Cauliflower Curry

A recipe!

Ooh it's been a long time!

And it's a crock-pot recipe? Ka-freakin'-pow!

In an effort to eat a little less meat, I'm working on adding some vegetarian dishes to our usual weekly menu.

This one was so easy and tasty, I thought I'd share.

2 heads cauliflower - cut into florets
1/2 large white onion, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup water or stock
1/2 - 3/4 jar of green curry paste
1 can coconut milk
onion powder - a hefty sprinkle
garlic powder - a few large dashes
salt - a decent amount
pepper - several cranks

Add everything except the coconut milk to the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours. Stirring occasionally. 
Immediately prior to serving, add the coconut milk and stir until combined.
When the coconut milk has warmed up - serve!
I served over rice noodles (cook according to package directions), but rice would work just as well.
1/2 of the jar of curry paste yields a mild curry - so if you are looking for more heat - add 3/4 of the jar and taste - you can always add more curry paste at the end, once you've added the coconut milk.
You can also add curry powder, but don't substitute it for the curry paste - just add it in addition for additional flavor without heat.

Delish!
Even my husband ate it.
But not the kids.
Please.
Cheerios for one and toast for the other.

Happy Thursday.

Hot! No! Cold!

Oh the delights of two and three year olds.

Our beloved Wee One is working through both the terrible two's and the terrible three's right now.

He's vaulted right from the "No!" two year old phase, straight into the deliberate disobedience, defiance, and back-talk three year old phase.

He's also expressing potty interest while at the same time sliding back into some separation anxiety/mama-obsession.

And I haven't even mentioned the hitting, pushing, and head-butting

All in all - he's frustrating and challenging.

I remember when his big bro was going through this phase (though he opted not to do it all at once), I wrote this post about being angry.

Luckily, this time around - I don't have a baby to contend with at the same time.

So, I try to find ways to enjoy his cranky highness. Challenging as that may be. 'Cuz when brother's being cute, man-oh-man is he a heartbreaker.

Sometimes we go out for munchkins. 

We sit at a little table and someone says, "Oh! Hi!" to every person who walks in.

He opens his mouth so big but then takes wee baby bites.
Cute. 

We have a lovely conversation about munchkins and trucks - and anything else that happens to drive by.

And for a few brief moments, I'm not furious and frustrated. 

Sadly, though, at some point there are no more munchkins. But it's good while it lasts.

At the gym

You will not believe what I saw yesterday at the gym.

Now, the gym is a prime people-watching venue, and I have had my share of fun and unusual sightings - but this, guys, this took the cake.

So, there I was running, not unlike a Kenyan, on the treadmill.

The kids had been particularly irritating so I was running swiftly in an effort to burn off frustration.

Here's my view from the treadmill:

My view from the treadmill

With AC DC's "You shook me all night long" blaring in my earphones - I was in the zone.

When suddenly, this appeared

Expletive!! Expletive!! Man with a gas mask! 

I kid you not.

Like a ninja, a moderately ripped man wearing a Gas Mask leapt into my field of view.

Were we under attack?

I nearly fell off the treadmill.

Gas Mask Guy began to do push-ups.

While wearing a gas mask. 


I managed to regain my stride and not go tumbling off the treadmill - but it required intense concentration.

After several sequences of bizarre, crawling, military style push-ups
Gas Mask Guy retired to some other area of the gym.

Seriously?

Did I just see a guy with a gas mask? At the gym?

Yep.

Awesome.

Back to reality

Brr!

A cool and rainy weekend and now a hard freeze is predicted for the next two nights. What on Earth will happen to everything that's in bloom?

I must admit to preferring the uncharacteristic 80 degree weather we were blessed with over the past few days.

The kiddos are sad too, they are ready for summer.

This weather is lame. 

So, we'll wait.

Happy Monday.

Friday Moments

Friday Moments with Soule Mama again today.

If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link.

Happy Friday!!

My sense of humor

This one is for beloved Miss Kristin

Poor t-rex. He does hate the violin. And push-ups, and the song
"If you're happy and you know it."

Inspired by other t-rex cartoons and a bizarre little episode of Little Einsteins.

Soaking it up

When you get a bit of summer weather in March here in good 'ole New Hampshire - you grab a hold of it and squeeze as much fabulousness out as you can.

So, of course, that means ice cream.

Now, I had to post several versions of the exact same scene - but each one was just so amusing in its' own way.

First of all - note the very large distance between the two boys; the Wee One gets very defensive while eating - he needs quite a bit of personal space.

This next one, the Wee One's making that hilarious face again.

Why on Earth was he pouty and suspicious while eating ice cream?
We may never know.

This next one captures the intensity with which the big boy concentrates while eating ice cream.

Ice cream ice cream everywhere and ne'er a drop is missed. 

Finally this last one shows that iPhones take way better pictures than iPods and is hilarious.

