How many dinners do you make?

Our grocery bill conversation has led me to realize that we often make more than one dinner every night: something the girls like and something the adults like.  Just last night, inspired to cook up something fresh and new and only use the bits and pieces in the pantry or fridge, I made a big pot of soup.  We set the table and sat down to eat.  My oldest child doth protested: "I want Chinese Chicken!" referring to the three packages of the stuff that we bought from Trader Joe's the day before.  Deflated, I made some.  But, she ate some of my homemade lentil potato soup also.  I think she could sense my deflation.

I am so glad I'm the only one who makes different dinners for the different palates around the table.  Shannon shared:

I totally get what you're saying.  I'm so sick of being a short order cook that by the time I've made the boys what they'll eat, I just don't cook and tell the man, who busts his arse everyday, to suck it. No, not really...but close.  I'm this close to doing the "this is what's for dinner, eat it or not" but, one kid is vegetarian, kind of, and one likes bland, the other spicy,etc...it's so overwhelming.

Then, says Leah:

I think the "short order cook" issue is a big one for a lot of families...how do you tackle that? One thing my mom did when we were kids (there were 5 of us, and she never made a special meal for anyone--we ate what we were served, period) was she would ask us what we wanted for dinner that week and she cooked accordingly. Maybe getting your kids on board with the menu for the week would help?

How many dinners do you make to meet the needs and preferences of all the family members?  Do you just make one big meal?  What if some don't eat or "don't like" it?  How do we make it easier on ourselves so as not to make dining a completely a la carte experience?

How much is your weekly grocery bill?

Last week, the Oregonian's FOODday featured four families that put their family food budgets on a diet, ranging from $100 to $300 a week.

Why are we paying so much more at the store? Blame rising energy costs that make it more expensive to transport food and run a farm; spiking corn prices that inflate the cost of feeding animals we use for meat, eggs and dairy; and a run-up in what food manufacturers pay for wheat, soy and corn sweeteners, the main ingredients in bread, cereals and most processed foods on your grocers' shelves.

One family slashed their eating-out budget and planned their darndest to keep within their budget and scheduled meals.  Another family stopped frequenting all their favorite speciality food shops, opting - instead - to one-stop shop, saving on time and gas and impulse purchases.  The third family, raising two teenage sons, became masters at finding steals and deals, scoring enough milk for the boys' gallon-a-day needs and cheese or fruit for their constant appetite.  And the last family tightened their belts even tighter and focused on from-scratch cooking.

These days, we're talking about tightening belts, but we're also talking about lower-sugar, less processed cereal, peanut butter, and bread.  How do we balance the food budget with all these factors in play?  What is your family's weekly food budget?  What are tips and tricks to keep you within budget?

This Mama loves JIF

In light of all our sharing about favorite bread, O's, and about our ziploc-reuse habits, I thought I'd share with you my peanut butter problem: This mama loves JIF.  That's right.  I love that sinfully homogenous thick stuff, made of "roasted peanuts, sugar, molasses, fully hydrogenated vegetable oils, and salt."

I ought to know more about this stuff that I'm putting into my body daily by the spoonful, but I haven't done the research or given it much thought.  Do you stock nut butter in the house?  What kind?  What factors into your choice of nut butters?

Your preferred "O"?

We're pretty sure that most of our households have consumed some variety of the "O", Cheerios, Trader Joe's Oh's, Kashi's Heart to Heart, and there are so many others.  While traditionally a breakfast item, these cereal items are toted in our bags and the kids bags as snacks, meals, and everything in between.

What O's do you stock in your household?  What do you look for in an O?  Price?  Does nutritional content vary widely from product to product?

The best sliced bread

Sliced bread is a great thing.  Our household does toast for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch and munch on it on many points in between.  BUT, when it comes to picking good, wholesome, affordable breads, I'm curious how you choose?  At the store, a wall full of packaged bread is overwhelming. 

A friend once told me that the rules of 3s apply to bread: no more than 3 grams of fat, at least 3 grams of protein, and at least 3 grams of dietary fiber.  I would add that we shouldn't have to spend over $3 for a loaf of sliced bread. 

What's the difference?  What do you look for?  Doyou grab and go or do you compare ingredient lists?  Do you go local over all else?  Lower carb?  Lower cost?  Any go-to brands that you always pick up?

Vegan Support

I am sure there are a plethora of resources that chose the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle in Portland, from preschool options to grocery stores dedicated to that choice.  Diana who is entering this realm is seeking those who can provide information and / or interested in sharing support.  She writes:

I've recently become a vegetarian (working toward vegan) and am hoping to incorporate the diet slowly for my kiddos as well. I was wondering if there are any other families that might want to get together to be supportive and discuss ideas, or is ther a good resource that other families have used for information on being vegetarian/vegan families. If not I'd like to start some sort of group. Do any of the local vegan grocery stores have classes or groups? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Holiday Cookies: Share Some of Your Favorites

The other day, my husband gently nudged me to host a cookie exchange so he could dust off his rolling pin.  When we would spend the holidays with our families in the Midwest, we would indulge in the once-a-year favorites such as Baklava and Banket. I'm not sure of the tradition of baklava, but Banket is one of those tasty Dutch pastries that my mother-in-law loves to bake.  His grandparents were Dutch immigrants.  It was also that time of the year to make Peanut Butter Kisses, Sugar Cookies, and of course the Gingerbread People. 

