Sunday Food Show

Here's a couple of recent recipes. When I run out of certain ingredients I improvise and sometimes it end up being better than the original.

This one is breakfast, similar to the one I posted before minus the oats. Here I mash one banana, add pecans, chopped dates, slivered almonds, raisins, hemp hearts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and maple syrup.

I was out of oats and cranberries, but it turned out really good!



This here is zucchini salad. It includes one zucchini cut in julienne, 1 green apple, I usually put one red apple as well for color but didn't have one so I put tomatoes. I also put avocado and a bit of parsley. The dressing is the usual, lemon juice, olive oil, pepper and herbamere. A friend once made it with cumin but I didn't have any.

Friday Night at Home

Here's the boys hanging out at home last night.

Nathan loves to stretch!

Smilodon

Lucas had to make a presentation in class on a winter animal of his choice. He chose the Smilodon or as is more commonly known, the Saber tooth tiger. The parents were invited to come hear all about it. Lucas did really well, he worked hard to find all the information himself on the internet and did up the chart on his own. I guess when you give a child something they love it's a lot easier to get them to do the work. Lucas loves anyting tiger or lion related, so this was perfect. Congratulations Lucas for great work!!

A few of my favourite things.....

You know when Oprah does her show about her favourite things and gives it all out to the audience..... man would I love to be in that audience! I'd actually settle to have a few of my own favourite things.... So I thought I'd make up a list of my favourite things and try for them not to focus solely on food!

1. Vaseline - is this not the best invention ever! For those of you who spend a fortune on moisturizers, all I can say is....... $2.99....... Vaseline is the most awesome moisturizer ever, especially at this time of year when everyone skin is so dry and the static everywhere could power a house I'm sure.... I used to put vaseline on my face every night before bed and my skin was fabulous. Then I got lazy and stopped, but I should start again cause my skin ain't the greatest these days.

2. Vita Mix blender - If I could spare $300 for a blender right now, I would so buy one! This is like the super duper power machine to make any solid into a liquid or purée. For a raw foodist like myself, this would be the ultimate kitchen gadget. I might actually be able to replicate the ultimate smoothie - The Brazilian thunder (minus the yogurt) from Booster Juice. When in Montreal, this is usually the first place I go. The smoothie and a cinnabon Cinamon roll makes an incredible treat. Not sure I would go for the cinnamon roll again after finding out it alone is over 800 calories and 8 grams of fat.

3. The Jaguar..... as in the car, not the animal.... while this would be my ultimate car, I would now settle for a high end minivan.

4. Any furniture from Wheaton's in Moncton. Their stuff is gorgeous!

5. A really good professional type camera to take amazing pictures of my kids.

6. Hot tubs - Seriously, is there anything better in this world than soaking in hot bubbly water?

7. The Gap fleece hoodies - so cozy and so cute on kids!

8. Any product from Moonsnail Soapworks. They make awesome soaps and body products and are located right here in Charlottetown. I love the Chai soap, and their Miracle Hand Balm, it is also great on dry skin. Check out their website: www.moonsnailsoapworks.com

9. Antiques- I love them all and wish I had an old farmhouse furnished with antiques. Not sure where the vitamix would fit in to that decor, but I'd be willing to try it out.

10. Anything that will make me look smaller.... hehehe

I wonder now if any of the companies who make the above products will start sending me free samples for me promoting their products. I do have wide coverage with this blog you know..... and lots of compulsive shoppers are frequent readers..... I'll not sit and wait by the mailbox, but the thought was nice....

Sunny Day!

Today is such a beautiful day! Once I was done my morning retail therapy, Nathan and I went for a nice long walk in the neighbourhood. This was our first long walk, it is so nice to get out in the sun, I feel like it has been forever since I was out like that.

Watch for the next in the Batman series.....

Batman meets Nathan



Happy Valentine's Day Mommy!


You might notice from the pictures above that Nathan is going bald..... indeed he has lost all his little fluff in the front, but is still quite hairy on the sides and back. He also has a few pimples on his cheek. I think he is going through adolescence and middle age all at once! So hopefully I won't have too much trouble once he actually becomes a teenager!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Because this day is usually all about food, namely chocolate, I thought I'd make my post all about food. It's not chocolate, but it is good healthy raw treats.

First up is my homemade fruit salad. Throw in whatever fruits you have lying around. I put apple, pear, banana, orange, mango and grapes. Squeeze juice of one orange and one lime and mix together. Very easy and very tasty.


I have always loved ice cream. Normally my favourites are anything loaded with chocolate, brownies, fudge etc..... but now, I satisfy my craving with frozen fruit and banana in food processor.

For an afternoon snack, why not try medjool dates cut in half with a pecan on top and a few bananas all drizzled in maple syrup. Ah, what would I do without maple syrup!!

