadsticks.


Flaxseed Bread

1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
1 3/4 cups warm water
1/8 cup sugar (I like to sub this out with honey or molasses, but it really does work best with sugar)
1 Tbsp. Canola Oil
3/4 tsp. salt
1 cup flaxseed meal
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour

Dissolve your yeast in warm water.  This takes aobut 5 minutes-- the water becomes creamy looking. 

Add to this the sugar, oil, salt, flaxseed meal and one cup of whole wheat flour.  Mix this with your spoon till it's incorporated-- really easy to do.

Now add in the other cup of whole wheat flour and stir... then add in your one cup of all purpose flour. Mix till it holds together-- this will only take a minute or two.

Attach the dough, hook to your stand mixer, put in the dough and let the mixer knead this dough for at least 10 minutes.  If you don't have a stand mixer, then knead by hand on a floured countertop for about 10-15 minutes.

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and put the dough into it, then spray the top of it.  You just want to moisten the outside of it so it won't stick to the bowl.

Let it rise till it has FULLY DOUBLED.  Depending on the temperature, this could happen in aobut an hour.  (Usually 30 minutes her in Tucson) Focus on the dough, not the time-- when it has doubled then you're ready to go.

Spray a bread pan (9" x 5") with cooking spray.

Punch down your dough (don't knead it anymore) and put it into your bread pan.  Shape it with your oil-covered hands so it fits snugly into the pan.

Let the bread rise till it has come up about 1 1/2 inches about the top of the pan.    Preheat the oven to 350* -- bake the bread for about 40-45 minutes.  Once it's done, put it on your counter to cool for about 5 minutes.

Remove it from the bread pan adn let it come to room temperature or at least till it's only barely warm so it will easily slice.



100% Whole Wheat Bread

This whole wheat bread is good, and it comes from this website below.
http://www.food.com/recipe/100-whole-grain-wheat-bread-181106

2 3/4 cups hot water

1/3 cup olive oil, any oil is fine

1/3 cup honey

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon salt, Sea Salt is good

7 1/2 cups of 100% whole grain wheat flour

2 tablespoons dry active yeast

1. Place the first five ingredients in the bowl and mix.
2. Add: 2 Cups 100% Whole Grain Wheat Flour. (to cool the water and end up with warm dough) Mix then add 2 Tbs of Dry Active Yeast. If your not sure about your yeast proof it in a little warm water first.
3. Add: 4 Cups of 100% Whole Grain Wheat Flour.
4. Mix until the consistency is some what even. Then continue to slowly add flour 1/2 Cup at a time until the dough quits sticking to the sides of the bowl. It should be tacky to the touch. The trick is to have enough consistency to stand up with the least amount of flour so the bread will be fluffy. It will most likely be 6 1/2 cups but in any case do not exceed 7 1/2 cups of wheat flour. You can trade one cup of wheat flour for one cup of all purpose white if you wish. Don't over mix or the bread will be tough.
5. When your dough is finished, leave it in the mixer, cover the bowl and let it rise for about 30-45 minutes. The dough will be larger but it doesn't need to double.
6. Grease two bread pans with Crisco. You can also flour the pans to reduce sticking.
7. Mix the dough again just enough to knock it down at least close to the original size.
8. Drop the dough on a floured surface so you can work the dough and shape it. Shape it with your hands to make a nice ball getting enough flour on it so it isn't sticky. Divide the ball in half and do it again. Shape the loaves by turning the dough under it's self over and over. When the dough is shaped the sides and ends will be sealed and all you will see is a nice oblong shaped loaf with smooth sides and top. Drop the loaves in your bread pans and let them rise until almost doubled. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 36 minutes. If you forgot to preheat 41 minutes. (gas oven).
9. When done turn the bread out of the pan to a rack to cool. You can eat it right away (a great time for real butter) don't wrap it until completely cooled. (Condensation will make it soggy) Put in tinfoil to store on the counter. If you put it in the refrigerator it will turn into a brick. Enjoy.

Meghan, I hope your house smells like fresh baked bread soon!  Smothered in butter!

