Simple Summer Spaghetti

This month's issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine lays out a variety of summer recipes that are sure to satisfy the palette and impress your BBQ guests.

Tonight for dinner Hubby and I tested out their "Simple Summer Spaghetti". The article suggests you ask your BBQ guests to bring over their fav farmer's market veggies to grill, and then add them to this super simple pasta. Alas we don't have a grill, but never fear, the recipe is straight forward and adaptable, and it's instructions are for your conventional stove - yay!

Simple Summer Spaghetti

-12 oz. packaged dry spaghetti (we used Tinkyada's organic brown rice spaghetti - love the stuff - gluten free, and doesn't go mushy at all)
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped (we smashed it first as well to bring out the oils)
- Pinch crushed red pepper, or more to taste
- 2 cups cut-up grilled zucchini and/or summer squash (we just used raw zucchini, but I can see how grilled would taste better)
- 2 cups red and/or yellow cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley

1. Cook pasta according to package directions
2. Meanwhile, combine olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper (we added chicken to the recipe - so I cooked the chicken first in the oil, then added the garlic and pepper). Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, until garlic begins to soften. Do not let the garlic brown. Stir in Zucchini, tomatoes, and torn basil. Season well with salt and pepper.
3. Reduce heat to low and add pasta to skillet with some of the pasta's cooking water. Heat through, and toss with cheese. Garnish with fresh basil.

I served this pasta with a crusty multi-grain baguette  - it was awesome! It took about 15 min to throw it together too, which is great when you're looking for a quick healthy dinner. YUM!

More Than Just A Yardage Sale

Torontonians, be sure to mark this on your calendars - Toronto Textiles Museum's annual "More Than Just A Yardage Sale" Coming up Saturday May 25th 11am - 6pm; Sunday May 26th 10am - 1pm

You are sure to find amazing fabric remnants here for dirt cheap (I'm talking $1.00 stuff)! Better by far than any fabric store around, and the quality is high end! I LOVE this sale and have picked up some stellar pieces to use for throw pillows, clothing, art projects... and the list goes on.

You don't want to miss this one!

Admission: FREE!

When:  Saturday May 25th 11am - 6pm; Sunday May 26th 10am - 1pm

Where: Toronto Textiles Museum
             55 Centre Avenue
             Toronto, Ontario

(416) 599-5321

* Take the University Subway to Dundas Station

The Wonderful World of Vinegar

First off, I am dedicating this post to my cousin Heather - while she didn't introduce me to the wonderfulness of vinegar, she did discover it herself, and reminded me how awesome it is, and insisted I do a post about it - so I'm tipping my spray bottle to you Heather ;)

My Mom always used a spray bottle of vinegar and water to clean the windows and shine the surfaces at the coffee shop she used to manage when I was a kid. That paired with a coffee filter instead of paper towel for wiping, gave way to the kind of clean glass that birds and people alike mistook for open air.
While she used this formula at work as a means of cutting costs, we still used the chemical versions at home - probably because we fell victim to the marketing myth that harsher chemicals did a better job of cleaning?

Up until about a week ago, admittedly I too was using "Green Works" or other store bought cleaning products to clean my surfaces. When Heather learned of the seemingly magical qualities of vinegar and water, she quickly mentioned it to me, knowing my appreciation for natural alternatives (and magic of course). That was months ago, and in my head I thought "yes, yes, I know" and vowed to give it a try once my other cleaners had run out. It wasn't until the other day when I was trying to clean the mirror in my bathroom that I made the switch. We had a photographer coming in to take pictures of our house, since we're getting ready to sell (baby on the way = need more room) I had thought for months that the streaks I was experiencing on all of my glass was due to the quality of my paper towels - so for this particular cleaning job I switched to coffee filters - no luck, then newspaper - same fate. When both mediums failed to rid me of these taunting streaks - I knew it had to be the cleaner! So I threw some vinegar and water in a spray bottle - and VOILA! Just like true magic, a picture ready, perfect shine, was achieved instantly!  Now I am hooked!

A huge jug of vinegar only costs $0.99 or less in most supermarkets, and won't irritate anything! Safe for humans and animals alike, and shines up those surfaces like nobodies business. Any trace of vinegar smell is gone as soon as it evaporates leaving the smell of, get this... nothing! Not an eye watering potpourri of chemicals masking the left over crap that the cleaner didn't actually clean.

Here are some other great uses for Vinegar:

1) As a toilet cleaner - pour in a cup or so at full strength and let it sit over night to kill germs.
2) As a Calcium/Lime remover - remove calcium/lime buildup from hard water on your shower head, or around your taps. Soak the area at full strength (or add some baking soda) for a half hour or so, and rinse clean.
3) As a laundry booster; stain remover on clothing and carpets - poor into your wash cycle to give it a boost. Also use a spray bottle with 1 part water, 1 part vinegar to spray spots on clothing before washing (just like Shout etc.) can also be used on carpet stains in the same way - just spray on and blot up.
4) As an air purifier - I put a bowl of straight vinegar out on the kitchen counter to take away bad cooking smells that linger after cooking - like frying smells that just won't quit - works like a charm every-time!
5) As a floor cleaner - works wonders on your ceramic tile, laminate floors, linoleum, you name it! 1 part vinegar to 3 parts hot water in a bucket will give your floors a steak-free shine that will make your neighbours gossip :)
6) Of course we also use it for fries, and in our poached eggs, pickling and many other cooking applications. We also use Apple Cider Vinegar both for cooking, and if we have acid reflux - a tsp of the stuff down the hatch cures it instantly!

Needless to say I'll be using vinegar for as many applications as I can going forward. No more wasting money on any store bought cleansers. 
I'd love to learn of more uses for vinegar, or some other natural cleaning remedies that you might have... what are some ways that you use vinegar?

What on Earth is "Oil Pulling"?

While perusing one of my new favourite Mama Blogs - I came across a video about "Oil Pulling". Well at first I was sort of grossed out, but mainly I was super curious! So I began googling, and apparently people have been experiencing some seriously awesome reactions to this little ritual, that I couldn't ignore.

What is it? Well, first thing in the morning (or on an empty stomach) you pop a spoonful of veg. oil into your mouth and swish it around for 15-20 min. It supposed to activate natural enzymes, and pull toxins out of your body through your mouth. Sounds a little hoaky, but people are reporting amazing health results! First and foremost, stellar oral health. Whiter teeth & healthier gums - not to mention story after story of people's accounts of healed gum disease, tooth infections etc. the list goes on. the next most common result was softer, clearer, glowing skin all over the body, specifically on the face, elbows and heals.
There are also reports of cured asthma, headaches, bronchitis, thrombosis, chronic blood disorders, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, eczema, stomach ulcers, chronic intestinal diseases, heart and Nierenbe complaints, gynecological illnesses, neurological diseases and liver diseases! *

SO, I thought, why not try it out myself?  There's no harm in trying, since it's just oil.. and the worst that could happen is that it makes me gag the first time, and the best that could happen is that I have improved health.

Day 1 - today :) I grabbed a spoonful of organic coconut oil and had a very hard time popping it into my mouth. Coconut oil is great b/c the taste is mild, and it smells great, but it's solid at room temperature, so it was really weird to have in my mouth at first. (most resources suggest sesame oil, so I think I'll be switching to that soon, as I think the texture will be easier on the palette :} ) I had to keep it between my teeth and cheek until it dissolved into my saliva. But, after that, it was easy peasy! 15 minutes of swishing, then I spit it out into the garbage. You wouldn't want to spit into a sink b/c it might clog the drain. I then rinsed with salt water (everything I've read has suggested this b/c there are loads of toxins and bacteria left over in your mouth that you really should rinse out). Then I brushed my teeth like usual. So I'll continue to do this every morning, and take photos every week to track any visual progress (whiter teeth, pinker gums?)  

*Here is the link to oilpulling.com, for more in depth information on this technique.

I'd love to hear if anyone has ever tried this, and their experience with it :)

Good Ol' Fashioned Dog Treats!

This is Watson, our lovable not-so-little Bernese Mountain Dog. We love her to bits.. and we try our best to provide her with the best we know how, physically, emotionally and nutritionally :)

It wasn't that long ago that kibble was introduced to pet owners as an economical and easy food option for pets, sort of like a TV dinner for pets - it was all about simplifying our daily lives. In fact it was only 60 years ago or so that kibble was introduced. Before then, pets ate table scraps and raw food. So we choose to live by this philosophy with Watson for a number of reasons, and we feed our pupster raw meat and veggies, as well as appropriate table scraps. We still buy "natural" manufactured dog treats for the most part, such as dehydrated beef liver, but today I am going to make our girl some homemade cookies :) They are dead easy, and Watson LOVES them. It's a good thing these recipes make so many, because they won't last very long.

I found these recipes (and adapted them a touch) in a little doggy cookbook called "The Doggy Bone Cookbook"; not only are they super easy, and make a lot as I mentioned, but they are really inexpensive to make.. and if you are a dog owner, you know how much natural dog treats can set you back.. even the crappy ones can cost an arm and a leg :) These cookies also make great gifts for doggy friends!

Peamutt Butter
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tbsp veggie oil
1 cup water
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup oatmeal

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl combine peanut butter, oil, and water. Gradually add flour, then oatmeal. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with your favourite cookie cutter. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 35 min. Makes 5 dozen.

