Superwoman
I know I promised donuts today. I lied. I realized that I need more than donuts in order to feel a little more balanced in my life. How many moms are shaking your heads right now? I hear those rattles. Or maybe it’s the Lego that mysteriously made its way into my mug of tea and that I’m too lazy to fish out. I’ve been burning my candle at both ends and it’s showing. So today I’m reprioritizing and not feeling a bit guilty about hanging... Read More
Twenty-One Questions To Ask Your Kids
Holy moly. I had a very rare breakdown into tears while packing lunches this evening. Pea Daddy asked why. Big mistake. My response: “I’d say it’s getting up at 5:30 to workout, racing home to make sure everyone is dressed, gone potty, had breakfast and has their hair done, packing snacks for preschool, making Cracklin’ Cauliflower, packing lunches, taking Gigi to school, finishing the Quinoa Tabbouleh, picking Lulu up from school,... Read More
Book #2: Photos + Quotes from YOU
The second annual “Cockamamie Idea to Cook and Take Pictures of Over 20 Recipes in a Week” festivities are underway. There’s a lot of cooking. A lot of eating. A lot of falling asleep at the wheel driving home from the craft store for poster board at 9 p.m. Dude, I’m tired. Take what I do in a day and multiply that by three (recipes) and then multiply that by seven (days) and that equals me. Exactly. But I am so glad we are doing this. ... Read More
Flex on the Beach Smoothie
Well, aloha. I’m sorry I didn’t send you a postcard. I didn’t find one that spoke to me. I was looking for something really sleazy, with six women lined up in different colored thongs saying “Flex on the Beach.” I know you love that kind of thing as much as I do. I’m sorry I also didn’t bring you home a box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. We bought a Costco-sized box full at, where else—Costco, and then got to the airport... Read More
Games Peas Play
1. We received about eight board games for Christmas and played them each a half a dozen times this weekend. Any bonds of friendship bragged about last week have since been broken. Badly, badly broken. This led to me playing a game called, “Google Cocktail Names To Decide Which Drink I’m Going to Order First When We Get to Maui.” Odds are 4:1 that it’s a Lava Flow. 2. The point of the game “I Never Forget a Face” is kind of... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: Chocolate Chip Zee Bars
There are lots of things I don’t get. Of course, that’s just a nice way of saying, here are some things I am going to complain about before I give you a recipe. We could be here awhile. But we won’t be, because incessant complaining is one thing I don’t get. It’s a cruel joke of fate that I could teach a master class on it, though. Such a wasted gift. #1 Thing I Don’t Get: Sweaters for Dogs Or rain slickers. Or any sort of outerwear. ... Read More
Everyday Eats: Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Corn and Peppers
My year is not off to the luckiest of starts. Yesterday, while packing up all of our Christmas decorations, putting our gingerbread house and painted pinecones decorated with Red Hots in the safest of places*, Gigi made an upsetting discovery. *the recycling bin is a very, very safe place She found not one, but two Karaoke Christmas Microphones that my dear aunt gave the girls for Christmas. I had unfortunately not put them in the safest of places**. **Pea... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: White Chocolate Cranberry-Kissed Cake
I’m trying really hard not to be cliché. Then again, maybe I’m just lazy. My hair for the day would confirm that. I’m going through an awkward stage which I’m attempting to mitigate with the tiniest ponytail you’ve ever seen and a headband. I look like I either just got my wig snatched on Jerry Springer or like I’m about to film a Proactiv commercial and am poised to go in for the big sink splash. The UPS guy came to do the door,... Read More
Palace of Pain
One innocent day, a couple weeks ago when I was wiping a Baby Mouse’s runny nose with my bare hands at Nutcracker rehearsals, Pea Daddy went Christmas shopping for the girls. There’s no denying that Pea Daddy’s a great dad. There might be loud, shrill denying that he is always the best of husbands. Rarely. But when selecting Christmas gifts for the girls he overlooked the important consideration that should always be made in all key decisions: “How... Read More
Gifts You Can Eat (But Shouldn’t): Lavender Rosemary Gel
One of the worst things about making a living putting things in writing is that, well, it’s in writing. Even really stupid things. Even worse is when you spell “lavender” wrong, photograph it, realize your mistake and know there’s no way in h-e-double hockey sticks that you are reshooting. Don’t do that. Worse still is when you say something stupid in a book. That doesn’t go away, people. Pull out your copies of Peas and Thank... Read More
Tuesday News
1. I’m still addicted to Pinterest, and it’s not doing me any favors. Since joining, I’ve been wearing a sloppy smoky eye to Target for laundry detergent, I’ve stopped washing my hair with shampoo and I’ve cut off the sleeves from my cardigans to make boot socks. In other words, I’m a hot mess. Thank you, Pin-interest. 2. The candy on our gingerbread house is “accidentally” falling off faster than it was put on. ... Read More
Namonia for Me, Present for You (GIVEAWAY)
Remember that cold the little mouse ballerina who coughed on me gave me a week ago? It’s not a cold. It’s ‘namonia. But it’s not hospital pneumonia, it’s not even bed rest pneumonia. It’s walking pneumonia. Lace up those toning shoes, strap on the ankle weights and head to the mall pneumonia. Okay, maybe not. So I’m prescribing myself a little breather. Specifically, I’d like an inhaler that applies lip gloss when... Read More
Ten Things About Sunday
1. On the 13th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me, one case of pinkeye, acute bronchitis, four missing teeth, and a partridge in a pear tree. 2. How ‘bout some irony? Gigi, both a pacifist and a vegetarian, has been cast as the solider who gets to kill the Mouse King in The Nutcracker. I feel nothing but pride. I suspect Lulu, cast as a mouse, will find her harder to forgive. 3. The worst part about writing a cookbook: 4. ... Read More
Gifts You Can Eat: Eggnog Spiced Nuts
I’m nuts. I blame Jingle Cats, which Pea Daddy decided to play for the girls right before bedtime last night. Brilliant move. I heard meowing Christmas carols from their bedrooms for an hour straight. I further blame the 102 degree fever I spiked around caroling time last night. And for that I blame Maya, Myla, Mayla or whoever was coughing on my lap at Nutrcracker rehearsals last weekend. I wanted to die when I woke up this morning, only... Read More
Everyday Eats: Sugar Cookie Smoothie
It’s about to get cheeky in here. I’ve been working hard to get in bikini shape before we go to Hawaii right after the New Year. Really hard. So hard in fact that I let a friend talk me out of buying my usual safe, skirted swimsuit bottoms and into something just a tad less modest. I thought skirted bottoms were retro. Turns out they might just be a bit more coverage than what I need. But what a deal! Twice the fabric for the same... Read More
The Dishwasher
In the grand scheme of things, there are far worse things that could happen than our dishwasher breaking. In fact, far worse things did happen. For example, at the movies this weekend when, in the very top row, Gigi accidentally dropped her brand new angel Christmas ornament down the back of the row in front of us. Let me tell you, you have not lived until you are on your hands and knees, in the dark, on the floor of a very popular movie theater. ... Read More
Tuesday Countdown
10. Calliou’s Holiday Movie is on right now. It’s an hour and a half long. Help. 9. Gigi and Lulu both invited imaginary “friends” over today. Lulu then told Gigi that all of Gigi’s “friends” liked her better and weren’t going to play with Gigi anymore. Gigi started crying and then we all had a nice talk about how sisters can be real friends and play real games together. Then this happened. Three rope burns and... Read More
Recipeas Worth Repeating: Pickle Soup
Happy National Pickle Day! Happy I Took Nyquil At 8 pm and Slept Until 8 am Day!* Happy Pumpkin Pie For Breakfast Day!* *may not be actual holidays As shiteous as I feel, I couldn’t let the day go by without honoring pickles and everyone’s favorite pickle fiend. (I realize using the word “shiteous” costs me a dollar. It’s worth it.) So I’m revamping my post for Pickle Soup from almost exactly a year ago. Generally when I repeat... Read More
Ten Things From Halloween
1. This is not a “Three-Eyed Pumpkin.” This is a pea pod carved into a pumpkin. Yes, it’s terrible, but that’s why I don’t carve pumpkins. I just complain about carving pumpkins. I’m good at it. I joined the pro circuit in 2005. 2. I’ve had a bag of candy on top of our refrigerator for a week. Lulu saw it yesterday and said, “If you bring that candy down here, I’mgoingtoeateverysinglepiecerightup!” ... Read More
New and Improved: Pumpkin Molasses Cookie Dough Balls
It’s not too late to carve pumpkins, is it? Please say yes. I’m not a big fan. Knives. Slippery round buggers. Goo. Lots of goo. The actual requirement of some form of artistic ability. I was not blessed in that department. Pea Daddy most definitely was, though I question his knife skills. (Don’t ask about the time when I was eight months pregnant with Gigi and he passed out after barely nicking himself slicing a bagel. I had very... Read More
Pea Sighting: A Taste of the Season
Tonight I had a special event at the small family-owned store my parents work at in a small town. It’s been a long time in the making and my parents could not have been more excited. Posters were made. Local papers wrote articles. Actually, local paper. It’s a small town, remember? Bless my mom’s heart, people showed up. Lots and lots of people. And bless my mom’s heart, she made my African Peanut Stew. She nearly singlehandedly... Read More
This Thanksgiving: Cornbread Dressing with Tempeh Bacon, Cherries and Portabella Mushrooms