Since I'm right on schedule (sent out the email invite four days ago, and the exchange is tomorrow) I need some ideas on some great holiday cookies.  I got the ix-nay on the Pecan Sandies - they didn't quite meet holiday muster according to the resident cookie authority. Biscotti was also met with a lukewarm response.  Do you have suggestions for terrific holiday cookies that would pass the scrutiny of our family cookie-snob?  Do you have any family favorites and ethnic cookie recipes?  Lastly, as I'm always looking for ways to streamline the cookie exchange, how do you go about hosting yours?

Entertaining the Foodie Visitors

In recent weeks (months, years), we've had the pleasure of hosting friends and family who hail from our hometowns of San Francisco and New York.  We've always been fond of eating out, and I find that there is no shortage of deliciousness to be had here in Portland.  Even when we can't always manage to eat out, we still stay on top of the Portland gastronomy via our favorite Portland food blogs.

Of course, when we're entertaining out-of-towners, part of the purpose is to have them spend time with our girls.  And, we are often inclined to eat out, even though we rarely now eat out with the girls since it's just that much more fun to make a big home-cooked meal and entertain at home.  (Plus, the cost!)

So, where to go?  There's "kid-friendly" with ample high chair stock and kid menus, but there's also "kid-welcoming" with staff who go out of their way to make the kids comfortable, quickly fed, and happy. For us, the key to enjoying dining out with the girls is to pick a spot where there is: 1) room to wiggle and spread out tons of paper for drawing, 2) attentive staff who understand that the kids' patience runs a bit shorter than the adults', 3) food and drink choices to make both the kids and adults happy, 4) an ambiance that allows for kids to make the noises that they make at the volume that they do, and 5) as little wait as possible.

Some of our great successes have been:

Gino's.  Seeing as we live in Overlook and Gino's is in Sellwood, we find Gino's to be a bit further of an excursion.  Still, it's great Italian food, and what kid doesn't love Italian?  My girls could certainly eat the stuff day in, day out.  The best thing about Gino's is that they immediately bring the kids individual platters of apples, cheese, and crackers.  That is quick attention.

Nostrana. They don't take reservations unless your party is 6 or more, so try to score a reservation with a larger group. Waiting with hungry kids is not often a good idea. It appears that Nostrana knows that hungry kids are not happy kids because, like Gino's, they whisk out individual plates for the kids with cheese, apples, raisins, and this lovely, lovely nutella-esque dallop for dipping. The atmosphere is bustling and busy, so I don't mind if our kids are equally bustly or busy. They blend. A table near the front door on a nice days allows bigger kids to go play out on the patio once they're done nibbling.

Pause. This one is a new neighborhood joint, and the only link I could find to it was in BarFly. It should be noted, however, that it's not just a bar, it's really a full restaurant, something like a kid-friendly tavern or pub. What I loved about Pause and why I include it here, is that they immediately asked "what can I bring the kids?", like seriously at the moment we sat down. They offered butter noodles on-the-house. Sometimes, free butter noodles are the antidote for the hungry kids at 6pm.

We know lots of families who love Laurelwood (who wouldn't?), but the wait is often unbearable. Plus, we sometimes want something different than pub grub.

Mamabee just emailed:

Okay, so my foodie family is coming to town and usually that means big dinners at Portland's finest dining establishments.  Now I have a beautiful little two month old, I am rather clueless as to where to go.  What nice restaurants in town are cool with a quiet 2 month old?  What about breastfeeding?  Is it totally uncouth to nurse my little one under a shawl?  Any suggestions?

Where have you had success with a nice dinner that pleased the adults AND the kids?  Any establishments that you would avoid?

Seeking Baby-Friendly Restaurants

Mamas, where have you gone with the little itty-bitty baby to enjoy dinner out?  Liz emails:

I have an 11 week old and the husband and I are trying to take advantage of this time when she is still portable to eat out – what are some baby friendly restaurants around town? We have been to Screen Door a few times and since it is very noisy in there, no one ever seems to notice if she cries – BUT no changing table in the bathrooms so I improvised and changed her on the benches outside. Any other favorites for urbanMamas that get sick of being cooped up in the house?

Bringing Healthy Food to the Classrooms

Meg poses an interesting question and seeks some wisdom from urbanMamas:

I am a high school teacher and I teach a course called environmental issues.  As part of the on-going guiding question of “How do you impact the environment and how can this be measured?” I wanted to do a weekly bit on healthy eating; healthy for the planet and healthy for the student.  My idea was to get a local farm or grocery store to donate organic fruit that was all locally grown.  I approached my administration with this idea and was told that I could only serve prepackaged food in class…. In other words, soda, chips, pizza, doughnuts, candy are all a-ok, but not organic fruit.  What are your experiences with what is acceptable to serve in the public school classroom?  Are there any loopholes I could squeeze through?  I know I can’t cook anything, but I thought raw foods were ok.  What would be the best way to go about changing this policy in a time efficient manner?  Lastly, does anyone have any connections with Washington County organic farms just in case I get this off the ground?

Finally: Water & Juice in a box

Thank you so much Leah for passing on this most excellent info!

"I have looked for 4 years for a juice box I can live with.  The average juice box for kids has as much sugar and as many calories as a soda.  I bought the smaller size which helped.  I bought the refillable tupperware containers that are shaped like juice boxes, but I still wished for the simple answer. And, today, I found it.   At Target.  Tthere is now "Motts for Tots"....it is juice plus purified water, which is what our pediatrician had always reccomended: cutting the juice in half with water.  Anyway, I bought 4 cases of it.  It's finally here.  Cheers!"

