For the Love of Oatmeal

I love oatmeal! Instant or old fashioned, rolled or steel cut, it matters not to me. Maybe it's my Irish and Scottish roots, but could eat it every day. I especially enjoy making oatmeal when I'm on the trail or in camp. I almost always have some in my food kit. As long as you can boil water, it's a yummy, convenient and stick-to-your-ribs snack or meal. It's easy to pack and make, and there are so many way to prepare it that I never get bored.

Yesterday, I simply brought a package of Quaker instant Maple and Brown Sugar. It's not the most creative or bushcrafty but it made for a super easy and tasty breakfast. It also got my taste buds and culinary wheels turning.

Given the choice and the time, I prefer steel cut oats. When they're a al dente, they're a little chewy, and I really like that. (If the spoon can stand up in it, it's perfect oatmeal, in my opinion!) One of the downsides has been that steel cut oats take longer to cook than rolled oats. I don't mind a longer cooking time at home or when I have a campfire, by most of the time when I'm on the trail, I want something instant to save fuel. A couple of years ago, I discovered quick cooking steel cut oats and they were like a gift from heaven for this backpacker.

Decisions, Decisions!

When it comes to toppings, the choices are endless. Milk or cream, fruit, nuts, sweeteners, peanut butter, jam...  I even know guys who adds bacon and sausage to his. Personally, I like mine a little sweet and crunchy. Maple syrup and trail mix are my personal favourites. bacpacboy loves making a s'mores version with chocolate and mini marshmallows. For family outings, we bring a little flask of maple syrup and sometimes even use hot chocolate instead of water or milk.

S'more's oatmeal: one of bacpacboy's favourites

Of course, when it comes right down to it, simple is usually wonderful. for quicker trail prep, I often pack my uncooked oats in a container with a little powered milk and a shot of brown sugar and cinnamon. So easy. So good!

Have an inspiring day!
bpj

Quiet Breakfast for One

It's been almost a week since I last went for a hike. We've walked to the park with the kiddos almost every day, including a great family walk along the beach last night. It's been awesome. They love going on adventures, and I love going with them, but sometimes, a mom needs to recharge her batteries. 

Family walks rock!

Today was just such a morning. I didn't need to be into work early, so I headed to one the local trails and had a little hike and breakfast by the creek before I headed into the office. It was awesome! What a way to start the day! 

It's not Wordless Wednesday but I can't do the morning justice with words, so here's a little photo recap. This wonderful spot in along the Seaton Trail and Duffins Creek in Pickering, Ontario. If you ever get a chance to visit, I highly recommend it! 

Have an inspiring day!

BPJ

And here's a little video:

We took Abby for her 16 month healthy baby check-up yesterday. On the drive into Toronto, Steve and I were talking about what we wanted to review with the pediatrician, getting our ducks in order as it were. (It's interesting to me how a kid's doctor's appointment can feel like parental report card time for so many of us!) The only real concern we had was Abby's weight. (I admit that the "chunky baby thighs" comment might have stuck with me.) We thought maybe she might be getting a little on the heavy side. We wondered whether we should cut back on the amount of fruit and dairy she's eating.

It turns out that at 23 pounds and 80 cms tall, she's right in the middle of the curve and, according to her doctor, "growing perfectly." It's funny how our perceptions can be so skewed. All babies grow and develop on their own timetable, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Abby is very active and has healthy adventurous appetite - two things that should have reassured us that she's on the right track. We know this. It isn't our first rodeo, but still we worried. Or rather, I worried. Steve said "She's fine."

Since before she was born, I've had a little voice in my head reminding me that I don't want her to have body or food issues. It's a two-sided coin that can easily become an obsession: I want her to be confident and self-assured regardless of her body, but I also want to help her to have a healthy body. I want her to care about and for her body, but not be focused on weight loss or calorie counting, and I pray she doesn't get caught up in the unattainable quest for "the perfect body". It's a fine balance between making conscious healthy choices, and developing good habits, without becoming obsessed.