My house smells like Thanksgiving. Believe me, this is a vast improvement over the norm. Actually, believe my friend Deb, this is a vast improvement over the norm. Deb and I have the kind of closeness that means we can let ourselves into each other’s homes to borrow necessary ingredients or to leave unwanted pets when the other isn’t home. She keeps giving Pea Kitty back. Unfortunately, I have the terrible luck of Deb letting herself into... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: Bliss Salad
A few helpful hints for you today: If you are going to one of Loving Hut’s many locations, call and make sure they are open on Sunday before dragging someone else across town just so you can eat a highly addictive Heavenly Salad. Someone else will be very, very angry. If you have a dirty, dingy wedding ring, you can clean it at home by using a little toothpaste and baking soda and someone else’s toothbrush. If you are so inclined. If you are... Read More
The Fridge
The ride is over–we’re home. And with us, we’ve got: 410 photos. (Nobody’s going to miss those 99.) One “hasn’t-had-a-free-moment-from-being-hugged” stuffed Pluto. One already frazzled-looking Rapunzel doll. Six loads of laundry. School tomorrow. Two lunches to pack from an empty fridge. (Please note the massive jar of pickles and the abundant root beer supply.) Can I get away with sticking a few Alaska Airlines Snack Mixes in... Read More
Postcard From the Peas: Disneyland, Day 1
Dear Friends, Having a great time in Disneyland. Unfortunately, however, Pea Daddy is divorcing me because: a) I made him drive 10 miles in traffic last night after already driving all afternoon just so we could go to Loving Hut for dinner; b) Loving Hut was closed because it was Sunday; c) the vegetarian restaurant I then frantically found and made him drive to, cursing the whole way there, was also closed because it was Sunday; d) I... Read More
End of Summer Salad
I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but it is definitely Fall outside here. It is raining. This morning, I turned the air conditioning off and will not turn it on again until July. I spent ten minutes looking for a matching pair of socks in Lulu’s drawer so that her piggies would stay warm at our friend’s house. It was quite the feat. We haven’t needed socks since June, so I haven’t been meticulous in my matching. I... Read More
Recipeas Worth Repeating: My Favorite Green Juice
There’s something I need to tell you. You probably already know. If my Tweets featuring homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes didn’t give it away, the griping about my 4:30 a.m. radio interviews accompanied by shots of my new French press surely did. I had a full-on coffee relapse. A 12 oz. cup before my interviews. A grande Americano while “working” at Starbucks during Lulu’s preschool. Another 12 oz. afternoon pick-me-up before ballet... Read More
The Thing About Radio (VIDEO)
You may not know this, but I’ve been on a grueling book tour for nearly the past two months. With the state of the economy these days and the closing of brick-and-mortar book shops across the nation, formal book tours are generally things of the past. But do you know what is relatively free, reaches thousands and thousands of consumers and can be utilized without ever leaving my home or putting on pants? The radio. I’ve done over seventy... Read More
So Totally Awesome
Behold! Ten totally awesome things: 1. The great detail with which Lulu recounts every single detail of her preschool day. I can’t get a word out of Gigi, but Lulu tells me everything. Today I learned that the question of the day was, “Have you ever touched a frog?” Nine kids answered “yes” and six kids answered “no.” I can name out each of the respondents, their answer and their respective eye colors, hairstyles and... Read More
A Little Advice and Thai Fried Quinoa
Don’t think a gentle morning jog will stretch out an aching back. Don’t then think a few sets of power squats will loosen up a massively throbbing back. Do have exact change for the Swear Jar. Lulu won’t break a five. Don’t think lying on the living room floor while you are having back spasms will make them go away. Don’t think about what’s been on the living room floor in the last week. Do pick up some more carpet cleaner. Don’t... Read More
A Mighty Wind
Any time I have to go somewhere and leave Pea Daddy in charge, I get scared. I’m not scared the girls will get hurt, be underfed or even that they will walk around with mismatched clothes and unkempt hair. I’m not here, why should I care? My main concern now is what I will return home to. It’s happened before: A new tree. Not a bouquet of flowers in a subtle vase. An entire living, breathing tree that someone paid for with... Read More
Dinner Tonight: Cauliflower Cacciatore
I have to fill you in at some point on all that went down at the Vegan Vida Conference this weekend. About how star struck I was when I met Isa Chandra Moskowitz yesterday. And how embarrassed I was when the whole Pea family almost ran smack-dab into her when we came out of the bathroom today. Yes, all of us. In one bathroom. We were like clowns get out of a tiny car and trampling the coolest vegan cookbook author ever. About why for some reason,... Read More
Guest Post: YOU!
