Kitchen Endeavors

(In this post I share two spinach recipes that my family and I have been enjoying recently. I also share a cooking tip)

I’ve been wanting to find a way for my daughters to eat spinach in a way that wasn’t dangerous to them. I find that it could be difficult, even for myself, to eat sautéed or welted spinach. So I’m usually afraid of having them eat spinach even when I cut it up real small.

But thankfully, I came across this YouTube video by a fellow mommy where she shares three spinach recipes that she uses for her baby: https://youtu.be/F4UYEgi1998

I’ve tried the first two recipes which are the spinach pancakes and the spinach basil pasta sauce. They’re so delicious! & my daughters are enjoying them. The recipes in the video served as a springboard of inspiration to recreate my own recipes.

I’d like to share my recipes with you, in hopes that it could inspire you to create your own. Although, you are more than welcome to use mine. 😊

Spinach Pancakes

The ingredients that I have used to make these are (along with very rough measurements):

•1/2 cup of oats

•1/2 cup of milk

•1 egg

•3 tablespoons of plain Greek Yogurt

•2 or 3 tablespoons of chia seeds

•About 1/8 tsp of baking soda

•About 1/8 tsp baking powder

•Pinch of Salt

•Cinnamon

•Nutmeg

•& (I almost forgot lol) a handful of spinach

•You can also add vanilla extract and maple syrup if you’d like

I add all these ingredients in my liquid measuring cup and use my immersion blender to blend it all together. Depending on the consistency, I’ll either add milk or oats to thicken or thin the batter.

I let it sit for a few minutes before using the batter to let it thicken. Once I am ready to cook the pancakes, I use my 1/4 or 1/3 measuring cup and add it to the pan on a low heat (I add butter or olive oil to the pan, adding oil in between each batch).

When I see the air bubbles forming on the top, I then use my spatula to check if it’s ready to flip and cook the other side for a few more minutes.

I find that the first two or three pancakes don’t come out as thick as the rest of them. Perhaps letting them sit longer may help. But yes, the rest of them come out so spongy. 😋

We have been eating this one almost everyday now for breakfast.

Spinach Basil Pasta Sauce

Our plates from today. 😊

I’ve made this one a couple of times already. For this sauce I blended steamed cauliflower, spinach, milk, salt, and Italian seasoning. I added cauliflower to help thicken the sauce to my liking and also to add more veggies to the meal. I’ve also added my beloved Greek Yogurt or butter on other occasions. Then, I topped the pasta with a meat sauce I made.

My whole family has enjoyed this one. & I look forward to making it again for them real soon.

I also wanted to share a “kitchen hack”. I don’t know how innovative this might be for others but it is something I just discovered and started doing. I used to feel overwhelmed by the amount of stock I’d cook and didn’t know where or how to store it in a way that would be accesible without it going bad if I didn’t use it right away. So I’m really happy to have made this discovery. What I have been doing freezing my chicken broth in ice trays. I use a “flavor cube” (or more) when I want to add flavor to any food such as rice.

I’ve also blended and frozen a mixture of tomatoes, red pepper, white onion, and garlic. This helps to add flavor to food as well.

So, that is what I have been up to these past few days in my kitchen.

What have you been up to? Have you made any new discoveries in your kitchen/cooking? Let me know if you have stored your stock this way before? Or if any of this was new or helpful. Feel free to share any cooking/kitchen tips that have been helpful to you. Thank you for reading! 😊

Our Cozyathon Wrap Up

Earlier this month, in my post: Connecting Through Book + Cozyathon, I shared my desire to participate in a readathon with my daughters in hopes to connect with them.

In this post I’d like to share some pictures and my overall thoughts in having participated in this readathon.

1. Read in a Coffee Shop or Tea Room

This was a fun moment with my daughter, Grace. We both really enjoyed ourselves. She had her jug of milk and I had a peppermint mocha coffee. It was such a delicious combination! We read about Daniel Tiger and his friends. I think it was one of my favorite days from this readathon. I look forward to going on more reading dates with my children.

9. Read a book with red or pink on it

10. Read a book with a sweet title

There’s our book with red in it and since we didn’t have a book with a sweet title, I decided to use this cozy pijama with a sweet picture on it in place of that challenge. Grace wore it while we read. 😊

3. Cake Shop Date: Read while eating cake or cookies

It was so fun to set up these moments for them. Here we had blueberry oatmeal cookies and milk. We read “On The Night You Were Born” by Nancy Tillman. This is a Spanish translation we have. It’s one that we really enjoy. The colors in this book are beautiful. I love the blue colors throughout it, so I thought it went well with our blueberry cookies.

13. Buddy Read a Book With Someone

Here are our buddies and our read. 😊

4. Movie Date: Read while eating popcorn

This was the first time I made stovetop popcorn. I realized after I made it that it probably wouldn’t be safe for my children so I did this one alone. Although, I chopped up some fruit for them while I ate popcorn and read “Villette” by Charlotte Bronte on my phone.

7. Stay at home date: Read while wrapped in a blanket

In this case, I found her wrapped in my sweater. It was so cute. I’m creating a little bookworm. 😮

As for myself, there were many evenings I found myself reading “Villette” while wrapped in my blanket.

All in all, this was such a fun and relaxed readathon to participate in. It was fun to include my daughters and find ways to complete our challenges. It really helped set the mood for coziness and lots of reading within our home.

My husband was also very supportive. We hung out a couple of nights and read, “The Sign of The Four” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while he played a video game. He also brought me a huge bar of chocolate. I didn’t get to read while eating chocolate but I did make black bean brownies. It was my first time making them.

For the challenge on reading a book about love or a relationship, I read the Book of Ruth in the Bible. I really enjoyed reading about Naomi and Ruth’s relationship. I learned a lot from Ruth’s loyalty and devotion to her mother in law. Another relationship that I was able to read (or listen to in my bible app) about was about Jonathan and David’s relationship. I really enjoyed learning about their intimate friendship.

I had also mentioned that we weren’t able to buy books at the moment so we were working with what we have. But thankfully, now that my husband is back to working, we were able to buy three books, which helps fulfill the last challenge about buying a bookish present. We bought three books for our daughters which they are both really enjoying.

One of them is about Caillou not using diapers anymore so it’s really inspiring Grace and Joy is learned to say, “Caillou!”

Those were some of the moments we enjoyed while participating in this readathon. It’s something that we may continue practicing especially during these colder months.

I would love to know if you participated or if there are any cozy things you like to do while reading. Thanks for reading about our Cozyathon experience. 😊

Taking Walks

Taking walks are a special thing for Matthew and I. We took plenty of walks as friends, while we were dating, as newlyweds without children, while pregnant with our first baby, and so on and on. When Matthew became increasingly ill, taking walks became a rare thing but we still tried. Now that he is better, I am excited to see the places we will go, as the weather and the Lord permits, of course.

Yesterday we went on a walk. I think it was our first long walk since Matthew’s recovery. The day was significantly warmer. It was in the 50s! It had been snowing and under 10 degrees for many weeks, so we finally got a chance to step outside as a family.

One of my favorite things about our walks are our conversations. We talked about our faith, how we were grateful for God’s mercy on us for healing both of us. Last year, I had suffered terribly with a skin condition and taking a walk, like we did yesterday, would have been extremely painful on my skin. I’m glad I can thank God in the little things now, like how the air touches my skin and how I don’t feel pain. Or how I can freely bend my joints without feeling the pain of cuts caused by the stretching of my dry skin.

We also made jokes, as always. We talked about our desires and aspirations for our family, like having more children, possibly having a house one day. He mentioned wanting to have a personal gym area somewhere in the back of the home. It’s fun to imagine what these things would be like and to talk about them with him but I’m grateful for where we are today and my desire is to continue to seek God and His righteousness.

This walk gave me a moment to connect with him while our daughters calmly strolled along with us. Since his recovery, he had been busy eagerly looking for a job and now that he has a job, we don’t see each other as much as when he was at home in bed all the time.

