Strollerderby : Keri Fisher

Kitchenista Meatless Mondays: Grilled Vegetables

KeriF — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:35:00 GMT

As much as I enjoy the hearty braises of winter, I get most inspired in the summer months, when I can throw a handful of fresh ingredients onto the grill and have a deliciously simple dinner in no time.

Grilled vegetables are a staple in our house (replaced by roasted vegetables when it gets too cold and dark at night to use the grill). The beauty of this recipe is that it isn't really a recipe at all, but merely guidelines to create your own version at home, using whatever vegetables you have on hand or that looked good at the farmer's market.

I like to serve the vegetables straight up, as a salad, but you can also pile them high on thick slices of grilled sourdough or fold into a steaming bowl of pasta. My kids, who are by no means terrific eaters, will make a meal of the latter, though more often than not they will leave the mushrooms and squash on their plates. That's okay with me. Some adults do that, too.

Grilled Vegetable Salad

Serves 4 to 6

3 portobello caps

1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into large planks

4 small tomatoes

2 small Vidalia onions, sliced 1/2-inch thick

1 bunch asparagus, woody ends removed

1 zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch planks

1 yellow squash, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch plans

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper

Juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

Set grill to high heat. In a large bowl combine Portobello caps with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange on the grill and cook until browned and softened, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining vegetables, tossing each with 1 tablespoon oil and seasoning generously with salt and pepper. When all vegetables are cooked, set aside on a baking sheet to cool.

When cool enough to handle, cut vegetables into 2-inch pieces. Place in a large bowl and add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, and basil. Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Serve immediately.

'Camplessness' and Other Hidden Summer Dangers

KeriF — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Over at MedPie, Barbara Locke, MD has a list of five very sensible dangers to look out for this summer. She even offers a cutesy rhyme to help you remember--

Don't mow the lawn 'till you're sixteen,

Be careful not to trampoline,

Avoid the family dog and such

And don't fall out of windows much.

--since I'm always forgetting to keep my kids from falling out of windows.

But let's be honest. These aren't the real summer health hazards. You know the ones I mean, the dangers that keep you awake at night, long after your kids have passed out on their beds, sticky with sweat and ice pops.

Here are the real horrors of summer:

Sunburn Syndrome: The horrible guilt you feel when you forget to drench your child in sunscreen and s/he comes home from camp an unsightly shade of pink, which only darkens through the dinner hour until your child is writhing in pain and the only thing that will comfort him/her is four hours of unsupervised television. Exacerbated by the "caring" camp counselor who calls after dinner to remind you to apply sunscreen in the morning since it isn't her (goddamn) job.

Camplessness: Those hidden weeks between school and camp and then between camp and school when your child simply has nothing to do, because camp directors and school directors can't seem to get their act together to make sure the kids are occupied every single week because, really, what are we supposed to do with them all day?

Viking Phobia: The fear that if you turn on the oven your brain might actually melt, so you let all your "good food" rules slip by the wayside while your kids frolic in the fridge and eat cold hot dogs, ice cream, and Uncrustables for dinner every night.

Polar Disorder: Feeling so hot and drained in your home that you drag your kids anywhere there's air conditioning--movie theaters, shopping malls, doctor's offices (they could be sick, right?)...

Bedtime Dysfunction: The inability to resist your kids' whines of, "We can't go to bed, it's still light outside!" Side effects include falling asleep while waiting for the sun to set, leaving the kids to wreak havoc until they pass out near midnight. This invariably results in having to wake them minutes before the camp bus arrives, leaving no time to put on sunscreen before they leave...

Got any hidden summer dangers of your own? Leave them in the comments below!

What Do Your Kids Think About?

KeriF — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:01:00 GMT

Sometimes I'll catch my three-year-old son staring off into space, looking so pensive I just have to ask him, "Ronan, what are you thinking about?"

He'll turn to me and say, "Gooky poopy head!"

So much for deep thoughts.

But I do wonder what my kids think about. My efforts at conversation with them are mostly thwarted--How was school? Fine. What did you dream about? I don't remember. I don't think they quite grasp the concept of thinking or dreaming yet.

I'm not the only one who wonders what's going on in my kids' heads. Peter Hartlaub over at The Poop, The San Francisco Chronicle's baby blog, often wonders the same thing (about his own kids, of course). He cleverly estimates the percentage of each day his kids spend thinking about various things and asks readers to do the same.