Garlick & Cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp garlic powder (or) 3 cloves of minced fresh garlic
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together cheese, garlic and butter. Add Milk and flour. Mold mixture into ball and roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough with your favourite cookie cutter and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 min. or until edges start to brown. Makes 3 dozen.

***A note about garlic. Some professionals say that since garlic is a member of the onion family that it could be bad for dogs; while other professionals recommend it for natural pest repellent such as heart-worm prevention and repelling mosquitoes - studies also show that it is great for a dog's cardiovascular system.  We've been giving Watson raw garlic in her food for years now, and she's thriving. However, please use your own discretion as a pet owner.

An Interesting Read... Some More Food For Thought

For those readers who asked me on and off this blog about the Home Birth issue... here is a fantastic blog post I read today in support of home births. It raises a point that I will surely be discussing with my midwife about what happens to baby right after delivery in the hospital.

Mama Birth: The Real Reason I Birth at Home

The link to the video the author refers to is highlighted in blue in her post. I almost missed it :)
Admittedly I watched the YouTube video before reading the post.. and for the first few minutes I didn't know why we were being directed to it.. but as I started to avert my eyes, it quickly became apparent.

It's not necessarily overly graphic, or a "scare" tactic brought to us by granolas lol.. just something I hadn't thought about before.. and most women do not even realize what happens to their babies in the moments after delivery. I never thought to even ask what to expect..

It's food for thought.. go check it out! :)

Also, I encourage you to read the comments after the blog.. Interesting stuff!

Staring Childbirth in the Eyes; Taking Back Control as a Gift to Our Children

As I embark upon my journey as a first time Mom, I have found the learning process thus far to be eye-opening to say the least.
I began my unofficial prenatal education a few years ago. My husband's business was picking up, and I was able to leave my job in business banking to help him out at home. Well I wasn't home a week before my husband dropped the bomb that he was ready to start trying for a baby.
There's never been a question as to whether or not I wanted to have kids someday.. in fact a small army would do - the promise of camp-outs, homemade Halloween costumes, PTA meetings and piano recitals thrills me to my very soul.. but getting a baby into the world was another story all together.

I was a measly 98lbs soaking wet, and the thought of pushing a human out of me made me fear for my life. My experience with childbirth was all holllywood... a sweaty, dishevelled, weak woman lying on her back, holding on for dear life while she screamed bloody murder. A horror scene.. bleh! Not to mention my own Sister in law is sworn off of having children all together because of how horrifying her own birth experience was. All I knew is that it was the WORST thing a woman could experience.
SO, I had a choice. Let fear rule my life, or take the reigns and look this birth thing in the eyes and find out the truth.

It began with my childhood friend Christa suggesting I watch "The Business of Being Born". I was blown away.. seriously blown away. This movie gave me hope that it wasn't inevitable that I have a horrifying birth experience. Click here to read my review/post about BBOB.
From there I began talking to people. Moms who gave birth in hospitals, at home, with an OB, with a Doula, with a Midwife. A pattern began to emerge that shocked me. I hadn't heard one experience that was positive about a traditional hospital/OB birth. Even the moms who said they had a low risk birth, and minimal intervention from the hospital staff, confessed that they were upset that their OB was not who delivered their baby, but a stranger on-call Nurse/Dr. The OB was afterall the person who they'd gotten to know all of these months through their prenatal appointments, their educator in this new life experience, the person who they'd come to know and trust with precious life they were creating. A life experience such a childbirth surely deserves at least the comfort of knowing the person who is handling this precious life for the first time, no? Not one person I talked to who had this experience was comfortable with this arrangement, letting a stranger deliver the baby... so why do we let it happen?

I would certainly be a hypocrite if I did not look at both sides of the coin. So, I made prenatal appointments with both an OB and a Midwife. I planned to sit down with each, have a real, cut-the-crap conversation about my birth experience with each of them, then take the info away, and together with my husband, make a real informed decision about the direction we would take.

I actually had high expectations for the OB. She is the leader in her field at a teaching hospital, young, personable, quite nice. My appointment went something like this:

OB: Hi I'm (the OB)
Me: Hi
OB: This will be a boring appt. it's more paperwork than anything

2 min. of filling out paperwork - me answering routine medical questions like first day of last cycle etc. etc.

