This week is the week of the cooking Blogs..1/30 Oat Bran Kaiser Rolls

This week I will be blogging about:
Oat Bran Bread
Rocky Road treats for Valentines
Not your Ordinary Blondie
Cake Pops

What would you like to know how to cook? Comment with a request and I will Blog about how it is made..
Finally, I will be blogging about a cooking class demonstration I am conducting for the Culture Club on Monday. Read all about the fun and comment for a date to host your own in home class!! Hope to hear from some of you soon. <3 Mamma d

Teenagers! the sky is a pretty Blue- it isn't blue at all it is more periwinkle, duh!

When my kids were younger I would explain there winter behavior as cabin fever. Isabelle, my eight year old may have a little cabin fever right now, mixed with some modeling of deplorable teenage behavior. It is killing me. I never looked at the others as if they had three heads when January rolled around. I would pack them up and get them outdoors. If  it was wet out we would build things out of any thing available, VCR tapes for instance. We would read more. It is very different now. That irritability due to being stuck inside is growing old. It is effecting all those good qualities nestled inside my kids.

It keeps rearing its ugly head. I put a moratorium on fun this past Sunday because this is exam week. One thing I learned from sending one off to college was that a little more forced studying may help the others future study habits in college. It was a tough call and tough to enforce. The Derrick children are used to certain freedom on the weekends. At one point I was told it would do me no good forcing studying because they wouldn't do it anyway. Here it is; the sky is blue, No, it is really periwinkle,duh!

We know this stuff as parents because we were once teenagers. All be it, it was the stone ages when we had these experiences. I do remember my parents driving me crazy to study or get my work done on time, I would slip under their radar too! I have tried letting mine own it; gave them tips to study, made sure they did home work right after school until 7th grade, had enough time for play as well as studying. Then when the hormones begin to flow, what happens to the brain? I no longer have the answers. Yet, I can't stand to see them fail.

My older daughter is so self driven that she told me that one pancake was all she had prioritized time to eat this morning.  She is valuing things for the importance; have I really given a 14 year old all the tools she needs to make these decisions? Classes are being chosen by middle schoolers and high schoolers around the city. As a parent I have opinions about teachers and schools and classes  I know what is right and wrong for my kids. I don't want any one of mine biting off more then they can chew next January. As my older kids  approach freshman year and junior year next year I have got to have a say but my free will parenting style has under valued my opinion.

In the end my children will own their situation. They will work to improve grades that if taken my advice would have been better. They will choose their path with what judgement I have imparted. They will learn from their mistakes. It will shape who they are and how they face the world. As much as i want to derail them from a crash it is not in my control. So, I love them and still argue with them about the right way and all the while I pray that they retain just a smidge. As for Isabelle, maybe mixing up the cabin fever and  the teenage behavior will make for a more gentle puberty!!!

What is the little guy consumer to do?

Well it has been more then a week since I last posted. I think that might be a big blog no-no.

There have been many topics each day that I thought about blogging or would have blogged

about had I had the use of the Internet. The topic that has nestled  in my brain for a long winters

nap is how our consumer driven society has changed how we treat the consumer, the customer,

the one with the buying power, right? Have our  demands and wants driven the supplier to be the supreme power?

I have obviously had a tough time recently with customer service. I am not knocking those in the profession in general. My grievance is with a big fish corporation. It has forsaken its customers. Or should I say out grown the desire to have good customer relations . They have spent so much time growing the network of business that they do not bother to educate the people employed by them on company policies. I spent the better part of six hours being; disconnected, brushed off to voice mail, hung up on (my favorite), supervisor sending me to another department to get rid of me. It was frustrating and unbelievably ridiculous. My second to last conversation brought satisfaction, finally today. This was my second to last call,remember. The last call was another supervisor whom was adamant that my service that was corrected was done so without authority. I was ready to go around again if they dared undue the erroneous action that brought me satisfaction!!

So, this was a crazy and unnecessary way to spend 6+ hours of my time, but I am unemployed.

