amotherworld
Author

amw

Browsing
Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
Desserts

Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

I love chocolate peanut butter brownies. But many of the gluten free options I’ve found are made with coconut or chickpea flour, which throw off the taste of the peanut butter and chocolate. These Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies are chewy and soooo delicious, you would never guess they are gluten free! They taste like regular brownies – chocolatey, chewy and rich… they are so amazing, it’s difficult to stop at one piece! 

If you’re not gluten free, check out my regular version: Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies

Here is my tried and true recipe for Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies:

Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup organic Peanut Butter

1 cup coconut palm sugar

1 cup brown sugar (you could probably use 2 cups of coconut palm sugar but I didn’t have enough so I used brown sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup milk of your choice (I used almond milk)

1 cup rice flour

Directions:

Melt peanut butter on low heat in a pot. Stir in sugar, eggs and milk. Stir in flour. Spoon into a greased 9″ square pan. Bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes. Cool. Add topping.

Topping:

1 cup organic or dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup organic peanut butter

Melt chocolate with peanut butter. Stir until smooth and spread over cooled brownies.

Don’t eat the whole pan!

Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

Yield: 12

Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies (Gluten Free)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

Brownies

  • 3/4 cup organic Peanut Butter
  • 2 cup coconut palm sugar
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup milk of your choice (I used almond milk)
  • 1 cup rice flour

Topping

  • 1 cup organic or dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup organic peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Melt peanut butter on low heat in a pot.
  2. Stir in sugar, eggs and milk.
  3. Stir in flour.
  4. Spoon into a greased 9" square pan.
  5. Bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes.
  6. Cool brownies.
  7. To make topping, melt chocolate with peanut butter.
  8. Stir until smooth and spread over cooled brownies.
© amotherworld.com
Category: Desserts

 

Enjoy!

If you want the regular version, here you go!

by
Read More
Food

Mediterranean Diet Healthy for Heart

Yet again, the Mediterranean diet has been shown to be the healthiest.

People at high risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can reduce their chances by 30% if they switch to a Mediterranean diet.

The diet is rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables… a way I was brought up with Greek parents and continue to eat today (except for eating enough fish…).

The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, was based on the first major clinical trial to measure the diet’s effect on heart risks.  The study ended early, after almost five years, because the results were so evident.

Scientists randomly assigned 7,447 people in Spain who were overweight, were smokers, or had diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease to follow the Mediterranean diet or a low-fat one.

They randomly assigned people at high risk of heart disease to three groups. One would be given a low-fat diet while the other two groups would be counseled to follow a Mediterranean diet.

Those who followed the Mediterranean diet were instructed to use at least four tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil a day while the other group were to eat a an ounce of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts each day.

Participants were to eat at least three servings a day of fruits and at least two servings of vegetables, fish at least three times a week, and legumes which include beans, peas and lentils, at least three times a week. They were instructed to consume white meat instead of red. Wine drinkers will love this – they could have at least seven glasses of wine a week with meals!

They were encouraged to avoid commercially made cookies, cakes and pastries and to limit their consumption of dairy products and processed meats.

The participants who followed the Mediterranean diet were able to maintain it while the low-fat dieters did not lower their fat intake very much.

Fats found in olive oil, nuts, avocado are good for you!  Monounsaturated fatty acids, plant-based fats found in avocado, nuts and seeds, oils, olives, and dark chocolate, can help lower your risk of heart disease – yum. Also the omegy-3 fatty acids in fish are good for your heart too.

The study was conducted by Dr. Ramon Estruch, a professor of medicine at the University of Barcelona.

Here are some of my Greek dishes that you should try!

Fasolada ~ Greek White Bean Soup

Chicken Soup Avgolemono

 

More nuts in your desserts:

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts

Healthy Banana Bread

Pumpkin Almond Chip Cookies

 

 

 

by
Read More
Books & Music

Every Parent Should Read The Body Image Survival Guide for Parents (Giveaway)

While I was reading The Body Image Survival Guide for Parents, I also read a few articles online that poked fun at women for their weight. One was about the witty and talented Lena Denham of  the hit HBO show, “Girls”.  Not long ago, shock jock Howard Stern referred to Dunham as “a little fat girl who kinda looks like Jonah Hill, and she keeps taking her clothes off, and it kind of feels like rape.”

So an average girl can’t be the star of a show? This is exactly the problem with society today – body image is so skewed. A woman can’t be an average size and be on television without being called fat. Later on when Stern interviewed Dunham, he apologized to her saying he loved her and thinks she’s “terrific.”