It's raining plums!

Fruit is ripening on the trees of Portland and dropping on the ground in buckets.  We're going plummy!  Through my neighborhood yahoo group, I found about: the Neighborhood Fruit Tree Project and they are hosting Harvesting Parties that begin this Saturday!  You can sign up for a Harvesting Party in your area.  They'll be picking in a different part of town every Saturday through mid-September. As a Harvesting Volunteer you can take home free fruit and help make fresh food available to those who need it most...A portion of each harvest will be donated to a local food pantry.

To sign up, please call 503-939-4914, or send an email to fruitproject@gmail.com and you will receive the address for our meeting site and other details when you sign up.

Harvesting Party Schedule:

• Saturday, August 4th, 10am - 1pm, Inner SE Portland
• Saturday, August 11, 10am - 1pm, N/NE Portland
• Saturday, August 18th, 10am - 1pm, Outer SE Lents Neighborhood
• Saturday, August 25th, Time & Location TBA
• Saturday, September 1st, Time & Location TBA
• Saturday, September 8st, Time & Locaiton TBA

For more information, contact Katy Kolker at the Portland Fruit Tree Project: fruitproject@gmail.com or 503 939 4914.

"Empowering  neighbors to share in the bounty and care of urban fruit trees."

Do you S.I.G.G.?

What's with the hot new water bottles? At $20 a pop for a new liquid vessel, is it worth every penny? It is highly possible that the aluminum bottles (like SIGG bottles) are safer than those containing polycarbonates (like Nalgene bottles)". Studies show that a chemical in plastic may be dangerous even in the small amounts that seep from plastic bottles and food packaging.

So, have do you have SIGG bottles for yourself and family? Have you found an aluminum bottle lined with non-leeching product that is the SIGG alternative (i.e., more affordable)?

Share the Shopping Fun

Heading to the supermarket has never been more fun than finding those darling little pint-sized real-life-looking metal shopping carts.  My girls have loved, loved, loved them.  They feel so responsible and part of the marketing process when they get to push their own cart.

Not all supermarkets carry these treasures, and we have only stumbled upon them by chance.  Below is our list of markets where we have found the child-sized shopping carts.  Unfortunately, none of them are in our neighborhood!  So, it is a real treat when we do happen upon one of these markets:

Food Front Coop (NW) - Not only does Food Front have the little carts, but it's such a great community coop grocery.  Great selection of produce and I do love their bulk section.  Plus, it's a perfect place to grab drinks, wine, cheese, and other picnic items on our way out to a summer concert.

Whole Foods Market (NW) -  I know, I know - aka, "Whole Paycheck."  We will find ourselves at Whole Foods when we want some hot, fast food that will please each family member's palate.  Plus, they've got the carts!  Usually stored over in the corner behind customer service.

Wild Oats - Laurelhurst (NE) - Not sure why one Wild Oats would have the prized carts, while another Wild Oats location didn't.  When we were living in the NE, we'd sometimes come to the Laurelhurst Wild Oats where they had the carts, even though the Fremont Wild Oats location was more convenient (but they didn't have the carts!).

Anyone else have kids who love to push carts their own size at the supermarket?  Where'd ya find 'em?  Do share, do share!

Feeding a 6mo when he 'hates' solids

Oh, wise urbanMamas, can you share some of your experiences with introducing solids to your childrens' diets?  Vivian emails:

We're trying to transition into solid foods with my 6 mo son -- cereals, pureed fruits, etc. -- as it is definitely time and i notice that i sometimes have trouble keeping up with him in terms of supply and demand... one problem: he has decided that he categorically HATES all solid food.  This is not just 'eeewww, this is a weird texture' or something, he really flips, and this from one of the most mild-mannered little guys around.  It has gotten so that he clams up whenever he sees something approaching his mouth, even though we've tried to keep our attempts low-pressure and light-hearted. Normally, I'd be very into just letting him do it in his own time, but his doctor says he needs the extra iron, and I certainly need the help in feeding this little bottomless pit!  Has anyone encountered such things? do you recommend any really 'big winners' in the baby food department?  Or should I just work on really increasing my milk supply right now and waiting until he decides to make the step himself?  Thank you so much for any ideas at all!

Veggie Booty recalled in OR

If you have (or have had) a toddler, you've likely purchased your fair share of Roberts Veggie Booty, the kidlet green snack of choice. Be careful: Today's Oregonian says Oregon among 17 states for Veggie Booty contamination cases

6/28/2007, 4:13 p.m. PDT The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Veggie Booty Snack Food, a popular snack product, is being recalled nationwide due to reports of salmonella poisoning cases in Oregon and 16 other states possibly linked to the product.

All Veggie Booty Snack Food products are being recalled, according to the manufacturer, Robert's American Gourmet in Sea Cliff, N.Y.

