Pears

Well that was a first - I tried to hot pack pears this afternoon with mixed results. I'll wait to see how they last. Maybe I could pack the jars tighter if I cut the pears into smaller pieces. I also had my first lid failure of the year.

Salsa

I just finished my fourth batch of salsa for this year. This is my 4th year of making this salsa with pretty consistent results using a recipe from Canadian Living Cooks at Home. I'll have to see how spicy this batch is - I used jalapenos from the East Lynn Farmer's Market.
The shelves in the basement are beginning to get full with my other preserves form this year including: strawberry jam, peach jam, plum jam, tomato puree (from a bushel of San Marzano tomatoes), oven dried tomatoes, and peach chutney. I'd like to do something with beets, make some applesauce and perhaps do some pears.

I'm a big kid now

For some time now Liam has resented ordering off the children's menu in restaurants. So it was with an air of vindication that he pointed out he was too old for the kids menu at Paradiso ( a North Dakota chain of Mexican restaurants) and ordered the chicken caesar salad. He even told the waiter it was really good and he ate the tomatoes. (Usually he remains mute when he's questioned by strangers.) Luke had an after dinner mint for the first time and Grace worked on her straw technique, which she mastered yesterday. That's it from Fargo. No sign of Marg Gunderson.

Chicago

We were only in Chicago to see U2 (now postponed!) Since the hotel was paid for (89$ on hotwire) we went anyway. We were at the Hyatt by the convention centre - walking distance to Soldier Field and not much else. We'll definitely return to spend some more time here - the city looked great and there seemed to be lots to do. Dinner wasn't Chicago style pizza, but rather California Pizza Kitchen. We had the roasted vegetable salad which I had been dreaming about since Naples (FL) in March. Local craft beer from Goose Island.

Ciabatta

I baked this ciabatta last week using the recipe in Homebaking: The Artful Mix of Flour and Tradition Around the World By Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. There was lots of waiting for the various risings, but the end result was worth it: 4 of these loaves.

Luke's Perfect Pancakes

Today is a P.A. day so I have the kids home. Dan has interviews.

Early this morning Luke was begging to do some more cooking from his cookbook so we made Perfect Pancakes for breakfast. This was all done and eaten by 9 a.m. and before I had finished my cup of coffee!

We have a busy day. This morning I am taking the 3 kids to Dr. E (our chiropractor), I have a haircut later this afternoon then Luke and I have hockey practice and then Liam and I are going to see a TCC main choir concert at 8 pm. I wonder if there's time for me to shower?

I'd better go - Grace hasn't even had her morning diaper change yet! I'm not sure if she was impressed with the pancakes. I think she was waiting for her regular morning egg with spinach to arrive...

Grace's First Birthday!

This evening we had a small chocolate cake to celebrate Grace's real birthday. She was in bed by 7:30 and I went off to my hockey game. Her birthday party is on Saturday.

I can't believe she is one year old already. What a wonderful year we've had! But where did the time go? Part of me wishes to do it all over again (minus the 14 week recovery pain and a year of sleepless nights) but I also love it as she gets older too...In fact, I've been saying this all along with the boys and I still haven't reached an age I dislike or like less than the previous.

Hanging on the bathroom wall we have a photo of each boy in the bath after eating their first birthday cakes - so here's the one of Grace!

Have I mentioned that Grace is a super fast stair climber? She is really quick on her feet! She also has two new teeth on the top - they are just in so you can't really see them next to the two big ones but they have been affecting her sleep again...

One year ago!

One year ago on this date we were getting ready to welcome this little pensive one into the world.
Here's Beth on January 31st, 2009 and here's Grace today at lunch enjoying her veggies with rice and mac and cheese.

Luke's Baking

Luke has always enjoyed baking with us. I should find that adorable picture of him cooking in the buff with the Naked Chef cookbook...

He insisted on finding a cookbook specifically for children when we were at the library the other day. Then when Liam was at choir he started getting everything ready to make mini chocolate souffles. They did turn out well and were a delicious Monday night treat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So thankful for both our families, good health, delicious food, a cozy home, a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful children.

