Dairy free creamy ham pasta with peas

Yum! Here's another dairy free recipe for you guys! After I made it, I realized that it would probably be creamier with margarine or some other oil in it, so I'll include it in this recipe even though I didn't in the original.

1 pkg macaroni pasta
1/3 c dairy free margarine
2 t molasses (or Worcestershire sauce)
2 C broth
1/4 C flour
16 oz ham, chopped
1.5 C frozen peas

Cook macaroni according to package directions.

Meanwhile, melt margarine in sauce pan. Combine with flour; add in molasses and broth (I used water and boullion granules). Bring mixture to a boil. Simmer until thickened, then add in ham and continue to cook until heated through. Turn off heat; add in frozen peas.

Drain pasta and combine with sauce. Enjoy!

Dairy-free beef stroganoff

A couple months ago, I noticed that my newest baby had a  rash that wouldn't go away no matter how frequently I changed his diaper or put diaper rash cream on him. I had heard of that happening to babies with dairy intolerance, so I decided to try cutting dairy out of my diet. I did, and voila! no more rash. However, that meant that I couldn't go back to eating dairy. I've had to do some experimenting to get that creamy deliciousness back in a way that the whole family will enjoy. Here's one that was a success!

12-16 oz fettuccine or linguine noodles

1/2 head cabbage, chopped

*1 t Worcestershire sauce

*1 t vinegar

1/2 t sugar (optional)

salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

*1 T mayonnaise

12 oz thin sliced beef steak (it should end up ~1" long, 1/2" wide, 1/8" or less thick. I cooked long, thin slices first and then cut them smaller. Beef can be chewy, so slice against the grain whenever possible to help with the texture)

*1-2 T oil

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

Meanwhile, cook beef steak in some of the oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic. When finished, stir fry (aka cook on VERY high heat while stirring frequently) cabbage in drippings and remaining oil, seasoning with more salt, pepper, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar. Stir fry the cabbage until the thicker pieces start to become translucent.

Combine cooked cabbage with pasta and mayonnaise; top with beef. Enjoy!

*I'm not certain of the quantities. Use enough oil that the cabbage doesn't burn. Use enough mayonnaise to coat the noodles, but no more.

"You'll miss this"

I've been thinking about that thing that people always tell young mothers: "When they get older, you'll miss when they were (babies, toddlers, etc)." or, "When they're teenagers, you'll miss this," meaning constant cries for mom, constant touching, questions out the wazoo, or any of the myriad of things little people do that drive us nuts.

I find that kind of unsolicited advice annoying. I think I do a fairly decent job of savoring the cute and fun things my kids do and say now, and I'm pretty sure that they'll like me just as much when they're older (as long as I keep the relationship strong). I love cuddling with my adorable, precious little baby, but when he's an energetic toddler running around on those adorably chubby little legs, a preschooler asking "why this" and "why that" and really thinking about my answers, a grade schooler learning about the world around him and becoming more independent, a teenager trying to figure out who he is in a complex and sometimes baffling world, or even a young adult leaving for college and trying out his wings, making mistakes as he learns how to live without mom and dad, I hope that I appreciate and love him just as much and more than I do now.

I think that we need to plan for the future and remember the past, but the best thing we can do for our kids in this regard is to focus on the present. They will remember that we like them as they are, not as they were or as they will be.

I also contend that this method is best for the parent. This way we are not constantly hoping for something we don't have, which is a surefire way to guarantee that we will be unhappy.

Intangible gifts I want to give to my children

-healthy eating habits
-love of being fit
-love of outdoors
-social dexterity
-love of reading
-happiness
-high emotional intelligence
-love of self
-love for others
-how to keep a clean living space

And of course, most importantly, a love for Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ.