Our best bites: Nish style.

I really do have the best husband to cook for. He never ever complains, eats almost all our leftovers (especially the ones I want the fridge to suck into its black hole) and he is willing to try everything. Sometimes it's almost hard to cook for someone this easy to please, ironic I know, because even if he isn't a huge fan of something he will still tell me its delicious. So the only way I can really decipher what recipes are worthy of my growing personal collection, is when he puts in specific requests for dinner during our weekly Sunday meal planning sessions.I know that if he wants me to make it again that we have a winner. One of those recently discovered gems was Shepherd's Pie. I never grew up being a huge fan, and one day last month decided I really wanted to try my hand at it and see if I could come up with one that I would enjoy. Plus I figured if it was a success I'd have a great freezer meal for when baby arrives. Well I was wonderfully surprised with how it turned out, and obviously so was the hubster because he asked for it again this week. I'm not a food blogger but I do love getting recipes from blogs when I need to try something new, so I thought I'd share my shepherd's pie recipe for those who are a little stuck on dinner ideas as we so often are. This recipe is great for feeding a lot of people and doesn't take any fancy ingredients. Plus it's so easy to adjust to you and your family's tastes. This dish also makes me feel like a super wife because while it's in the oven, I have time to do the dishes (there aren't many!) and set the table so Gordon has a nice meal in a clean kitchen to come home to. Meals that I can have cleaned up before I even eat them are really the greatest. I would have posted a picture but our pie is currently already half eaten and in the fridge so it doesn't quite have the same appeal....

Shepherd’s Pie

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided in half
• 1 cup frozen veg, thawed or cooked (depends on how much bite you want)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• clove of garlic
• 2-3 tbsps worcestshire sauce
• 1-2 tablespoons ketchup
• one can beef broth (or little less)
• pepper and chili powder to taste

Directions

1. Make mashed potatoes (I don't think I need to elaborate on this. Make them how you like them) 
2. Mix half the cheese in with the potatoes.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
4. Brown ground beef. Pour off excess fat, then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Season with pepper and chili powder. Add crushed garlic, worcestshire, ketchup and beef broth (add less of the worcestshire, ketchup and beef broth if you want drier meat, I like sauce). Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes (can thicken with more flour if needed).
5. Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Next, layer the veggies on top (you can leave them frozen if you like them with a bite). Top with the mashed potato mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
6. Cover, and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes
7. Remove the cover and broil for 2-3 minutes to brown top. **This step really does make it that much more delicious. Just be careful to watch it so it doesn't burn!)

A birthday dedication to my daddy

Reasons why I love my dad in honour of his birthday! ( I had just spent 45 minutes writing this post but it never saved. GRRRR...)

My dad always included us in his hobbies, whether it was running, bike rides (I still dread those), building IKEA furniture, going to hockey games or dancing with us in the basement (in between his sets of weights), he let us know that we were important to him.

My dad always cracks jokes. ALWAYS. Especially if they keep him and others from crying during possibly emotional moments like my wedding. He wouldn't stop joking the whole time we were dancing. Thanks for saving me from being Niagra falls dad!

My dad thinks he is #1 which makes him a)impossible to argue with and win b) competitive to the point of sheer ridiculousness. And yes I do love this about him (99%) of the time. Gordon says I get my stubborness from him so maybe that's why this is included in the post.

As aforementioned my dad is competitive to the point where it's roll on the floor laughing. Winning is his obsession and he doesn't take losing lightly. If you play a game with him you have to be prepared for a solid 2 to 2.5 hours because every turn takes him 10-15 minutes. We're very accustomed to reading, getting ready for bed, or snacking during his turns. One of the games the two of us used to play a lot when I lived at home was scrabble. He taught me how to play when I was in elementary school and always used the game as an opportunity to tutor me and show me new strategies. Then I got good enough to beat him once in a while and that stopped haha. He even hid a bag of ice in my bed once after beating him. Like I said, competitive to the point of ridiculousness.