I am aware that as she grows older, she will be watching,  listening, internalizing what I say and do when it comes to not only her body, but my own as well. I think that's going to be the hardest part for me. Poor body image and constant dieting are habits that have passed from my Grandmother to my mother and to myself. The legacy comes from good intentions, but I'd like the cycle of self-criticism to stop here.

My wise husband reminded me that I'm on the right track. (So did friends at a weekend BBQ, which I have to admit, felt REALLY good.) I'm taking care of myself by eating mostly healthy, exercising regularly and I'm making sure the rest of the family does the same. He's right, but when I look in the mirror I see the bumps and lumps and stretch marks. He stood in front of the mirror with me yesterday as we were getting ready to go, reminded me that those stretch marks come from carrying three babies. He then pointed out a couple of my most hated body parts (yes, hated, but I'm working on loving them) and showed me that "they're beautiful and strong". I love that man!

After her appointment was over, the three of us spent a little while walking around Greek Town, doing a little shopping and enjoying the summer-like weather. We had organic super fruit smoothies for lunch while we strolled, and a yummy stir-fry of fresh veggies and pork tenderloin for dinner after Jonas finished his homework. And then, just to make sure that we maintain our balanced approached, Steve and Jonas made us all homemade ice cream sundaes for dessert. YUM!

Thanks for helping me stay on-track!
BPJ

bacpacjac's Super Salad

This is one of my favourites! I have it a few times a week at work and often have it at home for dinner, with beef, pork or chicken. A friend brought a similar version to a BBQ this past weekend, and I'm having left-overs for lunch today.  I switch up the dressings, but generally prefer something tangy, like a nice ginger-sesame or citrus vinaigrette.

Ingredients:

Red leaf lettuce
Red Swiss Chard
Baby kale
Baby spinach
Bok choy
Broccoli
Cabbage (red and/or green)
Snap peas
Shredded carrots
Radish
Bean sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts
Peanuts
Cashews
Dried cranberries
Raisins
Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Cheese (shredded or crumbled, whatever I have on-hand)

Stopping to Smell the Dandelions

I haven't had much time to blog the past few days. I'm just too busy. I have no idea how those professional blogger moms do it! I am stopping to smell the roses though, or in my case - the dandelions.

After a fabulous long-weekend, I'm enjoying a slow week at the office. I spent most of the weekend outside with the kids, and I've been home early every day this week. I'm loving the extra time outside with the kids. Mother Nature has even cooperated, by holding off on the heavy rain whenever we've had the opportunity to head out. Abby and I have gone for a walk every day, including lots of play time at the park. Big Brother Jonas has been kind of hit or miss when it comes to joining as, as we now have competition from the other kids in the neighbourhood, who are finally playing outside again now that winter has passed.

Here's a little clip from one of our weekend walks. It pretty much sums up all of our walks now that Abby has found her legs. Exploring every little thing that catches her eye, we don't go very fast but we sure have fun!

We've also been doing pretty well when it comes to eating healthy at home and on the trail. We've started BBQing again, and have even found some good spots and made time for a few brew-ups on the trail. I know coffee isn't good for me, but there's something about a fresh cup when I'm in the woods - I don't even mind instant. Just boil up some water on my little camp stove, and voila!

I hit a snag in my healthy eating plan this week though: I forgot my lunch at home and didn't have anything healthy at work yesterday. I'm ashamed to admit that I resorted to McDonald's. So, this morning I did something about it.

One of my secret weapons for eating healthy at the office, or at least trying to, is turning a drawer and shelf in the fridge into my personal pantry. I try to hit the grocery once a week for an office-specific shop. Today's selection includes salad mixes & veggies, cherry tomatoes, onion, apple, yogurt & cottage cheese, pita or wraps, trail mix, OJ, coconut water & juice, water bottle.

Thanks for helping me stay on track!
BPJ

Our Bodies, Ourselves

Someone innocently called my daughter's legs "chunky" this week. To be precise, she said "I just want to squeeze those chunky little baby legs!" Tickles, giggling and smiles ensued. It was all good, but it got me thinking about how Abby's going to feel about her body as she grows up and into a woman. (And also, why is it that we feel the need to qualify body parts with descriptions of them like "chunky". I mean, Abby only has one set of legs, right?)

