Life Lessons at the grocery store

While at the grocery store today Gabi asked if she could get fruit cocktail. I normally don't buy that sort of thing but I ok'ed it. She grabbed a can that was at her eye level and read "Healthy Kids" off of the label and threw it in the cart. Looking at the shelf I noticed that this particular kind was packed in light syrup. Glancing up two rows, I see fruit cocktail that is packed in juice.

Grabbing a can of each, I knelt down and asked Gabi to read the ingredients. Pears, peaches, water, sugar...was read of the "Healthy Kids" label. Pears, peaches, water, pineapple, pear juice, cherries was read off the other. I asked Gabi which one she thought was a better choice and she promptly replied the one without sugar.

Flipping the can around she was shocked to see that the chosen can was not the one labeled as healthy. "Why?" she asked. I launched into a spiel about advertising and how they want you to buy their product so they use words to get your attention. Since kids like (and probably eat the most) fruit cocktail they put "healthy kids" on the label thinking more parents would choose that one over all of the other choices. I thought that most of this went in one ear and out the other since about halfway through she was concentrating only on hopping like a kangaroo.

Several minutes and random discussions later she exclaimed "They tried to trick me!"

Confused I asked what she was talking about.

"Those fruit people! They tried to trick us. But it didn't work! Ha!"

I guess she was listening after all.

Happy Valentine's Day

Typically on Sunday mornings I cook breakfast for the three of us. Sometimes on the weekends that Gabi is at her dad's we skip it. Opting instead to hit the gym (David) or catch a few more minutes of sleep (me). I love Sunday morning breakfasts, we hadthem often growing up, and I have enjoyed creating the experience for and with Gabi. She's my best helper in the kitchen.



David and I don't do much for Valentine's Day other than exchange cards. Since it is a Sunday, I made a breakfast for the two of us that I don't think would be Gabi's favorite. For some reason, she prefers more of a meat and potatoes sort of breakfast and I prefer a sweet one. David is fine with either.




On the menu:

"Puffy Pancake" topped with a berry sauce, fresh berries and a dusting of confectioners' sugar

Sausage

Almond scented mochas



Here is the recipe for Puffy Pancakes:


1 tbsp. granulated sugar

2 tbsp. butter, melted, plus 1 tbsp. for the pan

3 extra large eggs, brought to room temperature

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. all purpose flour or 1/2 c. of your favorite gluten free flour(s)

1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract

1 tsp. lemon zest

1 tsp. orange zest

pinch of salt



confectioners' sugar and maple syrup



Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Beat eggs and sugar on medium speed until mixed. Add milk and combine. Slowly add flour, vanilla or almond extract, citrus zests, 2 tbsp. melted butter and salt. Mix just until combined using whisk to break up any lumps.

Melt 1 tbsp. butter in oven proof skillet. Swirl to ensure bottom of pan is covered. Pour batter into skillet. Bake 20-25 minutes, until pancake is puffed and lightly browned. Center will fall after removed from oven. Remove from skillet, slice into wedges and top as desired.



*I have found that recipes calling for a 1/2 cup or less of all purpose flour work well with an equal substitution of gluten free flour and no changes to the proportions of the other ingredients called for. *

Library Bag

While I have always loved reading I can't remember ever being fond of going to the library. It always seemed as though everyone wanted to read the same books that I did and who wants to wait three months to read a book you've eagerly been anticipating? I am many things, but patient is not one of them.

A year ago I was laid off and my (already small) book budget disappeared. On top of that, Gabi is now reading and has inherited my love of books. No longer does she want me to read the same two books over and over again. No, now she wants more! longer! bigger words! big girl books! Abandoning the love of reading was not an option and the thought of reading another Dora book was enough to make me want to poke my eyes out with barely sharpened pencils. So I dug out a red Trader Joe's bag that I found awkward to use for groceries and off we went.

How technology has changed using the library! After that first trip I learned that I could go online, access my account, place books and/or DVDs on hold and then receive an email when they were ready to pick up. How easy is that? I feel a bit spoiled but I've been converted. I love love love my library. The parking situation at the library? Not so much.

Of course, I still love bookstores and sometimes, on my weekends without Gabi, I drive over to Barnes & Noble to browse and read some magazines. Instead of lamenting about all the books I can't buy, I come home and update my holds request list with my latest discoveries.



So what is in the bag this week?


About a year ago my mom sent Gabi a book titled Pigeon Wants a Puppy. We read it then but the humor of the book was slightly lost on her. A couple of weeks ago she re-discovered it on her book shelf and giggled her way through it. This week she checked out Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late and Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog. She read both of them before we even got home and we read them together later that night. They are both going on our books-to-buy-if-mommy-ever-finds-a-job list. I highly recommend them for a cute, fast & fun read.



For me I picked up Comfort Food, which was recommended to me by my friend Cheri and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was written by Kate Jacobs who also wrote The Friday Night Knitting Club and Knit Two. All three books should be added to your reading list but please don't blame me if you suddenly have urges to learn to knit and have your own cooking show.



What are you reading? I set a goal to read 100 books in 2010 and I'm always on the lookout for something to read next.