Take Notice

We took a family day trip to The African Lion Safari last Sunday so my monkey could see the monkeys and to partake in “Canada’s Original Safari Adventure.”

 

Our expedition reaped the rewards of catching more than a glimpse of creatures you don’t typically see in the parks of Ontario, Canada.  Although they did work in a tour feature on the “duck“?  Perhaps all lions, giraffes and elephants all day would be too overwhelming?

 

While touring around I noticed the most unusual natural plant life in the park.  One wild flower in particular stood out in my mind as so pretty and altered from the usual Dandelions, Queen Ann’s Lace and Buttercups you expect to see growing in the wild.  I was anxious to figure out what it was.

The next day, I’m driving home from work on the same stretch of road that I drive on every day, 5 days a week, at precisely 5:35pm.  What do I spy with my little eye in the border of green and wild flowers?  My African Lion Safari wild flower?!

Why do I take notice of this unusual beauty while out on a pleasant day trip with my family but could care less about the wretched weed on my drive home from work?  Could it be the more happy and relaxed a mood we are in, the keener we are to seek out beauty in what surrounds us?

Turns out the flower is a Milkweed and the lifeblood of the monarch butterfly.  Without this wildflower, Monarchs wouldn’t be able to complete their life cycle and would soon become extinct.  Thanks wildflowersofontario.ca for this info. and the picture above.  You put me out of my, "what is this intriguing mystery flower" misery.

I’m sure we notice a lot more of the fun and wonder our kids have to offer us on a pleasant weekend rather than a harried week day evening.  Imagine the travesty of lost opportunity if I had been too busy to notice when my 3 year old stepped on the scale in the washroom and shouted, “come see how old I am!”

A friend sent me a link to the blog Hands Free Momma which is an inspiring take on “letting go to grasp what really matters.”  It is a touching and relatable read on how to unplug from increasing time demands in order to live in the moment with our kids.

Now here’s a quick and easy baby food recipe that won’t take you long to prepare. Then you can quickly get back to making funny faces back and forth at each other.

Ready…Set…Evolve…

Coddle Me Carrot & Rutabaga Puree

Age – 6 months +

Ingredients

• 6 carrots (about 2 cups chopped)
• ½ of a rutabaga (about 1 ½ cups chopped)
• 1 tbsp. of butter

Baby Steps

• Peel and chop carrots and set aside
• Peel and chop rutabaga and set aside
• Add chopped carrots and rutabaga to a steamer set over boiling water, cover and cook for approximately 23 minutes or until veggies are very tender.
• Remove from heat and transfer veggies to a food processor, blender or bowl to use a hand blender to puree.
• Add the butter and some of the cooking water to the veggies 1 tbsp. at a time and puree to desired consistency.  The thinner the consistency desired the more water you will want to add.
• Let cool for a few minutes then transfer to freezing trays to be used within 3 months, or to a food storage container in the fridge to be used within 48 hours.

Makes Approx. 12 servings (1 serving = 2 tbsp.)

Let’s keep our eyes peeled for beautiful things even when we’re in a sour mood.  Today it could be Milkweed discovered; tomorrow could be a revelation…or a smile from your little one.

Kindergarten Baby

We moved into our house 5 years ago after one of the biggest snowstorms of the century and surveyed the snow covered backyard.  This stirred dreams of building as gargantuan a garden that the space could stand come spring.

We built that garden, and come fall, it was time for my tulip bulb planting extravaganza.  I must have planted over 50 bulbs back there and each and every one had fallen victim to my nemesis…SQUIRRELS!  To them, each bulb planted was a personal invitation to dinner…or play…or whatever they do with the things after they dig them up.  Needless to say I had no tulips in my garden the next spring, but there were plenty on the other side of the fence where the squirrels had decided was a much better place for the dancing beauties.

They are farther away than I would like, but they are still beautiful.

 

Time seems to be marching on at an uncontrollable pace.  How can my oldest son be starting high school and my youngest…the baby…starting kindergarten in September??  Soon they’ll be out of the house and on the other side of the fence like my tulips...or in their own houses with their own families I guess.  Which would be better than the other side of the fence because all that is there are train tracks, squirrels and tulips.

