Peas and Thank You

Dinner for Dummies

I have become far, far dumber since having kids. It amazes me how in a few short years my knowledge of law can go from writing a Third Year Paper on “The Unconstitutionality of the Exculpatory ‘No’ Doctrine” to having the basic conversation with Gigi that she must get herself buckled into her carseat in about thirty seconds because “Mr. Policeman will pull us over and get mad at mommy.” I knew it was coming.  When... Read More

Hot Cross Buns

I’ve always had my favorite days of the week.  The determination now is based on when I have Pea Daddy home to help unstick zippers from skunk costumes and mop up accidents of both the sippy cup and potty training natures.  Back when I was in grade school, though, the two best days were Art Days and Music Days (the worst days were Square Dancing in P.E. Class days, but that’s another story for another time). My music teacher, Mrs. W,... Read More

Filling the Hole

One of the pastors at my church has a knack for saying the right things in a completely wrong way (I hear a collective groan from all you readers who are tired of all my preachy type posts, but bear with me, because I’m risking an eternity in hell by criticizing my pastor to make a point on a food blog). One week during a packed service, he told the whole congregation that he realized he should be tithing more when his sister said she was giving... Read More

Sunday Breakfast

We are always late for church. Our church offers three services: 8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m.  You can bet we are always at the 11:15 services…exactly at 11:30.  I could blame it on the fact that we refuse to set an alarm on the weekend, but the truth is, we haven’t set an alarm since May 2005. I’m having a hard time recalling at exactly what age I stopped wanting to get up at 4:30 a.m. to watch cartoons.  I’d creep into my... Read More

Lots of Estrogen Up in Here

Am I talking about my soy intake or my company for the day?  Guess you’ll have to read on to see. I woke up this morning and spent time with this lovely lady and her six-pack. The Body for Life weight workout can be found here. While it’s a great workout for use at the gym, I’m currently shying away from doing it at home because it is based on increasing/decreasing your weight with each set.  I only have your basic dumbbells with... Read More

I Am Protein

And Pro-Teen. He’s dreamy. And in third grade. Thanks for everyone’s supportive comments on the new road I’m heading down. Very few of you voted for a one liner about potty training and a vegan cookie recipe, though you’ll probably get that tomorrow anyway, so put on your plastic pants and preheat your oven. As for how this will play out blog-wise, I may return to the food diary format on some days and on others just have... Read More

Can a Vegan Do Body For Life?

When Gigi was a baby, we were perusing the local Borders when I stumbled across a cookbook called Eating for Life. I wasn’t looking to lose weight at the time, I’d already lost all my baby weight and then some, through skipping meals and acting as a personal all-you-can-eat buffet to a nursing baby. I had no balance in my life, and was basically at a colicky infant’s beck and call, so discovering this way of eating (and exercising... Read More

Double Duty

It’s TWOsday! This picture tells you two things. 1.  Moisturizer can turn your hands from Larry King to Justin Beiber. 2.  Manhands has been juicing beets. organic celery organic kale ginger 1/2 a beet organic Fuji lime This ingredient made it into two dishes last night. 1.  Caribbean Coconut Quinoa 2.  Revamped Mango Cupcakes with Coconut Chocolate Ganache This ingredient made it into two dishes last night. 1.  Caribbean Coconut... Read More

Tangled Pigeons

It was Saturday. We sat on the bench outside Great Harvest, a little tired from walking, but mostly just wanting to enjoy the sunshine and time we had together.  We had nowhere to be, nothing on our todo list, no need to check box scores and count our money from the NCAA pools (thanks, Kansas).  The girls awkwardly hoisted themselves up onto the weathered wood, twisted their bodies around and flopped on their bottoms, dangling their legs off the... Read More

What the Kids Are Eating

Thanks for all the positive responses to Friday’s post about guilt. I celebrated by taking yesterday off of posting, guilt free, of course. Instead of focusing on all the things I feel guilty about as a parent at times, I thought I’d take this opportunity to show you specifically one of the things I almost never feel guilty about: what my kids are eating. For those of you that are parents, I’m not judging you for those nights... Read More

