Oh Please, Krusteaz

The boys wanted pancakes for dinner tonight and, weary at the very thought of preparing one more batch of chicken nuggets, I was happy to oblige. I got out my pancake mix, added water, threw some sliced banana in the batter and got to work.

Then, I started worrying about that chain email that went around about a year ago about the high school girl who made some pancakes and then went to cheerleading practice and died because the mix was expired and the preservatives had turned toxic. For the record, I have no idea if that incident really happened or whether mixes turn toxic when they are past their "best by" date.

Probably an urban legend, and I was fairly certain that I had purchased my box of pancake mix in the past six months anyway . . . but decided to check the date on the box just to be sure.

Guess what? I could not find a stinking date anywhere on the box. No "best by," no "sell by," no "use by" date, nothing that resembled a month or year that I could make sense of.

To be clear, I am still not worried about the safety of my children because I know this mix is not really that old, but I'm starting to get all annoyed, as in, "This is crap. How hard is it to put a date on a box?"

The only thing I could find was this code: KE9180D

Was this mix from 1991? From September 1, 1980. Or, in some bizarro reverse universe, was the mix from January 9 of 08?

While my kids are eating the probably-safe-but-potentially-expired pancakes, I do a quick online check at the company website.

There are instructions for cracking the code:
"The code reads as follows:

	·	The first number after the two letters represents the year of manufacture.
	·	The next three numbers represent the number of days into the year (Using the 365-day calendar).

Using the example below: DF6060D indicates the product was produced on the 60th day (March 1st) in the year 2006."

Um, okay. I admit that I am still confused. This code does not seem self-explanatory to me. Without access to the internet, I'd have no idea how to begin to crack it. Isn't this a box of pancake mix not a GRE logic question?

I will point out that the website also has a feature where you can put your code in, and they will then tell you when your box of pancake mix was manufactured. So, my box was manufactured on 6-29-2009.

Good news, right? I guess it is, assuming you know that pancake mixes (assuming proper storage conditions) are to be used within 24 months of the date of manufacture. But that's common knowledge right? And, pie crust mix . . . you've only got 12 months, but I guess you should already know that. Right?

I don't know what the laws are for labeling convenience products such as baking mix, but it does not seem too much to ask for a consumer to be able to make her children some pancakes without having to go online to make sure that her mix is not expired.

To repeat my earlier question, "How hard is it to put a date on a box?"

That is all. I beseech you not to leave any comments along the lines of "homemade pancakes are so easy--don't mess with the mix." I'm sure that's true, and I'm sure I'll mix up my own pancakes some day, but I don't want to hear that right now.

Anyone else have trouble with expiration dates? And, while we're on the topic, do you play fast and loose with such dates or stick to them strictly?

Welcome to My Chicago Hood, Blogtrotters!

Welcome, Blogtrotters! I'm MEP and honored to be one of the first Blogtrotting tour guides. CaraBee said to keep this post under 500 words so I'm directing you to the tabs above (Who's MEP?, Worth the Trip, and Favorite Things) to learn about me and my blog and to link to some of my best posts.

I'd prefer to spend my words telling you all about my Chicago neighborhood. If you have visited Chicago, you know that there's so much to see and do downtown. Shop the Magnificient Mile, go to Millenium Park, have tea at the Drake, enjoy a drink and view at the top of the Hancock Building, eat some Chicago-style pizza, and definitely take an architecture boat cruise . . . just to name a few.

Downtown Chicago is a wonderful, friendly, easily navigable place, but I think the heart of Chicago is the fact that the city has so many unique neighborhoods.

The general neighborhood that I call home is Lakeview, but within this general area are more specific zones. If I walk a couple of blocks east, I'm heading into Wrigleyville, home of the historic Wrigley Field, party-ready twentysomethings, and bars as far as the eye can see. If I walk a couple of blocks west, I hit the main drag of the Southport Corridor, home of restaurants ranging from sandwich shops to sports bars to higher end ethnic spots, more nail salons than seem necessary (yet all stay in business), coffee shops, more bars, and hundreds of strollers.