It took Marci Warhaft-Nadler 20 years to figure out her own body image issues but she knows now that “self-worth should not be measured in pounds.”  She spent 25 years in the fitness industry telling people how to take care of their bodies while secretly abusing her own.

Today, she is a body image specialist and wrote a new book to educate parents of body image issues in our children. The Body Image Survival Guide for Parents is written with a goal to tear down the harmful myths surrounding beauty and fitness and empower kids to love and appreciate themselves for who they are.

 the body image survival guide

81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of getting fat.

The #1 wish of girls 11-17 is to lose weight.

These statistics are shocking and worrisome. In the book, Marci writes that little girls learn so much from their own mothers so it’s crucial that they see their moms being accepting and kind of themselves.

Marci talks about body image from as young as three years old up until the teen years – it’s disturbing how much society, media and toys can influence the way we look at ourselves and how much emphasis is placed on how we look. Images are all around us, from television, movies, music, magazines – we can’t escape what society says our bodies should look like.

But wait – it’s not only girls that have body image issues. Marci touches upon body issues in BOYS – yes boys… heroes like Superman and GI Joe suddenly have huge muscles. How can boys try to achieve that? Look at the beloved Superman and how he looked when first created, and how he appears today:

superman then and ow

Marci offers helpful suggestions in the book such as role modeling healthy body image behaviour, image proofing the home and even making the home a “talk-free fat zone”. She offers tips on how to teach your kids to love themselves and to look up to “normal” role models, how to compliment children on their actions – not their looks.

Here’s one game in Marci’s book that she suggests parents can play with their kids – the “I am” alphabet game where you can each find positive characteristics – none on physical appearance – to describe yourselves. For example, A is for Adorable, B is for Bright, etc.

Great questions and the right answers, Marci’s book is backed by stats, studies and real-life experiences and quotes from kids and parents. Marci offers practical tips and good advice on answering the difficult questions that children may ask parents – the most important tip? Conversations with children should never be about weight but should focus on health.

Marci’s book is a real eye-opener – every parent should read it, parents of girls AND boys.

The book will be officially released March 15 (through Amazon.com and Amazon.ca) but you can purchase now through at FitvsFiction.com.

Enter to win a copy!

We’re giving away a few copies of Marci’s book. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway.

Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

by
Read More
Entertainment

Phineas and Ferb: Animal Agents on DVD

How well do you really know your pet…or ANY animal? Behind a cute and/or cuddly exterior there may lurk a cunning crime-fighter with a brown fedora, a top-secret identity and a license to thrill! Meet the heroic Animal Agents of the O.W.C.A. (Organization Without A Cool Acronym)!

Join Perry the Platypus – a.k.a. Agent P – and his fellow operatives as they team up to thwart Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his dastardly “Inators.” Be they furry or feathered, scaly or slimy, these fearless agents roll over for nobody when it comes to crushing evil in the Tri-State Area and beyond. Fully loaded with over two hours of animal-themed adventures, including the exciting, two-part Phineas And Ferb cliffhanger “Where’s Perry?”, this fun-filled, action-packed laughfest will drive you wild!

My kids love Phineas and Ferb and I have to admit – so do I. I’m not sure which character I love more – Phineas, Dr. Doofenshmirtz or Candace.

Phineas and Ferb: Animal Agents is being released on February 26, 2013 and we’re giving away a copy! Fill in the form below for a chance to win.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

by
Read More
lifestyle

Yahoo! Going a Step Back

In a memo sent out Friday, Yahoo! told employees who work remotely that they can no longer work from their homes.

“Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home,” reads the memo to employees from HR head Jackie Reses. “We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.”

The new work rule will apply to several hundred employees including those who work from home only a day or two each week, starting in June. After that, employees who work from home must comply with the changes, or quit, according to the memo which was published on AllThingsD.com.

You’ll remember that Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo! was hired when she was five months pregnant and only a two-week maternity leave after giving birth… I wonder if she will be bringing her nanny with her to the office, or if anyone else working at Yahoo! will have that luxury. I’m sure many wouldn’t even be able to afford a nanny… which is why they worked from home in the first place!

Of course employees are angry because they were hired, and accepted their jobs, with the assumption that they could work with flexibility. Many staffers are indeed parents – parents who likely worked from home at a lower salary keeping in mind travel and expensive daycare costs when working outside the home.

So what does this say about Yahoo! and Marissa Mayer? It says that Mayer is unreasonable (I mean really, who doesn’t take time off to be with their newborn?!)  And it says Yahoo! proves not to be the forward-thinking tech company they are striving to be. It also puts a real dent in what women are trying to achieve today – that having a balance between family and career IS possible with remote workplace flexibility.

