I could. And I will.

I could write about:

1. How Fruit Bat turns into a horrific rendition of himself every week day at exactly 3:10 when he emerges from his small elementary school and into my waiting arms. And how that growling, thrashing alter ego of his lasts until he gets one hot dog, an allergen-free granola bar and some dried cranberries into his system. Then he is mostly okay.

2. How I'm about to get out the slow cooker again and am looking for decent recipes that do not involve cream-of-anything soup. Not that I am against cream-of-anything soup. I love it in all its forms (chicken, celery, asparagus and especially mushroom). But the dairy. It makes my hands itch. And it gives Fruit Bat some wicked hives. Not that he'd eat anything other than the foods listed above! And maybe some chicken nuggets. As long as they're not spicy. Oh, the spice. It is evil.

3. How I am capable of discussing things other than food allergies. Really!

4. How my Half Assed Kitchen blog is surpassing All Adither in traffic volume even though I treat All Adither like a fragile, gifted child whose hand I must hold while attending to Half Assed Kitchen in, well, a rather half assed fashion. The scrappy younger child who shrugs its shoulders and harumphs: Whatever. I'll take what I can get. I have no ads (which is FINE) or blogroll. But I am redesigning the banner. And am, in fact, planning an entire Half Assed empire (more polished and with a sister blog called Half Assed Home and better photography).

5. How a well-respected Seattle parenting publication has assigned me a story and, though I haven't done any reporting in a very long time, I'm excited and energized about getting out there and writing for print again.

6. How good hot tea tastes at 9:53 am PST.

7. How much I enjoyed the weekend. The sun! The husband who was around and who was helpful and sweet and who laughed so hard at Fruit Bat doing his 70s rocker arm wind up while Kitty Cat sang some unintelligible song that he almost cried (while I DID cry).

8. How you should go read these blogs because I think they're really good and because I've not done very well at promoting bloggers who I think deserve it (and because you're not on this list doesn't mean you don't deserve it. It means your turn is COMING).

Simply Nutmeg

Blissfully Caffeinated

Whopping Cornbread

Apathy Lounge

Derfwad Manor

Comments

[bejewell]

Personally, I love both your blog AND the Half Assed thing. But you should really step AWAY from the slow cooker. Crock Pots are evil, have I taught you people NOTHING?

[The Introvert]

Make you a deal...give me something to write about on my blog (seriously. I got nothing.) and I will inundate you with non-cream of whatever slow cooker recipes. I have one with turkey breast and cous-cous that is DELICIOUS :)

[InTheFastLane]

That is the same exact time my youngest turns in the demon seed. Unfortunately he doesn't like food so I have a hard time figuring out how to make it go away.

[Mrs. G.]

It sounds like your boy might be in a growth spurt. Why do they always save their best for us. Yeah, I know, love and security, but still it gets old.

I am thrilled that you got a job with that very reputable outlet-I can't wait to read your story.

I'm glad that your other blog is doing well, but I also have a good feeling about this one. I don't think nearly enough people are reading it. You are such a great writer.

[Janine]

Totally relate to (1).

Loved "even though I treat All Adither like a fragile, gifted child whose hand I must hold while attending to Half Assed Kitchen in, well, a rather half assed fashion. The scrappy younger child who shrugs its shoulders and harumphs: Whatever. I'll take what I can get" in (4).

Congrats to (5). It's a rush, isn't it?

[Kristy]

You can do baked apples in the slow cooker by coring them and stuffing the resulting whole with butter/sugar/cinnamon/cream cheese, etc. Not sure about liquid and cook time but I'm sure the full info can be found.

I have an awesome Italian Beef slow cooker recipe, but it's spicy and not really kid friendly.

For me, the pressure cooker is better than the crock pot because I'm not much of a planner, and because I have to be at work at 7:15 every morning.

[noble pig]

Isn't it funny how food posts get extreme TRAFFIC! I love both your blogs.

