Perfect Stovetop Oatmeal

I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggled with making oatmeal on the stove. Right before it would be done it would start clumping and burning and sticking to the pot. I discovered a secret, remove the oatmeal from the heat just before the water is completely absorbed (and before it starts sticking). The heat from the water and pot will continue cooking the oatmeal and you have a clump free, sticky free pot of oatmeal every time.

Prickly Pear Limeade

We occasionally get fruit from a co-op in town. The last time we picked up our produce, there were a bunch of limes and a bunch of prickly pears. The Hermit Crabs love eating the Prickly Pears, but they can't possibly eat through 12 of them on their own. We ate some, but ultimately, there are too many seeds inside to make eating them pleasurable. Therefore, the recipe for Prickly Pear Limeade was invented.

Ingredients:

10-12 limes (to make about 3/4-1cup juice)

3 prickly pears (to make about 1/2 cup juice)

1/4-1/2 cup raw agave nectar 

3 cups water

Directions:

Juice limes and prickly pears. 

To juice prickly pears, cut ends off of the fruit, gently slice through the skin and peel off. Press fruit through mesh sieve. 

Combine agave with 1/2 cup of warm to hot water (to make agave easier to combine).

Combine all ingredients well and serve over ice.

Note, when I made it today, I only had about 3/4 cup of lime juice and used 1/4 cup of agave. My drink is on the tart side.

Old Thyme Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients

1-2 Potatoes per person
Dried Thyme (about 2 tsp, to taste)
Salt (pinch)
3 Tbsp Olive Oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice potatoes thinly (1/8" thick).
Rinse potatoes under cold water to get rid of some of the starch.
Lightly grease cookie sheet with olive oil. (<1tbsp)
Pat potatoes dry.
Place potatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Brush a light layer of olive oil over top of potatoes.
Sprinkle with Thyme and Salt to taste.
Cook 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and flip. Return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes. Potatoes should be lightly browned, or cooked to your liking.

Notes

Use longer time if cookie sheet is lined with parchment paper. Potatoes do not brown/crisp as much.
Use shorter time, and check about 10 minutes into 2nd cooking time, if cookie sheet is not lined or is lined with foil. Potatoes brown/crisp quickly toward the end.

Kid Friendly (Free) Things To Do in Las Vegas-Tourist Edition

In alphabetical order, not by order of preference.

1. The Bellagio Conservatory: rotating themes featuring botanicals. In the Spring and Summer there is usually some sort of live exhibit. This summer it's birds in an aviary.  Christmas is also a fun time to go. Huge Christmas Trees and last year there were trains. The downside, it's on the Strip, so that means traffic and often crowds, unless it's a weekday on a quiet week during the day. While there make sure to visit the world's tallest chocolate fountain (located just down the hall behind the conservatory) and the fountains (if they are running). Continuing down the hall, and to the left, the Bellagio is connected to the City Center by a monorail. For another adventure take the monorail to Crystals (a mall) to see the ice poles and whirlpools (located on the lower level of Crystals). We also just ride the monorail because it's a train, it's free, and it's fun.

2. Clark County Wetlands Park: It's located by the Las Vegas Wash. There are many trails, paved and not paved.  The park is beautiful and keeps improving. There is now a visitor center where guests can learn about the area and water treatment/conservation. Explore the trails, especially those not paved, there are some extra beautiful areas. Note, the water in the park is reclaimed water, or waste water that has been treated, so some days the area smells a bit swampy. Also, that means no swimming or wading.

3. Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden: The garden boasts 300 different plant (cactus) varieties. The paths through the garden are paved (stroller friendly). Beware, it's a cactus garden, stay on the path, and do not hug the Teddy Bear Cholla. In the winter, the garden is decorated with Christmas lights so it becomes a magical desert Winter Wonderland. The chocolate factory tour is a hallway with windows where you can look into the factory to see chocolate being prepared. It's a self guided tour with free chocolate samples at the end. More often than not, there isn't a lot of activity in the factory, but there are screens along the way to describe what happens in each area. The free chocolate makes the tour worthwhile even if it is a slow day.

4. Springs Preserve: the part that is free is the outdoor areas only. Visiting in the early Spring, or Fall/Winter is best. There are gardens, a play ground, and hiking paths.

Updated Crabitat Pictures

Last ones for a while, I promise. Well, until my Ecuadorians come up and I take pictures of them.

We planted a Bromeliad in the Crabitat because I was reading that CO2 levels could build up at the bottom, and I wanted a live plant. We will see if the crabs climb or eat the plant. I expect it'll get a lot more wear and tear when the Ecuadorians are introduced to their new home (when they come up).