In between phone calls and on hold I couldn't help to wonder what has happened to the customer is always right? In my experience I have always thought that if you don't know an answer get some one that does know the answer. If you have a disgruntled person try to be empathetic, listen to what they say,

help them to get an answer to the question at hand.

I have the feeling in this case while it began with a mistake on my part as the customer, I was making a good faith effort to right my wrong. I trusted what information was out there in cyberspace and followed directions. How was I to know that these directions were not meant for me? It was baffling and so much so that the customer care specialist could not answer the question why I was led astray.  It frustrated them into doing their best to brush me off, even hang up on me. I was also frustrated that as a customer no one that I talked to could empathize with my situation enough to want to help me solve the mystery. I was not important to them, just another number in the 757. Are our wants as consumers driving businesses not to care? Can they sell us anything and anyway? Who has the  real buying power? I think ours  is dried up.





Ummm-Yum..What should I call it??

As promised I have been working on this blog for several days..baking and testing and photographing. This is my first foray into the cooking portion of my blog, which will actually one day be the center of my Blog. Pictured above is the product of my efforts to create a healthy cookie. No, that is not a oxymoron. I broke it down, picked the best ingredients, and added a smidgen of good stuff. I have been looking for something that looked to a kid and tasted for a kid like a yummy cookie. As a mom I needed
something for my house filled with busy athletes. Swimmers, runners and soccer players that require allot and burn allot of calories.  The classic toll house was too many empty calories for them to snack on.
Here are the steps for making this bit of yum that I can't seem to find the right name for.

The ingredients are above and listed in the recipe below.

Cream soften butter..do not allow it to get to warm or it will cause the dough to run and spread in the oven.

Add 1 1/2 cups brown sugar. It helps with moisture and the browning of the cookie.

Beat the butter and sugar until a noticeable change in color..it will look lighter in color and fluffy. The fluffy is air being incorporated which makes a nice soft bite to the cookie.

Now while the mixer is going add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 3 eggs. The eggs are added one at a time and allowing time for them to be incorporated. The mixture will have a nice shiny liquid look.

Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter (if  you prefer crunchy PB it is OK too!) blend completely.

For dry ingredients;  2 1/2 cups cake flour ( a softer flour which produces a more tender crumb) 3/4 cup whey protein, 3/4 cup oat bran, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Above these are pictured as measured. I then take a fork and combine the dry ingredients. The dry ingredients are best added in 2-3 parts. Once fully blended I add the final ingredient 2 cups of Ghiradelli 60% Cocoa chips.

After all ingredients are added I scrape the sides and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. This allows the melding of flavors, the softening of the oat bran and firming of the butter. The cookies are baked in preheated 325 degree oven for 17-20 minutes. They will be a light golden color and soft and chewy.
Kids never need to know you snuck in extra protein and fiber to their diet. So offer a cookie instead of a granola bar. A 2" cookie has approximately 100 calories , 1+ grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber and 13 g of carbohydrates, 5 g of fat in each large cookie.

Try the recipe and let me know what you think..What would you call it?

1 cup soft butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup peanut butter
2 1/2 cups cake flour
3/4 cups whey protein powder
3/4 cups oat bran
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon  baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (fine )
2 cups 60 % cocoa Ghiradelli chips (these are nice fat chips that are decadent all by themselves!)

So maybe NOT everyday

Well maybe I wont write everyday. Today I have been busy working on my new recipe.
I better version of a cookie. I have documented  the process with photos and will be posting it as my first cooking enrty for the blog. I really need Sarah to help me with the photo editing. Hate to say it but
she is good at that... at least I think all the photos I have put my kids through all these years inspired
her not inhibited her. Posting soon...  <3 mamma d

I love SPIN class; Support, Endorphins and the importance of the cool down ;)

Yep, I did it. I went back to one of my favorite fitness activities, SPIN. I was once athletic as I mentioned before. I know I am not svelte any longer but I am strong as an ox. To look at me you, like others, may assume that I live a very sedentary life, ha! I have a hard time settling down and relaxing on vacation. Granted this was one of my first trips to the Y in about a year, or more. 2010, was really bad for me. Back to the subject at hand, I returned to spin. I did it this morning with the help and support of my entourage; Suzi, Tad, Shannon, Maddie and Kim Potter. With the pleasure of finding a friend there, Mimi. I picked this class because I have had my eye on the Y class schedule for months. It was only 30 minutes and supposed to be a beginner level class. Even if it was not a beginner class I can do almost anything for 30 minutes, right?

