Dog days of summer...

(Poppy girl happy as a clam in the mud!)

I'm currently wrapped up in a warm blanket posting a blog about the toasty days of summer...Why you ask am I bundled in a hoodie and blanket? Let's just say that this summer mama is not accustomed to the 60 degree weather we have had for the past few days...therefore i will indulge in a little bit of some warm day recap!

(And here is clam #2 Ivy bug basking in the muddy goodness)

If there is one thing that can be said about summer, it would be the copious amounts of food snacks that get devoured at all hours of the day. In fact, as you can see all of these kiddies are loving the treats that us three mommies had to share. In fact I think there is an unspoken rule that if you are meeting for a picnic with friends be sure to include extras so that it can become a snacking feast.
Oscar ate nearly nothing (aside from the brownie Betina brought)...he was much more content swimming or laying in the sunshine.
And what summer on the Palouse could be complete without seeing a bit of the food chain. Here we see a barge full of the Palouse gold...wheat! So cool to see the wheat go from the green stubble in the spring, to the golden flowing fields in July, to the combine, grain truck, barge, bag, and then...to my wheat grinder where I always love to open the flour catcher to a dust of freshly ground flour.
There is something special about living amongst such active agriculture. I love it!

Now if this Pregnant mother could learn how to cook again, we might be in business. Seriously I think my family may throw me out and never let me come back! i wouldn't call myself a Fabulous cook, but I have been known to cook some tasty food, that is when my taste buds are in normal order. Let's just say last nights dinner was not so great. It may have something to do with the fact that I CANNOT taste test the food during preparation without it becoming a black listed food.
Sad dinner days at the Edge house...fair warning to all who dare to share a meal at this house!! That is, unless Ricky is on duty and then all is well.

Strawberry Season

These pretty beauties came from our lovely garden. There was even enough to make a bit of this...
Ummmm....Yummy strawberry jam. You can let your mouth drool over this tasty goodness!
Lastly, speaking of lovely RED things...I found these beauties down in one of my boxes from my younger years. Funny thing is, they were not even mine (Mine were the brown tri-color, ugly variety). Nope they were my sister Verena's. The best part is that the have hardly any prescription at all, therefore I believe they were a fashion statement of sorts! Yeah...good stuff! How do you think I look? Besides the fact that they take up most of my face.

Lent Observations...

Firstly, did you know that "Honey Maid graham crackers" have HFC's (high fructose corn syrup)??? I know, big surprise, but not really. In fact I hadn't even planned on eating them(they are above the five ingredient limit on processed foods), but was merely giving my kids a snack. When I realized that they too, have been tainted by the HFC craze.

This is just one of the many instances where I have been surprised. Overall I would say that I am really enjoying this deprivation of food that is not good for me. I really am feeling strong. I typically get to this point in the Lent process each year, but this year because I am not just cutting out bad sweets, yet keeping in the good ones, and it is really making it much easier.

Normally when doing my previous format of lent, I allow myself certain "OK" foods (i.e graham crackers, and healthy blueberry muffins). This time however, because I can eat small portions of good sweets I don't find myself craving them all of the time. Except after finishing the half marathon...I'm sure that the ginger-raisin- frosted bars they had at the finish line may have gone against my lent, but I would say that they did resemble something that our grandmother's would recognize. :0)

I'm pretty sure the Gu I hate mid race was against the rules, but I made the executive decision that if I was running 13.1 miles (half of it against a very fierce wind) that it was justified. I had packed some lemon-honey drops to eat in it's place, but after having to stash my jacket due to heat, I decided it was easier (less messy) to stuff a GU in my bra, rather than some honey drops. As I said before...it was a executive decision that I feel was totally justified( if you disagree, you can chastise me in the comments).