We also fixed my mother a Crabitat for her 2 medium/largeish crabs. She went from a 5 gallon tank to a 50 gallon tank. It's funny how much littler her crabs look in the huge tank. There's about 7" of sand/EcoEarth substrate at the deep end and it sloped down to the water. We planted two bromeliads in her tank along with some aquarium plants and there are a couple hides (a reptile basking rock cave and a bridge, not to mention all the plants). The top is a mesh screen, thus the towel over the top to help with humidity for now. Better plans for covering the top are in the works.

Updated Crabitat

We purchased some plastic vines at Hobby Lobby yesterday. I also am working on a net/hammock for a second level. We also picked up a coconut hut so there are plenty of places to hide now.

South view, coconut hut just visible, salt pool in foreground.

Front view, the "bush" by the coconut hut is obscuring the other hut. I balanced the cholla on the rocks and put vine pieces into the cholla and behind the rocks. The crabs like to hang between the rocks, though it's more open with the cholla propped up. I may put in some more bush pieces in front of the rocks.

North view, freshwater pool in the foreground. There is room for the crabs to go under the bush between the huts.

Top view. 12 o'clock, shell shop, 2 o'clock hut, 3 o'clock coconut hut, 5 o'clock fresh pool, 6 o'clock food, 8 o'clock salt pool. Center rocks and cholla. I've tried to make sure there is room to traverse around the rocks between sides, huts and pools.

New Crabitat

Yes, I know, isn't there anything else to talk about.

I think my Ecuadorians must have decided to molt. No noise last night and food/water is untouched. They are tenny in size so molting frequently is normal. (At least that's what I read on the Hermit Crab Association page.)

Rex and Jessie on the cholla.

Rex and Jessie

Jessie on the Cholla and Rex next to the dark rock

Jessie on the Cholla and Rex in the Sand

New Crabitat Setup (before addition of larger rock), the clear containers in the front  are fresh and salt water pools with  pebbles inside so the crabs can get in and out. The blue container is a moss pit/shell shop. There's also a hut in the back.

Rex and Jessie on the Cholla

A "New" Crab and Crabby Updates

I was able to upgrade my tank to a 28 gallon acrylic hex today. (Craigslist steal). I've already set it up with most of the toys from my tiny tank, plus upgraded the water dishes to pools, and added back the hut and another aquarium plant. I have plans to add some more climbing stuff, like nets, but need to get a real canopy or hood of some sort. (A towel weighted by books is currently covering the opening.

It seems my crabs are doing well (save Buzz the first, story below). The smaller purple pincher, Rex, looks like he might be molting soon. Seriously, this crab is protein crazy and has started to dig a little. He's missing a segment from one of his waking legs. I put egg with shell, peanut butter and plum in the food dish today.

Buzz the first started to smell, so we returned him. Clearly not molting, dead. (Darn.) The manager, careful to not refund me asked my son whether he wanted to pick out a new crab. Off the two of them go to take a look at the crabs.  The new little Buzz was on top of a rock and walked onto my hand, while I was looking at one of his tank mates. I thought one Ecuadorian was enough for my tank at home. Since Buzz 2 clearly wanted to go home with us, we took him.

The pet store tank was horrible this last time. The humidity was way too low and there was a terrible death smell in the tank. There were limbs strewn about, and most of the crabs I looked at either were missing limbs or wouldn't come out of their shell at all. I was going to leave because of how bad the tank was when this guy invited himself home with us. My son wanted another Ecuadorian, so my son was really happy, and so is his new friend. (We picked this guy up on a Monday, so we've had him 6 days I think.)

My 2 Ecuadorians are subterranean, in the old tank. I can hear them both digging around and chirping. My 2 Purple Pinchers are in the new tank. I'm waiting for the other two Ecuadorians to come out rather than try to dig them up. They will be surprised when they surface because I left just the water dishes and a piece of food in a shell for them.

I calibrated my hydrometer today. It can't actually be adjusted but apparently reads 9% too high.

I leave you with a picture of my newest Ecuadorian, Buzz (2). He's a pretty light blue and the smallest crab in the tank.

Chocolate Pudding (Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free)

Sorry, no pictures of this one.

Ingredients:

2 cups cashew pieces (soaked at least 2 hours, longer is better)
1/2 cup dates chopped (soaked if dried, at least 2 hours, longer is better)
1/2 cup milk alternative or water
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1t vanilla
Optional (for sweeter "pudding")
1/4-1/2 cup liquid sweetener of choice (agave, maple, honey-not vegan)

Directions:

Drain cashews and dates, reserving 1/2 cup of the water (if not using milk alternative). Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor and combine until smooth. Chill 2 hours and serve. (Adjust liquids as necessary to achieve desired thickness. It does thicken as it chills.)

