PSA: Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Just a public service announcement about Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). Do you know what it is? Most people do not. As a sufferer, I wish there was more public awareness of this disease. Lots of good information can be found here about it. Wikipedia defines it as "unrelenting, excessive pregnancy-related nausea and/or vomiting that prevents adequate intake of food and fluids." I think of it more as non-consensual bulimia. It's like having the stomach flu or food poisoning for months on end, really. It's thought that about 2% of pregnant women suffer from it.

A little comparison between morning sickness and HG:

Morning Sickness	Hyperemesis Gravidarum
You lose little if any weight.	You lose 5-20 pounds or more. (> 5% of pre-pregnancy weight)
Nausea and vomiting do not interfere with your ability to eat or drink enough each day.	Nausea and vomiting cause you to eat very little and get dehydrated from vomiting if not treated.
You vomit infrequently and the nausea is episodic but not severe. It may cause discomfort and misery.	You vomit often and may vomit bile or blood if not treated. Nausea is usually moderate to severe and constant.
Dietary and/or lifestyle changes are enough to help you feel better most of the time.	You will probably require fluid hydration through a vein and/or medications to stop the vomiting.
You typically will improve gradually after the first trimester, but may be a little queasy at times during the remainder of your pregnancy.	You usually feel somewhat better by mid-pregnancy, but you may continue to be nauseous and/or vomit until late pregnancy.
You will be able to work most days and care for your family.	You will likely be unable to work for weeks or months, and may need help caring for yourself.

I had it with my daughter. I started throwing up at 4.5 weeks. Stopped at just shy of 39 weeks when she was delivered. There were 10 days in between that I hadn't thrown up at least once. It was frustrating, to say the least. I lost almost 25 lbs the first 5 months. My doctor dismissed it as being one of the unlucky women who was sick the whole time (although she did prescribe drugs to help). Fortunately, my schedule was flexible and I was able to stay home most of the time in my drug induced comatose state with a bucket nearby.

I'm expecting again. Have HG, again. Have a new doctor that has been aggressive in treating it from very early on. I've seen my doctor almost weekly for weight checks, ketones in urine, blood draws for malnutrition, hydration, etc. My elbow pits (yes, that's what I call them) are finally feeling/looking like normal from having needles in them. I've actually started to feel like I'm not dying. However, I'm still sick. It's just instead of throwing up 10-20+ times per day, I throw up 3-5ish times per day.

Maybe the most important part of this PSA, things not to say to me (or I might just hurl on you):

1.Try eating crackers, ginger, dry cereal etc.
Really? You mean I threw up for 35 weeks with my daughter and 13+ weeks so far this time and this was all I needed to do? Um, I can't keep down my own saliva. I've tried eating these things. The result: I throw them up.

2. You just have to keep eating. Just keep something in your stomach.
See reply above.

3. I had morning sickness too. You'll feel better in a few weeks.
I'd like to believe I'll feel better in a few weeks. If by 'few', you mean 20, you're right. I will hopefully be enjoying a little newborn then. And, I don't want to hear about your nausea and throwing up 3 times but feeling like you were going to vomit. I wasn't exaggerating when I compared HG to having the stomach flu or food poisoning for months on end. I'm sorry that you didn't feel well, but unless you had HG I can guarantee you it's not the same and I feel worse.

4. At least you will not have a lot of weight to lose after the pregnancy.
That's true. I weighed less than I did pre-pregnancy when I left the hospital with my daughter. However, I would rather gain 70 lbs and have to exercise for 4 years to lose it than feel like crap all of the time.

5. You should try to not take so much medicine.
If I don't take it (sometimes even if I do) I will end up in the hospital with IVs in my arm.

6. Exercise will help, go for a walk.
Okay, I usually don't have strength to get from my bed or couch to the toilet and have a bucket nearby but let me go for a brisk constitutional around the block. On good days I might make it downstairs to do laundry and throw up promptly upon my return back upstairs.

7. What do you want to eat? Do you want to go to lunch/dinner sometime?
Food doesn't taste very good the second time around. I'm at a point where the idea of eating is depressing and nauseating. Yes I still eat, but it's more of a chore. I have already had to apologize more than I'd like to restaurant staff when I haven't made it to the restroom.

8. It will all be worth it.
Yes, it will be worth it. However, I don't need someone else to tell me this. Maybe it's just the pregnant, emotional me, but when people say this I feel like they are completely dismissing how I feel now.

