Checking in

Damn, I was really hoping to post more frequently. Where has March gone? Some house painting, furniture moving (because of said house painting), cabinet buying and installing, Easter weekend (that's the Easter table setting above) and more.....Now I'm just wrapping up a course- final project is due on Thursday- and then I'm free until September. As free as I can be, anyways- what with all my self-imposed commitments and all.

Stay tuned for my kid's new room, our office renovation, some new recipes and, if the snow ever melts, my garden...this year we're ripping out last year's patio plantings and starting fresh. And building a fountain. And adding other stuff until I love it. I'm like that, don'tcha know...

I've got a thing for fennel

Yes, I'm in love with a vegetable. Fennel. Could be worse right? I'm not really sure why I've latched on to it all of a sudden, because I've certainly eaten it before, but now it's a staple on the grocery list. So good, and so versatile, as it sort of takes on whatever flavours you cook it with. Nice licorice undertones.


I do a lot of cooking on the weekend, in preparation for the work week ahead, and I'm finding fennel comes in handy for that. I usually buy 2 or 3 bulbs. To prepare, I cut the stalks off, then quarter the bulbs lengthwise. Remove the core from each quarter, then cut each quarter into slices. Toss all the slices with some olive oil, a bunch of chopped garlic, some sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Roast for 30 minutes or so, at 400-425F. Stir it around often to ensure it browns evenly. Smells divine!

Once it's done, I pop it into the fridge and use it in different things throughout the week. My current favourite is a stir fry with fennel, red onion, garlic, swiss chard, this wonderful herbed tofu, and topped off with some feta cheese.

First I brown the tofu with the onions and garlic.


Then I add a bunch of the roasted fennel, followed by handfuls of chopped swiss chard.


Cook until the chard is wilted but still bright green. Remove from heat and toss with some feta cheese. Voila, dinner. Great on its own or with quinoa, rice or even pasta. Next time I might add some tomatoes.



Enjoy.....

Try this soup

So good. I thought butternut squash and lentils might be a weird combination, but it works. It's a big bowl of goodness!

Chunky Lentil Soup

From Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson
Makes 4-6 servings

1 1/4 cup dry lentils, green French or beluga lentils (I used small green French lentils)
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cups butternut squash, 1/4 inch dice
1 - 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp sea salt
pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
parmesan cheese for topping (optional)

1. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil, add the lentils and cook for about 2o minutes or until tender.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil and saute the onion until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in the squash, tomatoes and broth and continue cooking until the squash is tender, about 10-15 minutes.
3. Drain the lentils and stir them in, along with the salt and smoked paprika. Let soup return to gentle simmer, then taste and adjust seasoning if need be.
4. Serve, topped with parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. (I used a dollop of yogurt and some green onions for topping.)

Update on my mom.....everything went really well today. The surgery took less time than expected, the surgeon was pleased with the results and my mom is in good spirits and doesn't have too much pain. She should be out of the hospital by Wednesday or Thursday, and on her way to recovery. Hopefully this is the end of it for a while...

Catching up

I've been busy....very busy. Don't you get tired of hearing people say that? I do, especially about myself. I mean, who isn't busy??? That's my excuse though, for my prolonged absence.

What's been going on? Lots. First there was January, with lots of snow, a friend's engagement (this didn't take a lot of time but it is noteworthy!), starting school again (this time it's a certificate in Project Management)- which has turned into a ton of work, a couple of dinner parties and general busyness at work.

In January I also decided to seriously address why I've been feeling like crap (not so eloquent a word but definitely reflective of what I've been feeling!), off & on, for the better part of four years. I mean, it's nothing life threatening, but an almost constant yuckiness and series of ailments, which have slowly been sucking the happiness and energy out of me. Sometimes I felt fine, most of the time not....digestive issues, discomfort, insomnia, anxiety, all kinds of weird aches and pains. I'd turned into a cliche it seemed...working mom gone over the edge! I've made the rounds of the doctors and specialists, each poking and prodding, scoping and x-raying. And really, that yielded nothing more than bottles of meds and the suggestion that it's stress, it's all in my head....here, have some anti-depressants. No. Truthfully, I kind of blamed myself- working full time, raising a child, sleep deprivation, a sick mom, not taking care of myself, I'd gained weight, I have to exercise more.....what could I expect? But somehow, it just didn't make sense. I know myself, I've had my share of "stress", some worse than this, and I didn't fall apart. I'm stupidly optimistic and generally happy. I soldier on. I've just always been that way.

So, I went to see a naturopath, started a grueling four week cleansing diet, and within a week felt like a new person. New (mostly vegetarian, which is fine by me) diet, some supplements, a couple of homeopathic cures and I'm on my way- I can feel it. No prescription meds for weeks, down 25 pounds, I'm sleeping again, I feel good. I feel happy. I have energy. So, it's been interesting, and a learning experience. It's not like I was an unhealthy eater before (just too much) but I've definitely slid more towards the way my husband eats (he's a commited carnivore with a disdain for most vegetables). His life is changing too, he just hasn't realized it! My body just can't do it anymore I guess....now that I'm on my way to 40. So, I've been trying all kinds of new vegetables in different ways, and I have recipes to share. Cooking for my new regimen has taken a fair amount of time! More to come on that.