So here's my best guess for my 3-year-old:

Pirates 47%

His penis 29%

His brother's penis 2% (mostly at bedtime when they fight over who gets to flush the toilet)

Gum 8%

I need a Band-Aid! 14%

And 4 1/2-year-old Declan:

Writing his name in bubble letters 23%

Pirates 21%

Can I have dessert? 35%

Hoping "We'll see" really means "Yes" in response to, "Can we watch a show?" 21%

Of course, 1-year-old (today!) Molly is easy:

Food! 50%

Mama! 48%

Dada! 2%

Share your own kids' deep thoughts in the comments below!

Where Every Day Is Take Your Child to Work Day

KeriF — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:05:00 GMT

I can't decide if this is pure genius or a complete rip-off...

A San Francisco company is offering work-at-home parents a place to work with childcare built right in. Cubes and Crayons offers workers office space with onsite childcare. There's everything you need for the professional office: conference rooms, Wi-Fi, photo copier, even a kitchen where you can get all the water cooler chatter you miss working from home. Meanwhile, your kids are happily occupied in a swank childcare center, complete with tricycles, a slide, a play kitchen, and stage, and cared for by an attentive staff (ratio is one staff member per three children). Sounds perfect, right?

But you pay for perfection: drop-in rates are $16/hour plus a yearly membership fee that starts at $435. That includes the workspace and child care.

There's another place to go for free Internet, printing capabilities, and a kitchen. It's called your home. And if you can find a reliable sitter in your neighborhood, it may cost far less to have someone watch your kid in your own home. Especially if you have more than one kid.

It's true that working at home can be a lonely, solitary existence. But most of the people I know who work from home don't make a ton of money. For us, Cubes and Crayons is a luxury we can't afford.

But for some, it might be just the ticket. Especially on an as-needed basis, when the sitter calls out sick or you have a last-minute meeting to get to; you can leave the kids behind if you have business elsewhere.

Would you use this service if it was in your neighborhood?

Do You Leave Your Kids Alone in the Car?

KeriF — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:02:00 GMT

When my oldest son was a baby, I sometimes stopped at Blockbuster with him in the car. If he was sleeping, I would use the automatic car starter (a Hanukkah present from years past) to start the car, turn on the heat, then lock the doors (keys in hand). With baby Declan tucked safely inside, I was free to browse the New Releases, unencumbered by my offspring.

What the hell was I thinking?

My sister and I have argued about this before: I am a reformed leaver of kids in the car, she a proud leaver of kids in the car. She doesn't actually do it often, but she is a vocal proponent of it--under the right circumstances.

My sister's also a devoted poker player, but not even she would do what this Pennsylvania woman did.

Police say that 26-year-old Naomi Bryant left her two children in the car for two hours so she could gamble. That's right, Naomi left her 6- and 8-year-old daughters in the car while she went into the casino, from 7:37am to 9:30am last Thursday. What, you thought kids were in school at that time on a weekday?

For the record, my sister insists that she would only leave her kids in the car (with the doors locked and windows up, natch) if the car was within her sight at all times and the weather fairly temperate--not too hot or too cold inside the car. She's not too particular about where she does it, though; she's okay with it at the bank (when you really need to deposit your paycheck) or at Starbucks (when you really need a double latte).

But not at the casino. As for Naomi Bryant, she's been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children.

Do you ever leave your kids alone in the car?

What Happens When Looney-Warde Marries Butts-McCracken?

KeriF — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:05:00 GMT

It was bound to happen. With so many people hyphenating their children's last names, it was only a matter of time before these hyphenates wanted to get married. Then what do you do?

One woman in Germany found out when she tried to triple-hyphenate her name, combining her own (single) last name with her husband's hypenated name. The answer? No dice.

Germany's highest court ruled on this case, which involved dentist Frieda Rosemarie Thalheim-Kunz-Hallstein. At least, that's what she wanted to call herself. The court, however, said she couldn't. According to the court, triple hyphenating a name "lessened the impact of a name to do what it was supposed to do, namely 'to identify.'"

The court apparently also feared of setting a dangerous precedent, to which I say, gimme a break! Hyphenated surnames are hard enough. Who would want to bother with the complexities of having a triple-barrelled name? How would you fill out government forms? What would your coach call you (Jones-Murphy-Goldstein, give me 20, doesn't quite carry the same authoritative snap)? And if combining hyphenated surnames became the norm, it wouldn't be long until Mary Jones-Murphy-Goldstein married John Smith-Brown-Flynn, and then what would their poor children do?

Apparently there are very strict naming laws in Germany to prevent such travesties, which is why this case went to court in the first place. Parents must choose from a list of government-approved names, and if they desire a different name, they must appeal to authorities. German law allows married couples to take one of their existing surnames, combine the two with a hyphen, or keep their own names.