At least 51 cases of salmonella poisoning have been identified nationally that are believed to be linked to the product, almost all are among toddlers or infants, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Seeking Babyfood Cookbooks, Recipes, Websites

More on  getting kids to eat fruits & veggies, especially in the earlier years, an urbanMama asks:

I am wondering if any mama's out there have come across any baby food cook books or websites that do a good job of combining veggies, proteins, good fats, whole grains, fiber, etc to maximize vitamins, fiber and all that.  I know its so important when starting solid foods to remember that they are not a replacement to breast milk but a supplement.  Pound for pound nothing can come close to the nutrition of breast milk of course.  I would love to find some ideas for creative recipes that help develop their little taste buds (combining nutritious with yummy to appeal to that sweet tooth most babies have, etc) and still have well rounded meals.

Are there any go-to favorites for kid-friendly cookbooks or websites, especially for early eaters?

Mommy & Me Cooking Classes

It's never too early to start nurturing love for cooking and crafting nutritious meals:

Hi, my name is Tami and I have a soon to be 5 year old that is very interested in cooking and baking. She loves Martha Stewart! I thought it would be fun to take a baking/cooking class together. Are there any "Mommy and Me" baking/cooking classes in Vancouver/Portland area that would meet our needs? I bought her an EasyBake Oven for Christmas but I think she has exceeded it's culinary limits. Thanks!

Git yer strawberries!

Before the blueberries, there are strawberries. Where do you go? Sauvie Island or elsewhere? Sarah emails:

I'm looking for recommendations for u-pick strawberries, preferably organic or minimally treated. we've been to Kruger's on Sauvie Island but I'm not sure of their pesticide policy... does anyone know or know of other good places to pick with kids?

Pregnancy-induced dairy intolerance

One week ago on the nose, which was (according to my calculations) day one of my third trimester, I suddenly got terrible heartburn. I almost never get heartburn, so at first I thought I was about to go into labor, or was struck with an awful pregnancy-related disease. But no: it was just heartburn.

The next day I finally started taking Tums (for some reason my addled pregnant brain is fearful of pharmaceuticals of any kind) after my OB's nurse said cheerfully, "you can take seven or eight a day no problem!" Once I'd downed eight without marked improvement, I made the connection between my consumption of dairy and the onset of symptoms. I stopped eating ice cream, milk, and cheese, and I was fine.

Here's the thing: dairy is more than just a food group for me. It makes up a good third of my diet most days, and eliminating it is not easy. Today even a bit of butter is causing symptoms. My friend-and-colleague Julie suggested I try Tofutti and Rice Dream (works for me). Any other suggestions? Has anyone else experienced this bizarre third-trimester-induced dairy intolerance? Any natural remedies for heartburn I may not have already tried (papaya enzymes, vinegar, almonds, raw apple, chamomile, mint tea, and black tea were all unsuccessful)?

New Seasons Pick Up Delivery Service

We've had several readers rave lately about being fans of New Seasons pick up / delivery service.  Is it really the better than sliced bread?  Any other happy shoppers?  Courtney's rave:

I am not sure if it is proper to rave about one of urbanMamas sponsors, but I wanted share how much I love New Seasons on-line shopping. I have shopped this way six times in the last three months and each time I like it more. I have a very active 2-year-old who wants to "help" at the store or only ride in the "car cart". Sometimes it is fun; sometimes it is not. After a particularly active shopping trip, I tried on-line. I have used the "pick up" option at Concordia (NE 33^rd) and Arbor Lodge (N Interstate). The pick up option is $4.99, delivery is $9.99. The first three orders I got free products (ice cream, jam, chips and salsa) that covered the cost of the service. The personal shoppers stick to the list, the produce and deli items look good, and the substitutions (if you want them) have been appropriate. It has made my life as a working mom less stressful.

The few glitches are usually mixes ups on my part. For example, bananas are an each item rather than by the pound. So my first order had one banana, a very nice banana, but just one. I might be the only person that doesn’t really know how much a pound or half pound is in bulk, but maybe not? Since I didn’t, it meant I got fewer raisins or yogurt covered pretzels than I thought I would. But now I know three-fourths of a pound is what we need. I don’t always remember to update the basket when adding or deleting an item (especially if using a past order). When I forget, I might get two of something or nothing of something else.

To get going, the best trick is to do "quick start". On your next trip to the store, give your phone number (account number) to the cashier before paying. This will upload everything you just bought into your account. Then sign up on line and get shopping. My small complaints mainly relate to the website configuration. First, you can only pick favorites one at a time, rather than an entire order. Second, favorites are organized alphabetically, while past orders and quick starts are in the grocery categories. I personally look for Bonnie Doone Big House White under wine, rather than ‘B’. I mentioned this to the customer service people and they took my comments to heart and will talk to the web people. All of the phone and in person service has been great.

Happy Shopping!

Sorting the Sweetness: Sugar, Stevia, or Splenda

When I first became pregnant with my first child, I decided to go out of my way to avoid Nutrasweet (Equal, Aspartame, etc).  I had stopped drinking diet drinks prior to becoming pregnant but occasionally ate a yogurt or other product that contained the artificial sweetener.  I noticed that each time I ingested the stuff, my head would "close" and I'd have a negative reaction.  I got a numb feeling in my head/ears and it would sound as if I was talking inside my head.  I didn't want anything that made my body react that way making it into my little one's system just as he was trying to form into a little guy.  Today, Splenda has been added to the mix.  Much like Nutrasweet, I have this gut feeling that it's been rushed to market too soon without the proper analysis of long term effects.  So my first instinct is to avoid it and also avoid letting my son consume it.