In addition, I appreciate contact from the outside world since I don't get out much. Generally, I don't want to see you in person unless I feel comfortable in my pajamas throwing up in a bucket in front of you (which there are very few people that qualify) or I am having a good day and feel somewhat decent. I also don't feel like talking on the phone much, but texts and emails are always good.

Hopefully this PSA has been informative. If not, at least is was somewhat therapeutic for me to write it. Just remember that with me and others, this disease is real. It's not something that is a consequence of action (other than becoming pregnant) or lack of will power. The suffering that comes as a result is not a choice any more than having cancer, MS, or other diseases. The best thing that you can do as a friend or family of someone suffering is to be nice, be as understanding as possible and be willing to help.

What have I done for someone today?

R's mom, Marjie, passed away about a week and a half ago at the age of 65. We knew this day was coming even though it came much sooner than we would have liked. We are sad, especially R and his dad. We feel at peace with the situation and are happy that Marjie has been released from what she endured. It is hard to think of the years that are to come without her. Sad to think that L and other future kidlings will never know their Grandma Marjie (in this life at least).

So, you may be confused with the title of this post. The reason I chose it: Marjie lived a life of service. She may not have always been the best at receiving service, but she was exemplary at giving it. Even with her many physical limitations, she was always doing something for someone else. As we started to go through some of her things last week, we found dozens of projects she had started for other people. There were coming home outfits for newborns in third world countries, leper bandages, multiple quilts, sweaters, socks, shoes etc. for other people. She truly utilized her sewing and knitting skills to help others. I'll admit that I've felt overwhelmed at her willingness to give and serve. I am not the seamstress she was, nor will I ever be. Kind of wishing that R had siblings since the task of being Marjie's living legacy is a large one.

I'm reminded of this talk by Pres. Monson on which my title is based. "Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives." I know that Marjie had a purpose and fulfilled it by serving others.

I know that I am often guilty of having the intention of doing something and never getting around to it, as Pres. Monson talks about. "We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes. "

So, my goal is to be more like my dear mother-in-law. I encourage you to do the same.

Blessing Dress

A good friend of mine was in need of a blessing dress for her little newborn daughter. Since she wanted something fairly simple, I decided I could tackle the task. I realized in the process that it has been a LONG time since I've sewed anything "real". Yes, I've done blankets, quilts, skirts, pajama pants, etc. However, I haven't done anything with sleeves, button plackets, or that I've wanted to turn out 'nice' for a very long time. Over 10 years in fact.

I had a pattern. However, I knew from the beginning I wanted things different. So, I altered the bodice, sleeves, skirt, pretty much the whole thing. I also made it a lot smaller. I'm not quite sure that pattern makers have ever seen a newborn. I took out almost 7 inches around the bodice. In the end, I ended up making and drawing an entirely new pattern. I think it turned out nicely.







Maybe I should go into business... I have been thinking about how I could make a little money from home.

If nothing else, it was nice to be able to do something nice for someone else. It also provided good practice since I've been wanting to make some dresses for my daughter.

4th of July

Door decor for the 4th of July (well, it will stay up all through July) was a rag flag.

We had ~25 people over to our house on the 3rd to celebrate the holiday and our 1 year anniversary in our house! (I can't believe how fast time has flown.) The outdoor decorations included patriotic gummy bears with pull'n'peel "fireworks" (kind of droopy but I thought it still worked well) and patriotic pinwheels.
Also, tissue balls (I had red and white ones but this was my only picture). Don't mind the ugly electric breaker and meter box in the background. One of my next projects is to build a box/cupboard around it in order to hide the ugliness and to hang my outdoor clock and thermometer on. (As a side note...Apparently the city we live in required for the breakers to be outdoors when our house was built, weird.)
Besides lots of good food, we had a slip and slide, bocce, frisbee and all sorts of other activities. Fun was had by all.

Coconut Cream Pie

I have been craving coconut cream pie since the day before Mother's Day. They had samples at Costco. It was so good. I sat and debated whether or not I should get one. I decided against it since my mom was coming over for dinner and is allergic to milk. I decided it would be mean to have such a yummy dessert that she wouldn't be able to eat.

Since Mother's Day, I have been to Costco many times. Every time I go look at the coconut cream pie. Every time I decide that I don't need it. Plus, it's HUGE and I really don't need that much of it. So, I decided to make my own.


It was delicious. Looking at the pictures makes me want to make another one to eat. I found some recipes online and modified them for the ingredients I had and what sounded good.

