Gavin's Tale Twister 10: Before I Was Ever Born and Around the World Kisses

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBrantney is one of our favorite children's bedtime stories. It is basically 20 pages of conversation between Big Nut Brown Hare and Little Nut Brown Hare about who loves the other more. I Love You to your toes, I Love You as high as I can hop, I Love You as high as that tree and of course we get all the way to I Love you to the moon and back.
How much more love could possibly be expressed in any single sentence?
Well, on one particular day Gavin said to me during an I Love you more competition ...
"Mom, I just love you so much that I MISSED YOU EVEN BEFORE I WAS EVER BORN!". To top things off he finished with "now I am going to give you an AROUND THE WORLD KISS". For those of you who do not know what that is ...it is when you start a kiss on one cheek, proceed up the face with tiny kisses, kiss across the forehead and all the way down the other side of the face, under the the chin which always gets a little giggle and back up to the place from whence the kisses started. Now suddenly that little phrase Guess How Much I Love You? has a whole new meaning. Oh and...GAVIN WINS!

Recipes #7: Breakfast Rice

Ever wonder what to do with left over Rice?

This is a great rice dish for breakfast or brunch.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 Tbs 50/50 blend Olive Oil /Butter

2 Green onions chopped in rounds all of the white part and 1/2 way up the green stem
2 Tbs fresh chopped dill1/4 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Pepper
2 1/2 cups cooked Rice
3 eggs whipped with 4Tbs milk
4 Tbs grated Jalapeno Jack Cheese

Sprigs of fresh dill for garnish.
1 Tbs Jalapeno Jack Cheese for garnish

Directions:
Heat Oil.
Add onions and dill. Saute 2 minutes.
add Paprika, Cayenne, Salt, Pepper and stir.
Fold in rice until coated and rice is sizzling.
Add egg/milk mixture in a well in the center of rice and just fold in to rice mixture.
Grate cheese over rice and eggs and gently fold it into the mixture.
Place 1 sprig of dill in a small bowl sprinkle a little cheese over the dill.Fill the small bowl with the breakfast rice and tamp down. Flip bowl upside down on plate to release the rice in a perfect uniform serving and already garnished. Serve with cut fruit.

This is one of our family favorites!

Gavin's Tale Twister #9: The Ultimate Verbal Abuse for a Six Year Old

If you know Gavin (6 1/2), you know he adores his big brother Sammy(10). But on this one particular day Gavin was truly annoyed. Since he has been banned from using the words idiot and now banned from saying imbecile, he resorted to the following phrase (with a lisp of course): Sam ...you stink cause your armpits are dirty and and you didn't take a bath last night, your feet smell horrible and your breath is disgusting!I'm not playing with you anymore! Sammy's gave him the standard response ... "Well, I don't care!" Ha! At least there are no more I words flying around.

Gavin's Tale Twister #8: I Love You More!

This past weekend Sam (10) had a friend over and like all little brother do, Gavin(6) was wanting to play with the big boys. He pestered them and tried to get in the middle of everything Sam and his friend did. Pretty soon small wood ABC building blocks were flying and then the WWF wrestling match finally broke out. I broke it up and called each of my children individually to thier respective rooms for a talking to. Sam first then Gavin.
This is how Gavin's talking to went:
Bla Bla Bla (That is what he heard I'm sure) because I don't even remember what I said. "Those blocks are made of wood and could really have hurt your brother. Wouldn't you feel bad if something happened to your brother and you were the cause." His only response was " But I missed!" Since there was no remorse, I finished off with a stern "Keep your hands off MY SON in there, if you hurt MY SON I will be very angry with you." Gavin looked at me and said in a calm sweet voice " Mom, did you by any chance say the same thing to Sammy cause I know you don't love him more than me." Hmm... How did he know?

Recipes #6: The Best Spaghetti Sauce Ever

This is the best sauce EVER! I've been making this for about 10 years and this is about as good as it gets and is loaded with vegetables. My kids love this sauce! This recipe makes a whole pot full so share with neighbors, freeze it or cut the recipe in 1/2. I use it on spaghetti noodles, in ravioli and tortellini, in my lasagna and as my pizza sauce to make fresh home make pizza.

3 Tbs Olive Oil
1 Large Onion Chopped Fine
1 Green Bell Pepper Chopped Small Pieces
1 Red or Yellow Bell Pepper Chopped Small Pieces
4 10- inch Celery Stalks Chopped Small Pieces
1 Tbs Garlic Minced (about 4 large cloves)
6 Tbs Tone's Spaghetti Seasoning (Purchased at Sam's and CostCo)
1 Large 28 oz Can Rotel Original Tomatoes
1 Large 28 oz Can Tomato Diced
1 Large 28 oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
6 Grated Large Carrots (About 6 Cups)

Heat Oil
Add Next 5 Ingredients and Saute until tender about 5 minutes.
Add Seasoning and Stir and cook 5 more minutes.
Add the 3 cans of Tomatoes
Simmer for 10 minutes
Add Carrots (serves as a thickener).
Reduce heat to Low and cook for at least 40 minutes and up to 2 hours.

