Recipe: Peanut Butter Chicken and Vermicilli

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When Josh does his “surprise dinner” with me (every two weeks a different child selects a recipe and then prepares it with me for the family to eat – it rarely is a surprise though since everyone likes stopping by to see what is cooking – but we still refer to these meals as our “surprise dinners”), he takes great care in picking his recipes. He likes the books with pictures – and then wants to copy the picture exactly.

He found a good recipe for chicken satay – but when I went to read the actual recipe – it was a little too complicated for me (probably not for him – but for me:))

Luckily, Gran came to the rescue, with a “peanut butter” recipe that was super easy and ended up being a super big hit. We made our own variations of the recipe (I added some extra healthy things which Josh wasn’t crazy about but we adults thought it made the meal!).

VERMICELLI WITH CHICKEN IN PEANUT SAUCE:

3 tbsps oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
1-11/2 cups chicken stock
3 tbsps each of honey, soya sauce and cornstarch
1/4 cup (PLUS – meaning we added about 1/2 cup) peanut butter
3 green onions chopped
chopped parsley
vermicelli pasta

Heat oil, saute chicken, Remove and set aside.
Combine stock, honey, soya sauce and whisk in cornstarch and peanut butter.
Cook and stir till thickened. Add chicken.

Cook vermicelli. Spoon chicken mixture over vermicilli and add chopped green onions and parsley.

Our variation: Steam some asparagus, then cut into bite size pieces. Cut up some cucumber into bite size pieces too. Toss both with vermicilli and peanut butter sauce. A very unique combination of flavours!

We also made another super yummy variation: instead of vermicilli, we steamed some chinese dumplings and served them with the peanut butter sauce. Peanut butter dumplings!!!

Best 10’s School Age/Tween/Teens

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I had dinner the other night with a few friends who have younger kids. Sometimes I now sit and listen to them talk about the sleep deprivation, the early mornings, the temper tantrums, the worry about day care, the worry about milestones; then of course I hear the excitement over a new tooth, a first word, a new discovery. All things that made that time so extra special. However, it feels a million miles away.

Sometimes, I miss it. And I think back longingly to those special times never to be seen again unless replayed in my memory.

But I don’t miss it that much. Not because it wasn’t amazing, and not because it was hard (which it was). I don’t miss it because you can’t really miss something that much when you are so in love with the stage you are in now.

I loved having babies, and toddlers, and preschoolers and all the wonders that go along with the little guys.

But I am loving having school age kids, tweens, and a teen.

Every stage is just so good.

My top 10 fave things about having school age/tween/teens:

1. The books we read together are really interesting to read, and stir up good conversation.

2. We enjoy watching some of the same shows and movies. They still love family movie nights!

3. You can sit down and explain things to them – and they get it! You can see their reasoning, critical thinking and logic skills kick in.

4. They still value your opinion and ask you for it.

5. They are sponges – and soak everything up.

6. They still want to lie with you at night at bedtime and debrief, or cuddle (or have you tickle their back). They will still tickle your back, or play with your hair or share inside jokes and memories.

7. They still have an innocence about them. They are still wildly imaginative and creative.

8. They still give spontaneous hugs and kisses or will dance around the room with you.

9. They are big dreamers. It is so fun to dream with them and share their passions and enthusiasm.

10. You can watch them develop and unfold and grow right before your very eyes. It is so amazing to watch them develop their interests and talents. I love who they are becoming!

So as much as the baby stage was great – I love this stage. And I’m sure gonna love the next stage. Any stage my kids are in will be my favorite:)

Quote of the Week

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“If you don’t like your lot in life, then build a service station on it”.

I read this quote this week on someone else’s blog and it jumped out at me.

I think it’s a good lesson. When we feel things are going wrong in our lives, when we feel we have too many burdens to bear, or we feel we are not satisfied with something or someone, then we need to serve.

Easier said than done. But, there is nothing that fills our hearts more with gratitude than service.

I also think that even if we love our lot in life, or feel blessed to have the lot that we have, we still need to build a service station on it. It may be even more important to do so.

This is something that we need to improve on in our own home.

I grew up with a family that was very dedicated to service. Both my grandparents and parents were heavily involved in the community, in their respective churches, with their friends and neighbors. In addition to their own families. It’s something that I think I have fallen short on, and both Rob and I have identified the need for us, and our children, to serve more.

I can never remember one week going by when I was living with my parents that either my mother, or my father, or both, were not providing at least a weekly act of service. Whether it was making someone a meal, bringing them cookies, visiting someone sick in the hospital, driving someone to an appointment, shoveling a driveway, teaching a class, or picking up someone’s mail, my parents did it. Every week. Extra things for others outside of our own family.

I’m pretty good at doing things for my kids, or my husband, or for our family. But, I have to admit, I fall short when it comes to stepping outside my comfort zone and doing something for someone that I don’t have as vested an interested in. And it’s something that I want to really improve on, so I was glad to read this quote to remind myself of the importance of service in our lives.

Recipe: Rapini Pasta

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When it is one of our children’s birthdays – they get to pick anything they want for dinner. I mean anything. We have had banana splits several times!

