wildtalesof.com

Growing up in a world of adventure.

adventures in lactation: Lactation Cookies

Pardon the title if that’s not your thing.  These cookies are great for everyone.  They just happen to contain ingredients that provide nutrients for nursing mothers.  I’ve made these cookies several times, and most recently for my “mom’s group” that I hosted today.  Each time they have blown me away by how delicious they taste! Everyone seems to love them, even husbands.

A friend of mine passed the recipe along to me.  I don’t know where she came across it, but I think it’s quite common.  She also said nursing moms should eat at least 4 of these cookies per day! Her husband is a doctor…that should count for something, right?

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 4 tbs water
  • 2 tbs flaxseed meal (no substitutions)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 cup thick cut oats
  • 1 cup (or more) chocolate chips
  • 2 tbs brewer’s yeast (no substitutions)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Mix flaxseed meal and water, set aside 3-5 minutes

3. Cream butter and sugars

4. Add eggs

5. Stir flaxseed mix into butter mixture and add vanilla.  Beat until well blended.

6. In a large bowl, sift dry ingredients together, except for the oats and chocolate chips.  Then add butter mixture, and stir in oats, and chocolate chips.

yummy cookie dough...

7.  Drop on parchment paper on baking sheet, and bake 8-12 minutes.

Fresh out of the oven!

Ready for the moms to eat up!

If you don’t have the patience for cookies (this recipe makes about 40 cookies), you can make cookie bars.  Spread the cookie dough in a 9×13 baking pan lined with parchment or wax paper and bake at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Now what to do with all this left over brewer’s yeast…Any ideas?

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meet norman: The Adventure Dog!

Norman is our “mini mutt”.  We think he’s part Wheaten Terrier, but we call him a Wolf Terrier because he’s quite wild.  We’ve had the privilege of being Norman’s “people” for a little over 2 years. He’s originally from Sunnyside, WA, was picked up by animal control, and rescued by Kim from Three River’s Rescue in Snoqualmie, WA.  Then we got to take him home.   He deserves a lot of credit.  He’s of course  a great companion, and he provides our family with a lot of laughs and smiles. I’ve also realized lately that he is the reason for many of our adventures. We get outside because we know Norman needs to get outside…even in the cold, wet Seattle winter. Dogs are pretty handy that way.

Here he is helping us get outside:

At the end of a hike on Lummi Island

Walking the neighborhood

Hanging out at the "beach" (Lake Washington)

Running wild in the Arboretum

Thanks, Norm!

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baby adventure: The Movies

The movies with a baby? Really? Yes! Be brave.

We are (were) huge movie goers.  Especially around this time of year when the Golden Globes have been awarded, and the Oscar nominations are out.  We were very proud last year to have seen all 10 of the movies nominated for best picture.  Now with a baby, things are a little different.  We wait patiently for movies to come out on video, but there are some other options.  We might not be able to go as often as we used to, however it’s still possible once in a while.  There are two ways, and possibly a third if you are very brave.

The easiest option:  “Baby Movie Days” provide parents with the opportunity to view movies (usually first run) with their babies worry-free.  Babies and all of their accessories are welcome in the theater.  The lights are turned up a bit, and the sound to the movie is turned down a bit. Other parents and their babies are present, so their is no need to fret and run away if your baby becomes fussy.  If you live in the Seattle area, check out Mother’s Day Thursdays at Bellevue’s Lincoln Square (Thursdays at 10am), and Baby’s Day at the Movies at Kirkland’s Parkplace Cinema.  I’ve taken my little baby adventurer to Mother’s Day Thursdays at Lincoln Square twice now, and I’ve been able to enjoy a great movie while taking care of him both times.  They even provide “at your seat concession service”.

Next Option: A theater with a cry room allows you to view the movie in a nice little room with a door, which means little cries and coos most likely cannot be heard by other theater patrons.  If your baby is really worked up, those close to the back of the theater might be able to hear a little bit. The room also allows you to nurse your baby without the worry of on-lookers.  This is actually my favorite option because you have so much space.  I can spread all my baby supplies out ready for whatever B needs at the moment.  There is even room to lay a blanket on the floor for some tummy time play. Check your local theaters for cry rooms.  The cry room equipped theaters in Seattle that I know of are part of the Landmark Theaters, and include:  Guild 45th and the Varsity.  If you choose this option, make sure to arrive early.  You would hate to plan this great adventure, and then come to the theater to find the cry room snatched up by some other family.

Option for the Bravest Adventurers:  Go to your movie with your baby, and hope for the best! Depending on the temperament of your baby this could work.  We tried this very early on when B was about 5 weeks old.  We chose what we thought was an obscure movie in a large cinema, at an odd time of day (2 pm on a weekday).  Much to our surprise people actually go to the movies under those circumstances! B slept for about 30 minutes of the movie, woke up and fed, then started to fuss, so I had to leave and bounce him around in the ergo outside of the theater.  Once he composed himself, we were able to return, and I stood in the entry way…then I was able to sneak into a seat, and watched the rest of the movie peacefully. A couple of weeks ago, as I sat in the cry room of another theater, I saw a mom pull this off with no problem.  Slaed was sitting outside of the cry room, and said the baby didn’t make a peep!

Happy Movie Watching! Let me know how it goes…

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Indulging on Super Bowl Sunday: Betty’s Cheese Dip

Warning: This will be extremely tasty.

2nd Warning: This will not be good for you, and is far from wholesome and healthy.

It’s another one of Slaed’s classic recipes. We enjoyed this today for our Super Bowl Party.  Another treat he has made since he was a teenager. It’s easy-peasy to make.