Crust (I kind of made up my own recipe that sounded yummy)

Vanilla Wafers
Almonds
Shredded Coconut
Butter

I added everything to my food processor until crumby (I didn't really measure, I just added things in the ratios I thought they'd be good). I pressed into the 9" pie pan and baked on 350 for about 8 minutes.

Filling

1 1/2 c. coconut milk
~3/4 c. whole milk
~3/4 c. heavy whipping cream
~3/4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c. corn starch
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. flaked coconut

Make a custard by mixing coconut milk, milk, cream, sugar, salt, corn starch, and eggs. Heat and medium heat whisking constantly for ~20 minutes until thickened (you want it very thick). Remove from heat and mix in vanilla and coconut.

Pour into crust and let set in fridge for at least a couple of hours (I made 2 pies and the one that set overnight was better).

Topping:
~1 c. heavy whipping cream
2 Tblsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c toasted coconut

Toast coconut in 350 degree oven for 5-7 minutes on cookie sheet (stirring as needed).
Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

Put cream on top of pie filling. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Serve. Yum.
3/4 c. flaked coconut

12.5 lbs

Garden update: As of today, I have harvested 12.5 lbs from my garden (radishes, lettuce, and peas). There are 2 peppers (about 4 and 1.5 inches), almost all of the pepper plants have buds, 4 tomatoes that are about golf ball size, and 3 squash plants that are flowering.

This picture was from last week.


Since then, I picked quite a few radishes and a few heads of lettuce to make room for some additional pepper plants (bringing my total to 11 plants) and zucchini (bringing total of plants to 7). The newly transplanted zucchini is not looking so good though. Squash transplants can take awhile to set and I'm hoping that I didn't put them in too late. (The additional plants were all free, however. So if they don't make it, it's not too big a loss.)

This is my garden today (after picking):
Today's harvest: 1 lb 10 oz radishes, 1 lb 3 oz peas

Many people have asked me how I am weighing my produce. I use my kitchen scale. Here it is in use weighing my daughter when she was 2 weeks old (Yes, she still had her cord and was just 6 lbs 11 oz. Hard to imagine her being that small now).

Seedy Art

I got this idea from my friend Kasia's blog, which has a lot of fun projects. It was really easy and <$1 for all three. I already had some frames that I painted (although if you're looking for your own frames DI usually has tons for $0.50-1.00) and burlap. The seeds were from Wal Mart but their selection wasn't very good. I later found more at Honks and they were 6 for a $1.

Jewelry Tree

I wanted to win a Silhouette cutter awhile back. There was a local tv contest for crafts under $5. I had been wanting to make a jewelry tree for a little while and decided this would be a good opportunity. I was inspired by a few that I found online. They were around $50 each. Mine was $1. I used a branch that had been pruned from our apple tree (free), a piece of wood that was in our shed (free, many places like Home Depot that cut lumber will give you the scraps since they just throw them away), a mirror ($1), paint, and glue (E6000 works well).

(Sorry for the slightly fuzzy picture. I'm too lazy to go get another one from the computer downstairs)

I think it turned out pretty cute. Worth my dollar. In case you were wondering, I didn't win the Silhouette. There's some lingering bitterness at the contest. I'm not too surprised I didn't win. I was a little disappointed at the craft that did win. I didn't think that it was even close to the most original or best craft submitted.

Love

I love Legos. I think they are a great toy that appeal to a wide variety of ages and promote creative play. I think the new line of Toy Story Legos is awesome. I may have to splurge.

Yardwork

I find yardwork incredibly satisfying. Yesterday R and I spent a good part of the day working outside. We mowed the lawn, borrowed a weed whacker and used it, weeded a little, and finished removing a thicket of a hedge. I don't have any before pictures but this is the after picture:



The main trunk was about 11 inches in diameter. There was so many branches around the main trunk. It was crazy. Before the removal, the hedgy bush was about 10ish feet high and about 7 feet wide. It was removed because that's where I'm going to plant my raspberry patch.

As a garden update, things seem to be growing fairly well. In addition to the chard, peas, leeks, radishes, lettuce, and green onions, I've planted a variety of peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, cilantro, tarragon, and chives. Tomorrow I'll add rhubarb, shallots, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and gourds.


In the upper right hand corner you can see the digging of my nemesis, the gopher, not even 2 feet away from a supposed gopher repelling unit. One day, the gopher will be gone.

This is the view of the smaller, shadier part of my garden where I have some peas and the herbs.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

I made this cake awhile back. It was delicious. It's also a great option for people that can't/shouldn't have gluten like me.

