Make Time For Healing: The Flu

It's been quiet on here this week because I've been quiet this week. Five days ago I came down with the flu, and I am just now starting to feel a bit better. I am learning a few things - about influenza, about preparing for illness and giving in when things are out of your control.

I haven't been this sick in many years. I haven't had the actual flu, either, for over 15 years. (I might add that I have only had the flu vaccine twice in all of those years, and that was both times I was pregnant.)  Most of us would probably be surprised to learn that true influenza is not what most people refer to as "the flu" (or "stomach flu"). According to the CDC, people who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• fever* and/or chills (*not everyone with the flu will have a fever)
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

It's not uncommon for symptoms to last for at least 5-7 days, and the flu is highly contagious (before, during and after you have symptoms). So all around, it really sucks.

I wish I had seen it coming. I would have created a "sick kit" and will now in preparation for the next one of us to topple. Here's what I would put in it:

1. Gatorade, Ginger Ale and bottled water (if you don't have decent tap water). Of course, water is the best but Gatorade helps replace electrolytes (important if you have diarrhea or vomiting), and ginger is a natural remedy for nausea.
2. Crackers - Saltines, Oyster (soup) crackers, graham crackers or dry snack toast. 
3. Popsicles - Of course, most would have to be kept in the freezer, but recently I found a great variety at Whole Foods and Central Market that come in a box (and you don't freeze them until you need them).  They are called Smooze All Natural Fruit Ice, and they are made from coconut milk and fruit purees.  Our favorite is the Coconut + Mango.  (They sell in the retail stores I mentioned for about $4-5 per box.)
4. Cough drops - We're partial to Ricola (I love their cranberry drops) and Luden's Honey Drops.
5. Top Ramen - Who doesn't crave the salty goodness of Ramen noodles when they're sick (or not)?
6. Underwood White Meat Chicken Spread - I know.  I blame this one on my mother.  This was her go-to food item when we were ill, and damn it if I don't still turn to the little yellow can when I'm not feeling good.  It goes against so many of my food principles, but I feel like I'm allowed a pass when I'm down and out.  It fits the bill in so many ways - it's bland, salty and has barely any texture (strange for a chicken spread, huh?).  It starts out fairly innocently enough - white chicken meat, chicken broth, cooked chicken skin (what the...?), seasoning blend (trying to overlook the partially hydrogenated soybean oil in the seasoning blend, especially since "seasoning" and this spread don't seem to mix), dehydrated potatoes, salt, and then a bunch of stuff I can't pronounce.  It's the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in my foodie world.  It's one of those pairings that I can't explain - like how I only drink Bloody Mary Mix on airplanes.  Spread it on toast or crackers and down the hatch!
7. Some may add Jell-O or pudding here.

Want to know if the flu has hit your area and if so, how rampant it is currently?  You can check your state's weekly activity on the CDC's website here.  For those of us in Washington, we've been bumped up from "local" to "regional" in terms of activity level within the past week.  (The highest status is "widespread", which is just above "regional".)  So it's on the move, people.

So please take it easy, get plenty of sleep, wash your hands every chance that you get (with soap) and I hope you can avoid this.  If you do get it, please let me know what gets you through it.

Make Time For Useful Applications

A few of my favorite iPhone Applications:

Whole Foods Market Recipes - The most useful part of this application is its "On Hand" feature.  Add several ingredients that you have "on hand" at home and this app will show you what you can make with those ingredients.  You can also add ingredients from their recipes to your shopping list, and it will automatically list the correct quantity.

Groupon - Never miss a great deal!  With the Groupon app, you can buy deals, access your purchased Groupons and redeem them electronically (no need to print them out)!

Urbanspoon - Can't decide where to eat?  Hungry for a particular type of cuisine and need to find someplace nearby?  Looking for a last minute reservation.  This application can help you out with all of that.

Momento - A journal on your phone.  You can type in funny things that your kids say or a diary entry, import photos or your Facebook status updates, and Momento organizes and stores everything by date.  It's even password-protected, like a lock and key on your old diary.

Period Tracker Lite - Ladies, how many times has the nurse asked you to recall the first date of your last period, and you have no idea because who keeps track of that stuff?  Well, now you can with this application.  You input the first and last days of your period on the calendar, and if you're trying to conceive (or not conceive), it displays when you're likely to be most fertile.