I grew up outside of Cincinnati and never really imagined myself as a "big city" dweller. Some unique aspects of city life for me include: being a one-car household (hubby takes El to work), being told that my 15 x 15 backyard is "huge," having to street park regularly when doing errands, and depending upon public parks and playgrounds more than I thought possible. Chicago has three seasons and during summer and fall, I love to walk my boys everywhere -- to the store, the school, the park, playdates, etc. I'm a little less walk-ready in winter, but it is nice knowing that I can always get somewhere interesting without having to get in the car.

This past Friday, a good friend and I bundled up our kids to walk Southport and document the neighborhood for this post. Check it out . . . And we're off . . . cruising a typical neighborhood street in a typical Southport stroller. No idea why Bub brought the broom along.

Dairy Queen is mighty popular in my neighborhood, to the point that when explaining to other Chicagoans where we live, we often start with, "Do you know the Southport Dairy Queen . . . "

There are tons of great bars in Chicago neighborhoods where you can grab a drink and a good meal. This one is kid-friendly and has great taste in football teams.

Our neighborhood hardware store, where the staff is friendly, eager to help, and knowledgeable (and they don't wear orange shirts or hide from customers).

Iconic Music Box Theatre where they screen artsy-independent type movies and host special events like White Christmas and Sound of Music Sing-A-Longs.

Not unique to my neighborhood, but boy do I love CVS. I'm there at least three times a week.

The Wrigley Field experience is one worth having, whether the Cubs are winning or losing. I will warn you that they serve Pepsi products inside (but unless the new owners have changed the rules, you can bring in a Diet Coke from outside). I will also warn you that the majority of the fans there are not there to drink soda pop.

I feel the need to point out that my home McDonalds is right across the street from Wrigley. Some days I go through the drive-thru and think, "Wow, I just bought a breakfast burrito right across from Wrigley Field." NTB.

Chicago is laid out on a convenient grid that it took me years longer to figure out than it should have. What I recommend to you is that you visit Chicago (in the summer or fall when everyone here is so, so happy), get yourself to 3600 North/1400 West by train, bus, or taxi and then explore what's North and South of you. Today's tour didn't cover South of Addison, but the fun and excitement on Southport only continues. One highlight includes the world's best cheese fries (truly glorious) at Southport Lanes.

My Little Bit, one of the four cutest kids cruising Southport last Friday.

Special shout out to Sara, ace photographer and friend and to her kids and mine, absolute troopers during this winter walking tour.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of my Chicago neighborhood. I am so looking forward to all the Blogtrotting to come! Bloggers, please visit Blogtrotting and sign up to show off your little corner of the world. Readers of blogs, please keep visiting Blogtrotting and Not to brag . . .

I'll see you this summer on Southport!

Please leave a comment and share any of your own Chicago memories or questions . . .

(I'm too tired to figure out why all this white space is down here so please scroll down to leave some comments. Thanks.)

Hot to trot?

I am a curious person. I always love learning more about how other people live, what makes them happy, what makes them tick, etc.

If I take a walk at night, I love--in a non-peeper, non-stalkerish way--when lights are on inside the houses around my neighborhood so I can see the cozy warmth of people living their lives . . . watching television, washing dishes, sitting at a table.

I read novels and memoirs in order to be transported into other times, lives, and places.

I can't tune out the conversations that strangers have around me at restaurants or on cell phones (though, sometimes I wish I could).

I get way more delight out of facebook status updates than a person really should. I'm interested in what people choose to share and like to be able to respond with humor, sympathy, or support when I can.

And, of course, I love the blogosphere. I so enjoy the little glimpses of others' lives that blogs provide and the friendships and connections forged through reading and commenting on blogs. I like seeing the different ways people raise their kids, feed their families, keep themselves sane, let loose, take care of themselves, entertain themselves . . . I like seeing that there are so many different paths to and recipes for good and happy lives.

Lucky for me, my friend CaraBee invited me along for the ride on a new blog endeavor that is right up my alley. I'm going to be her front seat companion (the helpful kind who unwraps snacks, changes the music, never complains about snack/meal/pee stops, and tries to read maps) as she gets BlogTrotting off the ground . . .


What's BlogTrotting? You can click on the widget to read all about it, but basically, it's a site that will introduce you to different bloggers from around the world each day (starting soon). The day's featured bloggers will tell you a little bit about themselves, their blog, and the corner of the world where they live! There will be photos and links to other good posts . . . I can't wait.

Your job is to check it out and enjoy the trip. If you have a blog, please click on the Destinations tab and sign yourself up to be one the featured bloggers. If you know bloggers, encourage them to participate.

Thanks! We'll be featuring bloggers as early as next week! Stay tuned.


*Bloggers, if you want the "Hot to Trot" widget, you can use the image and link it to the site or email me or CaraBee and we'll send you the code.

Is there a spa in Radiator Springs?

Today was a long day and for no good reason. Bub had school this morning, we had a fun outing with friends for lunch, Bub had a good-as-gold playmate over this afternoon, but still . . . Little Bit bricked his afternoon nap and the day was just long and was one of those days when I never managed to pick up enough stuff to have a sense of order and calm for even a minute.

Enough whining though. Watch me focus on the positive:

1. Decluttering, though a huge project, is going pretty well. Though I mostly neglect my other blog, Just Use It Or Lose It, I have posted a few times in 2010 if you are interested.

2. Cooking more real meals at home and spending less money at the grocery store are both going quite well, NTB. I have designated Monday as "grocery day" and have risen to the challenge of trying to spend less each week than I did the week before by planning ahead. I am 2 for 2 on successful recipes this week (though we had leftovers and Lean Pockets tonight--today was so long I didn't have any time to cook). I tried Chicken Tamale Casserole (thanks to E. . . for bringing the recipe to my attention) and Turkey Mini Meat Loaves (thanks LAP for inspiring me to track down a muffin tin meat load recipe) from Cooking Light. Hubby and I enjoyed both recipes, and they were very easy! My only recommendation is that if you make the tamale casserole, mix the enchilada sauce in with the chicken instead of puncturing the cornbread crust and pouring it inside. I want to note that both recipes come from myrecipes.com, my very favorite online source for recipes. The website is a database with all the recipes published in magazines like Cooking Light, Southern Living, and Real Simple.

3. I am starting to prepare content for the cool tabs you see above. In case you've been wondering "Who's MEP?" and what's "Worth The Trip," rest assured you will soon know. If any NTB readers have any favorite NTB posts, please mention them in the comments as that data will help me finalize my content above.

4. I have been asked by a super cool blogger and friend to participate in a new blog venture. I'm really excited about it. Stay tuned for details . . .

5. Even though today was not my day and not Bub's either for that matter, he did find some stroke of artistic inspiration. Sure, he moved a chair and reached up on a high shelf and got out his paints without my permission to do so, but I have to show off the results. NTB, but I think he captured Lightning McQueen just beautifully. I really do.

How was your day?

Hookers, Mormons, Orphans, and Foodies . . . Oh My!

Back in November, I posted my top reads of 2009. Even though readers of this blog may get the impression that all I do is eat and watch television, I actually read quite a bit and wanted to update you with a few titles (not necessarily yearly top reads) that might be of interest.

In no particular order, I offer the following for your consideration . . .

Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann

McCann's novel offers a glimpse of New York City in the early seventies with stories told from the perspectives of various New Yorkers, whose stories often overlap. All the stories are somehow tied to that of the man (unnamed in the novel) who walked across a wire strung between the two towers of the World Trade Center. Readers of this blog know how much I love narratives in which unexpected or seemingly unlikely connections and friendships are forged. I love all the layers of this novel and was especially drawn in by the portraits of a mother-daughter pair of hookers, two mothers who lost sons in Vietnam, and a Irish monk living in the Bronx projects. I have no real sense of the seventies as a decade except for some vague images of bad clothing and brown carpet and the mushroom-detailed cannisters my parents received as wedding presents, and I felt like this novel gave me insight into a moment of history I tend to ignore.

Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl

I fear I won't do justice to Reichl's first memoir so I won't say much except that I loved this book and love Reichl's writing and the way she is able to write about so much more than food in everything of hers I have read. Her description of her mother's cooking and planning for her older brother's engagement party will remain with me for a long time for being simultaneously funny and tragic . . . unbelievable. Reichl's memoirs are so satisfying. Please read my friend E's review of Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires for a far more thoughtful account of Reichl as a writer. I ordered Reichl's second memoir, Comfort Me With Apples, and cannot wait until it arrives on Wednesday.

