Seasons & Cycles

These are pictures from a pond nearby.  These fuzzy guys got distracted on the shore rooting around the leaves.  They let us take some beautiful shots before their happy reunion with mom and dad. 

For some reason these pictures remind me of my family.  Granted, I only have two chicks right now, but the way the little peepers played together warmed my heart. 

It also reminded me somehow that life's seasons roll by uninterupted by my own humble comings and goings, and there's something very comforting in that; a sort of soothing, constant, uninterupted rhythme. 

My Happy Place

Image taken from Ria Hills Pastel Paintings



We've also been spending a lot of time with the paints recently.  Scratch that.  I've been spending a lot of time with the paints.  I need it so badly.  Painting is my happy place; sketching, drawing, painting - they're all interchangeable.  I haven't picked up my pencils or brushes since a while before J. was born and my subconscious being has been positively pining for them.  Art is to me what cigarettes are to a smoker, except in a very healthy and enriching sense.

A long time ago, I used to paint a lot.  I would take a little sketchbook everywhere with me just in case something neat popped up.  Those were days where I filled up sketchbooks without a thought for tomorrow.  They were good days.  I remember being excited at the mere prospect of going to the local art store, not to mention actually buying something!  It was always a good day when I picked up a package of creamy pastels, or soft charcol.


Image taken from Alice Cantrell at A Number of Things




Image taken from Alice Cantrell at A Number of Things

 So here I am; going back to my passion, my happy place.  Remembering that life is not all about clean floors and folded laundry, I hope to be found sitting and drawing often this summer, especially when the weather and nature are so inspirational!

Joe's Triumph

M. is a very particular fellow.  I would describe him as reserved instead of shy.  He doesn't take kindly to strangers, and even extended family members have to coax their way into his circle of attention.  He's not a demonstrative child, but uses subtler ways to show his affection.

Yesterday we had a BBQ in the park with some friends.  It was a perfect day to be outside; sunshine, summer heat, and plenty of food were our fare.  M. was running around in the grass with his soccer ball and no one could've been happier.  (Condos have a tendency to get even smaller in the summer time.)  Joe, a guy who absolutely adores children, was trying to charm M. into playing with him. 

No dice. 

He kept at it (on and off) for the better part of 3 hours.  We finished eating and decided to go for a walk.  After walking and talking, we stopped under an old tree to continue our discussions leisurely.  At this point, Joe, who had (bless him) not given up, decided on a new tactic.  The branches of the tree had leaves that extended downwards enough for Joe to reach.  He picked a few and offered them to M. 

Bingo.

M. took the leaves and threw them willy-nilly, laughing joyously.  Joe picked more leaves.  M. threw them.  This continued for a few rounds.  The end of the evening saw M. following Joe around like a puppy, waiting to be hoisted up to pick his own leaves.  Joe's triumph was complete and all it took was patient persistance.

It's amazing how each child has their own unique buttons.  What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.  For example, I find M. responds better when we ignore his temper tantrums instead of putting him on time out.  It took me a while (and quite a few time outs) to figure this out. 

I am not always successful, and certainly not an example of patience.  However, I promised myself before we had kids that I would not give up not matter how hard the challenge.  Some days are harder, but I never regret starting down this path.  Hopefully at the end of the road, I'll still look back without  regret.  In the meantime, I'll keep Joe's triumph as a lesson in patience. 

A Heavenly Supper

It's 3:30am and for some reason I can't sleep.  Oh I'm tired alright.  J. still keeps me up all hours of the night, despite (or perhaps because of) sharing my bed.  And of course, naps don't usually match up for the kids.  You'd think I'd have no problem sleeping when the opportunity presented itself.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  So, I thought I'd share what inspiration led me to create last night for dinner...

Yesterday, I made one of the most incredible, flavourful chicken marinades I've ever tasted.  M. and J. were both asleep (simultaneous naps are rare these days) so I decided to get a handle on dinner.  I had defrosted some drumsticks and thighs, so I made up a marinade to brush on them before inserting in the oven.  No big deal.  But oh, the smell as it cooked was divine!  And biting into one at dinner?  It was pure heaven.  On a related note, it would go perfectly with the arugula and goat cheese salad featured on Tea & Cookies blog.  (Just looking at this salad made my mouth water...) 

I didn't have the presence of mind to photograph my masterpiece until after dinner.  Thankfully there were still enough pieces to do justice to a photo. 

BALSAMIC-GLAZED CHICKEN

12 pieces of skinless chicken thighs and drumsticks

6 carrots, peeled and sliced into dollars

4 tomatoes, halved

1 large onion, chopped

Combine all vegetables in a large casserole dish.  Wash chicken, trim off fat, make 2-3 diagonal cuts on each piece and place in casserole dish.  Brush chicken pieces liberally with marinade.  Cover with tin foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours until done.  Uncover and cook for another 10 minutes.  Serve with rice or french baguette. 

Marinade:

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Tbsp sea salt

2 tsp oregano

2 tsp basil

3-4 Tbsp garlic powder

Mix all marinade ingredients together.  Brush liberally onto meat. 

Life & Lemons

I love lemons.  I love the smell, I love the taste.  I love squirting lemon juice into my water to give it a little zing.  That's what lemons do; they give everything a little zing.  I especially love baking with lemons.  They're so versatile and refreshing; perfect for hot summer days!

