It's like butta baby
During these first months of pregnancy, I've really tried to stay level-headed when it comes to the term "eating for two." In my brain I know that it doesn't really mean to double your food intake, but rather just add a few extra calories. The intelligent part of me knows to make sure that I make every calorie count by ensuring I have enough of the right nutrients.
I'm frightened by the horror stories of women gaining 65, 70 or even 80 lbs during pregnancy. I'm sure it's possible for me too, but I just can't imagine where 80 extra pounds will go on my less-than-5-foot frame. Not to mention how difficult it will be to shed once the baby is here.
So I try to keep all of these rational thoughts in my head - I keep up with my yoga & water fitness, apples & water. But then there's the Food Network. Rachel Ray with her easy mac & cheese with chicken and broccoli, the mysteriously skinny Giada De Laurentiis with her savory Italian delights and Ina Garten with her "good" cream and fresh-picked herbs. Ahhh...they all make me feel like I, too, can be an accomplished chef. But the one who gets me in the most trouble is Paula Deen. Oh my gosh, I want to live in her kitchen!
Last week the Southern chef layered chunks of devil's food cake, chocolate pudding, whipped cream and pecans. That usually would be too much chocolate for me, but I was strangely drawn to her decadent parfait. I find myself almost drooling as she dumps stick after stick of butter into her potpie filling, honey glazed fried chicken and fudge cake. It seems as if someone let her in on a little secret that real butter was the latest craze in healthy eating.
Healthy or not, I have to agree with Ms. Deen. There are just some foods where margarine or Shedd's Spread just won't cut it. Think about it. It's autumn. That means sweet potato pie, pecan pie, real cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes - all of which require the richness of real butter. And what better way to brown the Thanksgiving turkey? Olive oil? I think not! And I know when I get ready to make apple pie the way my dad showed me, I won't be reaching for the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. Give me the good stuff!
Somehow the sane part of me has managed to stay in control as I've resisted the urge to make any of Paula Deen's (or any other butter-rich) recipes so far. But it is fall. With my ever-increasing appetite (Thanks Baby), I just don't know how I'm going to make it through this season.
On that note, I thought I could solicit some hearty autumn recipes. I'm looking for main dishes, sides, desserts, you name it! Bonus points for health-conscious dishes, but in the spirit of butter, anything goes! The comment space should be more than ample room for ingredients and instructions. Come on, I know there are some great chefs out there among us (You know who you are!). I can't wait to read what you've got!
Week 17 developmentsBaby's Age: 15 weeks
Baby's Size (head to rump): About 4.5 to 4.75 inches
Weight: Approximately 3.5 ounces
Other fun facts: The baby's bones are hardening. If you were to take an x-ray, the skeleton would be visible. And by this week, the baby may suck its thumb.
Right now the baby is about the size of a stick of butter.
posted by KA @ 12:54 PM
3 Comments:
I am really enjoying this blog thing. It's fun (and I totally feel like I am there)! Paul's the chef around here, but I will ask him for some special receipes and post them. Love you all.
as salaam alaikum,
I really like food. Food and I have a very special relationship. I like butter too. I once knew this little fat girl that stayed with us when I was young. One day we caught her eating butter out of the fridge.... that was pretty scary. Yeah, I guess maybe she liked food a tad more than me.
Lately I’ve really been into baked goods. I love apple tarts, gingerbread, brownies, any wild cookie combination, and peach cobbler. Howard Law has peach cobbler which they sell for like $4.99 a pound, or some other freaking ridiculous price. Anyway, I always complain about them jacking poor students, but then I end up always buying some. Last year I think the cobbler was $2.99 and they didn’t even weigh it. They might have put the whole scale system in place because of food-lovers like myself who used to stuff the little Styrofoam cup to the brim then go pay, all the time acting like it was a normal occurrence for the lid not to be able to close. The new system of we-weigh-you-pay has put a damper on peach cobbler Thursdays. Okay, sometimes it’s peach cobbler Mondays and Thursdays. Fine, sometimes it’s peach cobbler Monday-Thursday. I really like food.
If I was pregnant I’d be really greedy and blame everything on the baby. I’d be like “The baby really wants some Hagan Daaz,” and “The baby seems to really enjoy Godiva key lime truffles.” Actually, the baby might really like good Godiva truffles. I think Jeremiah should get the baby one. Azizah likes Godiva truffles too, just in case the baby decides that he/she doesn’t want them after all. … just in case.
Recipes. Unfortunately I don’t cook as much as I’d like but a good substitute is anything from Whole Foods. They have really good corn bread and gingerbread. I also love all of their cakes and fruit pastries. Costco make the best croissants (I’m for real!) you put a piece of cheddar cheese in the middle and put that bad boy in the microwave for like four seconds and you will have the best dang-on snack this side of the Mississippi. It’s like the butter just comes to the surface to greet you!
When you go to Costco, you can always get two samples for yourself by saying “Wow, let me take one of these to my husband.” Sometimes you might need to go back and get that third sample. In instances like this, my best advice is to not even try to make small talk, just grab and go…avoid eye contact at all cost. Don’t feel guilty; remember you bought the membership card that keeps the sample man/lady employed.
Happy food thoughts to all.
Azizah! You are a nut! I'm glad you showed some restraint with regard to chomping on solid butter. Ick! I'm thinking Costco is going to be the way to go, especially after this little one comes. I'll keep in mind the sample snatching!
Post a Comment
<< Home