Oreo Rice Krispie Treats

These are so much better than I expected. They have opened up a whole new world of treatdom to me. Expect LOTS more treat-based recipes from the Strawberry Mama in the near future.

This is a super fast and easy snack. I let the kids help. My 5yo broke up the cookies while my 8yo stirred the marshmallows. We took turns stirring and pouring and I did most of the eating in secret so they would catch me and demand some of my coveted yumminess.

1 package oreos

1/4 cup (half stick) butter

1 bag mini marshmallows (or regular)

3 cups (or so) Krispies

Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Break cookies into quarters. Set aside.

In a large pot, over low heat, melt butter and marshmallows. Stir continuously until marshmallows are just melted. Remove from heat.

Immediately stir in cookies and krispies. Work fast, especially if it's cold in your kitchen. These set up quickly. You want the mixture to be a little on the dry side. If your marshmallow goop is still goopey, add a little more cereal. Be sure to coat every crumb.

Turn into pan. Press gently with damp hands. Let cool on counter, then chill in fridge one hour. Cut into squares and serve.

Milk booster bars

These are very nutritious for pregnant and nursing mamas, growing children and anyone who needs a power-packed snack. The oats may boost milk supply, the molasses is an excellent source of iron and the flax seeds are a great source of omegas. These bars are very dense and filling. Perfect for a quick breakfast on the go. The mild flavor is gentle on queasy tummies. Because of the honey, they are not suitable for babies under one year.

1/2 cup (1 stick) buttter or margarine

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup molasses

1/2 cup sugar

1Tbs cinnamon

3 cups oats (toasted if you like)

3 cups cereal-I used Honey Bunches of Oats, but any hearty, whole grain cereal or granola will work

1/2 cup nuts or seeds-I used flax

Grease a 9x13 inch pan. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add honey, and molasses. Bring to simmer. Add sugar. Stir till dissolved. Remove pan from heat. Stir in cinnamon, oats, cereal, and nuts or seeds. Toss to coat well. Pour into pan and press firmly with buttered or wet hands. Let cool at room temperature approximately 30 minutes.
When cool, score with a large knife. I cut mine into granola bars, but squares are fine. Or diamonds. Or parallelograms. Whatever. They will be very rich, so keep them on the small side.
Place in the fridge to chill. Once cold, flip pan over and tip them out. Break into pieces along scorelines. Store in the fridge.

Fast, easy, fudgey brownies

I'm still working out the kinks in these, but they are good enough to share now.

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup flour
8 tbs cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts or flax seeds
1/2 cup chocolate chips (any flavor)

Preheat oven to 325. Prepare 9x13 inch pan.
Put eggs, sugar, salt, oil, flour, cocoa, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth. Stir in nuts or seeds and chips.Pour into pan. Bake 30 minutes.

Tortilla Soup- Vegan, or Not

We love Tortilla Soup. It's so yummy and hearty, and tasty and healthy and easy and cheap. All the things a soup should be. This surprisingly flavorful soup can be prepared with no animal products, and you will never miss them. If you are of the omnivorous persuasion, any leftover meat-steak, chicken, pork, turkey, ground whatever-can be thrown in for a little extra flavor and protein boost.

1 medium onion, diced
1 large or 2 small poblanos, diced or one can green chilies
4 cloves garlic, minced
oil for sauteeing
dash of salt
2 tsp cumin
dash cayenne
one can of diced tomatoes, undrained or 2 cups vegetable juice
2-4 cups chicken broth, veggie stock, or water
1/4 cup masa harina or strips of 4 uncooked corn tortillas
1 cup cooked (or sprouted) beans or meat or both
handful of tortilla chips

To serve:
diced fresh tomato
shredded lettuce
diced onion (I especially like red onions)
chopped fresh cilantro
guacamole
diced avocado
sour cream
shredded cheese

Heat soup pot and oil. Gently sautee onions, chilies, and garlic, sprinkled with salt to draw out moisture.

When onions are translucent, add cumin and cayenne to taste.  Cook and stir one minute to release the flavors.

Add juice or tomatoes, and broth, stock or water. If using dry masa, mix with a few tbs cold water, then add to pot. If using fresh masa or tortilla strips, add directly to pot. Add beans and/or meat. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer for 15 minutes or more. Soup will thicken as masa cooks. If it gets too thick, add more water. Tortillas will soften and break apart. This is good. You want this.

