I have some favorite books from my childhood. But there are plenty of classics I don't ever remember reading. Never mind how old the book is. If it's a fun read and I can mix in some kitchen-time, it's a winner!

Over Christmas, my mother-in-law shared with me books about books. They listed the recommended books to get and read to your child. The key of course is to get books that appeal to yourself, too. Cause how many times have you imagined hiding a child's favorite book because you just can't take reading it again another night?

Some of these words have been on my "eliminate" list for a long time. Food writer Heather McPherson of Orlando Sentinel calls them "banned". But they are powerful words that might help you make better food choices in the coming year.

New year's are wonderfully clean slates. And while I've tried not to wait until now when something needs to be changed, a new year gives me a reason to really rethink my life and what changes need to be made. And so I realize some things that need to be done in my kitchen. Now's as good of a time as any to start.

Read my Cashew Cookie Lara Bar Recipe here!

While I thought the homemade cashew cookie bars were the best I'd made, the majority of the family voted for these cherry ones. I made the first batch at the end of October and sent them with my in-laws on a trip. They really seemed to enjoy them and made them last as long as possible.

Reader Question: Part of the challenge for us is food preparation feeling like a chore. . .

I've always enjoyed my time in the kitchen. But I feel much more like it is wrong to spend too much time in the kitchen with two kids demanding my attention. (And why would you not want to spend all your time with that super-cute kid pictured above and his big sister?) So, here's a couple things I am doing. I hope these ideas can help you and encourage you to come up with some ideas of your own.

This hasn't happened to me in a long time. I stocked up on some great produce items at a great price and then needed to search my cookbooks for recipes that let me use up the sweet potatoes and butternut squash before it went bad. OK, that's not really that hard to do in this house.

Don't get thrown off by the picture. This was only 5 months along.

I never-ever-in-a-million-years thought I would need to go on a diet. After all, i was nicely sized in my teenage years and 20s. As long as i could fit in my clothes, i thought i was doing fine. Consequently, I never-ever-in-a-million-years thought I would enjoy a diet or even brag about being on one.

But I am. I am on a diet. I am enjoying it. And I am bragging about it.

Serious stirring of. . .dirt? We had been given packaged dirt to mix with water. Shows that kitchen tools have a variety of uses.

August's Better Homes and Gardens had a fabulous food article with photographs to drool over entitled "Growing Season". The article says cookbook author, Ian Knauer, "isn't a vegetarian, but he believes in veggie dinners this time of year. 'Side dishes can be the most brilliant part of a meal. In summer, when fresh produce is at its peak, I let the side dishes be the stars.'"

Normally when people post on their blogs about changes, they generally mean changes to the website. But. . .not here. Not in this case.

Instead, I am sharing three major life stresses/changes that we seem to have chosen to happen at about the same time. And these changes, naturally, do play a part in eating habits. My plan is to share stories and recipes throughout the coming weeks that make all of these issues a little more fun for all of us.

Well, I'm not much at cooking or writing these days. But luckily I know some great people with good camera skills. So here's do a recap of Nora's birthday, which was in early February.

We rented a pavilion at a fabulous park. While we don't believe in large parties for such a young child, we just know too many people to keep it at our house. And for the love we have we Praise God. We are blessed to have wonderful friends.

I haven't been cooking much. Bless Paul and Nora for being willing to eat oatmeal for two or three meals a day. Here are a few ideas for what I've served because they require very little of my time and have a mild smell.

I actually set out the pots and non-perishable ingredients at lunch time (down to filling the pot with water and measuring out the cornmeal) when I felt my best so I don't have to think as much about dinner.

This article on McDonald's moving into Loma Linda, California, a community well known for its health and superb medical institution, was one of the top 10 most emailed news articles from the New York Times today. It touches so many nerves. I have to say part of me readily agrees with the comments that tell residents to use the presence of the chain as an educational to. Just because it's there and the children beg does not mean you actually have to stop there. But as a medical professional, as a mother, and as someone who desires to help everyone want to eat well, I am bothered by the extra temptation. Because there are times when it's just too easy.

This topic is super important to living on a budget and staying healthy. I know I highlight them when I talk one-on-one with individuals. But perhaps I don't focus on it enough on Eat Like a Rabbit. And in case I don't, I want to link to a post about saving money on produce I saw yesterday on a favorite blog of mine. The facts are especially important to vegetarians.

Aren't these yummy? I have to admit, I'm still drooling over them. Very proud of this dish. It was really good and surprisingly filling. I expected Paul to eat two for dinner, but he said he was too full and got two days of lunches out of the leftovers!

This is one day late, but I just got it myself. My father and grandfather's names are in the bricks at minutes 1:12 and 1:18.

Thank you to everyone who gave of themselves and to the families who supported them in providing us the freedom we enjoy today.

Previously, I haven't wanted to discuss this topic because I don't desire to be controversial. However, every time I see someone else write that they are trying out vegetarianism or veganism, there is inevitably someone who comments that it's completely against the body's nature to do such a thing. The author of the comment then recommends reading The Paleo Diet.

One thing special about my in-law's house is that there are always snacks on display. Tempting snacks. The kind of snacks that make you gain 5 pounds before the end of your weekly visit. Homemade snacks, which makes them even tastier. It was during one of these visits to Mississippi that I learned how positively addictive frozen peanuts are. Don't know why. I was just hooked. And my mother-in-law would always announce to me when the tray had been refilled.

This Food Face gave the model an ear-full of leftover
falafel. We started with half a toasted pita and a drizzled line of homemade tzatziki. Nora is a condiment girl and would prefer to just lick off the dressing or ketchup, depending on the meal. So she doesn't get much condiment to start with. The ears are halved falafel. The eyes and mouth are fruit that had been sent home with us from the party where I brought the falafel. Fruit is popular in our house and was gone by the end of dinner.

A friend brought me four beautiful tomatoes. And while I planned to serve them as a salad, I changed my mind. I through together this fairly easy dish to go with the cauliflower. While neither dish might be considered a main course on their own, I think they worked well together for a light supper.

Highlight of our weekend? How about a Florida Black Bear looking over a picket fence at us while we were riding along on a new-to-me trail? I was almost afraid to ride back. Sorry we don't ride with our phones or cameras on us. Would have been an amazing picture.