Some of the other observations I've noticed...I didn't list it, but one of my other rules was to limit snacks. Try to eat good, thought-out meals so that I feel satisfied until the next meal. This has really been an adjustment, but I totally feel much more in control of my eating. I really enjoy having to make a healthy choice if I really NEED a snack (like after teaching a spinning class). I like not being tempted by the HFC filled candy that my kids like to get out of the candy machines, post class. I really feel much more in control.

As for my kids, I haven't been as strict with them, but I also haven't really purchased any overly processed foods (the graham crackers have been around for months). They have been doing really well with it, and other than being a bit temperamental at first, they have adjusted well.
Today was a testament of how refined sugar effects my kids...we were watching a friends daughter all day and it was her birthday (this particular child has incredibly horrible eating habits, seriously, she only eats corn chips and milk.) but because we had her over and it was her birthday I decided we would make some healthier cupcakes, with real powder-sugared frosting. They also ate corn chip nachos for lunch...I know not so healthy. When I went to get Oscar from school he was pooped...no energy and was really grumpy. Both of them were begging me for something to eat and they were really energy deficient. The only thing I can think of is that because I haven't been giving them much refined sugar, they totally had a sugar high and drop out.
This is a good thing...I now have evidence that having some sugar is alright, but full -n processed sugar frosting will put them over the edge.

So, that is where we are. I'm really enjoying this process, and I like having to think outside of the box. It really has been a good challenge.

How is your lent coming?

Ready, Set, Go!

I have recently just finished reading this book, very good by the way, and have decided to fashion my "lent" around it.
The basic premise of the book is to "Eat Food(real food), not too much, mostly plants". It also suggests that we shouldn't eat anything that our Great grandparents wouldn't recognize as food.
He give some great parameters and of those this is what my "lent" will be:
1. No HFC's (High fructose corn syrup) This is more difficult than you may think considering it is in practically everything, even bread. I know just how difficult it is...I just did my shopping trip.
2. Refrain from eating highly processed foods...nothing with more than five ingredients on the label, and they all need to be recognizable ingredients. It can have more than 5 ingredients if they are all real foods stuff.
3. Proportion control. I will serve our food before dinner and leave the pans on the stove, therefore taking the amount of food I want on my first serving rather than continuing to graze after I have eaten my fill.
4. Eat lost of plants...I love this one and this shouldn't be too tough.
5. Refrain from eating highly processed grains...everything I eat/make will be at least 50% whole grain. No white bread or rice for me...I can use a little but it needs to be combined with the others.

Alright I think that is it. You see, I may actually be able to eat limited amounts of chocolate this year. Especially dark, pure chocolate. I am really excited for the challenge this year! I feel like I want to rid my self of all of the nasty holiday foods I have been eating non-stop since Thanksgiving.

So friends the challenge is out. You may choose what ever you want, but make it something that you can measure and control. I can't wait to see who is up for the challenge.
You can even pass on the challenge on your blog...Good Luck!
I would love to hear updates too.

LENT (modified, deprivation diet)

Get your lent challenges ready!

Here are the stipulations...and a little bit of background.

This all began from my non-catholic friend Andrea who would give up junk food during lent. She convinced me to do it with her, giving up ice cream my first year trying. This will be the 4th year I have participated. Albeit a bit late in the game.
Lent, in most Christian denominations, is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter.^[1] The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where, according to the Bible, he endured temptation by Satan.^[2] Different churches calculate the forty days differently. (This comes courtesy of wikipedia.)

Although this is a great tradition...we LDS saints fast(no food or drink for 24 hrs) the first Sunday of each month and religiously do not practice "lent" and previously outlined. No, we use our monthly fasts for similar purposes. The "lent" we are about to begin is quite different...because although it can be spiritual, this is really a test to see if you can keep your word and challenge yourself.

So, this is my non-religious deprivation diet to allow my self, for one month, the self-control that I lack throughout the rest of the year. In fact it actually should have began two weeks ago on Ash Wednesday, but because of our trip to see family, I have postponed it to begin tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice, and if you need one more day to contemplate your goals, then I give you the executive privilege to do so. But you should still leave a comment and list what you are giving up.