I haven't heard of any multi-hyphenate names here in the states, though I suppose it's bound to happen (if it hasn't already). So what should happen when a hyphenate marries a hyphenate?

Any ideas?

Photo: Maxim (click for more hilarious hyphenates)

Can Autism Be Diagnosed in Infancy?

KeriF — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:01:00 GMT

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, doctors should begin screening for autism by 18 months. Now some researchers are suggesting that signs of autism can be seen as early as 12 months.

Early warning signs include: not responding to one's name, not sharing interests through pointing and eye gaze, lack of joyful expression, an absence of babbling, difficulty establishing eye contact, and staring too long at inanimate objects. Researchers compiled this list by studying home videos of children with autism and their younger siblings, who have high rates of autism.

At the Yale Child Study Center, researchers measure when toddlers stop blinking while watching a video; typical children will do so at scenes of emotion, while a child with autism will fixate on the opening and closing of a door. At Vanderbilt University, babys are shown a sealed jar of cookies, their reactions recorded and evaluated; typical children will seek the assistance of a caregiver through eye contact and gestures; a child with autism will repeatedly place the caregiver's hand on the jar but never make eye contact

These studies, along with others, were presented at a conference at Columbia University's Teachers College. The goal: to identify autism as early as possible so that intervention and assistance can begin as early as possible.

Investigators stress that no one test or behavior alone is indicative of autism, and the goal is not to officially diagnose these children but rather to identify them as "at risk" and get them assistance as soon as possible.

"The environment in the early years has an active role in shaping the brain," says Geraldine Dawson, chief scientific officier of the advocacy group Autism Speaks. "What we see in autism may be partly the result of not engaging with the social environment. So if you engage the baby through an intervention, you might prevent or at least reduce the development of autism symptoms."

Some studies aim to help children as young as eight months, such as one at the University of Washington funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dawson explains, "What we are doing is teaching the parents how to structure interactions to promote eye contact and babbling." The goal, she says, is to "begin before the full autism syndrome is present and prevent it from emerging."

Of course, not every baby that is slow to babble has autism. Which begs the question: does identifying these early warning signs truly help children? Or does it simply fuel parents' fears?

Kitchenista Meatless Mondays: Chunky Gazpacho

KeriF — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:04:00 GMT

It's June, and I don't care what the weather is outside, it's officially summer as far as I'm concerned. Which in my house means it's chilled soup time.

I'm not a fan of all chilled soups--vichysoisse just doesn't do it for me (cold creamy potatoes? No thanks.) and borscht is just too... purple. But I absolutely love gazpacho. It's like eating a big bowl of salsa. But better.

Okay, maybe not a ringing endorsement, but if you've never had gazpacho, this is a great easy recipe to try. You don't need any fancy knife skills and if you have a food processor, the whole thing won't take more than a few minutes to put together. It's cold, it's refreshing... it just screams summer.

Serve with crumbled tortilla chips on top, or a bowl of chips on the side for the kids. Get them dunking, and they might not even notice they're eating gazpacho.

Chunky Gazpacho

Serves 6

6 cups diced tomatoes (2 1/2 to 3 pounds)

1 seedless cucumber, chopped

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 large green pepper, chopped

1 small jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

1 1/2 cups tomato or vegetable juice

1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

3 tablespoons champagne vinegar

Salt and pepper

Combine tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and peppers in a large bowl. Transfer just over half of the mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth. Return to bowl and stir to combine. Add tomato juice, cilantro, and vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mom Spends $20,000 on Plastic Surgery to Look Like Daughter

KeriF — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:30:00 GMT

File this one under creepy.

50-year-old Janet Cunliffe recently underwent several surgeries to help make her look more like her 28-year-old daughter, Jane.

"I envied Jane's crinkle-free eyes, full lips and luscious, long blonde hair," says Janet. "I was desperate to look more like my daughter, but knew no wrinkle creams could ever wind back the clock that far."

So to help the clock along, Janet has had two breast augmentations, her eyes and nose done, lip injections, and hair extensions. The twice-divorced mother of two is now often mistaken as the sister of her daughter. The pair seem to love the attention.

"People ask if I mind that she's transformed herself into me, but I couldn't be more proud," Jane says. "I'm the one who helps her with her hair and clothes, so it's down to me, too. I can hardly accuse Mum of copying my looks when she gave them to me, can I?"

I'm all for women (and men) feeling confident with their looks and their bodies. I'm not opposed to plastic surgery on principle, but this just seems to go too far.

Here's Janet before the surgeries:

Here's Janet and Jane out on the town:

What do you think? Motherly love or inappropriate obsession?