When Sam turned 5, this is the recipe he wanted. Strange for a 5 year old, I know. But he loves it. Everytime we have it – he says “Yah! Rapini pasta!”. You can use hot sausage or mild. He prefers the mild. This is not a favourite recipe of Zach and Josh’s – although if they have it – they want the spicy sausage. It is however a recipe from Zach and Josh’s Grandparents on their Dad’s side. I think Grandad usually makes it.

Rapini Pasta

1 hard Italian sausage (found in deli section – sometimes sold in packs of 3 – but it is dried sausage)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic – minced
Olive oil
Spaghettini
Parmesan
Rapini

Rinse rapini and cut off stems. Set aside.

Chop up 1 hard Italian sausage into small pieces (you can play around with the amount – it is as much as you like). Pour olive oil into pan – covering bottom (2-3 tbsp). Add sausage, garlic, salt, pepper and sauté for about 2 minutes (just cooking garlic and heating and softening sausage in the oil).

Meanwhile in boiling salted water, cook spaghettini. When pasta is almost done (about 4 minutes left), add rapini and stir it in. Boil until pasta is done (and rapini is wilted). Drain spaghettini/rapini mixture. Return to pan. Add in sausage, garlic, oil mixture. Stir. Add parmesan and more pepper to taste.

Best 10’s: Ski Weekend

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This past weekend was Family Day Weekend.

We also had a PA day on Friday, so took advantage of 4 days off and headed away for a ski weekend. We went back to the cottage resort we had spent March Break at a few years ago. We had a great weekend!

The highlights of the weekend were:

1) Skiing

We are finally at the stage where everyone can carry their own skis, attempt to get their boots on alone (and are usually successful) and all ski together! Makes life so much easier! We got to the ski hill, skied, had an early lunch, then skied a bit more before heading back to the cottage. We then hung out, had dinner, then went back to the hill and did some night skiing.

2) Hanging out

I love having nothing to do:) In the afternoon after skiing for a bit, we headed back to the cottage and the kids went exploring while Rob and I read or napped. In the evenings we all enjoyed watching Gilmore Girls – and then saw the first episode of the Amazing Race (our fave show:)). The kids also just played and relaxed during down time.

3) Tubing

The cottage resort had some tubing too! The first day we went, it was fun; but the second day, the hill was really icy so it was crazy!! You went whipping down the hill! I was so sure Josh or Sam were going to go flying!

4) Skating

We only went skating once – but it was nice to be out on their rink, on the side of the tube hill. There was even a little fire going on the side! The kids played skated around – it was really cute when they decided to hold hands and skate in a line!

5) Walking on the lake and building a skating rink

We went onto the frozen lake and walked for a bit. So quiet and peaceful – until the ski doers came zooming by! The kids decided to clear a patch of ice and make their own little rink. Then they slipped and slided around and we soaked up the warmth from the sun.

6) Swimming and Games Room

The hot tub is always my favorite spot, but the kids loved jumping in and out of the water. We also got to play some fooseball, ping pong, shuffle board and pool.

7) Nighttime

Starlight Starbright on a clear winter night is the best!! The sky was so filled with stars – it almost didn’t look real! Night skiing was so awesome too. No lines – felt like we owned the hill!

8) Karma

It all started when I was unloading the ski boots from the truck, swung them over my shoulder without knowing I had nailed Zach right in the nose. I turned around to see him leaning over with blood dripping out and covering the snow. I felt so bad, apologized profusely, and then sat with him while it healed.

A few hours later, while bending down to take off my own ski boots, Josh unknowingly swung his own ski boots around his shoulder, and nailed me in the head. He coursed apologized profusely and sweetly, but then smirkly said “I guess that’s karma”! (He actually claims Zach said this!)

Fast forward a couple of hours later, Josh slipped and fell on the ice and banged his knee. In his usual, dramatic fashion (he’s truly an dramatic Italian soccer player!)he was crying and in some pain, so I went over to comfort him. I rubbed it, and gave him words of comfort, and then slipped in, “I guess this would be a bad time to say ‘karma'”. Josh broke out and started laughing. The pain was forgotten.

Karma. Gotta love it!

9) Music and Dancing for Popcorn and cotton candy

The kids listened to the same songs over and over in the car! So now our weekend memories will be attached to the songs! Then at the ski hill, they were giving away popcorn and cotton candy. The kids had to dance to get it! They were so cute dancing away in their snow gear!

10) Appreciating the beauty in nature

Rob and Zach are usually the ones who draw our attention to the beauty of things. Rob went for a walk to the lake by himself at sunset one day and took some nice pics for me to enjoy! I was too tired to go with him:(

Zach is always pointing out the beauty from the chairlift – amazing the things he notices! This time, Gabe also pointed out the beauty and Zandra was my photographer of the sunset in the car on the way home! I had to take a few pics too through my rear mirror – it was really spectacular.

We had to take two cars (so much stuff and Rob had to work longer on Friday so came up sepatarately after us) and when we pulled up beside his car on the way home Zandra rolled her window down to talk to him and make sure he saw the beautiful sunset. I’m so glad to have all of them helping me not miss the beauty in every little thing!

