It feels good when you can look in the fridge and say, I know what to cook tonight! With leftover hamburger patties, cheese, flour, yeast and tomatoes- I have everything I need to make calzones. There is also frozen vegies in my freezer, so the A's will get broccoli, cauliflower, chicken, etc with lots of olive oil inside ours. As much as yesterday was a bummer, my five year old is eating his homemade hamburger patty with gusto. I need to remind myself, " My cooking is not that bad." My children like it. My husband's own mother has called him a "picky" eater. I have just got to stop hoping that he will like my food.

As far as following the btd diet, I am going to try something new. I am going to bring my master cookbook to the grocery store. I used to write out menu plans, and that was very helpful when I was trying to lose weight. But I keep running out of time, and I end up buying things on impulse. For example, if something goes on sale, you know I am going to grab some whether I can use it this week or not. Then it goes stale too quickly and you have ended up wasting money. I still think it's practical to:

1) Always buy fresh fruits and veggies. It is just easier to get those carrots and celery sticks in with a simple dip.

2) Always grocery shop without the kids. What??? you say? Ok, not always easy. There is a 20 dollar price difference if they come along. Run that math past your partner.

3) Always buy a variety - fresh, frozen and canned. It makes the week much more flexible.

I used to bring my D'adamo food shopping book with me to the store. While it was helpful, it still didn't tell me how to use something once I got home. From now on, I will try to place new recipes that I want to try out into my master cookbook ( a 3 ring spiral) and take that to the store instead.

I am sitting here with a glass of red wine wishing that is could be my 5th or 6th glass of delicious escapism. (Forgive spelling errors, please.) It's been one of those rollar coaster days.

I took my two year old to a local forest preserve and enjoyed the great outdoors. It was one of those mornings where you look around and think "I am so lucky." Everything is so green and bright and full of life. Being the typical two year old, he had to give me a scare. While pushing his stroller at an energetic pace, he suddently unbuckles his lap belt and attempts to get out of his stroller. Unfortunately, I did not see his little hands move and I ended up pushing the stroller right over his little fat leg. He didn't even cry. It was one of those mother moments where you just have to shake your head and think "What next?"

Well, he wasn't done for the day. Immediately after his nap, he threw up. Then he threw up again. Foolishly, I tried to give him a little rice for dinner. Yes, he threw up again. This kid just got over an ear infection. I cannot believe he now has the flu! And of course, all of that self doubt just had to creep in. Did I feed him produce that was slightly moldy? Did he pick up an old cookie out of the car that I neglected to clean up? Was it food poisoning? Then I remembered something. When he was treated for his second to last ear infection, the doctor tested him for the flu. It seems 35 cases had walked through his door within the last two weeks. So, more than likely we just caught the tail end of the flu. I hope.

Which leads me to burden myself with more guilt. For I know that half of these germs caught are a result of my little guy being in part time day care. Working out at home is stressful, not to mention near impossible. Yet, he pays the price. I console myself with remembering how my oldest one caught everything in the book his first year of preschool. I think that is preschool's real purpose. They don't want the kids having to repeat kindergarden, so they encourage preschool to stay at home mom's! Anyway, I feel for my little guy and I hope he sleeps through the night.

The hubby and I had another disagreement at dinner. On the bright side, it was respectful and it did end in a compromise. On the other hand, it was the same old subject matter. My cooking. I cooked a full cut up fryer chicken in the oven with olive oil, salt and herbs. I asked him to smell my different spice combos and to choose his favorite. Then my little one got sick and I asked him to take over the dinner. I would have chosen white rice with complimentary spices and just a small dab of ghee. I would have chosen frozen green beans cooked with salt and last minute butter. He chose something different and then proceeded to tell me that it was not good enough for him. What frustrates me beyond belief is the fact that it is more than just one opinion versus another at this point. Medically, he is not doing well. Without going into too many details, I now have proof that what I have been saying all along is true blue. His eating habits are hurting him. But is he going to give my lifestyle even half of a chance?