[bananas]

So CJ's not the only one, then, who turns into a total tyrant promptly upon the final bell? That gives me some relief. :)

congrats on the writing gig! I can't wait to read your article!

[Jen @ blissfully caffeinated]

Angie, thanks so much for the shout out! Your blog is one of the very first that read on a daily basis, so I truly appreciate your kind inclusion of me in that list of other (more talented) bloggers.

Re: Chicken nuggets - At my house we can only serve a certain brand of dinosaur nugget that has no visible spice flecks and I cannot allow the edges to turn brown in the oven or they will not be consumed. So I feel your pain.

Re: The crockpot - This sounds gross, but my favorite thing to cook in the crockpot are Little Smokies with a jar of chili sauce and a jar of grape jelly. It sounds disgusting, but it's really not. I send these to work with my husband for every potluck and the pot comes back licked clean. Everything else I attempt to cook in it comes out like shoe leather covered in brown gravy. Not really good for one of those comforting fall dinners, though.

Re: Number 5 - Congratulations! That's awesome!

This is getting long, so Ill wrap it up now. Thanks again!!!

[apathy lounge]

Wow! I'm so honored to be named with these other bloggers! Thanks for the link. I'll try to be worthy!

[Carrie]

Ummmm, hot tea. Hot tea is good, very good.

And Mrs. G is right, you know.

[Eternal Sunshine]

Have lots of crockpot recipes - I'm obsessed with finding new recipes (Even better if the family will actually eat what I cook, but it's not a deal breaker)

My favorite: http://mywoodenspoon.com/2008/03/13/drunken-crockpot-roast/

But I got more, if you're interested.

I feel a blog post coming on...

OH! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! We really want to keep the bunnies, too, but we're resisting the urge! LOL!

[San Diego Momma]

Also loving both your blogs. All is good!

And...more crock pot recipes! They are my life blood!

[the sits girls]

We think it sounds like you have a lot to write about!!

[Rhea]

Congrats on your parenting mag writing assignment! That's very exciting!!!

[MommyTime]

I love this post. My kids are always starving maniacs (not that Fruit Bat is a maniac) when we pick them up after a long day of daycare. The stimulation of school seems to make them veritable pits of consumption afterwards. They have been known to eat more than me at dinner on more than one occasion. And Son weighs approximately 1/3 of what I weigh.

As for the crock pot, I'll email you a few half-assed recipes :) -- which is how I always treat the crockpot, generally to much success.

And the traffic thing? It has to do with offering a tangible product, and a very good one at that. If you ever want writers for Half-Assed Home, let me know. My home is so half-assed all the time, I'd be absolutely perfect! "Sweep it under the rug and smile" is my entertaining motto (as long as there's good food).

[ie]

Have you heard of the blog "A Year of Crockpotting? Go check it out. http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/
She's got loads of recipes for the crockpot.

[JCK]

Your number 7 killed me!

You are so busy with goodies. It seems like a good time to create an empire! Too funny on the hits of the cooking blog vs. All Adither - which feels that you treat it gently and lovingly by the way.

Great reads you listed! Oh, yes!

[Zellmer]

Congrats on the magazine assignment. Jealous.

[Melanie @ MelADramatic Mommy]

I ditto the Year of Crockpotting blog (just left there as a matter of fact). I also agree with Mrs. G, your time will come. congrats on the print gig! I made baked beans in the crock and steel cut oatmeal that turned out really well.

[Tootsie Farklepants]

Heh. I just bought cream of mushroom soup to use in the crock pot. Don't judge me.

[nutmeg]

Oh, I didn't even get the trackback yet. What a pleasant surprise!

This is what I've been learning about blogging successfully lately - you have to have a niche! I think food allergies counts as a niche!

I can't even remember what it's like to write for print anymore!

I will check out your other suggestions - and the half-assed (doubt it) kitchen blog!

[andi]

Crockpot recipes are my favorite! Try chicken with a jar of salsa or a bottle of bbq sauce. Easy and no cream-of-anything :)

[Katie in MA]

How exciting for you! You're going to link to your story when it's published, right??