Umm Bud, what are you doing?

Another gorgeous day or two awaits us before our weather becomes a bit cooler (i.e. normal) so we better get busy enjoying it. 

A walk on the woods

What better way to enjoy the abnormally glorious March weather than by heading to the woods?

And they're off!

Setting these two loose on the trail is quite a sight.

Sort of like a cross between Louis-and-Clark, Sacagawea, and a golden retriever.

Always hold hands.

And Hubs morphs into Bear Grylls meets boy scout pack leader - showing them things, leading the way, and generally being cool.

We go pretend fishing.

My Dad would be proud. 

Somebody really likes his fishin' rod.

It is my hope that these two never lose their love of the woods - I can see camping, hiking and other nature-y goodness in our future.

Weekend

Monday and Jury Duty once again.

Blarg!

Let's not dwell on it.

Instead, let's recap a glorious spring weekend.

Someone got a haircut

Complete with enthusiastic hairdresser spikes

Something was covered in green, mint frosting.

Couldah been brownies. 

Hair back to normal, we sported lots of green for St. Paddy's day. 

Hollah! Collah! 

And someone was less-than-enthusiastic regarding; green, leprechauns, celebrating, gold coins and rainbows.

Ha-rumph. 

I hope the leprechauns were good to you as weekend as well.

Slainte!

Friday Moment

Friday Moments with Soule Mama again today.

If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link!

This face ...

Have a great weekend!

Talk amongst yourselves

Conversations with the littles:


* The Big Boy loves to ask questions. Yesterday we had this conversation:
Him: "What's that?"
Me: "It's a spider" (do not panic, picture in a book)
Him: "What do spiders do?"
Me: "They make webs. And eat bugs."
Him: "What are spiders made of?"
Me: "Ummm"
Him: "What are spiders?"
Me: "Ummm. They are. Little. Tiny. Animals?"
Parental knowledge fail. 




* Conversation with the Wee One:
Him: "I wuv you, Muma."
Me: "I love you, too, Bud."
Him: Sounding shocked, "You do?!"
Parental expression of love, fail? 




* The Wee One once again, in the car, heading home:
Him: "Can we play outside?"
Me: "Sure, Bud."
Him: "Will you play outside wif me? We could be togedder awl day!"
Me: "Sorry, Bud, I have to work."
Parental time management/work-life-balance fail. 




* Big Boy - shouting at me from the bathroom:
Him: "Hey Mama! Did you hear dat?"
Me: "Hear what, Bud?"
Him: "A fart!" Hysterical laughter.
Y chromosome in full working order




And I'm tapped out.
Have a great Thursday!

Oh Spring

What is it about spring?

A few warm days and I am in a frenzy.

Seeds are planted.

Patio furniture and outdoor toys are brought out.

Toenails are painted.

Summer vacation plans are nailed down.

I am giddy.

Why hello there you adorable little harbingers of spring, you. 

Mad dog, from the purple bike gang.
He's fierce.

His face.
That is all. 

Look closely, shoe on wrong foot. 

Shoe on wrong foot?
I sad. 

Tra-la-la!

Yay for spring. Yay. Yay. Yay. And hooray, too.

Settle

Things have been pretty crazy around here lately. 

First we had the barfing flu, which then transmutated into an upper respiratory cold. Then there was jury duty, a yoga seminar on Saturday, a work related luncheon, plus my usual job, and teaching my usual yoga and pilates classes. 

In a nutshell, a full schedule. 

So, on Sunday - Hubs and I were delighted to see a blank slate. Obtaining groceries was the only item on our family's agenda. 

A collective sigh, Ahhh. 

But a blank slate doesn't automatically equal calmness for me. My mind is still going 100 miles per hour. 

Luckily, I had a bunch of cooking to do, and nothing settles my restlessness better than some time in the kitchen.

Over the course of the day I made banana pancakes, 2 loaves on banana bread, corned beef and cabbage dinner with all the fixin's, and Irish soda bread. 

I had forgotten how soothing a little manual labor can be.

Mind if I ask how you get settled after a crazy busy week? 

Epic Fail Part 3 - Continued!

Hooray! It's the second installment of Bad Mama Moments Epic Fails Part 3!

As I mentioned in the first installment, I was making burgers and fries for Hubs' birthday.

I dutifully cut potatoes into wedges, tossed them in olive oil and sprinkled them with spices.

Then I placed them on my just-received-for-Christmas edgeless cookie sheets

Now folks on the ill-fated day, I learned a valuable lesson:

When you heat up an oiled steak fry, the viscosity of the oil will change,

and the oil will run off the fry where it should safely be corralled by the edge

of your cooking apparatus. 

Sadly, this was not the case. 

The oil hit the heating element at the bottom of the stove - creating fire. 

Smoke began to billow out of the oven. 

"Umm, Hubs?" I say, noticing the smoke, but not yet alarmed. 

