Beet Pancakes Anyone?

Due to watching a documentary, Hungry For Change, I am implementing even more fruits and veggies and less sugar into what we eat. I don't want my kids to grow up with diabetes or other health problems because of the food choices I make at the grocery store or out and about. 

In the February 2013 issue of Parenting Magazine they had a new column featuring Catherine McCord who's goal is to give her kids the desire to eat healthy foods. I spotted these beet pancakes and loved the color. I gave it a try, letting the kids join me in the process and using our senses to explore beets. We had a blast!!!

Once we roasted the beets and they cooled a bit, I let the kids explore this new food with me. We played with the beautiful bright color the beets bled into the foil. We dipped our fingers in it, tasted the juice and Lilia let me "paint" her face. (It came off just fine.) Because the kids helped me with most of the process, even making the pancakes and watching them turn such a beautiful color, they were so excited to eat them! You just got your kids to each an incredibly healthy veggie! 

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup white flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3 TBSP brown sugar

1 TBSP baking powder

1/2 salt

3 TBSP melted butter

3/4 cup pureed beets

1 1/4 cup milk

1/3 plain greek yogurt

1 egg (I didn't have plain greek yogurt so I used 2 eggs instead)

1 tsp vanilla

1. How To Roast & Puree Beets:

Preheat the oven to 400. Cut the beets off close to the end of the stem. Discard the leafy part or use it for another use. Wash the beets well with water, scrubbing them with your hands. Wrap each beet, still in it's skin, in foil and place on a baking sheet. (They don't have to be dried off.) Bake for 48-55 minutes or until a knife cuts through easily. 

Allow to cool enough to handle them. The beets will stain your hands, but it comes off with a good washing. Peel the skin off with your hand and or a knife. Slice them down. Puree them until smooth. Set aside in a bowl.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well. Add all of the wet ingredients and mix well again. The batter will become the most beautiful color fuschia!

3. Cook on a griddle about 3 minutes on each side. Serve with honey, syrup or raspberry sauce.

For the Price of a Cup of Tea

     To me there is nothing more calming, warming and relaxing than a cup of hot green tea in one of my beautiful mugs. It's my favorite way to start my morning, enjoy my afternoon and I always have tea before bed.
     City Church (our church) practices Lent. When I first heard this I was confused, we aren't Catholic.
     Before myself and my family became Christians, we grew up going to a very traditional, spiritually dead church. When I became a Christian in high school it was through a different church, non-demoninational. When I saw the joy of the people, excitement in worship and scripture elaborations that I could connect with I instantly rebelled against traditional churchy things. So again, my response to practicing Lent was pretty much like, "Why would anyone do that? It seems so stiff."
     Last year was the first time, through God's Spirit convicting me, I gave something up for Lent. I'm practicing it again this year, each time asking God what He would have me give up. This year it was tea. Last Saturday was my last cup.
     As a result of going through the misery of missing my caffeine fix as well the calming, warmth and comfort I was missing out on I came to a stark realization.
     In general, I would spend time reading my Bible one day, but think to myself, 'I don't need to read my Bible today I read it yesterday.' I would think about God throughout the day in certain instances, but I didn't REALLY see my need for fellowship and pursued thought about God every day. I know I am very sinful and I need Jesus everyday in one sense, but how it actually played out was different. However, once I denied myself tea, that's all I could think about. 'Oh I need a cup of tea.'  'I really want some tea right now.'
     By the 3rd day I was boiling the tea water when the doorbell rang. (Yes I was giving up!) I was watching my friends kids for a couple of hours. The younger one crawled right up the steps and I had to chase after him, leaving the tea kettle to cool resulting in no tea for me. God was merciful, God was gracious. So I realized that afternoon as I was so tempted to cave, 'Why don't I desperately need God like I so desperately need tea?'
     It was humbling. That realization also caused me to want to move forward with lent in the efforts for God to cleanse me from this idol. I put the feeling that tea gives me, mentally and physically above God. I bring my own tea places because I want to make sure I can have not just tea, but my very favorite and prized loose green tea. Wow. It's been good. I'm thankful that God is rounding me out through City Church and the traditions it follows as well as freeing my from my sin through Lent. I need God to do that.

Lilia meets a Horse Vet

Patti & Tony are friends of my parents. The last time Lilia was over Patti mentioned scheduling a veterinarian visit for her horses so Lilia could meet the vet and she what she does.
So to know Lilia is to know of her LOVE for animals. She wants to be a vet when she grows up. Even though this is typical of lots of young children, we are going to foster this passion and see where God leads her.
On Friday Lilia had the day off of school so we spent some time with the horses, Patti and got to meet a practicing vet! Lilia watched Dr. Jo give horses needles, use a distraction technique on one of the horses and take blood from two.
Dr. Jo is a traveling veterinarian specializing in horses. She was tough and down to business with the horses and really sweet towards Lilia.

