16/52

another week with che and fidel

lunch today...

every few weeks i have some of my girlies over for lunch. there are usually a few kids playing about and we try to enjoy a cup of warm tea, a quick chat and a plate full of healthy goodness.

they usally look like this.....

 quinoa and lentils

 green beans, cucumbers and cilantro

 grated carrots and beets

 avocado

 all put together! (with this delicious tahini dressing i make- tahini, lemon, garlic, cilantro, water to thin it out and then i blend it with the hand blender....so tasty!)

 even the wee one likes it!

how did you get so big, so fast?

sprouts

i used to make sprouts years ago, before the children, when i had time.
sprouts are super healthy for you. rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants, an excellent source of enzymes, and easy to digest
ewan really loves sprouts, but i never buy them from the store as they tend to look moldy on the bottom.
i had bought this pack of seeds a few months back, but never got around to it.
ewan, started making them again and they are so easy to make. it's a bit of a sprouting factory over here now. thought i would share it with you.

 i used to buy the seeds in bulk from the health food store ie. red clover, alfalfa, fennel, lentil etc. or you can buy them prepackaged like this one!

 soak for 6-8 hours covered with a cheesecloth (or mesh)

 drain the soaked water. rinse the seeds twice daily and place on a 45 degree angle

ready in 4 days! and they are tasty!

15/52

the 52 project with Che and Fidel

Aidan: reading to his sister, such a sweet and cool guy

Bella: last week I could see the teenager in aidan, and now in her. 

Kai: we've got a walker! love the drunken sailor....

14/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." with Che and Fidel

A: we gave him our old mp3 and i can almost see the teenager in him. 

B: remember finger spacing?? 

K: i love the look of concentration as he does his first "drawing". 

musical beds.

ewan and i realized early on that we needed to have an extra bed for one of us to go sleep in (usually him), depending on the situation.

part of it is, i would basically like to sleep in a warm cave. i want it dark and quiet. he, like most men, could sleep, anywhere.
i was in school and had long, long days and lots and lots of tests. he would stay up late and come to bed and disturb my sleep. we would argue. instead he slept in a separate bed. problem solved.

then we had kids and he continued to stay up late and so he continued to sleep in the "other" bed. sometimes i would disappear in the middle of the night and he would find me in the spare bed. no biggie. i had slept well and that is all i needed.

over the years people gave us slack. don't get me wrong, we still sleep in the same bed, but about 2-3 times per week we each get our own bed.  and it is wonderful!

well, just the other day i read this article in the Toronto Star how people get better sleep when they sleep alone!  how it is better for you health, your mood and i do believe, relationships.
so take a quick read and tell me what you think!

another muffin....

i got this receipe from this blog happy herbivore

they tasted like apple pie. the kids did not like the chunks of apple. but i did!

1.5 cups flour (i used 1/2 spelt, 1/2 whole wheat)

1/2 cup rolled oats

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

pinch of nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup appl, diced

1/4 cup maple syrup or agave

chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease muffin tin or spray paper liners to prevent sticking and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices together until well combined. Add applesauce, sugar and maple syrup or agave, then stir until almost combined. Add apples, stirring until just combined. Spoon into muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle additional oats and brown sugar over top if desired. Bake 18-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

i ❤ macaroons

passover is the time for macaroons! i made these last weekend and now that all has settled in this house i could post them now! i love macaroons and this recipe is easy and delicious and is from good ol' martha stewart!

Martha Stewart’s Chocolate Chunk Macaroons
3/4 cup of sugar (i used 1/2 cup)
2½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut
2 large egg whites
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine sugar, coconut, egg whites, chocolate chips, vanilla and salt. Use your hands to mix well, completely combining ingredients.
Form 1½ tablespoons of mixture into a loose haystack shape and place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture, placing macaroons about 1 inch apart.
Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove baking sheet and let macaroons cool slightly. Best served warm from the oven but can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days; leave in a warm place for an hour before serving to allow chocolate to soften.

before going in the oven

and after....notice how quickly 1 disappeared!

13/52

me and the boys have been ridden with illness this week. the wee one first had a fever then an upset tummy and then a cough and cold combo. Aidan had some quick GI bug and after a few good vomiting sessions felt better. I was achy, nauseous and tired (like, always!) for one day. thankfully, we are all bettter today!!

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."with Jodi from Che and Fidel

A: napping after a bout of a stomach bug. 

B: happy her baby brother (`Jo Jo`, what she has named him....) is feeling better and back to being cheerful

K: a miserable week indeed!

I missed last week as we had passover at my parents and I forgot our camera there. I finally, got it back this week. 

This sums up 12/52