A little March Madness, A little Clean Livin'

Looking back I see that October was my first - and last - posting. Seems like an understatement to say that life has been really hectic and many changes have been made in the Stewart Six's world. 

On January 9th 2013 my mom passed away after a long battle with an autoimmune disease called scleroderma. There seem to be so many people I know who have Lupus, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, food allergies, etc. Not being a scientist I don't know if there is any kind of a link but I started thinking about food and its relationship to our over-all health. Is there the possibility that something we are ingesting is causing our bodies to revolt? I don't believe that preservatives, GMO's, artificial sweeteners or other additives CAUSED my mother to have an autoimmune disease but I can't help but wonder if those things may have exacerbated it or hurried it along. 

Recently I posted on Facebook that the more reading I do about nutrition the more I feel like I need to start eliminating a lot of the processed food we have in the house, for my health as well as the kiddos. Now, this isn't to say that eating processed food is a bad thing. Hell if it weren't for Devil Dogs, Ramen noodles, bad takeout and strong coffee I never would have graduated college! That being said, I can't help but feel guilty giving the twinados and the new guy chicken nuggets (the box says all natural but I have a feeling that the chicken didn't NATURALLY appear from the sky in cool dinosaur shapes... but I could be wrong) at lunch time. The guilt. Oh the guilt. It's a freaking cycle. Example:

*looks in fridge* 

Hmmm. 

All Natural Dino Nuggets or Turkey dogs.

Maybe grilled cheese?

I really should be making something more wholesome but DEAR GOD, how am I going to manage that with the *ample* amount of free time I have... but if I don't make the time am I putting their health in jeopardy... but how do I find the time to make clean foods without sacrificing time with them... But I'm a SAHM, I *should* be able to do this because if I can't then I am a super-mom-FAIL... But I have three toddlers and a super-angsty 'tween... But I need to do this for them...


*cooks up nuggets AND hotdogs and eats them, too*


And so begins the mother's-guilt-cycle. In the Guilt Olympics I have medaled in Culpability Cycling and Marathon Mental Self-Flaggilation. I am THAT good at this. 

It is very clear that this is going to have to happen in steps as I start out making the time to cook more "clean" and to reduce the "OMGit's4pmthekidsarescreamingthedogsaremoochingweareoutofnewDoraTheExplorerepisodesontheDVRandIhavenoideawhattodofordinner" stress. 

First step was to plan out the month's meals. HELLA BIG CHECKMARK!

A major part of this step and meal plan is to shop weekly on Saturday mornings for the week's meals. Monday is "baking day" where I will be baking the week's bread and treats. My stand mixer and my crock pot are about to become my new best friends. If I am feeling crazy the food processor will make an appearance. The Dutch Oven and I have agreed we needed to take a break. We are seeing other cooking vessels. 

Next step is to stick to it and write about what worked and what didn't. This is the accountability portion of our program. I am hopeful that the reduced stress will allow for more free time to work this last step out. 

Keeps your eyes peeled for updates. Comment often and let me know: Are you a meal planner? Has it worked out for you? What are some of your favorite go-to recipes?

March Madness, the Stewarts are ready!!

XOXOX -

TAM

Tuesday is really a Monday when there is a holiday at the start of the week. And OH! Did we have a case of the Mondays.

09-October-2012's offering is from www.marthastewart.com and yields 6 large servings:

Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash

Ingredients

• 1 small butternut squash (about 1 pound), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
• 1 cup homemade or low-sodium canned chicken stock, skimmed of fat
• 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 4 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup)
• 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated (1 ounce)
• 2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Olive-oil, cooking spray
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine squash, stock, and milk in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mash contents of saucepan; stir in nutmeg, cayenne, and salt, and season with black pepper. Stir to combine.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles; cook until al dente according to package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl; stir in squash mixture, cheddar, ricotta, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
3. Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking dish (4 inches deep) with cooking spray. Transfer noodle mixture to dish. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and oil; sprinkle evenly over noodle mixture.
4. Cover with foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking until lightly browned and crisp on top, 30 to 40 minutes more. Serve immediately.

*****

Nothing like a Monday-feeling to make dinner time extra interesting. Monday's tend to be easier days for us because there is only one activity in the morning for one twin and none in the evening - leaving me plenty of time to figure out dinner and make it. Only a few problems with yesterday:

1. Oops. It's Tuesday.

2. That means swim lessons for the other twin at 10am. Swim lessons for the 12 yr old at 5pm.

3. Every last baby in this house has refused a nap. Morning or afternoon.

4. Hubby has a man-cold.

3. It's now 3pm and I have no plan. Crap.

Naturally this is a perfect time to look up a new recipe and run to the store for those items I don't have. I am a genius.

So, remembering the twinadoes are mac & cheese aficionados (AND extremely sleep deprived and hungry at this point) I decide to look online for a good M&C recipe that is kiddie approved. Instead, I happen upon M&C made with butternut squash and ricotta cheese. I wasn't totally sold but the picture sure looked good:

So, it looked like the M&C the wee ones are used to (due to the orange squash) AND it has the added benefit of hidden veggies. Seemed to me that we couldn't go wrong here. Plus there was cayenne pepper for a kick. I like kicking things: balls, people who annoy me, etc. My cooking style isn't much different. Didn't seem too difficult, either, so I figured that this was dinner tonight! So, here is a rundown of how the meal prep went and how it was received:

3pm: realize you are missing ground nutmeg, shredded sharp cheddar,  breadcrumbs and all-spice (for tomorrow's meal). Announce to Hubby (with man-cold) you are leaving for the store. Wave happily to the 3 screaming babies with runny noses. Nod to 12 yr old as he comes home from school and toss a "do your homework!" over your shoulder as you bolt for the door. 