 Dr. Jo Vecchione graduated from Penn Vet school and had Dr. Peter Dodson as her professor for one class. Our family visited his office last March; click here to jog your memory.
Dr. Jo took blood from a couple of the horses. She had to take photos of the vials of blood with the horses name on it. She gave Lilia one of the vials to hold up so she could take a picture.

(Above) Lilia, Dr. Jo and her two dogs that she travels with.

This is Patti. Patti recently asked Lilia if she could be her adopted grandmother. Lilia said yes.

Hike, Santa Fe

 Around the corner from our hotel was a small trail to hike. I had to explore this place, take pictures, collect some rocks and see the land. I put my headphones in and set my tunes to "Katie's favorites" and starting exploring.
The landscape was so different than the east coast. It was even a bit different from trails in Colorado, which we've hiked a few times. I was really lucky to have not come across a rattlesnake since I had headphones in. I guess God was protecting me in that way.
Santa Fe is at 7,000 feet above sea level. It's surrounded by mountains. The snow kissed mountain in these pictures are the foot of the Rocky Mountains.
It was windy and chilly. I was dressed somewhat warm, but not warm enough to be out for more than an hour. I couldn't stop taking pictures so my hand were frozen by the time the sunset was taking place.

Around town, Santa Fe

I didn't catch the name of this church, but it has a famous story. If you look at the picture below you see the staircase going to the second floor. The church didn't have the money for to get to the second floor. An unknown man came in and for 6 months built this staircase. He used wood that was unfamiliar and then vanished. The original design didn't have railing. The stairs make two 360 degree turns. Engineers come in and marvel at the design. They are puzzled at how it was used and how it doesn't collapse. It's currently roped off and unused.

Santa Fe sunsets

Snowy Santa Fe

Saturday afternoon the snow started fluttering down, coating everything. It was really beautiful. Santa Fe is situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains so their winter is similar to our. It's of course much more dry, but it was cold. Since it's dry, the snow melts rather quickly and the sun comes out within the same day. 

Santa Fe, NM

I spent 4 full days away from Dave and the kids. I traveled to Santa Fe for a Bridges Women's conference. We stayed at the most beautiful resort. We heard from some great speakers, learned more about our role within Bridges (working with international students), we also had some free time to shop and explore the land.

 This was my room and it wasn't as nice as some of the others. Some had a beautiful fireplace in the room.
They served Starbucks coffee and tea in your room and in the lobby.

 We stayed at La Posada. It's a really, really nice resort. I think we got a good rate for going off-season and bringing about 100 women. Plus some of the people who work in the Bridges national office raise money for conferences to help offset our personal costs.







We had snow on Saturday which gave a beautiful covering over everything. Below is where my room was.. I took the picture from outside the complex. The complex is surrounded by an adobe-style wall with a grated window in the wall to see in. The architectural style was so cool and unique.

I will write more about what God did in my heart over the weekend and I have a ton of pictures to post, but here are just a few to intrigue you.

Santa Fe bound

Tomorrow morning I am Santa Fe, NM bound for a Bridges women's conference.
I'm really excited. I've only been to CO & UT in the west. I've heard Santa Fe is really beautiful and a neat town to visit.
Poor Lilia practically cried herself to sleep tonight. "You're the best mom ever." "It feels like you're gonna be gone forever." (It is 4 full days.)
We snuggled, we talked, we prayed. Pray for her when you think of it. She's so sensitive. I love that about her.
I will certainly post pictures and stories after I come back. Look for those next week!

Hot Pot & Jesus

 Hot pot is a very traditional Chinese dish. I NEVER once thought I would have hot pot in my own home, but June & Fei brought absolutely everything we needed to enjoy a hot lunch.
So the idea of hot pot is this; you plug in a pot and add a soup broth with spices, fresh garlic and some hot water. This comes to a boil and you add meats and vegetables that cook in the broth. Everyone pulls out what they like and eat it. You keep adding more once much is eaten. Fei told me that this type of meal is very popular in the winter. A large group of people can sit and dine for hours and hours.
Dave spent the morning at the art museum and then joined us for lunch. We got to talking about art, then I brought out one of my favorite books, Akianne (pronounced "Ah-key-ah-na." It's Russian for ocean. Check out her website and her incredible art here. We got to to talking about God and I asked them what they thought about God. June and Fei both shared their thoughts. I loved that they were honest with me. Then they asked me if I grew up always believing in God. I then had a chance to share how I wasn't always a Christian. I shared my story of hating church growing up and how a high-school friend invited me to her church that was so alive. I loved it. So over hot pot and oolong tea we talk, listened to one another, and I tried to answer their questions. It was a great day! The kids joined in at times; Lilia chimed in here and there. We left them with a book of a Chinese scientist that searched out the claims of Christianity and became a Christian. Only prayer and time will cause their hearts to change. Fei said after our conversation that she didn't have any questions before, but now that she knows more about Christianity she has a lot of questions.

 You can barely see it because it's clear, but Alex is slurping a huge noodle. The kids were finally brave enough to try some of the food.