I've created a monster! No, I'm not talking about the food face. I thought it was pretty cute. But I have pushed myself into a corner where Nora seems to only like peanut butter when it's made into a sandwich with Cherrios. Do you know how small Cherrios are? Do you know how messy creamy peanut butter can get if you goof and it oozes through the hole of the Cherrio? And she eats them as fast as I can make them. There must be an easier way! But I can't complain because she really is a good eater.
In my research and from the recipes I've tried, I've come to the conclusion that graham crackers seem to have a wide definition. I really don't see why you can't call these graham crackers. But if it bothers you, just call it honey-sesame crackers.
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. I recommend using a mixer or food processor to evenly distribute the honey and oil. Then, gradually add water and mix or hand kneed until dough forms a ball.
On lightly floured parchment paper or on a Roul-pat (or between two Silpats), roll the dough out. Mine became roughly 9 x 13 in size. Cut into shapes. Place on lined baking sheet close together, but not touching. Bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes per tray. (The original recipe says to do 15-20 and rotate the trays throughout the processes. It's easier on me as I chase Nora to just do one tray at a time.)
We're excited to be planning a shopping trip to Trader Joe's very soon. This weekend Paul and I decided to clean out our TJ's shelf in the pantry. Naturally, we're not completely done yet, but it's great to have a bare shelf to refill. One of the recipes we put together for using up our collection was a trail mix, which I was quite proud of.
Still catching up on posts from two months ago. Here's a picture of some divine looking juice at a grocery store in Chelsea Market in Manhattan, New York. We almost picked some up, but it wasn't pasteurized, and I was a bit nervous drinking it during pregnancy. It really did look tempting. I would invite someone to try it and tell us what they think. Just watch out for the expiration date. Look for the freshest dates. Watch because the juice expires quicker without pasteurization.
Those of you who have been following the story of my not-so-enjoyable pregnancy are up on the fact that for the first trimester snow cones were a staple. Jeremiah's Italian Ice would have made a fortune on us cause it is really close to the house and the closest thing to snow cones you can buy on the streets of Florida. Luckily, we have some very generous friends who shared their snow cone maker.
Odwalla drinks are popular and can be found at Starbucks, Einstein Bagels, and grocery stores. Costco used to carry large bottles of Odwalla Mango Tango that Paul and my dad were happy to enjoy. Recently, we came across the individual bottles in a variety pack-Strawberry, Mango Tango, and Superfood (a juice mixture with barley greens). The drinks have been very helpful in keeping my vitamin C up and can had a healthy dose of iron, which is important for my blood count right now.
While walking down Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale looking for a reasonable place to partake of lunch, we happened on a flag outside a chocolate shop advertising Gelato. We walked in and reviewed the case of about 20 flavors. The proprietor had an accent and an inviting smile. He was helping someone else when we entered, which gave me time to take a look at the chocolate selection. Even on sale, they were out of my price range, but the packaging was well done and the flavors sounded yummy.
I believe I have made it clear that with summer in full swing and my eating habits far from their best, I'm really enjoying cold and fruit. Preferably mixed. So, yesterday when it was near a snack time and we were still at the RDV getting a little bit of workout (not much more cause it was a "sick day"), we stopped at the Nature's Table Cafe upstairs to pick up a fruit smoothie. There are a number of dairy-free drinks that are nothing but frozen fruit and a mixture of 10 fruit juices. I chose number 8, something about berries (naturally) and really enjoyed it.
This post is in honor of our dear friend, Garalynne, a nutritionist in Savannah, Georgia. Garalynne has been taught how to eat well, and when she and her husband, Trevor, lived in Orlando, they would come over many Saturday nights for smoothies. Paul has a 3-ish cup blender that is perfect for individual drinks. We love our memories with our friends.
The best healthy late evening snack is smoothies and popcorn. Be creative with both. Here are some options:
