Push Through the Pain

If I had to summarize what motherhood means to me, and try and pin it down to one defining word that pretty much captures the whole experience, I would have to say … pain.

Yep, PAIN it is. (What, you were expecting ‘fulfillment’ or ‘love’?) Nope. Children come into this world, bringing joy and excitement and a w-h-o-l-e lot of pain. And they keep on bringing it, in one form or another. With some woman the pain of motherhood begins with a difficult pregnancy; with others, it’s the excruciating labor of childbirth. Everyone has their own little horror stories to share - especially if there is a pregnant lady within earshot. The tales we tell can range from the blood and guts hospital variety to the twisted red tape of adoptions. Women are all about relationship, and instead of trying to one-up each other with our stories, we typically use them to commiserate with each other. We bond, we sympathize, we relate. Perhaps you can relate to my story.

With my first-born, Jaime, it’s a tale about a broken tailbone. And Jaime loves to tell it to anyone who will listen. “When I was born I broke my mom’s tailbone. She was pushing hard and I was pushing harder inside and then there was this snapping sound. Everyone was like, ‘What was that noise?’ And wham! snap! out I came. And I’ve been a pain in the tush ever since!” That’s my sweet Jaime. As for my second, my little Delia, well, that was no picnic either. Though the labor was much shorter (5 hours compared to a full 24) the pain was far more intense. For my first labor I chose to have no meds; with the next pregnancy, I put in my order for an epidural at my first pre-natal check-up. The second time around I knew what was coming - and I was more than a little apprehensive about going through labor again. But the nurses knew I could get through it, and they kept encouraging me. “Push through the pain! Just push through the pain!”

To be honest, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear in the middle of the worst pain I’ve ever had. At the time, I would have preferred a little more sympathy, an understanding look, an assurance that it was going to be all right. But those nurses knew a thing or two, I guess, because I did manage to “push through the pain” and get the job done. And thus my little peanut, my Delia, came into the world. I’m pretty sure she was worth the effort. And the same with Jaime (though my tailbone is still a little sore.)

Pain doesn’t end with the beginning of Motherhood. Oh, no. The fun is just beginning. There’s the recovery from pregnancy. The sleep-deprived nights. All of the endless, thankless, mindless tasks mothers have to do every day, multiple times a day. Not to mention all the repetitive training, nagging, and teaching that comes into play as the kids get older. It’s all rolled up into motherhood. Being a mom is a struggle.  

Of course, I’m not saying that it’s all hardship. There are wonderful moments with your kids (brief, shining moments) when you heave a contented mommy sigh and understand all the love in the universe. We need 
to focus on the good stuff, those happy little carrots that
get us through the slogging dreariness. Because it is worth it. All the pain they give us, in whatever form, in whatever shape it comes, is still worth it. Pain is wrapped up in us and transforms into something better, deeper, more profound. It changes us as women, builds character, and teaches volumes. 
So pain isn’t a bad thing in itself. It’s a springboard for better things.

So when your little ones are hanging on you, trashing the house and talking with their mouths full and pulling the dog’s tail and breaking your crockery … just sit down, take a beverage break and let it roll over you.

Because it’s all good. Bring it on.

Price Chopper Holiday Showcase Event

Mouth-watering mini desserts

I had my first experience as a food blogger at an event: The Price Chopper Holiday Showcase,
held on Friday, November 4th in Schenectady, NY. Bloggers from near and far attended, which included sampling from a variety of departments,  food demonstrations and a mini-seminar on tips for entertaining during the holidays.

Price Chopper obviously emphasizes value for their customers, but they also stress quality for the consumer as well. Who wouldn’t want time-saving apps, entrees and desserts to make their party rock without all the work? Everyone's time is at a premium these days, and Price Chopper offers amazing deals from soup to nuts to make your life during the holidays that much easier. And I should know... I sampled everything from the roasted chestnuts to the butternut-apple soup.

Wreath display

Of course they also have all the gizmos, gadgets and gift ideas you need to deck your halls out in style and splendor. Here's a nice pic of the wreath display. We were treated to a mini-seminar on Tips for Holiday Entertaining.

Key pieces of advice: organize in advance, make a timeline for purchase and preparation, and do as much as you can in advance of the party. Write out a list of your dishes for your event, so you won't inadvertently leave something in the fridge - or the microwave, as my mom is famous for doing every year! We got tips on presentation, like napkin folding (try an accordion style, served in a glass) traffic control (two-way buffet tables are best, napkins out of the way, and easy access to trash cans) and general party hints, like how much ice you need per person (1 pound!) and having disposable cups to cut down on the spread of germs (have a marker out so folks know which cup is theirs.) And have your serving area set up - labeled, so you know where your dishes are going, with the serving pieces and utensils ready at hand. It's no fun scrambling last minute for that slotted spoon or pie server!

Cheese platter with grapes

The food demonstrations were informative and interesting as well. 
For the apps we learned how to build a cheese tray. Pick about five or so cheeses, starting with mild and ending with the stronger flavor profiles. Cut the rinds off one side, arrange on a cheese board or plate along with assorted crackers, breads, and fruits, like figs or grapes. And make sure you take your cheese out of the fridge an hour before your party starts, because cheese tastes better at room temperature. The cheese department at your local Price Chopper is glad to let you sample different cheeses so you can learn what you like, so that you are able to make an informed purchase. Always a good choice for a party. Who doesn't like cheese and crackers? 

