Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Questions about Quinoa

First off, I purchased it at Wegman's (our grocery store, not a speciality store) in the bulk foods section of the organic food section. I also saw it at Whole Foods, near the rice and couscous and polenta (which I purchased to try another new recipe...that stuff is interesting). I would think that the Fresh Market would also carry it.

Second, you could say it's like tofu, taking on the flavor of what you are cooking it with. I don't particularly care for tofu (to me it's like eating cardboard), so I would say it's like rice or couscous or grits, since they take on the flavor of what you are cooking them in as well. It does have a consistency similar to grits or couscous. Although, it doesn't have the creamy liquidy stuff that grits have. It's almost like rice that is slightly underdone (which could mean that my quinoa was underdone, too).

Also, I did a little research on Wikipedia.
In contemporary times this crop has come to be highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete food. This means it takes less quinoa protein to meet one's needs than wheat protein. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten free and considered easy to digest. Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered as a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration manned spaceflights."

I might try adding it to stews that call for rice, since it's such a super-food and all.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Quinoa

I wanted to try quinoa, but didn't really know what to do with it. I found this Quinoa & Turkey Taco Stew recipe on greenlitebites.com. Wow, yummy! I ran it through WW's recipe builder and it's only 4 points for a cup (and you get about 7 1-cup servings). It tastes way better than it looks, it looks like it would be bland. Marc wasn't so sure about it. It's not that he didn't like it, he just wasn't sure.

The quinoa is great. It takes on the flavor of whatever you are cooking it in and it has a texture like steel cut oats. Speaking of steal cut oats, I might have to make some for breakfast here in the near future...haven't had them in awhile.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Down again

Oh yeah, and I'm down 1.6 this week! Whoo hoo!!

New Faces

Sofia's new faces

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Weight Watcher's and Weigh In

I went to WW's on Saturday and was down 1.6lbs! Woo hoo! Now this is especially exciting because I was just hoping to maintain and thought surely I would have gained. And afterwards, I went to the gym and was able to run for 24 mins! (well, I walked 2 and ran 8, 3 times, but still...)

I also signed up for the monthly pass because I am quickly reaching the end of my free grace period they give lifetime members after having a baby. So, I have a question, anyone out there use eTools? I've been playing around with it over the weekend and trying to get the hang of things. I love the recipe builder!! I have been tracking online and in my little quick track to see which one I like better. But, I can't figure out how to swap activity points online. I can enter them, see that I have them, but don't know how to eat them. Anyone out there got a clue?

Friday, February 8, 2008

Pictures

Can I get both of them in??
My Papa came and visited me!
This was right after I sort of rolled over the first time.

The bear that my Uncle Steve and Aunt Debbie sent me. He's as big as I am.
Aren't I the cutest?

Look, I've got my collar up just like the Fonz!

Mommy, no more pictures please!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Sofia update

Just a quick little update on Miss Sofia. We went to the doctor yesterday for her 4 month check-up. She is doing great and they commented on how happy she was. (I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have a happy baby...)

Height: 25.5 inches
Weight: 17 pounds 2 ounces
Head Circumference: 42 centimeters (I think it's measured in centimeters...it could be 42 something elses)

We have been giving her cereal in her bottle at night. The doctor suggested that we really try giving it to her on a spoon instead. And once she's gotten the hang of it, after a couple of weeks, we could try moving on to veggies or fruit (although she said she likes to give veggies first due to the whole sweet tooth factor). She also said that we should only introduce one new food at a time.

She also got more shots yesterday. She was not a happy girl, neither was Dad. She didn't nap very well yesterday so she's still in bed this morning. I do expect her up any minute though.

Oh, and we have stopped swaddling her. We started Friday night and the first 2 nights it took almost a half hour of crying before she fell asleep. But last night I think she was out as soon as her head it the crib. And she's starting to wake up less in the middle of the night, so less jumping out of bed on our part to put the pacifier back in her mouth. That makes us happy! And her new thing is to have both hands in her mouth and then she smiles at you and tries to talk to you. She is also starting to stick her tongue out and say "ahhh" which is a very nice infant impression of the Budwiser Wasssup! She has also learned to blow raspberries (which she proceeded to show the nurse yesterday as she was getting her oral vaccine, so it kept coming out and getting blown on the nurse.....I thought it was funny, Marc was embarrassed). And she's starting to giggle.

I do have new pictures, but they are still on the camera. Maybe next post.