I have a KitchenAid blender that has been serving me faithfully for 10 years. I feel a little disloyal, but I imagine someday owning a Vitamix or Blendtec which would make blending this pudding so much easier. (I've never actually used either appliance, but my friends who own Vitamixes or Blendtecs swear by them. I don't have any friends who own a KitchenAid blender or swear by it.)

Banana Muffins (Gluten/Dairy Free)

Ingredients:

1 cup palm sugar
1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)
2 eggs
4 mashed bananas
1t baking soda
1t baking powder
pinch salt
1t vanilla (extract)
1 cup almond meal
1 cup (scant cup) coconut flour
1/2-1 cup raisins (optional)
1/4-1/2 cup chopped nuts-pecans or walnuts are excellent (optional)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Combine ingredients in order shown. (I use my stand mixer with a paddle.) Stir in nuts with a spoon (if using mixer). I find the nuts and my mixer don't like each other very much.

Line or grease muffin pan. (They do like to stick.)

I use 1/4 cup of batter per muffin. These do not rise too much.

Bake 25 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick (cake tester) comes out of center clean.

Makes about 30 muffins (if adding the raisins and nuts).

If making mini muffins, bake about 15-17 minutes.

Crabby Update

Buzz and Rex are doing well. Buzz is apparently molting, we moved him to an isolation tank. No death smell so we're going with molting. He was lighter colored than Rex so maybe? Time will tell.

In the mean time, we purchased two more crabs, slightly larger than Rex and Buzz. One is a purple pincher named Jessie, like Buzz and Rex, and the other is Ecuadorian named Bullseye. He's crazy, running in all directions, tunneling like crazy. Both of the new crabs are in shells that are too small.

Bullseye stayed underground about 24 hours after checking out his new home. Last night he was out again and Bullseye changed shells sometime during the night. The shell he's in is still too small (he can't pull into it very well) and I put some even larger shells in the tank. I thought Jessie might change to a bigger shell this morning as she was checking one out that she'd dragged to the side of the tank, but so far she's still in her old shell.

Rex is way more active now that he has friends. (By the way, we don't know what sex the crabs are, I'm just calling them male or female based on the names my son gave them. Yes, we are a little obsessed with Toy Story names over here.)

We have been feeding the crabs a variety of our food, and they seem to love it. My son likes to pick out something for them to eat. We use the Epicurean Hermit Crab to check to see if the food is on the safe or unsafe list.

They loved the prickly pear fruit we gave them Tuesday morning. And had made progress eating some of the rose petals we gave them yesterday. We also gave them some grapes yesterday. Today we gave them celery leaves, tuna and a piece of pepper (the one that Bullseye is sitting on in the picture).

Some pictures.

In the pictures of the two new crabs moving the moss, Bullseye is in the little dark/black colored shell and Jessie is in the green "turbo" shell. The single crab picture is of Bullseye in his new blue shell sitting on the bell pepper (eating). It's a round opening shell (I read Ecuadorians prefer "D" shaped openings.)

Gluten Free Waffles

I used The Crafy Runner's Gluten Free Rice Flour Waffles recipe to make waffles this morning. It's the end of the week and my pantry supplies are getting low. I had white rice flour in the fridge that had been there for a while, so I searched for rice flour waffle recipe and stumbled on her excellent recipe.

I did make some changes, by accident and by necessity.

I only had white rice flour so I used all white rice flour.

I did not have any apple sauce, so I pealed and cored 3 small apples, added about 1/3c water, 1T palm sugar, and 1t cinnamon and pureed my own apple sauce. (This made almost exactly a cup.)

I used baking soda instead of baking powder with no ill effects. This was an accident.

I omitted the salt.

I added about 1/4 cup of maple syrup to the batter for some sweetness. I justify this because I do not typically add syrup to my waffles, but eat them with peanut butter.

What I noticed when mixing up the batter (actually my 4yo Z was doing this mixing) is that the rice flour caked together and had to be broken up. If I had been mixing quickly I probably could have avoided this, but my helper was helping. When I finished mixing my batter, it was still lumpy, so I dumped it in the blender and mixed it on high for a minute to combine well. It was at this point that I added the maple syrup.

This recipe made 10 waffles. The 1/2 cup of batter per waffle was perfect for my waffle iron..

Hermit Crabs-A Tale of Warning

My older son, Z, is fascinated by his Grandmother's Hermit Crabs, so naturally, she asked whether she could get him one for his birthday. I agreed, since I was under the impression that they were low maintenance, easy to care for, etc. After we received the tiny crab in a small "critter keeper" 1 gallon habitat I started looking into what I needed to do to maintain the crab.  My son named him Mick. (Short for Mickey Mouse.)