The Blogosphere has exploded with responses to the news, many of them saying it feels feel like we’re being put back 30 years. Yes it’s a setback for parents, many who depend one on spouse’s flexible work arrangements while caring for their children.

Other countries have more flexibility for parents – part-time work or flexible work arrangements is the norm for women in the Netherlands, for example. We should be seeing more and more companies offering flexibility, especially technology companies. With more business being done online, it’s a shame that Yahoo! has made this decision. You’d think that a global company would be embracing collaboration in the virtual space!

What do you think?

by
Read More
Fun Family Resort in Ontario
Travel

Fun Family Resort in Ontario: Viamede Resort

On Family Day weekend, my family and I visited Viamede Resort, nestled amid 165 acres of woods on the north shore of Stoney Lake near Peterborough. We lodged in a rustic cottage right by the (frozen) lake – what a beautiful view of the frozen landscape!

This beautiful resort features over 50 rooms and private rental cottages. Each room is unique – some deluxe rooms have fireplaces while cottages have 1 to 3 bedrooms. All the cottages are being renovated this year as well.

our cottage

Cottage at Viamede

Viamede

Viamede is open year round with activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and skating on the lake in the winter and kayaking, hiking, canoeing, water skiing and tubing during the summer. I’m not a snow bunny but since having kids, I’ve learned to embrace winter and enjoy the activities winter has to offer.

 Snowshoeing at Viamede

On the first day of our visit, the outdoor lake rink wasn’t frozen enough so we couldn’t skate. Instead, we all threw on some snowshoes and went snowshoeing through the various trails throughout the resort. We spotted a few deer in the woods!

We also lunched at the Boathouse Pub which is right on Stoney lake, a popular spot where local sledders come in to unwind, eat and enjoy a beer by the fire. Even a small airplane flew in to have lunch!

The Boathouse

 stoney Lake

The Inn at Mount Julian, which will reopen this spring,  is Viamede’s highly accredited fine dining restaurant all complemented by the Viamede farm with free range ducks, pigs, turkeys and a vegetable garden! Locally-organically grown? You know the food is going to be amazing.

We enjoyed an amazing buffet dinner on Saturday night in the Dining Room – the “fancy” dinner, the kids called it.  Oh the food, the food!  Executive Chef, Ken Van Mackelbergh, is a culinary master. Buffet items like chicken with a tomato orange sauce, cheese tortellini and prime rib – mouthwatering! I think we will drive to Viamede just for Chef Ken’s dinners!

Viamede food

 The Dining Room

We retreated back to our large three-bedroom cottage, lit a roaring fire and snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie. On Sunday, the weather was much colder which meant we could skate! The resort staff brought out some hockey sticks and started an outdoor fire for guests too. We popped into the Boathouse for some hot chocolate afterwards.

Skating on Stoney Lake

I loved the activities the resort had planned for the kids on Sunday – they had a scavenger hunt around the grounds. In the afternoon, the kids made their own pizzas with the Chef and then watched a movie while hubby and I had dinner in the Dining Room. It was just bliss to enjoy a three-course gourmet meal alone, knowing that friendly staff were keeping the kids entertained.

Viamede is also known for its history; the origins of the main resort aren’t known but Viamede Hotel did exist back in 1873. The Mount Julian property was built between 1865 to 1875, with buildings being added and demolished over the years. The oldest two buildings, currently the Spa and the Inn at Mount Julian, still remain. Viamede was rebuilt in 1907 after a fire. With all its history, guests of the resort have been coming back for generations!

Viamede Resort

Viamede

Whether you’re in search of a couples romantic getaway, a conference or wedding venue, or an Ontario weekend escape with lots of fun, food and activity, Viamede is a fabulous year-round travel destination! My kids loved it and want to go back in the summer!

 

 

We were invited to visit Viamede on Family Day Weekend and thrilled we had such a lovely time.

by
Read More
parenting

Now That I’m Pregnant, It’s Time To Prepare!

by Franki Arnold

Following Franki of Those Young Moms through her pregnancy journey after VBAC

I’m just over 20 weeks now, and so far this pregnancy has been very easy on me. Besides being slightly more tired than usual (and the many cravings for perogies and Asian food!), I would hardly notice that I’m pregnant with baby number two. But although it has been smooth sailing so far, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been doing numerous things to get my body ready (as well as my mind) to carry this pregnancy well, and to make it through labor and delivery as well as my body will handle it.

