Things that are unusual

This conversation happens at least every other week.  It is the conversation that happens when I have to be very creative with Cora's lunch.  Usually it happens on a Monday when we have been away for the weekend.  This weekend we visited some very special friends and had a fantastic time.  It lasted a bit longer than it should have which meant there was no bread made for her PB and honey sandwich that  gets tucked in her lunchbox each morning.  Being vegetarian tends to cut out most items on the school menu and I rather enjoy making her lunch and knowing exactly what goes in her tummy each day.  Sometimes I can be creative and overfill her lunchbox with nourishing foods that will fill the void of the missing sandwich.  Other times her lunchbox looks like a confused monkey packed it.  My hope is that any adult that may see inside, assumes that my well meaning husband packed that day.  Like the time he forgot to close her water bottle and it made soup of her lunch.  Anyway, Cora is not always thrilled with these pieced together meals.  It is a favorite moment of mine when I get to ask her at the end of the day how her lunch was.  Today was a special treat.

Me: How was your lunch?
Cora: That pear was hilarious!
Me: Why?  It was just a pear.
Cora: I showed it to Anna and she laughed so hard.
Me: But it was just a pear.
Cora: YEAH BUT IT HAD A LEAF ON IT!
Me: Well that's because it grows on a tree, you knew that right?  And trees have leaves so sometimes there are leaves still on the stem. 
Cora: Well yes.... but it was unusual. 
Me: Unusual huh?
Cora: Yup, unusual.

I am still not sure if I should be alarmed.  I spend so much time teaching her where her foods come from, cooking everything possible form scratch, grow as much of our food as possible and she still was surprised to see a leaf on her pear.  My first thought was 'some vegetarian!'.  My second thought was 'She said unusual!'  I'm pretty sure she's doing okay in the smarts department. 

Gardening

The Gardens are almost finished.  This is the hard part when I have to drag the hose all the way out there everyday and wait for what seems like years to eat that first salad.  I went heavy on the lettuce and greens this year because of the shade.  I have no idea how things will grow but I had to at least try. 

Right now we have:
Escarole
Green leaf lettuce
Red leaf lettuce
Butterhead Lettuce
Spinach
Beets
Chard
Cabbage
Kohlrabi
Acorn squash
Butternut squash
Cherry tomatoes
Yellow tomato
Heirloom 'Mortgage Lifter' Tomato
Kentucky wonder pole beans
And hopefully I can sneak some kale plants in somewhere. 

I have very high hopes for this little veggie garden.  It is very important to me to grow food for my family.  Knowing that I had control over what is was fed and where it was grown and all the things that make me crazy when I pick up a bag of greens at the market.  I know that it is the best I can give them.  Even if they look at it, scowl and remind me that they hate it and one time they threw up when they ate.  It is still worth it. 

That's Momsense

Cora invited me to a very special Mother's Day gathering called "That's Momsense" on Friday.  Each child left the classroom and took their mom by the hand, led her to her seat, and handed her a tissue.  They sang, the signed, they even had poems to share.  It was the cutest thing!  The kids were so sincere and it felt so amazing to be sitting there, as a mom of such an awesome child.  She turned on the cute and I know she was waiting for the tears, luckily she didn't have to wait long as I was, of course, the first to raise the tissue to her eye. Obviously, this is where I say it's because she is the cutest thing ever birthed.   Just when they are big enough that you forget they have the ability to be cute, they show you up and down and back again.  Have I mentioned how much I adore her teacher?  She is the teacher that you wish you could some how have every year for all eternity.  We even have the same Birkenstock!  I will be very sad to see this year end, she was an amazing advocate for Cora.  It is a great feeling when your child draws a picture for her teacher so often that we have started a folder at home as to not overwhelm her limited picture hanging space.  We have also had to ask her to stop picking our neighbors flowers to bring to her each day.  Her hippie sandals will be very hard shoes to fill.  Thanks for such a great day Cora and Ms. B!

Sunshine makes everything better

Sitting in the sun, folding sun dried laundry with a sun loving kid.  I have to say that this weather makes for some chipper people in this house.  Somehow the long days of being a stay at home mom are shortened immeasurably when you get to be outside.  I feel less stressed by all the little messes and the piles of laundry and toilets needing to be scrubbed.  That is most likely because I am outside, not looking at them.  But it works.  We are all so happy to be done with the cold winter and are willing to take the seemingly constant rain for a hint of sun every once in a while.

Things that are sewn

 

The Tea Party set was made from Emmeline this past holiday.  I followed the tutorial at Prudent Baby and was so impressed with how easy it was to put together.  Great instructions made the project a treat to make.  I have yet to figure out a better drawstring option that allows her to set it up without assistance.  I love that it is self contained and a quick clean up.  I highly recommend this project for any one who wants to jazz up pretend time.  

For the tummy

Bread is always a winner in my book.  I started making our families bread about two years ago on the day that Cora started kindergarten.  I needed something to take my mind away from the fact that my little bird had left the safe home school environment that she was used to.  I knew she was ready.  She knew she was ready.  I was not ready.  So I baked.  Here is the recipe for the multi-purpose dough that I love most.  Thank dear friend Liz for passing this along.

Darn Good Dough
1 c warm water
1/4 c coconut oil
2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp molasses
3 c. flour (any combo)
2 Tsp yeast. (i use dry active)
I also like to add about a half cup of seeds to the dough for some extra nutrition.  I use hemp, chia, sesame, poppy and sunflower. 

If you are using a bread machine put the water on the bottom and the yeast on the top.  If using your hands than i suggest proofing the yeast before beginning.  I believe the key is a nice sticky dough that is kneaded for about 15 to 20 minutes.  This gives the glutens time to soak up all that liquid.  Rise once in the bowl and transfer the tightly tucked and rolled dough into a well oiled bread pan.  I prefer stoneware.  Let rise until when poked, it does not spring back.  Bake 400 degrees until internal temp reaches 190 degrees.  Completely cool no matter how mach you want to eat the warm bit of heaven that is fresh baked bread. 
I also use this for my roll; both burger and dinner. 

A bonus For the Tummy!

Grape and Rosemary Foccacia
dough listed above
1 c sliced grapes(organic!)
2 Tbsp chopped rosemary
olive oil
salt and pepper
hard cheese of choice

After one rise, roll out the dough on a sheet covered with parchment.  Press grapes into the surface and sprinkle the rosemary, salt, pepper and oil over the top.  Bake at 400 degrees until it starts to brown.  Add some grated cheese( i use a blend of locatelli and fontina) and cook until brown and the center reaches 190 degrees. About 25 minutes.  Cut and smile. 

Saturday Spent Resting

Saturdays should be simple.  A day when you do the things you love.  Homebrewing, fruit salad and lots of time spent in one place.  That place is the kitchen.