Vegetable Lentil Soup The benefits of language school

For YK, who enjoys with me all the side benefits of Korean School

Every Saturday, I rouse the kids up early, get them changed and washed up, feed them breakfast, and load them in the car so that I can drive 30 minutes to their Korean school.  Its a lot of work and the whining and general unhappiness that accompanies this trip down is not entirely easy but I carry on and push through and get Children to Korean school without fail, every single Saturday.  This isnt even counting the stress I undergo receiving countless emails regarding homework (three different kids in three different classes just means a lot of emails) and having to actually SUPERVISE and have Children COMPLETE the homework.   A lesser mother might quit taking their kids, given the sheer resistance that Children put up, but I cant give up Korean school and its not for the reasons that you think.

Of course there are tremendous benefits to Children in learning a foreign language and the mother tongue that both Husband and I speak.  We want Children to be able to read and write in Korean and be able to communicate with Grandparents easily in Korean.  We wish and hope for them to be bilingual and comfortable speaking more than one language.  Thats a compelling reason to send Children to Korean school, but on many days, like today, its not the driving force behind why I get behind the wheel and grit my teeth against the complaints and get Children to Korean school.

On a day, like today, the reason I could bear all the noise on the way to Korean school is because I knew that once they were in Korean school, I would have time.  FOR ME.  And while time for me can look like a variety of things like time in front of the computer, or time blogging, or time organizing the house and cooking, time for me on Korean school days is different;  Im far enough away from home that going back doesnt make sense, which means that for almost three hours I HAVE to find something to do.  Something that I want to do.  Something for me.

Sometimes best friend YK (whose child also receives the tremendous benefits of Korean school) and I get a pedicure.  Sometimes we grab brunch.  Sometimes we get errands done, but today was not about any of those things.  Today was about time for us.  We went to a cafe, got a coffee, cozied down on a table; she on her laptop, I with my book and we settled in for two and a half hours of uninterrupted quiet time.  I did not answer the phone; I did not look at the computer. I actually had time to sit and read straight through a novel Im planning on teaching my students next.  I took notes, had time to reflect, and I got to enjoy sitting outside in the sun with best friend and not having to talk or do anything except just be.

Now, Ill never let Children know that I send them to Korean school so that I can benefit, but I assure you, if you dont have your kids in some sort of Saturday language program, they (ahem - YOU) are really missing out.

After Korean school today, after Childrens torture and my mini-vacation, I came home and fed Children this soup, steaming and perfectly in line with fall.  With crusty pieces of bread, or a warm sandwich, it signaled the end of both their schooling and my respite.

Vegetable Lentil Soup

Serves 8

Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups diced onions
3 cups diced carrots
3 cups diced celery
½ cup white wine (optional)
14 oz can crushed or diced tomatoes
2 quarts chicken stock or vegetable stock
? cup dried lentils (I used red split lentils from Trader Joes)
1 cup chopped basil
2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
salt and pepper
parmesan cheese for sprinkling as garnish (optional)

Method
Heat oil in a heavy pot over medium high heat.  Add onions, carrots, and celery all at once.  Add a good pinch of salt and pepper to season the vegetables.  Saute until onions are translucent and carrots and celery are beginning to become tender, about 6 minutes.  Add wine and cook for an additional minute until wine has evaporated.  Add tomatoes, chicken stock and lentils all at once.  Bring to a simmer and reduce heat, cooking until lentils are tender.  The tenderness of the lentils WILL depend on the type of lentils you use.  Split lentils cook the fastest, and will be tender in about 20 minutes.  Whole lentils will take much longer to become tender, closer to 40 minutes.

Printable recipe

And with a bite of this, Im thinking about next weeks class.

Read More..

Day 15 of my hCG diet protocol

Weigh in today, 233 pounds down 2.5 pounds from yesterday!

Feeling strong knowing that I am almost done with the low calories part!

Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 24 ounces coffee.

Lunch: Beef and cabbage soup, Apple, Diet coke.

Dinner: Pork and roasted peppers, over spouted wheat bread, small orange.

Read More..

Pumpkin Scones with Brown Butter Glaze the object of desire

My book fair team and I took on the job of keeping the book fair up and running for a week, in order to raise money for our school library.  Its a job Ive done for the past 5 years, and one that I really enjoy, mostly because I love to talk to kids about books.  I run around, talk about book titles, encourage kids to try books out beyond an interesting cover, and give mini book talks to as many people will listen, in order to promote the reading of books.  There were a couple of not so great incidents this year, including a mom pointing (literally) her finger at me, when I wouldnt do what she wanted, and a young boy who shoplifted, and the other boy who insisted on coming in repeatedly asking for a book that we didnt have and wasnt going to get.