While I was pregnant with Tatum, I did very little beyond eating well and taking prenatal classes through Public Health to help prepare myself as well as my body for labor and delivery. Working in health care, I felt that the eight hours I spent standing up would suffice as exercise (it doesn’t!), that my prenatal classes would provide any and all information I needed to know, and that when my labor came, I would know what to do and it would all turn out fine.

Unfortunately, I feel that my lack of preparation and knowledge led to me feeling overwhelmed and ill prepared for labor and delivery. I was overwhelmed and was not able to make the decisions I would have liked to have made.

Knowing what I know now, and having already experienced pregnancy and labor, I’ve vowed to do as much as I can to help ready myself for labor, and to make pregnancy, labor and delivery as enjoyable as possible. Here’s what I’ve been doing differently this time around to help lay the groundwork for a positive pregnancy and birth experience.

My tips on how to have a healthy pregnancy with second baby:

Incorporate chiropractic care into my lifestyle.

While my husband and I were trying to conceive, I started researching ways to help successfully achieve a vaginal birth (and in my case, a VBAC). Chiropractic care was something that kept popping up in the articles that I read. Not only is it great if you already have back pain issues, but regular chiropractic care during pregnancy can help establish good pelvic balance and alignment which is essential for your developing baby. If your pelvis is misaligned during pregnancy, it can limit the room your baby has and can make it difficult for baby to get into the best position possible for delivery.

franki arnold 20 weeks

Ensuring that your spine and pelvis are properly aligned can help to reduce your chances of having an invasive birth and interventions such as a c-section. Chiropractic care can help maintain a healthy pregnancy, relieve back, neck or joint pain, reduce labor time, and prevent a potential c-section. All incredible reasons to incorporate regular chiropractic care into my pregnancy!

Practice yoga daily.

I have been taking a weekly prenatal yoga class since December, and it has been a huge help in not only preparing my body for labor and delivery, but my mind as well. Not only that, but it’s a wonderful way to connect with other moms-to-be. Because I only take the class weekly, I make sure to do a minimum of 15 minutes of yoga each day, preferably before bedtime. Prenatal yoga has SO many benefits, such as strengthening your core muscles to carry your baby efficiently (and help with all of that pushing!), ease back pain (my favourite position for this is “legs up the wall”), and help to keep your pelvis open and ready for birth.

You will also learn relaxation and breathing techniques as well as vocal toning that will help keep your mind calm and as relaxed as possible. Something I learned during my prenatal class was “closed throat = closed cervix.” Labor is not an easy time to remain calm, but if you have the correct techniques to help you as much as possible, you can relax your body as much as it will allow and you will be able to birth your baby much more efficiently.

Exercise twice or more weekly.

This is awful, but when I was pregnant with our daughter, I didn’t do one ounce of exercise, save for the time I spent standing up at work or walking around the grocery store during our weekly shopping trips. Because of my lack of strength and stamina, I feel that birth was that much more overwhelming to me. I read online in an article regarding exercise during pregnancy that labor and delivery is like a marathon. You don’t jump into a marathon without any training, and you shouldn’t jump into labor without any training either.

By exercising regularly (and no, prenatal yoga is not enough!), you could possible have an easier labor with less medical intervention, help guard against gestational diabetes, fight fatigue, and keep those feel-good endorphins running through your body. You want to feel your best during pregnancy, and exercising a few times a week is a perfect way to achieve that.

These are just a few of the things so far that I’ve been doing to have a more positive and healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery this time around. I feel really good, and I’m excited to see how my preparations help with my end goal of achieving a VBAC, and most importantly, birthing a healthy baby!

 

frank arnold bio picFranki Arnold, owner/operator and blogger of Those Young Moms is a 26-year-old mother to 4 1/2 year old Tatum and expecting baby number two in July 2013. Franki is passionate about natural and empowering birth for women, organic and healthy eating for families, easy chic fashion for moms and big cups of coffee. She hopes to inspire women through blogging about her journey towards a VBAC with her second pregnancy. Find her also on Facebook and Twitter.

 

by
Read More
Motherhood

Mom Confession: Use Your Green Bin People!

by an Anonymous Mom

My big rant is seeing garbage picked apart by gulls and crows.

It’s obvious the garbage isn’t being recycled as there was food in the green garbage bag as well as paper, cans. etc. Now it’s all over the road right as you make that big turn. WHY can’t people take the time to recycle properly?!

It’s not hard to do and birds wouldn’t be pecking at your garbage if the food portion was in the GREEN BIN!!!