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker

I'm sorry, but how can you not want to open a book with such a title? Love it. I'm more than a little bit fascinated with Mormonism, not fascinated like maybe I want to convert, but definitely interested in one of the world's fastest-growing religions. Baker's memoir is about her negotiating her faith with her single gal life in New York City and a significant weight loss. I loved Baker's account of working the doll nursery at FAO Schwarz and was really intrigued by her account of being Mormon and thus abstinent and non-drinking in NYC. Check it out.

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

I always enjoy the writing of Nick Hornby. He is a master of characterization and of writing with humor and warmth. I like to imagine that Hornby had a lot of fun writing this novel because the narrative draws in his love for music and his familiarity with a certain type of obsessive, dedicated, passionate, earnest, message-board visiting music fan. If I were in a book club, I would look forward to discussing the ending of this novel with others.

The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir by Liz, Diana, Amanda, and Dan Welch

Can you imagine losing your father and then your mother over the course of just a few years? Can you imagine being the daughter of a famous soap opera star? Can you imagine your entire way of life changing almost overnight? Can you imagine dealing with all of this upheaval during your teenage years? This memoir, told by four siblings, tells the story of the Welch siblings as they deal with the deaths of their parents and strive to take care of one another. Understandably, these siblings remember some moments and events differently, but the end result is a powerful memoir. Plus, when you are finished, you can go to the book's website, and see responses/accounts from other friends and family members mentioned in the memoir.

As ever, I am embarrassed by these mini-reviews that I post here on NTB. I never have/take the time to write about these books and authors with as much thoughtfulness and care as I would like. Ah well, at least I'm reading and trying to encourage others to do the same.

As ever, I'm curious to know . . . what are you reading right now?

Like tOATally satisfying.

One of my 2010 resolutions was to make an effort to eat more breakfast foods that do not pair well with Diet Coke. The trick is to achieve this goal while still eating breakfast foods that are satisfying and stick-with-you-ing. Eggs are satisfying, but I drink pop with eggs. Golden Grahams do not pair well with Diet Coke but leave me feeling hungry eighteen minutes later. I usually end up with more savory breakfast fare like ham/turkey sandwiches or Lean Cuisine pizzas, both of which require Diet Coke (for me).

One breakfast food I return to from time to time is good old oatmeal. When I am on an oatmeal kick, I am on an oatmeal kick. I'll eat it almost every morning for weeks or even months, usually paired with orange juice.

Sometime around 1999-2000, I ate oatmeal for months (coincided with a period of weight loss, NTB) and topped it with sliced strawberries and fat-free white chocolate jello pudding. I think I'm only sharing that fact so I can think about pudding for a couple minutes.

My obsession now is oatmeal topped with brown sugar (love how the sugar looks as it melts) and either raisins or frozen sliced peaches (they defrost as you cook the oatmeal).

I don't do stovetop oatmeal, just quick oats from the tall can (packets are okay too, but the oats seem bigger from the tall can) in the microwave. I used to always make oatmeal with milk but have determined that it still tastes good made with water.

A recent issue of Cooking Light included a spread on oats and a recipe for Overnight Honey-Almond Multigrain Cereal. The recipe suggests that you combine steel cut oats, pearled barley, and water in a large (these oats expand, baby!) bowl overnight. Then, you microwave it in the morning. I've always wanted to explore the world of steel-cut oats but knew I didn't have the time or patience to spend 30 or so minutes on the stovetop every morning. No way. Anyway, I was intrigued by the recipe and sort of gave it a try. By "sort of" I mean that I combined the 1/3 cup of steel-cut oats, 2 tablespoons of multi-grain cereal mix from Trader Joe's (which I already had but was not using and which included barley in it), salt, and the 1 1/4 cups water recommended by Cooking Light and put them in the fridge overnight. I microwaved the oats in the morning, added my own toppers, and enjoyed a very delicious and filling breakfast. I'm sure the Overnight Honey-Almond Multigrain Cereal made exactly according to Cooking Light is divine, but the recipe involves too many ingredients for me for the morning. I don't see myself toasting almonds for my breakfast . . . not that I don't deserve toasted almonds.