Chilly Reunion

We had a great time at the cottage with the ever growing families of Dan's childhood friends. We had our family plus Malcolm and Lucy with Colin (2.5 yrs) and Jack (9 mths); Phil and Cynamin with Maxwell (2 yrs) and Emerson (4.5 mths) and Eamonn (unfortunately, Eamonn's wife Ulrike is in Germany until August).

The weather didn't cooperate (rainy, windy, cool and buggy), but the guys got caught up on life while the moms talked about all things babies. The bigger kids had fun meeting and playing with each other. We ate (and drank) well and enjoyed some delicious Southern and Italian fare. We also managed to squeeze in some boat rides and a couple of campfires.

The first photo is of me with the two February girls and the group photo is missing Liam (the photographer), baby Grace, baby Jack and Maxwell. The third photo is Grace checking out Jack and the bottom one is of the "big" kids enjoying their ice cream.

Local Strawberries!

My mom brought these over this evening. She found them at the market down the street. It seems early for Ontario berries, but they taste like the real thing. Jam making time is just around the corner...

A cake for Grace!

I knew when I heard the announcement that there was going to be hospitality at recess for the teachers that there might be pink icing in my future. Here's a picture of the corner of the cake I brought home for Beth and the boys.

Luke's favourite food

Lately, whenever Luke sits down to eat he utters a groan along with something along the lines of, "I hate this! Why do you always give me food I don't like?" If he had his way, his diet would consist only of: macaroni and cheese, weiner rolls, apples, french fries, cheese pizza, chocolate milk, bread with jam, yoghurt and cheese strings. Now that I write that out it does seem quite varied.

Tofu chickpea curry

After finding some tofu at Costco for the bargain price of 3 300g blocks for $3.19, tofu's back on the menu. This is one of our staple go-to dishes - fast and yummy. Unfortunately the kids won't eat it, yet. The recipe is adapted from The Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home, which I've used for almost fifteen years. The original recipe calls for tomatoes instead of apples and doesn't include ginger. I add the apples because Beth doesn't like the partly cooked tomatoes.

1 Tbs vegetable oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 Tbs of chopped fresh ginger
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 block of extra firm tofu - cubed
1 can (19 oz) of chickpeas - drained and rinsed, reserving 1/2 cup of the liquid
2 apples - cared and chopped

Over medium heat saute the onion, garlic and ginger in the oil until translucent and fragrant. Add the spices for 30 seconds, then add the cubed tofu for another 30 seconds - stirring constantly. Add the chickpeas and the reserved liquid. Bring to a boil. Turn down to simmer and add the apples - cooking until heated through. Serve over rice. I like to top it with plain yoghurt and some of my peach chutney.

Sunday - that must mean pancakes.

I dusted off the buttermilk and oatmeal pancake recipe this morning. This was a first for Luke - he cut up his own pancake. He calls them "fingers."

Tuesday lunch

I just had to get out and go for a walk today at lunch so I treated myself to a rare lunch out. First stop was an amazing burger at the Gourmet Burger Co. on Parliament. Check them out at: http://www.thegourmetburgerco.com/
Then it was off to Jet Fuel for a $2 latte before afternoon classes started.

Merry Christmas

Santa came last night and was too good to the boys. The boys can now say they have DSs when asked that question that boys of a certain age ask, "What system do you have?" All the presents have been opened. The wrapping has been sorted between recyclable and not. All that's left is the turkey - 16.59 lbs of free-range goodness.

Thumbs Up for Burger Shoppe

Beth was craving red meat yesterday so we went in search of a good burger. We ended up at the Burger Shoppe near Dangerous Dans. Everyone had a burger and Luke rated it, "Four thumbs up. I'm including my toes."

Gingerbread

I tried my hand at gingerbread people for the first time last night. Today I had the kids in my class decorate them as a treat on the last day.