Here's a recipe that calls forth images of summer:
Lemonade Chicken (from flylady.net if I remember right)
9 chicken thighs without skin (half of a club pack I think)
1 Tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 can or so of frozen concentrate lemonade
Brown chicken in oil (you can dredge in flour and 1 tsp. salt if you like first). Put chicken in crockpot. Mix lemonade, brown sugar, vinegar (use regular vinegar if you prefer) and ketchup and pour over chicken. Cook on high for 3-4 hours (or low 6-8). When ready to serve, remove chicken to (warm) platter and thicken sauce with 2 Tbsp. cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water (I skip this part), and serve along with chicken. This is EXCELLENT and quick and easy.
Serves 2 adults and three small children fairly well unless one adult has a larger appetite/does hard labour etc.
Notes:
I make it with brown rice and peas. You can make the rice any time during the day and reheat it for supper.
I've also used bone-in thighs. You can use any chicken pieces really. I used to only buy chicken breasts, but now that I know a few good recipes for thighs, I rarely buy them. Usually quite a bit cheaper.
Quick salad idea:
coleslaw from a bag (Dole colourful is one)
sliced apples (well, diced almost)
creamy poppyseed dressing
Rodney updated the EveBaby.ca site recently...check it out!
Wednesday
Great Stain Remover
Just a quick post to say we're back in the province and to let you know of a stain remover especially made for the "biological" stains of babyhood. It's OxiClean Baby, in a clear blue spray bottle, available at Superstore and other places I'm sure. Fragrance free, dye free and chlorine free.
Saturday
Summertime
Summertime...and the livin' is easy. Ahhhh, that it were so. Actually, we're really looking forward to summer. Our firstborn is done school, we're taking off to Saskatchewan to visit family and do some family sessions in the great outdoors, and then we're planning lots of BBQ's, some beach days and some family outings as well as some work in the yard. And of course, we continue to build Eve Baby into a thriving studio where more and more women can celebrate the beauty and wonder of motherhood and new life with one of Manitoba's best (I can brag about my hubby, right?!!).
In other news, Rodney just spent a busy couple of days preparing for and teaching at the first ever Manitoba Photographic Artist's Exposition at the Forks. His two seminars (Glamour/Art Nude Photography and Child Portraiture) were some of the first to sell out. It's still going on...workshops, galleries and things. It also happens to be National Aboriginal Day with celebrations there and on Selkirk Avenue. We might try to take a little of that in if the kids wake up in time.
Enjoy your summer. Mosquitoes and sun aren't the easiest for life with little ones, but a walk mid-morning or late afternoon can be so life-giving. Plus there are lots of little sun/wind shelters you can get for the beach. Maybe you'll only be there for 1 1/2 hours instead of 3 or 4, but it's still nice to get out. We'll be back soon.
In other news, Rodney just spent a busy couple of days preparing for and teaching at the first ever Manitoba Photographic Artist's Exposition at the Forks. His two seminars (Glamour/Art Nude Photography and Child Portraiture) were some of the first to sell out. It's still going on...workshops, galleries and things. It also happens to be National Aboriginal Day with celebrations there and on Selkirk Avenue. We might try to take a little of that in if the kids wake up in time.
Enjoy your summer. Mosquitoes and sun aren't the easiest for life with little ones, but a walk mid-morning or late afternoon can be so life-giving. Plus there are lots of little sun/wind shelters you can get for the beach. Maybe you'll only be there for 1 1/2 hours instead of 3 or 4, but it's still nice to get out. We'll be back soon.
Tuesday
Tasty and Quick
Part of the challenges of having a baby is figuring out how to care for this oh-so-dependent-and-unpredictable one and still get meals on the table. For many new moms, this can be even more challenging coming from a full-time work background and all that entails for meal preparation (whether it be shared, very quick prep, later meals, take-out or pre-packaged). Going from that to being home all day and having a fussy baby close to supper time changes things drastically. At Eve Baby, we know the many facets of motherhood and seek to help moms in as many ways as possible (besides giving them the most beautiful memories we possibly can!)
Thus I bring you our first meal ideas: French Beef Dip and Easy Spinach Salad
French Beef Dip (Crockpot Recipe) from "Cooking Con Brio" (Sask Music Teachers' Assoc)
3 to 4 lb beef roast (I use Outside Round Roast just because it's a mid-range price)
1/2 cup soya sauce
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rosemary
1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 cup of beef broth)
6 peppercorns
Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Add water to almost cover roast (for large crockpots this makes a lot of au jus!) Turn slow cooker on low for the day. Slice meat (or fork apart) and put onto buns. Serve with juice for dipping.