OB: Okay, well that's all I need.. let's listen to the heartbeat, and you can go. (Red Flag #1 - this is my 
first baby, I have so many questions, we don't get to sit down and talk for a while? )

We listen to the heartbeat.. it's awesome of course :)

OB: Okay, that's it!
Me: Well I have a couple of questions, can we talk?
OB: Sure.
Me: I'd like to know your thoughts on natural childbirth?
OB: Well childbirth hurts, you're going to want something for it. (Red Flag #2 - no consideration of what experience I want to have. From my education thus far I want to try for a natural birth - no offer of support on this? or at least an offer of supporting information as to why I shouldn't have a natural birth other than "it's going to hurt"? no pros and cons? no open discussion at all? Where do me any my baby come into this "procedure"?)
Me: How do you feel about minimal intervention from the hospital staff if it's not necessary?
OB: If you want minimal intervention I suggest you wait as long as possible to come in when you go into labour. That way you're here at the last minute and we can't do anything else but deliver the baby. (Red Flag #3 - washing your hands of care, and the possibility of coming up with and following a birth plan. Why not just tell me to deliver the baby myself? {which isn't looking like a bad idea at this point} This person is supposed to help me bring a child into this world - what I hear is that this is a medical procedure. This is not a life experience, but a thing that has to be done. I feel like a number at this point)
Me: Will you be present for the birth?
OB: Well it depends... the Dr.s work shifts, so it's unlikely that I will be working when you go into labour. The only way I can guarantee I will deliver the baby is if it's a high risk pregnancy and you need a c-section, or if you schedule a c-section before hand. Which reminds me, I almost forgot, I need you to sign this form. This just says you give consent to allow whoever is on call to deliver the baby. (Big Ol' Red Flag #4 - the very thing I wanted to avoid. I want to know and trust the person handling my baby for the first time. I don't care what you are on paper.. a stranger is a stranger! Not to mention, the bit about scheduling a c-section to guarantee she will deliver? No discussion or mention at all of the pros or cons of having an elective c-section? I hate to think of how many women just schedule the c-section in order to guarantee the OB will deliver; and that's a huge decision to be made without the proper information needed to do so... it's disturbing almost. )
Me: Um... can I take this home to read it?
OB: Unusual, but I guess you could just bring it back next time.

This is the form she wanted me to sign, without any proper discussion of why I would sign this, what it was - had I not asked her the questions I did, we wouldn't have even had the small conversation we did.

Unless the OB thought the 5 min. conversation we had just had was all we needed to talk about? Nevertheless, this scared the bejeesus out of me.

So I don't even have to go into the details of my first Midwife visit. We sat down for a long time and hashed it all out.. It was like night and day. No question in my husband and my mind what direction we are going in. And I feel SO blessed to have the opportunity to have my midwifes support. If people only knew how amazing the care is - I wish I could scream it from the rooftops!

I can't help but think about  how many women walk into that OB office and just sign away.. just do what they are told b/c they don't know any different. They trust the OB.. and why shouldn't they? what else do they have to go on that their experience could be so much better? How would they know that they have an opportunity to have a blissful birth experience? How would they know that they could have the choice not to be medicated; not to have counteractive drugs imposed on them potentially harming the baby? There is just TOO much that expecting mothers do not know. And I don't think OB's have any malicious intent.. not at all.. just that they are used to doing "business" in a certain way. But as far as I'm concerned, my baby's birth is not a business transaction.

I will be giving birth at a hospital under the care of our midwife who will be delivering our baby. I can walk around, and take my time if needed. I can give birth in a bed, or in a tub, or squat on the floor if it feels right! I can have music playing to calm me, and I am in a private room. I have choices!!! I know who is delivering our baby and I trust her. And should there be any complications, heaven forbid, I am in the right place to receive the care I need. Not to mention the 6 weeks aftercare that we will receive. For the first few weeks they will be in home visits. Can you believe the Midwife will come to us? - who wants to trek a newborn out and about right away anyway? It just makes sense.

This post is about my disappointment with the way a "life experience" is treated like a "medical procedure" in the medical community - and how that is conveyed to expecting mothers as such. It is also about trying to educate women. I am not judging anyone for choosing an OB. I am not judging anyone for wanting an epidural, or for whatever decision they make. But I can't stress enough the importance of making an informed decision!!! Who have you talked to to get your info? what resources do you have? take a look at both sides.. don't just ask your OB, or the people working in her office.. talk to mothers who have had all kinds of birth experiences. READ, watch movies like BOBB, call up a midwife collective and ask to have a meeting to get info. Talk to people online.. Have an open mind. The best gift we can give our unborn children is the gift of our own education.  Obtaining this type of education is FREE and EASY.  Afterall, we are being given the gift of bringing a life into the world.. how can we take that for granted? - It is our responsibility to make our children's journey into this world the best it can be.

***please note, that I do not intend to say that choosing an OB is a bad choice, or that all OB's shouldn't be trusted, that is certainly not the case.  I simply wanted to share my personal experience. The sharing of experiences can be the best form of education around.. and I do encourage everyone to share their stories, good and bad. Cheers :)