Keeping Creative Kitchens #6

Herbs and spices are, in my opinion, the backbone of the kitchen. It would be a rather bland kitchen without them and the dishes coming from that kitchen would be rather boring and blah. I'm a bit of a dump-and-pour-eyeball-it-it's-fine cook (yes, that's definitely a technical term :)) and I love going to my spice cabinet to see what flavors appeal for whatever sauce or soup I'm creating. Some of my favorites are rosemary, dill, cumin, chili powder, Italian seasoning, and curry. Andrew's favorite is cilantro.

Herbs and spices are expensive when you go to buy them at the grocery store. And I've heard you should refresh your spices frequently but who can afford to? I pretty much use them until they are gone with no negative flavors thus far - I think they have decreased potency over time. So here is my tip - go to your local health food store or bulk foods store and you can buy all of your favorite spices by the ounce at a fraction of the grocery store cost. I also love the fact that I can buy a small amount of something I want to try without breaking the bank and without being stuck with a big container of something I'll never use again.

For those of you in the area, I use Georgetown Market - hopefully the rest of you have something similar. It's fun to go in and see all the options! I'm just amazed at the offerings and happy that I can measure the amount I want. This week I bought pizza seasoning and can't wait to try it in the sauce for our next pizza night!

I also want to highlight this magazine, The Herb Companion. I first saw this at the Green Festival in Chicago and loved it! Growing fresh herbs during the spring and summer is one of my hobbies as well as using a variety of dried herbs and spices. The magazine includes recipes as well as health & decorative uses for herbs. It also has tips on growing them successfully. One of my goals is to start a window herb garden...one of these days. :) So next time you are in need of some spices - forgo the traditional grocery and check out by-the-ounce availability!

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Happy Thursday, everyone! Thanks for stopping by Keeping Creative Kitchens! I'm looking forward to all your great ideas, recipes, and resources. Feel free to grab the button for your post - you don't have to know me to play along and you don't have to participate to comment or ask questions! :)

Here are just a few guidelines for participating in Keeping Creative Kitchens:
1) Leave a link to your post with Mr. Linky (I am fully aware that there will probably not be many - or any :) - participants but I think this will make participation easier!).
2) Your entry can include a new recipe (either your own creation or a new-to-you-recipe), favorite recipe, success, tablescape/centerpiece, short-cut, ingredient, tradition, book, magazine, tool or gadget, food photos, recipe website or any thing else that keeps you inspired in your kitchen.
3) Please link back here in your participating post.

Hope you have fun, meet new people, learn a few things, feel encouraged, and find inspiration as you prepare meals, care for your family, and entertain!

Because It Must Be Asked

Oh where, oh where has 2008 gone?
Oh where, oh where did it go?
With the months gone by and the seasons so past,
Oh where, oh where did it go?
(sung to the tune of, Oh Where, Oh Where Could My Little Dog Be?)

How can it already be nearly halfway through November and only about 7 weeks until the end of the year? I do not like it, not one bit - okay maybe a bit - it does mean that Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost here!

Proof...

...that it is indeed impossible to get three children and a dog to look at the camera at the same time...much less smile naturally. (Sigh)

This is the best of the bunch and the camera focused on the dog and blurred the kids...yeah, she only wishes for that kind of attention these days...not to say she isn't loved and cared for member of the family...okay, I'll stop now... :)

Ugh.

First...thank you all for your kinds words and rejoicing with us in Titus' adoption finalization - we just feel so thankful!

Do you ever have a day where all you want to do is crawl into bed and never come out? That was my yesterday...

I'm struggling with a situation (nothing to do with any of you or my husband or kids, I assure you :)) and I'm pretty sure I'm blowing things out of proportion but I'm frustrated. I think that was the start of my bad day but I just felt myself emotionally falling apart throughout the rest of the day - and no, it's not my monthly visitor. My very sweet husband came home, fed the kids and put them to bed so I could have a little space. I'm praying that the situation will be resolved and really won't be a big deal and I'm praying for renewed emotional energy today - I need it!