To serve, spoon into bowls. Garnish with desired toppings, and a few tortillas chips for crunch.

Toothbrush surprises and other tiny delights

I keep a stash of toothbrushes in various colors, styles and sizes in a pretty tin in the bathroom. Along with toothbrushes, there are assorted soaps, spare bottles of shampoo, extra tubes of toothpaste, and other minor necessities of health and hygeine. I like to have everything handy in case something wears out or runs low. It's my job to keep everyone looking sparkly and smelling fresh and I take it seriously.

When my children's toothbrushes are looking a bit worn, I toss the old one and replace it with a new one. I try to find fun colors and special features, like tongue scrubbers and gum massagers. I never tell the children when I replace their toothbrushes. I like to leave them, quietly, like the toothbrush fairy, in each place, waiting patiently to be discovered. My children are always thrilled by this little treasure. The lucky child will exclaim over the purpleness of the purple handle and the brushiness of the bristles and magnificent suction of the suction cup that makes it stand upright on the side of the sink.

I find immense joy in their immense joy over such a mundane object. How could I not smile a bit when a child is so exhilerated by his good fortune at receiving a 25 cent plastic stick with nylon attached? When he simply must remove the plaque from his teeth this instant. He has the overwhelming need to become acquainted with his new possession, to indulge in the experience of this new thing. An ordinary rote action is magically tranformed into something new and special.

A task so small that I might perform it with almost no conscious thought has become a treasured memory. One that I will hold dear long after my children are grown, and one that I suspect my children might reflect on after I'm gone. "Remember how Mom would surprise us with toothbrushes? And we'd be so excited and she'd have us tell her all about them?"

Like the scent of pansy flower baby wash and the feel of my baby's breath against my neck are indelibly printed in my memory, I can easily picture myself walking down the aisle at the pharmacy when I'm old and gray and shedding a small tear of remembered joy when my eye rests on a dolphin shaped toddler toothbrush.

Every small task that we perform for those we love is an opportunity to express that love. By embracing my mundane chores, I can embrace my children.

"MOM" = Hilarity

My laptop died a while ago. Since then, I've been sharing my kids' computer.

 I made a folder in the Favorites cleverly titled "MOM", to keep them off my Facebook and so I don't have to sift through 20 cartoon and video game links to get to my "Post-Baby-Better-Than-Before-Baby-Beach-Body-Bikini" workout.

They recently discovered this folder, mixed in with their links. They think it's hysterically funny. I'd love to explain the joke, but I don't get it.

From what I gather, they seem to think that a folder titled "MOM" belonging to their actual mom is the height of comedic irony.

My kids have sophisticated sense of humor. Better than fart jokes, right?

Mothering is not a sacrifice.

We hear it so often, it has become an unquestioned truth. Mothering is a sacrifice. Mothers are selfless. The decision to have children is a selfless one.

I disagree.

A selfless act is one we do to benefit someone else, often at a cost, great or small, to our own self-interest. I did not choose to have children for their sake. I did it for my own.

I wanted my children. I asked and prayed for them. Not because I wanted to give them the gift of my mothering, but because I wanted the gift of becoming a mother.

I am not sacrificing my time, energy, money, and sleep to my children. I am giving it freely. Because I love them. Because I am grateful to be entrusted with such treasures. Because I choose to. Because I want to.

I want to spend my time with them. I want to teach them and learn with them. I want to feed them yummy food and clothe them in adorable clothes. I want to make a home for them, filled with love and laughter and toys and sticky messes.

I don't love the sticky messes, but I love watching my children light up with joy while they smush playdoh, smear jelly in their hair, cut and paste, paint pictures, dig in mud and eat cupcakes.

It pains me to think of my children, or the time I spend caring for them, as sacrifices. I never want them to feel like a burden to me.

Yes, I get overwhelmed. They out number me 4 to 1. I lose my temper and yell. I'm not always the fun, patient mom. I get tired and cranky.

But I hope that my children always know that they are worth every sleepless night and early morning. Every yawn and sigh.  Every ruined shirt and extra chore. Every stretch mark, wrinkle and gray hair.

I would rather have my children than a spotless house, stylish furnishings, a lovely wardrobe, a promising career, a sporty car, a new iphone, a full night's sleep, a nice neighborhood and an extra bedroom.

Compared with the joy and purpose they give me, those things can hardly be called a sacrifice.