Why would this sweeteness thing be a difficult decision?  Well, to say the least, I have a horrible sweet tooth.  I LOVE candy, chocolate, sweets, and of course most of all, ice cream.  I thought at one point the artificial sweeteners would allow me the sweet flavor without all the calories.  Now, I know, that the answer is not in the sweetness but the choice of foods.  I prefer to snack now on sweet fruits and veggies (and occasionally some dark chocolate or a fluffy biscuit with honey on it).

Not surprisingly, the fruit did NOT fall far from the tree.  My little guy is almost 4 now, and pretty much hops out of bed asking for candy or chocolate.  We implemented a rule that he can't receive candy if he asks for it (just to try and cut down the requests).  It is up to mama and daddy's discretion when the sugar is to be doled out.  Especially challenging is trying to keep the soda drinks out of him (this is daddy's weakness, and when the stuff is around, it's just not fair to say that the kiddo can't have it 'because we said so').  So, when I saw this product on sale at Fred Meyer, I thought "wow, a sweet drink treat with no sugar in it!"  Because it was sweetened with Stevia, I assumed it was a safe alternative.  After all, stevia is just a plant extract, so it must be safe, right?  Right??

Well, my husband (the soda addict) raised a bit of a stink, saying who knows what stevia could do to our child.  Queue the mommy guilt.  Wow, did I just make a horrible choice here?  The FDA has at one point restricted it, later allowing it but not as an artificial sweetener.  Rather they term it as a "dietary supplement."  I know that our family is lucky in that we don't have any diabetes to battle, but in learning to make good food choices, do we draw the line at stevia, or do we allow it?  My instinct tells me it should be allowed, but I'm also trying to be sensitive to my husband's thoughts as well.  What about your family, do you just stick to the natural sources (honey, maple syrup, etc), or do you indulge in the sweet treats?  Does stevia meet your diet requirements or is it a no-no?

More on Quick Eats

Hope you enjoyed yesterday's FOODday feature on do-it-yourself freezable dinners (preferably with some friends over some wine). We've encountered a couple of other options to help you have a healthful dinner at the ready at all times:

Black Radish. Chef Heather is your personal chef who will handpick every menu from scratch - taking into consideration everything from the families likes & dislikes, to what type of diet they would like to be following, to whether or not they want all organic groceries! I have clients on a weekly rotation, bi-weekly rotation, monthly rotation or just the occasional service during busy times in their lives. Every meal package is custom-designed for each client around their specific dietary, palate, and lifestyle preferences. You can choose frozen or fresh meals so while some families prefer each meal fully cooked for quick reheating in the oven or microwave - like Lime Steak Fajitas w/Avocado Black Bean Salsa - once-a-month clients can pull a pan of handmade Black & White Enchiladas out of the freezer when they know they have a busy week ahead, and it eliminates the worry of "What's for Dinner"? Black Radish, a small one-woman business, has personal chef packages starting at $250. And, Chef Heather adds that Black Radish is offering a 15% discount on a 5X4 package for all urbanMamas who are new Black Radish clients.

Cooking Accomplished. Thank you, Leah, who shares her experiences with Cooking Accomplished: "I just returned from a trip to a meal assembly place; it was something that I had been interested in for a while - it sounded like a busy working mom's saving grace. I had seen ads for lots of places, but most get their meat and produce from Sysco or someplace equally uncharming. But I saw an article in the Oregonian's FOODday section and they talked about a boutique-style place called Cooking Accomplished. The article described it as the Whole Foods of meal assembly: organic veggies, wild salmon, premium meats, a fun menu, fresh herbs and the descriptors went on and on. I was sold. I went on their website and booked a session for today. Their prices were the same as the other chain places- which suprised me - and the whole experience was so different. First of all, the owner greeted me when I walked in. She and a partner got me set up. The place was lovely. There were fresh scones and a galette sliced for us to try. One woman was having wine. There was fresh coffee. The owner, Shelley, was friendly and helpful as i began to assemble my meals: empanadas, bocatini, wild salmon nicoise salad, turkey meatloaf, and several others. The owner is a chef and she opened about 9 months ago. She offers cooking classes as well and you could tell she loved her new gig. I chatted with the 4 other women who were also there assembling and it was just a nice experience. The food itself was really special: topshelf, so fresh, and I can't wait to eat it. Tonight we're having butternut squash and apple galette and carrot ginger soup. It is exactly what I was hoping to find, and it's independently owned to boot. It's right off of I-5 and making 6 lovely dinners plus stopping to have wine and snacks took me about 45 minutes."

Freezable Dinners: DIY?

We've had a number of discussions on freezable dinners in the past ( Dream Dinners, Vegetarian Meals Ready to Go, and Freezable Dinners).  A few weeks ago, several of the urbanMamas were invited to a DIY version, a fresher spin on the freezable dinner concept.  Danielle was working on a piece for the Oregonian (which should be in the FOODday section today).  We drank wine, assembled three tasty meals, drank wine, and took home enough to freeze and feed each of our brood.  The updated, adult-friendly macaroni and cheese didn't quite make it to the freezer and ended up being dinner the next day.  Nonetheless, the experience was inspirational and we'd love to hear great recipe ideas for freezable dinners that would make fantastic gifts for the second or third baby.  Have you been a part of a DIY freezable dinner exchange?  Do you have some great recipes for meals that freeze (and thaw) well?

Getting kids to eat fruits & veggies

I'd like to report that Project 'hide vitamins', the pancake episode was a smashing success!