Shazam - Next time a song comes on the radio that you're digging (but have no idea what it's called or whose it is), pull out your phone and hit the button on your Shazam app.  Within a few seconds, Shazam displays the song title and artist.  You can think hit another button to download the song from iTunes or post it to your Twitter or Facebook page.

Red Laser - Out shopping and about to make a purchase, but wondering if you're getting a good deal or paying too much?  Curious how healthy that food item or beverage is before you eat it?  Pull out your phone and click on the Red Laser app, then follow the instructions to scan the barcode of the item.  Within seconds, you will see a list of results - from where you can buy it and who has the lowest price, to nutrition facts (supplied by DailyBurn) to Google search results.  Really cool!

Hipstamatic and Pocketbooth - Two essential iPhone camera apps.  (I wrote recently on my photography blog about the Hipstamatic camera app, and can't recommend it enough.  Read more at www.teddiyaeger.blogspot.com)

Scrabble - I try to play at least one round of Scrabble every day (you know, to try to recover my pre-kids brain).

Make Time For Cooking: A Few, New Favorite Ingredients

Ghee - Ghee is butter that has been slowly melted, so that the milk solids are separated from the golden liquid which rises to the surface.  Then this clarified butter (which is excellent for dunking crab legs into and such) is simmered until all of the moisture evaporates and the milk solids begin to brown, giving it a nutty, caramel-like flavor and aroma.  This extra step gives ghee a longer life and higher smoke point is raised to almost 375 degrees, making it ideal for sauteing and frying.  You can make your own, but I bought mine at Central Market in Mill Creek (next to regular butter).  Though more expensive than regular butter, a little goes a long way as its so big on flavor.  Try drizzling it over steamed vegetables, fry or saute in it - even put a little on your popcorn.

Goat Cheese - Trader Joe's now sells individual goat cheese medallions, which are perfect for breading and frying, then adding to a salad (preferably spinach, with dried cranberries and candied walnuts or pecans).  You can shape your own small rounds of goat cheese, but TJ's makes it very convenient.  

Fried Goat Cheese Medallions
To bread each round of goat cheese, dredge it lightly in flour, then one beaten egg and then coat in panko (Japanese breadcrumbs).  Saute in canola or olive oil until golden brown on each side, about 3-4 minutes per side.  Serve atop a nice green salad (see above).


Greek Yogurt - As mentioned yesterday in the Farfalle with Yogurt and Zucchini recipe, plain, whole-milk greek yogurt makes a great (and healthier) substitute for heavy cream, buttermilk and such, in your favorite recipes.  It's also amazing frozen, if you like the tangy frozen yogurt served up at such places as Red Mango, and of course, good on its own for breakfast (stir some fruit or honey into vanilla Greek yogurt, if you like it sweet).  I even used it this morning to make pancakes, after realizing that the recipe called for buttermilk and I didn't have any.  Try it here for yourself:

Hayden's Special-Occasion Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes (recipe by Tyler Florence)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 large eggs
2 cups buttermilk (or plain, whole-milk greek yogurt)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 bananas, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Powdered sugar (optional)
Maple syrup (optional)

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.  Combine the eggs and buttermilk (or yogurt) in a large bowl and beat to incorporate.  Add the flour mixture to the bowl and stir quickly just until combined; do not overmix.  Stir in the melted butter and 1/4 cup of the chocolate chips.  Heat a griddle or large nonstick pan over medium-low heat, and coat with nonstick cooking spray.  Ladle the batter onto the griddle, using 1/4 cup for each pancake.

Cook until the pancakes are covered with bubbles, 3-4 minutes; flip and cook until golden brown on both sides, another 2-3 minutes.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar, a few chocolate chips and top with sliced bananas.

Make Time for Snacks: D-I-Y Microwave Popcorn

I haven't eaten much in the way of microwaveable popcorn in years, thanks to partially hydrogenated oil.  While there are a couple of brands out there without it, packaged popcorn is still very high in sodium and fat.  Until recently, I had forgot that microwaving your own popcorn is extremely simple, cheap and much better for your health.

Here's all you need to do:

1. Add about 1/4 cup of popping corn kernels to an unused brown lunch bag.  (There's no need to add oil!)
2. Fold the top of the bag down twice, stick the bag in the microwave and cook on high for approximately 1.5-2 minutes.  
3. Listen until popping slows down - over 3-4 seconds between pops - then remove the bag carefully from the microwave.
4. Now add your own toppings - melted butter and salt, salt and a bit of lime juice, Parmesan cheese, or even a bit of finely grated chocolate (use a micro plane for best results).  

