Rox and Roll

A Prayer for my beloved Vermont

For five years, our family has owned a home in the woods of Vermont, in a fantastic little town called Quechee that has nearly been severely devastated by today's floods.  I don't even have words to describe the way my heart broke as I watched video of our little covered bridge being torn, plank by plank, by the raging fury of the Ottaquechee River.  Simon Pearce, the renowned glassmaking shop and restaurant, built originally as a mill and made of brick, may have to come down before it's rebuilt.  And I hear our realty agent's office, our post office, and a host of other sites are all but gone.  Neighboring Woodstock fared little better, with its Farmers Market (where, each summer, we buy the most amazing tiny little delicious strawberries) underwater, and its legendary Inn evacuated and flooded.  Over these years with whole summers spent in a small radius, I've befriended shopkeepers, waitstaff, farmers -- and oh, the farmers, what have they left? -- cheesemakers, artisans of many sorts ... and I can't get my arms around what may have happened to so many of them, to their life's work, to their homes.  Vermonters are hardy, but how hardy can they be when they call "home" a place that may no longer exist?

In 1928, Vermont native, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, toured Vermont, addressing its citizens in part to discuss successful recovery from the last horrific floods to hit the area, in 1927.  (That's right -- there is likely to be no one alive who remembers the last floods of the proportions witnessed yesterday in Vermont.)  His words, they stick to my ribs like sustenance.  President Coolidge said, "I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people.  They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves to serve others.  If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of our Union, and support of our institutions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little state of Vermont."

I choose to spend time in Vermont because of the beauty of its land and the character of its people.  The landscape will never be the same after yesterday, but the people remain.  Thank God, the people remain.  They will rebuild, and I hope to help them.  Us.  For while I do love California, my heart stays in Vermont.  It's there I would be if I could be anyplace, even today, even yesterday. 

If you are the praying kind, please join me in this one for my beloved Vermont:

Dear Lord,

Please replenish the stores of strength of the citizens of Vermont, for they are going to need plenty extra in the days and weeks ahead as they begin to rebuild.  Especially bless, keep, and help the rescuers who are working, tirelessly and selflessly, to mitigate the danger wreaked by these floods.  For those who have lost homes, loved ones, animals, their livelihood, and more, please wrap them in your love as they grieve and help them to find their way when they are ready.  Bless them with comfort and, eventually, peace, so that they can return to the best life they can craft out of this chaos.  Remind them that they are capable, brave, and, above all, Vermonters: indomitable pioneers who can always begin anew while never losing a sense of belonging to the history that will always live in these Green Mountains, a past of virtue, fierce independence, freedom, and unity that can never be taken away.  Remind the world, Lord, that Manhattan may have escaped these raging waters, but Vermont and its people did not.  Shine your light on Vermont, so that the world may see the help it needs to rebuild and to care for its people again.  God, please bless, keep, and restore to health the brave little state of Vermont.

Amen.

Back to School Recipe(s): Sports Snack Ideas

When it comes to post-game snacks, I admit that I'm a bit of a dictator.  I'm proud to be raising athletes, kids who know already that a commitment to physical fitness is of high importance to both physical and mental health.  When I was a kid, there was no post-game snack; we played hard, received our pats on the back, and went home with our parents for dinner.  But when my kids started to play, I noticed that parent after parent was bringing junk food -- each family very obviously trying to one-up the prior week's offering.  One week, there'd be homemade frosted cookies that looked like soccer balls; the next, Krispy Kremes, or cupcakes, and always accompanied by a sugared drink.  When it was my turn, I brought clementines, yogurt tubes, and water (in a jug with some extra cups, since most kids have bottles that can be refilled).  And I was quite surprised: instead of balking at my healthier fare, the kids woofed down clementine after clementine, and almost all of them had a yogurt, too.  Not a single kid complained that there was nothing involving frosting.  It dawned on me that I needed to do two things going forward: one, e-mail the coach before the season commenced with a request for a healthy snack policy; and two, volunteer to be the snack schedule coordinator. 