But the funnier aspect of this book fair, came in the form of the book Sisters.  I knew it was going to be the hot item of the book fair, especially since it had just come out in August.  I knew kids would be excited to read it, buy it, own it, only I underestimated the "hotness" of the book.  The first day of the fair, Friday, we opened, and before lunch I placed my first restock for 10 more copies.  The first 30 sold out in a day, and I promised a long string of girls that Id be "getting more" very very soon. The weekend passed, and I didnt really think much about it.

However, when we opened on Monday, I saw a long string of girls come in and ask if I had Sisters.  Sweetly I reminded them that Id be getting more, but I just didnt have any at the moment.  They all patiently walked away and I called out after them, "Im supposed to get some more before the end of school!  See you then!"  I received my shipment, placed them on the shelf, and braced myself for the after school rush.

What I experienced was like being a rock star or some movie star where people want your autograph.  I was mobbed by girls and boys alike, all clamoring for a copy of the book.  I passed them out, first come first serve, disappointing many when I quickly ran out.  I cleverly came up with the idea of looking in the hold boxes for the teachers for some more, and suddenly a mob of girls closed in on me saying, "ME!  Its mine, its mine its mine!!!"  At the end of that Monday afternoon sales hour, I felt as if I had many people pulling and tugging at my clothing, all vying for a piece of me.  In reality all they wanted was the book, but still, I felt intensely drained.  That book was a serious object of desire.

As Ive been baking a lot while on vacation, I decided to take on pumpkin scones.  Mostly it was kind of a casual experiment, as I had those many cans of pumpkin in my kitchen, and I just wanted to test some things out. However, as those in my neighborhood heard of my pumpkin scone, I received numerous texts and requests for one or more of the scones.  I discovered that the primary pumpkin scone purveyor, Starbucks, was no longer making them.  (Maybe your local Starbucks will, but ours in the Bay Area do not.)  I had people offering to buy them from me, some for their son, some for their mom, and one guy came over walking his dog, begging for one for his pumpkin-scone-starved family members.  I was inundated with request, but in this case it worked out, because the recipe I created makes 16 scones, and no family should eat 16 scones in a single sitting.

Once again, I designed the recipe to USE UP AN ENTIRE CAN OF PUMPKIN, because I do not like the remnant pumpkin in the can situation.  It actually drives me crazy when I get in that situation. The scone is tender and moist, with the fragrance of all those amazing spices we associate with fall. The brown butter icing is a favorite with everyone, and with a black cup of coffee - it is an object of desire.  Take your time making these, and enjoy the experience, because once they are ready, youll be deluged with requests for your presence scones.

Pumpkin Scones with Brown Butter Glaze
Makes 16 scones

Scone Ingredients
4 ½  cups all-purpose flour
?  cup packed brown sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon baking soda
½  teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter cut into one inch cubes
2 eggs
15 oz can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
¼ cup of milk, possibly more IF your dough is too dry

Scone Method
In a large bowl of a mixer, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.  Add cut butter.  Turn the mixer on low and allow the mixer to cut the butter into the flour, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 2 minutes.   In another bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin and ¼ cup milk. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead gently 10 to 12 times, until dough comes together.   Divide dough in half.  Pat each portion into an 8-in. circle and cut into 8 wedges.  Repeat with the other section of dough.  Separate wedges and place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush with milk.

Bake at 400° for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to from pan to cool on racks.  Once scones are fully cool, make glaze.

Glaze Ingredients
1 stick (8 tablespoons butter)
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 5 tablespoons whole milk (will vary based on desired consistency)

Glaze Method
In a heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium high heat, until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Carefully pour melted butter into a bowl, leaving excess sediment behind.

Add confectioners sugar, vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons milk and whisk together until uniform and smooth.  If glaze is still too thick, add more milk and whisk again, until desired consistency.  A runny glaze is easier to smooth everywhere but doesn’t set up as easily as a slightly stiffer glaze.  Choose accordingly.

Use glaze immediately.  Dip scones face tops down, lift and hold over bowl, allowing dripping.  Turn over and place on a cooling rack over a tray to catch any residual drips.  Serve with coffee.

Printable recipe

Objects of desire

Read More..

Day 9 of my 6 week hCG protocol using fastbrophcg com sublingual product

Weigh in this morning 237 down 1 whole pound from yesterday!

Running late did not have time to get my lunch together subway salad to the rescue!

Breakfast: 24 ounce coffee, 1 orange.

Lunch: Subway spinach stake salad, With 1 TBS of raspberry vinaigrette, 1 small Apple.

Dinner: Turkey burger protein style no bun wrapped in lettuce, with tomato and pickle mustered and catchup. 

Only 9 cups of water today, 4 cups of coffee, 

Hunger was fine all day today no problem today may have over steeped with the dressing but we will see tomorrow.   

Read More..

Turkey Arugula Meatballs gluten dairy egg free The end of an era

Since 2004, with the birth of Daughter #1, I have been non-stop with diapers.  For the past nearly-nine years, I have had in some way shape or form diapers on one, or two, and at one point, three children.

However, and Im a bit scared Im about to jinx it, I think that my diaper time is over.  I think Son is finally out of his nighttime diaper.  For the past 10 days, hes been waking up to a dry diaper, so last night he said he wanted to try not wearing one and this morning he woke up dry.  He asked to try again, stating, "Its much more comfortable not sleeping with it on," and its faster getting to bed so I allowed him to try again.

Hopefully I wont be writing another post to the contrary of what Ive said here, but I do feel it is an end to the era.  Although the diapers only took up one moment of my evening and a quick check in the morning, it is a signal of something far crazier - a time where I will no longer be buying diapers and dealing with "baby" stuff.  The last one, my last baby is no longer that, but now grown up.

Today I picked up Son, held him in my arms the way I used to when he was a baby, only now he overflowed out of my arms, legs dangling, with barely his torso making it into the lock of my arms, and he asked, "What are you doing Mom?"

"Im holding you one last time like the baby I remember you as."

"But Im not a baby anymore.  I dont even wear diapers now," he announced proudly.

I practically burst into tears at how quickly time has flown.  But I know that its all good and environmentally wonderful that hes no longer using the diapers, (not to mention a $20 savings each month that I may put towards something completely frivolous like chocolate!) but still - I wish, I just wish they could stay babies for a little bit longer.

Who knows, maybe hell regress and Ill be ranting about how he cant get OUT of his diapers, but for now, Ill mourn a little at the loss of my baby.

In honor of Sons accomplishments, I decided to make something that he loves - pasta.  Ive made meatballs for him before, without egg and milk  but wanted to experiment with more gluten free and dairy free options for my friends who are still struggling with their gluten intolerance.  These meatballs are herbaceous, delicious, light and tender (because of all the herbs and arugula) and are flavorful just in tomato sauce on their own.  Ive also roasted cauliflower and served it with roasted cauliflower for a completely gluten and grain free option.

Turkey Arugula Meatballs (gluten, dairy, egg free)
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
2 cups arugula leaves
1/2 cup basil leaves
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
1 lb ground turkey
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

1 jar or a quart of your favorite tomato sauce.

Method
In a food processor chop onion, arugula, basil until finely chopped.  Combine onion arugula basil mixture with garlic, turkey, salt and pepper.  Mix with hands.  Roll turkey into 24 to 30 ping pong sized meatballs.  (Meatballs will be less firm than other meatballs as there is no egg or wheat to help pull things together.  However, be gentle when cooking and it’ll be fine.)

Heat tomato sauce in a large pot.  Reduce heat to low.

In a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat, heat olive oil.  Cook meatballs in skillet in batches, leaving enough room to turn meatballs to brown the sides.  10 minutes per batch of meatballs.  Add meatballs to simmering sauce and partially cover pot.  Continue cooking meatballs in tomato sauce for an additional 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with your choice of pasta or for a totally new option, roasted cauliflower.

Printable recipe

seeking and finding some solace in this plate of food

Read More..

Pasta with Sausage Broccolini and Garlic A Year Supply of Pasta Giveaway!

The folks over at Golden Grain Pasta generously offered to send me 8 boxes of their new Hidden Veggie Pasta, and also offered to sponsor a giveaway of years supply of pasta (2 boxes of pasta a month -24 boxes total) for one lucky reader!  I couldnt turn down such an opportunity to try pasta, which is one of Familys absolute favorite meals, so I asked them to send me my sample!

Although the pasta does have some vegetables in it (carrots and squash), it isnt enough for me in terms of providing my family an adequate mix of protein, vegetables, and starch.  Time is always short in my house so I wanted to make a one pot pasta.  I decided to make one that used the vegetables that are dark green, broccolini, with some yummy Italian sausage and garlic.  The end result was a meal that everyone enjoyed and gobbled down.  The recipe has a dairy free option, which uses more chicken stock, and a dairy option which uses some heavy cream.  Both versions are very delicious.

Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini
Serves 6

Ingredients
1 box of Golden Grain Hidden Vegetable Pasta (or your choice of another pasta)
1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casing removed, roughly chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 cloves of garlic, minced or through a press
¼ chicken stock
1 lb broccolini, chopped into 1 inch pieces
¼ cup heavy cream or chicken stock (depends if you want it to be dairy free)
3 tablespoons of basil, finely chopped
¼  cup Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Method
Boil water for pasta. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

In the same pot, over medium heat, add olive oil and sausages. After sausages are browned, add garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add chicken stock and broccolini. Cover and cook until broccolini is slightly tender and bright green about 5 minutes.

Toss in pasta, and toss together well.  Finish with cream or additional chicken stock.  Add basil and serve.  Pass Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top.

Printable recipe

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More..

Day 21 of my hCG diet protocol

This is the last day of the vary low calories, I get to eat some food tomorrow yea!

Weigh in 231.5 pounds no loss from yesterday.

Breakfast: 1/2 grape fruit and sprouted wheat bread, 24 ounces of coffee.

Lunch: Chicken salad on celery, 1 apple.

Dinner: imitation crab salad, with 1 egg white.

12 cups of water, 3 cups of coffee.

Read More..

Day 7 of week week hCG protocol

 Day 7 of my 6 week hCG protocol.

Weight in 238.8 pounds, 1.7 pounds from yesterday! 

Breakfast: 24 ounces of black coffee with Stevia sweetener, 1/2 Grapefruit.

 Lunch: 3 ounces of canned chicken breast, half cup diced celery, chopped onion,  2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar.

Dinner: 4 ounces flank steak, 1 cup of steamed broccoli with lemon. 

Dessert: 1 midsize Apple.

Today was really hard felt hungry most of the day one reason may be that I wasn’t drinking enough water today.Was really craving something sweet all day!

Read More..

Day 27 of my hCG diet protocol

Weigh in today 231 pounds feeing good this may be my base line this time around. I will try to hold this wight going into a standard work out and diet regiment.

Breakfast: Protein barry smoothie,

Lunch: Chicken veggie bowl, fruit salad.

Dinner: 8 oz steak, roasted asparagus.

12 cups of water and 3 cups of coffee.    

Read More..

The Art of Leftovers Marketing packaging marketing packaging

Im notoriously diligent about eating up leftovers in my house.  By eating up, I mean that food gets consumed, and I try to spread that burden to more than just me.  Everyone in our house shares in the leftover consumption.  This evening for example, I pretty much depleted the rest of the leftovers that I had left from the week and now tomorrow, I get to start afresh building my stock of leftovers.

Im lucky as I have Husband who isnt opposed to consuming leftovers, especially if they are the ones that he likes.  He needs a steady supply of Korean food, so I always have some sort of gook, or kimchi something, ready in the fridge so that I can provide a Korean meal for him at a moments notice.  Children also are very good at eating reheated soups, reheated pastas, and leftover chicken and vegetables.  Im lucky that no one protests too vehemently against the leftovers.

But Im also very very diligent at keeping leftovers looking their best.  No one likes to be scraping the bottom of the bowl to finish off leftovers, and no one likes the feeling that the leftovers are just that - leftovers. You can change the perception of a leftover through careful marketing and packaging which is what I do.

I regularly repackage leftovers.  Instead of eating from the same container until youre picking out the dregs, I tend to move food into smaller containers as we consume more of it and less is left.  I always use a clean dry spoon to do the movement and I always move it into a clean dry container.

Here are some examples of how the food looks different after you move them into smaller containers.

Chili

Rice Porridge

Brownie (Okay to be truthful, this probably doesnt need to be moved around to be consumed, but it does look much cuter in the smaller container...more decadent and more special.)

I wish I had a great picture of my fridge with a bunch of single serving portions laid out, but alas, this week, I forgot to take the picture on Saturday before we ate them all up.

Ideally, you want to be able to have single servings of a variety of leftovers so that people can pick and choose their choice of leftover to help you eat out the fridge.  Placing them in microwaveable glass dishes with sealing lids is also advantageous.  It LOOKS better.  A bowl with a bunch of food in it, haphazardly covered with some saran wrap just isnt that appetizing.  One that is placed in a glass, tightly locked lid, is far more appealing.  If someone gets the munchies (Husband) you can easily offer him one of three choices of things to eat, and he can easily consume another neatly packaged leftover.  Its like a tidy little meal.

Saturday lunch is my favorite day to pull out all my single servings and to eat up what we have.  I dont cook, we pull out the leftovers, and as a family collectively enjoy the food that was cooked carefully on another day.  No one complains, because there is some choice, and everyone gets a little bit of something they like.

I hear the protests - Joanne, all those extra dishes, all those containers.  This method isnt for everyone.  I know.  The act of washing additional containers may not be desired.  However, I can honestly say that we consume all of the food that I cook in my house and everyone participates in the leftover consumption.  Its definitely worth a try if youre willing.