You have a healthier and tastier version of microwaveable popcorn for a fraction of the price of store-bought varieties!

Make Time For Dinner: Healthy Pasta "Cream" Sauce

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, and I certainly didn't expect my husband to go for seconds (or whatever you call cleaning the pot). I wanted to make pasta with peas and prosciutto, but every recipe I could find called for heavy cream or creme fraiche (neither of which I had). I did have Greek-style whole milk yogurt, and remembered a recipe I had read recently for Farfalle with Yogurt and Zucchini. I figured that I could substitute peas for the zucchini and Orecchiette for the Farfalle. I swear you would never know you were eating a yogurt sauce - it was so good! Plus it's a healthier alternative to heavy cream.
Here is the original recipe and then my variation:

Farfalle with Yogurt and Zucchini - From On Top of Spaghetti by Johanne Killeen & George Germon (as reprinted in Food & Wine's Best of the Best, Vol.10)

(4-6 servings)

1 lb Farfalle
4 med. Zucchini, coarsely shredded
4 tbsps unsalted butter
1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Grated nutmeg
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente; about one minute before the pasta is done, add the shredded zucchini to the pot. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, melt the butter. Remove from the heat. Stir in the yogurt and the cup of grated cheese and season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Add the pasta, zucchini and reserved pasta cooking water to the saucepan and cook over low heat, tossing, until the sauce coats the pasta. Transfer to bowls and eat.

Orecchiette with Yogurt, Peas and Prosciutto Variation
Substitute frozen peas for the zucchini (add to boiling pasta during the last 2 minutes of the pasta's cooking time).
Add small strips of Prosciutto to the pasta, peas and sauce before serving.

Enjoy!

Make Time For Make-Believe

I think childhood should be full of wonder.  Mine was, and that's what I want for my children now.  One of my new favorite things comes from a French toy company called Moulin Roty.  I found these in the Toy Place at Bellevue Art & Frame just before Christmas, and couldn't wait to show them to Hayden and Sylvia.  They are beautiful paper shadow puppets - nine total in this fairy tale collection - each on their own little stick.  Just add a white sheet and a flashlight, and your children can perform a show of their own.  It's a great way to stretch their imaginations and story-telling skills.

Here are a few images from tonight's show (performed in Hayden's room).  Sylvia leaned into the light in one shot, and I think that's wonderful.

Make Time For Movies

Best Family-Friendly Movies You've Never Seen (at least not for a while):

Mouse Hunt - Two brothers (Nathan Lane and British comedian Lee Evans) inherit a dilapidated old mansion from their father and soon discover its worth millions. However, a tenacious little mouse is about to ruin all of their plans to restore and sell the place. This is one of my favorite movies, and one that few people have heard of (it came out in 1998 by DreamWorks). It features brilliant physical comedy (slapstick), and a brief, but memorable, appearance by Christopher Walken as an exterminator. Rated PG. There is a bit of violence and my kids used to get "worried" on occasion about the mouse's well-being (but everything turns out fine). I sometimes skip the opening scene where the Mayor eats and then throws up a cockroach, and you may want to as well. But this is a hilarious, charming movie that we watch over and over again.

Annie - One of my favorites from when I was a little girl! I was not looking forward to watching it again, though, figuring it was cheesy, obnoxious and out-of-date. However, I found myself cracking up and of course, singing along with the kids. There are a few fast-forward musical numbers (like "Let's Go to the Movies"). But all in all, it sucks us all in every time and I've found so many new things that I like about it (now that I get the adult humor). The best thing about the movie by far is the wonderful performance by Carol Burnett, one of my favorite comedians of all time. Her interpretation of Miss Hanigan's lines and every move she makes is nothing short of hilarious. I had forgot just how good she is! There are also some great lines about Democrats and Republicans (remember when Daddy Warbucks and Annie go to visit Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt?), and they were surprising fitting for today's times. Remember who plays Daddy Warbucks in the movie? If you said Telly Savales, you are just remembering the bald head. Daddy Warbucks is played by a bald but beautiful Albert Finney actually. (Some of his most recent and memorable roles were in Erin Brokovich and Big Fish, and he recently passed away. What a loss.) The scene between Burnett and Finney is heaven. I recommend that you give this movie a fresh look, and introduce it to your kids. Rated PG. (The scene on the bridge at the end is a bit scary.)