Source and photos: Daily Mail

Kids Review 'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'

KeriF — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:31:00 GMT

Critics may have called this Ben Stiller sequel "utterly dispensible," "awfully dull," and "a big, bloated bore," but who cares? What did the kids think of it?

Matt Cuthbert over at al.com headed to his city's IMAX theater to interview kids on camera to find out what they thought of the movie. While they weren't quite as verbose as adult critics (most of the kids muttered, "yeah" when asked if they liked the film) they do provide some insight into why kids' movies are for, well, kids. You can watch the video here.

I did my part this past weekend to contribute to the film's $70 million haul, so I asked some of the kids in our communal household to offer their insight:

Me: Did you like the movie?

(All kids nod in unison.)

Me (realizing I need to be more specific): What was your favorite part of the movie?

Hilary (6): When the statue shouted, "dum dum!"

Declan (4): The fighting part.

Ronan (3): When the big guy put the blue guy in the water and there were birdies inside it and I don't like the birdies get the blue guy. (I don't recall this particular scene.)

Aaron (3): We got candy!

There you go, from the experts. What did you think of the movie? Let us know in the comments below!

Kitchenista Meatless Tuesday: Caprese Pasta Salad

KeriF — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:30:00 GMT

It takes a virtuous person to refuse hot sausage off the grill at a Memorial Day BBQ. I am not a virtuous person, so Meatless Monday was postponed to today.

After a glorious weekend of sun and fun, today is cold and rainy here in the Northeast. But since I simply cannot accept that it is the end of May and just 58 degrees outside, I am going to pretend it's warm and make my favorite summer pasta salad for dinner.

This is simply a take on the classic Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Here the ingredients are combined with pasta and dressed with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. I also like to add kalamata olives because, well, because I really like them. Feel free to throw in whatever else you have on hand that might fit--capers, artichokes, almost anything that's briny and tangy works.

I started making pasta salads a lot last year when I realized that my kids wanted to eat pasta every night for dinner. I reasoned that if they like hot pasta, they might like cold pasta, too. Like anything else, sometimes they like it, sometimes they don't. Here's hoping tonight they do.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Serve with a loaf of crusty sourdough bread.

Serves 4 to 6

2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

4 cups cooked and chilled pasta, such as penne or rotini

3 medium tomatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

3/4 cup chopped kalamata olives

1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1-inch pieces

Salt and pepper

Combine basil, garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar in a blender and mix until smooth.

Combine pasta, tomatoes, olives, and mozzarella in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Update: Mother of Boy who Refused Chemo Brings Him Home

KeriF — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:04:00 GMT

Colleen Hauser and her 13-year-old son Daniel voluntarily returned home to Minnesota today, after a week on the run during which authorities believe the pair may have been trying to get to Mexico for holistic treatment of Daniel's cancer.

"My understanding is that Colleen intends to abide by whatever orders the court makes and that she wants to put her best case forward for her son to have a chance at alternative treatment," defense attorney Jennifer Keller told CNN. "But if the court overrules that, she will abide by the orders of the court."

Daniel was taken to a hospital for evaluation; the results of that exam have not been released.

The arrest warrant that had been issued for Colleen Hauser has been quashed, and though legal custody of Daniel has been taken by the court, there are no plans to remove him from his mother's custody, according to Keller.

Original story below:

Last week, a judge ordered that 13-year-old Daniel Hauser must undergo medical treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma, despite his and his parents objections to the treatment. The cancer, which is highly curable with chemotherapy, can be fatal without it. A hearing was held today to update the court on Daniel's condition.

Only problem? Daniel and his mother never showed up.

Daniel's father, Anthony, told the court that he didn't know where his wife and son were.

"She said she was going to leave," Anthony testified. "She said, 'That's all you need to know.' And that's all I know."

Dr. James Joyce, Daniel's family doctor, testified that Daniel's tumor had grown since Daniel's first and only chemotherapy treatment in January. Dr. Joyce said he examined Daniel yesterday and offered to make an appointment with a pediatric oncologist, but Daniel refused and left quickly with his mother, Colleen.

Colleen told the court last week that her son "is not in any medical danger" and that he was being treated with natural alternative medicines.

In his ruling last week, requiring Daniel to continue his chemotherapy, Judge John Rodenberg wrote that Daniel, who cannot read, did not fully understand the risks and benefits of chemotherapy. Daniel told the judge in private testimony that he believed the chemotherapy would kill him.

Judge Rodenberg today issued an arrest warrant for Colleen Hauser and ordered that Daniel be placed in protective custody so he can be treated for his cancer.