Servings: 20

Suggestions:
Over pasta with meatballs and grated Romano Cheese.
Mix in some Kalamata Olives and Serve over Bow Tie Pasta.
Great as a Pizza Sauce.
Calzone or Mozzarella Stick Dipping Sauce.
The kids will never know there are vegetables in there.
Store in Freezer for up to 3 months.

Gavin's Tail Twister #7: I Love Mexican Food Too.

The day after Thanksgiving, the whole family set out to buy this years Christmas tree. Immediately after we went to Taj Indian Resturant to eat dinner. Yes and we took the kids because they serve chicken nuggets and the best fries EVER! The kids food came out first. So, they ate their dinner while we had appetizers. When our main dishes were served, both boys reached for the yummie Nan bread and Ritha (yogurt with onions and cucumber). As Gavin ate his Nan, he blurted out "Mom, this is the best MEXICAN eating establishment I've ever been to!" Ha! I just laughed and said I love Mexican food too Gavin!

Gavin's Tale Twister #6: The Bed Time Story

William and I try to read every night to Gavin and Sam. On this particular night Gavin choose to read Sponge Bob's UFO... something or another book. I was just trying to get the daily reading deed done. If you've read any Sponge Bob, you'll remember that these books are quite lengthy. In an effort to speed things along I read 3 pages for every 1 page that Gavin read. This is so Gavin could examine all the pictures. Or so I thought. I did not think that he was paying attention to the words, so I quickly read. To my surprise the only three statements Gavin made while I did 75% of the reading was.
1. "You shouldn't begin a sentence with And should you mom? Then, why did they Mom?"
2. "Mrs. Puff is not married so why is there an r in Mrs?
3. One of the sentences said "Patrick won!" Gavin says "don't
you spell won like this Mommy...O..N..E?
All I have to say is boy I wish my brain clicked like that 24/7.

Gavins Tail Twister #5: THE I'S HAVE IT

I had a conversation with Gavin (6) about the "I" word. You know..."idiot". I told him it was not nice to call anyone by this word. It means you think the person is not very smart. Furthermore, you would probably get sent to the principle's office if you used that word at school. He was very confused. He could not understand why anyone would go thorought saying "oh, you are not very smart" when you could just say instead of "idiot".
He had a point so I said if he had to say something like that, he could use other words that had the same meaning and he probably would not get in trouble for saying them. Of course he said "like what"? "Hmmm....Liiiike...........bird brain or maybe knuckle head." Gavin seemed content with his new vocabulary and stopped asking questions.
Several weeks passed and Sammy (9) came running in from outside saying "Gavin used the i-word. He called me an IDIOT mom!"
"Send him in here." I said.
Gavin came in with his head hung low in anticipation of being in trouble. "Gavin did you say the i-word?"
"Mo-om, I didn't!"
"Sammy says you called him an Idiot and you know that is not a nice word."
Sobbing Gavin said "Mama, No I didn't."
Guilty of something...I could just tell by the way he sobbed he had done something he knew to not be very nice.
"Gavin... I told you not to use that word you are going to have to spend 5 minutes on the time out steps."
"But Mom,I didn't! I really didn't! I promise!"
"Well then just what exactly did you say to him?"
Now say this next sentence with a slight lisp:"I didn't call him an Idiot, I called him an Imbes-th-ole that would be Imbecile."
As I laughed, I heard him say under his breath again with his thick toungue talk: "Well I don't really even know what that means."
"I am sure you don't Gavin. Go outside and play. No time out and be nicer to your brother. He is the only one you've got."

Recipes #5: Greek Quiech

1 Tbs olive oil Heat to Med High
1 clove garlic minced Add and stir
1/2 red onion chopped small Add and cook stirring until translucent
1/2 tsp salt Add and stir
1/4 tsp pepper Add and stir

1 bag fresh spinach Add and stir occasionally until coated with oil
Cook until water evaporates
1 medium tomato Add and cook 3 minutes

1 pie crust Remove from heat and pour into pie crust
4 0z feta cheese Sprinkle cheese on spinach mixture

3 egg and 3/4 cup milk Whip together
1/8 tsp nutmeg Add
1/2 tsp salt Add
1/4 tsp pepper Add
Pour over spinach mixture.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

RECIPES #4: STIR-FRY SPINACH ORZO PASTA SALAD

Need to get your spinach in? Here is how!

Make the Spinach Stir-Fry and eat it by itself or combine the stir-fry with Orzo pasta and fresh salad ingredients to make a fantastic pasta salad that your friends will rave about.

Spinach Stir-Fry:

1 bag (6 oz) washed ready to use fresh spinach (chopped in strips) set aside

1Tbs Olive Oil

1 Clove crushed garlic

1/8 C. red onion chopped small

1 pint grape tomato cut in halves

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper

Pasta:

1 cup Orzo (about 2.5 cups cooked)

Fresh Salad Mix:

1 6-inch piece of celery chopped in small pieces

1 green onion cut in slivers

2 Tbs fresh dill chopped fine

2 Tbs favorite Italian dressing

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions:

Spinach Stir-Fry:

Heat oil on medium high. Add garlic saute for 30 sec.

add red onion and saute for 90 sec

Add cut tomatoes and seer each side stirring frequently ( about 3 min)

Add cut spinach saute until spinach just wilts.

Add sea salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, and cracked pepper. Stir and remove from heat and set aside.

Pasta:

Cook Orzo pasta al dente (about 6 minutes) in boiling water with 1tsp salt and 1/2 tsp olive oil.

Drain and rinse with cold water and set aside.

Salad Mix:

Combine celery, green onion, dill, Italian dressing, pine nuts, and feta. Set aside.

Combine Spinach Stir-Fry with Orzo pasta. Toss in the fresh salad mix ingredients.

Refrigerate and Serve when you are ready to eat.

RECIPES #3: PARTY IN YOUR MOUTH NACHOS (Super Bowl Party Perfect)

PARTY -N- YOUR MOUTH NACHOS
This is one everyone loves and you never get tired of. I've been making this for 10 years. My kids even love it. After eating these, they never just want chips with just melted cheese anymore. I do take the jalapenos out for them and I use a little extra cheese. The cheese acts as a carrier for all those vegetables.

1 (14 oz) can of great northern beans (drained and rinsed and patted dry)

1 (14 oz) can of black beans (drained and rinsed and patted dry)
1 (14 oz) can of corn (drained and patted dry but NOT RINSED)- I like the white shoe-peg corn
1 medium yellow bell pepper chopped small
1 medium red bell pepper chopped small

1 medium green bell pepper chopped small (3rd pepper optional)
1 full cup chopped fine fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 jar jalapeno peppers chopped or 1 fresh jalapeno pepper minced FOR GARNISH
2 fresh squeezed lime (4 Tbs)
6cups of Colby and Jack cheese (I use an extra cup if my kids are eating it or if I am serving it at a party)

Combine all ingredients (refrigerate for up to 4 days)
Spoon in 1 tsp of mixture into Tostito Tortilla Scoop Chips.
Microwave until cheese melts (usually 1 full min for a plate full).
Serve with Salsa and Sour Cream. It's definitely a party in your mouth.
We eat this as a meal. I top each scoop with a 1/4 of a pickled jalapeno.
De-li-cious!

Servings:12

Suggestions: Use an extra cup of cheese if young kids are eating. They like it better and they get their vegetables in this way. If you are serving this at a party, put a little cheese on the chips before the party in your mouth nacho mixture. This will prevent the chips from getting soggy from the vegetables.

Other Variations:

Party N Your Mouth Hot Cheese Dip- scoop 2 cups of PNYM into a microwaveable dish and heat on Hi until mixture is melted and hot.

Party N Your Mouth Quesadillas-scoop 4 Tbs of mixture on a flour tortilla, fold in half and warm on a flat pan until cheese is melted.

Party N Your Mouth Southwestern Egg rolls- decrease cheese by half, scoop 2 Tbs of mixture into a won ton wrap and roll like an egg roll sealing edges with water. Fry for 2 minutes.

Party N Your Mouth Bean Salad- recipe with out cheese, add grape tomatoes chopped, 1/2 tsp salt, and 2 Tbs balsamic vinegar. Serve as a side for any Mexican dinner or top your green salad with this mixture for added color, protein and fiber.

