Thursday, June 28, 2012

Less is more - The secret to creamy peanut butter and parenting?

So I figured out what went wrong with my peanut butter = too many nuts. You might have to ask an engineer or scientist as to why, but I know from trial and error, too many nuts = clumpy chunky wierd butter. I guess there is not enough space to get them moving fast enough to turn into creamy nutty goodness.  Typical of my and my style, I figured if i was going to make nut butter  i.e. make a big mess in the kitchen, I might as well make a lot of peanut butter to make it worth my time.  So I just kept adding nuts, and apparently it was too nutty.  Nutty, huh? :) So if you are going to make nut butter here are the lessons I have learned.
Don't use more than 2 cups of nuts. And mix it like crazy, turn on the food processor and walk away for at least 15 ms. Let it do its thing. Come back to cream nutty goodness :)

Which brings me to life - This less is more business seems to be the lesson I am learning in life lately. Particularly,when it comes to parenting and my relationship with Hudson.  My typical style is go, go, go, fill my day with as much as possible.  I don't like sitting around very much and I don't like feeling like I wasted any time.  I like to make schedules for the day and I like to stick to them and if I see that I have an hour that isn't filled with something I like to fill it quickly; play date, walk, bake, project, lo que sea.  Hudson, on the other hand, does not (change, transitions, noise, people, and social settings in general stress him out).  I have instinctively known this all along but had not responded to it on a larger scale.  I figured he would eventually adapt and as he grew he would grow to be more like me...this hasn't really happened.
In fact, we had a some very rough days in the beginning of summer, lots of tears (mainly from me), lots of frustration (me again) and some serious head butting (that one was Hudson, he literally head butts).  So much so, that I was definitely questioning my decision to stay home more with Hudson and my decision to procreate.  Something had to change and being the adult in the relationship I decided I should probably take the lead.  I went with my instinct started doing less.  lEach day I look at my schedule and the things I want to do, I chose one or two of them, take a deep breath and let the rest go...and it is good. There is more peace, there are more smiles form both of us, there are more projects and piles of the things that aren't getting done and people who I just didn't connect with, but hopefully they will all be there tomorrow.


So when making nut butter and in life, it is looking like less is more.  AND since we are talking about nut butter here is an awesome recipe for almost Raw Pad Thai with Peanut sauce...in this case less is not more.  LOAD on the peanut sauce.

 RAW Pad Thai 
Chop - carrots, snap peas, red & yellow peppers, edamame, mushrooms,
Put on top of bed of bean sprouts or if you need more sustenance skinny rice noodles.
Top with cilantro, basil, nuts, and lots of peanut sauce.

Raw Peanut Sauce

  • 1 cup nut butter - 
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons Braggs (or soy sauce)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chile paste or cayenne pepper if you want it 100 raw (more if you like it hot)
  • 1 tablespoon agave 
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Fresh ginger to taste
  • Coconut milk until you reach desired consistence
  • Blend together until smooth

  • So fresh and so good.

2 comments:

Chris Greenfield said...

Very interesting insight seeester. You're very wise to give into Hudster's ways a bit. You are a very good mama!! Love you!

Linnea Mirsch said...

Good lessons to learn & share, thank you! You are an amazing mother to a wonderful, lucky, blessed little man Hudson!!