This originally seemed to be a story about a teenager trying to make his own decisions and act in his own best interests. But as more information comes to light--he's 13 and can't read?--it's clear that Daniel doesn't have all the facts necessary to make his own decision. Not when his life is on the line.

Graphic Video Aims to Scare Kids Out of Teen Pregnancy

KeriF — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

My husband's family lives in Ireland, and when we go to visit I'm always amazed by the public service announcements. I remember one from many years ago that showed a group of laughing friends in a car. The announcer says gravely, "In a few seconds, John is going to hit Mary so hard, she'll never walk again." The car crashes, John's head slams into Mary's, bodies are everywhere, and it all ends with John dead, Mary in a wheelchair, and an urging to "Please slow down." Not very uplifting, is it? But it seems to work.

Now England is taking the same approach to teen pregnancies, with a video that hopes to show just how terrifying a teen pregnancy can be.

The video, designed to look as if it was shot on a student's cell phone, shows a girl giving birth on a sports field while dozens of classmates watch. It ends with the caption, "Not what you expected? Being a teenage parent might not be either."

Leicester Public Health officials produced the video to help combat the town's high incidence of teen pregnancies; one in 20 girls between the ages of 15 and 17 are pregnant.

According to Liz Rodrigo, a public health specialist in Leicester, teens came up with the idea for the video, and suggested that a funny or shocking message rather than a "preachy" one would be more effective.

Well, they certainly succeeded on the shocking front. Watch the video below and judge for yourself. Do you think it's effective? Or does it go too far?

The video is graphic (and loud) and not appropriate for kids (or offices).

Playground to English Translator

KeriF — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:25:00 GMT

We've all been there. Listening to that mom "complain" that her toddler simply refuses to eat pizza, so they must bring homemade sushi to birthday parties, or that her daughter was such an early walker they had to get shoes custom made for her tiny feet. Or the parents who continuously offer up tissues and sunblock and snacks in the guise of helpfulness, when really they're just thinking what a horrible parent you are for forgetting them.

Those new to parenting and playgrounds might not speak the language as well as us old hands, so Time Out New York Kids has put together a handy phrase book to help you decode what's really being said at the park.

Here are a few highlights:

You hear...

Our four-year-old just loves to spend the afternoon reading.

They mean...

Our kid's really advanced, and I want to brag without seeming to.

You hear...

What time does your husband come home from work?

They mean...

Let's compare whose home life is more challenging, and then compete over who does more.

You hear...

Is your son always so active?

They mean...

I think he has ADHD.

And my personal favorite:

You hear...

Oh, you let your three-year-old sleep in your bed?

They mean...

Get a life!

You can read the whole Playground-to-English phrase book here.

Add your favorite playground-isms below... And fess up if you've ever used one yourself!

"Classic" Cartoons... Or Just Old?

KeriF — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:30:00 GMT

When I was a kid, Tom and Jerry was my favorite cartoon, even though I never knew which one was Tom and which one was Jerry. I had a Tom and Jerry blanket and watched them faithfully every day after school.

Now, 30 years later, my kids' favorite cartoon is... Tom and Jerry (though they seem to be able to keep track of who's who). My sister had a DVD and it only took one showing for the kids to get hooked. Watching it now, I can't really see why--the animation is simple, the characters flat and one-dimensional (both literally and figuratively). There's no singing, no clever witticisms aimed at the parents, and frankly, only one storyline--cat chases mouse, mouse exacts revenge--repeated endlessly.

But maybe that's why they like it so much. They--my kids and nieces and nephews, ages 2 through 10--all laugh hysterically at even the lamest of sight gags. After all, they're kids, they're not looking for sophistication. And as much as I enjoy the cleverness of Shrek or the profundity of Wall-E, all my kids really want is to be entertained.

My kids also love The Three Little Pigs, the original Disney short from 1933. That one has singing (you remember, "Who's afraid of the big, bad, wolf, the big, bad wolf, the big, bad wolf...") but the animation is still pretty basic, especially compared to the digital animation the kids are used to from modern movies. They watch it on YouTube on my sister's Iphone, which isn't really optimal viewing (they don't care). But now they can watch the pigs on DVD; it's included in Disney's new Animation Collection of "classic" cartoons.

The quality isn't much better than what you get on YouTube--some of the cartoons are more than 70 years old, after all--but it is nice to have them all together and not have eight kids trying to watch a video on an Iphone.

There are about a gazillion shorts included in the collection, all in the same style as the iconic Three Little Pigs. The stories hold up surprisingly well and there's something almost sweet about their innocence. I suppose that's why Disney released this collection now; in tough economic days, don't we all yearn for a simpler time?