What a week. I need to wash my hair. Badly. I’m speaking on two panels at the Vida Vegan Conference this weekend. (If you see me at VVC, say hi! And don’t look at my hair.) I need to go school supply shopping. Both girls are in school this year. Make it stop. I’m taking Lulu to get her vaccinations for preschool tomorrow. Don’t tell. I finally took off the shellac polish I’d been wearing for the last month and a half. ... Read More
Lunchbox Secret Weapon: Sunflower Seed Butter
It’s allergy season around here. Lulu is allergic to bedtime. Not only does she have to say her prayers three times each night, but she has to say them in different voices for each of her stuffed animals. About ten minutes in, I usually end up praying myself: “Dear God, let this be over soon.” Gigi is still allergic to pants. This explains why she wore a frilly fuchsia sundress to a soccer game yesterday. At least there’s no... Read More
Phoning It In
It was bound to happen–I’m sick. Logic would lead one to believe it was a result of the last few weeks, burning the candle at both ends coupled with far too few green vegetables during my Seattle trip. I, however, choose to blame Pea Daddy, as I usually do. Because while I was on my mini-Pacific Northwest book tour, he and the girls were on a full-blown, no-holds-barred Snot Tour. The carousel. (With greasy, smeary fingerprints up... Read More
Vegan Values: Saag Peaneer
If you are a connoisseur of Indian food, I owe you an apology. Actually, Gigi and Lulu owe you an apology. Good luck collecting that. I had every intention of making an authentic version of saag paneer. Well, except for the fact that I was not going to make my own carefully crafted blend of spices. Two year-old Costco bottle of cinnamon? Don’t mind if I do. And then there’s the tiny detail that my “authentic” saag paneer doesn’t... Read More
Recipea Reactions (GIVEAWAY)
Today was all about catch up. Not catching up on laundry, emails or removing dried condiments from the in-the-door shelves of the refrigerator. Goodness knows those all needed done. I think the soy sauce bottle is permanently stuck. Enjoy your plain rice tonight, family. Instead we caught up on cloud gazing. On teeter tottering at the park. On cooking something new. Can you take a raincheck on the recipea? How about Sunday, same time, same... Read More
Eight Hours and Seven Links
Say hello to my little friend. I spent eight hours this morning on radio interviews across the nation to talk about our new book. It was a cruel joke that we scheduled our radio tour for 4 a.m., the night after The Bachelorette finale. I admit it, it was stupid to stay up ridiculously late to watch what will surely be long-lasting love between two complete strangers. I’d do it again. Therefore, say hello to my little friend. But it was... Read More
Dinner Tonight: Grilled Watermelon Salad
Pea Daddy has this uncanny knack for getting ideas stuck in his head and when he does, there’s no getting them out. He is the definition of tunnel vision. This explains so very, very much: Why he still hasn’t opened his Kindle. We are NOT getting an iPad. Unless, of course, one of us isn’t that attached to our kidneys. Why he has read at least five books on surfing in the last six months, even though he isn’t a strong swimmer.... Read More
While The Kids Were Away
Gigi and Lulu were gone for the last 24 hours. I love them. But I needed that. Pea Daddy and I did not relax together in a hammock, sipping lavender lemonade and discussing the weather. Are you crazy? Instead, as any halfway intelligent, exhausted parents might do, we tried to cram as much as we possibly could into the childless day. We went running together, just like we did in law school. Only this time I didn’t put on mascara. I... Read More