I also like that it is really easy to make but looks extravagant.

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup water
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 18 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate
* 1 cup unsalted butter
* 6 eggs


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease one 10 inch round cake pan and set aside.

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat combine the water, salt and sugar. Stir until completely dissolved and set aside.

3. Either in the top half of a double boiler or in a microwave oven melt the bittersweet chocolate. Pour the chocolate into the bowl of an electric mixer.

4. Cut the butter into pieces and beat the butter into the chocolate, 1 piece at a time. Beat in the hot sugar-water. Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Have a pan larger than the cake pan ready, put the cake pan in the larger pan and fill the pan with boiling water halfway up the sides of the cake pan.

6. Bake cake in the water bath at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 45 minutes. The center will still look wet. Chill cake overnight in the pan. To unmold, dip the bottom of the cake pan in hot water for 10 seconds and invert onto a serving plate.

Purse

One of my great friends had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. I was trying to think of something inexpensive and cute to give to her. I decided I would make a little purse. This is the pattern that I used. I made a few modifications to it but for a first attempt I thought it turned out pretty cute.



It took <2 hours start to finish (which is a great project time because I can usually get it done or close to it during naptime). It also only ended up costing ~$3.50.

I think that I may modify the pattern more and make a larger version of it. I think that it would make a cute diaper bag.

Carseats

The past few times I've taken my daughter, L, to the pediatrician, he's asked if she was still rear facing. Although L has been growing lots, she's still smaller than many kids her age. She still fits in (with a fair amount of room to grow) and uses her infant carseat. Our pediatrician has talked to us about keeping her rear-facing for as long as possible. Things he's talked to us about:

*The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children remain rear facing until AT LEAST 2 but preferably until the child reaches the weight or height limit of a convertible carseat.

*It's expected that many states will change the law for forward facing carseats to match the AAP's recommendation.

*When a young child is in a crash and their head is thrown forward, their skull can be detached from their spine. This is called internal decapitation. A child’s head makes up about 25% of their body weight, while in an adult it is only about 6%. So much weight being thrust forward is a factor in internal decapitation. When a child is rear facing, the car seat cradles the head in a crash. When forward facing, there is nothing in front of the child’s head to restrain it.

*Rear facing is 75% less likely to die or incur a serious injury in a car crash than forward facing.

Before our pediatrician talked to us, I really had no idea. It seemed normal to switch an infant to forward facing when they outgrew the infant carseat or reached the state minimum of at least 1 and 20 lbs.

I thought this video provided a good visualization of the difference between forward and rear facing in a crash.



Quick Reminders when using any carseat:
*Choose a good seat. There is no “best” seat for everyone. The best seat for you is the one that fits well and is installed correctly EVERY time in your car. To get help with your install, type your zip code into this website.

*Don’t use aftermarket products in your seat. Anything that was not manufactured by the company who manufactured your car seat is not necessarily safe. It will void your warranty and has not been crash tested with the seat. There are no federal regulations or standards for these products.

*Don’t use bulky coats in the car seat. More info here.

*Make sure the straps are very snug and secure and that the chest clip is at armpit level.

For those of you that are wondering (which is probably very few), this is the carseat I've decided to buy when L outgrows her infant seat. Two things I really like about it are its very high weight and height limits (it's the only other car seat I'll need to buy) and its narrow enough to fit 3 seats across (or 1 seat and 2 passengers, 2 seats and 1 passenger, etc.) the backseat of my Ford Focus.

Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL

Cake

Our local youth were doing a fundraiser a week ago. They were sponsoring a dinner and asked people to bring a cake for a silent cake auction. I decided it would be a good excuse to try my hand at making a fondant covered cake.

I used a recipe for marshmallow fondant. It was pretty easy and fast to make. In fact, it was kind of fun to knead together.



I made a lemon cake and flavored the fondant with lemon extract. I was in a hurry and didn't take the time to trim my cakes flat. It ended up a little uneven and leany but I titled it a "Mad Hatter Lemon Cake".



While rolling it out, I probably used more Crisco than I really needed. I had heard that the marshmallow fondant was very sticky. The extra shortening made the finished project a little shinier than I would have liked.

Marshmallow fondant is something I'll definitely try again.

The Nighttime Project

I ran across this website at the beginning of the year. It is simply awe inspiring. It makes me want to build my own furniture so badly. I just need to get some tools of my own. Until then, my dad's tools will have to suffice.