I mentioned to him that these kind of walks are therapeutic for me, mentally, because I think my skin benefits from soaking in some sun (although this day was cloudy), my lungs receive fresh air, & my eyes behold different sights.

Here’s one of the sites:

There was a parting in the sky, that we thought looked like a backwards J for Joy, our youngest daughter’s name. 😆

Our walk didn’t last as long as I would have liked because it was going to rain real soon. We actually felt some drops coming down as we made our way back. At this point, Joy had fallen asleep on my back in the carrier. By the time, we made it closer to home, I think the drops woke her up. 😆

Writing all this takes me back to taking walks around the city (our hometown NYC) by Nyack College or Times Square Church, Central Park, 5th Avenue, Astoria Park, Steinway, Ditmars Blvd, or Jackson Heights down 37th Avenue, or Broadway, down Hampton Street to the Queens Center Mall, or Northern Blvd. Our life has taken quite some detours and we have found ourselves even walking among scenic Amish community roads. Yesterday we found ourselves walking up Coshocton Avenue and down Yaguer Road. I wonder where will be walking next? 😆

I remember one time, on a very snowy NY day, when we were friends, we left school and he walked me to the place I was working at, at the time, and then home. I remember his black Vans covered in snow. His feet must have been wet and frozen. I kept telling myself that he would have done that for anyone, and he would. I just didn’t want to become too optimistic with the thought of him liking me.

I look forward to continue walking with Matthew well into our elderly years. ❤️

Preparing My Mind for Action

Yesterday was a hard day, mentally. Matthew was working all morning and I was home with the girls.

I’m not sure if it is that I’m adjusting to our new life where Matthew isn’t home as much as he was when he was ill. He was normally in bed all day and I could easily pop in the room whenever I wanted and talk to him.

Now, I’m on my own, in my own mind for hours. Not having active conversation except with my girls which can be rather tedious, at times. Especially with Grace, my three year old daughter, who, I think, is at a developmental age where she is trying to understand speech. What this looks like, is her asking a lot of questions about everything around her including every action I take. She wants to understand ALL that is going on. Which I am grateful for. She is very intelligent and learning rapidly but like I said, it is very tedious and requires a high measure of patience. I have to be grateful to the Lord that He has given me of His Spirit so I can constantly draw from this virtue. Shamefully, I haven’t been taken advantage of that which I hope will change.

Tomorrow will be another day where Matthew will be working all day. I want to prepare my mind for this. So, hopefully, I will wake up in the morning at around 5 AM and read my Bible.

Reading my Bible was so helpful to me this evening. I had truly been battling in my mind against many thoughts and my own desires. Something that really helped me was reading Romans 6, particularly the part where it says using our members as instruments unto righteousness:

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:12-13‬ ‭NASB‬‬

After reading this, I kept repeating in my mind and out loud that I wanted to use my members as instruments of righteousness to God. Grace was asking me, as always, when she sees me doing something unusual, “Que haces mamá?” (Mom, what are you doing?”). I explained to her that I was thinking about a teaching from God on using our body parts to do good for God. She didn’t really understand and was telling me she didn’t want to do that. 😆

But anyway, yes I want to use my body part as instruments of righteousness to God. So I thought about the different body parts like my hands, my arms, my feet, my legs, my mouth, my eyes, my ears etc. & how could use each of these things to work good for God and others, whereas normally I’d use these things to fulfill my own selfish desires.

I pray that as I stay home with my girls tomorrow, I will be stronger mentally. I believe I can accomplish this by renewing my mind as it says in Romans 12:

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NASB‬‬

http://bible.com/100/rom.12.1-2.nasb

Matthew had actually reminded me that I am usually much better emotionally and mentally when I am reading my bible and meditating on what I’m reading there, as opposed to navigating the internet which is what I was doing yesterday. I was trying to figure out what was going on with me. At the moment, I didn’t believe him but as I’m writing this, it makes so much sense. I’ll just read and girt up the loins of my mind so I can take on my day.

In Jesus Name. Amen!

