Artichoke Soup with Polenta Croutons
I have decided to let go of my goal to exercise in the early morning before the kids wake up. I am tired of being disappointed in myself before I have even stepped out of bed. Who am I kidding? It's hard enough for me to get up at 5:30 or 6am with a good night’s sleep, so it's highly unlikely when I have been up with my daughter half the night. About a month ago, we stopped letting Cecilia crawl into bed with us in the middle of the night and instead I bring her back into her room, half asleep, bumping into furniture and mumbling things I shouldn't be. She used to climb into our bed and we would hardly realize she was there but then she developed a kicking, whining, 3-year-old habit that just wasn't working for us. So the rules changed. Now it feels like we have a newborn and sleepless nights make mommy very unproductive and forgetful and not as sweet as I want to be. I think my kids slept better as babies than they do now. Last night (for maybe the first time) I was in bed last night at 7:55pm and asleep by about 8:05 which meant that I got a solid 4 hours of sleep before my daughter woke me up for the first of 3 times starting at midnight. And that is why I am able to write today :)
Cecilia says things like, "Mommy, I'm little. I'm not a big girl. I can't sleep in my room all night," and typical things like, "I scared" and, "Just lay with me a little bit and sing one song." But her excuses are becoming more creative. She has decals of little pigs and birds in her room and her latest reason for not being able to sleep in her room is that the animals on her wall are talking too much. I moved one of the pig decals away from the head of her bed so the pig wouldn't be so loud. She's a funny one! I think (desperately hope) things are going to start to look up.
Mostly thanks to a clock; the clock and my constant talks with her throughout the day about sleeping, plus a little bribing and a sleep chart with fun stickers and a trip to the toy store if she sleeps in her room for 7 nights in a row. Oh my goodness. I told Cecilia that a nightlight clock was coming in the mail for her and it would help her sleep. I thought the clock would arrive the next day but it took a whole week. So everyday she would ask if her clock was here and said, "Mommy, when the clock gets here I can sleep in my room alllllll night." But that meant that since the clock wasn't here yet, she wouldn't be sleeping in her room all night. It was a long week anticipating that clock. And now we have had the clock for about a week and I have thankfully seen some improvements. But it's baby steps. She earned a couple stickers on that chart but let me tell you, she did not like it when I put an X on the chart. Although I like how early my kids are going to bed now with daylight savings, my five year old, Max now wakes up at about 5:30 every morning. Oh boy. The 8pm bedtime for Mom might become regular.
It's been a while since I have written and now you probably know why. Here is an Artichoke Soup that I hope you enjoy! And if you have any tips for me regarding kids’ sleep I am all ears! It's pretty easy and quick to make.
Artichoke Soup with Polenta Croutons- 4-6 servings adapted from Giada De Laurentiis
2 TBSP coconut oil
2 celery stalks - chopped
1 medium onion - chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup coconut Milk
12 oz. package of frozen artichoke hearts (or use canned artichoke in water)
1 cup kale or spinach -chopped
2-3 garlic cloves -minced (only if you like garlic!)
For the Soup-
Heat Coconut Oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add the celery, onions, salt and pepper and cook for about 4-5 minutes until soft.
Add the broth, coconut milk, and artichokes and bring to a boil.
Cover and cook on low heat for about 10 minutes.
Pour the soup into a blender one cup at a time and puree.
Add the chopped kale or spinach last and pulse a few times.
Return soup to the saucepan and add addition broth if it's too thick.
In a small saucepan with a 1/4 tsp of coconut oil, sauté the garlic for several minutes.
Add to the pureed soup. Serve with Polenta Croutons.
Polenta Croutons
1 Cup Polenta
3 Cups Water
1 tsp Salt
Prepare polenta according to package- 1 cups of Polenta in 3 cups of boiling water (or broth), stirring continuously until cooked. Spread prepared polenta onto a greased baking sheet so it's about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes, until it is golden and crispy. Cut with a pizza cutter and put a few pieces in each bowl.