Veggie Kabobs

I was shopping in Harris Teeter for picnic food when I came across a lovely jewel---veggie kabobs. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but when I think of kabobs, I usually think of chicken. How awesome! These have squash, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, I can't remember all, but VEGGIES! So, Poison Ivy, here is a great recipe you can do yourself and engage the kiddies. Experts say kids are more likely to "try" their own creations.

Ways to Eat 'Em:
1. Dribble Olive oil over them and sprinkle some salt. After done add a dash of herbs and splash on some red wine vinegar.

2. Brush on some BBQ or Teriyaki sauce for excellent flavor.

3. Raw: just dip in Ranch!

Tips:
1. Soak wooden skewers in water for a bit. I think these directions are on the skewer package.

2. Wrap in aluminum foil to keep from charring. If you do wrap 'em, this is a great opportunity to add lots of flavor. Examples are butter (I know..), Italian Dressing, use your stomach's imagination!

Found Some Recipes:
A Food-Networker: Veggie Kabobs with Herb and Garlic Marinade
not all veggie--fruit too, and some tofu

One from Care2--has a pic that looks like mine!

Simple but Good----plus has the skewer tip on there!

Recipes from Around the World----A Greek One


Hope these are helpful and yummy for ya.

I will Survive....I hope

Well, to get it over with, folks, I miscarried. Sad, but true. I was 2 months along....anyways. You know me, I'm going to use this time to reflect. Reflecting and thinking is normally done on my other blog, but since I announced my pregnancy here, I thought it would be best to discuss it here. Whoa, that was a run-0n sentence!

My Reflection: Its curious how one gets attached so early on. I mean, is it normal to mourn over such a loss as a 2 month pregnancy? It had hardly begun. How have I become attached? I think about it and I come to a few conclusions.

1. I was pregnant at the same time as others. Now I am not and they are--still. I work with one girl. She was showing me her ultrasounds while I was in the midst of losing my baby. In her defense, she didn't know. I decided to keep mum, so as not to ruin her moment of happiness she wanted to share with me. Another girl in my family-married family- is also pregnant. I was due on February 26. She is due on the 2oth. My baby would have been taken a few weeks early by Cesarean. So now when her baby is born, I will know that my baby should already be alive. And every year that I am invited to its birthday party, I will be reminded of how old my child should be. I also work with another girl who is pregnant, but I don't see her much. I was just invited to a baby shower for a girl who used to work with me. I declined and told her the reason. I'M SURROUNDED BY PREGNANCIES!

2. The Lie I lived. Apparently this was not working out from the beginning. Something didn't develop right. It stopped developing around six weeks. I remember one day copying names and their meanings from a name book. The whole time it was already over. I gained weight early on. I did with my last 2 as well, having to wear maternity clothes around 3 months. My clothes were tight already at 2 months! So wearing maternity clothes was pointless--well, not exactly. My regular clothes are still tight. I bought a high chair and two sleeper gowns. For what? All lies! Deciding names=a lie. Wearing maternity clothes= a lie. Baby stuff=a lie. This part makes me so bitter.

3. Seeing babies--especially boys-- make me so sad. I think of what could have been. The smiles, coos, chubby legs and arms I will be missing. And I was so hoping for a boy this time. I had even settled on a name. But I don't even want to utter it, naming what was never....

4. The pity party that I am receiving. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everyone's care and concern. It makes me feel loved. But at the same time it makes me feel--idk--wrong. I actually told a man today and he acted like no big deal. I appreciated that. He asked me if I was going to try again. I don't know. And he simply said, "You know how you get like that?" I told him I didn't get to ask the doctor. It'll probably happen again, so I'll figure it out. No pity party. Shit happens.

If shit happens, then why I am I so sad?

Homemade Pizza

My family has been on this homemade pizza kick. I was really enjoying the endless possibilities until I got sick---and lets just say homemade pizza isn't as great in reverse. But that won't stop me for long because 1) I can totally sneak veggies in for my kids, 2) everyone gets what they want, and 3) it fulfills my slow-but-steady turn over to vegetarianism.