I have a terrible time getting Everett to eat vegetables and Truman to eat fruit. For some reason, fruit straight-up in any guise seems yucky to Truman, though he'll eat a varied diet, happily munching on pita chips with cilantro-pecan dip or bites of my veggie-licious lentils. Everett, on the other hand, suspiciously reviews every dish for telltale signs of greenery or onions (though I've lately convinced him that spinach in chicken soup or noodles is great for his muscles). Still, the battle continues and often I'm left convincing myself that, after all, we're omnivores and the chicken and beef they'll happily eat has a few vitamins, at least.

Today I decided to renew my effort to hide fruits and veggies in their food. Recipe one: pancakes with carrot juice and mashed bananas. It was such a success that both plates were clean before the second pancake had even finished frying. Here's my recipe:

No Corn Syrup, please!

This Easter I'm hoping to keep things a little less sugar-y, much like other mamas.  Not Sugarless, but less sugar-y.  One idea that popped into my head was to make egg-shaped "popcorn balls" in different colors and hide those (inside of course) after they're wrapped in saran wrap.  I just can't seem to find a recipe for popcorn balls that doesn't involve Corn Syrup (either straight up or by way of marshmallows).  Does anyone know of such a recipe?  How about any other less-sweet Easter type snacks?  And as a note, my son won't eat eggs so as usual, I'll boil them, color them, hide them and then make deviled eggs when it's all said and done!

Best Drive Thru Coffee?

Have you found yourself in Anita's position where you need coffee and you're stuck in a car with a couple of sleeping kids?  She writes:

I often find myself leaving early to pick my son up from school so my daughter can get a decent nap in the car.  Once she falls asleep I pull over, whip out a book, and think, "Hmm, I sure could use a really good latte...or maybe a nice spicy chai..."  Alas, I am stuck in the car with a sleeping kid.  Are there any drive-thru places that will serve me something that's actually worth 4 bucks?  The few I've tried in the past have been terrible.  Anything on the east side between Killingsworth and Woodstock and 20th and 82nd could work for me.

Spud Search

Sometime in my second trimester and yesterday (for some reason), I was suddenly craving something very specific.  I really, really wanted a big fat baked potato stuffed with delicious things like butter, cheese, chili and perhaps a dollop of sour cream on top.  But seven months ago when I was craving a stuffed spud, my citysearch scan turned up nothing (except for steak houses - not what I was looking for).  So instead I bought some nice ungreen russet baking potatoes, some (organic) chili, butter, cheese and sour cream.  I "baked" the potato in the microwave (hardly a substitute, but what's a time-crunched mama to do?), dressed it accordingly, zapped it again once it was stacked, and then dug in with the mighty fervor of a pregnant/lactating mama who hadn't eaten in a whole 4 hours.

So does anyone know where I could go for a properly baked stuffed potato, in the event that I don't feel like preparing my own?  There must be an easier way to look for foods than just citysearch, certainly...  How do you pick your restaurants?

What Are You Craving?

As I was polishing off a bag of Cheddar Beer Kettle chips, it dawned on me that we are truly spoiled here in Portland.  All the raving about microbrews, wine, and boutique distilleries to our friends and family in the Midwest, I forget about the lovely food that's available.  Since moving here, we've drastically changed our preference for brands, replacing the clipped coupons from the Sunday paper with the invaluable Chinook Book .  My latest addiction is Carmen's Authentic Recipe Tortilla Chips (I doubt there's a better chip out there) paired with Emerald Valley Salsa and 3-Bean Dip.  I want to know what are your local favorites?  And for the record, no I'm not pregnant!

Keep Unhealthy Drinks out of PPS!

Before this school year started, all soft drinks, non-100% juices and sports drinks were removed from Portland Public Schools (PPS) vending machines.  Due to increasing concern about the epidemic of childhood obesity, PPS enacted a number of healthy changes to make the nutrition environment better in all schools.  Coke employees were kept informed of this process.

Now Coke is pressuring Portland Public Schools for making these healthy changes, even though PPS now has a policy dictating healthy vending machine options. Portland Public Schools should not be fined for doing the right thing for the health of our students!  We cannot allow Coke to dictate the sale of unhealthy beverages to our kids in our schools! Tell Coca-Cola Enterprises to leave Portland Public Schools alone! Coke should support PPS’ efforts to improve children’s health and respect PPS’ autonomy in deciding how to do that.

Call Matt Wilson, Coca-Cola Market Unit VP, 503-682-5107.  Join PPS Citizen Wellness Advisory Committee this Saturday to support PPS to keep kids healthy!

Portland Exposition Center
2060 North Marine Drive, Portland, OR 97217
February 3, 2007 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

The PPS Citizen Wellness Advisory Committee (WAC) invites you to join us in saying “Keep our vending machines healthy!”  At the Celebrate! PPS event, visit the WAC booth # 134 to call Coke or sign a petition to voice your support of PPS’ beverage changes. Let’s keep liquid candy out of our students’ hands. For more information, please contact Sara Leverette, Chair of the PPS Citizen Wellness Advisory Committee at 503-381-0821 or saraleverette@gmail.com.

Who needs resolutions, I want chocolate!