What kind of cartoons do your kids like? Do they favor the disturbingly realistic rats of Ratatouille or the basic line-drawn Jerry? Which do you prefer?

The Politics of Preschool Presents

KeriF — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:03:00 GMT

This past weekend I was at the mall to buy a birthday present for my 4-year-old nephew. I was headed to Border's, where we've purchased books for Finn since he was born. I love to read, my kids love to be read to, and so we buy books we like for our young relations.

But as I was walking toward Border's, I passed the Disney store. And I realized, I have no idea if Finn actually likes books. But I do know he loves all things Disney. So, even though I refrain from shopping there for my own kids, I walked into the Disney store and bought Finn a Buzz Lightyear bathing suit, sun shirt, flip-flops, and towel. And I'm sure he loved it.

So I started thinking about all the gifts I've given in the past. Did I give gifts that I thought the recipient would like? Or did I give gifts that I liked?

I once read an article that said people over-tipped in restaurants because they wanted their server to think highly of them; in other words, for purely selfish reasons. And I realized that I was doing the same thing with gift-giving. I was so desperate for the parents of the gift recipient to think highly of me, I was buying presents that I thought made me look good--wooden blocks, books, non-gender specific imaginative play--that I wasn't really thinking about what the kid would actually like.

Of course, there's also something to be said for expanding a child's horizons. My son likes Spiderman, but he doesn't need (and might possibly not even want) every single gift in the Spiderman oeuvre.

I guess I need to find a happy medium. Just because my son's friend loves Dora doesn't mean I need to buy her yet another Dora doll or plastic backpack. But maybe she would like a Dora Scrabble set or Dora chapter book. Or maybe even a different doll for Dora to play with. No, they're not the most unique gifts in the world and the child's parents won't be wildly impressed with my creative gift-giving skills. But the child sure will be.

Photo: SFGate/Dreamstime

Kitchenista Meatless Mondays: Veggie Noodle Stir-Fry

KeriF — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:32:00 GMT

If your kids are anything like mine, they'd be happy to eat pasta for dinner every night of the week. And while there's nothing inherently wrong with pasta, I try to give the kids a bit more variety in their diets. So instead of buttered noodles every night, sometimes I make Asian noodles instead. (That's variety, right?)

This is a fun dish because it's pasta, which kids know and love, but with a Chinese brown sauce and lots of crunchy veggies. Feel free to use whatever veg you have on hand; these are ones that are in my refrigerator right now and happen to be ones my kids will eat. The sauce is a little sweet and a little salty, so should please both the young and old at the table. Feel free to pass some chili sauce on the side amongst the grown-ups.

Vegetable and noodle stir-fry

Serves 6

3/4 cup vegetable stock

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons hoisin

1 tablespoon cornstarch

3/4 pound dry linguine

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 small head bok choy, sliced 1/2-inch thick, stems and leaves separated

2 medium red bell peppers, sliced thin

8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced thin

1 bunch scallions, sliced thin

Salt and pepper

1. In a small bowl combine chicken stock, soy sauce, hoisin, and cornstarch. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the linguine and cook according to the package directions.

2. In a large skillet heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the bok choy stems and cook 2 minutes, or until just starting to soften. Add the mushrooms and cook 2 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Add the red peppers and cook 2 minutes, or until just beginning to soften. Add the bok choy leaves and cook 2 minutes longer, or until all vegetables are tender. Add the chicken stock mixture and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer, or until the sauce is thickened. Add drained linguine and toss to combine. Add scallions and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Photo: BBC Good Food

Dad Shocks Kids with Electronic Dog Collar

KeriF — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:08:00 GMT

If this is what Oregan father Todd Marcum does to his kids for a laugh, I hate to think what he does to them when he's angry...

Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada reports that Marcum admitted to shocking his four kids, ages 3, 6, 8, and 9, with an electronic dog collar at least once, though police believe Marcum likely shocked his kids on several occasions.

Okada says Marcum did it, "because he thought it was funny."

Marcum was arrested on four charges of first-degree criminal mistreatment and is currently being held in the Marion County Jail.

According to John Seroczynski, the national sales manager for a company that makes electronic dog collars, the kids probably didn't suffer much physical damage. The collars, which run off a 9-volt battery, don't produce enough of a shock to seriously harm someone. "He definitely would not have hurt them to the point that it would have damaged any organs or caused them to be hospitalized," he said.

The psychological damage, however, of being forced to wear a dog collar by your father, then jolted with an electric shock, remains to be seen. The four children are in the custody of their mother. No word on where she was when all this took place.

