Gluten Free Vegan Pizza

Doesn't that sound yummy?  Who needs all the chewy crust, oozing melted cheese, and greasy pepperoni?  Pizza was one of those things I've struggled to replace when I started converting to a gluten free diet.  I tried a lot of different crusts. Some pre-made, others from a mix or recipe but they were all obviously not "real" pizza.  I finally stumbled upon Shar's gluten free crust awhile back and have stuck with them every since. 

They come in a pre package box of 2 crusts.  The prices varies depending on the store but I can usually get them for around $6.00.  It seems a little pricey but when you think of how much you pay for pizza when you order out it's not so bad. It makes for a quick and easy semi-homemade pizza night.  We sometimes go the traditional sauce and cheese route, but for Jim's birthday I decided to do a special vegan kale pizza.

Vegan Pizza

Pizza crust of your choice
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2-3 gloves of garlic, chopped
~ 1/2 c. pizza sauce
toppings of your choice
olive oil

Preheat oven according to pizza crust directions.
Cook garlic on medium heat medium skillet using 1-2 Tbsp of oil.  Add cannellini beans and cook until warm.  Mash beans and garlic.

Spread bean mash over crust. Add sauce. Top with choice of  veggies (we went with red onions...I also enjoy roasted red peppers.)

With 2-3 minutes remaining on the recommended cook time I remove the pizza and top with a heaping pile of kale and drizzle a little oil olive around the edges of the crust.  Returning to the oven until the kale is crispy. 

Monday...

Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do - or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so. 

 ~Stanley Crawford

Another year gone by

It's been a pretty crappy blogging month for me.
Ehh, what's one to do about it.
Moving on....

Yesterday was Jim's birthday.  He is now a youthful thirty-three.  We usually have his family over for a little food, cake, and merriment but he requested an even lower key affair with just Riesling and I.  I think once you're in full adult full time career with a wife, house, and kid one birthday is the same as the next.   I mean that in the best possible way of course.  Jim didn't actually say that but I just kind of inferred it by his request and overall lack of excitement for the occasion.  Maybe he feels so completely different now than last week and didn't want to mention it. He probably just feels achy and stiff because he's old now.

I happen to be a fan of Jim getting older.  I particularly like having someone to age gracefully with. I also happen to be a fan of birthdays.  So, Riesling and I spent the day making him a special carrot cake, a birthday card and decorating the kitchen table while he was off working like a dog.

We made a birthday dinner complete with special vegan pizzas with Daddy's favorite spices and topped with crispy roasted kale (I think I'll post that recipe tomorrow) followed by a bit of singing, wish making, cake chowing, and gifts.

Hope it was a great day Jim!  Happy Birthday!

11 months.

 Somehow my little baby is eleven months old.

That's right.  Eleven months. As in less than thirty days she will be one year old.  What?!  I honestly don't know where the last year has gone.  She is so much kiddo now and not so much baby. I just love watching her discover new things every day, mastering new skills, and developing her little feisty personality.  But, I do miss those brief days when I could snuggling her up in one arm like a little football while she napped and I read Charlotte's Web.  Happy and sad all mixed up in one.

I did manage to get a few shots, but it's extremely difficult to get a good pictures of her at this stage of the game.  This little lady is on the move.....

Monday...

via

Recipes & Pinterest

I get on kicks every few months where all I want to do is try new recipes.  I guess maybe it's more like I get in ruts and start cooking the same stuff week after week which eventually leads to me desperately needing to try something different.  Either way, the kitchen has been in full go lately. I've been leafing through old cookbooks and hitting up Pinterest for ideas and inspiration and tried out a few things we really loved (and some that were just Ok).

Crockpot Black Beans and Rice for an easy vegan taco night (I used basmiti rice and added 1/2 more broth).  We used gluten free corn tortillas and topped it with avocado and salsa.  I was really wishing for a hint of lime and cilantro.  A definite for next time.  Also would be great for a side dish.