The Adventures of Milo and Otis - I hope everyone knows this 1986-89 film (it took four years to complete), directed by Masanori Hata and narrated by the late Dudley Moore. There are no people in this movie, no talking animals, no animation - just a bunch of real animals, namely a cat and a pug, who go on an adventure. Moore creates the voices for all of the animals in the movie, and they are sweet and funny. The cinematography and animals in the movie are incredible. Rated G.

Babe - The animals do talk and there are people in this 1995 film, but it's simply wonderful and has a very poignant message about self worth and acceptance (summed up by the main character in one memorable line - "That'll do, Pig"). It's easy to forget that this family film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture, director (Chris Noonan, who recently directed the movie Mrs. Potter about Beatrix Potter), screenplay, and won the Oscar for its visual effects - that is, until you watch it again. Rated G.

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - This 1963 movie is a marathon (2 hours and 41 minutes)! But it contains some of the funniest performances and slapstick scenes ever filmed. (In fact, my acting professor in college used scenes from the movie to demonstrate "clowning" and physical comedy at its best.) I'm waiting until my son is just a bit older and able to watch at least parts of it, and hoping he won't try to imitate many of the scenes. The cast list is unbelievable: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Winters, Don Knotts, Jerry Lewis, and on and on and on. Watch this soon - with your friends, with your kids or alone. You can't help but laugh, I promise. Rated G.

What's Up, Doc? - Another classic screwball comedy, this one starring a very young, very adorable Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, and Madeline Kahn, and the streets of San Francisco.  It's no wonder that I love this movie so much - it was written by Buck Henry (The Graduate, To Die For, etc).  Here's just a sample of the dialogue:  "My name is Howard Bannister and I'm from Ames, Iowa. It all started when I bumped my head in the taxicab on my way in from the airport. I went to the drugstore for some aspirin and he tried to charge me for a radio because she said her husband would pay for it. But I didn't of course. Anyway, she ripped my jacket and then Eunice, my fiancé, came along. But she kept calling me Steve. Not my fiancé, my wife, or rather the one who isn't my wife."  My husband couldn't understand why I rented this to watch with the kids, but I knew that Hayden would love the physical comedy (and he did).

The NeverEnding Story - I thought this movie was the coolest thing since Twinkies when I first saw it back in high school (I know, I'm dating myself by saying that). This 1984 film was directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen (The Perfect Storm) and is perfect for all of those Harry Potter/Artemis Fowl fans out there. It features a young boy who finds a mysterious book, and discovers as he reads it, that he is altering the fate of its characters (the warrior Atreyu, the Empress, racing snails, luckdragons, elves, etc.). Rated PG. (Note:  I think some of the characters or scenes of danger may be too much for children under the age of 6 or 7.)

Make Time For Toys

I am fortunate to have a very crafty husband, which is good because I'm a sucker for toys.  I LOVE to treat my kids to toys.  In fact, I think they may have more toys than any other kids I know.  So that all adds up to a lot of money spent on toys, which is why it's good that my husband is crafty.  He has made some of the most adorable toys for the kids using stuff around the house and garage.  My favorites are his robots (this one even lights up at the top):

Recently, I came across a blog called Made by Joel.  Joel's a dad and an artist, and this blog is full of great homemade toys he has created for his kids.  It's absolutely inspiring and I can't wait to try out some of his ideas.  This will be the first one made at our house, seeing how my son is a Lego fanatic.

Made by Joel Branch Forest (Legos not included)

If you're not naturally artistic or crafty like Joel, but like his paper toys, check out Taro Gomi's Play All Day:  More Than 100 Punch-Out Pieces.  I bought this for my kids for Christmas, and we've had fun punching out and assembling these adorable paper toys.

Speaking of toys, I had to carry over this previous post from an old blog I had.  My Hall of Fame for toys.  I can tell you that the toys on this list have stood the test of time!  These have been played with the most by both our son and daughter (ages 6 and 4), time and time again.  They are extremely durable (most still look like new), entertaining, flexible (in terms of how they can be played with) and timeless.  I know I haven't included some obvious ones - bubbles, play dough, etc.  But I think this is a pretty good list of what makes the most rounds in our house at playtime.