So, for about 6 years, I've been Snack Mom.  (No one else wants to volunteer for something that requires sign-ups and reminders, it seems.)  I give a speech at the first parent meeting about what's acceptable and what's not, and I ask the coach to reinforce my message that sports are a healthy habit, so the related snacks should be, too.  If someone shows up with Krispy Kremes, I ask them to put them back in their car, and I always keep a healthy option in mine.  (Yes, I go to almost all of their games, so that might not be possible for everyone; but the coach is always there, so you could ask him/her to do it.)  One parent, early on in the season, will break the rules, and that parent will serve as an example.  They will not hate you forever, and they will not make that mistake again.  Someone will complain, and you invite them to bring dessert to the end-of-season party.  I also have a no-nuts rule, which can be controversial since nuts are a great post-workout snack; but it's just not worth the risk to allergic children, IMHO.

My approach may seem draconian, but I promise that it works.  Since I am also a coach (girls' basketball), I can tell you that what's restorative to kids post-exercise is most certainly NOT sugar.  They need hydration in the form of water, specifically, and they need some restorative protein and maybe a little carbs.  So, here, I share my list of:

Good-for-them Post-game Snacks

Yam-and-jam muffins

Low-fat cream cheese spread on celery sticks and raisins

Low-fat cream cheese spread on mini whole-wheat bagels and grapes

2% mozzarella string cheese and an apple; maybe add in low-fat Triscuits or Wheat Thins if it's far from mealtime

Yogurt tubes (the best, lowest sugar are the organic varieties like Stonyfield or Horizon) and a clementine or strawberries; add in a small low-sugar granola bar if it's far from mealtime

Baby carrots and sugar snap peas with mini-tubs of hummus (they sell these at CostCo)

Air-popped popcorn, a Babybel cheese, and raisins

Homemade trail mix: Toss cheerios, pretzels, raisins/craisins, broken-up graham crackers, and just a few dark chocolate chips.  Serve with a protein (skim milk, cheese cubes, or yogurt).

Hard-boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, and reduced fat cheese crackers (this is a far-from-mealtime snack, as it's very hearty)

***

I'm working on some recipes now for post-sport baked treats, like nut-free granola clusters with dried fruit.  As they work, I'll post them here.

Meanwhile, please add your own ideas to this list!  And most importantly: best wishes for a fantastic season of whatever sport you or your kids love.

 

 

Video Game Review: The Smurfs Dance Party

When I was 8 years old, the Smurfs debuted on TV, and they were a very big part of my siblings' and my TV-watching experience for years to follow.  We made up games about Smurfs, and, once, I convinced an unsuspecting much-younger sister to go underwater in the swimming pool by promising her that she'd see Smurfs on the bottom of the pool.  (She still hasn't forgiven me for their absence!)  So, when given the opportunity to review The Smurfs Dance Party, I leaped at the chance, recruited my kids to dance with me, and we partied like it was 1980-something again! 

And oh, did we laugh, and laugh, and laugh -- in fact, I think we did more laughing than dancing!  The songs are so fun for kids and the grown-ups dancing along, especially the smurfed-up parodies like "Who Let the Smurfs Out?" or "Mr. Smurftastic."  The game itself is much like the Just Dance games, with points for following the choreography correctly, but the game seems more lenient somehow when it comes to the moves, which feel simplified for kids.  My daughter, Petunia, age 10, loved that there was a Katy Perry song ("One of the Boys"), and my son, Dash, age 6, really did not love the "Barbara Streisand" song, but I noticed that he played along anyway, which is remarkable, as he wanted nothing to do with other dance games we've tried.  (He refused to be photographed playing it, though, so the picture at left is only of Petunia, who later invited a friend over to try it.)

Weighing the pros of this game, I especially like that it inspires movement, a big PLUS in my book, as opposed to passive, sit-there, point-and-shoot kinds of games.  It's also silly fun, and I like that you can just play it for a song or two and enjoy it without some big hurdle to get over or level to pass.

As for cons, well, it's a game for kids, really.  I can't see playing this on my own.  (Just Dance, on the other hand...)  And if you don't like Smurf music, well, you're outta luck.  Lastly, since there are only 23 songs, too, I think it'll get old after a few more months, just like many other song-based games.

