Colonoscopy Screening: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I love some good colonoscopy humor. This billboard in the Twin Cities is one that I see on my commute to work, and it cracks me up every time I drive past it.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. The best way to detect colon cancer is with a colonoscopy. Please - if you are 50 or older, or if your family history indicates that you have risk factors - schedule your appointment. And if you're not 50 and are having pain or unusual symptoms, please see a doctor to get an assessment.

Being that IBD is a risk factor for colon cancer, I am one of the people in line for a colonoscopy. Also because of my IBD, I get them regularly, anyway, just to monitor my disease. Jealous? You should be! I'm due for my next one, and this time, I think I'm going to request a "Frequent Scoper" punch-card.

Colonoscopies aren't bad. I do, however, think that the prep is the worst part. So, here is a list of tips on how to make your prep as tolerable as possible: 27 Insider Tips and Tricks for Colonoscopy Prep

Happy Scoping!

Be Strong...

Random Saturday Stuff

Ah, Saturday, how I love thee.

We woke up to a gloomy, rainy day, so started with some blueberry muffins from scratch:

And because it's rainy, I foresee some blanket forts in our future:

Also on deck? Laundry and cleaning, of course! I'm also getting a haircut and running some errands this afternoon, and we've booked a babysitter for the evening. That's right, people - the hubs and I will have uninterrupted conversation! 

Earlier this week, when we told the boys we'd be going out tonight, W asked if we could go out on dates more often (we think he likes the sitter). Or maybe he's concerned about Mom and Dad not getting enough time together? Yeah, it's probably the former.

Have you got anything fun on deck for the weekend?

Puppy Love

Meet Willow.  Willow is a Welsh Terrier we adopted in 2002, only a few months after we were married.  She was our "first kid", so to speak.  She weighed only 5 pounds when we brought her home, was adorable, and so much fun.

Willow's second day home with us - 2002

Willow had a mind of her own, and this fact could bring much entertainment or frustration, depending on how you looked at it.

A failed photo attempt - 2004

But she was very sweet.  Even when she was naughty and had been on the kitchen table while you were out of the house, she was always excited to see you.  And she was a snuggler, which I miss very much, especially on those low-energy-don't-feel-very-well types of days.

Providing some comfort after surgery - 2005

Willow was a wonderful family pet, and "adopted" both boys after we brought them home.  She would grow anxious if she wasn't sure where they were, and would often "guard" them (we did not leave her unattended, of course) where ever they were.  In the morning, part of her routine - after she had been out for business - was to lay in the nursery in front of the crib, always with her back to the baby and watching the door.

Canine Babysitter - 2010

Three years ago this week, Willow fell suddenly ill with a severe case of pancreatitis.  The prognosis for this is usually good, but the vet just couldn't get things to turn around.  I drove her from our vet to another office where she was to see an internist, as a last resort (did you know they have those for animals? I didn't).  She was supposed to stay the night under observation and see the doctor in the morning, but didn't make it. She died only an hour or two before her appointment.

Last car ride - 2010

We still miss Willow, and have not yet gotten another dog. Puppies are a lot of work, especially with two little boys and hectic schedules, but I would really like to - when it will be fair to a dog to do it. I grew up with a dog and would love for the boys to, as well. They've actually been asking for a "real dog", but when we remind them that there will be a lot of poop to pick up, they decide they are not ready yet. Maybe in a few years we'll all be ready? I don't know, but for now, I still miss my girl.

Blueberry Donuts

Our boys LOVE donuts. I don't love donut nutrition facts. Even though I can't always partake in what comes out of the oven, baking is something I love to do, especially with the kids. (Yes, even when ingredients get spilled and a cup of flour ends up on the floor. That's how we learn, right?)

I was excited to try this recipe I found on Pinterest. These still don't qualify as health food, but they're a fun, easy treat at home, and you can still try and select the best ingredients for them - like whole-grain flour, ground flax seed, or organic ingredients. This recipe is adapted from this Strawberry Glazed Donuts recipe, with only a few modifications. YUM!

Baked Blueberry Glazed Donuts

1 c. flour (I used 1/2 c. whole wheat flour + 1/2 c. unbleached white flour)

1/3 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. milk
1 egg
1 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 c. fresh blueberries, pureed with 2 tsp seedless blueberry jam (I used organic berries and Trader Joe's Organic Reduced Sugar Blueberry Preserves)
1 tbsp pure maple syrup

Directions:

Have your kids wash their hands and pull a stool or kitchen chair up to the counter so they can "help". Provide a whisk or spatula to each child to quiet the bickering and resign yourself to the impending mess.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Grease a 6-donut pan with baking spray. Keep the spray out of reach of your children so they don't spray each other with it.

 

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add in milk, egg, butter, and maple syrup. Stir until well combined. Stir in blueberry mixture, starting with 1/2 of it and adding more only if needed. Batter should be wet, but not runny. Reserve the remainder for the glaze.

 

Put the batter into a pastry bag or plastic bag and snip approx 1-inch off end. Pipe batter into each well, reserving extra batter. Bake for 7-9 minutes, until donuts spring back when touched. Cool in pan for approximately five minutes and turn onto a cooling rack. Spray pan again and continue piping the rest of batter until all donuts have been made.

 

While the donuts are cooling make glaze.

 

Glaze

3 cups powdered sugar

Reserved blueberry puree

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cups cold milk

 

Stir all ingredients together until smooth. When donuts are cooled dip each into glaze and place back on cooling rack to let glaze set. When glaze has set - if you can wait that long - enjoy! We actually indulged ourselves while they were still warm and when the glaze was just set.

This glaze recipe made much more than what the yield for this recipe needs, so I saved the remainder overnight in an air-tight container, and used it to ice Blueberry Banana Bread the next day (sorry, I didn't take photos of that). Our 6 year old LOVED it! The next time I made these donuts, I halved the icing recipe.

Blueberry Banana Bread*
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. stick butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 c. mashed ripe bananas (3-4 medium)
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour (again, I mixed half whole wheat flour and half unbleached flour)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. blueberries, rinsed

Directions:
Heat oven to 350. Grease bottoms of 2 loaf pans, 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5.
Whisk together flour, soda, and salt. Set aside.
Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour mixture just until moistened. Stir in the blueberries and divide the batter evenly into the loaf pans.
Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in the pans on a wire rack. Loosen the loaves and remove them from pans; cool completely. Ice with blueberry glaze and slice before serving.

*recipe adapted from Betty Crocker cookbook.