No.

He knows how I feel about the children. When I cook, it is D'adamo's way. When somebody else cooks, I have to let go and be grateful that someone else is helping me with the feeding burden. Truthfully, I think that it is a good compromise. Most of the cooking is done by me, ergo my children have much more good in their diet than bad. But I just have to give up on him. I just have to give up.

The pain goes farther than just a disagreement regarding diet. I wish I could share my new discoveries with him. I wish I could logically debate some of these new ideas with someone who is objective and logical. I wish he would read one of my blogs now and then. I wish he would get excited about the same things I become excited about. But, he seems to hate everything I really enjoy. I can't help but feel sad.

Warm weather, countless errands and a sick child put my normal cooking day on hold. Never the less, (is that one word, or three?) I have made lots of discoveries:

1) My two year old overcame his first ear infection WITHOUT antibiotics. I wonder.... Is his immune system getting stronger? Did I administer antibiotics too soon within his past? Is all of this good food I am cooking finally kicking in? Were his ear infections due to allergies versus a bacterial infection?

I haven't a clue. I am just glad that we held off on the antibiotics this time. They really mess with his digestive track and he always ends up with the Big D or in pain.

2) I hit the book store and wrote down several different jerky recipes. Beef jerky, venision jerky and even ground meat jerky. I can't wait to try it. Please cross your fingers for me!

3) Alfalfa sprouts are a real hit in my book. They work within everything. I have sauteed them with diced onions and added them to eggs, beans, and rice. Since they are so beneficial and so CHEAP, they will become a weekly addition to my fridge. I have a couple of bread recipes calling for alfalfa sprouts as well.... just haven't had time to try them yet.

4) Dinner was delicious and simple. Grilled turkey burgers with chopped parsley, garlic, salt, egg, and olive oil. I toasted an Ezekiel bun for my five year old and topped his turkey burger with cheese. Raw carrots and a mixed green salad with lime, salt, olive oil, and honey accompanied our meat. It was so tasty! My five year old played with the leftover limes and discovered a brand new taste! To a mom, this is so exciting. Finicky little perfectionist tried something new. I think I can get him off of the ranch and onto a new favorite dressing now. Hooray!!

5) I think we will have oatmeal pancakes for breakfast tomorrow, and then I will send leftover turkey burgers with my son to school. This will be a challenge. He hates all meat that isn't warm. I am just too tired to bake any more today. Maybe tomorrow. Good eats everyone.

My oldest son requested cal zones for dinner. It feels so good to hear him get excited about something I have made from scratch. It suddenly dawned on me that it's a great way to use up leftover meat or veggies. Plus, the dough seems to hold up well for 24 hours in the fridge. Tonight, my O had shrimp and cheese (I should have added garlic and salt also), and the A's had sauteed pinto beans with onions, alfalfa sprouts, and salt. Drizzling olive oil and a little more salt on the freshly baked cal zone makes a huge taste difference.

I have had plenty of cooking failures. Luckily they just make the successes that much sweeter. Tonight was a "what is in my fridge and what in the world can I cook?" night. Here's what we did:

olive oil

white onion - diced

minced garlic (I love garlic - one heaping tablespoon)

cooked pinto beans (1/2 to 1 cup)

salt

brown rice (1 cup)

finely chopped parsely (a lot)

alfalfa sprouts

dry mustard powder

Saute onions and garlic. Add cooked beans. Add salt. After about five minutes, pour two cups of water into pan and add one cup of brown rice. Cook for 40 minutes. Remove cover and add the chopped parsley and alfafla sprouts. Simmer five minutes, taste. I was surprised that it tasted good enough at this point. In my humble opinion, no other seasonings were required. My two year old and I devoured it together. After the fact, I added a little bit of mustard powder and decided that was great for me, but too strong for my little one. Either way, this is one super duper beneficial meal with very little fuss. I could have easily grilled something for the O's during the cooking time, had it been needed.



I still can't believe that I like sprouts! Good Eats everybody...