Happy Fall!

Noodless Lasagna

I have been wanting to make a noodless lasagna ever since I saw Rachel Ray make one on her show. (I was pregnant and done working. OK? so yes, I watched some questionable afternoon TV). My good friend gave me some huge fans of collard greens from her family garden the other day so I decided to make a noodless lasagna and use the collards for the layers. It was delicious and a great gluten free option.

I layered:
collard greens, ricotta cheese, tomato sauce
collard greens, zucchini, onions, sweet potato, cheddar cheese, tomato sauce
collard greens, ricotta cheese, zucchini, tomato sauce
topped with collard greens and cheddar cheese

It was great hot out of the oven but even better the next day after all the layers settled together. Collards are high in vitamin K, A, C, folate, manganese, calcium and fiber. Try them. Delicious.

Week from Hell

What a week!! It actually started last week when Aidan had some tummy issues. Then on Sunday, he had a toothache. I decided to go to an Emergency clinic to get him assessed. This nice dentist told me his teeth were in terrible shape. I told her he had 4 small cavities that were filled years ago and she replied that currently there were no fillings and they have gotten quite bad. The thing is we have been seeing a family dentist regularly for years now and just 4 months ago he told me Aidan's teeth were fine. No cavities. All was good. Keep up your good work.  His current state took WAY longer than 4 months to get to this point. We got a second opinion on Monday, it too was grim. She could not help me and sent me to a pediatric dentist. On Tuesday, the pediatric dentist's asssessment was not good. I cried. I kept hearing words like "extraction", "pulpotomy" "crowns" and then the dollar estimation.  OMG!  How did this happen? We floss daily. We brush. No lollipops. No gummi bears. No jelly beans. No pop. Limited juice. I know, I am mean. Thursday morning, I had a meeting with my family dentist to discuss how we got here. (another long story...). Thursday afternoon we went to the pediatrician as Aidan needed a Pre-Op physical exam. I thought I was going to collapse. 5 medical appt. in 5 days! I was so tired and thankful that all these appt. for now are behind us.

I wake up Friday morning refreshed, ready to take on a new day and Bella starts throwing up. Again and again. It's 8am.  She was zoned out and basically foaming at the mouth. She was freaking me out. I also had no clarity anymore. We went to the pediatrician, she too was concerned and said a terrible virus is going around that consists of 12 hours of intense vomiting. Great. 11 more hours to go. She recommended an anti-vomiting drug. I bought it. It was very, very expensive. Our insurance paid for it and I thought I would rather have it at home if I felt I needed it then need to run out and pick it up with a sick child and baby in tow. I read the box when I got home and discover it is used after chemo treatments. I mentioned that I had no clarity, right?  So, I set the box aside and grab the homeopathic remedy Ipecac. It is now about noon. Bella passes out for an hour, wakes up and is totally fine! Hungry and happy. Her first mission was to take off her pyjamas and put on her dress, leggings and fairy wings. She has been fine ever since. It was a good reminder to trust the healing powers of nature and our body's own healing mechanisms. Here she is on the mend.

 

 Here`s hoping next week is smoother.

Coleslaw

My aunt Shoshana is an amazing cook and sweet, sweet lady. I spent a lot of time with her in Israel and got to taste several of her amazing, Israeli style salads. I tried to replicate her coleslaw. It turned out ok but not nearly as good as hers. Cabbage helps lower cholesterol and has strong anti-cancer properties.

 

1 small grated cabbage (purple or green)

grated carrots

dressing

some light oil-she uses canola but i used a light olive oil

lots of freshly squeezed lemon 

little salt 

little sugar

then you mix mix mix this up until in thickens and mix it into the salad

if you want it creamy then add a spoonful over mayo after the dressing has been tossed in

very israeli, i got no measurements.

JK

here is a picture of bella on her first day of JK. i was debating whether to put her in school. she starting asking to go in june, she said she wanted "homework" and to "practice her letters". she was a bit disappointed that on her first friday she did not get a homework folder like her brother and wanted me to talk to the teacher! maybe it is a gender thing or a second child thing but i also think it has to do with her being born in january. she is the oldest of the class. so here is our little one ready for school.....

i picked up that dress in the "shuk" in jaffo. love it....

the farm....

we were invited to the farm this weekend and despite the rain, we had a great time. drawing, fort making,  lunch, guitars, cookies, swimming, good friends .

thanks A & A!!

Israel seen through food

Kai and I went to Israel for 11 days. We had a great time. It was great to see family and wander the streets with no schedule. The food is amazing! Everything is so fresh and grown locally. Israelis don't eat fast food.  Even Starbucks had to close down! I felt so great eating a Mediterrean diet. Here is a link from the Mayo Clinic on the benefits of such a diet.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/CL00011
I had no dairy (they tend to eat soft cheeses which i don't like). I ate lots of hummus, tahini, falafels, freshly made pitas, bourekas and baked goods. We also had tons and tons of salads; red and white cabbage, cucumber and tomato, carrot, beet, corn, eggplant, plus hummus, tahini and babaganoush.  Often in restaurants they would bring out about 15 salads plus dishes and I would feast on these! Then they come by and ask what you want for the main course and I would pass as I was stuffed. There are also juice bars everywhere!  Amazing. I drank a fresh juice daily with some highlights being; mango/lemon/melon, carrot/celery/beet/apple/ginger, watermelon/mint and the surprise shake when i would just ask them to make me something good!  

 juice bar

 yet another juice bar

 BEST hummus from Abu Hassan in Jaffo. Google this place and you will find endless tales of this place. When asking a local woman for directions and about the hummus, she replied it's like something from the heavens!

 the endless toppings to falafels; cabbage, carrots, olives, pickles, cucumber and tomato salads, tahini

 fresh burekas

 fresh bread! israelis never buy bread in a pre-packaged bag

 my heavenly juice

 nuts as a healthy snack! you find these kiosks everywhere.

traditional israels breakast; eggs with green onions, cream cheese, tuna, salad, olives, freshly baked bread, freshly squeezed juice

now i am hungry!

grade 2.

he was all set and excited to enter grade 2. off he went without looking back. this is the same kid that used to cry when i left his side. i know i have said it before but it seems as though he was just born and now he acts like a pre-teen that constantly says 'seriously'. he is sweet, clever and feisty. oh dear.....