"Wha?" says Hubs, and opens the oven door. 

"Call 911" says Hubs. 

"Umm. There's a fire in my oven" I say to the dispatcher. 

Now let me add, that we lived directly across the street from the fire department at this time. 

I watched the truck pull out while I talked with the dispatcher. 

I went downstairs to await the arrival of the trucks. 

Two trucks. 

Approximately 200 firemen. 

One carrying an axe. 

"What are you going to do with that?" I say, to axe-wielding fireman.

By the time the firemen made it up to the apartment the fire had smothered itself inside the closed oven. 

The Captain used a fancy fire-detecting gun to show Hubs how hot the wall behind the oven was, while everyone sort of milled around and chatted. 

The rookie placed an industrial fan in our bedroom window to suck out the smelly smoke - and promptly destroyed our curtain. 

"Uhh, Cap?" says the rookie, "We've had a casualty" and hands me the shreds of curtain. 

"Birthday dinner" I say to the firemen. 

Nailed it. 

Hi!

Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a muffin.

If you're down with Soule Mama you know what to do.

Happy Friday!

Jury duty is not like TV

 Jury duty is not like TV. 

This is a sad disappointment.

The ways in which jury duty is not like TV:

* There are no handsome, young, attorneys.

* There are no handsome, young, CSI's.

Where for art thou, Nick Stokes?

* The judge never bangs the gavel. I'm not even sure there is a gavel.

* There are no amazing 3D holographic reconstructions. Of anything.

* Instead there is an overhead projector

* There is no  music to help you understand when the bad guy enters. Or when a moment is important.

* There are not nearly enough breaks for snacks.

* You can't leave, even to pee!

* The chairs are uncomfortable.

* If you fidget, everyone turns to stare at you.

* The bailiff is not funny.

* And the worst part - we are not wrapped up in 30 minutes.

Jury Duty and early risers

Hey Gang,

I have jury duty again today, so I got up super early (5:38am) in the hopes of having a few quiet moments to write a little something before I have to go to court.

I tiptoe from the bathroom to my bedroom to get dressed after my shower and Hubs appears.
"The Big Boy is up. And waiting for you downstairs."

I go downstairs.
"Hi Mama! Kin I have a waffle? And some Cheerios? And a waffle? And can you turn on 'Pokey Little Puppy'? Mama? Can you clean up this mess? Mama? Can you push me in closer to the table? Mama? What are you eating? I wish I could have some of that. Mama? I want Daddy to stay home!"

Awesome.
If you're looking for me today, I'll be off doing my civic duty.

A few things

Hi!

I'm back!

I know I should write up Part two of my Epic Fail post from last week, but my heart's just not in it today. I'll tell you the rest of the story - perhaps tomorrow.

Today I want pictures and words and some laughs.

So here we go - a bit of this 'n' that...

First and foremost, we are better. Mostly.

The puking, high fevers, and wish-I-were-dead virus appears to have moved on.

Every touchable surface in the house has been bleached. Repeatedly.

Despite that, I can't help but share this photo of the Wee One when we were still sick

So sad.
"You want to go lay down in your bed, baby one?"
"Awl-wight."

No worries, though - he's all better, trust me. 

Big brudder had more of the upper respiratory version - high fever, hacking cough and boogery nose. Well, yes, he did throw up some, but less than the rest of us. 

Hot chocolate.
Good for what ails you, unless your puking - cuz it's a beast to get out of the carpet.

Finally, one last bit of business here. 

In the essence of full disclosure, it has come to my attention that I am officially an old lady. 

A week or so ago, I had a physical - complete with blood work. 

A nurse called me to discuss the results - everything was great - cholesterol, triglycerides, yadda yadda - everything except my Vitamin D level - which was apparently critically low. 

"The doctor has called you in a prescription Vitamin D supplement, which you're going to take once a week for 12 weeks, and then we'll recheck your blood."

Wow. Okay. 

Vit D is a lovely shade of green.
Also, what's up with my old lady palms?

"Also," said the nurse, "You're going to take 600mg of Calcium twice a day."

So off I go to CVS to obtain the old lady staple: Giant Bottle of Calcium Supplements.

Old lady palms, old lady stuff in my medicine cabinet...
what's next?

Anyway, it's official. I am old.

If you are under the age of 65 you may want to go read a younger, hipper blog.

Tomorrow we discuss Fixodent vs Polident and sensible shoes.

Yuck!

You know what makes a Monday even better?

Jury duty.

Friday moments

It's official, I'm all better.

First coffee since Tuesday!

Not dead.

Hey Gang,

We are sick - getting better though. And buried under over a foot of snow.

The 2nd installment of my epic fail will most likely be next week.

For now, tea, toast, and eucalyptus baths await me and my little patients.

Hope you are healthy - and if you are - take a moment to appreciate it, you could be puking, or cleaning up someone else's puke.

Perspective. You're welcome.