It has been about a month since I got a reasonable amount of sleep. I really need about 9 1/2 hours a night but I rarely get that. In fact, I'm not sure when the last time I got that much was!
We've been working on moving Silas and Jason to their own beds. Last night was a disaster. Neither on of them went to sleep till after midnight and they both slept in our bed!
Even when I get to bed at a reasonable hour (which hasn't happened in a couple of weeks) I end up getting woken up several times in the night.
It's so bad that I'm thinking about sleeping all day long! Trying to figure out how to get everyone in bed and asleep early has consumed my thoughts. I need to wake them all up earlier I think.
We used to have such a good schedule but ever since we moved to GA it has not been worked out just right.
Ideally the boys would be in bed by 9 and the grown-ups in bed by 10. Then we could all get up at 7 or 7:30 and Silas could have a short nap after lunch.
When school starts back I'd really like to be on that ideal schedule, so I've got to start now! My plan is that next time Archie has a day off we'll all get up at the appointed time and go to bed on time. Until then we can work on getting up a little earlier and going to bed a little earlier each day. I really hope this works.
Tomorrow Archie works a half day. I'm hoping either I can sleep in late in the morning or get a nap in the afternoon when he gets home. I just need sleep. So does Archie.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Jessica & Jessica -Spinach brownies
I made these for the first time last night. The recipe says to let them cool completely before serving as the spinach flavor doesn't completely disappear until then. However, of course, I could not resist trying them hot! They were soft and moist and you could definitely discern the spinach flavor. It was really hard letting them cool, in fact, it was the hardest part! Once they are cool though, the spinach has almost completely disappeared.
There is actually more than just spinach in these yummy brownies, there are also carrots and cocoa and baking chocolate and whole wheat flour!
They aren't super sweet and once they cool they are more of a cake brownie. Archie liked them but suggested a cream cheese icing or a glaze might be a nice addition.
Michael, Jason, Jeri, and Silas all loved them as well! Normally I wouldn't let Silas have them since chocolate doesn't like him, but its been a while since he tried it and I thought we'd try and see how he does (so far so good). Gideon was the only one who didn't like them. He took a bite and said they weren't the kind of brownies he likes, oh well. 6 out of 7 people isn't bad!
I will make these brownies again, but not soon. I've been baking too much lately :P
There is actually more than just spinach in these yummy brownies, there are also carrots and cocoa and baking chocolate and whole wheat flour!
They aren't super sweet and once they cool they are more of a cake brownie. Archie liked them but suggested a cream cheese icing or a glaze might be a nice addition.
Michael, Jason, Jeri, and Silas all loved them as well! Normally I wouldn't let Silas have them since chocolate doesn't like him, but its been a while since he tried it and I thought we'd try and see how he does (so far so good). Gideon was the only one who didn't like them. He took a bite and said they weren't the kind of brownies he likes, oh well. 6 out of 7 people isn't bad!
I will make these brownies again, but not soon. I've been baking too much lately :P
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Asleep in their beds
Tonight is the second night we've attempted to put Silas to sleep in his own bed. (Actually, Jason and Silas are sharing a bottom bunk). Last night he only stayed asleep in there for an hour, I hope its longer tonight!
When Michael, our oldest was born, we had in mind for him to sleep in his own bed from the get go. After all, ALL of the books tell you that its far safer for babies to sleep in their own beds! Fortunately my parents were staying with us the first week we had Michael home with us and they assured me that it could be perfectly safe for him to be in our bed. (I heartily believe this to be true, but will point out that there are safe ways to co-sleep and unsafe ways).
About 3 months before Gideon was born we moved to a new apartment and set up a bed and bedroom for Michael. He continued to share our bed until just a week or so before Gideon was born when he suddenly got out of our bed one night, walked to his bedroom, laid down in his bed and went to sleep! He pretty much slept in his own room ever since! He was about 2 1/4 years old at that time.
When I was pregnant with Jason I had in mind that it was time for Gideon to move to his own bed as well. He was not as willing as Michael had been but after about a month of Archie laying down with him until he fell asleep in his own bed, he was fine. He was about 2 1/2 when he finally started sleeping in his own bed.
Ah Jason. I was pregnant again and again wanted the toddler to move out of our bed. Jason was not willing. Archie and I both tried for ages to get him to sleep in his own bed. He'd always get up and come in our room, sometimes after an hour, sometimes half way through the night. Even after Silas was born he never stayed in his own bed. He was just getting to where he would occasionally sleep in his own bed for the whole night...and then we moved, cross country! This totally upset his whole life. He was 3 1/2 at the time. We've been here in Georgia a year now and once in a while he'll sleep the whole night in his own bed, but that is probably only once every couple of weeks. I'm trying a new tactic with him now. I'm staying in his room until he's asleep. He still comes in our room but last night it wasn't until 6 AM. I think that is progress. He'll be 5 next month and I'm really hoping he'll finally get the hang of sleeping in his own bed.
