Sweet Nostalgia

When I was a young middle schooler, I enjoyed the escapades of a pair of beautiful, California-blond twins. Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield were my friends. Yes, I totally related to Elizabeth, the brainy and conservative sister while I wished that I could sometimes do the crazy things Jessica would do. And while I wasn't as big of a fan, I occasionally enjoyed the adventures of The Babysitter's Club.

Today, I found out that the twins are back! There's a new book called Sweet Valley Confidential that brings us to where the twins are ten years later (okay personally, I wish it would have been 15 or 20 years later, because then that would make the twins closer to my age ... but we can't get everything we want.) I immediately had to add it to my queue for the library. And while I am conquering books on my 1001 list (which I'll update soon) I figure I deserve some of the carefree fun and light-hearted controversy the Wakefield girls can provide.

In my googling to find out more about the book ... I happened upon another bit of news ...that Diablo Cody penned the script for the future Sweet Valley movie! Okay, so apparently, this is quite old news, but it was definitely news to me. Of course, D totally doesn't understand why I suddenly got all giddy about this information and just rolled his eyes a bit when I expressed my joy ... but hey, this is coming from a dude who played D&D in high school. Enough said.

Adventures in Food

It's time once again to report on how I'm doing on my self-imposed challenge to make at least one recipe from each issue of Food & Wine. I have to admit, I am really glad I challenged myself to do this. It is really helping me increase my pleasure in every issue. I have to say ... April's issue had me salivating and I think it may be hard to select something ... I may have to conquer something new each weekend.

So, from March's issue, I decided to try something from their article that featured Indian cuisine. With this in mind, I knew I was going into a challenge from if my family would like it. K is pretty open minded, but D is not the world's biggest fan of Indian food. (However, he humours me from time to time because he knows I love it.)

I decided to tackle Sanjeev Kapoor's Parsi-Style Vegetable Stew. I selected this recipe for a couple reasons: 1) it was full of vegetables and, frankly, in this six-month winter, we could use more of those in our diet and 2) it did not contain curry. The reason D doesn't favour Indian food is because he despised curry.

I've learned it's really important to do my mise en place for these recipes. If I want to have flawless execution, I need to be planful. Even though, I have to admit, I needed to improvise a little on this recipe as I thought I had onions ... and didn't and I substituted crushed red chile pepper for the dried red chiles.

 

The result was a mild, but appealing stew. It was a little more brothy than what I think of when I say stew, but it did capture to me the essence of a simple, flavorful dish. While I don't know how often I would go out of my way to make it (okay, the ingredient list is super easy, so not too much to go out of your way for) I won't mind eating the leftovers this week for lunch.

In other adventures ... one of my other favorite mags is Food Network Magazine. And the latest issue has a fantastic article about ten-minute desserts. K and I were looking through it and he spotted a chocolate cream pie. It then became the only thing I heard about for the next few hours. So, I decided to give it a whirl.

You cannot get much easier than this: Beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/3 cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fluffy. Spread in a chocolate cookie crust. Beat 1 cup heavy cream with 2 tablespoons sugar until soft peaks form, then spread over the cream cheese layer. Top with shaved chocolate.

The result was a simple, but delicious dessert that pleased all the men in my house. Yes, we even gave O a tiny taste. I think we are excited to tackle some of the other ten-minute desserts.

I have one more adventure in food to tackle this month, and that is sweet potato donuts. I bought the ingredients, but ran out of time, so I am hoping I can tackle them one night this week or definitely this weekend.



Rojo

Last night my wine club met again. This year we are doing restaurants featuring cuisine from around the world. This month: Mexico. The spot: Rojo Mexican Grill. 

Having just spent a week in Mexico, I was curious what fare I would find to my liking. The menu is not vast, but based on what I've learned from Restaurant Impossible, it is better to have a small menu and do it right than a big menu that is done poorly.

I decided to go with the waiter's recommendation of a cup of corn chowder and the carnitas tacos. The waiter did me well. The corn chowder was excellent, and I probably would have been satisfied with just a bowl of it alone. The flavor was rich, the chicken was just the right amount ... no complaints. The tacos were good ... but nothing this side of spectacular. My cucumber mojito did help the food go down splendidly though. I had tried one of my friend's prickly pear margarita ... and while it was good ... the taste of tequila was just a little too strong for me.

I will definitely say that you can tell it's a place that wants to turn diners fast and is in a shopping environment ... because the food came out quickly and they were fast to give you the bill ... that was the very opposite of my experience in Mexico, where they considerate it rude to bring out your check until you ask for it.

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Since this is the last weekend in March, tomorrow I'll be conquering my monthly Food & Wine challenge, so watch that. And I've crossed off a few more books off the 1001 list, so I need to find time to provide an update on that. Lots is going on ... just want time to download it all!

Vacation for the Mind and Soul

There's definitely something about getting to spend an afternoon floating in salt water to ease the mind. Snorkeling is to me like visiting another realm. You can submerse your head and still breath, you witness life forms that you'd normally never get to see ... and everything is absolutely peaceful and quiet. You can hide from the crazy busy life you lead normally and escape and hide from everything.

It makes me realize the mind and soulneeds to take a break on a more regular basis. It allows you to put life into perspective and enjoy what is around you. The ocean, in it's size and ferociousness, puts nyou in your place. You are merely a spec on this vast planet ... and you might as well just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Delta Don't

I guess in some ways I am glad that apparently taking a baby on an international flight is not as easy as 1 - 2 - 3.  Alas, I wish I would have known it was the ordeal it was. We got to the airport almost three hours before our flight was to depart ... so, it's kind of hard to believe we almost missed the flight. Lesson learned, when taking an infant to Mexico and they are riding on your lap on the plane, you must pay taxes for infant to fly into the country.