I know, I know, I really shouldn't be posting this right after the holiday season.  It looks like the baby weight I'm carrying around is just going to have to stick with me for a while.  All the same, I'm constantly craving sweet things!  I blame the fact that I'm nursing (it can account for the extra weight too -- how handy!).  Anyhow, I was desperate for some chocolate pudding and I only have a few pantry ingredients around so I searched and searched for an easy recipe, and what I found was Hasty Chocolate Pudding on Allrecipes.  Don't believe them when they say it takes 10 mins of cook time.  Took me 6 mins MAX, and the prep time was just as quick.  From zero to pudding in 12 minutes, not bad!  And for some interesting ideas on enhancing flavor (which I thought didn't need much enhancement, personally) be sure to read through some of the reviews.  My favorite review recommendation was pouring the cooked pudding into popsicle molds.  Yum Yum Pudding Pops! 

Nice Cubes are In!

It was less than a year ago that we caught wind of Nice Cubes developing recipes and testing for its new organic frozen baby foods. Nice Cubes have been at markets now for a little while, and urbanMama Dianna wanted to share her praise of Nice Cubes:

Hi there! I am a local Mom who lives in the Pearl but wasn't sure where to send this. But, I have been using the organic Nice Cubes from Whole Foods (and I think now at New Season's, too) for my 8 month old, and they are just terrific! They are frozen organic baby food. They come in non-plastic microwaveable portions, and my boy much prefers them to the organic jar food that we were using before. I just wanted to pass on the word!!

Has your toddler tried Nice Cubes? What's his or her verdict?

I Heart Sip and Kranz

For many years I lived in Boston trying to become a rock star.  To make ends meet, I had a job delivering art to Manhattan galleries once a week. We would fire up the truck at 4 am, deliver to all the hip galleries in town and double park a lot, hit a “Ray’s Pizza” for lunch, and make it back to bean town around 10 pm for a couple of beers at Foley’s.

The job made for a long day but I enjoyed the opportunity to soak in NYC once a week. The galleries we served and much of the art we delivered were models of modern design.  Modernism - its simplification of form- has always captivated me but part of my admiration is no doubt based on my inability to ever be that unadorned in style.

Like it or not, my sense of style bounces between hippie and grunge (thus I always have an excuse to be unkept). I am much too cluttered in thought and deed to ever inhabit any structure found in the pages of dwell (even though I subscribed to the magazine for many years). Regardless I remain captivated by crisp, clean lines, and the fact that white comes in more than one shade. Which explains in part why my new crush in the world of kid-friendly cafes is Sip and Kranz.

What will you find there? Wonderful modern atmosphere, tasty, affordable and simple cafe fare (salads, sandwiches, etc.), good coffee, beer and wine, free wi fi, and a glass-enclosed play area for the kids - so you can watch your kids with the volume off.  Other than my desire to tear the BIG SCREEN TV out of play area, my only complaint is that I can’t walk there.

All said, I could easily spend an entire day at Sip and Kranz imbibing coffee and counting the different shades of white. Hopefully they will never enforce a dress code.

Sip and Kranz is located at 901 NW 10th Avenue in Portland near Jamison Square.

Piggy Platter - The Solution?

As soon as my second son was old enough to sit in a booster at the dinner table, I was more than happy to pass on his high chair to my sister. Frankly, I’ve never been a fan of high chairs. It always seemed I spent more time cleaning the crumbs from the crevices than feeding my kids. In 0.25 seconds, the cheerios and crackers would end up pulverized to mere crumbs, of course congregating under the pad of the high chair. What I thought was being eaten up by my little goblin, always seemed to magically end up under his seat. The worst culprits mashed bananas, rice and couscous.  A friend mentioned that she even found herself using a toothpick to clean out the crevices.  Hearing that, I knew I made a good decision to do away with what some would find essential baby gear.

While switching to a booster solved some problems, it didn’t really address the problem of the mess. It seems though a local Portland mama came up with an ingenious solution – the Piggy Platter.  Lindy came up with the idea over a bowl of deliciously sticky oatmeal that her two-year-old son was spreading into every nook and cranny of their wood dining room table. How cool is that?  It’s also good to know that 10% of all profits are donated to Feed the Children.

I’m curious, how you combat the messiness of mealtimes? Do you take proactive steps to avoid foods that create the most mess?

Frozen organic baby food in PDX

I really wanted to just feed my son freshly pureed organic food when he was a wee babe starting on solids. I tried, I really did. But no matter what I did, he didn't like what mama was making and I was frustrated by the whole experience (and yes, I did try some at least 10-15 times to see if he would eventually like it...no dice...he preferred the jarred stuff).

Now two new companies are offering frozen organic baby food in Portland: Happy Baby and Nice Cubes. Both are available at New Seasons, and Nice Cubes is available also at Whole Foods and Food Front Coop. Nice Cubes is developed by a local mama, and I happen to know there is another local mama developing a cool home delivery service of fresh organic baby food. I can't wait! If any mamas or papas out there has tried Happy Baby or Nice Cubes out, please let us know what you think!

From Formula to Food

Ahh... the introduction of solid food to a baby's diet. Another chapter in one's life begins! Meliah is seeking your insight:

Aurelia (my five month old daughter) and I are nearing the time for transitioning to formula and foods. I have a few specific questions involving the process. I am considering using organic formula but am wondering if formula is one of the foods that there is a marked difference in the organic and non-organic versions. Does anyone have any knowledge, information or experience to share about this? Also, what is the difference, if there is one, between single grain rice cereal and whole grain rice cereal? Any feedback would be much appreciated!