Also, people who put two green bags at two different sites on their property. Rarely do you see a blue bag or the green bin out.

Why are some people getting away with this I wonder. And heaven help us if the bag blows away from your yard a bit and lands three feet from the road. It’s left there and not picked up.

Isn’t it just dandy to see garbage all over town?

What is your biggest pet peeve in your neighbourhood?

by
Read More
Kids

3 Smart Tips For Hockey Families

Hockey season is in full-swing and playoff season is beginning! My son has play-off games and tournaments with both his House league and select teams.

Linda Staal is the mother of four professional hockey players – yes four! She, along with her husband Henry, raised the Staal brothers near Thunder Bay, Ontario.  Eric and Jordan play for NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, Marc for the New York Rangers and Jared for the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. Hockey mom Linda has always believed in making time for her family, being supportive and providing her family with nutritious and wholesome meals. Managing hockey schedules can become overwhelming – and I only have one child who is playing hockey!

Staal Brothers
The Staal Brothers

Linda has a 3 smart tips for hockey families – tips to help Canadian families stay positive, manage and enjoy the hockey season:

1. Make time for family meals to stay connected.

“When the boys were younger, our fridge was always full of nutritious food to help them grow and perform their best on and off the ice,” says Linda. “Even with our busy schedules we always made time for a nutritious breakfast together. I would prepare oatmeal because it was quick and healthy.” Setting the breakfast table the night before can save precious time in the morning. And making oats in the slow cooker overnight can also make breakfast preparation effortless.

Linda Staal
Linda Staal
2.  Encourage them to have fun.

“We have always encouraged our sons to be the best they can be and feel good about their accomplishments,” Linda says with pride. “We wanted the boys to enjoy themselves and always have fun at hockey. We didn’t judge their success by the scoreboard alone. They worked hard, but having fun was just as important.”

3.  Pack a hockey survival kit.

“During long road trips to tournaments, I would pack healthy snacks like Quaker granola bars and fresh fruit for everyone to snack on,” Linda recalls. “The boys would pack their favorite pillow and blanket to make the hotel and long car ride more comfortable.”

Registered Sports Dietitian Pearle Nerenberg adds, “Packing a cooler for tournaments is a great idea. It provides convenient, nutritious snack options, and can save families money from eating fast food on the road. Packing Quaker oatmeal and a kettle, with some dried fruits and nuts, makes for an easy, convenient and nutritious meal when staying at a hotel.”

Only one in four Canadian children is meeting the recommended four servings of grain products daily. A bowl of oatmeal is a nutritious way to start the day, especially before an early hockey game. “Oatmeal is wholesome, nourishing and good for you. It tastes great and can fit easily into your everyday diet,” says Nerenberg who is also a former hockey player with the Quebec Avalanche in the National Women’s Hockey League.

Motivating her sons to eat well was always top of mind for Linda Staal. “On cold winter days, the boys would eat oatmeal with maple syrup, before heading off to hockey practices and games,” she says.

“The warm nutritious breakfast gave them the energy they needed to start their day and fuel their passion for the sport.”

3 tips for hockey famililes

Have a fun and healthy hockey playoff season!

 

This post is proudly sponsored by Quaker Oats. Opinions are my own.

by
Read More
no more keeping score in soccer
Big Kids

No More Scoring in Soccer for Kids?

No winning and losing in team sports?

Well, that’s what is happening to soccer in our province starting this year. Soccer leagues across the province that will stop keeping score and tabulating standings this season in hopes to shift the focus away from winning and toward skills development.

Some leagues and age groups started last season and others will adopt the approach this year. By 2014 it will be mandatory across Ontario for all competitive players under 12. More in a Toronto Star article here.

Ridiculous isn’t it?

The Ontario Soccer Association’s Alex Chiet says it’s beneficial to not keep score for young soccer players, while Jill Barker argues it is.

I feel about this the same way I felt about all kids getting trophies, and keeping silent on the soccer fields.

What is wrong with competition and keeping score? I can understand a program like PlayBall, a fun learn-to-play introduction to soccer for kids who are under six. But older school-aged children?

How can not keeping score affect kids’ skill development? Keeping score teaches children the aspects of winning and losing and good sportsmanship. It also teaches kids to strive to do better next time if they lose, how they can improve their game, how to work better together as a team.

What do you think?

Here is a video of The Ontario Soccer Association’s Alex Chiet who says it’s beneficial to not keep score for young soccer players, and Jill Barker who argues it is.

 

by
Read More