Corn & Pickles

...no, sadly, that is not the latest pregnancy craving craze!  Those two vegetables, are in fact, the only two (besides green beans) that my kiddo will eat!  Lucky me!  Because of this, I spend a good amount of time trying to hide veggies in his other food (primarily pancakes).  If you have the same problem (like I suspect a few of you do), here is a good recipe to sneak in some pumpkin, some fruit (if you sub applesauce for the oil), and a whole bunch of fiber!  I make these a lot, and they get gobbled up in no time! Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
(Recipe from Rogue River Rendezvous, 1992)

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp allspice
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups canned pumpkin
1 cup vegetable oil (or sub 1/2 cup with applesauce)
1 cup bran cereal or 1 1/2 cups bran flakes
6 ounces chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour and the next 8 ingredients (through sugar), and set aside.
-In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs until foamy; add pumpkin, oil, and cereal, mix well.  Add to sifted flour mixture, stirring only until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips & nuts.  Spoon evenly into greased muffin tins.
-Bake for 30-40 minutes; cool completely before removing.

Not Just A Mom...

Such a great story! Enjoy!

A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the county clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.  She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.   "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a... "Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."

Motherhood...What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".