Certified Angus Beef demo

From the meat department, we learned all about Angus beef. Angus is a breed; Certified Angus Beef is the best of the best. The great flavor in Angus beef comes from the marbling (the fat running through the meat) and that is made by corn-fed cows, which gives them the starch in their diet to get their meat oh-so-tasty. I tried samples of the different meats, from the prime rib to the strip steaks... and wow. Tender, flavorful, melted like butter in my mouth. So they absolutely know their stuff. One of the things I liked was that Price Chopper offers a roast made from NY Strip Steak. They slice it length-wise and tie it off with butcher string, which shapes the meat and gives it a nice uniform slice. They have this available for purchase in smaller sections, for smaller families. Nice!

Dessert Table, with the luscious limited-time layer cake seen at the top.

And hey, when I heard about this showcase I was of course the most excited about the Decadent Dessert line. The pics speak for themselves... drooling yet? Price Chopper wanted to offer customers amazing desserts with the same taste and creativity found in upscale bakeries. And they have certainly done that.

I sampled a cannoli - the shell still crispy because they make them to order, not hours or days in advance. For parties you can also purchase the shells and the cream and pipe them yourself at your party, and as the presenter said, "And look like a rock star." Can't argue with that! I also sampled a natural berry pie and an eleven layer cake made with red velvet and whipped cream, and if that wasn't enough - a middle layer of cheesecake with a graham cracker crust layer. Decadent, delicious, to dye for. And also only available for a limited time ... so get it fast! They showcased many other amazing looking desserts, like the unique 'cake in a cup' - monthly creations too big to be called mere cupcakes. And Peanut Butter Pie, and Lemon Berry Bliss and Tres Leches Cake, and glossy fruit tarts. What makes those babies shine like that? But all oh-so-tempting!

Super cute specialty breads

And the Decadent Dessert presentation didn't end there, no ... the bakery also makes custom design specialty breads for your holiday table. They had a turkey made from rye bread, with dip
(that was gobbled up pretty quick!) and assorted other shapes and creatures. Got a special request? Check with your local Price Chopper bakery, and they will be happy to accommodate you!

All in all, the Price Chopper Holiday Showcase was a big hit. The food was fabulous and the demos were right on point. Everyone on the Price Chopper team made us feel right at home.
So if you are looking for quick and easy ways to entertain in YOUR home this holiday season, 
and want good food for good value ... I think you know where you'll find it!  

Turkey bread with dip

Loved the prosciutto-wrapped crunchy bread sticks! On the far right.

Appetizer table with an amazing brie en croute!

Pork crown roast ... imagine cooking that for your guests. You can't get any fancier than that!

A very shiny berry pie, cannoli, chocolate dipped pineapple ...
and an inside shot of that luscious red-velvet/cheesecake...

The Candy Conundrum

And so it begins. The kick-off to the holiday season starts with a one-nighter anticipated all year by children and dreaded by parents who sigh and shell out money on ludicrously overpriced costumes and stockpiles of bite-size candy for the hordes of children that will descend on their doorsteps.

On this night, it’s a giant scavenger hunt, masquerade, and free-for-all, bundled together with the enthusiasm of sugar-crazy kids on a quest to score as much candy as their big bags and little legs can carry.

Candy from strangers … it really goes against the grain of everything we teach our children. Any other day of the year this is a no-no. But on this night, rules are relaxed, belts are loosened, and common sense goes out the window like so many discarded wrappers.

Aside from the hunter-gathering activities, Halloween is also a big social event. My older daughter is now at the age where she has separated herself from the family unit and wants to go trick-or-treating with just her friends. Friends meaning, a ‘mixed group’ with both girls and boys. By far, that was definitely the scariest thing I saw this Halloween. At 13 she has officially reached “the teen-aged years.” Years that inspire terror in parents across the globe. It’s not a trick and it’s definitely no treat when your kids want to go off and do their own thing. It means a whole new set of worries when your kids reach that age and that new stage in their lives. But it’s part of growing up, and if I want my daughter to learn to do that well, I guess I need to let go of her hand a little.

Speaking of ‘Little,’ I had a totally different experience with my younger girl. 

This year my also-growing seven year old made it her personal mission to collect candy that I like. Can’t say what prompted that (and no! I didn’t ask her to do it!) but when she gets something set in her mind, she is unshakeable. It was truly wonderful to see her chatting up the neighbors and showing off her costume and just being her sweet little self. So we had a really good time together, and as tired as I am today from all the walking, it was worth it.

Now we have a pretty sweet stash of candy between our two girls’ collective efforts. And I’ve decided this is a good thing. If you can’t trust a skinny cook

(and I do love to cook!) then maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about my weight. So if I eat a little candy each day, I ought to start bulking up. Winter hits pretty hard in Central New York, and I might as well appreciate the built-in padding that will help keep me warm during those long, cold months.  

So really, there’s no reason to worry going into the holiday season. Don’t fret about your kids’ teeth or the future dentist’s bills. Don’t obsess about the crick and crack from your back every time you have to stoop to pick up another dropped candy wrapper.

Think about it this way: you want to be able to pack it in on the mother of all eating holidays, right? So go ahead, sneak a few extra of your favorite treats from the kids’ candy stash, and enjoy the pre-Thanksgiving stomach stretch. Cut yourself a little slack and learn to indulge your inner child. Just don’t forget to brush regularly between steals.