Author Archives: Alison Spath

More Adventures With Three, Part Two

September 25th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Morning Craziness - (18 Comments)

So where were we? Oh yes, the conclusion to my titillating cliff hanger from our shoe (mis)adventures from yesterday!

I let her purple crocs stew in that trash can for about a half hour, while I stewed on what I was going to do.

They were only $4 and they are almost too small. But I could hand them down to my girlfriend Sharon who also has two young daughters… they have a lot of life left in them! I hate to be so wasteful. But on the other hand I want Maxine to know that I say what I mean and I mean what I say!  Read more...

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More Adventures With Three

September 24th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Late Night Craziness - (17 Comments)

This picture makes my lunch look so lovely. I think it’s the book in the background.

Hummus Sandwich and Gazpacho

A spread of sun dried tomato hummus on gently toasted Ezekiel bread, plump sliced tomatoes, home grown sprouts with a blanket of red leaf lettuce and a dabble of mustard. Chilled gazpacho made with the finest seasonal vegetables hand selected from a local grower.  Read more...

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Crack That Nut

September 24th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (27 Comments)

Off and running first thing this morning. I’m so glad we’ve had a slight reprieve from the chilly mornings and I can run in shorts for a little while longer still.

I left my iPod at home today, wanting to just run and be completely present in the moment, focusing on what I was doing. My breathing and the sound of my feet hitting the pavement were the soundtrack for this morning’s run.

I had enough time this morning to go a bit longer and did 5.76 miles in about 47 minutes. My run definitely felt longer today without something to distract me, but it was welcome.  Read more...

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Magic Mushrooms

September 23rd, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (16 Comments)

We had a little homeschooling play date here today and we broke from watercolors and horse play (really, Ava loves to pretend she’s a horse) to have lunch.

Veggie sandwich anyone? Well make your own cause this one is ALL. MINE.

Beloved Veggie Sandwich

There’s avocado in there but it’s hiding until a forest of red leaf lettuce. Plus tomato and mustard too on toasted Ezekiel.

Post lunch we hit up the playground for some “Outside Voice” time and large motor activities on something other than my furniture.  Read more...

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Oh Woe is Three

September 23rd, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (22 Comments)

I like to consider myself a reasonable parent. We practice gentle disciple and offer loving guidance. We encourage respect and the proper use of manners. I’ll eagerly honor requests when they are asked politely, in a sweet tone and especially when there’s something in it for me.

Maxine woke up in the middle of the night last night politely asking for water. Ava’s unconscious heard this request and she immediately woke up asking for water too. I was groggy but knew that there would be no going back to sleep until pint sized thirsts were quenched. I pulled myself out of bed and pressed my near sighted eyes to the bed side clock to see what time it was before stumbling downstairs to fetch two glasses of water.  Read more...

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Mrs. Brightside

September 22nd, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Late Night Craziness - (18 Comments)

I’m afraid I was not tickled to hear that any Sigg bottles made before August 2008 have trace amounts of BPA in their liners. I bought ours early in 2008 so ours were definitely tainted.

Maxine and I ran errands in the acid rain while Ava was at her crunchy granola homeschooling class today. Ditching these bottles was on the list of things to do. An article just showed up in the newspaper announcing that Wegmans is taking back ALL Sigg bottles made before August 2008 no matter where you bought them and offering you a replacement or a refund.  Read more...

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Don’t Pout Little Sprout, It’ll All Work Out

September 22nd, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (12 Comments)

My little mung beans have already started to sprout!

Sprouting

After a few more email exchanges with my mom this morning I realized it was probably worth my time to take a closer look at the sprouting instructions that came with my lids.

Wait. Read the directions? Imagine that!

Sprouting Instructions

OK I promise I did read the instructions yesterday but didn’t get much beyond the soaking part because that’s all I was concerned with then.  Read more...

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Book Titles

September 22nd, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Late Night Craziness - (20 Comments)

If the pictures I took today were going to be used for book covers, the titles of said books might be the following:

Always Listen to Your Mother

In the Dark

My mom called after my post this morning to tell me sprouts should be sprouted in the dark. Who knew? Well – Mom, apparently! Into the cupboard they went.

Beets and the Girls Who Eat Them

Steaming Beets  Read more...

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Spinach Artichoke Heart Hummus

May 24th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Short or Sweet - (4 Comments)

Thanks to Running Towards a Dream I was inspired to make a new flavor of hummus I’ve never tried before.

With that I bring you: Spinach Artichoke Heart Hummus.

This. Rocked.

hummus_done

I threw a large handful of spinach in to the steamer and let it steam for about 5 minutes until it was soft and wilty.

steamed_spinach

While it was steaming, I put the following into the food processor:

1 can of garbanzo beans, drained but not rinsed

5 artichoke hearts from a can

1 Tbsp (+/-) Joyva Tahini  Read more...

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Overnight Oats

May 18th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (10 Comments)

I discovered the wonder of overnight oats a few years ago when my mom described a cold oatmeal dish she’d had for breakfast while on a cruise. It sounded right up my alley so I recreated it at home and life has never been the same. I love overnight oats for their ease and the fact that when you use the right ingredients and toppings, oatmeal doesn’t have to taste like wallpaper paste.

Overnight Oats, the basics:

1/2 c rolled oats
1/2 c milk
1/4 c LF vanilla yogurt  Read more...

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