Carter, my little one, had his Kindergarten orientation this week, which I suppose is arousing all these clingy feelings in me.  He watched intently as I held out my hand to introduce myself to the principal.  He waited for our exchange to end, and then offered his own hand out to her along with a mighty, “Hi, I’m Carter Hughes”.  Where did this baby/man come from?  Wasn’t it just an hour ago I gave birth and brought him home from the hospital along with the terror of what to do with him next?  I guess we figured it out.  The principal certainly thought so.

This pic is from orientation night.  Everyone got a kids fun package to take home, and inside, along with the array of colouring activities, books and 1 lollypop, were a pair of sunglasses along with a business card from the local family optometrist.  I guess nothing says family optical target market perfection quite like the gathering of pre-schoolers at the annual kindergarten orientation trade show. Huh.

In honour of our growing kids, I’m featuring a fun and easy recipe for those Solid Food Professionals out there of 12 months +.  At 12 months, baby is ready to enjoy a wide array of foods and is eager to experience new tastes and textures closer to what their family is regularly eating.  These chicken quesadillas are a great way to introduce a new flavour into baby’s repertoire and is the perfect finger food for them to enjoy with you at the table.  It also packs a great nutritional punch with the assortment of veggies, protein and dairy incorporated.

Ready…Set…Evolve…

Arriba, Arriba, Quesadilla!

 

Age – 12 Months +

Ingredients

·         1 tbsp. plus ½ tsp. of butter

·         1 small boneless skinless chicken breast

·         1 tomato

·         ¼ cup of diced onion

·         ¼ cup of diced green pepper

·         ¼ cup of corn niblets from cooked corn on the cob

·         Pinch of cumin and coriander spice

·         2 soft 12” tortillas

·         ¼ cup of grated cheddar cheese

Baby Steps

1.      Peel, seed and dice tomato using the boiling water method.  For details check out a previous blog, “Bye,Bye, Spontaneity”.

2.      Dice onion and green pepper and set aside.

3.      Boil corn on the cob in pot with lid until cooked through, approx. 12 minutes.  Set aside.

4.      Melt 1 tbsp. of butter in large sauté pan over medium/high heat.

5.      Chop chicken into small pieces and add to melted butter in pan.  Cook until brown all over, approx. 6 minutes.

6.      Remove chicken from pan and set aside.  Add diced onion and green pepper to pan and reduce heat to medium.  Sauté until tender, approx. 3 minutes.

7.      Slice corn off of cooked cob and add ¼ cup of the niblets to the sauté pan along with the veggies.  Continue to cook for 1 minute.  Save the rest of the corn from the cob for finger food for baby to have later that day if you want…or treat yourself.

8.      Add diced tomato to veggies in pan and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

9.      Add chicken back into the pan with the veggies along with a pinch of coriander and cumin spice.  Stir together well then turn heat down to low.

10.  In another pan large enough to fit the 12” tortilla, melt ½ tsp. of butter over medium/high heat, then add 1 tortilla to pan and cook for approx. 1 minute on each side.  Remove and repeat with 2^nd tortilla.

11.  Keep 1 tortilla in pan and reduce heat to medium.  Add all of the chicken and veggie mix onto tortilla plus the grated cheddar.  Place 2^nd tortilla on top and continue to cook approx. 1 minute until cheese is melting and tortilla is browned.

12.  Flip quesadilla over to cook other side for 1 minute more until browned.

13.  Remove from pan and let cool.

14.  Use a pizza cutter to cut some into finger food sized pieces for baby, and triangles to share with other family members.

15.  Serve immediately.

Makes – 1 serving for baby plus 7 wedges for other family members.

Note:  This dish isn’t just for baby, it makes a great family meal.  Double the recipe and add a bit of salt and pepper and chilli powder to the chicken veggie mixture used in the rest of the family’s portions to kick up the flavour a bit.  Serve with salsa and sour cream for dipping and a side salad.  Olé!  Dinner is served!  Maracas are optional but always encouraged.