R and I have decided we're going to make our first project a bed. We've looked at buying ourselves a bed many times but the ones we like are so expensive. Ikea has had some we've though were ok but we've had bad experiences with Ikea furniture and its longevity. We'd rather invest in something that is going to last a long time. The problem: we don't really have money to invest.

This is the solution:


Our bed will be this same style but will be stained a dark espresso brown. We were going to buy wood and start on it the day after we went skiing a few weeks ago. Being drugged up on pain killers and being unable to walk put a damper on things. Hopefully we'll get it started soon.

A toothpaste story and couponing

Couponing has become quite popular of late. I'll admit that I've joined the coupon craze. At least somewhat. I'm not nearly as fanatical as many people. That's where the toothpaste story comes in.

(This story took place many years ago when I first started college, long before I started couponing.)

As a poor-ish college student I always dreaded going to the store to get essential hygiene items. They add up so quickly and seem ridiculously expensive. So, one day as I was in the toothpaste isle, I stood there debating whether to get the toothpaste I liked or the toothpaste that was cheap. I decided on the cheap toothpaste.

When the time came to use the toothpaste, I was disappointed. It didn't foam. It didn't have a great flavor. My mouth didn't feel all that clean. After a few days of using the toothpaste I decided that I couldn't stand it and went back to the store to buy the toothpaste I liked.

In the end, I ended up spending MORE (wasted tube of toothpaste + good toothpaste).

This has happened with more than just toothpaste: shampoo, conditioner, razors, cereal, soup, and the list goes on. The toothpaste is one item that I could not make myself finish the inferior product before purchasing a new one.

This perspective gives me a somewhat different attitude toward couponing than many of the people I run into at the store. I love getting good deals. However, just because something is cheap does not make it a good deal. Also, a good deal for one person is not the same as a good deal for another. I try to limit my good deals to products I really want or need. I figure, just like my toothpaste, it's not a good deal to get something for really cheap if I'm going to end up going back to the store and buying something to replace it. It's also not a great deal to get something for cheap if I wouldn't have bought anything at all otherwise.

One of my best good deal shopping trips:



The total was ~$48. Some of the great items included were 2 space heaters, 2 big cans of toddler formula (heaters and formula accounted for ~$35), games, and food. Yay for getting good deals.

Another baby quilt and taggie ball

One of my great childhood friends had a little boy a few months ago. That meant another excuse for practicing my quilt making skills. This was the end result:



It was just a simple block pattern. It was pretty fast to make. The hardest part was trying to find different browns that looked good together. Some of the different browns bother me a bit but, overall, it turned out pretty cute. I think that for the next quilt i make I may try to do something a little bit more complex for the piecing. With the scraps, I decided to make a little taggie ball that that matched:



I used this pattern. I had previously made one for my baby without a pattern but it didn't turn out quite as round. The ball is super easy and is a great way to use smaller scraps.

MRI results

I finally got my MRI results back and at least know what's wrong with my knee. Good news is that nothing is ruptured (completely torn) and I don't need surgery. Bad news is that surgery might be faster to recover from than the actual problem.

The findings: Grade II MCL sprain (partially torn) with deep bone bruises on both the femur and tibia.

Most people are somewhat familiar with the MCL. It's the ligament on the inside of you knee. What's a bone bruise you ask?



Bone bruises are also known as periosteal. The most painful bruises, they can sometimes take months up to a year to heal. What happens in a bone bruise is a compressive force pushes the bone in on itself. When this happens the outer layer of the bone, the Periostium which is fibrous, breaks down. This leads to leaking of fluid and collection of blood in the area. Symptoms include pain and inability to walk.

My goal is to be able to hike and play this summer. Wish me luck!

Skiing to Sitting on the Couch

On Friday, this was me:



Ok. This isn't actually me. I was having a great time, however, skiing with R. He was teaching me how to ski powder since I've never skied in deep powder. Then, this was my view:



Again, this is not my picture. I wasn't in a picture taking mood as I was being taken off of the mountain via ski patrol toboggan.

Now, this is my view as I lay on my couch:



At least it's a pretty good view. I sprained my knee pretty badly. I'm still waiting for the MRI results to find out if anything is torn. Hopefully everything is still intact and I'm able to start PT soon.