By accident, I stumbled across a beautiful blog.  I was looking for a recipe for lemon cake and I ended up at A Number of Things.  (I will certainly be adding this blog to my list!)  So I found a blog, and I found a recipe for lemon pound cake.  I made a few adjustments to the original recipe, but it is a glorious lemon pound cake. 

I must agree with Ms. Cantrell that this cake will not be helpful for losing the post-baby pounds, but sometimes we woman focus too much on the scale and not enough on life.  My motto: everything in moderation.  (Although the moderation part is gonna be tough with this cake!) 

Image taken from Alice Cantrell at A Number of Things.

LEMON POUND CAKE

A deliciously dense and elegant cake with a moist crumb.

1 cup butter
1/4 cup oil
3 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons lemon extract

Beat butter in a large bowl until creamy.  Gradually whisk in oil, beating until well blended.  Add sugar.  Mix in eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition.  Alternately add flour and milk, ending with flour.  Mix just until blended.  Stir in lemon extract.

Pour batter into a greased and floured bunt cake pan.  Bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes; remove from pan and place directly on wire rack.  Brush lemon glaze on sides of cooled cake and spoon over top, a little at a time.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Serves 10 - 12.

Lemon Glaze:

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

Combine ingredients in a small bowl; stir until sugar dissolves.  (Can warm it slightly so the sugar will dissolve faster.)

I am slowly going crazy

I feel like I need to get this off my chest.  I am a terrible mother.  You know the mom who usually has it together but occasionally goes off the deep end?  That's not me.  I'm the mom who rarely has it together.  I'm that lady you see with the black circles under her eyes, who looks like deer perpetually caught in headlights.  Also, if you see a lady wandering around the park with a slight twitch and borderline hysterical, please don't be alarmed.  That's probably me too.

With all the chaos, internal and especially external, it's a wonder I have the presence of mind to brush my teeth before bed much less entertain guests!  And yet, entertain guests we do.  Frequently.  It's actually calming to sit and enjoy an interesting conversation amid the craziness that is my life.  I'm sure there are times when it can become too much, but strangely enough, we haven't hit that point enough for me to remember.  

Image taken from Rebecca at Babyccino Kids

 

Speaking of entertaining, I found this recipe for panna cotta on a blog called Babyccino Kids.  It looked so simple and elegant that I had to try it out.  It probably won't make me a great mom, but I'm betting it'll still make me feel a tinsy bit better all the same.  Plus, it looks like the perfect dessert to serve the next time we have company!

PANNO COTTA
Makes 8 servings

2 cups whipping cream
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla (can also use rum or lemon extract)
2 packages knox gelatin

Soften gelatin as directed on package.  Heat the cream and milk over low heat.  Add sugar and stir until dissolved.  Add vanilla.  Stir in gelatin until melted. Pour into individual serving bowls/cups, or into a cake mold.  Chill in fridge.  Serve with fruit coulis, fresh berries, or chocolate sauce.



Joy Cometh in the Morning

Image taken from Andy Heatwole at Local Texas

My great uncle passed away this past weekend and we had the funeral yesterday.  It wasn't a sad funeral.  I mean, we were a little sad to say goodbye, but most of us realized that 1) we'll be seeing  him again, and 2) it was his time.  He left behind a great legacy through his children, grandchildren, philanthropy and attitude.

What I loved most was how even in death, he was inspiring.  Personally, he inspired me to do something with my own life just from listening to stories about his.  Here was a man who seized each day with vigour and zest! 

  

My grandfather passed away years ago and hearing how my great uncle spent time with his grandchildren made me a little envious.  I was envious of the memories they shared, of the wisdom they gleaned, of the stories they recounted.  I'm thankful for the memories that I have of my grandfather, but I wish I had more time with him.  I really hope my own children can have that with their grandparents. 

My grandfather actually raised his kids in Egypt and then immigrated to Canada.  Growing up, we loved hearing stories of Egypt so, every so often, my dad would bring home sugarcane or mangos and tell us about his life amid the pyramids while we pigged out.  My dad loves mangos.  I think it's because his dad loved them.  I imagine they were fairly expensive in Egypt, where they grew up, but totally worth it!  (The way that super sweet, juicy tang hits your tastebuds...YUM-O!) 

This is my train of thought justifying making a dessert involving mangos!  :o)  I found this awesome recipe for Thai mango pudding.  Although mango pudding is a traditional oriental dessert, I'd like to think of it as a kind of tribute to my father, my grandfather, and my great uncle.



Image taken from Anncoo at Anncoo Journal



MANGO PUDDING

2 medium, ripe mangoes

1 packet unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup hot water

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup milk (can use cream for a richer pudding)

Heat up the water until it reaches a rolling bowl.  Remove from the heat, while stirring the water with a whisk or fork, sprinkle the gelatin over the surface of the water and stir briskly in order not to have any lumps.  Add the sugar to the gelatin mixture and stir to dissolve.

Scoop out the pulp from the mangoes including around the stone.  Place the mango pulp in a food processor or blender and blend to create a smooth mango puree.  Add gelatin mixture and milk to the mango puree and blend briefly until ingredients are combined.  Pour into dessert bowls or cups and place in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours.  Serve topped with mango cubes, or fresh berries.