I love you once, I love you twice...

I love you chicken soup with rice.

Maurice Sendak wrote a great Book of Months titled Chicken Soup with Rice, as well as our beloved Where the Wild Things Are. 

It has also become a dinner staple around here. Every time I ask Gracie what she wants for supper her answer is "chicken soup with rice." To which I reply... "I love you once, I love you twice, I love you chicken soup with rice!"

After cooking our leftover roasted chicken in the slow cooker overnight and into the morning during art class, we now have a succulent chicken broth. I took out the chicken bones this afternoon and then added:

2 chopped fennel bulbs

2 cups of baby carrots

2 cups of rinsed brown rice (added for the last hour)

a dash more of herbs de provence

and served with chopped fennel fronds on top

SO easy and so delicious!

Words of Wisdom :: Worry Less, Love More

I subscribe to "The Daily Groove" parenting emails from Scott Noelle and I have to say that I really look forward to his beautiful words of wisdom in my inbox everyday.

Today's was especially inspiring because as a family, we are trying to be more optimistic, hopeful and happy each and everyday. This post really resonated for that very reason.

THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

 

:: Worry Less, Love More ::

Perhaps you've been led to believe that worrying
about children goes hand in hand with loving them.
But in truth, parental love is far more powerful
*without* worry than with it.

Worries focus all your attention on what you *don't*
want and put you in a state of *fear*. This sends a
message to your child that you *expect* bad things
to happen. And since children naturally tend to meet
their parents' unspoken expectations, worries are
self-fulfilling prophesies.

Today, if you catch yourself worrying, don't worry
about it. :-)

Instead, use your awareness of worry to shift your
focus in the direction of what you *do* want, and
reach for thoughts that soothe your worries:

    "It's not the end of the world."
    "It won't last forever."
    "I've successfully handled worse situations."
    "We always find our way."
    ...etc.

Before long you'll start feeling hopeful, and you'll
feel your heart opening, too. An open heart is all
you need for love to flow unconditionally...
unhindered by worries.

http://dailygroove.net/worry-less-love-more

Take the next step...
Join the PATH Program:
http://www.enjoyparenting.com/path/info
 
       Get "The Daily Groove" BOOK!
       http://www.enjoyparenting.com/book

Share this groove on...
 Facebook     Twitter

Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2011 by Scott Noelle
_________________________________

What's For Supper?

Baby Cakes!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle :: Crayon Cupcakes

I have a hard time throwing crayons away after we get them at a restaurant so I have been collecting them in a bag for a rainy day. Well, today was rainy so we had a bit of fun! 

(BTW, what a great way to give yourself five minutes to change a diaper, talk to the phone repair guy, take a hot pizza stone out of the oven, change another diaper...."Hey Gracie, want to peel some more crayons? YEAH!!!!")

Here's how you do it:

Peel paper off of crayons

Break into little pieces and fill foil cupcake molds 2/3 full.

Bake 10-15 minutes in a 275 degree oven. Cool in freezer.

Enjoy your new rainbow crayon creation!

There are lots of great ideas on Real Simple's website for new uses for old things.

What is one of your favorite websites with great ideas like this one?

A Snow Family

We had the joy of seeing our dear friends, Joanne and WIlliam, make their first snowman when we had snow the other day. Gracie and Ryan made a snow family for our family...

And then William made a little snow William. Too Cute!!!

Banana Love

WOW, this was a BIG one!

Simple Supper :: Sweet Potato and Rainbow Chard Baked Burritos

We had leftover baked sweet potatoes and a fresh bunch of rainbow chard in the fridge so we came up with this odd, but yummy concoction. One of my favorite recipes is for sweet potato enchiladas so this is a bit similar but much easier.

Sweet Potato Burritos:

spread mashed sweet potato on whole wheat tortillas (or other favorite flatbread)

sprinkle chopped/julienned chard on top

grate cheese over chard (Gracie's favorite is Manchego, a Spanish goat cheese that is now at TJ's for half the price as Whole Foods)

Roll up tortillas and place in baking dish

pour mild salsa over top 

(yogurt or sour cream and more cheese can also go on now or after baking)

cover with foil

(these steps can be done ahead of time) 

bake 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes