Gina likes to snack. She also enjoys cuisine with different flavors and spices. She loves Mexican, Thai, and Ethiopian food, among many others. We both love spicy foods.
Today she dropped a bomb on me. I asked her what types of food are turning her off, and she responded with spicy foods and meats rich in flavor. I was prepared to make her a Moroccan inspired chicken dish and then put on the brakes.
She really likes hummus, which is great because they are high in folic acid and fiber. This recipe is the less spicy version of our normal hummus as I put cayenne pepper and quite a bit of cumin (this recipe contains half of the cumin I normally use). This original dip goes great with crackers (both of our Moms recommended Gina keep crackers in her purse to keep a settled stomach). Fresh parsley and lemon juice replace the heavier spices and create a lighter finish.
Recipe:
1. 1 16 oz can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
2. 2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
3. 1/2 tsp ground cumin
4. quarter cup of lemon juice
5. 2 Tbsp fresh and chopped parsley
6. salt and pepper to taste
7. olive oil
Place all of the ingredients, except for the olive oil, salt and pepper, in to a food processor. Pulse several times until the mixture is mealy in texture. Turn the food processor on, completely, and drizzle the olive oil until you have a very smooth consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy this creation with crackers, carrots, celery, pita, or whatever you like. The fun is using the food processor and turning something from canned bean in to a creative and tasty spread. Its a lot of fun and very easy to make.
Monday, August 2, 2010
You Are Destined To Be Grandparents
How exciting it was to tell our Parents they were to become Grandparents.
I'll begin with Gina's parents, Karen and Larry, who we told of our pregnancy on Day 1. Following the pregnancy test Gina immediately called her Mom. Karen is a strong woman and took it in stride. I heard a few, "ok's" and "alrights". The phone call was quick, almost too quick. Gina was slightly confused by the duration of the call, but she was ok, and we were still in shock. So much in shock that while at the Baby's R Us(its the first place we went), we simply stumbled through the aisles, not knowing where to begin.
A few minutes later Karen called back. She was a completely different person and said to Gina, "It just hit me, it just hit me!!" There was three time the excitement, and a lot of advice given, to include keeping saltine crackers in her purse to quell an uneasy stomach. As for her Dad, he declared his joy through a series of yells, singing, and whoops, that even our little zygote could hear. Her parents' excitement caused Gina to giggle and smile, which caused me to do the same. It was a very happy moment.
Day 7-still in Ft Worth, TX
Gina and I live in Oakland, and my parents, Melissa and George, live in Houston. We don't have the opportunity to see each other very often. We wanted to tell them in person, and had already agreed to meet in Ft Worth to spend the weekend together, so it was perfect.
My parents were in my brother, Nick's, hotel room. The plan was to give them a couple of Mother Goose story books as a declaration of our pregnancy. Nick created a diversion by helping our parents check in to their hotel. Gina and I bought the books, and came back to the hotel to meet them. Gina handed the books to my Mom and said, "you can read these to the baby in April!". My Mom was so excited that she began to jump up and down! She said, while wiping a few joyous tears, "I get to tell everyone at Church!" She also teared up as she was hugging Gina, which made me tear up. Then she hugged me for a while, and we teared up some more. My Mom also recommended Gina keep saltine crackers in her purse. The two Moms unite! My Dad took it all in, laughed a little bit, and had a big knowing grin on his face, as if to say he was really proud of us. Then he said he was really proud of us, followed by a big Dad hug. I think he might of even pumped a happy fist in the air.
From Houston, my Mom brought a big home-made chicken pot pie, a chocolate sheet cake, and a loaf of fresh pineapple bread (my brother and I requested it days prior to seeing them). Little did she, or my Dad know it was for a celebration. We had to borrow a microwave from the front desk to heat up the pot pie (microwave placed on the ironing board), but it turned out to be the best room service I've ever had.
My brother, Nick, has known the whole time. I told him, on Day 1, he would be an uncle. He's been extremely supportive and funny, and we've talked about it so much, already. As we told my parents Nick had a huge smile on his face. He's awesome and is going to make a great uncle (not one's Great Uncle, in the literal sense, but a really really cool uncle).
I'll begin with Gina's parents, Karen and Larry, who we told of our pregnancy on Day 1. Following the pregnancy test Gina immediately called her Mom. Karen is a strong woman and took it in stride. I heard a few, "ok's" and "alrights". The phone call was quick, almost too quick. Gina was slightly confused by the duration of the call, but she was ok, and we were still in shock. So much in shock that while at the Baby's R Us(its the first place we went), we simply stumbled through the aisles, not knowing where to begin.
A few minutes later Karen called back. She was a completely different person and said to Gina, "It just hit me, it just hit me!!" There was three time the excitement, and a lot of advice given, to include keeping saltine crackers in her purse to quell an uneasy stomach. As for her Dad, he declared his joy through a series of yells, singing, and whoops, that even our little zygote could hear. Her parents' excitement caused Gina to giggle and smile, which caused me to do the same. It was a very happy moment.
Day 7-still in Ft Worth, TX
Gina and I live in Oakland, and my parents, Melissa and George, live in Houston. We don't have the opportunity to see each other very often. We wanted to tell them in person, and had already agreed to meet in Ft Worth to spend the weekend together, so it was perfect.
My parents were in my brother, Nick's, hotel room. The plan was to give them a couple of Mother Goose story books as a declaration of our pregnancy. Nick created a diversion by helping our parents check in to their hotel. Gina and I bought the books, and came back to the hotel to meet them. Gina handed the books to my Mom and said, "you can read these to the baby in April!". My Mom was so excited that she began to jump up and down! She said, while wiping a few joyous tears, "I get to tell everyone at Church!" She also teared up as she was hugging Gina, which made me tear up. Then she hugged me for a while, and we teared up some more. My Mom also recommended Gina keep saltine crackers in her purse. The two Moms unite! My Dad took it all in, laughed a little bit, and had a big knowing grin on his face, as if to say he was really proud of us. Then he said he was really proud of us, followed by a big Dad hug. I think he might of even pumped a happy fist in the air.
From Houston, my Mom brought a big home-made chicken pot pie, a chocolate sheet cake, and a loaf of fresh pineapple bread (my brother and I requested it days prior to seeing them). Little did she, or my Dad know it was for a celebration. We had to borrow a microwave from the front desk to heat up the pot pie (microwave placed on the ironing board), but it turned out to be the best room service I've ever had.
My brother, Nick, has known the whole time. I told him, on Day 1, he would be an uncle. He's been extremely supportive and funny, and we've talked about it so much, already. As we told my parents Nick had a huge smile on his face. He's awesome and is going to make a great uncle (not one's Great Uncle, in the literal sense, but a really really cool uncle).
My Hot Date
It is the end of Day 6. Gina slept for 11 hours last night(one of the side effects, so far, is her being quite tired). She needs all the sleep she can get and since we're on a mini-vacation she is able to accomplish it. I am doing my best to sleep in with her. I find it terribly easy to accommodate this task.
Today was my best friend, Ben and our awesome friend, Kinzie's wedding. I had the honor of being the best man. As the best man, I went to the event site, the FT Worth YWCA (a beautiful and historic building in down town, FT Worth) to be with my buddy before the wedding. Because I arrived early I didn't see my beautiful wife until the guests arrived and the wedding began.
I remember standing next to Ben and looking over my shoulder, at her. She looked absolutely stunning in her yellow and pink summer dress, which to my complete satisfaction was form fitting. She glowed. Her beautiful green eyes, California soft and tanned skin, and blond hair complimented her summer outfit. I smiled. I was (and am) so happy and I got to marry her.
Today was my best friend, Ben and our awesome friend, Kinzie's wedding. I had the honor of being the best man. As the best man, I went to the event site, the FT Worth YWCA (a beautiful and historic building in down town, FT Worth) to be with my buddy before the wedding. Because I arrived early I didn't see my beautiful wife until the guests arrived and the wedding began.
I remember standing next to Ben and looking over my shoulder, at her. She looked absolutely stunning in her yellow and pink summer dress, which to my complete satisfaction was form fitting. She glowed. Her beautiful green eyes, California soft and tanned skin, and blond hair complimented her summer outfit. I smiled. I was (and am) so happy and I got to marry her.
Early Wake Up
Day 5,
It is 5:45am, on a cool Oakland morning. Gina and I are sitting on a small jet plane bound for Fort Worth, TX, to attend my best friend’s wedding. My wife is a true champ. Working on 3 hours of sleep we rolled out of bed to get to the airport for a very early flight.
Although it is only 5 days since the positive pregnancy test (we think we’re at week three, since conception), I have come to realize two things. First, Gina is not a staunch supporter of waking up early. In fact, if “early” were running for president my wife would not vote for him/her. The second discovery is the birthing gift. This was revealed to me at 5am, as we were walking to the gate, to check in.
Gina, “Babe, do you know about the birthing gift?”
Me, “Birthing gift? No, what’s that? ”
Gina, “It is a gift I receive when we have the baby.”
Me, “Oh, ok. What do you want?”
Gina, “Tickets to a music festival.”
Me, “Cool. Ok, do I get a birthing gift?”
Gina, “No. You don’t get a birthing gift because you aren’t birthing the baby.”
Me, “Ok, but I want you to know that I would totally have this baby, if I could.”
Gina, “Really?”
Me, “No, actually, no, not at all. You got it.”
We just arrived at the one-stop layover, Salt Lake City, and Gina noticed a great hunger. I silently champion her hunger and cravings (which, so far, are mostly meat). So, we split a cheeseburger, at 7:45am, in the Salt Lake City airport. I did not complain.
Folic acid, a B Vitamin, plays a large role in the very early stages of baby’s development. According to WebMD, it helps the neural tube develop in to the brain and spinal cord, and can reduce certain birth defects by up to 70%. Gina takes a pre natal vitamin which contains the recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid. We also found foods rich in folic acid, such as leafy greens, asparagus, garbanzo beans, broccoli, green peas, and certain grains (e.g. breads and pastas-like the wheat buns on our Salt Lake hamburger). Of these, the greens (spinach mostly) are close to our normal diet. Gina loves to prepare a spinach salad to enjoy before dinner. Folic acid will play an important role in our baby’s development and will be featured in several of the recipes you see in this blog.
We also try and eat as organically (or hormone-free) as possible, although, with organic food prices being high it can be hard to accomplish.
Recipe for the day: BBQ’d chicken and sautéed spinach with garlic
Servings: 2
1. Two six ounce chicken breasts
2. 1 16 oz. bag of frozen spinach
3. 6 cloves garlic, minced
4. 1 shallot, minced
5. Olive oil (2 Tbsps)
6. Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
7. Marinade, consisting of the following:
-1/2 cup soy sauce, mixed with 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce, and 2 Tbsps of white wine vinegar
8. One very hot grill (Make sure the coals are grey-white hot before you cook. If using a gas grill, ensure the grill is, likewise, hot).
**If you don’t have a grill then use an oven, pre-heated to 400 degrees.
Preparation:
Marinate the chicken breasts up to 6 hours (3-6 hours should be fine).
Timing is paramount. You’ll want the chicken and the spinach to be finished at the same time.
To the hot grill, lay the plump side of you chicken breasts down, first. Leave the chicken alone until you are ready to turn them over. They will be ready when the meat pulls off, easily, from the grill. Turn the chicken over and continue to cook until finished. When the chicken is finished transfer it to a plate and cover with aluminum foil.
In a low-medium hot skillet, sweat the shallot and garlic in olive oil. When the shallot is translucent (about 5 minutes) add the frozen spinach and cover. Cook the spinach until it is hot, and then season with salt and pepper.
It is completely possible to cook the chicken, remove and cover, and then start on the spinach. The most important thing is to have all of your ingredients ready to go. If you wait to mince the garlic and shallot until the last minute, the cooked chicken will get cold. Make sure all of your ingredients are prepped before you begin cooking!
**If using an oven, then ensure it is pre-heated to 400 degrees. In a hot olive oil coated skillet, lay the chicken breasts down. Like the grill, when they pull away easily from the pan, turn them over and transfer to the oven. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until done.
For a fun presentation, lay the spinach in the middle of the plate. Then, slice the chicken and, carefully, lay it on top of the spinach. If done correctly, it will look restaurant quality.
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