Anyway, I'm loving my oatmeal again and wanted to pass on the soaking overnight tip in case other readers are interested in steel-cut oats that are less time intensive.

What are you eating for breakfast? And drinking?

Where you lead . . . I will follow.

The blurb at the top of the ad for Life Unexpected (from The CW) reads "Juno meets Gilmore Girls." Oh, do not tease me with such promises, TV Guide Magazine.*

My beloved Entertainment Weekly writes of Lauren Graham, set to star in the upcoming show Parenthood (her first post-Gilmore Girls series): "Lauren walked into this role like she was born to play it." I am guardedly optimistic.

I miss Gilmore Girls. A lot. Here's why . . .

Bub was born in January. Though my baby Bub was cute as anything, my transition into motherhood was not easy. It was cold. I was lonely. I felt incompetent. He lost weight. Nursing did not come naturally. As most babies do, he awoke several times every night and indeed did not sleep through until he was a year. Also, he did not nap during the day without being held, strolled, or driven in a car for many, many months. I rarely showered. I wore elastic waist pants only. I was tired and ugly. I was overweight (45 pounds gained in pregnancy and at least 15 over my fighting weight when I got pregnant). I unwisely decided to get bangs cut. I ate frosted animal crackers like it was my job. An unfinished dissertation hovered above me like a dark, depressing rain cloud.

I loved my baby but not my day-to-day life.

Yes, I got help and encouragement from family, friends, and my hubby. People brought meals, sent emails, visited, and called to check in. All good. I was and am loved. NTB.

But on the days when I was home alone with my little guy, there was another group of people who helped me make through it each day: the citizens of Stars Hollow.

On a whim, I purchased Season One of Gilmore Girls a couple of weeks before Bub was born. Once I determined that he was going to continue to wake up and scream every time I tried to place him (already sleeping) in his pack-and-play, crib, or infant carrier, I just decided that I needed him to be asleep more than I needed to be hands free. I'd gather everything I needed--snack, drink, cell, regular phone, remote controls, book, boppy--and sit down on the couch. I'd nurse Bub. He'd fall asleep. As he slept on the boppy on my lap, I would tee up episodes of Gilmore Girls.

Sure, some days I ruined the moment by opening a granola bar too loudly or not answering the phone quickly enough, but usually, I got through at least an episode (sometimes two or three) before he awoke and I had to figure out what to do next. Gilmore Girls gave me everything I needed during those naps--witty humor, heart, the most unique supporting characters on television, escape into the small-town fantasy world of Stars Hollow, romance, family drama, insight into parent-child relationships, a reminder that love and family are imperfect, and, eventually, Sebastian Bach.

I had never seen the show before that time even though it had been on television for years. Since Bub's birth, I have seen every episode in order but only one time each. It was such a joy to fall in love with a show and then be able to watch every single episode.

When I look back on those first months with Bub, I know it was hard and that I really struggled, but memory has blurred to the extent that I now also think of those months as cozy and comfortable and peaceful. My love of the Gilmore Girls is all wrapped up in the many memories and emotions of that transitional, special time.

My life with two young children is good now. Some days are long, but I know (more or less) what I'm doing, and I have two really happy, healthy, beautiful boys. I make plenty of mistakes, but I make sure they always know how much they are loved. I have a sense of calm and content (most of the time--there are major exceptions) that I could not have imagined as a brand new mom. I love my good, sweet boys. I know they love me.

I also have a daughter on the way with whom I hope to sit on a comfy couch someday and watch every single episode of Gilmore Girls. In anticipation of her arrival, I got out Gilmore Girls Season One, Episode One this morning and watched as I folded the laundry.

I like knowing I have all of it--the show and motherhood--to experience all over again.

What about you? Any memories of early days of motherhood? Any favorite Gilmore Girls moments? Carole King songs? Please share.




*responsible for the blurb--as a point of pride, I am not a TV Guide Magazine subscriber