We weren't aware of this until after waiting 30 minutes to check-in. Once we got to the check-in counter, the not so very polite woman at the check-in counter rudely told us we needed to go to the ticketing counter and buy O a paper ticket. (Did I mention between us, we had two suitcases, two backpacks, a stroller, a convertible carseat and a booster seat?) Fortunately - while the Delta check-in counter woman was as rude as they come - a different airport employee took sympathy on us.  When we got to the ticketing counter ... it took the woman forever. I am not sure what took so long, and I don't think she knew what took so long either (she was on the phone and looked just as annoyed as we did.) So, after waiting an hour and $150 later, we finally had a paper ticket. Again, another person took pity on us and got us through security quickly so that we could catch our flight.

It was crazy ... we were bogged down ... it looks so easy to book international flights on Amazing Race. The magic of television is clearly very deceptive. Perhaps to make it more complicated, they should do a season all about trying to travel internationally with an infant. That would definitely be a roadblock that would make some teams melt down!

Parent - Teacher Conferences

This morning D and I found ourselves across the table from a very pleasant, smiley woman. She wasn't a stranger, mind you, we've known her for the past year. She was K's preschool teacher ... and we were at our first parent-teacher conferences. (Okay, full disclosure, K had "conferences" when he was at a child care center, but this, this was a real, public school-sanctioned conference.)

She walked us through the assessment, and to no surprise to us commented on his intellectual superiority. The kid is bright she said. His mind moves so fast, you can see the gears turning. But he's also really good about making sure other kids get a turn at answering questions. (Score! That was what she told me he needed to work on in the fall, and so clearly he listened.)

She talked about how well he played with others ... and then she unleashed the story that created the most hilarious visual in my mind. She said that one day he asked the assistant teacher to read him a story. She looked at K and said, "Well, K, you can read, how about you read the story to me?" Of course, he obliged. And apparently as he started to read, other children began to gather around and listen. I'm sorry, but the image of children gathering around K gave me a flash forward to his future presidential campaign. She also commented on how the kid is a master negotiator and tries to make sure he plays with everyone. And that when it comes to dramatic play ... the kids the director and the star. (Hmmm, Clint Eastwood-type or Ben Affleck - I wonder?)

Then of course, the conversation turned to the things we should work with him on. He needs to learn how to write better with crayons (though, he's mastered using a pencil); he needs to practice cutting shapes more; and he needs to be better at communicating his feelings if something is bothering him. She said she notices he sometimes just shuts down. Now, she's not the first person that has made that observation ... but I always have the opposite experience. He tells me how he's feeling all the time, but I've noticed he doesn't like to share it with others. She said that it is a good precursor to ensuring he doesn't get bullied when he goes to school, because bullies may target kids like that because they don't want someone who will tattle on them.

Of course, I immediately knew D began thinking about defensive moves, etc. But it will be my goal this summer to ensure he's expressive to others in addition to me. My favorite part of the conference was the end where she shared videos of K during school. She also commented that they will take more, but then we get a copy at the end of the school year. Watching K play with other kids and being such a big kid was amazing. Every day I am astounded by his ability, his intellect, his compassion and just his love.

And I cannot wait until O is enough and we get to hear how this crazy kid is creating havoc, because that is my prediction. He's a ball of independence who is already sassing back. Of course, he's not using words, but you just know he's sassing, it's ridiculous and ridiculously funny at the same time. I am one lucky mommy.

Seeking Motivation

I need to get back on the workout train. I'm trying to decide if I should do yoga, cardio, strength training or a beautiful delicate balance of all the above. I was gung ho to get back on the running train when the snow was melting ... but then we got another foot of the white powdery fluff dumped on us ... and the projections say there's another huge accumulation heading our way.

I wish that typing on a laptop would burn a few calories ... or working ... then I'd definitely be in great shape!

Priorities - Do Americans Have Them Right?

As a full supporter and user of public transport, I've come to appreciate the tiny pleasures it provides. (Where else would I get a total of 90 minutes a day of reading time - as a working mother of two boys, let me say no where ...) However, one of the true pleasures that I experience that appeals to the voyeur in me is eavesdropping on the conversations around me. Hey, if you choose to talk on your cell phone loudly, you're basically handing me a ticket to the show, right?

The other day on the bus, I overheard the conversation behind me and it really got me thinking. It was a woman talking on her phone, and granted she was talking quietly, so if she hadn't been directly behind me, I may have never been any the wiser. She was frantic as she was talking to who I'm assuming was her husband. She was supposed to pick up their son, but was running behind because the day at work had become hectic and she had let time slip away. How many times has this been me? How many other people on the bus have the same conversation. (Granted, when D and I both worked, I was equally on the giving and receiving end of the conversation.)

Is this just the American work culture? Are we the only crazy culture that has pushed people to screw up their prioritize where work comes before family? I'm ashamed at how many times I've let some work priority take precedence of getting home on time. I want to be there for my boys, my husband. It's time to re-prioritize. I'm also enjoying the work gig at the moment, so it's finding the right balance between giving it all during the work day ... and then giving it all at home ... and then finding time for quality spousal time ... oh, and yeah ... me time. If anyone's got the solution, I'd love to hear it.