Blogiversary

A year ago yesterday was my first Blogiversary! 

My New Year's Resolution for 2011 was to go a year without buying bread. 

I made it... until September. Between recovering from surgery and morning sickness, in these past couple months I haven't the energy or desire to bake bread, let alone eat it. But I was happy with the alternatives we came up with - buying local, organic bread from an independent bakery.

Then I graduated (WAHOO!!! M.ED. Environmental Education), we packed up and moved, and I didn't have a kitchen or all my flours and tools with which to bake, though I did make some garlic knots for Christmas while we were in Minnesota.

However, it had been a fabulous year, and I have learned so much about bread, many types of breads, enjoyed the health benefits and had a lot of fun along the way. I've also grown in my faith and become connected to my food in ways I never imagined.

My favorites from the year: 

Bread with a Twist 

Whoops...

Calzones

Braided Loaves

Pita Bread

Beautiful Buns

 Swirl Rye Sourdough, Eh?

Pumpkin Oatmeal Bread

And my New Year's Resolution for this year? Find meaningful employment, a place to live, and keep myself as healthy as possible for our little one on the way, and prepare to bring the little one into the world in the best possible way. Lofty goals, right? 

Happy New Year! 

Pumpkin Pancakes

It is Pumpkin season indeed, and it has definitely been feeling more like fall around here with drizzly, gray days and the sun setting much earlier. Pumpkins are popping up all over the place, and Ross even pulled out our fall table cloth the other day. 

Pumpkin pancakes are a favorite of ours this time of year! Last year we used the box from Trader Joe's, which is good, but I though I would make them from scratch. I thought that using real pumpkin, although canned, would have a greater nutritional value. And it was relaxing to be making pancakes on a rainy, cozy morning. 

I followed the pumpkin pancake recipe from allrecipes - and I loved it! 

Pretty simple - mix the dry, then the wet. 

Then all together. 

Plopping the batter on the griddle was more challenging as the batter is not your typical pancake consistency - it is thick and sticks together. Resist the temptation to thin it out with more milk though, as they are delicious in their thick, fluffy form. 

Perfectly golden brown, moist and the pumpkin flavor really came through! I topped mine with my homemade vanilla yogurt, though Ross opted for the traditional maple syrup. The kind that comes from trees mind you. 

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I have been doing a good job of keeping to my goals this first week of October! I have done yoga nearly everyday - and LOVE yogaglo.com and would highly recommend it. I've been drinking lots of tea, had a wonderful massage (or two...), and even decided to visit a Chiropractor. 

My jaw has been painful and tight, and I'm tired of restricting myself to a soft foods diet, and didn't think that muscle relaxants or steroid injections sounded very appealing (as my doc suggested), nor did it sound like those things would solve the problem, just cover it up. I can say that right now I really appreciated that Chiropractor listened intently to what my concerns were, and he was interested in caring for my whole body and whole health, not just treating a symptom. I'm optimistic!

Have you ever gone to a Chiropractor? What was your experience like?

Goals for October

I have been extremely stressed and anxious lately, some things I can share - work, school, money - and others I can't. I usually carry a fair amount of stress, but lately it has gotten a little out of control. I've been obsessing over things, trying to plan for things I just can't control, and letting it get out of control. My body aches, my jaw is tight and painful, I am on the verge of tears too easily and I snap at Ross for no reason.

So I've been reflecting and made some goals for myself to try to bring myself back to a calm, centered state of being - body, mind and soul. I want to share them publicly for a few reasons: it will make me more accountable to my goals, I can reference this post, and I would love any support that you can offer.

1. Practicing yoga everyday. Or at least 5 times a week. I used to practice faithfully, but since my surgery I had to take a break and haven't quite gotten back into the swing of things.

2. Meditation. This isn't something I have ever tried, but why not? I decided to try a free trial at yogaglo.com - and they have lots of videos with meditations. I'm going to see if it does anything for me.

3. Walking. I love the brisk fall weather, the changing leaves, and I love going for evening walks to watch the sunset. It's also a good time for Ross and I to talk without distractions.

4. Massage. At least twice this month, if not once a week. I have a dear friend who offers me a student discount, and I appreciate having someone who I can trust with not only my body but my spirit as well.

5. Drinking more herbal teas. Like chamomile, peppermint and ginger.

source

6. Saying no. I don't have to work extra hours or commit to extra things if it stresses me out. I'm going to find the power to say no, and to take time for me.

7. Bake. Baking and cooking bring me joy! I love working with my hands and watching a meal, or a loaf of bread come into being from start to finish. This is a meditative process for me as well.

8. Prayer and Scripture. It seems so obvious, but how easily one can forget this simple act of faith.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" -Matthew 6: 25-27 

What do you do for stress relief?

Pictures from stockvault.net