A Peek into my Pantry

This post has been some time in the making.  I am doing it because the number one questioned asked me at playdates, and group things is "so what do you cook?"... this is usually in response to a few things 1) our food budget, 2) the fact we don't consume meat (we aren't vegitarian... we do eat meat, we just do it is small quantities.... ex. a 5 lbs chub of hamburger can last us all year), 3) or I mention I buy no prepackaged snacks or food items (nothing readily snackable like crackers, fruitsnacks, or cereal)

So...  when I am asked this question, I tend to rack my brain, and eventually come up empty handed... which is silly, because I cook nonstop.  Sometimes I feel like I am glued to my kitchen.  And we do eat very healthy... I'm kind of picky about how I want to raise my kids.  And my kids are excellent eaters.  So I know you are dying to ask "So WHAT do you cook???"  Well after keeping track of it for a while, I did come up with the things my family eats the most of... and I am going to break it down into Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch, and Dinners.

And if I feel so inclined, I may add recipes.  We will see.  So lets get this post started shall we?

Ok, so these are my food guidelines that rule our household:

1) Recipes must be healthy - I substitute lots of ingredients.... applesauce for oil, honey for sugar, whole wheat for white wheat, plain yogurt for sour cream, etc.

2) Recipes are usually meat free, with the exception of fish!  We do eat fish.  And when company comes over, we do have chicken usually (just to avoid weird stares and excessive questioning : )

3) I prefer recipes that help me rotate my food storage.  I use my food storage at lease once a day, but usually 3 times a day.  I know, I know you are thinking I'm insane, but my food storage is all readily available in my pantry, and I do use everything!

4) To make sure we get adequate amounts of protein, we do consume lots of beans, mushrooms, eggs, cottage cheese, and other non-meat proteins.

5) But last, and most importantly, it must be tasty, and kids must like it!

Breakfast

• Eggs and Toast  (scrambled with cottage cheese then cooked is a fav, and so is over easy)
• Apple Pancakes (whole wheat, buttermilk cakes with apples diced up inside, served w/ applesauce on top)
• Malt o Meal (hot wheat cereal, made with milk not water! then we eat it like grits: buttered and salted)  Served with fruit.
• Florentine Scramble (eggs with spinach, mushrooms, and roma tomatoes)
• Bagels and Yogurt served with a fruit smoothie
• Home made granola (served with milk like cereal, or with fruit and yogurt as a parfait) 
• Huevos Rancheros (2 corn tortillas topped with over easy egg, and fresh made salsa, and cheese)
• Breakfast burritos (eggs, bacon, potatoes. This is rare since I only buy bacon once in a while..)
• Oatmeal (usually mixed with something... pumpkin, yogurt, or applesauce are some favs)
• Skillets (Eggs, different colored bell peppers, sliced onions, potatoes, topped with cheese)

So mainly breakfast is eggs! eggs! and more eggs! A protein packed breakfast leaves us much fuller and jump starts our metabolism for the day.  Cereal breakfasts (which happen every couple of months when I cave into the sugary cereal craving) usually leave the kids and I hungry an hour later, and very grumpy.

Snacks

• Any veggie with ranch dip (ranch dip is homemade with ranch packet and plain yogurt... if you do this splurge for the Greek Yogurt that is thick and full flavored with lots of live active cultures and probiotics!  Greek yogurt has a deeper more sour cream like flavor and texture... others can be too runny and sour.)
• Boiled eggs
• Any fruit (sometimes we use vanilla yogurt or plain yogurt with honey as a dip)
• Granola
• Muffins (usually chock full of veggie puree, or fruit bits, as well as flax seed, and whole wheat flour)
• Black Olives 
• Homemade Popsicle (using fruit juices or fruit puree)
• Sweetened Cooked Rice topped with Mango or Peaches (recipe for rice is from church cannery website, and is super! Especially when you sub out the water and add coconut milk instead!)

Snacks are basic.  But if I'm not careful, sometimes we have to scrounge... and that is awful. So I try to have  things pre-made and on hand before I hear "Mommy, can we have a snack?"

Lunch

• Peanut butter, Banana, and Honey Sandwiches
• Tuna salad sandwiches
• Ham and Cheese Sandwiches  (with lots of veggies on top)
• Quesadillas
• Bean and Cheese Burritos
• Egg Salad Sandwiches
• Salads with lots of veggies (topped with tuna sometimes)
• Left overs from night before
• Raita (plain yogurt, cucumber, tomato, onion, lemon, salt and pepper)

Usually lunch is served with cottage cheese, pickles, fruit, raw veggies, or yogurt.  It changes up.  My kids really love raita as a side with their lunch.