I know our kids must grow and we must grow along with them.  I just wish it didn’t happen so fast.  Eventually they may be farther away from home than I would like, but they will still be beautiful.

Island Style

My husband and I recently returned from our vacation on the magical island of Barbados.  The force in which we were shot back to reality came quick the morning after our arrival home as we woke to a blanket of snow frightening us along with all the buds and sprouts that could have sworn it was spring.  But spring in Canada vs. spring in the Caribbean are a bit different I suppose.  Where was the everyday “pure sun and 30 degrees” we had become so accustomed to in 1 short week?  I know…spoiled rotten we were.

But still, it was nice to get home to the kids, dog, friends and family.  It would have also been nice to bring the sun, ocean, sand and island hospitality with us.  I made sure to buy a Bajan cook book before I left so we could transport ourselves…if not in body, in mind…to the flavours of the island whenever the mood struck.  The staple Bajan seasoning they used on fish and chicken was amazing and I don’t think a day went by without us scarfing down a few fish cakes dipped in pepper sauce.  This is making me hungry.

We also visited St. Nicholas Abbey up on the northern side of the island which is a 350 year old plantation house surrounded by fields upon fields of sugarcane. 

We had the opportunity to watch the process by which they extract the sugar cane juice from the stalks and even taste the cane in it’s raw form.

 

I’m not sure if you have tried chewing on sugar cane before but it was interesting.  You simply chew it to release the flavour and juice but it’s too tough to actually bite a piece off.  Similar to a tough piece of celery you come across from time to time that just won’t break free from it’s stalk…only it doesn’t taste like celery, it tastes like sugar!  I was wondering if this had ever been used to give to a teething baby…you can see how appealing and healing it could be on their painful gums.  I did a search and did find instances where people were saying they keep raw sugar cane in the freezer and then give to their teething baby to help soothe them, and then they just make sure to clean the juice off any exposed teeth after the chewing session is through to make sure baby doesn’t have any teeth marinating in sugar juice.  I definitely think it could be worth a try…you can even play the song, “We’re Going to Barbados” at the same time making you and baby happy at once!

Today I think it would be fitting to reprise my recipe for the “Island Baby” puree I had posted once upon a time.  Somehow the name brings with it so much more meaning to me now than it did before our trip to a real, true beautiful island.  I was thinking the exact same thing this week when the island inspired song, “One Love” came on the radio.  I’ve probably heard the song 5000 times before and each time, sure, it brings to mind fictitious island parties, bold hibiscus flowers on cotton button down shirts and sundresses and the sun, sand and surf, but now it seems to mean much more and I’m not sure how to describe it other than to say, a warm, good life.

Ready…Set…Evolve…

Island Baby

 

Age – 6 months +

Ingredients

·         1 ripe Papaya

·         2 ripe Mangos

·         Mashed banana to add to puree just before serving

Baby Steps

·         Peel and seed mango and papaya, then chop into small pieces.  For instructions on how to do this see earlier post “Sunny Side of Grey”.

·         Add fruit to a food processor, blender or large bowl to use a hand blender to puree.

·         Puree to a smooth thin consistency.  Feel free to add a little bit of water to the mix if the puree isn’t thin enough.

·         The mango and papaya puree can be transferred to freezing trays to be used within 3 months, or to a food storage container in the fridge to be used within 48 hours.

·         When you’re ready to serve to baby, stir in a bit of freshly mashed banana to the puree for an over the top tropical experience…or maybe just a bit of added sweetness.

Makes - Approx. 11 Servings (1 serving = 2 tbsps.)

So now here we are back to reality.  But what if with each trip we take we bring back little pieces of what we’ve learned, who we met and what we experienced and apply them to our everyday reality?  All of a sudden would our reality become a vacation? Let’s try!  Fish cakes anyone?

Persuasive Universe

The universe has an uncanny knack of persuading us to appreciate things.

-          Monday night I seared the palm of my hand on a fresh out of the oven pan handle which made the rest of the evening challenging as an icepack became an additional appendage. 

