Hi everyone,
Looks like whatever my son had has found me. Cough, stuffy nose, aches and pains.....just blah all around!
On a brighter note, I have begun posting the recipes from the blog under the Recipes tab at the top of the page. There aren't too many yet, but I'll keep adding as I post and the list will grow. I've arranged them under headings according to meal type (Breakfast, Appetizers, Mains, etc.)
I'm open to recipe suggestions. Looking for a gluten or dairy free version of a recipe you love? Send me a request and I'll get it up for you. I'll also gladly post any gluten or dairy free recipes (with attribution, of course) that are sent my way, after I've tried them out and can post a glowing review! Happy cooking!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
A friend of ours took some family pictures in January. They aren't all ready yet, but she sent us a teaser!
Can't wait to see them all!
Can't wait to see them all!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Recipe: Simple Vegetable Soup
Ingredients (Serves 4)
1 litre box gluten free vegetable or chicken broth + additional water as needed
2-3 yellow potatoes (or any thin skinned variety), cubed
3 carrots, peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces
3 celery stalks, chopped into bite sized pieces
1 onion, quartered and then each quarter halved
salt and pepper
1 tsp. Provençal seasoning blend (a simple blend of parsley, thyme and marjoram also works nicely)
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
1 lemon, quartered to accompany soup when serving
grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Directions
1- In a large soup pot, coat the bottom with a thin layer of olive oil. Put chopped vegetables and seasoning blend in pot. Stir to coat and let cook over medium heat for 5 minutes to soften and allow flavours to blend.
2- Add broth. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Taste soup and adjust seasonings, adding additional water if desired. Cover and let simmer until vegetables are softened, approx. 15-20 min.
3- Serve in warm bowls with a lemon quarter to squeeze for added flavour. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
This soup is my favourite kind to make: SIMPLE. The potatoes add some heartiness. Some peas or spinach would add a nice touch of colour as well. Eat as a meal accompanied by some crackers and salad, or as a first course.
Updated September 2013
1 litre box gluten free vegetable or chicken broth + additional water as needed
2-3 yellow potatoes (or any thin skinned variety), cubed
3 carrots, peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces
3 celery stalks, chopped into bite sized pieces
1 onion, quartered and then each quarter halved
salt and pepper
1 tsp. Provençal seasoning blend (a simple blend of parsley, thyme and marjoram also works nicely)
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
1 lemon, quartered to accompany soup when serving
grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Directions
1- In a large soup pot, coat the bottom with a thin layer of olive oil. Put chopped vegetables and seasoning blend in pot. Stir to coat and let cook over medium heat for 5 minutes to soften and allow flavours to blend.
2- Add broth. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Taste soup and adjust seasonings, adding additional water if desired. Cover and let simmer until vegetables are softened, approx. 15-20 min.
3- Serve in warm bowls with a lemon quarter to squeeze for added flavour. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
This soup is my favourite kind to make: SIMPLE. The potatoes add some heartiness. Some peas or spinach would add a nice touch of colour as well. Eat as a meal accompanied by some crackers and salad, or as a first course.
Updated September 2013
Monday, March 7, 2011
Menu Plan
Dinner Menu
Monday: Skillet Chicken with Sun Dried Tomato Risotto
Tuesday: Simple Vegetable Soup with Spanish Tortilla and Mixed Green Salad
Wednesday: Pot Roast with Root Vegetables and Gravy
Thursday: Elbow pasta with tomato sauce and meatballs
Friday: Turkey breast, potatoes in tomato sauce and garlicky French beans
Monday: Skillet Chicken with Sun Dried Tomato Risotto
Tuesday: Simple Vegetable Soup with Spanish Tortilla and Mixed Green Salad
Wednesday: Pot Roast with Root Vegetables and Gravy
Thursday: Elbow pasta with tomato sauce and meatballs
Friday: Turkey breast, potatoes in tomato sauce and garlicky French beans
Sunday, March 6, 2011
More of the same
The little one is still sick, the cooking is only half done and the thesis is no further along......but on the plus side, the kitchen is clean, the munchkin is in bed, and the water is on for tea.
Tomorrow is a new day. The menu plan goes up, and hopefully the snow (that surprised us after the rain) will begin to melt. Talk to you tomorrow!