Beet Hashbrowns.  I saw this one in a magazine and was so psyched to try it.  Overall it was just Ok.  It was a lot of prep and took a lot longer to cook than the recipe indicated.  I also had trouble getting the whites to set in the eggs.  I actually think it would have been better without the eggs.

Kale Salad.  This was super easy and so delicious.  Jim and I both love kale and I love finding new ways to eat it raw.  I didn't have (and couldn't find) currants so I used dried cranberries.  Other wise I pretty much followed the recipe.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.  The one thing Jim occasional craves since adopting a vegetarian diet is wings.  This recipe did the trick for him.  I used Bob's Red Mills all purpose gluten free flour and Sriracha hot sauce, which my brother introduced me to.  So so good!  We will definitely be making these again real soon.

More fun Pinterest finds to come.  Click below to follow me....

Drunken Sailor

Riesling has been standing & "cruising" around for a long time and just before Christmas she started taking some solo steps.  Then she entered my least favorite stage so far, what I like to call the drunken sailor.  First off, she gained the strength and confidence to stand straight up from sitting in the middle of the floor.  Before she needed the assistance of a chair, couch, wall, etc.  So she would crawl over to whatever she thought best, pull herself up, then attempt to take a few steps away from the object.  This wasn't so bad because I could see her in motion toward the couch or chair and have time to prep myself for the walking which always resulted in falling.  Once she started standing straight up it was all over.  Up she goes followed by 10-12 wobbling steps in ANY direction, ending in either with a heavy smash onto her bum or mostly forward.  She seemed to know that she couldn't make it very far and was always reaching for a place to land, which meant that she was slightly leaning forward.  It also meant that she was reaching for places to land that were not great options, like hard pieces of wooden furniture, unsteady baskets that won't hold her wait, the dog, my leg.  Not only was she walking around all crazy, she wanted to do nothing else.  

I couldn't get a single thing down during this phase.  I could barely pour a cup of coffee or take a pee.  I felt like one nano second away from her would result in direct head trauma. Of course the stage passed by rather quickly (as do all things with babies) and she is doing some serious walking now.  Today was by far her best day.  She's still a little unsteady but we've definitely turned the corner.  She can slow down, stop, pick up a toy, stand back up and start moving again without falling.  It's so darn cute (and exhausting!).  It's hard to believe that her birthday is just over a month away.

Monday...

"You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

~C.S. Lewis

Snow Angel

We were greeted in Ohio by my warm loving family...and 20 degree temperatures and lots of fresh snow.  Jim and I decided to ring in Riesling first New Year with a little tutorial on on the fun things you can do in the snow.

First, we explained how to properly prepare yourself for the conditions.  This involves putting on a lot of crazy snow gear.  There's the layering, the zipping, the hats, gloves, & boots.  And of course it takes forever and by the time you're done you're sweating and just can't wait to jump into a chilly snow bank.

Riesling of course hated her snowsuit (she looked so darn cute!).  I think mostly she just hated that she couldn't move around very easily.  But she was a champ and allowed us to proceed with the antics.  Once outside Jim decided a little taste test was the first order of business.  We made sure to warn her against any areas with a yellowish tint.

We moved on to the classic snow angel.  I'm not sure that Riesling was impressed with the process but she seemed to like the end result.

 Next up was some general playful frolic. I'm sure as she gets older this will involve a little more racing around and snowball throwing, but for her first time she decided to go with some good old fashion crawling and worm like activity.  She seemed to be having actual fun at this point.

 Frolic led nicely into making a snowman. 

This lead to more eating of the snow, followed by crying because she wanted to walk but couldn't manage it in the snowsuit and within 10 minutes we were back indoors explaining the magic of hot chocolate.  So so much fun ahead little angel.

Letters from Riesling

Dear Friends & Family,

I survived my first Holiday season. What a whirlwind!  There were some things I really thought were fun.  Like going to parties to hang out with a lot of people and ripping up a bunch of paper.  We even had a party here at our house, where I got to have friends in my new basement playroom and showed them all my fun toys.  We also went to Ohio to see my cousins.  It was so fun playing with all the big kids and I got to build a snowman!  