-          We are going on vacation next week so I’ve been trying to fit in 2 weeks’ worth of work into 1 week less the time it takes to leave early to get to the daycare on time to circumvent the dear five dollar a minute charge of tardiness.  Hubby has been traveling for a couple of days so I’m playing Mr. Mom…or just mom I guess.

-          And today was Thursday and I had to commute through what the fear mongers on the news have been building up to be the ice storm of the century…in April.  You know what they say, “April ice storms stunt May flowers”…or something to that affect.  My usual stressors seemed acutely bothersome this week so when the trustworthy newscasters of the greater Toronto area told me my drive was going to be treacherous, I had no choice but to believe them and stress further more.  Will this week ever end? 

Ok universe…you got me.  I appreciate that I’m going to Barbados on Saturday.  You can stop trying to force the issue.

I have to apologize, but due to my challenging week I must say I don’t have any baby food recipes to share with you.  Actually that is a lie.  Here is one.

Ready…Set…Evolve…

Banana

Age - 6 months +

Ingredients

-          1 banana

Baby Steps

1.      Peel the banana.

2.      Mash the banana.

3.      Serve the banana.

Even I would have time to make this for baby during my hectic week…would you?

I don’t need the universe to force me to appreciate you for reading; because I do…I really do…appreciate you. 

Now Bon Voyage!  Actually, you should be saying that to me because I’m not sure if you caught it earlier but I’M GOING TO BARBADOS ON SATURDAY!

Pieces of Me



 

Where was the serenity of my tulips this past Thursday at 2:32pm. when my wisdom tooth was being yanked out?  I hadn’t so much as ever even had a cavity filled in my life when this was thrown at me.  Since it was only one that needed excavating and the word around town was, “it’s quick and easy these days”, I thought I could just go for the freezing and be done with it.

I survived the freezing with relative ease, “there you go, that’s the worst part over” said Dr. Nightingale.  Oh, this is not so bad…easy street…I thought.  They let me linger with the freezing for a few minutes for it to take effect.  As soon as a fork could be stuck into my right cheek with me none the wiser we were ready.  “Now you’re going to feel a tremendous amount of pressure” said Dr. Death as his assistant kept me comfortable by stroking my head and telling me to breath.  I didn’t realize I needed to fire up the old VCR before this appointment to watch “So You’re Having a Baby” to brush up on my labour survival skills.  A tremendous amount of pressure there was, but he neglected to mention the tremendous amount of aggression that goes along with removing someone’s tooth with a tool, brute force and your own two hands.  I’d sooner have someone tie one end of a string around my tooth and the other on a door knob and slam that baby shut!

Don’t worry…I survived.  There was just the swelling to deal with and relearning how to chew and keep food away from the canyon in the back of my mouth.  Tricky.  At least I’m well versed at making food for people who gum their food into oblivion or I would have felt pretty deprived these past couple of days…maybe I’ll eat today’s baby food recipe for dinner tonight.  Mmmm.

It was just a little wisdom tooth.  I’m now a ¼ less wise, so says my husband.  Lucky for him. 

It’s just another little piece of me gone like my favourite mug I had to throw out last week.  I was in ceramic chip denial for a few weeks until I had no choice but to give in.  So sad.

In other news…

 

This maple syrup has been in my fridge for a while.  When my husband asked me how long today, I thought for moment and remembered picking it up at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto while away with my friend for her birthday…maybe last year.  Then I thought about what we did for my friend’s birthday last year, and it wasn’t this.  REALLY…it was 2 years ago and I still have the maple syrup in my fridge??  How do 2 years pass by so fast?  Clearly we don’t eat enough pancakes.

Ready…Set…Evolve…

 

Cheesy Veggie Risotto

Age – 8 months +

Ingredients

·         1 cup broccoli florets chopped

·         1 cup of carrots chopped

·         ½ cup of frozen peas

·         ½ cup of rice

Cheese Sauce

·         1 ½ tbsps. butter

·         1 ½ tbsps. flour

·         1 ½ cups of milk

·         ¾ cup of grated cheddar cheese

Baby Steps

1.      Cook rice according to package directions leaving out the salt and set aside.

2.      Peel and chop carrots into small pieces and place in steamer set over boiling water.  Cover and cook for 10 mins.

