26 May 2012

Time for salad



O time, how hard it is to steal a minute from you; how easy to lose track of you; how profound the changes you bring.


Yesterday there was a patch of dirt beside our building, today there are flowers!  "Yesterday" being a little more figurative than I care to let on, but the point remains.  Pure magic!  At least, it's magic to my 3 year old son.  To him, time doesn't exist.  One minute there was bare dirt and then *POOF* flowers appeared!  He still has trouble understanding the words "late", or "bedtime", or "dinner-time".  Perhaps he'll catch on in time?  (No pun intended...)




Amid the passing moments of spring, I find myself irresistibly drawn to salad.  Oh light, crispy, vinegrette-y salad, let me count the ways I love thee!  Indeed, I've always loved salads.  When I was pregnant with M, the only consistent craving I had was for Greek salad.  I do enjoy ranch-dressed salads every now and then, but I prefer the tart bite of acid.  There's something about the way that tang hits my tongue that makes me feel so vigorously alive!  Greek salad gives that along with the creamy from the feta.  (If there's one thing I love as much as salad, it's cheese!)  But what I love most about salads is the fact that they require so little time.  You may not have time to shorten your to-do list, but there's ALWAYS enough time to make a salad.  Shred some lettuce, slice up a few accompaniments, throw on any leftovers like corn, chicken, cheese, raisins, etc and you have gastronomical genius!  



I'm leaving behind my little rendition of a creamy, feta-laden Greek salad.  (Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my face.)  I must warn you that I will probably post quite a few salad recipes.  Why tonight we're having a crunchy coleslaw for dinner.  Yes, my friends, life is good, and salad is such a wonderful part of that goodness.




GREEK SALAD 

300g Greek feta cheese
1 head romaine lettuce
1/2 English cucumber, peeled
2 Roma tomatoes
1/2 small spanish onion (optional)

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)


Mix the dressing ingredients together in a glass bottle or jar.  Wash and shred lettuce in a large bowl.  Cut cucumber and tomatoes into bite-sized chunks and add to lettuce.  Slice up onion into slivers and add to lettuce.  Crumble feta over the salad bowl.  Shake dressing well and drizzle lightly over salad until each leaf is well coated.  Don't use too much dressing or salad will be soggy.  Store the remaining dressing in the fridge for round II.  


18 May 2012

Invisible Mother

No proper post have I, but a little message sent to me that I'd like to share especially with every mother out there...



The Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.  Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

"Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head the corner, because no one can see me at all.  I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom.  

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more!  "Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?"  Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being.  I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'  I'm a TV guide to answer,  'What channel is my show on?'  Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.  She's going, she's going, she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England.  She had just returned from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.  I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.  It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book.  And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 
1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.  It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you.  I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice
and smile over.  You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.  As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
 
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses
all the linens for the table.'  That would mean I'd built a monument to myself.
I just want him to want to come home.  And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals.  We cannot be seen if we're doing it right.  And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.

Unknown


16 May 2012

In other news...



J and I have been holding all night vigils since Sunday night.  In fact, I've forgotten what it's like to have a good night's sleep.  Occupational hazard, I suppose.  Still, wouldn't it be nice if sick, feverish children slept the night all the same?  

We had a lovely picnic at Centennial park on Saturday.  The weather was perfect and we had a great time eating and running after the munchkins.  That's definitely one of my favourite perks of summer.  Barbecuing on a sunny day in the park.  It's so exhilarating making food outdoors!    



On a completely unrelated note, I've been dying to share my second foray into the world of hat-making!  (A gift for another pregnant friend, of course.)  Last one was a bear.  This one's a mouse.  And, I'm hoping you were able to figure it out without that little revelation...



And finally, we have officially started packing!  (Whoo!)  Lots of purging, organizing and downsizing to follow...



12 May 2012

Spring has sprung



Yesterday a friend, who had incidentally been trying to reach me via telephone, commented that we've been spending quite a bit of time outside.  It's hard to stay indoors long enough to do any work these days - much less blog!  The world wakes up from hibernation and the outside calls to you.  The birds begin their litanies at early hours, the sun warms upturned faces invitingly, and the whole of nature feasts sumptuously on the bounty of spring.  Little snails inching up trees as they munch on the bark.  Fat, fuzzy bees buzzing a little lower to the ground, full from all that pollen and nectar.  Chunky caterpillars gorging on lush leaves.  And we soak it all up, each hearing his own message.  Mine goes something along the lines of "You fool, you forgot the lentils!  Now we'll have to have PB&J for lunch, AGAIN."  (So much for profound.)