Silas has never been too afraid of things but he seems a bit nervous about sleeping in his own bed. If you ask him about it he'll tell you he won't do it. Last night was the first try. I nursed him to sleep in his bed with his plush duck under his arm and a Thomas sheet over him. He went to sleep after about half an hour, but just an hour after that he was awake and wanted to come to our bed. Tonight, again, I nursed him to sleep in his own bed. It only took him about 20 minutes to fall asleep this time. Right now he's snoring away and he's been in there for 30 minutes. I'm really hoping he'll be able to stay in there at least half the night, but we'll see. He just turned 2 last month, so if he starts sleeping on his own he'll be the youngest of his brothers to do so.
Well, they are all asleep in their own beds, for now. I'd better get to sleep in my own bed before they wake me up.
God bless, goodnight.
When Michael, our oldest was born, we had in mind for him to sleep in his own bed from the get go. After all, ALL of the books tell you that its far safer for babies to sleep in their own beds! Fortunately my parents were staying with us the first week we had Michael home with us and they assured me that it could be perfectly safe for him to be in our bed. (I heartily believe this to be true, but will point out that there are safe ways to co-sleep and unsafe ways).
About 3 months before Gideon was born we moved to a new apartment and set up a bed and bedroom for Michael. He continued to share our bed until just a week or so before Gideon was born when he suddenly got out of our bed one night, walked to his bedroom, laid down in his bed and went to sleep! He pretty much slept in his own room ever since! He was about 2 1/4 years old at that time.
When I was pregnant with Jason I had in mind that it was time for Gideon to move to his own bed as well. He was not as willing as Michael had been but after about a month of Archie laying down with him until he fell asleep in his own bed, he was fine. He was about 2 1/2 when he finally started sleeping in his own bed.
Ah Jason. I was pregnant again and again wanted the toddler to move out of our bed. Jason was not willing. Archie and I both tried for ages to get him to sleep in his own bed. He'd always get up and come in our room, sometimes after an hour, sometimes half way through the night. Even after Silas was born he never stayed in his own bed. He was just getting to where he would occasionally sleep in his own bed for the whole night...and then we moved, cross country! This totally upset his whole life. He was 3 1/2 at the time. We've been here in Georgia a year now and once in a while he'll sleep the whole night in his own bed, but that is probably only once every couple of weeks. I'm trying a new tactic with him now. I'm staying in his room until he's asleep. He still comes in our room but last night it wasn't until 6 AM. I think that is progress. He'll be 5 next month and I'm really hoping he'll finally get the hang of sleeping in his own bed.
Silas has never been too afraid of things but he seems a bit nervous about sleeping in his own bed. If you ask him about it he'll tell you he won't do it. Last night was the first try. I nursed him to sleep in his bed with his plush duck under his arm and a Thomas sheet over him. He went to sleep after about half an hour, but just an hour after that he was awake and wanted to come to our bed. Tonight, again, I nursed him to sleep in his own bed. It only took him about 20 minutes to fall asleep this time. Right now he's snoring away and he's been in there for 30 minutes. I'm really hoping he'll be able to stay in there at least half the night, but we'll see. He just turned 2 last month, so if he starts sleeping on his own he'll be the youngest of his brothers to do so.
Well, they are all asleep in their own beds, for now. I'd better get to sleep in my own bed before they wake me up.
God bless, goodnight.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Jessica & Jessica -pink pancakes
Archie actually made these! They were really yummy and all of the boys liked them I think. Jason and Silas ate a lot of them. That was the day I was the sickest so I wasn't paying really close attention.
They had ricotta cheese and pureed beats in them. Archie said it was a bit of a challenge to find the right temperature. The book suggested medium high but he found that cooking them on medium low actually worked better.
They were dense but very tasty. I really enjoyed them with butter but the boys had whipped cream on top.
There was plenty of beat puree left over but sadly the measuring cup they were in fell and shattered and we had to throw it all away :( This is definitely a recipe I think we'll use again! I can't wait to try making it myself. :)
They had ricotta cheese and pureed beats in them. Archie said it was a bit of a challenge to find the right temperature. The book suggested medium high but he found that cooking them on medium low actually worked better.
They were dense but very tasty. I really enjoyed them with butter but the boys had whipped cream on top.
There was plenty of beat puree left over but sadly the measuring cup they were in fell and shattered and we had to throw it all away :( This is definitely a recipe I think we'll use again! I can't wait to try making it myself. :)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Jessica & Jessica-Tofu nuggets
These were made with tofu, egg, broccoli, and breadcrumbs. I thought they were pretty good but maybe not good enough to make again. The adults all liked them but not the kids. None of the kids!
I do think its the best way I've ever had tofu! I'd like to look around and find some other tofu recipes and see if I can find another way I like it.