And I promise I won't go on and on about my health, I know it's boring when someone gets on a soapbox! If you see me eating something sinful, look the other way....everyone has their weak moments.

So, what else? Ethan turned 3 in February....wow, where does the time go? Big party, lots of fun. I love this kid and I love this age (most of the time).

And, tomorrow my mom goes into the hospital for some more surgery. This time, it's for a pre-cancer condition that has been aggravated by all illness and treatments. It'll be major surgery, with an expected 6-8 week recovery...no lifting, no exertion, no skiing (you have to know my mom to know why I put that in there!) lots of rest.....are you listening Mom? She just finished her radiation 3 weeks ago, so hopefully it's not all too soon. But it must be done, and I guess we have to be grateful, with the medical system in this country, that it's being addressed this quickly. Hopefully all will go well and she'll be out of the hospital by Thursday.

That's it for now I think....take care.

Merry Christmas

Cookie time

I found some time today to bake cookies with the boy. We decided on shortbread, which is Colin's favourite. I used an Ina Garten recipe and as usual, it turned out really well!

Shortbread Cookies

From The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, by Ina Garten

Ingredients
¾ pound unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 ½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough ½ inch thick and cut with your choice of cutter. Place the cut-outs on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature.

The Christmas newsletter that never got sent

Every year we get some Christmas cards with newsletters from friends and family. I know some people think they're pretentious or braggy, but given the right mix of good news, happy moments and real life stuff, ie. not too much bragging, I think they're a great way to keep up with the people you care about. I really like them and look forward to them every year.

Every year I think- I should do that. And every year I leave it too late and it never happens. This year I actually wrote one, but then ran out of time to pretty it up and get it sent out. My friend Katie suggested I just post it on the blog, which is what I'm doing. So here it is....

This year we thought we'd start a family newsletter for the holidays......no groaning please! We enjoy getting them from friends and family each year, and hope that this one makes you just as glad. We hope this letter finds you well, and looking forward to the holidays and the coming New Year. We've had a year of many things....good experiences and bad, new adventures and more renovations, sadness but also great joy.

We've watched Ethan grow from a baby to a little man, and what an amazing thing it's been! He's now over three feet tall, talks a mile a minute and is getting more independent every day. He's also a bit of a goofball and makes us laugh all the time, even when we're sleep deprived beyond belief! He's mastered the tricycle, sand "cake" building, helps his Dad with projects and has acquired his own tool belt. He knows how to use a drill! This fall, Ethan started pre-school three mornings a week and he's been making new friends and learning new things ever since (some good, some not so good!).

This summer we managed to get away for a much needed holiday- our first road trip with a kid! Being the Powells, who do nothing half-heartedly, we embarked on a three day drive to the east coast via New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. There were plenty of stops along the way- for photo-ops, picnics, running around in playgrounds, sightseeing and shopping (LL Bean in Freeport, Maine was amazing!). We rented a beachfront cottage in southeast New Brunswick for one week, and fit in many day trips including PEI, La Dune de Bouctouche, Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy. We ate a ton of seafood, enjoyed a few days of beach bumming, shell collecting, and flying kites. We loved every minute and hope to go back again soon. Travelling with a 2 year old wasn't nearly as traumatic as we feared.

Also this summer, Colin's brother Jay and his wife Angela welcomed their new son into the world. Blake is an adorable little boy who is healthy, content and happy, and has brought great joy to Jay & Ange. We're so happy for them and also for Ethan, who will have a cousin nearby to play with.

We've managed to fit in a few home renos- this year's were scheduled, unlike our previous "surprises". The house continues to improve and looks less "dump-like". I continue to have ideas and Colin continues to execute what he calls my "vision". Colin replaced all the nasty yellow siding and soffits, I painted all the doors, the backyard has grass (hooray!) and no major landscape elements (read:overpriced trees) have died this year. The kitchen is done. Yes, a 2.5 year project has finally come to a close...it is indeed a Merry Christmas for me. Next up- moving Ethan and his big bed to a newly decorated room, then organizing our office in his old one. We may build a fountain in the front patio this summer- seriously.

This year we've also watched my mom struggle with illness, after her cancer diagnosis in July. There has been surgery and chemotherapy, and in January she'll begin radiation treatments. It has been a tough journey for everyone, but one also filled with hope and remarkable spirit on my mom's part. Through it all, my mom has remained so strong and upbeat, with her sense of humour intact. She has seized every opportunity to be happy and enjoy what she can, when she can. She has not buried herself in reading and researching and worrying about this disease, which would be her normal reaction. She has probably had private moments of sadness and despair, but we have had far more laughs than tears. She is even suprised at herself in this regard. And I have seen a whole new side of my mom, and I am proud.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and wishes for much health, happiness and good fortune in the New Year!

And....eat cookies and be merry!