We do have inside time though.  I have finally got around to working on the alphabet props, and M has started learning his sandpaper letters and their sounds.  It's glorious watching a 3 year old boy grin from ear-to-ear as he remember the "t" sound and what words start with "t".  A five minute lesson that will eventually translate into hours of fun with favourite books.  

And then there's the endless "to do before we leave" list.  Packing being one of the least pressing.  :o) 

Lest anyone be deceived by this burst of activity, I am compelled to reiterate, I am not supermom.  I'm just someone who loves to make things with my own two hands.  But something has to give somewhere.  If I'm baking up a storm in the kitchen, my crocheting isn't coming along.  If I'm crafting or painting, my laundry isn't getting done.  If I'm outside exploring, I'm not cleaning my house.  Can't do it all.  Just gotta choose priorities.  Obviously, an immaculately clean house is not that high on the list.  (Sorry, D... had to say it.)  And sometimes, if all of the above are miraculously accomplished, it means that I'm not sleeping at night.

Yep.  Can't do it all.  




Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I am a mom now.  But tomorrow I will be thinking, not of myself, but of my mom and my mother-in-law.  They are very special women to me - both filled with wisdom, humour and great love.  And both come to mind when I read this wonderful paragraph from Proverbs 31:10-31.

"A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.  She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.  She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.  She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.  She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.  She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.  In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.  She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.  When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.  She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.  Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.  She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.  She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

In the spirit of the feast, I leave you a delicious little treat (recipe modified from here) - perfect for a Mother's Day gathering.  Happy Mother's Day to all you blessed Mothers!


RASPBERRY SWIRL CHEESECAKES

Crust: 
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 Tbsp sugar
4 Tbsp butter, melted

Raspberry Swirl:
6 oz raspberries (I;ve used strawberries with equal success)
2 tsp sugar

Filling:
3 lbs cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 large eggs

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line cupcake pans with liners.  Combine crust ingredients in small bowl and mix well.  Press 1 Tbsp of this mixture into each cupcake liner.  Press down to flatten.  (I used a small plastic cup.)  Bake 5 minutes, until set.  Remove and set aside.

Add swirl ingredients to a small blender and puree.  Set aside.

Beat cream cheese on high until fluffy.  Add sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Spoon cheesecake filling into each liner until it is almost full.  Drip 3-4 raspberry puree dots on top of each and lightly swirl to create marble effect.  Bake for about 20-25 minutes until filling is set.  Remove from oven and let cool.  The cupcakes will be puffed on top initially, but will sink flat again upon cooling.  Place in fridge and chill for at least 3 hours before serving.




8 May 2012

A cry of thanks



"O Lord, how lovely it is to be Your guest.  Breeze full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun's golden rays and the scudding clouds.  All nature murmurs mysteriously, breathing the depth of tenderness.  Birds and beasts of the forest bear the imprint of Your love.  Blessed art you, mother earth, in your fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last for ever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: Alleluia!"  (Kontakion 2, Akathist of Thanksgiving)









3 May 2012

A little peek



During this chaotic time of packing, shopping, moving and otherwise getting ready, I thought it would be fun to share a little peek of what's going on at our end.  (A concept inspired by Amanda Soule.)



Right now, I am...
  • organizing all my recipes and clippings into a compact book/folder
  • enjoying the hunt for new ways to use fruits and vegetables...like this!
  • starting to crochet a gift for mother's day... a bouquet of daffodils! 
  • relaxing contentedly after a morning at the library
  • reading a new book we borrowed: Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco
  • thinking how fitting a book to have on a day like today
  • remembering the delicious vegetable tian we ate on Monday and planning to make it again today
  • hoping to squeeze in some exercise tonight
  • caring for a sick husband and crazy-teething, sleep-aversion-plagued toddler 
  • thanking God that at least M and I are still relatively unscathed
  • wondering where our next walk will take us...


On that note, I wish you a happy Thursday and leave you with our slightly simpler version of that veggie tian.


VEGETABLE TIAN

4 medium potatoes
1 zucchini
1 roma tomato
1 large spanish onion
1 clove garlic
2 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
100 g mozzarella cheese, grated

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.  Lightly grease bottom and sides of a casserole dish.  Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until onion are translucent.  Spread evenly on bottom of dish.  Peel and wash potatoes.  Slice into thin dollars.  Wash zucchini and tomatoes and slice thinly into dollars.  Place in dish on top of onions.  Sprinkle generously with thyme and salt.  Grate cheese even over the top of the vegetables.  Cover dish with tin foil and bake for about 40-60 minutes until potatoes are done.  (That depends on how thin your potatoes are, but a knife should cut through them like butter when they're done.)  Remove tin foil, add another sprinkling of cheese on top and bake for 5-10 more minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.  Serve hot.