Rag Quilts

I have a love/hate relationship with sewing. My mother taught me how to sew all growing up. I HATED doing it. My mom is a perfectionist, especially when she sews. I am a perfectionist at many things. However, sewing has been more of a functional skill, not one I take great pride in. Now that I am a stay-at-home mom, I try to find things that keep me occupied and make me feel productive. Cleaning and taking care of my daughter are satisfying, but sometimes I need a creative outlet. Maybe it is due to this that I have started to appreciate sewing more.

This is actually a quilt that I made for a friend over 2 years ago (so pre-mommyhood).


I would recommend rag quilts to anyone who wants to sew but doesn't want to have to spend too much time paying attention to detail. They are super easy.

Even easier than doing blocks? Stripes! This is one that I finished a few weeks ago for the same friend who is having another little girl.

I like the way both of these quilts turned out. I really like the fabrics in both. I am a fan of girly things that aren't necessarily pinks, purples, pastels, etc. Maybe if I'm ambitious I'll post patterns for both.

electrical tape > masking tape

I tried to be like Martha (Stewart) today. I was unsuccessful. For those of you who subscribe to Martha Stewart Living, you saw the amazing eggs on the cover. For those of you unsubscribers here it is:

Dyeing eggs for Easter is my tradition. I really enjoying doing and I'm fairly good at it. So, I decided I would be like Martha. I even blew out some eggs so that I could have them out for Easter decor. I cut vinyl with my cricut to do shapes. I looked for my electrical tape but could not find it, anywhere. I decided that I would try painter's tape instead.

I decided that I would decorate my boiled eggs before doing my 'permanent' blown out eggs. However, the vinyl would not stick to the eggs. Frustrating. I'm hoping that it will stick better when the eggs are completely dry. The painter's tape worked okay but not great. It would have been fine if it stretched like electrical tape. As is, I had to form little creases to get the tape to stick to the egg's curved surface. The eggs I did this evening were mediocre. I plan on doing more tomorrow. I'll take a picture of my final products.

200 lbs!

That's my goal. No, not weight loss or weight gain but how much I want to get from my garden this year. I am so excited to be able to have a garden! So far I have planted lettuce, swiss chard, green onions, radishes, peas, and leeks. Once the weather warms up a bit I plan on planting tomatoes, a variety of squash, tarragon, cilantro and a few other things. I'll also plant some pumpkins and decorative gourds but I'm not counting this toward my produce weight since they're not edible. Here's the starting picture. Hopefully there will be more green in a few weeks.

Julie & Julia

I finally saw this movie this past weekend.


I realize this movie came out awhile ago and most people have already seen it. Maybe my movie viewing habits will become another post. However, I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. I laughed and was inspired.

I enjoy cooking. I enjoy eating. I want to try new recipes. So, while I'm not ambitious enough to cook from all of the recipes from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," I do want to expand my set of cooking skills and dish variety. I tried one new recipe this past week. I thought it was a success. The husband, R, didn't like it as much. If you know of any fantastic recipes send them my way.

Cookies

I'm not really a huge fan of cookies. I love sweets, but cookies don't do it for me. However, my husband loves cookies so, on occasion, I make them. Generally, I'm disappointed with them. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to make cookies to take as a treat while playing games with some friends. They were the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever made. The recipe? From Martha of course!

Crisp & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies


2 3/4 c. flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda

2 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/4 c. brown sugar (dark is better)
3/4 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla (real vanilla is better)

1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Sift together dry ingredients.
Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy (~4-5 minutes). Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Add chocolate chips.

Put large scoops (~2 inches in diameter) on parchment paper on pans.
Bake at 350 for ~15 minutes or until edges of cookies are just golden brown (the middle will still be soft). Remove from oven and let sit on pan for ~5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Makes 20-30 cookies


If chocolate chip cookies are not your thing, try sugar cookies. My favorite cookie is my mom's sugar cookies with a yummy cream cheese frosting. One of the reasons I really like these cookies is that they are not very sweet.

Sugar Cookies

1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp (large rounded) baking powder
4 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp salt

3 eggs
1 c. sour cream or 2/3 c. evaporated milk w/ 1 Tbsp vinegar
1/2 c. softened shortening
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c. sugar

Beat eggs, add sour cream. Add softened shortening and vanilla. Beat in sugar.
Sift together dry ingredients. Combine dry and wet. Dough will be sticky (it will get less sticky when combined with the flour used when rolling it out).

You can roll out dough at this point, but I think it's best refrigerated for a little while. Flour surface and rolling pin. Roll out pieces of dough until ~1/4" thick. Cut out shapes and bake at 350 for ~12 minutes. The cookies will still be light colored.