My Helper

Lucas loves to give me a hand with Nathan....



Nathan having a bad moment....

Lucas lost another tooth.... this is starting to cost the tooth fairy quite a bit of money!

Good Saturday!

Raw breakfast

This morning I enjoyed raw oatmeal and a smoothie.

Raw Oatmeal
Steel cut oats soaked in apple juice (made fresh in juicer) overnight
Add cranberries, raisins, almonds and maple syrup.
enjoy

Smoothie
Frozen berries
a banana
water
flax seed
hemp seed
sesame seed
Blend


Date balls
dates - soaked for about 1 hour
raisins - soaked about 1 hour
walnuts
maple syrup
process in food processor

make balls
roll in unsweetened shredded cocount
keep in freezer otherwise they get too soft.

My boys this morning!
Lucas is doing a great job in his role as big brother! He loves Nathan and is concerned with his well being..... until he cries or poops, then he turns over responsibility back to mom!
Today is a beautiful sunny day.... the calm before the storm! We are expecting a big snow storm with great winds again tomorrow. I guess it will be good for the upcoming Jack Frost festival at the end of the month! Meanwhile, my back is still suffering from the last snow I shovelled! But I think i am getting muscles in my arms! At this rate, I'll be cut like a body builder by the end of winter! Bring it on!

Lucas, Nathan and Friends

Lucas trying to get back in the carseat with Nathan

baby bum.....
Meeting new friends

Corn Salad

This is a nice light summery salad. It is fresh and sweet. I love it!

3 cobs of corn- raw - cut the corn off, put in dish

1 celery stalk chopped

1 green onion chopped

a few sprigs of parsley

Dressing

juice of half a lemon

a bit of olive oil

a few leaves of mint

a bit of maple syrup - honey or agave nectar

pepper

herbamere

mix together and add to salad.

Enjoy

FYI most of the recipes I make are either for 1 or 2 people as I am the only one eating this stuff and I really don't like having leftovers forever. I also don't measure anything, I just eyeball it.

Nathan Week 3

Here is Nathan giving kisses to his mama..... awwww....

Nathan, you are quite a funny little boy, you make Lucas and I laugh at your funny faces and love of stretching. You have an amazing set of lungs which will surely be useful to you someday if you ever wish to audition for Canadian Idol or become a drill sergeant or something like that.

You love taking a bath and cuddling and if you could just get those hands to stay in your mouth you would be so happy!

Your eyes are a dark blue, I hope they stay that color, but since both your dad and I have brown eyes, I assume they too will change somewhere along the road. No matter what color they are, I hope they always see the best in life.

I love you!

Mom

Tomato Salad

Here is tonight's creation. I used plum tomatoes but it looks nicer using cherry tomatoes cut in half. I just kind of mix in whatever I have lying around.

4 plum tomatoes
some english cucumber
a bit of parsley chopped
a few swigs of cilantro
a little bit of red onion
avocado

dressing:
olive oil
lemon juice
herbamere
pepper

This dressing is pretty much standard in everything I make cause I love it. Plain, simple and good for me.

So this is day 3 of me being back on the raw lifestyle and I am doing ok. Sure I've had a few chocolate cravings or just wanted to raid my fridge, but I think it is more out of habit than anything else. I've stocked up on fresh fruits and veggies and will also be making other desserts to help me in those crazy moments. I want to make my date balls again but I forget the recipe, it's been too long. Maybe I'll just wing it.

What's for Dinner?

Cauliflower Couscous

1/2 head of cauliflower ground in food processor
a little bunch of parsley chopped
bunch of mint chopped
about a dozen black olives cut in quarters
Mix together in bowl

dressing
about 1/4 cup of olive oil
juice of one lemon
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp herbamere
mix together and add to above mixture....
enjoy

This is actually pretty good. I make the small version as i am alone eating it and can't have it for a week straight, one or two meals is good enough. The mint really gives it a nice fresh taste.
For those of you who are not familiar with Herbamere, it is a salty type of seasoning used to replace salt. You can get it in different flavours, something like Mrs. Dash.

FYI, don't mix parsley with cauliflower in food processor as it will make the cauliflower turn green and then it just looks weird, still tastes the same but the look is kind of sickening. Yes, I speak from experience.

Memorable Firsts

As I embark on another journey of firsts with Nathan.... first smile, first word, first steps, first day at school, first love etc.... it has made me reflect on the memorable firsts in my life. While I don't remember most before age 8, there have been many others after.

