Banana Bread versus Sugar

Have I mentioned that I have just completed a 40 day "sugar fast"?  Basically just abstaining from sweets, deserts, candy, and treats for other reasons. It was a fabulous experience after the first week or two of "withdrawal"... however much to my dismay after ending the fast and realizing how fabulous I felt the discovery has been made that me and sugar are NOT friends.  Makes me angry:  a blood boiling kind of angry.  Or sad:  a weepy, emotional "absolutely no reason" kind of sad.  Very terrible.

After going through a process of mourning and experimentation I am coming to a bit of grips with this fact of life.

Now don't get me wrong, I am still having my occasional "one pump mocha, one pump peppermint, non-fat, no whip", and I do still steal the tiny butterfingers bites out of my kid's Halloween baskets; however my baking and desert eating is taking a drastic change.  Since a few of you out there share my pain, when I stumble upon a fabulous recipe or trick I have decided to pass it on, and I would appreciate the return favor for any recipes and tips you may have.  For you:  Hillary, Heather, and the rest is a recipe for a fabulous banana bread that I've tricked out:   Enjoy!

Oatmeal Banana Bread
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup regular oatmeal
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 large bananas

Mix together the first two ingredients, gradually adding the rest - two ingredients at a time.  Beat until well mixed.  Pour into greased 9x5 loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes.  Cover 15 minutes after removing from oven, and then remove from pan to cool completely.  Try serving it without butter - super yummy by itself.

LOW altitude alterations (under 3,500 feet):  Decrease white flour to 1/2 cup, Increase baking soda to 1 tsp. Decrease baking time to 50 minutes.

Whole Grains? Blah!

We are doing a 24 day challenge which along with other things involves eating whole grains.  I can count on the tip of one finger what whole grain I like:  Wheat Bread.  However, we are embarking on an adventure which includes trying... Brown Rice.

I hate rice: brown, white, sticks, wild, you name it.... it is yucky.  BUT I found this recipe and it's actually good!  AND my children ate it up in a furry!

PERFECT BROWN RICE

2 Cups Brown Rice
1 Egg
2 Cups Chicken Broth
2 Cups Water
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1.  Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix together broth, water, oil, and beaten egg
3. Add rice and pour into deep large baking dish.
4.  Bake at 350 for one hour. (High altitude bake at 400 for 1 1/4 hours)
5. DO NOT STIR!!!
6. DO NOT POKE!!!
7.  DO NOT DISTURB!!!
8.  Just look at the rice after 30 minutes and cover with a lid or foil at that time.
9.  When time is up fluff with a fork and mix egg into rice (the egg will have risen to the top) and serve.

Made a batch yesterday to use for the base of a taco salad (using only salsa as dressing).  This morning served leftovers with a poached egg for breakfast.  Tonight I'm using the last of the leftovers for a shrimp / veggie stir fry.

I'll let you know how it's going....  Sometimes I hate being healthy but this is yummy!

Strong Willed Children

I have a strong willed child, and may I say that I am thrilled.  


There was a time when I saw a child throwing himself on the dirty floor of Walmart screaming that I would shake my head and think "That mother needs to take control of the situation."  Now... there has been more then once that I have purposely caught the eye of the mother and told her "I have one of those at home. You are a good mom.  Don't give up, he'll get it one of these days." Then we both sigh, and move on down our aisle.


Strong willed children are a totally different breed of humans.  You discover that particular trait at oh... 3 days old maybe.  Sometimes it's 3 months.  When you think they should be full and they SCREAM at you for more and don't give up until they get it.  Or when there is a medical procedure to be done and they SCREAM at the nurse for daring to poke them with a needle!


My mother gasped when my Aunt Mary prayed for a strong willed child.  There are people who look at me in pity and sometimes judgement when I say that we have battled Kaiden for over 3 hours in the middle of the night to stay in his bed.  It's especially difficult this week when he is turning 2 next month, teething, and growing at the same time.


However...  I am thrilled!  Look at the amazing things a strong willed adult can do!  They don't take no for an answer, they go when the going seems impossible.  It takes a strong willed farmer to plant after 2 years of crop failure, or a strong willed missionary to penetrate the Amazon.  An executive must be strong willed to revive a dying company, or a surgeon to operate for 18 hours to save a life.  You must be strong willed to pray for 50 years for a son who has wondered the path.  Paul, Daniel, Isaiah.. they were all strong willed.  Never say die, never give up.


Yes, it is the most exhausting thing I have ever done... mother this child.  There are days I go to bed in tears, there are times I stare in wide eyed wonder at this little bundle of determination.  


However you are my joy, Kaiden Isaac Pollard.  You will laugh in the face of adversity and go marching out there with God at your side and strength in your belly.


Raise your chin dear mothers, tighten your belt.  Be consistent, one day they will get it.  Stephanie, Christine, Luci, Elizabeth...  and all the rest of us; be glad, rejoice in their passion. We are raising a generation of movers and shakers and I can't wait to see where this road of life takes them!!

Fishing Poles

My heart is so full it hurts tonight.  Many thoughts....


We have this friend across the ocean who is seriously struggling to put food on the table per meal.  Him and his wife eat once a day in order to save money to help the "poor".  

I've been pondering this for awhile now, but keep shoving it to the back of my brain because it's so overwhelming.  Tonight I walked into my crowded closet, with my crowded bookshelves, the brick a brack, the clothes that don't fit and I don't like but keep anyway... and said "Oh my God forgive me."  There is nothing wrong at all with stuff.  Not at all.  Stuff is good, and stuff can really bless people.  However what is the point of my stuff?  (Mine I'm talking about not yours)  If my motto really is Love God first, and love other people... There really isn't anything wrong with money or stuff, however I would like my stuff and my money to be used to bless people.  


Soooo....  That means putting on another pair of glasses to see the world through.


For example, I won't stop going out for coffee with people.  Because that is using $ to build relationships.  However I don't think I'm going to buy new books anymore, when I can borrow the same book at the library for free.  I'm crossing a few things off of my wish list.  Who needs more cranberry glass?  I have no place to put it anyway.


Dave and I have this vision of this fund (maybe we shall call it the fishing pole fund).  Where someone with a brilliant idea can take out a "loan" to buy a resource producing tool, then pay the "loan" back into the fund for someone else's turn.  Our friend for example across the ocean has a brilliant idea for a fishing pole, but has no cash to purchase it to feed his family.  There are many such programs being put into place across the world, maybe it is our turn to start one in this particular spot.


Funny coincidence is in family Bible Story two nights ago we read about the woman who gave her two coins, all she had.


No, I am not taking on a vow of poverty.  I'm actually asking God to make us rich.  Please Lord, I would like to help a guy buy a fishing pole.  And in the meantime I listed a few things for sale on Amazon....


PS:  anyone want two bins full of blue Christmas decorations?  I've decided to keep the red ones.  (YES I have two sets of Christmas decorations!)