Easy Spinach Salad (courtesy of my sister after one of my babies was born)
Spinach from a bag
Mandarins from a can
Sliced almonds from a bag
Creamy poppyseed dressing.
Mix. Done. Yum!
Variations for toddlers: cut roast into fry-sized pieces for finger food (dip into ketchup if necessary), put butter on the bun, set aside some mandarins for them...
Thus I bring you our first meal ideas: French Beef Dip and Easy Spinach Salad
French Beef Dip (Crockpot Recipe) from "Cooking Con Brio" (Sask Music Teachers' Assoc)
3 to 4 lb beef roast (I use Outside Round Roast just because it's a mid-range price)
1/2 cup soya sauce
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rosemary
1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 cup of beef broth)
6 peppercorns
Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Add water to almost cover roast (for large crockpots this makes a lot of au jus!) Turn slow cooker on low for the day. Slice meat (or fork apart) and put onto buns. Serve with juice for dipping.
Easy Spinach Salad (courtesy of my sister after one of my babies was born)
Spinach from a bag
Mandarins from a can
Sliced almonds from a bag
Creamy poppyseed dressing.
Mix. Done. Yum!
Variations for toddlers: cut roast into fry-sized pieces for finger food (dip into ketchup if necessary), put butter on the bun, set aside some mandarins for them...
Friday
Diaper Rash Tips
If you're looking for a simple way to prevent diaper rash and even treat it, use grapeseed oil (sometimes, not always in Superstore) in a little squeeze bottle and apply at every diaper change. It replaces the oils that are stripped away by wipes and protects the skin. Add a few drops of lavendar essential oil and the anti-inflammatory/anti-bacterial properties bring healing to even quite bad rashes. Tiber River Naturals is one place you can find essential oils (I'm quite sure they carry lavendar). Grapeseed oil could probably substituted by other oils, but I've never tried them. You could ask a massage therapist for ideas. Alternately, you could try Tiber River's Bottom's Up cream which can be used all over and contains calendula among other things.
Click on the wikipedia links to learn more properties of grapeseed oil, lavendar and calendula. They each have many uses!
Click on the wikipedia links to learn more properties of grapeseed oil, lavendar and calendula. They each have many uses!
Tuesday
Breastfeeding Help
Just wanted to do a quick post on help for early (or otherwise) breastfeeding challenges. If you are having trouble with breastfeeding (whether with supply, latch, pain, let-down, thrush, or whatever), the most important thing is to get help as soon as possible. Don't suffer without finding support. And remember that it is very common to have a few obstacles to overcome. It doesn't just happen...but most problems can be resolved with good help. And actually having a person come and see what you're experiencing and assist in finding a different position etc. is extremely helpful.
One place to call in Winnipeg is the 24-hour breastfeeding hotline: 787-1166. It is done through Women's Hospital. Lactation Consultants are available there from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Another resource is your public health nurse. They may not be breastfeeding experts per se, but they have some helpful handouts they can bring you. Doulas (BirthRoots Doulas is one) and La Leche League can also be good resources.
Here are two websites I found: http://lactinv.com/breastfeeding_qna.php?page=index and www.kellymom.com.
As well, if you're looking for cream for sore/cracked nipples, Tiber River Naturals has some (pure lanolin) for $7.95 at their store on Academy.
That's it for now. Again, if you have anything to add or if you'd like to become a regular contributor, please feel free to email (see top). We'd love to have you become an active part of our community!
One place to call in Winnipeg is the 24-hour breastfeeding hotline: 787-1166. It is done through Women's Hospital. Lactation Consultants are available there from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Another resource is your public health nurse. They may not be breastfeeding experts per se, but they have some helpful handouts they can bring you. Doulas (BirthRoots Doulas is one) and La Leche League can also be good resources.
Here are two websites I found: http://lactinv.com/breastfeeding_qna.php?page=index and www.kellymom.com.
As well, if you're looking for cream for sore/cracked nipples, Tiber River Naturals has some (pure lanolin) for $7.95 at their store on Academy.
That's it for now. Again, if you have anything to add or if you'd like to become a regular contributor, please feel free to email (see top). We'd love to have you become an active part of our community!
Bottoms up
Starting Thursday, our studio will be featuring a line of products for baby from Tiber River Naturals, called "Bottoms Up". If I'm not mistaken, there is a diaper cream, a baby lotion, and a hair/body wash. All very healing and natural.
So when you're in next, ask to see/sample them. They're one-of-a-kind.
So when you're in next, ask to see/sample them. They're one-of-a-kind.
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