I fight the battle against a negative self-image, as so many woman do, and I have my good days and bad. My body and the way I feel about it is a reflection of that constant battle. I don't want that for my daughter. When the chunk comment was made, I had a moment of overwhelming realization of the magnitude of what it means to be the mother of a daughter. Specifically, I realized that the way I feel about my own body is going to be a big influence on her and how she thinks about hers.

That's a big part of what motivates this blog, and more importantly, why I do the things I share in this blog. I want to be a good role model for Abby. I want to teach her to understand that life is a journey, and to take pride in who she is. As I try to moderate my own inner voice, I pray that hers will be more compassionate.

A couple of months ago, I joined a bunch of women who are trying to improve their bodies through healthy lifestyles. It's not a Weight Watcher's type group. We're a group of friends, some old and some new, who help keep each other motivated and inspired. We're tying to be healthier by living healthier lifestyles. We're exercising more, eating healthier, sleeping more, and basically trying to feel better. I don't think any of us is trying to achieve an ideal body, but I suspect we all judge ourselves based on whatever our own perception of that perfect body is.

The powerful video below moved me to tears this afternoon.Wouldn't it be nice if someday we could all come to accept that our bodies are only a part of who we are? Or, better yet, come to think of our bodies as a living history of ourselves, including our victories, our battle scares and the ongoing journey. We should take care of them and wear them proudly!

Have an inspiring day!
bpj

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/14/embrace-taryn-brumfitt_n_5318178.html

Trying Something New

I'm a simple girl, and the kind of person who often finds myself in a rut, especially when it comes to food. I could happily eat the same thing day after day, so I force myself to try new ingredients and recipes. It keeps the rest of the family from getting bored, helps to ensure that I'm getting nutrition I need, not to mention that it's a great way to find new menus for backpacking trips.

I tried quinoa for the first time at my Sister and Brother and Law's house this past Christmas and I'm hooked. It's an awesome source of protein, has been labeled a "Super Food" by experts, and it tastes so good. Most grocery stores carry some sort of a quinoa salad but it's super easy to make at home, not to mention cheaper. I just follow the directions of the back of the quinoa box and start adding stuff. It's just like making rice but, it seems to me, a little more forgiving.

I whipped up my favourite recipe (so far) at home this morning and brought it to work. One of these days, I'm going to try making it on the trail, but waking up to rain after a sleepless night, on a day when I have the late shift at work, means that lunch at my desk will have to do.

Meanwhile, on the homefront, Bacpacdad took Bacpacbaby for a walk in the rain today. I hate it when I miss out on playing in puddles with the kiddos!

Thanks for joining me today!
bpj

Recipe of the day

Bacpacjac's Favourite Quinoa Salad Recipe

Source:  http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Quinoa-Salad-with-Dried-Cranberries-and-Feta-517780?columns=4&position=21%2F56

Ingredients

• 4 cups quinoa (cooked and cooled)
• 2 green onions (finely sliced)
• 1/2 cucumber (large, sliced and quartered. I ship these because they repeat on me.)
• 1/4 cup walnuts (toasted - I prefer cashews)
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries  (I add raisins too)
• 1/3 cup low-fat feta (crumbled)
• 1 cup baby spinach (roughly chopped)
• 2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil (I usually use sesame oil instead)
• 2 tbsps balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• salt
• pepper
• fresh basil (optional - I prefer parsley)

• Directions

Put it all in a bowl, mix and enjoy. LOL! 

A Girl's Secret to Good Mental Health

Today was one of those days. I woke up early, after a long night with the kids, had two cups of coffee before 9am and grabbed breakfast at McDonald's drive-thru. I redeemed myself a little by having a homemade chicken and spinach salad for lunch, but there was no time for a morning walk and it was a difficult day at work so I barely left my desk. Ugh.

