simply beautiful truth

Vegetarians Rule!

Hubby has been sick for two weeks, and counting. Number One Son has been sick for just under a week and Number Two Son got over it in two days. Number One Daughter and I have dodged the virus, thus far. We went to the allergist this week and was given the go ahead to try food challenges and I pulled out Super Baby food and started looking at the foods that I might try. I think we will give melons a try. I glanced at the page about Vegetarians, we are healthier, live longer and have fewer chronic medical conditions. The kids have been after Hubby to stop eating meat ever since they could talk. Now it is my turn. Hubby I love you and I want to grow old with you, please consider giving up meat?

poor hubby

Well, as fate would have it, the goobers have hit our house again. Last fall Hubby missed two Cub Scout events with Number One Son because of a sinus infection. He came down with "something" on Friday while I was packing for a Cub Scout camping trip. We decided that we wouldn't stay the night. He met us at the campgrounds (after I had hiked for an hour and a half with all three kids, carrying Number Two Son for a good part of the hike). The kids had a great time at the campout, but it was hard on the adults. Hubby made it to work on Monday, but he was sent home on Tuesday. Yesterday, at the doctor he tested negative to the flu/strep, but we had to pay $45.00 out of pocket for a swine flu test. Poor Hubby, he has been in bed all day, a fever kept him up last night. Oh how I hope we are protected from whatever he has. Mary, Jesus, St. Joseph, St. Philomena, St. Faustina, St. Anthony, St. Francis, St. Dymphna, St. Bernadette, St. Luke Kirby, St. John the Baptist, Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro and all our other special saints, pray for us.

Note to Self:

I will never begin a crochet project without balling the yarn. Tonight Number One Daughter was "holding" her new hat, just started, I guess I've done about six rows and Smart puppy took off with it. I was handed a ball of string. As I was winding it up, I had four balls going at once all from one skein, that I did not cut. One hour later, It is all nicely wrapped up, but I'm still unsure why there was a break in the skein. It takes me about three hours to finish a hat and I think I might have worked collectively 30 minutes on her hat. I am, by no means an expert. I can't read patterns, I lose count, my hands ache, and I put projects down for months before I finish them. I remember learning to crochet when I was in Girl Scouts. It was something I loved to do. I would make lots of small tings out of purple variegated yarn. I think it might take me so long to finish things because when I am crocheting across, I lose count and have to count and recount rows. maybe someday I will learn to read patterns and I might even learn a few more stitches. As for now, this very busy, tired Momma will continue to make hats and scarves. I'll hold off on sending someone away to college with a thirty skein afghan for...hmmm.........EVER.

Socca

This is my culinary adventure for today. I'm sure that if I can cook it with out it sticking or burning, the kids will love it.

This thin chickpea flour (free of almost everything) pancake hails from Nice, but it’s rarely seen outside the South of France (except in Genoa where’s it called a Farinata). I'm hoping that since this is so easy, some restaurants will add it to their menu and we might be able to eat out occasionally.


INGREDIENTS

2 cups chickpea flour (about 8 ounces)
2 cups cold water
1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for cooking
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk until large lumps of flour are incorporated and mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes; do not over mix. Cover and rest in the refrigerator at least 1 hour. Heat a nonstick pan or cast iron pan over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add about 1 teaspoon olive oil and swirl it around to coat the pan. Add 1/4 -1/2 cup batter (the amount depends on the size of your pan)and quickly rotate the pan to spread evenly (so it’s thin like a crepe). Cook until socca is slightly brown on the edges. Run a spatula underneath to loosen socca from the pan, and remove from heat. Repeat with remaining batter. Season with freshly ground black pepper and serve.

UPDATE: When I made this today, my batter did not spread out to the edges of the pan. Next time, I'll weigh the chickpea flour to see if maybe mine was too thick. Ours were crispy-lacy on the edges and I turned them over like pancakes or tortillas. They were yummy and take less time to make than our new favorite snack, Farinata. They were not hard to make, I didn't get to judge the texture of a cool one, since we ate them all before even one cooled down!

UPDATE AGAIN! Socca batter works great in our waffle iron. The kids went crazy for the socca waffles. I am so happy to have something that tastes yummy for the whole family! It takes a while (about 5 minutes per waffle) but my kids are SO worth it!

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy has been such a blessing to me. It really has cured my insomnia. I know that if I say a chaplet, I will be relaxed and calmed enough to go to sleep. I've always known that my insomnia was stress induced and the chaplet helps me put my trust in Jesus, so the stress goes away. Hubby is having a hard time at work with his new principal. So in addition to our/my evening chaplet, I've been trying to say one first thing in the morning. I was really sleepy-tired today. Number One Son had a rough night the night before and I didn't get enough sleep. As I was praying, "Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved son, our Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and for those of the whole world." I heard a voice in my head of someone praying with me. That certainly woke me up! I was able to finish the prayer by myself, but a big "thank you" to my helper in heaven (St. Faustina?) for helping me finish my chaplet for my husband and his boss.

Un Attached Society

Number One Son and Hubby went to a Cub Scout overnight at the Dallas Zoo yesterday. Number One Daughter and Number Two Son and I went to the Austin Zoo, a rescue Zoo about 15 minutes from our house on most days. There was something going on with small imported cars at the CapMetro commuter lot, so it took us much longer to get there than usual. The Zoo trip is always fun for the kids and a big workout for me. The Hill Country terrain is rough no matter what kind of stroller you are pushing. When we were riding the train a large birthday party group got on. The little boy in front of us was about Number One Son's age, maybe 6 or 7. He wanted to be away from his mother and that seemed okay with her. I found this very strange. All of our children want to be with us. Isn't that the way is is supposed to be? Has society trained children from an early age (with daycare and school) that you shouldn't want to be with your parents. The way I read it, children aren't supposed to leave their parent until they get married. Our hope and prayers are that our children will want to be with us and that we will remain a close family forever to eternity.