Here are my choice of glass containers.  These are handy because they have some great "single portion" sizes, completely with a lid so you are ready to go.

Read More..

The Sounds Of Soreness

Hello friends!

I lost 8/10 a pound this morning for almost three pounds lost in two days.

I thought of this title while breastfeeding Mr. Lovely, who by the way will have his photo taken tomorrow.

Anyway...I digress...there are the sounds of soreness in our happy home.

You know...like when youve been sitting for awhile and you move to get up and those squats you did the other night remind you how hard you worked them. So, you groan out loud in response. Your legs feel a little heavier in the walk up the stairs because your calves are sore from running.

But Im not the only one making soreness sounds.

Our daughter, Darling Rose is making them.

Daddy Rainmaker is making them. He just started at the gym on Monday. So, two days after his leg work-out, he mentioned to me for the third time how sore his legs are.

Nobody wants to get up and get anything because their legs are sore.

The arms are sore too. Darling Rose laments over the arms and abs.

But I dont mind too much that we are all sore. In fact, I usually just smile to myself and revel in the fact that our family is working out. We are all sharing something in common...

soreness. ha!

My daughter is even eating a clean diet with me and is already sick of eating eggs. I told her that she has to be patient with the menu because its also the first week back homeschooling after being off for ten days during Christmas break and thats a lot for me to think about.

Tonight I ran 2 1/2 miles, did a 35 minute chest and triceps work-out, and abs and took in 1,745 calories.

So, three days down of working out...two more to go!

Keep up the good work everyone!

Sincerely,
Sunshine Mama

Read More..

Countdown End of school year preparations and Momento App Giveaway!

If youre like me, youre counting down the days until the end of the school year, not necessarily because youre looking forward to it (heh) but maybe because, like me, youre looking for a hot air balloon to whisk you away before things become too intense.

The countdown to the last day of school is typically so insane, filled with end of school year activities, parties, celebrations, and last minute scheduling of EVERYTHING before kids are fully yours for the summer.  Our countdown happens to be longer than 30 days, but were at a year round school, so Im guessing that most of you are at fewer than 30 days.  (In case any of you are wondering how I created that cool countdown above - I found a super fun app called "MOMENTO" and it allows you to create fun little countdowns.)

It becomes the time of year that we begin thinking about how we honor our teachers, and believe me Im thinking the same thing.  Ive got a little plan in works with my friend over at Sillie Smile, and hopefully in a few days well have a fun and neat project for you to do for your teachers.  Im thinking some yummy cookies (if I could only perfect my popcorn cookie) as well as some movie tickets or coffee gift cards.  For me, the most important thing that teachers do (this includes me of course) is RELAX and not think of students and just rest their brains after a grueling school year. I like to give them things that will allow them to do this - hence this years idea of movie tickets and coffee.  (If only I could guarantee they arent going to run into students at the theater - because when I was teaching, I always ran into mine.)

 This was the first round of something I tried, and it is going in the direction I wanted, but isnt complete.  Ill come up with something a bit cuter I think in the coming week or so.

Giveaway details!
And for a little bit of fun - the creators behind Momento are allowing me to give away 4 free apps! In the essence of time, Im just going to give them to the first four people who leave a comment below.  Be advised, Momento is currently ONLY for iOS, so if youre not on an iphone, its not as useful.  In the comments, please let me know what is one thing youre counting down right now!  The first four commenters, Ill be emailing you a redemption code and instructions!

If you want to buy the app, after I have my first four winners, click here.

Read More..

Happy Thursday!!! 6 Month Pictures of Morning Glory

Its the moment youve all been waiting for.... I figured it out...

How to upload pictures at the library without having the internet at home...

And, of course, we have to start this session with his feet.

Here he is hanging out in some ones lap.

Crying...

A slightly out of focus smiley picture.

Looking down...happy.

Today he fell asleep in the "johnny jumper".

Also, if you look close you can see the scratch on his cheek.

I noticed that today it is lighter...so maybe it will fade away.
Also, Darling Rose took this photo...

And this last photo...

Morning Glory still gets plenty of sleep time during the day.

Yesterday he weighed about 15 1/2 pounds first thing in the morning.

I started feeding him organic, iron fortified brown rice cereal three times a day about two weeks ago. Hes doing well on that. I wish hed gain more weight, but all of our kids tend to be "lightweights".

So, I hope that gives you all some perspective. And, the good news is that I know how to transport pictures, so, maybe I can get picture in more often.

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Sincerely,

Sunshine Mama

Read More..