So (drum roll), here is our short list.  (I would love to hear from you about yours, so be sure to leave comments.)

Schleich Animals

Both of my children are crazy about animals, and these miniature ones are the best out there.  I always pack them when we travel or go out to eat, and we use them on an almost daily basis in lots of ways.  Our kids love to sort them by color, size, habitat, or other characteristics (climbers, swimmers, jumpers, etc.).  The animals make regular appearances in block forts, our wooden Melissa & Doug farm, the bathtub - just to name a few. Average cost:  $2-6 per animal.

LEGO

My son easily spends the majority of his waking hours playing with, building, taking apart, talking about, thinking about Legos.  My husband and I loved Legos too when we were kids, and now they are just as, if not more, appealing to our children.  I'm amazed at the themed kits that they have nowadays - my son's favorites are the Star Wars and Indiana Jones legos.  But you need to start out (and try to stay with) the basic blocks to help develop your child's creativity (and not lose your mind trying to sort all of those tiny little pieces).  This is one toy that I'm sure my children's children will still be playing with someday - an absolute classic.

Matchbox Cars 

Remember these?  Well, they never went anywhere - you just grew up.  My son has new cars and plays with my husband's Matchbox car collection from 35+ years ago.  Another great, inexpensive and portable classic.

Find It! Games

If you could take only one toy with you on a long car/airplane/camping/family reunion trip, this would be it.  I've never seen both children and adults (maybe adults mostly) become so obsessed as they have trying to find the list of items hidden within Find It! tubes.  The idea is so simple, thus brilliant.  Tiny objects (listed on the lid and on a pad of checklists) are hidden in foot-long clear tubes of tiny beads, and your objective is to find them all. Sounds easy enough, right?  You would be amazed at how difficult it is to move the beads in the very center of the tube, which usually houses that last handful of items you need.  If you're lucky enough to spot the penny, go onto Find It's website and log it in.  Since these games are not cheap (about $16-20 each), we hand them on to friends when we've found all of the items and swap them for other themes.

Fold-n-Go Toys: Castle 

I can't believe how many hours and ways my son has come up with playing with his Fisher Price castle.  But I shouldn't be surprised.  I can't forget my Fisher Price farm, school bus, etc. from when I was a child either.  His usual inhabitants of the castle these days are Lego people - Indiana Jones, Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker to name a few.  My daughter now has her own castle - the Melissa and Doug Fold & Go Mini Castle.  I love that both castles fold up and have handles for carrying with us.   

A great runner-up to the castle is the wooden Melissa and Doug Fold & Go Barn, where the Schleich farm animals live on a regular basis.

Frigits Magnetic Marble Run & Tomy Magnetic Gears

Magnetic toys: these are our two favorites.  We put two sheets of magnetic steel from Ikea on Hayden's wall, so that he could play with all kinds of magnets but mostly these.  We all feel like engineers rearranging the marble run and gears into all kinds of configurations. Just don't tell the kids that they are learning math and science skills!

Blocks

Many educators will tell you that the most beneficial toy that your child could play with is a set of blocks.  In fact, if you do a Google search on "block play", you'll find many wonderful articles on the benefits of block play for children's development.  I love these - simple, well-made wooden blocks from Melissa & Doug.  Our latest use: building the movie sets from the Indiana Jones movies, so that Hayden's Lego people can go treasure hunting through them.  I'm not sure that's what educators had in mind, but I know that it gets the kids thinking about spatial relationships, geometry, etc.  (Again, just don't tell them that!) 

Playmobil

Playmobil is up there with Lego in our house, though not as generic (and therefore flexible).  But we all love Playmobil sets (particularly the zoo) and individual figurines. There are some tiny pieces in some sets and they are not cheap, but they are definitely something that the kids will play with for many years and not tire of easily.

Crayons

How can you go wrong with good old crayons and blank paper?  (Yes, blank paper, as opposed to color-in-the-lines coloring books which require far less imagination.)  All crayons are good as far as I'm concerned, but I do have some favorites.  I love the triangle-shaped ones from Faber-Castell the most, because they are easier for small hands to grip.  Again, inexpensive, portable, flexible...you're getting the idea.

Mini Micro Scooter

Hands down, the best scooter out there.  It is far more manageable and safer to operate than other scooters.  Sure, it costs twice as much, but far less than a trip to the E.R.