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NASB‬‬

http://bible.com/100/1pe.1.13.nasb

Cabin Foolishness

How can I compile all that I have learned from what I observe in my children or how I have grown as a wife?

For example, last night, I could sense myself growing weary from being inside for so long. I haven’t been out with our daughters because it has been very cold. Usually, when I have been inside for so long I tend to get antsy and irritable towards my children and my husband. I don’t know if it is because of the lack of sun, or fresh air, or if I’m just being foolish in general. I’m sure it’s a mixture of all of those because I start to get angry at Matthew for not “working” hard enough to work things out so I can go out. That’s exactly what I was feeling last night.

It truly is foolish of me for even allowing myself to think that way because it is far from the truth. In fact, my husband has been working really hard. Recently, he started working again. (Praise God!) He had been earnestly looking for a job soon after experiencing relief from his Fibromyalgia. Finally, he found one at the McDonald’s right across the street from us. What a blessing! It’s been his first week there and he’s already had to do an overnight shift but he is completely grateful to the Lord for allowing him to feel strong again to work. & I am so thankful too!

But yea, last night I felt anger trying to creep up on me causing me to be bitter against my husband. It truly is crazy because as I sit down writing this; its 7 AM, it’s snowing, & my husband is at the store buying groceries for us after having gone to the gym earlier this morning. Just to give a little perspective, we don’t have a car so all our trips to the Walmart are by walking which we don’t mind but it does add a challenge. Thankfully, it is not as cold as it has been.

In general, he has been working really hard. He’s actually communicated to me to please be patient. His desire is to help us get back on our feet so that we can go out and enjoy being out together as a family. But first he wants to make sure everything is taken care of (financially and other things within the home). & the cold weather is not something that is in his control. So I want be patient and grateful. I know that he is working really hard to have everything in place so we can start enjoying life now that he has been basically healed. Many of our days, while his illness had been here at home so since he’s gotten better I’m so anxious to enjoy this new life. But again, I want to be patient. Lordwilling, that time will come.

A person who is dear to me, gently corrected me and reminded me that:

“The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:1‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Being angry at my husband because I haven’t been out is foolish. I want to be wise and build my home.

Newfound Energies and Hope

Matthew has been feeling the best I’ve ever seen him. Praise the Lord. I told Matthew that I don’t want to fall off the abyss of celebration just yet because I want to make sure that he is truly feeling better. We don’t doubt God’s power to heal him, but we want to make sure that that is what God is doing. 

Even if it happens to be that he’s just feeling good for a few moments then, I am grateful for that. However, it has been, thankfully, more than just a few moments. He’s been consistently feeling better for the past few days. 

A few things that he’s been doing now that he wouldn’t have been able to do before are: he’s been spending time outside of his bed like in the living room with me and playing with our daughters, he’s been seeking things to do around the home like throwing out the garbage, replacing the light bulbs etc. He’s also gone out to the supermarket and taken walks without coming home tired or in pain which would normally cause him to stay in bed, recovering for days. 

The only thing stopping him from being outside right now, is the cold and lack of gear lol. The other day, he ended up by the movie theatre (which is about a mile away?) after having stepped out for a moment and watched Thor Ragnarok. 😆

It’s been a blessing to see him look forward to all the things he wants to do should his health and strength continue to improve. He says he would like to return to school, get a job, go on long walks, go out with his family more, etc. I’m looking forward to all these things too. Again, praise the Lord.

*He also hasn’t been taking any glucose tablets 😯

(Matthew, my husband, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic illness, about two years ago, even though, he was experiencing symptoms longer than that such as hypoglycemia. Over the course of time, since his health complications started, he’s had to discontinue his service in the military, discontinue going to school, along with several other activities he was passionate about. Engaging in any kind physical exertion, light or heavy, would often leave him feeling very weak. Many of his days were spent in bed with pain, fatigue, and depression. After embarking on a rigorous diet, for the past few months now, Matthew has been experiencing serious relief. We are hoping as he continues to learn what to eat and reintroduces foods to his diet, that he may continue to experience relief.)