Vegetarian Meals Ready To Go

Lisa recently emailed us a question regarding vegetarian-friendly meals ready to go.  If it doesn't exist, seems like a great mama-praneur opportunity?!?

Does anyone know of an all vegetarian or very vegetarian friendly meal prep business in Portland? The ones I have come across (Dream Dinners and Dinner Voila) are meat oriented and, while some say you can substitute and make entrees vegetarian, I am looking for something more intentionally for vegetarians (preferably with organize, local produce, etc...). If you're not familiar with the concept, though I'm sure you are, someone else plans the entrees, buys the food and preps it, and you get all the glory of putting it together in a group kitchen that someone else cleans - all for a price, of course. Thought urbanMamas would be a good forum to ask this question.

What's for lunch?

Even though we've only been back to school for just about a month, I feel like I'm already tapped out for lunch box ideas. I was surprised when Philly told me one of her classmates brought Skittles in his lunch and another friend brought Doritos. Ack! (I was also surprised when she was given Sunbursts after her first music class last Saturday. I politely asked the music instructor to please not offer our little sweetheart any candy treats, no matter how wonderful she was! Her daddy and I are considering bringing our own incentives for her - maybe a sticker or bouncy ball?)

Back to the lunch situation... Now we're heading into cold and flu seasons, and I really, really, really want Philly to eat more diversified foods and get more essential vitamins and minerals from her diet. I really, really, really want Philly to eat fewer processed (or just minimally-processed) foods. My old standbys include: (lightly salted, unsweetened, creamy) Trader Joe's peanut butter on wheat bread, some scrambled eggs on rice in the thermos, leftovers from dinner (maybe ravioli, tortellini, chicken with rice and peas), carrot sticks with peanut butter for dipping, granola.

What are some easy but nutritious lunch box ideas? Especially for the picky eaters? Any really compelling books that get not-so-little ones (she's SIX!) to try new things? If you're packing lunches for your kids, what's in 'em?!?

Crock it up

Year after year, when this delicious autumn season comes around, I think to myself, "I should get a crock pot."  For years, I have been completely freaked about the notion of keeping an appliance on ALL DAY at home, while we're all out.  What if we start a grease fire?  And the house burns down?  This is a strange problem I have been dealing with for years, despite the many friends who have told me time and time again that they loved loved LOVED their slow cookers, how easy and versatile it was.  Still, I resisted, and just resorted to making my pot roasts and other slow-cooking goodies on Sundays when we were home all day (like today).

Anyway, I finally gave in.  Well, mentally, I did.  With the sale last week at Freddy's on a great crock pot, they were all sold-out.  It was very sad.  I am still prepared.  I have: 5 lbs of potatoes (some red, some sweet, some creamy teeny ones), stalks upon stalks of celery, lots of fat vidalia onions, maybe 7 lbs or so of carrots.  I have my rain check, so I'll have to go out of my way yet again to claim my prized crock pot.

So, what are all those easy recipes for my new appliance?  Is it as wonderful as you all tell me it will be?  Should I be drooling now?  Will my fall-time dinners be N times more scrumptious and N times more easy?

Coldstone Creamery's Free Ice Cream Treat

Just wanted to share the good news about ice cream this Thursday!:

World’s Largest Ice Cream Social. Cold Stone Creamery customers receive a free serving of Cole’s Creation - chocolate ice cream with yellow cake, chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles – during this event. Participants are encouraged to make a donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation. 5 to 8 pm. Find the nearest Cold Stone Creamery at www.coldstonecreamery.com. The closest one to me is SW Scholls Ferry near SW 125th.  I'm in Beaverton, but I'm sure there are lots of them elsewhere....

What do you do with Broccoli Rabe?

Kind of embarrassing to admit... we don't eat near enough vegis as a family.  I eat too many carbs, aside from it not being healthy, it doesn't help me in my quest to slim down.  We like salads, but I am interested in exploring other ways to incorporate vegis into our diet.  There are so many beautiful looking vegis out there and I find them kind of intimidating.

So, what do you with Kale? Squash? (or whatever other delicious vegi you and your family love?)  How do you cook it, what goes good with it??

Thanks for your help.

IN CHAINS

Between managing the store, family life, and just plain life we end up eating out WAY more than we really should (or can afford for that matter!).

Although we have always been committed to local businesses, once we opened our store and learned what it takes to run a family-business we REALLY focused on only shopping, eating and drinking at local  establishments. BUT we STILL fall off the wagon sometimes.

When it comes to cheap, quick meals, here are our chains of love:

Burgerville - Tasty, cheap and most importantly they only serve Oregon Country Beef. Since I read Fast Food Nation a few years ago, we don't touch any beef that isn't certified as vegetarian feed and natural by a trusted third party - in this case the Food Alliance and others. We aren't ready for vegetarian life and we don't put our trust into the USDA  - one reason is that their standard for "free-range" is that a chicken coop door is open for at least 5 minutes a day, how free is that?   Sorry, I am getting off-topic...

Marinepolis Sushi Land - Fast, cheap, and out of control...Mila loves the conveyor belt and her sushi!  She once plowed through six plates of shrimp rolls in a single sitting - I was absolutely dumbstruck...

Sweet Tomatoes in Beaverton - An very affordable, fresh, and tasty salad and soup buffet that has a great selection of vegetables, soups, breads, and more. Since it is just off 26, this is a standard stop for us going to or coming from the coast.

What chains sp