No Room for Guilt

First, a little glimpse of what I’ve been working on this week. Pretty great, huh?  For every ounce of pride I have about all my hard work, I have about a pound of guilt, though.  You see, while I’ve been baking, writing and taking 32 pictures of the same piece of vegan Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding, the girls have been by my side on my bed, me typing and them being tortured by the terrifying Princess & the Frog (seriously, Disney?! ... Read More

Bad Timing

I have a fairly nice watch that I’ve taken really good care of for the last ten years that I’ve had it. So after I went to get the battery changed Monday, and the jeweler wanted to keep it for a deep cleaning (of my wallet), I agreed.  Gigi was entranced by the candy dish on the counter, and ever since the jeweler called yesterday to tell me that my watch was ready, she’s been begging to go back.  “Uh, Mom, don’t you... Read More

Blimey! Now That’s Some Bread!

I generally could care less about St. Patrick’s Day.  Its a bit ironic, because I do have some Irish blood in me, as my great grandmother was 1/2 Irish.  You could absolutely peg her as Irish too, from her bulbous Irish nose, her dog named Lucky and her love for beer.  It wasn’t just any beer, though, it was the beer that came in dark brown bottles labeled, “BEER,” and that had the rebuses under the cap. I’m sorry,... Read More

New and Improved

Upgrade #1:  My Hotmail password Apparently, I was hacked last night.  The hackers cleared out my inbox (so if you had written me, and I haven’t written you back, please email me again) and a lot of people heard all about my “awesome new white iPhone.” If you received that email, it is NOT legit, but I AM writing this from my hospital bed, I DO know how to enlarge your penis, and if you send me your social security number, I... Read More

Old Man Smoothies

It’s no secret that Pea Daddy is a fan of Tommy Bahama’s, also known in our house as “The Old Man Store.” He has a dozen or so Tommy Bahama’s shirts, two sets of Tommy Bahama’s coffee mugs, Tommy Bahama’s bed pillows and even Tommy Bahama’s cologne.  It smells just like Grandpa.  I love to tease him about it, and he likes to defend himself by saying that their age demographic is men ages 35-65. ... Read More

I Haven’t Got Time For the Change

Thanks a lot, Benjamin Franklin. Though Daylight Savings Time wasn’t instituted until WWI, Franklin is credited for having come up with the concept far earlier (that is the most educational information you may ever get out of this blog, so savor it).  Yes, today I’m cursing old Ben for robbing me of an hour of sleep.  You might as well take my Wonderbra, coffeemaker and stroller flask while you’re at it and then send a marching... Read More

Make it Last

I love savoring a good cookie with a cup of tea in the evening. Or crumbling one on top of a smoothie in the morning. Why can’t you have cookies for breakfast? I’m definitely a savorer. The experience of eating for me is something I like to take my time with, which is somewhat ridiculous as a person that always has a lot of things going on at once, like simultaneously coloring ponies, praising pooping in the potty and folding laundry. I... Read More

Losing the Label

I promise I’m back, I just wanted to write in italics one more time.  I wrote this post yesterday on our flight home, the old-fashioned way with a “borrowed” ball point pen from the health food store and the backside of my lengthy grocery list.  I typed it up today, though, and included a recipe that we are enjoying with dinner tonight.  So here I am, out of italics and back to real life: We are flying over the Pacific right now... Read More

Peas on Hiatus: The Right Way to Eat

It’s pretty amazing that I’m able to give you my last guest post from 30,000 feet. You’ve got to love technology (as I’m simultaneously watching The Blind Side and Dora while posting). It seems fitting that when returning home to Portland International Airport, I give you one of my favorite Portland food bloggers! I’ll be back tomorrow with a “regular” post, whatever that means . Thanks for coming along... Read More

Postcard from the Peas: Day 8

We’re cramming here, folks: cramming as many tourist attractions in our itinerary as possible, cramming every spare minute at the pool or beach, and cramming fake tikis in our suitcase while cramming two pounds of carrot sticks in our carry-ons. We overbought at Costco at the beginning of the week, so while I should be enjoying the view from the lanai, I’m cooking up veggie burgers, slicing and dicing produce, and slapping together more... Read More

