Strawberry Panzanella

I was recently faced with a new predicament: finding ways to use up fresh produce from my garden. You see, we didn't have any fruits or veggies planted at our old home -- partly because I have a bit of a black thumb, and partly because our yard was so shady that there wasn't much I could grow.

But now I'm in my new home, which came complete with raised garden beds, a potting shed, and an antique water pump. I am feeling wholly incompetent at gardening but also blessed with the bounty that was left behind -- especially our current crop of ripe red strawberries, which I literally didn't touch but just came up in June like they're supposed to.

Don't worry, everyone who is gasping in shock at my incompetence: I ordered The Fruit Gardener's Bible and The Vegetable Gardener's Bible from Amazon and plan to spend the winter studying how to not be a total idiot when it comes to gardening.

Meanwhile, I (a strawberry lover) am having trouble coming up with enough uses for our berry crop; my husband recently discovered he's allergic. So when it came time to bring a dish to a Father's Day potluck, I decided to "think strawberry" and whipped up this "salad." (Who doesn't love a "salad" that's actually a dessert? Hello, "Snickers Salad." Amazeballs.) This dish is simple to make, and it was definitely a hit with my strawberry-friendly family members.

STRAWBERRY PANZANELLA SALAD

1 12" baguette (I like South Union), torn or cut into bite-sized pieces
1 to 2 pints of fresh hulled strawberries, cut into bite-sized pieces
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
olive oil
2 T. balsamic vinegar
3 T. honey

Preheat oven to 350. Toss the torn bread in 3-4 T. olive oil and spread on rimmed baking sheet. Bake appx. 20 minutes or until croutons are almost completely golden brown. Allow croutons to cool completely.

In a small bowl, whisk together appx. 1/4 c. olive oil with the balsamic and honey. In a separate, large bowl, toss together the croutons, strawberries, and goat cheese. Top with dressing. Allow the salad to chill appx. 30 minutes before serving.

Important moments in the day of a toddler

Had to share this fabulous poetry about parenting a toddler from Alice at Denali Parent Coaching. The last item was especially essential for me today as I struggled through the second morning in a row of a separation tantrum while another parent snuck out of the room when his child wasn't looking.

Important moments in the day of a toddler...

• Choice! Between which shirt they want to wear, whether they get carried or hold your hand, if they want the blue cup or the red cup, if they want to finish their book before you change their diaper. The more we can give them choices, and then respect the choice they make, the more we are supporting their growth as self-directed, capable beings. Simple...most of the time:-)
  
• Saying "NO!" And being heard...and respected. Respect can mean going with their NO; respect can mean acknowledging their NO and still moving ahead with what needs to happen--gently, firmly, kindly
  
• Lengthy, uninterrupted time to explore--to practice over and over climbing up and down the stairs, to figure out just how many items can fit in the empty oatmeal container, to dump and fill and dump again, to discover what happens when they try to drink from the end of the hose. What a gift to our toddlers when we can give them the time and space to explore their world in just the way they need!
  
• Eating! The freedom to use their hands, to work with a spoon, to squish and spit and drop on the floor. A time for them to be in charge of their bodies--what they want to put in, what they'd much rather keep out; a time for conversation as we talk about what they are eating, describe what they can do--"You scooped your berries with your spoon!" and respect when they feel done. Totally supportive of their growing independent, in charge of themselves souls
  
• Sleep...quiet time, a time they often seek our laps, our arms, and soak up our one-on-one time reading and singing softly to them. And maybe a time they work hard at preventing--and your gentle, firm, kind presence creates the safe place to be mad and still settle...tear streaked cheeks and all
  
• Diaper changes, baths, care for their bodies--these are amazing times for connection, for learning as you offer choices, talk about what is happening, give the time and space for them to explore the lint in their belly button, to toddle away naked inviting you to a chase game, to figuring out how to squish a wash cloth and use it to clean their toes
  
• Separating from you--a celebration of their growing independence that can be met with pushing you away, alligator tears as you say good bye, or total ignorance of your leaving (to just tantrum when you return!). In order to respect their growing understanding that you will come back, to support their growing confidence that they can be apart from you--we have to say good bye...kindly, gently, and once. No lingering, please, and no sneaking away. Communicating your confidence that they will be safe and content is done by respectfully letting them know you are leaving, giving them their hug and kiss, and then...leaving. Tough at times

These are moments in every toddler's day that we can welcome as the simple yet rich learning experiences they are. Now we can relax into them, be present through out them, and feel certain we are growing a little one who can be confident, capable, curious, in charge--how awesome is that?!

This was shared by the wonderful Janet Lansbury on Facebook via Denali Parent Coaching.

Weelicious Ham & Cheese Muffins

I've always loved to cook, but you probably would never describe my style as "kid friendly." Now that I have a toddler, I am constantly on a quest to find breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes our whole family will enjoy. I, a total Pinterest loser, even started a 'board' to collect ideas. One of the recipes I decided to try this weekend was Weelicious' ham and cheese muffins, a great breakfast or snack item that can be kept in the freezer and warmed up for an easy weekday breakfast.

Here's the recipe, slightly modified from the original Weelicious version:

HAM & CHEESE MUFFINS

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 T. maple syrup
1 T. honey
1 c. shredded or chopped cheese (I used American)
1 c. ham, chopped fine

Preheat oven to 350 and grease two muffin tins. Combine the first five dry ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, maple syrup, and honey to combine, then stir in the buttermilk.

Add the wet mix to the dry mix and stir until just combined. Fold in the ham and cheese, then scoop the batter in to muffin cups (filled about 2/3 of the way) and bake 18-20 mins.

So, what's your favorite kid-friendly recipe?