As I look back on my life, while there were a few scattered memories before age 8, I can't be sure if they are actual memories or if I just think I remember them because I have heard my parents or grand parents tell me about it so often. For me, it's like my life started the summer of 1980 at age 9. On September 2nd of that year, my cousin Maria was hit and killed by a truck here in Stratford. She was 4. I think because it was so traumatic to me that everything else before it faded away and that became the beginning of my memories. Because it's a rather depressing and sad subject, I won't dwell on it any further, but I do think it has been the event that would define the rest of my life. I think of her all the time and will carry her in my heart forever.

On a more positive side....let me talk about boys..... cause they certainly were a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. To say I was (and still am) boy crazy would be an understatement, although the last 15 years have been a little more tame.... we all have to grow up sometime.... There was my very first love..... Mario Laforme..... I was 6, he live across the street, I always thought I'd end up marrying him. Well at least until I turned 8 and met Steven Canning...... and then came Grade 7 (Sec. 1) and my very dear Gino Garneau. He and I had a love-hate relationship right up until graduation! Most days I worshipped the ground he walked on, until he pissed me off and I hated him..... He was my first real "date", we went to see Flashdance at the movies. Some of my old classmates may remember this as I believe they were all there a few rows back to witness this and torment me for the rest of high school. Everytime I hear a song from Flashdance, I am 12 again and nervous and awkward and would love to just go back all those years and do things a bit differently.....

First kiss..... September 13, Friday, St-Tite, Festival Western, Denis Boivin..... Why I didn't marry this man, I'll never know......

First real boyfriend...... summer of 1987..... Lac Des Piles...... Philippe Marchand..... an incredible summer like every teenage girl should experience.

First obsession..... Ste-Foy, Qc.... 1989-91.... Glen McKinnon...... Someone should have really taken me to seek counselling..... I was truly obsessed with Glen and he barely knew I existed.

Then came PEI and my first "boyfriend" here was Kevin Clow. Kevin, if you happen to read this, know that I thought you were really hot. I might have become a little obsessive with you as well and I'm sorry about that. To this day, the name Kim Albert makes my skin crawl.....

After it was Kent, who was my first real long term serious relationship. It lasted 7 years and out of it came Lucas. No matter what, I will never regret one minute of it cause in the end came my first born son. Life has only gotten better since the day he was born.

OK, now on to another subject, how bout first intoxication.... I remember this night quite well also. Lisa, Marie-Claude, you may as well.... It was Grade 7, a party at Marie-Claude's, me drinking all of Lisa's wine then feeling bad about it and breaking into drunken tears..... what a sight it must have been. Lisa I'm sorry for drinking all your wine! MC - you had great parties! That was the first of many I was to enjoy at your place!

Other memorable firsts..... First trip to France for the 60th of D-Day, that trip opened my eyes to a whole new world........ men in uniform........... like I needed another obsession..... there I met Luc, a man in uniform, who I must say wears it quite well. He lets me obsess over him and hasn't run away yet. Of course he very quickly volounteered to go to Afghanistan... hmmmm...
Anyway, I'll try not to take it personally. Thanks Luc for letting me obsess over you for the past almost 4 years. You're a little hottie and I know you know it.

Well, I could go on for days with other memorable firsts but I'm sure I would lose your interest if I haven't already.....

To my boys, I wish you to have many many memorable firsts, most I'm sure you won't share with me until you are old enough to no longer get in trouble.... and that's ok.... I am actually cringing at the fact that my dad will be reading about my first intoxication.....

I'd love to hear from you all, tell me what your memorable firsts are.....

Now I take my newborn son for his first professional pictures at WalMart. The first of many to come I am sure.....

Jo

Some lunch, some love and a tooth

Here's what I had for lunch today.... Mango Tabouli. Very easy to make and quite yummy.

1 bunch parsley
1 tomato
1 green onion
a bit of red onion
1/2 mango
juice of 1/2 lemon
sea salt

Put it all in food processor and mix just a little until all combined.

Here are my boys yesterday. Lucas is looking forward to the day when he can make Nathan laugh. He enjoys making others laugh, so hopefully Nathan has a sense of humour....

Lucas lost his 2nd front tooth yesterday at last! The tooth fairy was by and left him 2$.

Raw Coconut Fudge

Here is a recipe for raw coconut fudge which will truly satisfy any sweet tooth. And it is all raw and good for you. It got me through some tough cravings during my raw spell. I am starting to gravitate towards raw life once again. I caught a glimpse of my hips in the mirror this morning..... very depressing..... I am looking forward to nicer weather when we can go walking again.

Raw Coconut Fudge

3 cups raw walnuts

1/2 cup of cocoa or carob powder

2 cups of shredded unsweetened coconut

1/2 cup of maple syrup or agave nectar

Grind the walnuts in a food processor until smooth and have buttery consistency

add other ingredients and blend well.

Press into a glass baking dish. Put in freezer for a while then cut into squares and serve. Leave remaining ones in freezer to keep them hard.