Dinner

• Spinach Lasagna (made with cottage cheese so it is cheaper and occasionally I add mushrooms)
• Cuban Rice and Beans (Black beans with tomato, bell pepper, onion, garlic, oregano, and 3 slices of bacon crumbled up, served over white rice... really scrumptious! On of Jesse's favs)
• Homemade Mac N Cheese (usually I make the cheese sauce and add cauliflower puree to it or cubes of butternut squash.  Served with veggie or fruit)
• Butter Garlic Fish (usually Swai because it is cheap and good, served with broccoli and brown rice)
• Potato Tacos (if you have never had these, come for dinner!  It is no fail fabulous dish.  Served with sliced cabbage, tomatoes, cheese, avacado, green onion, cilantro, and just a touch of mayo spread over each rolled taco to keep the fixins on) I make a cilantro lime rice with it, and refried beans. 
• Veggie Dippers (Shredded veggies: potatoes, zucchini, carrots, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, mixed with flour and egg to create patties you then stick on a hot griddle sprayed with pam.Serve with a marinara sauce like Preggo or Ragu).
• Vegetarian Chile
•  Stir Fry (either add mushrooms or pineapple instead of meat. Serve over rice)
• Cabbage Stew (with tons of other veggies: tomato, potato, celery, carrot, onion...squash, you name it,  I've added it!  Sometimes I even put barley in there too : )
• Eggplant Parmesan
• Veggie Pizza (occasionally I buy pepperoni, but usually I sub eggplant or mushroom for meat.  I also chop up all kinds of veggies to put on it: Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Bell pepper, onion, mushroom, eggplant, olives, etc.  Chop very fine and cover with cheese... your kids will eat it!  
• Black beans and rice, served with Raita over the top
• Black bean and Tomatillo Enchiladas (super healthy, light and delicious tasting, served with plain yogurt rather than sour cream)
• Lingini and Clam Sauce (great seafood dish that doesn't taste sea foody!  Lemmony and delish! I serve it with a fresh tomato brushetta, and asparagus)

Dinners are usually a lot of prep. An hour is what I usually put into dinner.  If I serve bread with dinner, it is usually homemade biscuits, french bread, or my normal wheat flaxseed bread that I make for everyday eating at breakfast and lunch.  I don't always have time to make my own bread.  Currently it is about 50 % of the time.  

Now keep in mind that these are some of the things we eat... there is lots more, and lots of variations on the things listed. It really depends what produce is in season.  If it is in season it is cheaper, hence we eat more of it... so our menu is very cyclical, and follows the harvest for all four seasons.  And most of these recipes can incorporate my food storage!  Which I do regularly.  It saves money, although it doesn't save time... unless you are ultra prepared... if I forget to soak the beans, sometimes we end up with grilled cheese for dinner :)  

I hope this was helpful to those of you who have asked me in the past and gotten a lame answer.  I can't seem to think of things off hand!  And for all you out there who want to eat healthier... do it!  

Also, to answer the meat question that is lingering in your mind......

It all started in college.  We couldn't afford it.  So I didn't buy it.  I learned to cook without it.  Now that we can afford it, I choose not to.  It is an expensive waste of money.  We feel better without it, and our bodies tend to get out of whack when we do eat it elsewhere away from home.  No doubt you can't beat the flavor of a good steak... mouthwatering... but some fast facts about meat:

1) Your body doesn't actually have the capacity to digest red meat, it rots in your gut for about 2-6 weeks before passing, causing gas, bloating, and other unwanted side affects. (I actaully learned this in one of my animal science classes at the U of A... where I was getting a degree to go into the industry that sells all you consumers red meat! Ironic... I thought so!)

2)  Eating meat has been linked to causing ALL the types of cancer.

3)  The word of Wisdom says eat meat sparingly and in times of famine (which currently my family is not in : )

4) Most commercially raised beef is given growth hormones and antibiotics, and these residues are found in the meat you consume every day.  (Unfortunately I saw a lot of stuff in the industry that turned me against supporting the way our food gets to our table, especially animal products... And while not everyone is willing to pay for the more expensive alternative, and farmers are driven to produce this way to earn a living... it would be lovely if more people stood up for environmental, and animal friendly growing practices.)  

Ok, meat soapbox over.... enjoy your dinner!

P.S.  If any of you want any of my recipes... just holler, I can email them, or post them.