The ray of sunshine that kept me going, was that I knew I would leave the office and head to my BFF's for some much needed girl time. We don't see each other often enough for our liking, but life's like that. I've got kids and a full-time job and she owns her own business. No matter how crazy life gets, we try to get together every couple of months for a one-on-one dinner, for an in-person catch-up session - one of this girl's secrets to good mental health!

Tonight was the night! I got there before she arrived, so cracked open a bottle of white wine and went and found a chair in the backyard, where I snacked on some bread and cheese in the garden. It was glorious. The weather was perfect. It was sunny, and warm enough that I ditched my shoes and socks for Crocs and barefeet. The song birds sang, the squirrels foraged and the local kids made their way home from school. It was so relaxing.

Crocs and legs that haven't seen the sun in months:
They aren't beautiful but after the Winter and Spring we've had bare feet and crocs feel so good! 

After Nikki got home, we chatted the night away, sharing news, venting, laughing and solving the problems of the world. Both hungry and needing something more than wine for dinner, she rummaged through her freezer and found a container of her homemade fish stew. Fish is a limited menu item in our house, so I jumped at the opportunity. It was SO YUMMY!

As the evening went on, the temperature dropped and Mother Nature put on a good rain storm. This crazy Spring weather has been wreaking havock on our heads, so we counted the blessings we have in each other and called it a night reasonably early. The food and the conversation were so good that I almost forgot to ask her for her recipe. Of course, being the amazing chef that she is, she "kind of made it up off the top of (her) head." LOL! It was very reminiscent of the one I make, by our mutually favourite chef, Jamie Oliver. Here's that recipe in lieu of Nikki's.

Hope you had a good mental health day too!
bpj

Recipe of the Day

A Traditional Greek Fishermen's Stew

Source: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/aegean-kakavia-beautiful-fish-stew

• Ingredients
• olive oil
• 2 onions, peeled and roughly chopped
• 4 sticks celery, trimmed and roughly chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
• 3 beef tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 500 g potatoes, peeled and cut into 3-4cm chunks
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 litre organic vegetable stock
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 700 g fresh fish fillets, scaled and pin-boned
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
• 1 small bunch fresh dill, roughly chopped
• greek extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Heat a good lug of olive oil in a large pan on a medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft but not coloured.

Add the tomatoes, potatoes and bay leaves and pour in the stock. Season lovingly with salt and pepper and bring it all to the boil. Reduce to a low heat and simmer for 15 minutes. At this point, add your fish fillets and bring back to the boil, then reduce to a medium-low heat and simmer for a further 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the fish is cooked through and flakes apart. Stir in the lemon juice and herbs, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, then have a quick taste to make sure you've got a good balance of acidity, freshness and seasoning. Jamie serves h is with chunks of rustic bread but Nikki and I had steamed brocolli and mashed potatoes with ours. SO YUMMY!

"What's great about this recipe is that you can use whatever fish you like. Sea bass, wrasse, pickerel, pollock, bream and red mullet all work well. You could even use lobster if you have it and feel like splashing out! Just talk to your fishmonger and get him to recommend a few of his freshest fish. Greek fishermen make this out at sea, using whatever they've hauled into their boat that day, and cooking it in seawater. That's how I learnt to make this. Because their water is ready salted they don't need any seasoning at all to achieve a perfectly delicious stew. Genius! Try to use a mixture of fish, so you get all sorts of different flavours and colours in this wonderful stew." 

-Jamie Oliver

Morning Hike and a Safety Reminder

I woke up this morning with a splitting headache. It was raining, with a forecast of thunderstorms. That explains the headache. There's rain in the forecast every day this week, so going back to bed wasn't a solution even though that's exactly what I wanted to do. I had a couple of hours before I needed to be at the office and everyone else was sleeping, so I took at couple of Tylenol and a big glass of water, grabbed my little hiking kit, my rain jacket and a travel mug of coffee and went to find a trail near the office.