I have made a practice of not dealing with upsetting things (thing that upset me - not disagreements involving another person) in the heat of emotion - usually if I give it 24 hours or so, my perspective improves. I'm not espousing going to bed angry but rather seeking a better outlook, a more Godly response and hopefully a more gracious attitude.

A Review: Sleepy Wrap

I knew when we found out about Ty that I wanted a baby carrier. We inadvertently left our Baby Bjorn in Kazakhstan and I didn't care for it very much anyway - it hurt my back. I polled friends and had it narrowed down to a couple of options and then I unexpectedly won a giveaway for a Sleepy Wrap. I was so excited to try it and was so blessed to receive it - with all the adoption expenses it was nice to have a baby item provided!

My gray sleepy wrap arrived (they have lots of color options) and I wasn't sure how easy it would be to use but after the first couple of times, it was a breeze. It holds the baby securely, has three or so different ways to wear it, and best of all - it's comfortable! I like the fact that it is worn over both shoulders - I was concerned about a sling because it only went over one shoulder and I have a lot of back and neck problems/pain. I get many compliments on it and Ty LOVES it! At under $40, it is also one of the most reasonably priced carriers on the market. I like wearing it - I'm a big fan of baby wearing though I definitely don't do it constantly. Anyway, it's been perfect for me! Oh and it is great for attachment. Though I haven't used this through a heavier child/toddler years yet, I highly recommend this baby wrap - I have not been disappointed at all.

MPM: 11/10 - 11/16

Here's my plan for this week (last week was not the best :)):

- Creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup, Salad, Breadsticks or Biscuits
- Lentil Soup, Salad, Crackers
- Sausage & Egg Casserole, Toast or Blueberry Muffins, Fruit
- Sweet 'n Tangy Pot Roast, Rice Pilaf, Roasted Butternut Squash, Fruit
- BBQ Beef or Pork Sandwiches, Macaroni & Cheese in Crock pot, Veggie Tray, Fruit Tray, Jello Jigglers, Chips, Salsa, Cookies, Cake (our open house celebration for Ty's adoption finalization!)

It will be a busy week and Andrew is working a lot of hours lately so hopefully we will get to enjoy all of these! We'll see. :) Thanks to orgjunkie.com for hosting every week! Have a great week!

And The Winners Are...

Heather of My World (As It Happens) for caption #1: "Mom, you think I look pretty, don't you . . . ?"

Jen of Just Passing Through for caption #2: "The corndog is really the rarest of meats and should be paired with a glass of pinot noir to really release the flavor" (said in a very snooty voice)

My Dad aka Papa who doesn't blog yet :) for caption #3: "HEY how about a WARM washcloth for the next diaper change..."

Jenna of The World of Jenna for caption #4: "I have three children under the age of four... so yes, this is a good hair day!"

There were some close votes! Anyway, the winners may make their acceptance speeches :) and prize choice ($5 giftcard to Starbucks or Forever Summer by Nigella Lawson) in the comment section or you can e-mail me. Congrats everyone and thank you to all of you who entered - we LOVED reading the captions!!!! And thanks also to all of you who voted! Stay tuned for another caption contest in the coming weeks. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming... :)

Sinking In

I think the reality of Titus becoming forever ours is sinking in slowly - I started getting teary in the store as I was ordering the cake for our open house celebration next weekend. As I contemplated the wording for it, I completely choked up. We couldn't imagine him not being a permanent member of our family but there was this nagging knowledge that things were not final. I can't get over how blessed and happy I am - if you had told me three years ago when we were starting the process for Calvin and Patrick that we would have 3 boys in less than two years, I wouldn't have believed you! What a wonderful blessing!

On another note, I do NOT like the cold...

How All the Boys Feel...

...about the events of yesterday! :)

I think it's fair to say that they're happy and love each other - don't you think? :)