Friday, July 15, 2011
Snappy comebacks are good ammo for crazy comments about twins.
Now hear this: Moms of multiples are not deaf. As a mom of twins I may be exhausted and jacked up on caffeine but I’m definitely not deaf. All too often complete strangers freely give commentary on the "twin" thing. OUT LOUD. This kind of stuff really irks twin moms. Sometimes these comments are directed at us (sometimes even with a smile, bless their hearts), but most often are muttered just within hearing distance. Nice. Thanks. Favorites include, “Double Trouble!," “Boy, you sure have your hands full!” and the always wonderful “Better you than me!” The fertility drug references are a scream too because, you know, if you birthed multiples chances are you didn’t do it without the help of Octomom’s doc. (Note the sarcasm.) People (…
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Make healthy, homemade flapjacks with this easy recipe.
There are two things you should know about me: 1) I love eating breakfast for dinner and 2) I love Mark Bittman. If you don’t know who Mark Bittman is, you should. If I ever see him in person I’m going to kiss him on the mouth and thank him for vastly improving my life. Mark Bittman is the author of “How To Cook Everything.” (Think of it as a much hipper “Joy of Cooking.”) Every single recipe I’ve ever tried from that book has been pure gold. And easy. Thanks to Mr. Bittman I will never buy boxed pancake or waffle mix again. His pancake recipe takes less time to make than boxed and is way, way tastier. Sometimes we add raisins or dried cranberries; mushed up, super-ripe bananas are an awesome addition too. We often eat "Brinner" (get it? …
Monday, July 4, 2011
Parade watching goes from so-so to superb with the right preparation.
Everyone loves a parade. The wacky floats; politicians, all smiley in their borrowed convertibles; sparkly beauty queens (of all shapes and sizes); law enforcement, puffed out and proud to represent; tightly synchronized marching bands; and the anticipation of “what’s coming up next...?” Be sure to optimize your parade experience by getting prepared. Factor in the time to find a the perfect spot, settle in, then watch the parade and you’ve got at least 2-3 hours to either be miserable or happy. Listed below are a few tips that will enhance your parade experience: Tip #1: Scout it out Do your homework and research the parade route before you blindly set up your chairs in just any old spot. Take note of public bathrooms, shady spots, …
Friday, June 24, 2011
Quinoa is versatile and chock full of protein.
I was forever changed when I finally discovered Quinoa. I'd often seen it in the store and wondered what the fuss was all about. I thought it was pronounced "KIN-oh-ah." (Wrong. It's "KEEN-wah.") One of my fave people, who is a vegetarian and food writer, had written about it and still I resisted. Once day when we were getting oats out of the bulk bin, I spotted the Quinoa. We decided to buy a pound and give it a whirl. It was AMAZING. Just like tofu, Quinoa takes on the flavor of whatever you add to it. It's a grain that you cook like rice. It's easy to cook, yummy and so GOOD for you. Its protein content is very high (12 to 18 percent), making it a healthful choice for vegetarians and vegans-and kids that won't eat meat. Unlike wheat or …
Friday, June 10, 2011
Stock up on eggs from our local farmers market to make this quick, easy dish.
Summer time is go-with-the-flow time at our house, especially when it comes to meals. One of our favorites meals for breakfast, lunch or dinner is Crustless Quiche. It's ultra-yummy, ultra-easy and a great way to get veggies into kiddos. Especially with the delicious, healthy and affordably eggs at our local farmers market, this meal is a no-brainer. About 6 years ago I decided to leave the crust off the quiche and got fabulous results so this is how I’ve cooked it ever since. (Yes, crust is tasty but who needs all that butter and carbs?) My husband sometimes calls this “Refrigerator Quiche” because I often add our meal leftovers (such as extra steamed veggies, scraps of cheese, black beans or leftover bacon) to the mix for a double-duty …
Friday, June 3, 2011
it's fun to teach creative and yummy food alternatives to kids so sugar isn't their "treat" default.
