Meatless Monday - dessert

I recently bought The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook on a health kick sort of whim. We eat quite healthily, lots of home cooked organic food, but I wanted to take it to the next level and broaden our diet. This book is quite full on (recipes like Millet Porridge and Quinoa and Pea Pilaf, if you get my drift), so we are slowly trying new dishes. One that I made, that was a success with the girls and really yummy was the Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies.

Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies
1 cup raw hazelnuts
1/2 cup raw almonds
1-1.5 cups medjool dates, pitted
1/2 cup almond spread
4-6 TBLSP of cocoa powder (you need the high quality stuff)
shredded coconut

Put almonds and hazelnuts in food processor and process until finely ground.

Add all other ingredients except coconut and repeat.

Press mixture firmly into 8 x 8 inch square baking tin. Sprinkle with shredded coconut. We keep our tin covered in gladwrap in the freezer which makes it less crumbly. It's really delicious and satisfies any sweet tooths out there.

Weekend wrap

It was a lovely weekend, despite some members of the family (including me) still rundown. I went to my trusted naturopath on Friday, and armed with an array of supplements, am hopeful my exhaustion will lift soon.

We took the girls ice skating yesterday, where I quickly learnt some valuable lessons:
1. Some activities are not suitable for 2 and 4 year olds.
2. Ice skating is one of them.
3. Trying to hold on to a 2 year old on ice skates while you balance precariously on your ice skates is frightening stuff.
4. Trying to hold on to a 2 year old on ice skates who is crying, demanding you pick her up and both tired and hungry, while you continue to balance precariously on your ice skates is TERRIFYING!

The up side - Yasmin loved trying ice skating. She is adventurous and loves to try new things. Zahara had about 1 minute of happiness ice skating till she decided she didn't want us to hold her on the ice rink. Luckily I managed to capture that moment on film before things went pear shaped.

Layla, on the other hand, is not interested in trying new things with the same spirit as Yasmin, she is a homebody and creature of comfort who was happy to go to the cafe after 10 minutes of skating for lunch (like me). Layla's take? "Mummy, you, me and Zahara are NEVER going ice skating again." Ice skating is hard enough without trying to hold on to your child. Recommended for 5-6 years and above!

Today I took Yasmin to see Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang which we both loved. We cried and laughed together (I never knew kids could cry from movies!). Also recommended for 6 years and above.

Hope you had a lovely weekend
xxx

What happens when you leave a 2 year old alone... Part 2

Oh yes, it happened again. This time, perched halfway inside a hallway cupboard that remarkably houses both birdseed and dinner platters, Zahara struck again. With some homemade lipgloss that Yasmin made at a birthday party, Zahara slathered her face until she looked like the bearded lady.

And don't let the bags under her eyes fool you...this 2 year old hasn't had a nap for weeks (except at creche of course). All that cream slathering and no napping makes for a very LLOOOOOOOOOOONNNNGGGGG day.

What happens when you leave a 2 year old alone...

A little lesson for all of us, even me, a seasoned third time mum. This is what I call, 'the price to pay'. The price to pay for getting your parents to babysit - the kids waiting up for you when you get home. The price to pay for taking your kids on a roadtrip - lollypops and meltdowns.

The price to pay for sneaking off downstairs to finish a lunchbox and leaving your 2 year old unsupervised for 5 minutes? Half a tub of moisturiser on your 2 year old's face and hands. The bonus? A soft little smiling face and two sisters almost peeing in their pants and screaming.

How to look after a little sickie

We are all a little rundown at the moment, so the mid term school break couldn't have come at a better time. Zahara woke up with low temperature today, and with everyone sniffling and sneezing...well, the emergency chicken soup was already cooking on our stove by 10am.

Here's what we do when we have little sickies in our house:

Drinks and Food
- Lots of Rooibos tea with Manouka honey. Soothing for sore little throats and keeps everyone hydrated.
- Chicken soup, chicken soup, chicken soup. Soothing, warming and nourishing.
- As well, I like to give my kids any other soups when they are sick as they are more nourishing, contain more fluids and easier to eat and digest than food like sandwiches
- Natural juice icy poles are also handy to keep fluids up.

Activities at home
- Keep things quiet. Books, puzzles and low key playing at home.
- I might allow some playing on the computer too if needed. (Yasmin loves Moshi Monsters.)
- If the sun is shining and it's not windy, some fresh air in your own garden can feel nice after being stuck inside all day.
- Play School (or any other kids DVD) is a wonderful thing. Looking after sick kids is draining on mums (and usually involves carrying the sickie all day) so this gives everyone a break. Watching TV has to be one of the few perks of being sick for kids!

TLC
- Dummies and comforters are available when wanted (or needed).
- Give Panadol before each sleep.
- Extra vitamin C and any other supplement or vitamin you can get into your kid. And take some for you too while you're at it.
- Make sure you get plenty of rest too...otherwise you might be next!

Hope everyone is healthy in your house!

Layla's 4th Birthday

Like I said a while ago, May is a busy month for us. This past weekend we celebrated Layla's 4th Birthday. Our parties are not huge, some friends from kinder and cousins and family, at home with homemade food, homemade decorations and homemade take home bags. This is all lovely as we enjoy the process of preparing for the party as much as the party itself. But now, I am pooped!

It was lovely but truthfully, having Zahara's birthday only two weeks ago, I'm glad it's over.

In any case, here are my party principles:

1. We don't invite the whole class or even just the girls from the class. The girls are allowed to pick 3-6 friends. This plus two siblings and four cousins is plenty.

2. We handmake our invitations, decorations and take home bags. We do this because
- the girls can all be involved in the birthday celebrations and feel a part of it
- their handiwork is proudly displayed during the party
- it gives us something to do after school
- I want to teach them that you don't always have to buy things, you can make beautiful things (that aren't perfect) at home.

3. Parties are in our own home. This is because I like to do things my way and also because it's just nicer and more intimate. It's also probably more comfortable for the girls.

4. Birthday girls are allowed to choose whatever theme they like (or gently guided).

5. Prior to the party, we talk through manners, being a nice host and what we say to our guests when they give us presents and also when they say goodbye.

6. Treats are included in the kids party food, but so is fruit and cut up vegies. I don't go overboard on the junkfood. For Layla's party we had jelly and fairy bread, as well as sandwiches, strawberries and cucumber, carrots and peppers.

7. Give kids a snack right before party so they are relaxed and comfortable. Enjoy, savour and celebrate.

Meatless Monday - Baked potatoes

Our dinners can be hectic. I often feel more like my kids' waitress to keep up with spilt cups of water, ketchup, and some more of this mummy please. Zahara often wants to sit on my lap at mealtimes which make it harder. All this and trying to keep dinner a pleasant experience with a little conversation shared about everyone's day...

But, I've found that my kids will really enjoy a meal a lot more if they can make it, or even assemble it, themselves. Even though this is not a meal that I really love, it's great for the kids and pretty easy to prepare in advance. I prepare all the toppings in individual bowls during the day, as well as the potatoes to keep it easy and ready to go.

Baked potatoes with toppings
Use washed potatoes, wrap individually in foil and bake for 1.5 hours at 200 degrees celsius in the oven
Unwrap carefully when cooked, cut top off and scoop out filling.
Mix with grated cheese and some salt till a little gooey
Put back in potatoes and let the kids serve themselves with any of the toppings below
- corn kernels with butter (I steam fresh corn first and then cut off)
- sour cream
- grated yellow cheese
- chopped up tomato
- cooked chicken, bacon, canned tuna
- baked beans
- guacamole

Easy, tasty for kids and fills their little tummies on these cool Autumn days. Yum!