Soup Season

The weather around here has finally cooled off and it feels like soup season. This week alone we have had made pumpkin soup AND cheesy cauliflower soup. We also still have some leeks waiting to be turned into my favorite: potato leek. Matilda is getting really dexterous with a spoon and so we have been letting her go it alone on the soup, with hilarious, photograph-worthy results. She's seen here enjoying some tomato roasted red pepper soup from Trader Joe's.

The cauliflower soup recipe we made was really easy. It also tasted way richer and creamier than I would have expected. Matilda gave it her seal of approval: a steady hum of yum, yum, yum as she shoveled it in. Try it for yourself.

Cheesy Cauliflower Soup
Adapted from here.

Saute 1 c chopped onions in a couple glugs of olive oil until soft. Add 3 c chicken broth and bring to boil. Add 16-20 ounces cauliflowerets (I used the bagged ones to make it super fast) and return to boiling. Lower heat and simmer 5 minutes until tender.

Whisk together 1/4 c flour with 1 c chicken broth. Add this into the soup, bring to boiling and cook 2-3 minutes more until thickened, stirring occasionally.

Remove soup from heat and add 1-2c shredded pepper jack cheese, a handful of roasted red peppers. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste.

Learning Colors

It is official. She's a genius.

She now can identify blue, pink, green, and purple.

Buying Organic

Yesterday I had a nice conversation with someone who was interested in buying organic foods. He said that a dietitian once gave him a list of produce that was worth buying organic but he had long since lost it. I rattled off a few things for him that carried higher pesticide residue and would be worth paying a higher price for organic. He wanted me to write them down but of course I never did. So, to relieve my guilty conscience here is the information for you instead.

To maximize your organic food dollar go organic on these types of produce that are most susceptible to pesticide residue:
Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

Don't waste money on these items with the lowest pesticide residues:
Papayas
Broccoli
Cabbage
Bananas
Kiwifruit
Sweet peas (frozen)
Asparagus
Mangoes
Pineapple
Sweet corn (frozen)
Avocados
Onions

To find a more comprehensive produce list go here.
For a kid centric aisle by aisle run down go here.

Carnivore

Matilda has really been showing her meat loving ways recently. Yesterday, while driving home from the grocery store she managed to grab a package of turkey sausage that was destined for some lasagna this week. While listening to her chorus of "meat, meat, meat" I could see her in my rear view mirror trying to bite through the package (don't worry, she didn't). Today while we were at the photo shoot Matilda spied someone's breakfast sausage right as we headed in to be filmed. The baby handlers ended up having to take her out and they shot me alone in order to hear me above the "meat chant". Soon her meat needs were met as she ate a ridiculous amount of sausage and bacon while I was in the hair and make-up department getting "beautified."

Fabric Disorder

One trait that I can blame directly on my mom's family is an interest in sewing. Specifically fabric. I like to think of it as a fabric disorder. My mom's youngest sister (the only of four to escape this affliction) claims that the others just glaze over in a fabric store. I, too, get into a fabric store and cannot seem to function. My mind races with the possibilities and I become almost paralyzed with indecision. During this whole bedroom re-do for Matilda I have already bought two possible fabrics for the curtains, both of which I now don't feel are quite right. Every morning I think maybe today we should go back to the fabric shop for another try.

Matilda seems to be showing signs of an interest in sewing as well. She is fascinated with the sewing machine and will sit quietly on my lap while I sew, without even reaching her fingers into the danger zone. While making curtains last week she was obsessed with the pins so I finally gave in and let her touch them. Under careful supervision she took all the pins out of both curtains, pushing each one carefully back into the cushion saying "pooosh."

Muddy Buddy

We had a super-fun, muddy morning participating in the Muddy Buddy race. It is a 6 mile "unique trail running and mountain biking adventure race" that ends with a belly crawl through the mud pit. Here you can see me and my muddy buddy, Adam, standing around, getting all nervous, waiting for the race to start. The course was super hilly which is fine for running, but was terrifying for me on the downhills with my rusty biking skills. The third obstacle, a balance beam, was also particularly cruel with jello legs after 4 steep miles. Below you can see me (in the yellow) emerging from the mud pit, triumphant that I managed to finish the race without crashing. At the finish line! Yes, Adam's mouth is FULL OF MUD. He was rather enthusiastic in his approach to the mud pit: belly flopping in and rolling over to do the backstroke.

Say "Cheese" (with Meat)

Out of the Nest

We have been working on getting Matilda's room outfitted for her transition to a big girl bed. We finally got all of the bed portion finished yesterday: mattress delivered, IKEA bed consisting of 2,000 pieces built, headboard and footboard covered, new sheets purchased. She is very excited about the whole process but we have yet to attempt the actual sleeping-in-your-own-room theory. I love the perplexed look on her face here. "You want me to sleep where?"

Showbiz, Baby

So we are finally hitting our Hollywood stride here in the RD Mama household. Last weekend a scout approached Matilda and me at our farmers market looking for "talent" to be used in a shampoo campaign. I expected to be sketched out by a talent scout but this all seemed legit. I agreed to let him take a mug shot and be put into the pool of candidates.

The talent guy called back today and asked us to come in next week for a photo shoot. It's specifically for mothers with kids so Matilda will be getting a work permit also. How strange! I think I need to watch out or soon I might spiral into a momager of our little talent.

For the record, this was the fuzzy head of hair they found me with. I think they must want me for some sort of ungroomed before shot.

Halloween Recovery Day

Today we are taking it slow recovering from yesterday when we had a busy day filled with sandy jack o' lanterns, trick or treating (Matilda and Grammy) and too much candy (me).

A Halloween first for all of us: a picnic lunch at the beach. A shot of our uncertain chicken leaving her first trick or treating house, candy-less.
Also, I have officially entered NaBloPoMo and will be posting EVERY day this month. I will try to find something other than driveling on about Matilda. Tim is always encouraging me to actually post nutrition related things, but the dietetic portion of my brain is impaired of late. I am very open to suggestion.

Baby's First Loot

We took Matilda trick or treating tonight expecting to just see some decorated houses and watch all the other dressed up kids. As we approached the first house Matilda was intrigued by their scary ghost in the front window, but very apprehensive of the nice couple at the door. She wouldn't go close and ended up just saying "bye bye" mid-way through our exchange, indicating her desires. After three more houses without accepting any candy, she finally warmed up and caught the fever. Matilda really hasn't had any candy to speak of but somehow she knew there was something special about the little crinkly packages. She would just hold them up at us pleading "please, please" as if to say I know there is something more to this. By the end of the evening Matilda was charging up to each doorway and chanting "more" between stops. I think she was satisfied with just collecting the treat, must be genes from Daddy. While she did go to bed without eating any candy, I would say she had a pretty fun day as a little chicken.

Happy Halloween

From our hen house to yours.

Say Cheese

As we were taking pictures of Matilda's Halloween costume this weekend, she surprised us all by smiling on cue. M was maintaining a very serious face and Tim said, "Can you please smile for a picture?" and smile she did! It is so funny to see what her put-on smile looks like. Although I am sure we will come to a time when we don't want the forced smile in every picture and long for the days of more candid expressions.

At the Zoo with Grammy

We had another fun trip to the zoo this morning, this time with Grammy.
Matilda got to practice her alligator balancing act.

Not only did we get to see the three adorable tiger cubs romping, but the chimps put on quite the show today with a big palm tree swinging, chest thumping chase.

Matilda impressed both Mama and Grammy by climbing to the top of this rock wall thing.

Keeping things in the holiday spirit we got the chance to meet Casper, an albino rat snake.