3:05p: stand in Shaw's produce isle trying desperately to remember what it was that you needed because you forgot the list at home. Pull up recipe on iPhone. ("Why did I need all-spice, again?")

3:55p: smile (growl?) at the sweet checkout lady while she rings up your purchase. Blame your supermarket ADD because you have more than you came in for. Ugh. 

4pm: Pull up to house and, from the street, hear screaming coming from inside. Rush in with your  bags  because you think someone is on fire. Realize that Hubby is missing (had to take a work call and moved upstairs to do so), the babies are screaming because Barney is no longer playing on TV and the poor 12 yr old is trying to entertain the 7 month old who is crying for a bottle. 

4:01p: drop bags. Open baby gate for twins to come into the kitchen and "help." Mix up bottle for baby. As 12 yr old if he has all of his things for swim. Take baby so he can get his things. 

4:02p: stop twins from emptying bookcase in front room while quickly peeling and chopping squash and throwing in pot with other ingredients as directed. Distract twins with a fun whisk/saucepan song and dance number while filling another pot with water and setting it to boil for the macaroni. Almost forget to add salt, but remember! Oh, and you are still holding the baby.

4:05p: while pouring macaroni into pot of boiling water, break up twin fight over whisk and pan. Banish everyone under 3 feet tall to the living room. Run back into kitchen and pour milk into 2 sippy cups and return to the living room with them and the baby. Sit and feed the baby his bottle.

4:10p: Hear the timer for your squash. Put baby in his "ring of neglect" (aka jumperoo). Ask 12 yr old to keep an eye on things while you're in the kitchen. Turn Spongebob on TV. Run. 

4:11p: mash squash, drain macaroni, mix with other ingredients, spray pan, pour in M&C mixture, cover with foil, throw in oven, set timer, shout for 12 yr old to stop watching Dragonball Z because the twins are screaming due to Spongebob not being on anymore, notice you forgot to preheat oven. Pull dish out of cold oven, set to 375. Resume breaking up twin fight over tin lunchbox, finish feeding baby his bottle. 

4:30p: Suddenly remember turning the oven on. Run to toss dish into oven. Set timer for 20 minutes. Let dogs out, while reminding 12 yr old that he still needs to get his stuff together for swim. Take dogs outside to do their business. 

4:40p: text hubby (who is still upstairs) that he needs to come down NOW so you can take the 12 yr old to swim practice. Announce to 12 yr old that he needs to "GET YOUR STUFF FOR SWIM NOW OR YOU'RE NOT GOING!" Wave to Hubby as you sneak out of the door, hoping the little dictators don't notice your exit. 

4:50p: Drop 12 yr old off at the Y. Tell him you'll meet him outside at 6p and that you love him. Drive off. 

5:00p: arrive home. Hear screaming from inside again before you have even gotten out of your car. Make plans to run away from home. Snap back to reality and man up, go inside and make it work.

5:01p: pull foil off of baking dish, return to oven and reset timer for 30 more minutes. Realize that the poor kiddos are so nutty because they are hungry. Throw Easy Mac in microwave for 3:30 and then cook 2 hotdogs for :45. Clear off table and set for little hands. Collect twins and "wash, wash, wash" their hands. Wipe boogers. Ask Hubby to help with feeding time. 

5:15p: Set delicious prepared food in front of twins. Watch them eat the heck out of it while you feed the baby his apple sauce and oatmeal medley. 

5:40p: Wrap up dinner with the babies. Give chocolate milk for dessert and win toddler award for Mother of the Year! Check on M&C in the oven, see it is getting brown on top and bubbling. Good. Smile. 

5:45p: Tell Hubby *HE* is giving the babies a bath. Hand him the baby. Run to get the 12 yr old from practice.

6:00p: Pick up boy. Text Hubby to please turn off oven. 

6:10p: Pull up to house. No screaming this time. Get txt from Hubby that he needs towels, diapers and diaper cream. Go into house, pull out M&C from oven. Grab twins and head upstairs to put on pj's while Hubby bathes the baby. Begin bedtime routine. 

7:00p: sit down to M&C with butternut squash. Decide that it's a little dry but good and make plans to do it again, maybe with bacon. The 12 yr old has no idea there was squash in it and the Hubby commented that he liked the sweetness of it. I thought it was delicious and the topping was perfect. 

***

Wow. I am tired just reading that. Anyway - The twins got a chance to try the M&C this afternoon for lunch. At first they seemed to like it:

 Interest waned quickly:

I blame 1yr old attention spans and not the taste of the meal itself. 

All in all this got a big ole HUZZAH! from the Stewarts and we are planning on entering this into our regular rotation with the aforementioned bacon. Enjoy and let us know what you think of it, too!

Yours, 

TAM