Gavin's Tail Twister #4 The Quivering Face

Mommyhood is sooo stressful that sometimes circumstance makes you do things you would not normally do. Last Monday, both Sam and Gavin had football games at about the same time but in two different locations. I dropped off Sam(9) and my sister Lauren(21) at Tatnall. I then took Gavin to his football game at Stratford. Upon the completion of Gavin's game, a scary, gigantic bolt of lightening lit up the sky and looked to be directly above the Tatnall area where Sam's football game was taking place. I grabbed Gavin, shoved him in the car and raced toward Tatnall School. I had no cell phone (I left it on the table at home). I had no way to check on Sam and my baby sister, who by the way looks like a 12 year old and knows no one in Macon. Worried that they were stuck outside in a lightning storm had me in a panic. As I frantically drove, Gavin was talking at me as usual. Imagine that! He was telling me he thought we were driving fast. In fact faster than he had ever gone before he said. He continued to yap about my driving. I finally said..."Gavin, I love you but Mommy is very stressed out because Sam and Lauren may be stuck outside in a lightening storm and I do not have a phone to call them. I need you to NOT talk to me for a few minutes because we need to get there ASAP. Just like that: Gavin responded " OK Mommy I'll be quiet but I have to tell you my face is ...qui...ve..r..r..innng and my head is (say the following in slow motion)
a..b...ou...ut
t...oo..o
g..g..ge.....t
st...t..u..c......k...k.
t..o..o..o
t..h..e
b...a..a..c...k
w.in...d.......ow.
I just laughed and said "OK Gavin I am driving too fast. You are right and I will slow down."
Leave it to a 6 year old to get his point across one way or the other. Oh...we got to Tatnall before the storm landed. The game had cancelled and Sam and Lauren were finally safe inside the car.

Recipes #2: Melt In Your Mouth Jalapeno Corn Bread

Makes 70 Mini Corn Bread
(Serves 10)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes at 350 degrees

3 C.
corn bread mix
2.5 C whole milk
14 oz can yellow cream corn
6 oz cream cheese sofened to room temp
3 C grated Cheddar cheese (medium)
1 large onion chopped to 1/4 inch pieces
1/4 C vegetable oil
6 Tbs butter melted
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 12oz jar of jalapenios chopped

Blend Ingredients
pour 1 Tbs into each mini muffin and bake 350 degrees at for 30 min or until bronzed on top.

Recipes #1: SCENTED SAFFRON RICE

This dish is just that scented! No real flavor other than salt so can be paired with just about any meat or vegetable.

1 Cup Rice (Basmati is preferred)
2 Cup Water
1 tsp salt
3 clove
3 pepper corn
1Tbs butter
2 whole Cinnamon sticks
1/8 tsp saffron

Combine all ingredients in a rice cooker or in a pot with a tight lid.
Bring to a boil stir and reduce heat to low. Cooks in 20 minutes.
Fluff with fork and serve.

Stores in refrigerator for 1 week.
Freeze in zip locks and microwave to serve for 3 months.

Gavin's Tail Twister #3: A Child View On Death

Last night during the usual drawn out bedtime rituals, Gavin asked me:

"Mommy, will my brain still be inside my skull after I die?"

"No Gavin, your brain disintegrates and you"ll ascend to heaven to be with me."

"No Mom. That is your soul that does that and your soul is attached to your heart."

"You are absolutely right."

After a long pause I noticed Gavin's eyes searching his brain and he finally says....

"And when you get there you play kid games all day and your heart slide down a great big slide?"

"That is absolutely correct!"

What a great picture that conjures..

Thanks Ingleside Baptist Preschool for painting great pictures on Gavin's canvas for life!

Here is Gavin's favorite meal time prayer:

Thank you God for happy hearts and rain and sunny weather.
Thank you God for this our food and that we are together.

Thanks Ingleside Baptist Preschool for helping to paint great pictures on Gavin's canvas for life!

Gavin's Tail Twister #2: There is the H1N1 Virus and then there is Gavin's D4

This months current events included prevention of the spread of the H1N1 Virus better known as the Swine Flu. Cautious moms everywhere including myself are attaching clip-on Purell Hand Sanitizers onto back-packs so their children will be armed against school germs every second of the day. Discussion about germs, proper sneezing technique and complete hand washing in-services ensued. Upon Gavin's (6) first day of riding with our neighbor to the school for the very last camp of the summer, Gavin had a very interesting conversation with Mrs Ann, the carpool driver. Gavin talked to her about germs and informed her that he had "THE D4" recently. Naturally as any mom would be, Ann was curious about Gavin's bout of D4. Upon further investigative conversation with Gavin, it was finally revealed that THE D4 "is just diarrhea with green stuff in it."

Gavin's Tail Twister #1: Gavin's Double Poo Day

Gavin (age 6) came home after being away for a week and settled right back in to his regular routine which included his regular 30minute evening constitution. After a complete evacuation and the usual ultra clean wipe with disposable wet wipes, he said to me "Mom do I need to shower tonight?". UM... (Not wanting to be the mom that was so rigid about the daily routine) I said "NO...You didn't go anywhere or sweat and you used wet wipes to clean your hiney". Gavin then said "Yea and I double Pooed last night". "You double pooed last night?" Uh-huh I think I even triple pooed. "GAVIN!!!!!..you need to shower then!!!!!" Mooum!  Double pooed means I put shamPOO in my hair 2 times so I don't need to tonight!"
I JUST LAUGHED!