I didn't like how noisy some places were.  I find it distracting and hard to eat in peace with a lot of people and commotion going on. My mommy did her best to find the quietest spots available but it wasn't always the best or most comfortable places.  I also had to have my diaper changed on the floor a lot.  I could do without that whole experience.

All in all I thought Christmas was pretty awesome.  But, I am looking forward to a nice relaxing week at home.  Aside from going to work, Mommy and I are just planning on staying close to home, enjoying my new toys, and maybe taking a few extra naps. 

Love always,

Riesling

Monday...

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."

~Epictetus

Robinson Family Holidays. I Spy Edition.

I Spy...

A paisley print reindeer. A first taste of snow.
And cousins with their cute matching bows.

Snowflakes that glisten. Grandma's gifts galore.
Please help, I just can't unwrap anymore. 

These were hung with great care. Some time with Papa and Me
This awesome Daddy is as tall as a tree.

A red travel companion. A train that is "green"
And a snowboarders scar that can barely be seen.

There is sisterly love and an unsteady gait
And a little one who just can't wait for her first date.

Don't forget a soft new bunny, a hectic Aunt Jenn
And Riesling with the James G. Robinson men.

 

Baby's First Christmas

Who invited this big kid to my baby's first Christmas?

Seriously, doesn't she look so big and grown up.  Must be the stripes!  I think the Christmas jammies may have been my favorite part....

Home for the Holidays

This video made me laugh!  So, so true.  I've been away from "home" for over a decade now so I'm kind of use to it. I remember the first couple of years of college I would try to make a ton of plans and try to see all these people (like old teachers!) but now I rarely go anywhere that isn't the house of a direct family member.  Every once in awhile I venture out to Bob Evan's to meet one of my high school or college friends for breakfast.

Jim and I will be heading to Ohio for New Year's Eve.  Aside from seeing my crazy awesome little niece and nephews and hanging with the fam, I'm most looking forward to driving really slow with almost no one else on the road.  On the other hand I'll be hard pressed to find a good cup of coffee without driving 45 minutes.  Damn you suburbs...you win every time.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

It's no secret to those who know me, I love the holiday season.  I grew up in a home that was decked from top to bottom and smelled like cinnamon and spice all December and well into January.  There were soft twinkling lights and special fancy glasses with candy canes.  My mom loved to decorate for the holidays and putting together little special themed gift baskets for friends and family.   I even had an annual holiday gift exchange and sleep over with my girl friends.

It was only natural that it would stick with me.  I think I was the only college kid with my own tote of Christmas decorations and my own tree (not table top size) in my little college apartment even though I don't think anyone else was really around to see it but me. The first few years Jim and I were together it might have been a little overwhelming for him to deal with my excessive holiday cheer. Thanks to a certain little cutie pie, he's finally starting to come around and has enjoyed every step of the holiday season without complaint this year. 

Saturday we survived our 2nd annual "Robinson Family" Holiday Party with pretty good success (a look back out our first annual). Our house is nice and open and perfect for holding lots of people.  This year we went for a little more kid friendly party (aka lets get this thing started early so everyone is out of here by 10:00) with a freshly painted and babyproofed basement where Riesling was a lovely hostess and entertained her little friends (I suck.  There are no pictures).

Although the crowd cleared out early enough we were still pretty exhausted on Sunday and just had a lazy family day.  It's so nice and cozy with the tree lit and a few candles burning.  We did venture out to see Santa at the Historic Langhorne Library.  Riesling didn't exactly hate Santa, but I wouldn't go so far as to say she actually like him either.  

"I guess I can trust a guy with sleigh bells"

"Let's see...did I forget anything on my list?" 

 "Daddy you better not leave me with this guy"

 We didn't get any super smiley happy pictures but I still pretty darn cute.  It's such a sweet little thing that our town does.  There were maybe a half dozen kids when we were there and they hand out cookies, juice boxes, and coloring books.  Santa is really patient and will let you take a million pictures if you want.  There's no crazy line or crazy shopping mall madness going on.  We will definitely be making it a yearly tradition. 

