Friday, December 7, 2007

Happy Advent!

What a wonderful month this November was! So full of memories. We were incredibly blessed and incredibly busy, particularly through the second half of the month. As you can see below, I was able to show off our lovely city while Kate was visiting. Fortunately, we didn't have a repeat of the fog that enveloped us during Mom's visit. So, Mom - this is where we live! :)

St Paul's Cathedral (an exceptional building and parish!) is behind Kate, on the left. The Capitol building is on the right. Just behind Kate, far below, is the Mississippi river. Further off to the right is downtown St Paul. We live across the river, a few miles left of the Cathedral.

Baby notes: I passed my glucose tolerance test, so hurray for no gestational diabetes. That means that if our little guy is HUGE (in the likeness of his father), I have only genetics to blame, rather than my diet. Fortunately, I'm actually measuring a tad on the small side - though that measuring stuff is nowhere near an exact science. I probably shouldn't get my hopes for a "normal" size (under 9 lb.) baby too high.

Recipe: Mark and I are doing Bradley classes in preparation for someone's arrival. As many of you know, Bradley devotees are pressured to consume unholy amounts of protein, in hopes that it may have a healthy influence on the pregnancy. For that reason, and because I can only eat so much cottage cheese (it's high in protein), I invented a new recipe for Protein Pancakes that doesn't compromise flavor!!! (This makes enough for a filling meal for 2)

1/2 c. flour (if you really like it, use whole wheat...I don't)
1/2 c. old fashioned oats (NOT instant!)
1/2 T baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1 egg
1-2 splashes vanilla
1 T brown sugar
2/3 c. milk

(a bit more flour or milk may be needed to achieve correct consistency)

Directions:

bowl 1: Combine dry ingredients, mix.
bowl 2: beat egg, mix in rest of wet ingredients
Combine and mix bowls 1 and 2
Cook on griddle/pan over whatever heat works best for you.

Mark prefers these to regular pancakes because the flavor is better, thanks to the vanilla and brown sugar, and, they're healthier because of the fiber in the oats. So, where's the protein? - eggs, milk, oats and flour are all great sources!

Other additions: I recently tried substituting some of the milk for cottage cheese, for an added protein punch. I added too much, but I think a little less would've worked well.

Hope you're all doing well!