Review: Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs

Posted by Michele at 4:25 PM 0 comments

Originally posted here as Review: Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs on 3/20/13

***

I was contacted by the author of the children's book Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs and, although she didn't ask that I review the book, after downloading it and reading it just now (and then rereading it with Bobby), I wanted to pass along both a review and a special offer. Through today, you can download this book to your Kindle (or your phone with Kindle, if you are me) for free. That's right... a nearly $18 book for no charge. And, if you're like me, you'll decide that you need to own this book with its touching message and beautiful illustrations for the little ones in your life, and you'll go back and buy the print version. (It's the librarian in me... I actually need print books. Really.) I only wish we'd had this before I left for TN or Chicago, or before Peter went away on his business trip.

Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs

written by: Susan Schaefer Bernardo

illustrated by: Courtenay Fletcher

Copyright: Inner Flower Child Book, 2012

Click here for the hardcover book
Click here for the digital version, available free through 3/20.

***

This touching tale is a back-and-forth between a child and a beloved adult who are unable to be together. As the child misses their dear one, they are lovingly reminded of all the walls that they can be connected even when they are apart.

"The sun will catch your kiss and use light speed, to forward it right on to me."
"Love is in each sttar twinkling in space and every frostly snowflake licking your face."
"Each grain of sand means I'm in reach..."

The book ends with the a final message of hugs and kisses, telling the precious child "I'll always love you, Little One."

While I think that this book would have been a wonderful read for before (and during) the times Peter and I have been away from the kids, I also think it can be used to explain when someone has passed away. From a librarian's point of view, it was always difficult to find books that worked well to explain how, while death separates us it doesn't mean we can't be together in other ways, for smaller children. I found 2 or 3 that I kept on hand that used common images (like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly for instance) to explain death and leaving, but it wasn't easy to find things that explained and comforted without placating or being too cutesy to really help. And, especially with picture books and the under 6 years old crowd, it's a careful balance.

This book hits that balance. If a parent, grandparent, or sibling dies, it can be hard to explain to a young child that, although this person they love is no longer physically with them, there is still a way to connect: hug a tree and feel your loved one hugging you back, look up at the moon and see the smile of your dear one returned, kisses sliding from heaven down the rainbow. Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs strikes a delicate balance between being a cutesy read and a heartwarming story that both comforts and gives a smile to the little one reading it. Bobby loved it and restarted it (twice) on my phone; I have a feeling that Maya, who often talks about Nicholas, Sophia, and Alexander living in heaven, will also enjoy it.

Long story short, I highly recommend this book, for kids under 6, who either are dealing with a separation of some reason (long term like divorce or short term like a business trip or deployment) or for the death of someone close to them.


This review, in similar form, was also posted on Amazon.com, in the product link. No goods (other than the free Kindle download available to everyone through 3/20) was exchanged for this review.

Review: Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Posted by Michele at 4:18 PM 0 comments

Back when we were pretty much gluten free/dairy free to see if that diet would help Bobby, we stocked up on a variety of different items and brands.  While we didnt care for the Purely Elizabeth pancake/waffle mix at all, and the oatmeal cookies were more of a success with people outside our household, I decided today to try the box of chocolate chip cookie mix.  Gluten free and vegan, I thought I'd compare it to my own recipe.  I love mine waaayyy more, but these cookies weren't bad.

I followed the directions (1/2c oil, 1/4c applesauce, 1tbsp vanilla) and baked them at 350 for 12 minutes.  After cooling for 1 minute, I put them on wax paper to cool.

Because I'm me, I snuck a bite before they were cool and, honestly, I think the just-hot-enough-but-not-mouth-burning cookie tasted better than the cooled one, which had more of an earthy taste and less of the sweet, cookie taste you think of when you think chocolate chip cookie. 

In general, they weren't overly sweet and with their ingredients (millet and almond and garbanzo bean flours, and chia seeds), they are treats you can feel good about eating.  But if I wanted a chocolate chip cookie, I'd probably cook up a batch of my own.  If I just wanted a lightly sweet cookie that had the texture of an oatmeal cookie but the hint of chocolate chip, I'd bake these up again.  They are definitely something to share with the GF, vegan crowd in my life.

B+

(I was not compensated for this review, nor did I recieve any free products of any sort in return for this review.)

Asparagus Pasta with Saffron Sauce

Posted by Michele at 5:14 PM 0 comments

I initially found this recipe in Classic Vegetarian Cooking, on page 198.  I've modified it from time to time and it works well for two or for eight.  Serve it with some warm bread and a salad and it is divine.  For a lighter option, replace the heavy cream with half and half, or make only half the recipe for the sauce; the somen will soak it up and still be delicious!