I could almost understand if Marcum did this to try to control his kids. I couldn't condone it, but I could follow the shaky logic. But the fact that he just did because he thought it was funny? Funny to see his kids run in terror from him as he dangled the collar threateningly, which police report he did? I just can't understand that.

Daddy, What's Erectile Dysfunction?

KeriF — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:55:00 GMT

If I had a dollar for every time one of my kids asked me what Viagra was for, I'd... well, I wouldn't have any dollars.

But from the fuss Representative Jim Moran (D-Virginia) is making over Viagra commercials, you'd think that's all kids were talking about these days.

"I don't want to be prudish about it," Moran said. "I understand there is a limitless market to deal with male insecurity and it's fine for drug companies to make a profit on that. The problem is that they are showing these ads when small children are bound to get curious."

Moran is pushing to keep commercials for erectile dysfunction aids off the airwaves between the hours of 6am and 10pm with the "Families for ED Advertising Decency Act."

His argument: "What am I supposed to tell my kids?"

Okay, first of all, I don't think Viagra buys ad space on Sprout, Nick Jr., or Noggin, so if your kid is watching a show on which an ad for Viagra (or rival Cialis) appears, you've clearly determined that your child has attained a certain level of maturity. So why not tell him the truth? Or some version of it. Dallas Morning News editor Michael Landauer has a few suggestions (which weren't nearly as funny as I had hoped), including, "What's an erection and why would it last more than four hours? That's a good question, but it's one we'll talk about when you're older."

Second of all, there are loads of ads on TV for products I don't really want to talk to my kids about--including tampons, hemorrhoid cream, Kool-Aid, and denture cream ("You mean they're all going to fall out one day?!"). Does that mean we should ban all those ads as well?

So far, the bill has gained little momentum, and no hearings are scheduled.

Do you think Moran has a point?

Kitchenista Meatless Mondays: Real Kids Eat Quiche

KeriF — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:07:00 GMT

When my oldest son was 1, his favorite food was scrambled eggs. From there I extrapolated that he would probably like quiche as well, since quiche is basically scrambled egg pie. I was right. And since quiche is a lot easier to pack in a daycare lunchbox, it soon took over as favored food.

Now Declan is 4 1/2, and he still loves quiche. So it has become my easy go-to dinner during the week. If you're a big cheater like I am and keep a stash of frozen pie crusts in the freezer, the whole thing comes together in about 5 minutes. If you're a masochist and choose to make your own pie crust, more power to you. It still won't take very long.

Tonight, in honor of Meatless Monday, I'll keep the quiche vegetarian. For the kids, that means tiny broccoli florets and cheddar cheese. For the grown-ups, mushrooms, leeks, and goat cheese. I'll throw together a simple green salad and let the kids help themselves (most of them probably won't, but I still like to offer it).

I like to serve the quiche warm or at room temperature, but it's also good cold. And if there are any leftovers, try sending a wedge in your child's lunchbox. No fork required.

Quiche

6 eggs

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup cooked filling and 2 ounces cheese (or use one of the recipes below)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 frozen pie crust (not deep dish, not thawed)

1. Set oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper until foamy.

3. Spread the filling in the prepared pie shell. Place on a sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and pour the eggs over. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and set. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Mushroom, leek, and goat cheese filling

2 tablespoons butter

8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced

1 leek, sliced thin (about 1 cup raw)

2 ounces goat cheese (about 1/4 cup), crumbled

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt the butter. Add the mushrooms and leeks and cook about 10 minutes, or until soft and browned at the edges. Spread the mushrooms and leeks in an even layer in the pie crust and top with the goat cheese.

Broccoli and cheddar filling

4 ounces broccoli, chopped (about 1 cup)

2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)

Steam or boil the broccoli until cooked but still firm. Spread the broccoli in an even layer in the pie crust and top with the cheddar cheese.

Happy Mother's Day Cute Shots

KeriF — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:37:00 GMT

And you thought your kids were cute...

Happy Mother's Day!

For even more adorable animal love, click here.

Photos:Polar bears, jaguars, and giraffes, AP Photo; others National Geographic

10 Ways Real Moms Are Better Than TV Moms

KeriF — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Did you ever wish Claire Huxtable was your mother? Long for the liberal love of Elyse Keaton? Secretly think you were switched at birth with one of the Brady kids?

Our memories may be colored by our childhood fits and rose-colored lens of television, but as the folks at NPR remind us, those TV moms weren't as great as we thought they were. Here are some highlights:

#4: Your real mom wouldn't turn your upbringing over to the school dietitian.

