A Little Bit of Nothing to Read and a Little Bit of Something to Eat.

Well, another weekend has sidled past me. I can't believe it is already Monday. I am currently spending my lunch here at the Starbuck's by work, listening to “Zip-e-do-dah” on their sound system with hardly even a tiny bit of irony. Peanut's birthday is Thursday and I can hardly believe that she is going to be actually one year old. It is truly amazing. Can I say this? It is weird writing with so many people trying to look over your shoulder to see what you are up to. Oh, internet, can you believe how nosy people are? (I know!).

I think I need to get myself a novel to read. I am quite bereft. Has anyone read Ann Patchett's new novel, "Run"? I am not sure if I should get it or if I should get the newish Jhumpa Lahiri ( I may have spelled that wrong). Anyone read anything good lately?

My little one found a new friend at Toysrus this weekend. R took her down the stuffed animal aisle and her eyes went buggy and she said “oh” quietly as her little eyes tried to take in all the stuffed animals. R handed her a little stuffed kitty, colored to look like a Siamese and she took it and SNUGGLED as hard as she could. She looked up at R and said “Cat” very distinctly. I am just so proud. Oh yeah, she also says “Mamamamama” for me and “Hi Dah” to R. She can also say “No” and “Butch” (our boy Siamese's name), which is apparently what her stuffed kitty is named. Right after we left, in the car, R asked her what her kitty's name was and she answered very firmly, “Butch”. AWWWW.

Granted, “Butch” sometimes sounds like “Batch”, but really, Butch should be flattered- “Mama” is much less clear. But I am not a kitty, so there is that.

We hit the farmer's market at the marina yesterday, and got a bevy of lovely produce. Today alone I have eaten an apple, an orange, and a banana. Hooray produce! Yesterday I made a modified Shepherd's Pie with some of our bounty:


2 cloves garlic, minced
2 chopped onions
3 chopped carrots
1 lb ground turkey
1 c. peas
1 tblsp. tomato paste
2 c. chicken stock
1/2 c. rolled oats
Salt and pepper to taste
2 lbs. yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped (enough so they cook relatively quickly)
2 tblsp. butter (unsalted, always)
1/2 c. milk

Cook the onion and garlic in a 6 qt. saucepan until translucent. Add the turkey and carrots and cook until the turkey is cooked through. Add the peas and tomato paste, oats, and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Salt and pepper to taste. Meanwhile, boil water and then add the potatoes and smidge of kosher salt. Cook potatoes and then drain, returning to the cooking pot. Mash, adding the butter and milk slowly. Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the meat/veg mixture into a largish baking dish or individual ramekins. Place ramekins or baking dish onto a cookie sheet and spoon mashed potatoes to cover completely. Cook at about 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes (until the points of the mashed potatoes begin to brown slightly. Allow to cool slightly then serve. Enjoy! I suck at portions but I ended up with a largish casserole and 8 ramekins filled well.

Peanut seemed to like it. I am so over baby food, and so is she... Hooray real food! Tonight we're probably having a rutabega/parsnip soup or Peanut's favorite Wagon Wheel Cheesy Pasta with Vegetables, based on a recipe we got from a kid's cookbook. Although it has been very helpful at getting ideas, I am beginning to feel like there isn't actually a lot of variation in the food in that cookbook- it is all vegetables slathered with cheese. Or fried foods. Of course some kids are pickier than others, but I hate the idea of only serving vegetables with cheese as a sauce. Oh, yes. Peanut's other favorite is Orzo with Mixed Veg and Cheese- I cooked some orzo with chopped zuchinni, yellow squash, onions, carrots, broccoli and peas, and tossed it with salt and pepper and a little bit of Parmesan Reggianno cheese. She thought that was super.

I am actually having a lot of fun coming up with new things to make using vegetables for her. She also really liked steamed Edamame and carrots, too. If anyone actually reads this and has any ideas, I would love suggestions on healthy and simple vegetable recipes. Also, how do you incorporate meat or bean/lentil protein in your child's diet? Thanks for the suggestions, if you have some.

I am very sleepy and must put myself to sleep, now that Peanut has fallen asleep almost on her own with her kitty stuffed toy- Butch. Awww.

I have been thinking of changing the name of my blog from “Musings and Meanderings” to “I Have No Idea Where I Am Going With This”, any thoughts?

Happy César Chávez Day, btw.