In we trounced to the spin room after signing up for a bike at the desk. We were a few minutes early and enjoyed some chat time before the instructor came in from teaching another class. The room to her surprise was beyond capacity. She was truly perplexed. She had no idea I was coming with my entourage for her class. Well you can never take these things for granted. I came with friends to enjoy something I had not done in too long.  I have to say if it was just Suzi and I a may have weaseled out of it to clean my house for it to be shown today.  I keep remembering the endorphins that come with the
exercise but lately it has been a little blurry in the memory bank. So the friends, Maddie, Shannon and my son Tad were just the obligation I needed to get me there. Who am I to stand in the way of college kids and exercise?  The usual  class where looking at our crew in the back of the room wondering were the heck we came from and why were we on their bikes! The instructor almost checked id's to be sure we signed up for our places.

After entering and being thrown completely off balance she jumped on her bike  and as  second thought asked if anyone (while staring straight at me!!) was new to spin.  I think it was surprising to her I didn't fall off my bike. I did choose a bike in the back, near a fan and the exit. All of my posse was in front of me. She started off right off the bat full throttle...I hung with her peddle for peddle all 30 minutes.
Little did she know she was playing to my strength by standing for most of the class. It was no where near a beginner class. We all were quite sweaty..the final challenge of the day was a 4 or 5 minute climb.
I felt good..the endorphins were pumping. As the song winded down she took us from climbing to stretching. Are you asking yourself why is giving us this TMI? Well it was the way it happened and the important lesson was her lack of cool down. We were really pumping feeling it and then..that is it.

After the climb we stretched in the saddle and got off our bikes. I looked at Maddie who was having some knee pain during class and she looked white as a ghost. My Mom radar was screeching. I thought I would be the one to topple at spin. Maddie was the one. Not because she is old and not svelte like me
but because the instructor went from 60 to zero in less then 45 seconds. Here is the importance of the cool down. When you heart pounds you need to slow it down no matter your age or fitness level. Maddie is probably ..groaning, Mama D what are doing embarrassing me. Not trying to sweetie, just a lesson learned today at spin. I was glad after some time she regained her color and was able to go shopping with her mom..I want to see your coat. I bet shopping got her endorphins flowing too.

Well my endorphin buzz still hasn't worn off..tomorrow more spin? I think YES. A big thanks to my

support system for getting me back in the saddle again.








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Nutrition

Well, I did say the topics would be random, varied..I have had nutrition on my mind forever. Today I had a long conversation with my oldest , Tad about this very topic. I have been to culinary school after all and I know all about foods and preparations. Wow, like I had never tried to have the Mom to athlete nutrition discussions with him, Tad was full of "what do I do when " questions. So, as  always I tried to talk with some Mom like authority. Talking all about what to eat and when to eat and when not to eat. All the while I was asking myself,  what the heck are you doing giving him this advice? That didn't stop me from spilling all my idealistic thoughts on eating...What have I done?

So, I have been obsessing about what have I taught my children about nutrition..How could I teach them when I am so confused on the topic in the first place. Look at the food pyramid..does it even make real sense? I have  tried many things when it comes to eating;too much junk food for pity parties, or the latest diet when I have guilt about my weaknesses. Is a Low carb, no carb, no fat, counting calories, count points,
calories in vs. calories out. Exercise, 20 minutes a day, 30 minutes or is it 90??? Drink water and don't drink soda. Eat Pommegranites. Stay away from artificial sugar and only use the real sugar,but never use high fructose corn syrup and watch your blood sugar...Where do we learn what is the right thing for us and our nutrition?