I do think its the best way I've ever had tofu! I'd like to look around and find some other tofu recipes and see if I can find another way I like it.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Jessica & Jessica-Grilled cheese sandwiches
This recipe was quite different from the normal bread-cheese-butter grilled cheese recipe. It was equal parts shredded cheddar cheese and sweet potato mixed with a little salt and trans-fat-free margarine, then spread between two pieces of whole wheat bread (I used sugar free bread), and then cooked on a skillet until the insides were melted and the outside was browned.
These were fantastic! Or at least I thought so. Jeri (my mother-in-law) really enjoyed them too. The boys on the other hand were less than impressed. Gideon ate his and said he liked it, Silas ate about 1/4 of his and left the rest, Michael ate a bite or two and left the rest, and Jason started crying and said he wanted a "regular" grilled cheese sandwich!
I may make these again for Jeri and I but not for the boys. Well, maybe I'll try it on them again in a couple of years but not anytime soon. I really did like it and so did she, in fact, I liked them so much that I ate mine and (minus a little I saved for Archie) I ate what the boys left!
These were fantastic! Or at least I thought so. Jeri (my mother-in-law) really enjoyed them too. The boys on the other hand were less than impressed. Gideon ate his and said he liked it, Silas ate about 1/4 of his and left the rest, Michael ate a bite or two and left the rest, and Jason started crying and said he wanted a "regular" grilled cheese sandwich!
I may make these again for Jeri and I but not for the boys. Well, maybe I'll try it on them again in a couple of years but not anytime soon. I really did like it and so did she, in fact, I liked them so much that I ate mine and (minus a little I saved for Archie) I ate what the boys left!
Jessica & Jessica - Chocolate chip cookies
This recipe is a pretty basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. The main differences are 1: It calls for egg whites instead of whole eggs, 2: Trans-fat-free margarine instead of butter, and 3: It calls for 1 can of drained and rinsed chick peas/garbonzo beans! I used white chocolate chips because Silas is allergic to regular chocolate.
Now I was really excited about this recipe, I love garbonzo beans and I love chocolate chip cookies. I wasn't too sure how they'd mix but wanted to give it a try. I let the boys help with the recipe until it came to the garbonzo beans. I didn't want them to know the secret ingredient just yet so I made them leave the room while I added them in.
They turned out very nice and chewy! The garbonzos really helped cut the sweetness a little (which is a good thing to me) and it made them moist and chewy.
The real test of course was the boys, would they like them? Jason loved them, Gideon liked them, Michael loved them, Silas broke his into little pieces and threw it all over the kitchen floor. Hmm, not sure what Silas thought.
After they all declared that the cookies were good I let them know the secret ingredient. Michael had already guessed but he still liked them! Gideon still liked them! Jason said "Oh Momma! Why did you have to put THAT in the cookies???" I asked him if it mattered since he liked the cookies, he said "I don't like them!". I started to take away his half eaten cookie, he protested and I said "I thought you didn't like them?". He said "Well, I just don't like half of them, I like the rest", then he polished off a few more cookies.
Overall, I think it was a great success and I will probably throw in a can of garbonzo beans every time I make chocolate chip cookies from now on.
Now I was really excited about this recipe, I love garbonzo beans and I love chocolate chip cookies. I wasn't too sure how they'd mix but wanted to give it a try. I let the boys help with the recipe until it came to the garbonzo beans. I didn't want them to know the secret ingredient just yet so I made them leave the room while I added them in.
They turned out very nice and chewy! The garbonzos really helped cut the sweetness a little (which is a good thing to me) and it made them moist and chewy.
The real test of course was the boys, would they like them? Jason loved them, Gideon liked them, Michael loved them, Silas broke his into little pieces and threw it all over the kitchen floor. Hmm, not sure what Silas thought.
After they all declared that the cookies were good I let them know the secret ingredient. Michael had already guessed but he still liked them! Gideon still liked them! Jason said "Oh Momma! Why did you have to put THAT in the cookies???" I asked him if it mattered since he liked the cookies, he said "I don't like them!". I started to take away his half eaten cookie, he protested and I said "I thought you didn't like them?". He said "Well, I just don't like half of them, I like the rest", then he polished off a few more cookies.
Overall, I think it was a great success and I will probably throw in a can of garbonzo beans every time I make chocolate chip cookies from now on.
Jessica & Jessica
I recently purchased the book "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld. The past week or so we've been trying out the recipes with "hidden" veggies. The other night Michael asked me if I'd used the same ingredients that "Jessica" used and I said yes, then Archie said "You ought to start a blog 'Jessica & Jessica'". If you've seen the movie "Julie & Julia" you'll get it.
So here goes. I've needed something to get me back into blogging. Every time you see a post titled "Jessica & Jessica" it will be about my experience making one of the recipes from the book.
First up, Garbonzo bean chocolate chip cookies! (see next blog entry).
So here goes. I've needed something to get me back into blogging. Every time you see a post titled "Jessica & Jessica" it will be about my experience making one of the recipes from the book.
First up, Garbonzo bean chocolate chip cookies! (see next blog entry).
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