My first year I gave up ice cream and it seemed like no big deal. The next year I gave up sweets all together. This year I have a whole new strategy and will disclose this information tomorrow.

Therefore, if you are going to be in on this fun activity here are the things you need to do:
1. Pick what you are going to give up and what is safe for you to keep in. (Write it down)
2. Eat a bunch of junk food today because it will be until Easter before you get to again.
3. Leave a comment that you are in and what you are giving up.
If you are "in" and post your comment, and you successfully keep your goal, then I will personally send you a finishers surprise! You MUST comment on tomorrow's post and you Must list what you are giving up.
If you mess up, you can send me a surprise...j/k. You just start again the next day.

I'm hoping to do various posts on my observations during my diet this time around because it will be a bit of a different strategy that has to do with my recent reading of the book "In Defense of Food". I am using myself as a bit of a test subject to see how my test pans out.
I went shopping tonight and I'm all set to begin tomorrow...the one hint I will give you about my choice is: this year Chocolate may NOT be completely out of my diet...but don't worry, it will even be more challenging than that!!!

Chocolate!

How is one to maintain a New Year's resolution when very kind friends deliver treats like this??? Notice the giant block of chocolate, and the missing cookies from the plate. Yeah, we'll just say that we will save this resolution for Lent. The non religious, 40 day period once a year,where I go without junk food...stay posted it begins on Ash Wednesday. And no, I am not Catholic, I just like to have a good challenge).

Charred pita anyone?

(My beautiful batch of perfectly puffed pitas made yesterday)
Today's post was hoping to read "Super-mom makes lots of pitas and cleans house at the SAME time!" Alas, this statement was almost true. That is, until the final two pitas were cooking (they only bake for 4min at 500 degrees) and I simply forgot that I had one last batch of pitas in the oven!
(Look how puffy that black little pita is!)
You see, this Saturday is our ward's Christmas party and I am in charge of the ethnic Middle Eastern food tasting table. As many of you may already know, I definitely have a passion for this sort of food...especially pitas, not the store bought nasty kind, I'm talking the yummy home made variety (not incredibly complicated, but one must keep an eye on the time!) I therefore decided that our ward would have home made pitas to eat the other (I will elaborate more on this tomorrow) yummy stuff on. I have enlisted a few friends to also help cook them, but I have been making a double batch each day to make enough to feed our church's 5,000. Just kidding, it's more like 200-300 and they will be tasting portions.
The up-side to the burned pitas (you know I'm an optimist!) Is that I now have a beautifully clean 1986 oven! You see, we often make yams which when baked, get the bottom of our stove all gooey and yucky. In fact, I was just saying a couple of days ago that I was going to go buy some of that nasty smelling oven cleaner to try to get our oven clean.
After the initial plume of smoke and the opening of all windows, I finally dared open the oven door to find that nearly all of the nastiness had been burned off! Yeah! Our oven doesn't have a self cleaning cycle and yet all it took was burning a couple of pitas! A couple quick swipes with the wash cloth and I now have a sparkley stove.
Other fun notes of interest is that we are still getting fresh tomatoes from out tomatoes vines hanging upside down in our shed! Yes, you may be jealous. They are not as delicious as when they are actually on the vine outside, but they are much tastier than the store bought zero taste variety.
Tonight, to try and get rid of the charred pita smell in the house, I made some yummy summery pizzas to make our house smell a bit better. (My hair still smells like I have been in a chimney, not suite as stinky and mom and Oscar when sitting by the fire pit when it is burning cotton wood, but stinky none the less!)
This my friends is the joys of being a supermom...or maybe not so super!

Random Tidbits

1. Mr. Digital camera took a fall and will be out of commission for a little while. Hopefully, all the kings horses and men will put him back together again!
I may have to go to photo archives to keep my blog a photo happening place.