I might be the town freak: I don’t allow my kids to eat sugar. Sure, they eat fruit, and I use a little honey and maple syrup to sweeten breads and granola bars, but I don’t allow them to eat processed sugar. At least on a regular basis... They have a cupcake on their birthdays (and ours, and sometimes at the occasional kid birthday party) and last Halloween they were allowed to pick out one piece of candy to try, however, they don’t get lollipops, popsicles, candy, juice boxes or cookies. In fact, my kids have never once had a lollipop in their five years on this planet. Please understand that I’m not passing judgment on folks that choose to feed their kids sugar; we just don’t feed it to our kids. The health benefits of staying away …
Friday, May 27, 2011
Summer calls for easy meals that are made on a dime and this one fits the bill.
You are greeted with its impossible-to-resist aroma as soon as you walk through the door of nearly every supermarket–a lovely rotisserie-style chicken, all juicy and browned, ready to be taken home and devoured. The problem is that they can be expensive, topped with mystery ingredients (including MSG) and often are sitting for hours on the hot plate before purchase, making it dry and unpalatable. The good news is that you can make one at home WITHOUT a rotisserie. Use your trusty Crockpot to create a delicious, gobble-worthy chicken with ease. This recipe couldn’t be easier but with five to eight hours of cooking time it takes a little planning. Try this chicken flaked over a summer salad greens, wrapped inside a warmed tortilla, chopped …
Friday, May 20, 2011
She's a tireless community organizer and advocate for local food as well as a Douglasville native.
Meet Douglasville Patch’s Mama of the Month of May, Marie Crowe! Marie is passionate about her family, God and food; and by food I mean REAL food, the stuff that’s grown by local farmers. As co-founder and manager of Douglasville’s 10:10 Farmers Market (one of Metro Atlanta’s only year-round farmers markets), Marie is an enthusiastic advocate for eating wholesome food and supporting our local economy. (“10:10” is a reference to the Biblical verse John 10:10 – "I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.") Marie is also a true hometown girl; she was born and raised in Douglasville. She deftly balances her roles as a homeschooling mom, community organizer and devoted wife and does it all with a big smile. (In fact, …
33.71872
-84.76967
Crossroads Church of Douglasville
5960 Stewart Pky, Douglasville, GA
/articles/may-mama-of-the-monthmarie-crowe
1615817
/locations/4381959
Friday, May 6, 2011
When should a parent let go of the reins and let their kids play free?
This afternoon my kids weren't in a class, inside playing games or upstairs reading books. They were (gasp) PLAYING OUTSIDE. By themselves. Without me. Yup, I have free-range kids. Typically "Free-range" is described as "anything that is uncaged and have some degree of access to the outdoors." That would pretty much describe my children. I live in a safe and lively neighborhood. On our street of 27 houses we have 18 kids under 6-years of age and a whopping total of 28 kids under 13. (And two babies on the way.) On any given non-rainy day you can hear the noise of kids reverberating through the cul-de-sac. The sounds of small packs of kids thundering down the street, a bouncing basketball, loud clackety skateboards, the whir of bicycle …
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Mommy Wars are alive and well.
Facebook had always seemed pretty benign to me until a friend posted a Wall St. Journal story on her page and all hell broke loose. Should children be put in pre-school or daycare? Is it helpful or harmful? The conversations that followed bordered on vitriolic. And definitely veered off-topic. A conversation weighing the pros and cons of daycare/pre-school became, "Are you less of a mom if you put your kids in pre-school or daycare? Is that the best decision for your children?" Working moms vs. Stay–at-Home moms. The Mommy Wars are alive and well. I had a Director-level job before we had twins. Although I had a very successful 14-year career in a field that I loved but it never occurred to me that I would continue working outside the home …
Alice Shapiro
10:43 am on Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Hi Minde, Yes it is organic as is the corn flour, the only two ingredients in the product and certified by QAI, produced in a gluten free facility, product of USA. The brand is Ancient Harvest. It doesn't say on the box, but I visited their website at www.QUINOA.net and I believe I saw the GMO free info there. You might want to check with Dr. Awais Butt, my chiropractor, who is very savvy on good… more ›