Here's what I learned:

They are not a great pet for a beginner. 

They are harvested from the wild in tropical climates and their habitat needs to be kept around 80 degrees and 80 percent humidity. Temperature, easy. Humidity, I live in the desert?!

They need friends, don't keep just one.

They need access to fresh and salt water.

They need a larger tank, ideally a 10 gallon tank.

So we went to the store and purchased Mick two friends whom my son named Buzz and Rex. (No Disney obsession in this house.) They were the smallest crabs at the store, but still a bit bigger than Mick. I also secured larger water dishes, moss, a humidity gauge and thermometer, a larger tank, natural coral and rocks for climbing, and some shells. 

Here are some pictures of the 3 crabs in the first habitat. I covered the top with plastic wrap (vented, of course) to preserve some of the humidity until I could move them to a more ideal tank.

Mick is at the top of the crab stack in the first picture and next to Buzz on the right of the 2nd picture. Right now, Buzz is wearing a light colored shell and Rex is wearing a green colored shell. If/when they change shells we'll be in trouble.

Mick, the tiny first crab, was a little beat up looking when we received him. He was active and would come out of his shell and walk around for the first day or so. I noticed, though, that his smaller pincher was damaged and that he was missing the segments from the ends of some of his legs. I was assured that this was no big deal, that he probably just got stepped on by a larger crab and would regenerate his limbs.

The next day, before buying Rex and Buzz, I noticed Mick lost his small pincher, the entire limb. It was damaged, so I thought that maybe that's why he dropped it. I didn't know about how they regenerate limbs, or molting, to know that this was probably stress related or that he was sick, not normal (well it is normal for some really stressed pet store crabs).

When I purchased Rex and Buzz, I looked for "friendly" crabs that would come out of their shells quickly when on my hand, and made sure their legs were all there and not damaged. 

When I put Rex and Buzz in the habitat Mick seemed to perk up for a while. He came out of his shell, checked out his new buddies, ate, and took a dip in each of the water dishes.

The next day, Mick lost another leg. I had since learned about stressed crabs and molting and now I was starting to worry about Mick. I figured the best thing I could do was leave the poor stressed crab alone and hope for the best. The other two crabs didn't seem to bother him. They seemed healthy and didn't lose any legs. They were climbing everything, and Buzz was digging.

The next day, Mick had moved but he lost another leg. I didn't want to disturb and stress Mick by moving him to the larger habitat so I left all 3 crabs in the tiny habitat. 

The next day, Mick was dangling out of his shell (which was under him), next to the water dish. He wasn't moving anything and didn't retreat to his shell when I came near. It was clear, at this time, that he was either dead or about to be dead. I took him back to the pet store where he was purchased and insisted on a refund (not replacement).

At this point I learned:

Pet store crabs are harvested from the wild. (I had no idea and would not have agreed to the crab if I knew.)

Pet store crabs are often forced into different shells.

Pet store crabs are often extremely stressed and lose limbs as a result; if this stressed they typically don't survive.

Boil any shells or natural rocks/coral before putting in the habitat.

Buzz and Rex are doing great. I moved them to the larger tank, only 7.5 gallons, but much larger than their first habitat. They are quite active. I also moved their habitat from the kitchen counter to my son's room, because it is quieter and warmer in there. 

Neither of the crabs are visible in this picture. Buzz is in the hut and Rex is between the orange plant and coral/rocks. The water dishes are at the front, with the food dish next to the fresh water, there are 6 shells about the same size to slightly larger for the hermit crabs to change into. There is moss in the back left corner for humidity, the crab hut in the back right corner. My plan is to add a second level in the back left for the crabs to have another hiding spot and place to climb. It's hard to tell, but I left a wide section running down the middle of the tank empty so the crabs could just run or walk without hinderance. My substrate is about 1-1.5" of coconut fiber and 3-4" of natural sand. This is deep enough that the crabs can bury themselves under at least  2" of sand. Their shells measure less than an inch wide. I don't have a glass lid, yet, so I put screen over the top of the tank under the hood. I used plastic wrap to cover the holes in the lid. I typically leave the light off because it adds a lot of heat and since I keep the house at 78 degrees normally, it's not necessary to heat the tank more. Winter may be a different story.

Hello World

Welcome to The Vegas Mommy Blog, a blog about things that can only happen in Las Vegas; recipes that are always gluten free, mostly milk free and usually diabetic friendly; and things to do in and around Las Vegas.