Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn

Also, you don’t have to be a nursing mom to want to make this at 7:30am. You basically just have to be human.

And I just realized, you’re a pretty nerdy blogger if you throw the phrase “going through your feed reader…,” into a post without thinking, like everyone speaks this language.

By the way, you should subscribe to this blog, Our Best Bites. So many good recipes, and nothing too complex. I haven’t actually been making any of these good recipes as of late (just drooling on my computer screen), and probably won’t be for a little while still, but you’ll find some good stuff there if you’re in a rut.

Look at the date on the milk carton.

When she was having her first baby, it was what officially freaked her out. She looked at the date on the milk and it was dated for after her due date!

I have since marked the coming of all my babies by noting the dates on the perishables. Thank you, Liz.

Today it was the milk. It’s dated for August 2nd (my official induction date). Here’s hoping we make the 2 gallons I bought stretch until then, because I’m not feeling the whole grocery shopping thing right about now!

The sour cream doesn’t turn until after August 12th. Hopefully our babies will be 10 days old by then!

Okay, I’m officially freaked out.

You win!*

Ahhh, Marshmallow Peeps. I eat them once a year, mostly for nostalgic purposes. I was always a fan of Peeps as a child, the fresher the better. My sister liked hers stale, and I can’t remember how my brother took his Peeps.

And for those of you interested, I thought I’d link to a series of photographs showing how Peeps are made (in my home state of Pennsylvania, thank you very much).

*Contest rules: 1.) Eligibility is restricted to those living in the continental United States 2.) Contestants must be present to win. 3.) Prize is to be determined by contest author and subject to change for any reason, including acts of God. 4.) Prize has no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for any amount in any currency. 5.) The prize is having the satisfaction of guessing correctly.

Last night, as we came home from a day of friends, family, fun, and food, Orison asked:

“Can I have one of those sparkly penguins before bed?”

What was he asking for?

When I told you all about this pregnancy, I told you also about having a condition called gastritis. It’s an inflammation of the stomach lining, and it’s very painful. Bad news: I still have gastritis. I take medication to manage some of the symptoms, but I still deal with more than my fair share of gassiness and general nastiness. I’ll spare you more details than that, unless you’re curious. But suffice it to say, it’s really miserable. I had this condition during my pregnancy with Felicity as well.

This time around, however, I think I’ve been able to nail down a major trigger for my stomach pain. I used to think it was acidic or spicy foods. I’m still avoiding those, but I think the bigger trigger for me is fat. When I eat a lean diet, I don’t have pain. When I eat something fattening (even a very small amount), I’m curled into the fetal position, gripping my stomach and crying.

So, I’m eating a very reduced-fat diet. See, it’s not that we eat unhealthy at our house, but I’ve never had to deal with this dietary restriction. I feel like I’m learning to grocery shop and cook all over again. It’s really difficult to avoid fat!

I haven’t nailed down what kinds of fat are okay and not okay. I don’t know if it’s just hydrogenated oil fats that hurt, or all fats, including good fats in peanut butter & olive oil. I’m just taking it easy across the board.

So this is where you health nuts come in! I need some suggestions for what to cook for my family! I have a ton of boneless skinless chicken breasts, I just bought some tilapia (though I have no idea how to prepare it), I’ve got some ground turkey, and I’m open to vegetarian suggestions.

Keep in mind, they can’t be spicy recipes. I would soooo appreciate any guidance here. Like I said, I feel like I’m starting over.

So here are some options for sharing:

1. Post a quick recipe in the comments.
2. Leave a link to a post you’ve done that involves a low-fat recipe.
3. Write a new post and leave your link below.

More than likely, you’ll be helping more people than just me! I’m sure many of us are looking for healthy, easy alternatives.

And…my hungry husband and children will thank you as well! You can only eat so many turkey sandwiches. Morrow now gobbles when he hears the word “turkey”–cute…but sad.

[insert audible GASP!]

I know, I know, I know. Will you still be my friend? I can drink tea! Or even a chai tea latte (see… SEE? I’m getting closer, right?)

But seriously, all funny business aside, I’m at peace with my distaste for coffee. I can still be a grown-up! I can still do all the things that responsible adults do!

I figure, if I made it through college and graduate school without resorting to coffee, then I will probably do just fine for the rest of my life (with a cup of caffeinated tea from time to time). You know, they say “It’s an acquired taste.” I just chose not to acquire it. I love the way it smells, can’t stand the taste.

So, with that fumbling preamble out of the way, I had to pass on this adorable (yet informative) cartoon about… coffee!

I like this cartoon because:

• It’s so cutely illustrated.
• The points are short enough to keep my attention (that of a non-coffee drinker).
• So much useless information (but could probably be of use in Trivial Pursuit someday)!

So if you actually like the stuff, you’ll probably be doubly entertained.

(via Wesley Hill)

I have dreams of being a crafty woman. Everything I touch would turn beautiful.

Something about Valentine’s Day is pretty to me. I like the colors, I guess. Soft pinks, shades of red, all offset with some white… so pretty. Yeah, I know it’s a Hallmark holiday, but I like love. Love is good.

I’ve come across some Valentine’s Day projects in the past couple days that have me dreaming… that’s probably where it’ll end, though.

These are the ones that’ve caught my eye particularly:

Skill level: Easy

I think these heart doilies made out of napkins are adorable (via Martha Stewart, the one who inspires many of my delusions):

Skill level: Intermediate

If I were a scrapbooker, another one of my grand delusions, I’d be all over these 3D paper decorations.

Skill level: Are-you-freakin’-kidding-me

All of this is made of cake. All of it. Not much more to say about that, except not gonna happen. Major props to Bakerella on this one.

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day crafts? Nothing’s too remedial to share (trust me, I’m the world’s worst artist). But if you have mad skills you’ve been wanting to show the world, I promise I’ll still like you.

Happy crafting, whatever shape it takes this week!

Most of the plan revolves around “What things make it a special Thanksgiving meal for you?” And whatever the answer is, that’s what you make!

Abraham’s family (or at least his mother) would live without mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving meal. Not me. They are a must-eat! So that’s what I’m contributing. My Kitchen Aid mixer will be whirring tomorrow morning while I whip up the creamy goodness.

The Piper boys grew up loving canned cranberry jelly, so that’s always on the table, though Noel always makes some delicious homemade cranberry relish for herself and others who prefer something non-gelatinous. There is always a request for hearty amounts of sweet potatoes with marshmallows, too.

So, I ask you, what makes it a special Thanksgiving meal for you? What are your must-eats?

Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe for your chance to win my Thanks-GIVE-ing giveaway! I’ll choose a winner on Friday.

For those of you who share the love and have one in your city, you should know that on Halloween night, they offer FREE burritos! All you have to do is don some tin foil, and the burrito is free!

We did this for the first time last year with friends from our small group. They’re a family of seven, so this was a major deal for them.

In our fair city, the festivities begin at 6pm. Call your location for details.

I’ve used this recipe many times now. I’ve done it with the mushrooms, without the mushrooms, with more spices (garlic, allspice, salt, pepper), and sometimes with tomato paste to thicken a little.

When I read through the reviews of this sauce, most people liked it, but the main complaint was that it was watery. I have to agree. I would probably add tomato paste each time. And the recipe calls for allspice, which is definitely unique for a spaghetti sauce. Personally, I like it. I think it’s interesting.

Abraham really likes this sauce and requests it a lot—spaghetti is definitely his favorite food. It makes me feel good to make a sauce from scratch that will roll his eyes into the back of his head.