For age range, I'd recommend this for family play, from a preschooler who can hold the remote properly all the way through grandparents.  I also think it'd be great for preteen sleepovers coupled with a screening of the movie or the old TV shows (just think of the theme: blue punch, blue ice cream, blueberries...).  For entertainment value, I give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars -- fun, and lots of laughs, but a mid-range rating because the game is fixed to only 23 songs and not super-exciting graphics-wise.  (In all fairness, I wouldn't rate Just Dance much better, though... The only dance game I prefer, because you advance to unlock more complicated numbers, is Michael Jackson: The Experience.)

You can purchase your own copy of The Smurfs Dance Party through this link at Amazon.  Enjoy!

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Our Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey and Jennie

It didn't take long to notice post after post on Facebook made by many of my sisters in blogging about their peanut butter pie plans for tonight.  I finally had to click a link to find out what this "meme" was about.  Moments later, I found myself tearing up, for all of these friends were posting of their plans to bake a pie in memory of another blogger's husband, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. And that blogger, Jennie's, request was that we bake her late husband, Mikey's, favorite dessert today, share it with our loved ones, and hug them tight.

It sure didn't seem like a lot to ask.  No, I don't know Jennie Perillo, and I didn't know Mikey, but I do know loss, and I know how it feels for a community of people to come together and lift you up.  There are no words for that.  I hope that Jennie feels some of that sense of communal caring and healing tonight.

Through my laptop and blog and from the bottom of my heart, I send this gesture of love and sympathy to Jennie and to her family.  It's not just a peanut butter pie; it's a symbol that we're all in this together.  This blogging family is a big, funky bunch, but we sure do know how to take care of each other.  May we circle our virtual wagons -- and our real pies -- around Jennie tonight and send her tidings of comfort, and may Mikey rest in peace.

Back to School Recipe: Homemade Power Bars

I've already professed my love of oats, so it's no surprise that I'm continuing to experiment with oat-based recipes.  But this time, instead of catering to my own tastes, I'm trying to cater to one very hard to please client: my 6 y.o. son, Dash, who eats almost nothing.  And I don't mean "almost nothing" in that "I'm part-Italian and think everyone is starving" kind of a way; I mean "almost nothing" as in he's been in and out of nutrition programs all of his short life because he really. eats. nothing.  And since we're about to start the lunchbox wars again, noting that, bar none, my very least favorite part of parenting is packing lunches, I thought I'd get a jump on finding something he won't throw out or throw up.  Iron Chef has nothing on this challenge.

Since Dash loves a good granola or cereal bar, he spent last year toting Luna Bars and Clif Z fruit twists to school for lunch.  Wanting to pack more of a nutrition punch and avoid prepackaged excess, I turned to another recipe from Heidi Swanson, this one from her book titled "super natural cooking" for Do-It-Yourself Power Bars.  (For anyone interested in natural cooking, Swanson's cookbooks are a must-have; and here's a link to her blog, 101 Cookbooks.)  These power bars did not disappoint.  Dash scarfed one down and asked for more; Petunia thought it could stand to be sweeter (and she's right, but that's kind of not the point...), and the Guv didn't care for the ginger.  I loved them.  If you make these, tell me what you think!

Do-It-Yourself Power Bars *

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon coconut oil (for greasing pan)

1 1/4 cups rolled oats (I use Bob's Red Mill)

1 1/4 cups chopped toasted walnuts

1/2 cup oat bran

1 1/2 cups unsweetened crisped (NOT puffed) brown rice cereal (I use Erewhon)

1 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

3 Tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger

1 cup brown rice syrup (I use Lundberg's organic, which is gluten free)**

1/4 cup natural cane sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt

 

Greace a baking pan with the coconut oil.  If you like thick power bars, opt for an 8x8-inch pan; for thinner bars, use a 9x13-inch pan.  (We used a 9x13 one, and the bars were the thickness of Quaker granola bars, which was just right for little hands.)

Mix the dry ingredients -- oats, walnuts, oat bran, cranberries, and ginger -- together in a large bowl and set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine the brown rice syrup, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Stir constantly as you bring it to a boil; after boiling, it'll take several minutes to thicken.  In our case, the mixture frothed up bizarrely, so we turned it off then -- and it worked just fine.  So don't be alarmed if it gets a bit foamy!

Pour the syrup mixture over the oat mixture and stir until evenly mixed.  Pour into pan.  If necessary, grease hands with coconut oil to press into pan gently.