Peas on Hiatus: Finding Your Keys

Oh, kids. You would not believe the ‘fro I have right now…and the sunburn. I accidentally left the flat iron at home and failed to ask Pea Daddy to coat my back, so between my quasi-dreds and racooon eyes, I’m looking a lot like Christina Aguleria in the Lady Marmelade video. I miss you all and kind of miss home. Never fear, I leave you in good, non-”hasbeen pop star of the last decade” hands. I’ll be back tomorrow... Read More

Postcard from the Peas: Day 6

Take it from me, no matter where you are vacationing, no matter how many kids you have and no matter what you are promised awaits you at the end of your drive, it’s not worth spending more than 45 minutes in a car. They could have had leprechauns on pegasuses sliding down rainbows and throwing diamonds, emeralds and white chocolate truffles in Hilo and it wouldn’t have been worth 5 hours in the car yesterday. We saw Hilo. At least I did.... Read More

Postcard from the Peas: Day 4

Yesterday has to be my favorite day of the vacay so far. We spent the day at the beach (no more gratuitous bikini shots, I promise) and then we went to the Old Kona Village for a luau! Proud Mama moments: when the crowd gathered at the emu to unearth the pig, Gigi chimes in, “I’ll take the veggies!!!” and of course, the onstage keiki hula. Gigi participated two years ago, but at that time had a bit of stage fright. This year was... Read More

Peas on Hiatus: Your Family, Your Choice

Happy Friday! We are playing on the beach today and then are off to a luau tonight! Gigi is thrilled to be able to hula on stage, but I’m a little skeptical of the whole roasting a pig in the ground thing. At least there’ll be Mai Tais and were bound to get lei’d. Here’s an inspiring guest post from another veggie mama, until you hear from me again. Enjoy! Hi Peas and Thank You Readers! I’m Averie from Love Veggies... Read More

Postcard from the Peas: Day 2

Alooooo-ha. We found an incredible beach yesterday and spent the day molesting sea turtles, trying sand infused hummus and hosing off our salty hoo-has in open air public showers. Since we got a little too much sun yesterday, we headed for a drive up to Waimea today. We kept the girls happy with a movie and personal sized snacks, because if you put dirt in a box with a cute little straw/spoon they’d eat it. As we headed past Parker Ranch and... Read More

Peas On Hiatus: Uncork Some Quinoa Pancakes

Good morning from Kona! We got a little too much sun yesterday, so we are road tripping to the North end of the island today. We are excited to see the waterfalls, & I’m pretty excited for a little smoothie place called “What’s Shakin’” that our travel guide says, in a astonished tone, “uses REAL frozen bananas & not ice in their smoothies!!!”. Crazy! So today I’ve got a guest post from... Read More

Postcard from the Peas: Day 1

Aloha again from Kona! Thanks to the time change we were awoken by two kekeis at 4 am. I’m quickly realizing that this “vacation” is going to be a lot like taking your cranky, demanding boss to the tropics and them waking you up with a wet Pull-Up and impolite request to go to the beach before the sun is up. Still, there’s a lot to be said for doing a 3 mile beach run at 7 am, 74 degrees and with a Jack Johnson soundtrack. We... Read More

Aloha!

We’ve made it. The highlights were pineapple juice, a personal DVD player with Alvin & the Chipmunks (out of my earshot, praise God!), Chelsea Handler & a Larabar (Tropical Tart, naturally). The low lights were cutting CHEESY manicotti in a flimsy plastic tray with a Taco Bell spork, a dead battery on a personal DVD player, and a Lulu tantrum during a 20 minute landing that was unfortunately within earshot. Still, one more short flight... Read More

Peas on Hiatus: Mara’s For Dinner

Hey friends, we are up bright and early and off to the airport, so here is the first of several guest posts you’ll have the pleasure of seeing this week. I’ll be back later with a “postcard” from our first day of traveling. Aloha! Hi Peas and Thank You readers! My name’s Mara and I write a little blog called What’s For Dinner? from my home just outside of Chicago. I was born and bred here, and can say that I had an unconventional... Read More