How much were the parents of Blair, Tootie, and Natalie (Jo was on scholarship, right?) paying that boarding school, only to have their kids spend all their time with Mrs. Garrett? Weren't there more productive things they could've been doing?

#6: Your real mom would set boundaries for the handyman.

I know being a single mom is tough, but really, Ann Romano, spending that much time with Schneider is just not healthy. Unless, of course, you're secretly in love with him?

#7: Your real mom would never mostly forget you were there and then only show you off during sweeps.

Hear that, Ross and Rachel?

#9: Your real mom would never encourage Tony Danza to buy you a bra.

Tony Danza now probably dates women Alyssa Milano's age. Eew.

You can read the whole list here. Happy Mother's Day!

Kitchenista: The Mother's Day Breakfast I Really Want

KeriF — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:30:00 GMT

I was going to write about a post about how all I really want for Mother's Day is a few hours away from my kids, but then I realized my sister already wrote that post last year, so I'll just link to it.

Instead, I'll share a recipe for what I'd like for breakfast on Sunday. No, not a complicated brunch lovingly prepared by my husband (though he is a wonderful chef and would probably make me eggs Benedict, which is my all time favorite brunch), nor an equally lovingly but not quite as professionally prepared brunch by my two sons, aged 3 and 4, which would likely feature cold cereal and chocolate milk. I don't even want to go out to brunch, which we did last year with a newborn and two sons aged 2 and 3, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you how that went.

No, all I really want Mother's Day morning is a few extra hours in bed, with a hot cup of coffee and a banana muffin. That's not so much to ask for, is it?

The thing is, Mother's Day breakfasts can get completely out of control. Either you end up eating in bed while your children and husband watch you, waiting for signs of approval, and then you spend weeks getting all the crumbs out; or you eat it in the kitchen, and end up chasing after the kids while your husband does all the cooking. Neither option is very relaxing.

So I vote for simplicity. Muffins can be eaten while propped up in bed reading a book, or even laying down, catching up on In Treatment.

Then, when you're ready, you can open your handmade gifts from the kids (A felt visor! I love it!) and your husband (A gift certificate for a massage! I love it!), have a giant family snuggle, and remember exactly why you had kids in the first place.

Banana Bread

The key is to use really, really, really overripe (aka rotten) bananas.

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 very ripe bananas

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips (or chunks)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Set oven to 350 degrees. Grease a pan or muffin tin. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Combine bananas and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle and beat well, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, oil, and vanilla and mix until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add chocolate chips and walnuts and mix until evenly distributed.

Pour into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs, about 15 minutes for cupcakes, 30 minutes for 9-by-11-inch cake, 50 minutes for loaf pan.

Photo: MadBaker

The Verdict is In for Mom Who Kicked Kids to Curb

KeriF — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:01:00 GMT

Love her or loathe her, the Scarsdale mom who booted her two daughters from the car when they wouldn't stop fighting has captured the attention of parents everywhere. Now, a judge has ruled in the case.

White Plains City Court Judge Eric Press today ruled that he will dismiss all charges against Madlyn Primoff if she stays clean for six months.

As you might have heard, Primoff was arrested April 19 after kicking her two quarreling kids out of the car in downtown White Plains. Her 12-year-old daughter managed to get back in the car. Primoff drove around the block, but when she returned her 10-year-old daughter was gone. A passerby had seen the young girl crying and took her over to a squad car. When Primoff couldn't find her daughter, she called police; when she went to pick up her daughter at the station, she was arrested and charged with child endangerment

After her appearance in court, Primoff said, "Clearly I made a mistake."

Clearly. Do you think she got off too easy? Or was all this much ado about nothing?

Consumer Reports Picks Top Cookie; Kids Don't Care

KeriF — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:34:00 GMT

How do I know the new ranking of chocolate chip cookies by Consumer Reports magazine is bogus? Because I have kids.

Even though the CR study was done with "trained sensory panelists," I'd put my 3-year-old son up against them any day. Why?

Have you ever tried to tell a 3-year-old what to like or not to like? "But honey, this is a top-rated cookie! You have to like it!"

I'm sure that CR winners Health Valley's Mini and Keebler Chips Deluxe Original are very tasty chocolate chip cookies. But as any parent will tell you, kids like what they like. End of story.

What I really want to know is: what kind of chocolate chip cookie do the children of the "trained sensory panelists" like? That would be a cookie I might buy. Because let's face it, the palate of a child and that of an adult are different. That's why we don't share our decadent chocolate truffles with our kids; they just wouldn't appreciate it.

So what's your kid's favorite chocolate chip cookie? Do the Consumer Reports rankings sway you at all?