Betty’s Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 medium-sized onion, diced
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 can (13 1/2 ounces) Rotelle tomatoes diced with chiles
  • 2 lb box Velveeta cheese, cubed

Directions:

1. Brown meat and saute onions in large sauce pan. Drain.

2. Add meat and onions to crock or fondue pot (we used the fondue pot).  Then add all of the remaining ingredients (soup, tomatoes, & cheese).

Betty's Cheese Dip | WildTalesof.com

3. Stir, cooking on medium heat until all ingredients are combined, and the cheese is melted.

DSC07494

 

4. Keep crock or fondue pot on a warm setting for all to enjoy throughout your gathering. Serve with tortilla chips and/or baguette pieces.

Betty's Cheese Dip | WildTalesof.com

Betty's Cheese Dip | WildTalesof.com

Mmm…

What are your favorite football watching treats?

Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter! If you enjoyed this post, please “like it”, “tweet it” or “pin it”! 

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Chicken Pot Pie

I wanted to surprise Slaed with a delicious pot pie since it was his night to “babysit” as he calls it, and my night to hit the town with friends.  He’d been talking about buying one of those disgusting pies in the freezer section of the grocery store to “treat himself”.  So in order to prevent such a tragedy, I made it my mission over the past week to find a recipe, get ingredients, and cook up a homemade chicken pot pie masterpiece.

I adapted my recipe from Real Simple’s Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb boneless-skinless chicken breast
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 tbs all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 cups 1% milk
  • 1 16-ounce package of mixed veggies (peas, carrots, green beans & corn)
  • 1 tbs fresh thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 9-inch pie crusts (thawed)
  • 1 egg (for egg wash)

Directions:

1. Line a shallow pie dish (I used glass) with 1 of the pie crusts.  Brush with egg  wash.

2. Fill pot with a couple inches of water.  Bring water to a boil, add chicken, lower heat, and then allow the chicken to simmer for 10 minutes if thawed, about 20 if frozen.  Break up chicken into smaller pieces as it simmers. Let cool.  Then shred.

3. Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat, and add chopped onions.  Cook until onions are soft. Sprinkle the flour over the onions, stir, and cook for 1 minute.

4. Add the chicken broth to the onions, and cook for about 5 minutes stirring often.  Add the milk, and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken (another 5 minutes or so).  Stir in the shredded chicken, package of vegetables, thyme, salt and pepper.  Mix well, and transfer to crust lined pie dish.

5. Lay the 2nd crust on top pressing the sides to seal. Brush with olive oil.  Cut 5-6 slits in the center to vent. Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake until contents is bubbling and crust is golden. 400 degrees, 30-35 minutes.

Delicious! Also just as good the next day for leftovers.

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creating a car-loving baby

With all these wonderful baby adventures, baby must make friends with the car.  Not every place is walkable unfortunately.  We never thought we’d have a baby that didn’t like the car.  In fact, for the first 6 weeks or so, baby B loved the car.  He was either content back their checking out the toys hanging from his car seat or just dozed off and took a nice snooze.  But some where along the line he decided the car seat was not for him, and he began to scream as soon as he was strapped in.

Being such active, adventurous people, we were very disheartened.  Every outing became a production and a wee bit frustrating.  In response to B’s car hatred, we scrambled for ideas.  Some we found in books, some from other moms and dads, internet searches, baby classes…you name it. Some we also just came upon by accident.  Here are our tricks to creating a car-loving baby:

  • Keep the car moving.  Do whatever you can to keep going.  Is there a route you know of that has just a few lights? Take it.  I will go out of my way sometimes because I know I will get a nice long stretch of road without any lights.  If you encounter a red light and have to stop, give yourself some room between you and the car/crosswalk.  Then you can inch forward, and keep the car moving.  Pumping the brakes also helps.
  • Dance music.  I don’t know why, but baby B loves him some ridiculous dance music.  There is a high school run radio station here in Seattle that plays music almost continuously.  It seems they never have commercials.  Perfect.
  • Static.  Find a point in between stations that makes that beautiful shushing sound.  It reminds babies of being in the womb with all the fluid rushing around.  Very soothing.
  • Toys.  Hang fun toys from rings on the car seat handle.  Baby B loves toys that crinkle. Toys with a mirror can also be quite facinating.
  • Pacifier.  I know these aren’t for everyone, but apparently they work really well for some babies.  Baby B? Not so much.  He never took to the pacifier much to our dismay.  I’ve seen some really fussy babies become quite calm with the insertion of this tool.
  • Photographs.  We found this idea  in one of Slaed’s dad books (Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads by Gary Greenberg).  Take a towel or blanket and tape photographs of familiar people (parents, grandparents, siblings, the baby, pets, etc.).  Then place your masterpiece on the seat back that the baby faces. How could they be sad looking at their loved ones?
  • Baby Mum Mums. This is for an older baby starting at around 4 or 5 months.  Baby Mum Mums are delicious little rice crackers made just for babies.  They are a type of teething biscuit, and practically dissolve in the baby’s mouth the instant you put them in. Since baby B isn’t fond of the pacifier, we’ve found these help him get through those rough patches in the car.  This is of course easier if you have 2 adults traveling in the car: one to drive, one to feed mum mums.
  • Travel Sleep Sheep. This is along the same lines as the static.  We received this wonderful invention as a gift when baby B was first born. It has been a life saver.  It’s a little sheep that hangs from his car seat that plays various types of white noise.  A babbling brook, rain, mother’s heart beat, etc.  The sounds seem to calm Baby B and help him stay asleep.  It’s very soothing for me too!
  • Temperature.  Make sure your baby isn’t too hot or too cold.

What car tricks do you have?

Good luck on your adventures.  Here’s to many happy, car-loving babies!

Come join the conversation! You can keep up to date with each and every post by subscribing to the blog via email. We’d also love to have you join us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter! If you enjoyed this post, please “like it”, “tweet it” or “pin it”! 

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