There's a bunch of trails near the office and I picked one that I hadn't been on in a while. It drizzled on and off while I was out, but it was very peaceful. The birds were loving it, and provided a nice morning soundtrack for a walk along the bluffs.

The snails were out in full force.

This one appears to have met a painful end - almost bird food maybe, and now ant food?
The circle of life. It was another of those moments when I wished the kids were with me.

It didn't take long to run into a roadblock. This area has two trails - a paved bike path and an unpaved footpath, which runs along the edge of the bluffs. Do you follow the trail or the sign?

Always pay attention to warning signs. They're usually there for a reason. Some people think this sign is left-over from winter, and the icy snowy conditions that make the trail slippery and hard to see. While those are indeed a few of the reasons for this sign, it's also there because the cliff is eroding, and many people have gotten too close, had the ground disappear under their feet, and ending up needing the assistance of Search and Rescue teams. Not worth the risk, in my opinion. I took a different route. Stay safe and have fun!

My headache seemed to disappear while I was out there, but the relief didn't last long. I left work early and came home to bed. After sleeping for a few hours, I woke up feeling human again. Hubby gets bonus points for taking the girl out so I could have a quiet house, and also for picking up dinner while they were out. A marinated flattened chicken is a simple dinner solution. Into a 375 oven for an hour, steam some potatoes, peas and corn to go with it and dinner is ready. Simple, easy and tasty. There's even left-overs for lunch tomorrow! Way to go, honey!

Thanks for joining me today!
bpj

Not letting fail win!

I woke up with the best of intentions today. I was going to go for a sunrise walk before I went to the office but I was too tired so I slept in instead. I was going to have a healthy well-balanced breakfast, but I was slept in, so had a coffee and half a cream cheese bagel on the way to work instead. I made my lunch last night, but I slept in and forgot it in the fridge. Three fails and the day had barely started. (One fail and several consequences?)

No problem, I thought, I'll get myself back on track when I get home tonight. I planned to make fish tacos for dinner but my son complained and asked for something else. I thought we could go for a walk after dinner, but the girl fell asleep at dinner after a day at the park with her dad, and the boy wanted to go play outside with his friends instead. So. Much. Fail.

No. Not really. Both of the kids had a blast playing outside today, and my hubby got out there too. I got some much needed extra sleep, only ate half my bagel on the way to work and when I got to my desk I had a big glass of OJ and a cup of yogurt with some peaches and a hand full of trail mix.  I also replaced my forgotten lunch with a spinach salad during a quick stop to the grocery store at 6am. All wins, I'd say.

I did fail at getting outside for a walk though, unless you count walking back and forth to the Jeep from the house, office and grocery store. Instead, we had a dance party in the kitchen, followed by a game of Follow the Leader around the house while dinner defrosted. We were lead by a little girl and the cool new cardboard box her big brother brought home from school for her. I was moving and breathing hard for about a half an hour, and we all had super fun, so it totally meets my daily exercise goals! HA! Take that Fail!!

After the morning bagel slip, I got back on track with breakfast and then had a big spinach salad for lunch. I didn't make fish tacos for dinner though. I had them yesterday when the boys and Abby took my mom and I out for Mother's Day. They had lots of pineapple, mango, red onion, avocado, cilantro and baked white fish - healthy and yummy! I thought it would be a perfect meal tonight when my husband, who hates fish, wouldn't be home. Alas, Jonas had another request - pea soup. We had it last week and we all loved it, so I thawed the leftovers tonight. It's soo good! (The recipe is below if you're interested.) Jonas and I loved it, but Abby wore herself out at the park and running around the house, and fell asleep in her highchair while eating dinner.

So, all and all, I'd say it was a great day. There's a chocolate brownie staring my down right now though. I'm trying my best to resist it but my achy knees and back and telling me that just one bite wouldn't hurt. Hmmm.....