Tomorrow is a new day. The menu plan goes up, and hopefully the snow (that surprised us after the rain) will begin to melt. Talk to you tomorrow!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A rainy Saturday
Today was supposed to be the day that my husband took our son out, leaving me to catch up on work for my thesis. A whole day, just to work, read, organize my next steps.....but of course that was too good to be true. My husband ended up having to go into work all day, and ultimately had to decline a request to work again tomorrow. He regularly works general office hours, not shift work, and weekends are not part of the package. He's been required to pull a lot of overtime lately, cutting into the time I'm supposed to have to work on my thesis. It's also limited the amount of time he's been able to spend with our son in the evenings since Etienne goes to bed early. It's been tough on everyone.
My son is also sick, with a runny nose and a cough that won't quit, on top of drool that flows like a faucet from his mouth. And a low-grade fever. Lovely, I know. He had enough energy today that he wanted to play, but felt sick enough that he didn't want to be left alone. We spent a good portion of the day just lounging on the couch, "reading" his books and playing silly games. He's finally off to bed now, and hopefully he'll sleep through the night. Last night he came trotting into our room three times after his cough woke him up.
But tomorrow is another day. I'm aiming to get the menu plan put together, the cooking done and also have some time to catch up on the work I didn't get done today. I wanted to get some of the tabs on my blog updated a well, but I'll have to wait until I have more time.
My son is also sick, with a runny nose and a cough that won't quit, on top of drool that flows like a faucet from his mouth. And a low-grade fever. Lovely, I know. He had enough energy today that he wanted to play, but felt sick enough that he didn't want to be left alone. We spent a good portion of the day just lounging on the couch, "reading" his books and playing silly games. He's finally off to bed now, and hopefully he'll sleep through the night. Last night he came trotting into our room three times after his cough woke him up.
But tomorrow is another day. I'm aiming to get the menu plan put together, the cooking done and also have some time to catch up on the work I didn't get done today. I wanted to get some of the tabs on my blog updated a well, but I'll have to wait until I have more time.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Gluten issues are everywhere
Before learning of my son's issues with gluten, I'd never really given much thought to the issue of gluten free living or how many people suffered from dietary issues related to it. Since October, I've become aware of just how prevalent gluten intolerance and/or celiac disease really are. Every time the topic comes up in conversation in relation to my son, the person I'm talking to either has an issue with gluten or knows someone who does.
This is both encouraging and disappointing.
I'm encouraged because it shows me that there are others out there navigating the same dietary obstacles that my son faces. When I hear celebrities discuss going gluten free, even when it is simply a lifestyle choice and not a medical one I hope that the trend will help spur more companies to produce gluten free options and that more restaurants will follow suit. When I meet someone with the same issues it also gives me reason to believe that more awareness will mean that my son will not be the only one in his class who can't share the communal birthday cake or who can't eat the majority of the Valentine's Day or Halloween candy that he'll receive. That getting gluten free alternatives will be mainstream. I hope that I won't always have to provide all of his food on every play date or sleep over that he ever attends.
On the other hand, I can't help but be disappointed every time I hear that someone else is affected with digestive issues because of gluten. I wonder if the number is on the rise, and if the increasing amount of products that unnecessarily contain gluten are contributing to an overload that our bodies struggle to handle. It also makes me upset because I know that in North America it generally takes years before someone with celiac is finally diagnosed. We were lucky to realize what was causing our son's digestive problems so early. I feel frustrated that so many others suffer for so long before getting relief.
I've approached gluten free (and dairy free) living in a positive way, grateful that I'm able to positively impact our son's health in a relatively simple manner. But I am also aware that I'm an adult, approaching this from an adult's perspective, where dietary restrictions or preferences won't make me an object of teasing, or make me feel different or left out. I'd be lying if I said I'm not concerned about how my son is going to handle it in a few years when the pressure of fitting in and being like everyone else is strong. So although I'm not encouraged by the seeming increase in gluten issues in the general population, I am excited about the attention the issue seems to be receiving lately. It's up to everyone affected to ensure that the issue remains in the public eye.
This is both encouraging and disappointing.