2. Currently I'm on a no-junk food diet (including: anything chocolate, candy, cracker, snack food variety items) during the week. Having said that, this is what I ate this weekend (besides my regular food intake):

-Copious amounts of Easter candy that I deprived myself from during the week.

-Chocolate fudge strawberry waffles

-Strawberry yogurt ice cream with hot fudge on top (twice)

-Chips and salsa (due to comments, I may need to add this to the ok-to-eat list)

-Cookies from a going-away party

-A few chocolate chips

As of yesterday morning, I am junk-food free until Saturday! (Betina and I are still looking for a great reward for the winner who can do the challenge the longest. Any suggestions?)

3. I was recently thinking about Pullman and all the cool people I have met since we moved here. This is a list of countries that I have met people from:

-Ukraine: Natasha

-Russia: Irina

-Germany: Lotah and Umgard

-India: Susmita and family

-Korea: Lee family

-Palestine: Reem and Samer, and cute mom who was visiting

-Mexico: Javier and Sara

-Argentina: Marcos

-Ecuador: Andrea

-France: Natalie

-Canada: Betina and Family

-I have also met people who have (or will be) adopting babies from: Kazakhstan (Emma), Ethiopia (to be determined), and Guatemala (baby Marcos, not here yet, but soon!).

What a cool place to live where so many different cultures come together!

Bike ride!!!

Today was the First ride of the season. We delivered Oscar to his first birthday party at a "McDonald's".
Earlier in the week when we read his invitation to the party, our conversation was something like this...
Oscar "Mom do you know where McDonald is?"
Me "Yes, I know where McDonald's is."
Oscar "My friends at pre-school get toys from McDonald's."
Me "McDonald's is a place to get food and you get a toy with your food."
Oscar "No, I know, it's where you get toys."

I was quite pleased with the fact that he had never had a "happy meal". Although, being the well-rounded, fair mother that I try to be. I allowed him to attend the party. He had a very good time and exhausted himself on the play equipment. Adam's mother did inform me that he wasn't very interested in actually eating his "Happy Meal". He liked getting the toy but we accidentally left it at McDonald's. He was a little sad to have left it but he received a spiderman puzzle from the party mom so he was OK with the loss.

A little while ago Old Warrior gave me an article that is really interesting... here is the link "Unhappy Meals" .

The Ride this morning was so nice and it was great to feel the wind in our face again. I found that I have a much better imagination about how fast I'm going on my bike when I'm teaching my spinning classes. With a nice strong head-wind I was not a quick as I thought I would be. Today, I'm grateful that I've been spinning over the winter...no saddle sores from the ride!!! Wooo Hooo!

Chocolate...Ummm

Inspired by one of the finer things in life...Chocolate. I decided to change my hair color. We can now say that I'm a chocolate head! Does that now mean that I look delicious?

Speaking of chocolate...I was sitting here eating some of the tasty stuff (that I got for my birthday) and noticed on the package that it said: "Chocolate is sacred. There is an art to the alchemy of chocolate, an art we explore with mystery and integrity."(Dagoba organic chocolate) Sounds pretty deep...I"m not really even sure what "alchemy" is??? (Thanks to Wikipedia I have discovered that alchemy"refers to an early form of the investigation of nature and early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, physics, medicine, astrology, metallurgy, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art.") Well that sums it up...GOOD STUFF!!

I think you would only find that sort of depth on the back of "organic" chocolate. Certainly Hershey's and Nestle wouldn't put it on their labels. Their label would read something like this..."Fit for human consumption"..."we do not test on animals".
I'm not a chocolate snob entirely...if there is a bucket of Halloween candy close by, and say there is a Reeses peanut butter cup inside...yeah, well...I'm certainly not going to let it go to waste! I do however, prefer the darker side of the chocolate world and I think that Lindt has the corner on the market.
Enough about my chocolate musings...back to cleaning house! May the force be with you!