Have an inspiring day!
bpj

Recipe of the Day

Original recipe from Canadian Living Magazine

Quebecois-style Pea Soup

Prep time30 minutes

Total time2 hours 30 minutes

Portion size4 to 6

Ingredients

• 1 lb 1lb(454 g) (454 g) unsmoked ham hock
• 2 tbsp 2tbsp(30 mL) (30 mL) butter
• 2 2carrotcarrots, diced
• 2 2ribs celery, diced
• 1 1oniononions, diced
• 2 2cloves garlic, minced
• 1-3/4 cups 1-3/4cups(425 mL) (425 mL) dried yellow split peas
• 2 2bay leafbay leaves
• 1 tsp 1tsp(5 mL) (5 mL) dried savory or dried thyme
• 3/4 tsp 3/4tsp(4 mL) (4 mL) salt
• 1/4 tsp 1/4tsp(1 mL) (1 mL) pepper

Directions

Trim off and discard skin from ham hock; set hock aside.

In large Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat; cook carrots, celery, onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 15 minutes.

Stir in split peas, bay leaves, savory, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

Stir in 8 cups water; add ham hock. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until peas are very soft and soup is thickened, 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Discard bay leaves. Transfer ham hock to plate; let cool enough to handle. Discarding bone and any fat, dice meat and return to soup; heat through.

*After I've returned the ham to the pot and am ready to heat it through, I also add about a quarter to a half a cup each of frozen corn nibblets and cooked bacon. (It goes soggy after a while in the soup, so I make it crispy.)

It's in our genes!

Since it's Mother's Day, my mom and I were looking through old family photos this afternoon. I asked to borrow these three pictures, of women who seriously influenced me growing up. In the stories of them lies the origins of my love of the outdoors, and they are stories and traditions that I want to share with my kids.

The first is my mom's mom, my Grandma Little, or Gertie as everyone called her. She was a career nurse, a wife, mother and grandmother. Very "proper" for her day, but she was also the original outdoorswoman in my life. Living on the river, she loved it all - hiking, camping, boating, fishing, gardening, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, campfires, animal watching and tracking, hunting for wild edibles... and she very often took us on adventures with her, along with a thermos of hot chocolate or juice. She was always teaching us about the natural world, and she made time on our outings to stop for a break, and to just sit and talk. About what we were doing or saw, or about life in general. I do the same thing with my kids. Gertie and I didn't get along very well when we were "off the dirt", but we had some wonderful heart-to-hearts when we were out in the wild or tending her garden or cooking together. Conversations like that are something I truly cherish about spending time outdoors and in the kitchen with my own kids.

The second is my Great Aunt Mary, Gertie's older sister. I don't have any personal memories of her, but my Grandma used to regale us with stories of Mary's adventures. She was the family tomboy of that generation, and Gertie always spoke admiringly of her. Hunting, trapping, backpacking, serving oversees in WW2 NOT as a nurse ... Her life seemed like one big adventure to me and I recall thinking many times, "I want to be just like her when I grow up!"

I can't find a picture of my Great Great Aunt Edith, but she was a third huge influence on me growing up. My dad's Great Aunt, she was a missionary in the Amazon or Africa in the 1800s, and she died there of malaria or small pox or something. That's specific, isn't it? A picture of  Edith hung in my Grandma Symonds house, and I loved hearing stories of her when I was a child, but I can't remember any of the details. She may been a staunch traditional religious zealot, who only ever went on one expedition, for all I know. It doesn't matter. As a child, I imagined her as a world traveler. A woman who, not unlike Amelia Earhart, bucked societal norms, and lived a life of adventurer, exploring the deepest depths of the jungle.

These woman helped fuel my imagination and early outdoor adventures. They weren't the only ones, but the were three of the most important, because they were women in my vary own clan. I never became a world traveler, but in world where I often felt ostracized because I wasn't a girly-girl, I felt a connection with these relatives. It felt like I was following a family tradition. Their spirit is something that lived in my grandmothers and that I lives within me too. Theirs are stories that I want my daughter to hear. I suspect that her blossoming love of nature will continue to grow, but even it if doesn't, I hope that she inherits some of their spirit, drive and dedication to staying true to who they are. After all, it's our the genes!

Happy Mothers Day!
bpj