3.      Clean and chop broccoli and then add to carrots once the first 10 mins of cooking is complete and continue to cook for another 8 mins.

4.      Add peas to steamer and cook for 5 more mins.

5.      To make cheese sauce, melt butter in large sauce pan over medium heat.

6.      Add flour and stir with a spatula until it makes a smooth paste, approx. 1 min.

7.      Add milk to paste, increase heat to medium/high and stir and cook until lumps are gone and milk begins to thicken, approx. 3 mins.

8.      Add grated cheese and continue to stir until melted and well combined.

9.      Remove steamed veggies from pot and transfer to a bowl to use hand held blender to pulse a few times breaking veggies into tiny pieces.

10.  Add rice to veggies and pour in cheese sauce and stir together until well combined.

11.  Let cool for a few minutes then transfer some into freezing trays to be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months, and some to a food storage container in the fridge to use within 48 hours.

Makes – Approx. 12 servings

I wonder if the pain of a tooth forcing itself in is as bad as someone forcing one out?  Just another reason why I wish babies could talk.

First Glance

It takes time to get to know someone long enough to almost forget how you had them pegged at first, second or third glance.  Like the new quiet and sad eyed co-worker who turns out to be your greatest confidant…or the new seemingly polar opposite from you kid in school who turns out to be your best friend…or the new little mysterious human you bring home from the hospital who turns out to be the love of your life.
First encounters are such a universal mystery.  If you think back to when you first met all the special people in your life, and what your perceptions of them were at the time, I bet 9 times out of 10 you were way off and 10 times out of 10 you will laugh at your inaccuracy.

When you bring that new born baby home and look into their eyes, (or at their closed eyes because unless you have x-ray vision you can’t look into their eyes until they are able to open them) a million thoughts stream through of what type of person you imagine they are going to be when they grow up.  It’s exciting and daunting at the same time to admit you have a hand in, if not ultimate control of, moulding this person into one of the greatest ever made.  You might as well aim high at the start then alter your target with every “D” average report card that comes home. J

As you ponder the super human your little one will transform in to, you can start them off on the right healthy track with some fresh homemade baby food purees.  Today’s is a sweet fruit puree for those Solid Food Intermediates out there of 8 months+.  This recipe includes apples, mangoes and strawberries.  Although apples and mangoes are safe to offer baby at 6 months, you should hold off on strawberries until 8 months.  Strawberries have a higher potential of causing an allergic reaction and babies are better equipped to handle such reactions at 8 months.

Ready…Set…Evolve…

 Apple-Berry-Mango Puree

Age – 8 months +

 

Ingredients

·         2 ripe mangoes

·         1 apple (a sweet variety like Golden Delicious or Gala rather than tart like Granny Smith or baby’s face will turn inside out…may be entertaining for you, but not fun for baby)

·         1 cup of chopped strawberries

·         Yes, that’s it

Baby Steps

1.      Peel and chop apple into small chunks and set aside.

2.      Peel and chop mango into small chunks and set aside.  If you’re not familiar with the anatomy of a mango, check my earlier post, “Sunny Side of Grey” for tips on how to peel and chop them.

3.      Rinse and take green stems off of strawberries and chop into small chunks and set aside.

4.      Add all fruit and 3 tbsps. of water to a medium saucepan, cover and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until fruit is tender, approx. 12 minutes.

5.      Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.

6.      Transfer to a food processor, blender or bowl to use a hand held blender to puree to a smooth consistency.

7.      Let cool for a few minutes then transfer to freezing trays in the freezer to be used within 3 months, and some to a food storage container in the fridge to use within 48 hours.

Makes – Approx. 11 Servings (1 serving = 2 tbsps.)

 No matter what you imagine your little one will be like when they grow up, you can be sure the constant love and care you offer them along the way will come back to you when they are old enough to realise how awful they were to you in their teenage years.