Cool to room temperature before cutting into bars.  It's hard to say how many this recipe makes, as it depends upon the size of the bar -- but this would easily do for lunch for Dash and snacks for Petunia for at least a week.

*Note: I don't use Swanson's exact words and terms, but the ingredients listed are hers and the methodology is generally the same.

**A note on brown rice syrup: It's not as sweet as sugar, honey, or agave, but you have to remember that this is a "super natural" recipe; and the bit of natural cane sugar in the recipe tweaks the sweetness north a bit.  Since brown rice syrup is a low glycemic-index sweetener and a source of some minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron, plus B-group vitamins, I really like it for my kids.  It is an acquired taste but is one worth acquiring if, like me, you're starting to get very concerned about the evils of white sugar.  (Read this article by Gary Taubes, and you'll worry, too.)

Enjoy!

The Best Oatmeal Recipe Ever

These days, I'm on a food kick.  Actually, who am I kidding: every day, I'm on a food kick.  According to my husband, the Guv, and a few chef friends, I'm a "supertaster" and a "supersmeller" (that's the Guv's term).  If you pour me wine with notes of cherry and plum, I can distinguish the two.  It's a gift, and it's a curse, because I don't like plain stuff at all.  (Or cheap wine.  Or bad coffee.  Anyway...)  Thus, it might be a surprise to share that my very favorite food is oatmeal.  I know -- gross, right?  I made oatmeal for the Guv once to treat a hangover, and let's just say that he swore off oatmeal for life, or at least until last weekend.  I get it: some people don't like oatmeal, or "gruel" as a friend calls it.  My suspicion is that they've never had good oatmeal, and that makes all of the difference.

To me, the miracle of oatmeal is its versatility.  If it's cooked right, with a combination of water and cream (or milk, soy milk or almond milk), and sweetened with just a hint of something yummy (the traditional brown sugar, or maple syrup, agave, honey, or chocolate chips), sprinkled with just a bit of cinnamon, and given a wee bit of crunch with some toasted nuts (walnuts can't be beat in oatmeal) -- well, that's just heavenly.  And while I prefer steel-cut oats, even plain old quick-cooked in the microwave oatmeal can be fantastic if topped right.  If you travel around my town, restaurants try to funk it up even more: fruit compote at Mayfield Bakery, or the "Chronicle Special" at Fraiche yogurt with it's myriad of toppings and dollop of fresh or frozen yogurt.  At home, I've hosted many a sleepover at my house with an oatmeal "bar" for breakfast.  Pretty much every kid will eat oatmeal if you offer a bevy of fun toppings.

Always on a quest for new oat recipes to try, I came across one in San Franciscan Heidi Swanson's "super natural every day" cookbook that promised to be fantastic -- and it turns out that it was even better than fantastic.  It's my favorite oatmeal recipe ever, and even the Guv scarfed it down and helped himself to seconds.  Petunia ate the leftovers for several more days, as did I.  So even if you don't think you like oatmeal, I encourage you to give this recipe a whirl.  It'd be great to make for your morning coffee klatsch or a special brunch.  Enjoy!

Baked Oatmeal *

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats (I recommend Bob's Red Mill)

1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnut pieces, divided in half

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea-salt

2 cups milk

1 large egg

3 Tablespoons melted butter, cooled slightly and divided in half

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 ripe bananas, cut into 1/2 inch slices

1 1/2 cups blueberries (or any berries), divided into 1 cup and 1/2 cup

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with a rack in the top third of the oven.  Grease (with butter) an 8-inch square baking dish.

In one bowl, mix the oats, 1/2 of the walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, milk, egg, 1/2 of the melted butter, and vanilla.

Layer the bananas in a single layer on the bottom of the pan.  Top with 1 cup of the berries, followed by the oat mixture.  Slowly and gently drizzle the wet mixture atop.  Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 of the walnuts and 1/2 cup of berries atop. 

Bake for 35-45 minutes until the top is golden brown.  Remove from oven and drizzle with remaining 1/2 of butter.

Serves 6-8 generously.  Reheats well if you add some milk to it.

*Note: I shortened the directions and ingredients where I wanted ... if you want all of Swanson's directions and words, pick up her great cookbook!  It really is quite good.  The next recipe I'll try from there, later today, is her granola -- which I suspect will be great sprinkled atop this dish.