Be a Local St. Nick!

As a parent, I try desperately each year to instill the REAL meaning of Christmas into my kids and every year one of them lets a comment about toys being the height of the holiday season slip out.

I know how they feel. Except instead of toys, my obsession is cookies. Baking AND eating them. However, I get as much joy in sharing them with others. Nothing says "I love and appreciate all you do for me year round" like a batch of fresh baked, melt in your mouth treats!

My favorite thing to do is give them to those who least expect it in my local community....like our librarians who to go the extra mile and hold new books aside for my kids without us ever requesting them because they know what topics my kids enjoy, or the priests at my church who listen to me complain and confess the same things over and over again patiently without ever yelling "GET OVER YOURSELF".

This year I only baked 5 different cookies. At 8 months pregnant I just couldn't muster up the steam to do many more (and yes, my poor unborn child is also the scapegoat for my lack of outside Christmas decorations and poor gift wrapping jobs). This year's selection included(starting at the top of the picture above and moving clockwise): Cherry Snowballs, Mincemeat Cookies, Coffee Bonbons, Cream Cheese Coconut Thumbprints, and Peanut Butter Kisses. All of the red "frosting" you see is not just food coloring, but actually a cherry chip which I found at Woodman's Market on Randall Road in Carpentersville. They are tasty if you like artificial cherry flavor and the color, but I found the flavor a bit overwhelming to the cookies. I'd stick with what the original recipes suggest. My family did a taste test and we couldn't all decide on a favorite. The strongest opinions were regarding the coffee bonbons. Let's just say you have to love coffee to enjoy them--they're pretty potent!

So this year in the spirit of the REAL St. Nicholas, set aside a dozen and surprise someone special in your neighborhood who may have been overlooked. I bet it will be the greatest gift you give this season.

Say No To Drugs!

So I've got this crazy idea in my head that I'm going to birth this baby with no pain meds, despite the fact that with both of my prior deliveries I was drugged to the hills, and both of my babies were very large. In preparation, my husband and I are learning the Bradley Method of natural childbirth. We've been taking a wonderful class through Jennifer Budney (who is a doula as well, in case you're looking for one: jbudney2000@yahoo.com), which has an entire section dedicated to nutrition. Now it doesn't take a PhD in nutrition to know that the best thing anyone, preggo or not, can give their body is dark, leafy greens.

I don't know about you, but sitting around munching on collards or mustard greens is not my idea of a good time. Sure, I can deal with a romaine salad, or a spinach omelet, but after 4 weeks of eating those twice a day, it was time to branch out.

Now don't knock the recipe I'm suggesting today until you try it. I know when you first read the recipe you will probably think I'm ON drugs. This baking method takes away any bitterness in the kale and your kids might even enjoy eating it (especially if they aren't on a "green thing" strike):

Kale Chips
1 bunch kale
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt to taste

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Trim stems off of kale and cut or tear the leaves into bite sized pieces.
-Wash and dry kale leaves, and then place on a baking sheet.
-Toss the leaves with the olive oil and season with salt.
-Bake for 10-15 minutes until edges are brown, but not burned. Be careful, if you overcook the kale will disintegrate when you touch it.

Thanksgiving Side

Local foods are sometimes difficult to find this time of year unless you've done a fair share of canning, drying, or freezing. However, thanks to Farmer Nick "making" us travel all the way to Greyslake to pick up our pastured-raised, 26 lb bronze beauty for our Thanksgiving feast, I've discovered a farmer's market that's open long after most have closed.

The Greyslake Farmer's Market is located in the center of downtown Greyslake and is open from 10am -2pm on Saturdays until Christmas. There was quite a variety of vendors with all types of meat (bison to beef to poultry), eggs, olives, cheese, wine, produce, as well as beautiful homemade candles and flower arrangements.

Also, even those of us who lost track of the summer months and failed to preserve the local bounty probably have a few winter squash lying around. I still have a small mass of acorn and butternut squash that require no maintenance to keep.

Here is a perfect recipe to grace your Turkey Day buffet that looks as beautiful as it tastes! Plus, you cook it in the microwave, which is great because we never have enough oven space on the holidays!

Fruity Stuffed Acorn Squash
(adapted from Fruity Acorn Squash on allrecipes.com)
makes about 4 servings

2 acorn squash
1 peeled and diced apple
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 Tbsp raisins
1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1. Cut acorn squashes in half lengthwise and remove seeds.
2. Place squash cut side down in a greased microwave safe dish and microwave uncovered for about 7 minutes (until almost tender). You may have to do this in batches depending on how large your microwave is.
3. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients.
4. Flip squash over and fill with the mix in your bowl.
5. Cover and microwave about 4 minutes longer or until everything is tender.

Shortcuts in the Kitchen

We all cut corners in the kitchen from time to time, right? Or am I the only one who is so lazy that I regularly use a dishtowel instead of an oven mitt to remove a hot casserole from the oven? Or who tries to make muffins by using only one mixing bowl instead of two (one for wet and one for dry)? Well, I've learned my lesson. No more cutting corners for me.

....at least when it comes to de-seeding jalapenos with my bare hands. I thought, "but I only have two peppers to do and the latex gloves are all the way downstairs". Put a big fat "L" for lazy loser on my forehead! Trust me, go get the gloves. That one pair of gloves will save you hours of researching the internet trying every home remedy known to mankind in order to get the EXTREME burning to subside. Sure you might get an education on how to use Colgate toothpaste or baking soda and lemon juice or rubbing alcohol or milk to ease the throbbing, but it's NOT WORTH IT.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, aloe vera gel (yes, the green goopy kind you use for sunburns) worked best....

While you might my little experience may turn me off from jalapenos, you're mistaken. These empanadas are just too tasty to keep me away, even when my fingers were on fire!

Ok, now I have to admit that there is one allowable shortcut I use in the recipe. I buy pre-made empanada dough (thanks for this tip, Margarita! I owe you!). It saves so much time and frustration. I buy the Goya brand from Joseph's Marketplace in the freezer section. The package looks like this. Yes, I realize that they are from Argentina and are therefore not local, but most of the filling ingredients are local, and Joseph's is a locally owned small business, so I've rationalized it.

Shortcut Empanadas
(adapted from Hope's Edge Edible Schoolyard Empanadas)
makes 24

3/4 lb waxy potatoes (yukon gold, fingerlings or red work well), peeled and cut into 1/4 inch dice
6 scallions, sliced into thin rings
2 jalapenos, de-seeded and chopped fine
1 cup grated cheese (pepper jack or sharp cheddar work well)
3/4 cup diced precooked chicken, optional
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
10-12 pre-made frozen empanada shells, defrosted

1. Cook diced potatoes in simmering water for 3-4 minutes. Drain and cool.
2. Combine potatoes and all remaining ingredients (except the dough) in a mixing bowl. This is the filling.
3. Set out one empanada dough piece and scoop about 2 Tbsp filling into the center.
4. Fold in half and seal edges by pressing with fork tines. Brush with melted butter if you like.
5. Place empandas on a cookie sheet and bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes (until golden brown).

How Do You Spell Relief?

At 23 weeks pregnant, I want to scream with envy when I hear other moms-to-be beam about how "wonderful and beautiful" they feel. Not me.

I'm eternally in pain. Ok, maybe "pain" is an exaggeration. "Discomfort" is probably a bit more accurate. Acid reflux, backaches, braxton hicks contractions, round ligament pain--- I suffer them all. My husband says I remind him of that poem by Shel Silverstein: Sick. Only, I think he's mistaken because unlike the little girl in Silverstein's poem, I even complain on Saturdays.

Not that I wouldn't suffer all my symptoms 10x worse for my unborn offspring, but it is nice to get a little relief every now and then. Like massage. Just the word calms my body. Say it with me out loud and see if you agree. Massage. See what I mean?!

I was lucky enough to experience a prenatal massage this weekend with Alison Kruger at Akasha Yoga. I've taken yoga classes there before (which are also wonderful), and so when I heard they did massage, I told my husband that I wanted a gift certificate for Valentine's Day. It was worth every penny.

In return, I purchased my husband a massage from his favorite massage spot: Infinity Day Spa.

As I've been lucky enough to have experienced massages at both places, I'll give you a quick run down of what I see as the major differences. Akasha's masseuses seem more experienced (better) to me. Akasha is also a bit less expensive. However, Infinity's ambiance is superior to Akasha's. They also pamper you with tea, a small treat, a robe and a waiting area with candles and flowing water. And if that wasn't enough for your senses, they use a massage oil with your choice of scent. Overall, Akasha is a no frills massage from a quality masseuse, but Infinity pampers the senses. You really can't lose with either!

The holidays are just around the corner.....