 

Monday...

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."

~Ghandi

Tis the holiday season...

Family photo

I was determined to send out a photo Christmas card this year since it was our first year as a little family.  We had the best intentions of having professional pictures taken in the Fall but it just never happened.  So here we were only weeks before Christmas trying to get a family photo.  I would have preferred doing it outdoors but it was rainy and gloomy all weekend.  So, we were stuck trying to make the best of terrible lighting, a blank wall in our basement, a squirming snot nosed teething baby, and a self timer. It wasn't our finest hour but we got an acceptable shoot for the card.  There were definitely a lot of that did not make the cut....

 

 

(I actually like this one even if it wasn't card worthy. )

Monday...

"Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me."

~Seymour Miller & Jill Jackson, Let There Be Peace on Earth

Me, Myself, and I

Why is it so hard for moms to take time for themselves?  Mom guilt is such a weird thing.  I get so focused on making sure everyone in my wee lil family is Ok that I forget about me.  In some regards it's no big deal but not only do I sometimes just need a break from the long days, I don't want to get o the place where I can't find the "me" anymore.  I think it's important to stay an individual and engage in small things you enjoy.

I've really been working on taking some quality time for myself, like recently taking a 3 hour photography class ($25 Groupon! wootwoot), letting Jim hang with Riesling while I go to the grocery store alone, which most certainly includes a pit stop at Starbucks, or going out for a drink after work to celebrate my birthday with my coworkers even though it means Jim putting Riesling to bed (gasp!).

I don't know why I struggle with taking a time out so much, especially on days when I really need it.  If I'm tired, worn out, or frustrated after a long day with a cranky teething baby I'm not being my best mom self anyways.   And just an hour alone helps clear my head and I come home refreshed and ready to dive back in. Like I said mom guilt is weird.  Aside from those occasional outings solo,  I'm also working on taking better care of myself on a day to day basis.  Again, healthy mommy equals happy mommy.  Here's my hit list:

Drink more water.  It is ridiculous that I have to put this in writing, but for some reason during the winter months I tend to forget about hydration.  I don't drink much else besides coffee, tea, and a glass of wine at night so it's not like I'm drinking a lot of soda or anything, I'm just not drinking anything at all.  No good.

Take my vitamins.  I go through spurts where I forget all about those magic little pills.  I take D3, prenatal multivitamins, and a B12 everyday.  I also like to take an Omega 3 supplement of some sort, I prefer flaxseed or flaxseed oil in a smoothie or something but if I don't fit that it I need to remember to take the pill.  I started

Eat lunch. Another stupid one.  Why am I not taking time to freakin' eat?!  Usually what happens is that I get some consumed with playtime, nap time, squeezing in chores, and getting an afternoon walk in with the dog that I just grab something quick.  Blue chips & hummus with a handful of almonds is not a proper lunch.  I just don't want to take the time to prepare something.  Work days are better because I pack a salad or leftovers the night before so I think I'll just try to prep something the night before for the other days too.

Workout at least 3 days a week.  Jim and I both struggle with this one.  Neither of us wants to get up early and take a morning shift at the Jim and we both kind of hate working out after dinner so it leaves a really small window Monday, Wednesday, & Friday for one of us to go to the gym after Jim gets home from work (no daycare at the place we belong to).  Of course there are the weekends which we tend to pile up with projects and family time and just kind of forget about weight lifting.  Luckily my job is physical in nature so I'm not sitting at a desk for long periods, we walk everyday with the dog, and Riesling is 20+lbs upper body workout all day long.  So, I'm not completely neglecting myself.  I think I need to start adding a in home workout during morning nap time a few days a week.  Any recommendations for videos or quick but effective routines?

Finding balance is hard but I definitely think I'm doing better than just a month ago.  I'll keep you posted on my success!