It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It's beginning to look, and feel, a lot like Christmas here in Albuquerque. It actually snowed today -- several times. (I'm constantly amazed by God's creativity; the beauty of snowflakes falling just puts me in awe of Him!) The radio in my car is permanently set to the local station that has chosen to play Christmas music nonstop, and I'm getting to pass by more and more beautiful light displays during my daily runs with Max. Our church, City on a Hill, has begun celebrating Advent, complete with symbolic lighting of candles and some Christmas carols thrown into the worship mix. Plus, I've even been able to watch a few cheesy Christmas specials/movies on tv. I LOVE it. If one could say that I'm obsessed with any time of year, it's this one. The only element that's missing is our own decorations. This weekend, Aaron will put up some lights, and we're going to get a tree. I can't wait for our house to smell of pine. Mmmm. This will be Max's first Christmas (well, technically, his second...he was born on Dec. 19), and I'm hosting my family this year, so it's just exciting all the way around.

What else is new? Let's see... Well, Max has finally acclimated to his dog house (no, that's not a new white marking on his forehead -- it's dirt/dust). In fact, he likes it so much that he chooses to be outside instead of inside the house with us sometimes. We were a little hurt but also relieved that, after all the work Aaron did, Max has finally realized it's warm and cozy in there.

The bok choy experiment that I mentioned was upcoming in a previous post ended up tasting ok, but I'm still working on perfecting the way I prepare it before I share anything to that end. I have, however, become obsessed with an unhealthy food -- pizza. Homemade pizza, that is. It's funny because I've never been much of a pizza eater; it's not something I usually crave.

However, inspired by our visit to Farquahrt's in Durango this summer, I searched for a whole wheat pizza crust recipe a few weeks ago. Per Aaron's suggestion, I have also made a cornmeal crust for a Mexican pizza. This is our favorite pizza so far:

It's topped with fresh basil, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, and a few other choice ingredients. It's even better with a small glass of shiraz. Great, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

And last but not least, Aaron and I have determined that all Max wants for Christmas is a friend with whom to play! Therefore, we are looking for a second dog to add to the family. We are trying to be patient and selective, so we're not sure if our family will grow before Christmas or not (it may take longer), but we will post pictures as soon as it happens!

I hope you're enjoying the holidays as much as I am and remembering the reason for season -- God having sent his one and only Son, Christ, to Earth to walk among us and save humanity from the punishment we deserve. How amazing is that?!

Aaron and Christina's Awesome Adventures... With Veggies

Part of developing a healthy lifestyle has involved incorporating more vegetables into my family's diet. Last night, we bravely went where we've never been before -- to turnip land. Yes, it's true -- last night's dinner came with a side of mashed turnips. I'm trying to cut down on the starches I cook, and I thought turnips might work well as an alternative to mashed potatoes. One cup of mashed turnips (before adding the butter and seasonings) has only about 50 calories and 12 grams of carbs (7 grams of net carbs when the fiber is factored in), plus two grams of protein. I don't know about the rest of you, but I definitely find that impressive. If you know me very well at all, you'll laugh at where I found the recipe.

Mashed Turnips -- from HillbillyHousewife.com*
2 large turnips
1 quart water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon Smart Balance spread
1/8 cup milk
salt & pepper to taste

Cut off the tops of the turnips in a thin layer. Peel the turnips with a vegetable peeler. Don't bother cutting off the root end; instead, peel it clean with the vegetable peeler. Cut the turnips into medium sized chunks. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot on the stove. Add the salt and sugar. When the water boils, add the turnips. Boil for about 20 minutes, or until the turnips are tender. Drain well. Add the margarine and milk. Mash the turnips until smooth. Taste, and add salt and pepper as needed. Makes 2-3 servings.

*I modified the recipe slightly.

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So, you're probably wondering how the turnips turned out. Well, the taste kind of reminded me of boiled cabbage; Aaron said the turnips tasted like cauliflower to him. We were both able to finish our servings, and Aaron was agreeable when I asked if I should cook this again. I don't think it will be part of our regular rotation, but it's a good option to have when veggie boredom strikes.

My next veggie experiment? Bok choy. I will keep you posted.

What other unique veggies do you like to eat, and how do you prepare them? Inquiring minds want to know!

Grey's Anatomy Gossip

On Saturday, when I visited Lisa at the Blue Door Salon for a trim, the topic of the day was Grey's Anatomy. Despite my crazy-busy schedule, I always make sure to carve out an hour for Grey's every Thursday night (well, and also the CBS Monday night lineup -- I'm particularly hooked on How I Met Your Mother!). Anyway, I have been particularly frustrated with recent story developments surrounding Izzie's love life. I mean, just as Alex is finally starting to get his act together, Denny reappears?! WHY? The current Grey's gossip at my salon is that Izzie's recent encounters with Denny are symptoms of a brain tumor and that this is the show's way of allowing Katherine Heigl to gracefully exit in order to pursue more acting in movies. I guess that makes sense, and I would much rather that be the case than to watch the show take a strange sci-fi turn. I am not sure the show would be able to retain its slot in my weekly schedule if ghosts and such become a regular plot element. Another girl at the salon shared her prediction that Meredith will discover, through reading her mother's stacks of diaries, that the Chief is actually her father. I think that theory is pretty far-fetched, but the Grey's writers do have a way of always keeping us guessing, don't they? What direction do you think the story will take next?