I'm encouraged because it shows me that there are others out there navigating the same dietary obstacles that my son faces. When I hear celebrities discuss going gluten free, even when it is simply a lifestyle choice and not a medical one I hope that the trend will help spur more companies to produce gluten free options and that more restaurants will follow suit. When I meet someone with the same issues it also gives me reason to believe that more awareness will mean that my son will not be the only one in his class who can't share the communal birthday cake or who can't eat the majority of the Valentine's Day or Halloween candy that he'll receive. That getting gluten free alternatives will be mainstream. I hope that I won't always have to provide all of his food on every play date or sleep over that he ever attends.
On the other hand, I can't help but be disappointed every time I hear that someone else is affected with digestive issues because of gluten. I wonder if the number is on the rise, and if the increasing amount of products that unnecessarily contain gluten are contributing to an overload that our bodies struggle to handle. It also makes me upset because I know that in North America it generally takes years before someone with celiac is finally diagnosed. We were lucky to realize what was causing our son's digestive problems so early. I feel frustrated that so many others suffer for so long before getting relief.
I've approached gluten free (and dairy free) living in a positive way, grateful that I'm able to positively impact our son's health in a relatively simple manner. But I am also aware that I'm an adult, approaching this from an adult's perspective, where dietary restrictions or preferences won't make me an object of teasing, or make me feel different or left out. I'd be lying if I said I'm not concerned about how my son is going to handle it in a few years when the pressure of fitting in and being like everyone else is strong. So although I'm not encouraged by the seeming increase in gluten issues in the general population, I am excited about the attention the issue seems to be receiving lately. It's up to everyone affected to ensure that the issue remains in the public eye.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
One step forward (a potty training saga)
I mentioned a short time ago that I'm beginning toilet training with my son now that he's turned two. He understands the concept, loves flushing the toilet and has bladder control, so it's time. He's still not keen on actually using the toilet, although he loves lounging around on it, singing songs or flipping through books. Then he panics when the urge to go actually hits! We've had a few successes, but they were more of the accidental variety than the intentional kind.
The step forward today came when I went to put him in a diaper to go out this afternoon, and he refused. He ran to his room and grabbed a pull up (which we refer to as underwear because he can pull them up and down himself) and insisted on wearing underwear like a big boy. Progress!
Let's see where we go from here...
The step forward today came when I went to put him in a diaper to go out this afternoon, and he refused. He ran to his room and grabbed a pull up (which we refer to as underwear because he can pull them up and down himself) and insisted on wearing underwear like a big boy. Progress!
Let's see where we go from here...
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
Right around this time of March in 2008, myself and another teacher took a group of students to Europe. Here are a few photos from our time in Rome...
And a couple from Assisi too. Can you tell I love to travel?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Why I love the month of March
I always get excited when March rolls around. Even though I know that the snow is probably not over yet for the season, March is the month that officially ushers in Spring. I took off the evergreen wreath from my front door today, and I'll be taking down the two red-bow wrapped evergreen boughs from either side of my garage door tomorrow morning.
March is when I begin thinking about how long it will take for the crocus bulbs to begin to bloom. A little premature perhaps, but I can't help it!
I love that the time changes and the days get longer this month. There's St. Patrick's Day, my birthday and my husband's birthday. Many days make it above 0 Celsius.
Today the sun was shining, the wind was calm and I met my thesis supervisor at a coffee shop overlooking a sunny sidewalk. I arrived early and window-shopped at leisure, my jacket open and the sun warm on my face. February was so cold with twice the average snowfall, so I wasn't about to let the opportunity to walk on a dry, snow-free sidewalk pass me by! Even though it was only -1C.
More importantly, I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear environment Canada's prediction of a colder and wetter than usual Spring and hold on to the memory of today. Warm weather is just around the corner!
Welcome March!
March is when I begin thinking about how long it will take for the crocus bulbs to begin to bloom. A little premature perhaps, but I can't help it!
I love that the time changes and the days get longer this month. There's St. Patrick's Day, my birthday and my husband's birthday. Many days make it above 0 Celsius.
Today the sun was shining, the wind was calm and I met my thesis supervisor at a coffee shop overlooking a sunny sidewalk. I arrived early and window-shopped at leisure, my jacket open and the sun warm on my face. February was so cold with twice the average snowfall, so I wasn't about to let the opportunity to walk on a dry, snow-free sidewalk pass me by! Even though it was only -1C.
More importantly, I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear environment Canada's prediction of a colder and wetter than usual Spring and hold on to the memory of today. Warm weather is just around the corner!
Welcome March!
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