Dad loves to teach us new things. He used to read to me so much that I would have picture encyclopaedias memorized. He taught me e=mc2, that Troy Aiken and Emmet Smith were the two greatest footballers for the Dallas Cowboys, when and what to yell at the TV during NHL games, and so much more. The other day he randomly asked me what bird was black and orange and found in Newfoundland. I said a puffin and he said that was the final question on cash cab and that he knew I would get it right because a puffin was one of the animals in the encyclopaedia he used to read to me when I was little. I can't wait to see what he's going to teach this little one.

Dad has always shown love to us. He may not seem like the most affectionate or emotional guy and he pretends really hard not to be. But he would always chide me if I forgot to give him a hug and a kiss before leaving somewhere. He called almost every day when gone on business trips to tell us he loved us and never left home without saying I love you to each of us. I've come to understand that he showed love in a lot of unconventional ways when I was growing up like pinning us down and tickling us until our sides hurt, or chasing us after he was sweaty from a run and we were all prettied up for the dance, and every other teasing and shenanigan you can imagine. I doubt your imagination is that big though... My dad is full of charity and can recognize others in need very quickly. I can't wait for him to be a grandpa because I know this little one is going to adore him and love him as much as I do. Love you dad! Have a great day! xoxox

The epidural stigma

Well here's to another late night post. This is one I've been constructing in my head for a very long time, but until this week I just kind of brushed it under the cover for different things. Well in light of all my friends who have had babies, are pregnant, or recently announced they are pregnant, I feel this post is especially appropriate. Especially when I've heard some of the comments in response to questions about the labour experience and which route to take. Now I have to make a small disclaimer before I launch in. I'm presenting my opinion based on personal experience and research and I am not in any way trying to convince you that I am right and you are wrong. By the same token, please don't try and convince me you are right and I am wrong. #1 You are not going to change my opinion about this no matter what you tell me (no research will not help, 4 years of nursing school teaches you how to do your own research and evaluate it's quality). #2 YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY OPINION. Just thought it needed repeating.
The topic of discussion today is epidurals. I'm going to be frank. I love them. I think they are fabulous. They are probably the only thing that kept me sane during my 9 week, 340 hour preceptorship in labour and delivery at the Grey Nuns' hospital here, where I am scheduled to deliver this little one in just under 4 months. I know that many of you don't agree and feel that this is a medicalization of birth, and I am totally cool with that opinion. What drives me absolutely bonkers is when people have this stigmatisation of women who choose to have epidurals in labour. One of the things my preceptorship hit home, was that I am definitely going for the epidural, no ifs ands or buts and I am not ashamed to say so. Why should I be ashamed? I don't look down on you for not choosing an epidural, so how is it that you look down on me for choosing to have one? Do we look down on people who take tylenol for a headache? Maybe you do, but you should probably stop reading right here, because this post will really get your blood boiling.
I'm pretty darn sure that epidural or not you still have to birth a child. Epidural or not that child still has 50% of your genetic makeup. Epidural or not you have still experienced the pains of labour. So let's the cut "You're less of a mother" crap and be honest. You are just as much of a mother, and just as deserving of that child no matter your choice.  Having seen multiple births with and without an epidural, I have also seen the advantages and disadvantages to both choices. This is a choice that is so individual, and one single choice is not right for every single couple. For those of you who argue with the line "Your body was built for labour. It's a natural process. You don't need an epidural." You are right. You don't need an epidural, but may I point out that our body was also built to fight infections and heal broken bones but we don't give a second thought (in most cases) to taking antibiotics or having a cast. I'm also not comparing birth to a pathological condition, I'm comparing it to other natural processes that our bodies were hard wired to do but require additional help for increased comfort and relief.
Now if you need to go and count to ten, so you don't bite my head off later, go ahead and do so. Then continue on reading, I get nicer from here.
I have seen epidurals do SO much good for mothers (and fathers who feel utterly helpless at the pain their partner is going through). I have seen them provide rest, stabilize fetal hearts, and help labours move along when all seemed to be at a standstill and the mother was losing strength. You may feel that it's a weak person's choice and that if you have the right support you shouldn't need an epidural. Please consider this, we chose to have epidurals not because we are weaker but because we chose to have a different birth experience than you did, and that is okay. At the end of the day we are all mothers who worked hard to bring a little spirit from heaven into the world, and frankly that is the only badge of honour there is to wear.