All in all it was a hugely successful weekend!

Quote of the Week

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“No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar”.
Abe Lincoln

Tell the truth. If you don’t, it always catches up to you. I know sometimes someone will tell me something, then proceed to tell me something different later on. I then ask myself, “Do they not remember they told me something different already”? Sometimes I decide to call them on it, but often I say nothing; but it leaves a mark on my mind.

We try to remind our kids that it is always better to take a consequence after telling the truth, then it is to try to avoid a consequence by lying. You may or may not get caught, but it always always always impacts your soul. And if you do get caught (cause really, no person is a good enough liar – despite what they may think), then you have to deal with the consequences of the action and the lie – and it is always so much worse:( I also have the tendency to be much more lenient in general when the truth is told (especially if it was hard telling it) because I think it takes some guts sometimes to own up to things:)

Recipe: Tortellini Chicken Soup

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One of our all time favorites around here is “Tortellini Chicken Soup”.

It is a recipe that I got from Zach and Josh’s grandmother – Ama. She makes a lot of great recipes (Ama is an amazing cook) that were handed down from her Italian mother-in-law (Grandad’s Mom – Nonapina) which everyone loves and I think this was one of them.

This is the perfect soup to make after you have roasted a chicken, or even a turkey and you can use the carcass. However, I often don’t have a carcass so I often just use some plain old chicken breasts (2-3).

Tortellini Chicken Soup

In a big pot, add chicken (carcass or a couple of chicken breasts)
3 large carrots (peeled, and coarsely chopped) – can use a handful of baby carrots too
2-3 stalks celery (coarsely chopped)
1-2 tomatoes – cut in quarters
1-2 onions – peeled and cut in quarters
Handful of parlsley
Bay leaf

Cover completely with water. Boil. Turn down to low medium so it continues to gently boil. Water will reduce as it keeps boiling, so you can keep adding more water and continue to boil. Cook until vegetables are essentially mush. About 1.5 hours.

Take off heat and drain in colander reserving stock. Separate the chicken, shred into small pieces and then return to stock. Vegetables can be discarded. Add salt and pepper to stock to taste.

In another pot, boil water, and briefly cook 1 family size pack of tortellini until al dente (you can actually use any small pasta). Drain, then add to stock.

Allow chicken, tortellini and stock to simmer a few minutes. Serve in bowls topped with parmesan cheese.

It is a simple soup – but so so tasty (especially with the parmesan).

Enjoy!

Best 10’s: Dates

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I often like to put on the rosy lenses when I talk about my life.

Especially when it comes to everything surrounding divorce. The other day one of my younger clients was asking me about things I do with my husband, and I was sharing with her how we have a weekly date, we travel at least one time per year without our children, and we spend a lot of time together.

She stated, “When I grow up I want to be divorced with kids just like you”.

Ummm. Ok. Problem.

Although I love my life, it is really because I choose to focus on the amazing parts my life brings. I don’t like to dwell on the stuff that breaks my heart, that I shared here. And that stuff, truly and honestly, sucks. On a daily basis. BUT. I choose to dwell on the good instead of being sucked into the bad.

So I quickly clarified this with my client:)

But in light of it being Valentine’s week, and in light of how blessed I truly am to be with an amazing man, I thought I’d share my top 10 favourite best dates. It was hard to narrow them down to 10. We have a standing Wednesday night date night each week, and then get to also share every second Friday night and Saturday together. I know, I know, sounds heavenly -and it is – but don’t forget the other side of the coin that I minimize by choice and for survival!

I must say, for a marriage, spending this “alone time” is vital. A weekly date (or at least bi-weekly date), a trip alone here and there should be mandatory.

And yes, you can say “easy for me to say since I am divorced and have the “luxury” of having free time” but many, many parents are able to do it without the “divorce bliss”. IF it is a priority. And shouldn’t your marriage be a priority?

I think the divorce rate tells us so.

My parents, for example, often had date nights, and always, always went away for a week by themselves every year. EVERY YEAR. And they had 3 kids – including a special needs child!

So, no excuses! Get out there and date and woo your spouse!

Our top 10 best dates:

1)Biking on the bike trails – followed by sushi (Our 3rd date…but something we often still do and I love – except sometimes followed by brunch:)

2) Tennis followed by Indian (Our 4th date… tennis is something we still often do – but not always followed by food:)

3) Picnic on the beach. The best was the Amazing Race picnic of course – that I talked about here.

4) Seeing Eat Pray Love, followed by Giorgio’s across the street. Something about that movie, followed by an Italian feast!

5) Le Germaine Hotel, followed by The Chinese Place! (Well, every Valentine’s for that matter!)

hmmm…. starting to see a pattern….we always need food:)

6) Patisserie Daniel et Daniel – movie – Queen Mother – movie – Ki

7) Burger’s Priest picnic or Canadia Tire Hot Dogs (everyday little pleasures)

8) Boat days: lounging and reading. Heavenly!

9) Movie Days at home (in bed is the best!)

10)Fire, blankets, sleep in front of the tree

Just a few favourites to always remember – and try to top!