I have thought about why am missing this? why am I so confused? My mother always prepared my meals growing up; there was a hot breakfast every morning, my lunch always had a sandwich, snack and 2 cookies with milk, dinner was always balanced and included a salad. Her meals were yummy. Everyone loved her cooking. I have the fondest memories  of my Nana baking pies, breads and pasties. Mom could do it all too. I think I inherited this cooking gene from those wonderful women. Well, somewhere in there was the nutrition piece that was passed to me through osmosis or was it? In my journey I  have taken in so much information from so many sources I don't know what to trust anymore. Society and our wacky culture has scrambled my brain.. So I am probably not fit to give advice about nutrition after all.

 My Dad weighed the same amount at 89 that he did when he graduated from VMI. He knew how to take care of his nutrition, Mom!!  Really he ate 3 meals  a day and a afternoon snack and cocktail before dinner.
He never ate more then 2 cookies or (I swear to this!) one piece of dark chocolate. His biggest meal was at breakfast. He always ate at a table sitting down and very slowly, never in the car. No fast food or fast fads for him. He exercised daily no matter the weather. Jogging, then walking and even carrying his own golf bag for 18 holes.

So the thing I think I missed from all the cooking, balancing and meals that my Mom taught me(by example) was what Daddy practiced everyday..Moderation  My blog is later today as I needed most of the day to mull this over. Now before bed I will share with Tad those things that are better then nutrition that I learned from Daddy; Eat 3 balanced meals a day with the biggest meal in the am, exercise daily, sit down while you eat, eat slowly. Finally, everything, even Wild Turkey Old Fashions are good for you in moderation.

Its a new kind of start this year...2011

Christmas Morning always starts the same..The kids wake us up excited to get down stairs to see what is there. Who cares that Jon and I may have been up until 2 am making things right; putting dollhouses together, or bicycles. Making sure one last time there is something for everyone and that special gift is there for each. Well , OK we drag it out as long as they can bare by brewing ourselves coffee and preheating the oven for the brunch preparations.  I finish it off the same way, with this picture above. I have ones with the kids in every stage. Even when there was just two (we lived in an apartment with Tad when he was alone so no stairs to dwell on!)

This is the moment they waited for, to see that tree. So you are probably asking why is she rambling on about Christmas morning? It is the beginning of what will soon be a new year. Today was the end of that season. I said it was a different kind of year...and it is. For as many years as I can recall I have

dreaded taking the tree down. I even ignored it right into February one year. 2010 has been long and weird.

Very difficult for our family. Christmas was not. It is the first time in forever, I can remember the kids joy for the season and each other. I think in the past few rough years I have placed to much emphasis on the wrong things. I haven't let go enough. Well there were some very special elves in our lives this year and I was "forced" (really graced by them) to let it go. It was the best thing for me. It has changed my perspective and expectations for this year to come.

So instead of dreading taking the tree down I did it alone. I reflected on all the wonderful memories that reside in that tree. The funny ornaments and the hand made ones from the kids through out the years.

I thought about how many years I have been putting up a family tree..going on 20 years now.

Funnier still is that over the last 15 years I may not have hung a single ornament or taken the tree down myself. So the new year and the new me took it down. I remembered my blessings, gave thanks for the bit of grace in my life and steeled myself for the year ahead with its joys and its challenges alike.

Jack of all Trades

We all have heard the expression or phrase "Jack of all trades." I like to finish that with the Master of none! Well that is me..I am a mixed bag of tricks. I have dabbled in everything and in many places. I went to culinary school, so I can cook. I really think that cooking was in my genes. I love color and texture, so flowers are my thing. I am such a watcher of people that I take fabulous photos. I even learned to sew once upon a time.

I have mastered none.while undertaking any project is rarely a challenge to me because of my degree in the "Jacks", I am never perfect at it. I don't even strive for perfection. I can be good at anything I set my mind too. Even cleaning house. For those who have visited my abode you will know that this is a special occasion talent that I don't practice everyday. I am busy doing something else, not sure if I can say what but just something else. Well, from the encouragement of those who love me,  I have decided to challenge myself to Blog. From the my varied trades you can bet the topics will vary. I will however use this space to display those things I do...maybe it will be what I am cooking, photos or just a perplexing raising teenagers rant.You will know that it has come from my life experience to be shared with you and I am at least good at it!