I am doing this post for a good friend Poison Ivy. And Melissa could use it too--since she has a new stove now! I have found that when you can create your own food, it tastes much better. My husband goes wild with his pizza. I don't know how he stomachs some of his creations, but he does. I created a really good one for those of you who like "white" pizzas. It included asparagus, mushrooms, spinach, Alfredo sauce, Italian mix shredded cheese, and a bit of garlic and Parmesan cheese. MMMMMM! I created a Mexican style one too. I tell you, making your own pizza is fun and cheap. And you control what goes in it! So it's healthier too. I'll start you off with my kids' pizza: a basic cheese with a few secret ingredients.

Basic Homemade Pizza

Ingredients
1 premade pizza crust from grocery store or box pizza kit (if you want you can go all out and make your own from scratch)

1 jar of spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce (again you can make your own here)

1 8oz package of shredded cheese, Pizza mix

1 small can of mixed veggies, peas and carrots, etc.. (the secret)

Directions

1. Make crust according to directions. The directions for the whole pizza usually come with the crust or box kit.
2. Puree or mash veggies very well. Spread onto pizza crust
3. Spread sauce over veggies; Mix well.
4. Cover liberally with cheese.
5. Bake it according to directions.
6. Enjoy

Tip: If your family likes hamburger meat on their pizza, now is a good time to try out the Veggie "meat" on them.

Tip: Make your own lovely pizza creations!

Lady J Family Pizzas to date:
1. White Spinach Pizza
2. Mexi-Pizza
3. Island Pizza (ham and pineapple)
4. Hubby's Everything but the Kitchen Sink Pizza
5. Pepperoni-Green Olive Pizza
6. Supreme Style Pizza

As you can see, the options are endless here. Go ahead and give it a whirl. Plus, it is quick and easy. Add a salad and you have a complete meal. Just get the movies!

P.S. If you want a recipe to any of my family pizzas--just comment a request!

Pizza Crust Ideas

Jay's Signature

Baking Like Betty--a fellow Blogger --also a good spot to start checking out that once-a-month cooking craze. look to the lower right hand side of the page

Honey & Jam --another fellow Blogger

Yeast Free Crust

Standard Days Method

If one is going to use this method, then they need to follow the rules exactly. Better yet, just use protection. That's right, folks, Lady J is pregnant! We're excited. Not at first, but we are now. Oh, well. I put SD Method to the taste. I can't say it doesn't work, but it didn't work for me. Verdict: Tricky Business.

More Sneaky Veggies

I just made Stuffed Shells. Mmmm...

I added spinach and cauliflower! How? I bought some frozen cauliflower and pureed it. That enabled me to skip the whole steaming/boiling process. And I bought a can of spinach. Also, skipping a few steps. I mixed them both right into the cheese mixture. My oldest (the picky one) tasted the cheese mixture and....... she loved it. I make my sauce homemade, so it's healthier anyways. Plus, its sooooo easy. Just make your own once and I'll bet you'll never go back to the jar stuff.

Now, it would've been easy for me to throw in some peas and carrots into the sauce. This time I did use red and yellow bell peppers--out of convenience and the need to use them before they spoiled. The red peppers blended right in. I like to use diced tomatoes in my sauce for texture. This sauce can be used for homemade pizza too! And we all know how kids love that. Don't be scared to puree or mash some veggies that are steamed, boiled, or even canned and blend them right in. Then the sauce can be used for dipping mozzarella sticks or bread sticks. The options are endless.

Here are a few sites to get you started. And BTW, I do not use meat in my sauce--its not my family's tradition.

Sweet Savory Southern site

All Recipes

Wikihow--includes video!

Kids cooking About.com

Low Cal from Fitness and freebies

Johnna Knows Good Food: Yum Yum Gimme Some

One using carrots to avoid sugar!

From a Fellow Blogspot Blogger--jar turned gourmet?