baking healthy - Pumpkin Bread

2 things have inspired me to bake more and bake more healthy and they both go back to Hannah, my toddler

1) baking is a fun different activity for us to do
2) baking offers a snack to have special in the day and making it healthy means that with the limited amount that a toddler eats and knowing how difficult it can be to get all the nutritional value that is ideal for them adding in the extras and knowing what they eat is good!

Here is my latest baking creation I did with Hannah this week

Pumpkin Bread (off season I know, but I felt like it so why not?!)

The recipe comes from my Better Homes and Garden Cookbook that I love!

Ingredients as in cookbook
3 cups sugar
1 cup cooking oil
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2/3 cup water
1 15 oz can of pumpkin

Changes I made to ingredients 
- cut sugar to just 2 1/2 with 2 cups being regular sugar and a half of brown sugar (mostly because I ran out of regular sugar)
- cut the regular flour to 2 cups and added 1 cup of Oat Bran and 1/2 cup of ground flax

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides (I used non-stick so omitted this step), use either 2 regular loaf pans, 3 smaller ones or 4 mini ones and set them aside. In an extra-large mixing bowl beat together the sugar and oil on medium speed. Add eggs and beat well; set sugar mixture aside.
2. In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Alternately add flour mixture and the water to sugar mixture (Hannah loved this part), beating on low speed after each addition (I didnt use an electic mixture and just stirred by hand well and it turned out just fine) until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Spoon batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 55-65 minutes (I baked for 62 I think...pumpkin looks more soft and undone that it actually its so go with what they say next and it will turn out great) or until wooden toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. Wrap and store overnight before slicing. (since we made it for something we had that morning we did not wait as recommended and not letting it cool 100% did make it kind of fall apart, the second loaf we waited until it was full cool and served at something later that afternoon and although not overnight it turned out much better, however still a little crumbly so maybe thats the secret for overnight waiting...)

It really is easy to make, it turned out great - friends loved it, I loved it, Hannah loved it...Matt didn't but he doesn't like baked pumpkin at all so I knew before trying it he would hate it and thats okay!

The best part was that it makes 2 loaves which means you can serve one and keep one, or eat one now and freeze one for later or just eat it all week long!

ps I know it has a lot of sugar, but a lot of things do and with a sweet tooth baby at least I knew she was getting some other good stuff in there too! Its all about balance!

A lesson on "politeness"

Hannah had to have her 18 month shots today.

Both Matt and I were not looking forward to her appointment, but because we had to take the car in and do other stuff in the area of Halifax Hannah was just enjoying being out with both parents on a weekday and had no idea what was to come.

Thing is, that she totally shocked me. Not only did she not shed any tears for her first shot, but for the second shot that hurts a lot more she cried just a bit until she had to nod to agree she was brave, and get her band aid on, and then she shockingly responded right away with a "thank you" to the doctor.

Who thanks the doctor for their shots?! Seriously?

Hannah does. 

It got me thinking though, too often we get caught up in the things we don't like or something that has upset us and forget that sometimes people are just doing their jobs and trying to help us and we still need to thank them for doing what they need to do. 

It made me proud to be Hannah's mom as she thanked the doctor another 2 times and kept saying it as we left...Maybe she will become a doctor if she appreciates what they do so much...who knows? 

And thank you Hannah for reminding me that I don't thank people nearly as much as I should! 

The dreaded/beloved "to-do" list

I have never been a huge list person, although as I get older and have more people to worry about and things on my plate I must admit that out of shear necessity I have started writing more lists...now the only thing I need to do is remember to look back on my lists I write and they will be highly effective!

There are some people that are totally list people through and though. I had a friend once that admitted to me actually writing things on her list she already had gotten done just so she could have the joy of crossing things off right away! I love that! I've never done that but I love that! It motivates her to accomplish things and makes her feel good and thats awesome.

However there is also the crowd where the "to-do" list is totally dreaded and overwhelming. The second they start writing the list and seeing how many things are on there they get paralyzed by thinking about things even if its smaller things they totally can get done! I wonder if I became a big list person if this is the way I would slant simply because I remember getting all of our syllabuses in university with the pages to read and assignments to get done. I hated those days just because I would get so stressed thinking there was no way I could get it all done, but then I started doing things and it always got done!

This week is one of those weeks where my mind is in a way whirling and it could stress people out to know the number of things Im trying to accomplish/think of. This is a list week for me! I am trying to get our basement primed and painted, cabinets finished, laundry done, family packed for 7 weeks including entertainment for play for a toddler during that time, work, doctors appointments, and the list goes on...

Could be overwhelming when I look at the list and sublists (ie what I need to pack) but I choose not to be overwhelmed and enjoy the time we have here! So I've decided to apply the handy dandy "swiss cheese method" an awesome method I learnt about during university (unfortunately I dont remember what book it was from or who should get credit on it).

The whole idea of the swiss cheese method = take bite size chuncks out of what you have to do, just start with something, even something easy and then you will realize you can do it all. As you start crossing things off the list confidence can grow and life is good again!

And I must admit that that sweet face from that sweet girl helps me a lot. She forces me to treasure the moments I have with her while shes awake and have some fun away from the "to-do" list, because let's me honest life isn't all about tasks!

Independence

Introducing my "little miss independence"

(her outfit for breakfast and morning play with  no mention of going outside!)

From dressing herself, putting on her boots all by herself to eating on her own and climbing down stairs like "a big girl" with no hand holding, we are at the stage of discovering more independence. 

It is really a fun stage as Hannah seems determined to learn something new she can do, almost every day, but I must admit its also a sad stage in a way when we realize she's not our little baby girl anymore. Like tonight when she had to "read" to me at bedtime reading time instead of letting me read, it was adorable and sad all rolled into one! 

How can I help her during this stage? 

Be patient, as things take 10 million times longer sometimes, listen to what she wants and encourage her as she learns and tries. At the same time set boundaries so she knows what she can do and decide and what we decide and do. For instance, no matter how much she likes to walk funny around, she can not walk by herself across a road or in a parking lot, she must hold our hand or else we will scoop her up no matter the protest. It is for her safety and we explain that to her. There are also times that she can decide a part, but not the whole, so instead of giving her free reign I give her a choice - does she want Daddy to take her up to bed or Mommy? Bed is not an option but who goes up first can be or for church I dont really want her picking out mismatching sweats just yet so I give her an option of 2 or 3 outfits Ive already prepicked out and so far its worked! 

We are learning as we go and no doubt Hannah will help us learn more! 

I just have to be more patient, plan ahead and strive to find that balance of giving Hannah the independence she craves and help her set up some healthy boundaries to learn. 

She is quite the character and I must admit I look forward to each new day wondering how she will surprise me today!