Serves 4

1. Soak 1 pinch of real saffron in 2tbsp boiling water.

2. Wash 1 pound of asparagus and trim the tops off, slicing the stalks into small rounds and saving the tops (about 2 inches). 

3.  Melt 2tbsp butter over medium heat.  Add 2 diced shallots (or 2 small sweet onions) and saute until soft.  Add 2tbsp white wine, 1 cup heavy cream, and the saffron infusion.  Bring to a boil, reduce, and simmer gently until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon (around 5 min).  Add the juice of half a lemon and the zest of half a lemon, with 1tsp salt and 1tsp pepper.  (You may add more salt/pepper to taste when it is done).  Remove from heat.

4.  Bring a large pot of water to a bnoil and blanch the asparagus tips before removing them and adding them to the sauce.  Add the asparagus rounds and 1 cup peas to the boiling water and cook for 7 minutes or until tender.  Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the sauce.

5.  Cook 12oz somen noodles in the water for 3 minutes or until tender.  Drain.  Pour the sauce over the drained noodles.  Stir well to coat and sprinkle with grated parmesean cheese (optional) before serving.


***For a vegan alternative, use a nondairy butter like Earth Balance and Mimic Creme (a cashew and almond cream alternative) and remove the parm cheese at the end.

Review: Whitmor 12-Bin Organizer

Posted by Michele at 2:07 PM 0 comments

Whenever you write a review the really, really endorses an item, it sounds like you were paid to do it.  And, if you were paid, it sounds contrived.  I wasn't paid for this review, nor did I get anything in return for reviewing this item.  I actually bought it earlier in the week and I just really dig it.  So I thought I'd share.

I live under the false illusion that I am organized.  Of course, for months, my idea of living room organization (as it relates to the kids toys) is this Sterlite bin that I kept under the train table.  The kiddos would randomly (and not even to play with anything) dump it in the floor.  It drove me nuts.  But, it was easy enough to just throw all the trains, cars, tracks, etc in it when someone was coming over.  In spite of the fact that it was unorganized and didnt look all togethern neat... But hey!  Trains and cars (that REALLY hurt when you step on them) weren't in the floor, so I'm organized. 

Honestly, it got to the point this week (probably because a fair amount of my time is spent loving the couch) that the sound of the metal and wood and plastic crashing to the floor, the kids standing on the bin just for fun, and the all around lack of 'neat' look took me down.  I just couldnt take it anymore.  So I pulled up my trusted buddy, Amazon, and looked for some sort of storage.  I wasn't sure what I'd get but I needed something... I wanted the living room to look more organized (I mean, it's the twins' living room too, so I didnt want to banish their living room toys to the playroom because I couldnt deal) and I just wanted something that looked (and was) more organized.  Enter the bin system.

I looked at a few and, because I'm anal, read all the reviews and I opted to get the Whitmor.  At an Amazon price of $55 (retail listed as $90), it was cheaper than all the other bin organizers and it had the best reviews (4 out of 5 stars).  I even opted, with my Prime, to overnight it for $4 because I.WAS.DONE.  I needed something and I was on the verge of meltdown central.  (I know, it sounds crazy to be this UP over something so pointless but hey... I am me... This is how I roll.)  I ordered it Monday afternoon, it arrived Tuesday afternoon and, after my run and while our neighborhood babysitter was still here with the kids, I unloaded the box, which consisted of 2 MDF side panels, 8 metal rods, 16 screws (17 actually), 4 large bins, and 8 small bins.

No kidding: in 15 minutes, it was assembled.  The poles lined up to predrilled holes and I screwed in the one side before laying the second side on top of the poles and screwing those in.  All while carrying on a conversation.  It was a breeze.  Then, we slipped the bins into place and voila!  Ready to go.  I organized the toys and decided to count down how long it would take for at least one of the bins to end up on the floor.

I'm still waiting.

For whatever reason, Bobby and Maya dig this.  Maybe it is the primary colors.  Maybe it is because they can now find their different types of trains and cars.  Who even knows.  They take toys out and play with them, but no throwing, no mess.  And, when they are done, they have started putting them back!  (When they havent, I have put them back, but even my stress about cleaning up has dropped- probably because I'm not cleaning up what seems like a billion small trains/cars!)  It looks wwwaaaayyyy better and it even inspired me to move their chairs up and put their train table behind them (instead of in front, where it worked almost like a psuedo-coffee table to the main living area.  Now, it's almost like our living room has been divided into "living room" and "play area", which is nice.

But the mess... Oh the mess... Or lack there of!  THANK YOU!

It is made out of MDF (which isnt great but lends to the fiscality of it) but the metal rods seem stable (not enough to have little monkeys climb on but to able to do the job they are fine).  The bins are a good, hard plastic, which I think would work well even if we didnt have the organizer anymore.

Did I mention it cleaned up the clutter? 

So... if you have little ones (or you do lots of crafts) and you want something that is easy to put together, wont break the bank, and is very functional (and may even inspire your little guy or gal to clean up after themselves), I highly recommend this.  I even gave it 5 stars on Amazon, so you know I like it!

Quick Blueberry Pie

Posted by Michele at 1:50 PM 0 comments

Okay, so this one is only semi-homemade, since I bought the crust, but I have yet to make a tastes-like-the-real-thing pie crust that is gluten free, so until I do, Whole Foods can have my money!

1 (Whole Foods) deep dish, gluten free pie shell (these are frozen)


For the filling:
2 lbs frozen blue berries
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch


For the crumb topping:
1/3 cup almond flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 box gluten free graham crackers (about 8 crackers)
5tbsp butter


1. Heat the oven to 350.  Set the pie shell out at room temp while you assemble the pie.

2. Over high heat, bring the berries, water, and sugar to a boil, stirring often.  As the berries though and cook, they will get mushy. About 10 minutes into the boiling, use a potato masher and mash twice (you still want some whole berries).

3.  Add the corn starch and whisk to combine, then return to using a spoon as you move the filling from the heat.

4.  Pour the filling into the pie shell.

5.  In a food processor, pulse all the crumb ingredients on low until a crumbly texture is reached.  Spoon the crumbs all over the top of the pie.

6.  Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.  Sit at room temperature until serving.  Refridgerate after 8 hours (or the first serving) whichever comes first, with whipped cream if you like!  Or, heat the pie up and top with a dollop of ice cream.

Dairy Free, Gluten Free No-Bake Pumpkin Pie

Posted by Michele at 2:43 PM 0 comments

For the crust:
With your fingers, mix together: 1 box (8oz) of GF/DF graham crackers, crushed; 1 cup ground hazelnuts (or hazelnut flour), and 4 tbsp dairy free butter/margarine.  One tablespoon at a time, add 2 tbsp hazelnut milk, working it into the dough.  Press into a pie pan and bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove from heat and let sit on counter while you prepare the filling


For the filling:
Over medium heat, whisk together 1 can (13.5oz) coconut milk, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice, and 2 tbsp bourbon (alternatively, you could use 2 tbsp vanilla), whisking well and cooking for 10 minutes.  Add 2 tbsp arrowroot, continuing to whisk for one minute and cook.  Add an additional 2 tbsp arrowroot and whisk another minute.  Whisk in 1 can (15oz) pureed pumpkin and an additional 2 tbsp arrowroot.  Remove from heat and spoon into your crust, which has been sitting for at least 15 minutes (up to 30 minutes).

Place the completed pie in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, or until thoroughly chilled (preferably overnight).

Serve with dairy free whipped cream or dairy free ice cream for a fall smash! :)

Peppermint Mocha

Posted by Michele at 8:05 AM 0 comments

While I was lamenting a $5 coffee habit, my husband suggested making my own peppermint mocha, which I did, and it's dairy free!  The only thing it is missing is the froth and froam, which is a casualty of the non-dairy milk, but the taste- it's spot on!

Peppermint Mocha
(makes 4 servings @ 85cal each)

Make 6 cups of coffee in your pot.  Once it has finished, break up 1 peppermint candy stick and toss it in to melt.

While the coffee is making, heat 2 cups non-dairy milk (I used vanilla flaxseed milk and it is AWESOME).  Whisk it as it is heating to keep it from scorching.  Pour in the coffee (once the peppermint has melted) and continue to whisk. 

Whisk is 2 tbsp hot cocoa powder (I used Ghirardelli Double Chocolate) and 4 sugar cubes (or 4tsp if you dont have cubes).

Pour the mixture back into your coffee pot to keep it warm as you nurse a mug on warm mornings.  You can also chill it and then heat it back up for up to a day (otherwise, it gets that day-old-coffee taste).

This might just be my new go-to on these cold mornings ahead!

My first of several cups...