European-style Cooking

For years I've tried to get more organized when it comes to my grocery list. I have tried to make one or two week meal plans in an effort to frequent the grocery stores less-frequently. ;-) I have tried switching up my shopping days. It sounds trite and maybe a little OCD, but when you have three kids, it's not that easy to pick-up and pop-in to the store.

Since Cindly-Lou Who (5) and Wonderboy (7) have started school, I have found that the Italian approach to grocery shopping and meal planning works best in our house. That is: "It's 11 a.m., hmmm...what should we have for dinner tonight?". And then, we proceed to the store to purchase said items. Of course, I look to see what I have at home first and then go from there. But when I was making the one/two week meal plans, a lot of times I just wouldn't feel like making that basil chicken when Thursday rolled around. And now that Dynamite (2) is the only one at home in the morning, it is easy for us to pick-up and pop-in. Not only is less food going to waste, but I am really enjoying meal time more! If I've had a rough day, I pull something out of the freezer.

When I stayed in Italy for a few months, we would literally go to the market each day by foot or bike and pick up the ingredients for that night's meal. (On a bike-worthy day, I will take Dynamite in the bike trailer).

Doing this slows things down, makes it less about the finished product and more about enjoying pulling it all together. The meal is made from fresh ingredients and it gives you an opportunity to tap in to those creative juices that might be flowing.

I share this in hopes that it may help some struggling moms. I know this is not a good fit for everyone (it wasn't for me last year!), but it may be for some. Happy cooking!

Last night, I went to bed thinking, "Tomorrow will be a better day." Today, I woke up thinking, "Ugh, I still feel awful."

Most of you know that I've been taking prednisone for my eczema. Between that and the onset of shorter days (less sunlight), I've been feeling a little gloomy. Okay, that's a euphamism. I've been feeling like burying my head in a pillow and bawling my eyes out. There is no logical reason for this, and as much as I tell myself that, I still feel blue.

So today, I am going to do an experiment. I feel like staying in my pajamas and letting Dynamite watch Sesame Street, but instead, I am going to "rally," as my Sourpatch friend says. I am going to get dressed and head out, enjoy the sunshine. Mind over matter. I'm going to find a great recipe for dinner and do a load of laundry (with some cherry blossom fabric softener).

I will let you all know how it goes.
"Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin

Will You Be My Friend? Check Yes or No

I feel compelled to write about friendship today. I have to preface this by sharing with you that I have some of the greatest friends that a person could have. My friends make me feel whole, grounded, secure, loved. I sometimes feel like a sixteen year old with the amount of precedence I give my friendships. But friends are important.

As a kid, we moved around a lot. I had to say goodbye on more than one occasion. In a certain respect, I think that gave me a deeper appreciation for relationships in my life; yes, people come and go, but some don't. Some are life-long companions.

Last week, I wrote in my blog about how I ate a box of Sourpatch Kids and there were no stinkin' red ones. The next morning, I am dropping off Cindy-Lou Who at kindergarten and my dear friend hands me a king size box of Sourpatch kids and says, "I hope there are some red ones in here." (Much to my delight, there were eight, not that I was counting).

A couple of months ago, all of the kids were sick. Another dear friend shows up on my doorstep with pedialyte and "sick snacks" in hand. What a thoughtful gesture! And one that meant so much to me.

I could go on and on, but I will let it suffice to say that friendships are important. They are revitalizing (at least, they should be). And they teach us that it is just as much about the other person as it is about ourselves (how often do we get stuck in the quagmire of our everyday lives?).

I will end with a quote just shared with me today by Sourpatch friend mentioned above:

"In friendship, we find nothing false or insincere; everything is straightforward and springs from the heart." - Cicero

Cashew Chicken Curry

Right now, my house is pulsing with the delicious smells of cumin and curry. I wanted to share this recipe with all of you because it is one of our favorites. You can't go wrong with this! Serve it over basmati and with parathas (which you can buy at your local Indian grocer). It is a little involved to make if you're not used to spending too much time on a recipe. I will tell you, however, that it is well worth it and I generally double the recipe so that I can freeze some (it keeps perfectly).
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chicken-Curry-with-Cashews-231358

Live Well

I heard a beautiful story on the radio yesterday as I was listening to Father John Ricardo on AM 990:

Mother Theresa had taken in a man who was very near death, a matter of hours. She stayed with him whispering gently over and over, "You are about to meet Jesus". Finally, just before the man died, he looked at her and said, "Is this Jesus anything like you?". What a beautiful story and example of how we are called to be like Christ to those in need.

Okay, but how do I do that in my life? I am not a nun in Calcutta. I have three kids to take care of and a house to maintain. If you are a perfectionist like me, you might think, "Wow, I could never measure up to that ideal". But I am not called to that ideal. I am called to be a wife and mother, to meet the needs of my family the best I can, and to simply be present to the everyday tasks at hand.

Right now, that task is distracting my two-year old who is on a mission to rip open a bag of cheesy popcorn...

So today, whether you are ministering to those in hospital beds, working at a desk or wiping butts for a living (aka: mom), do it well. And do it with the knowledge that we are all called to very different things, none of which are insignificant.

The Joy of Sneezing

Today marks the one year anniversary of my Grandma Graham's (and dear friend's) passing on from this world and in to a place far greater.

My grandma was an extraordinary woman. She always encouraged me in my love of writing and of music, two things that bring such joy to me. I examine my life today and know that it would not be nearly as fulfilled had it not been for her strong influence.

I watched my grandma's body slowly be taken over by Parkinson's Disease. It was over a course of some twenty plus years, but the amazing thing was that her mind stayed extremely sharp until perhaps the last couple of months.

As I watched her shaking hand try to get her fork up to her mouth, I thought how miserable her life must be. She couldn't button up her shirts or her bras anymore and no more necklaces with the little clasps that she loved. She was stuck inside now and needed someone nearby almost twenty-four/seven. 

She needed someone to assist her while she used the bathroom, yet humbled herself in doing so.

We literally had to scrape pureed food between her jittering teeth and the top of the spoon to get nutrients into her body.

In the midst of all my feeling sorry for her, I happened to sneeze. 

My grandma looked at me with a dreamy smile and asked, "Don't you just love to sneeze? I've never understood those people who try to hold their sneezes in; it's really fun to sneeze." 

And that's when I realized, the human spirit can lose all things, but if they let go of their sense of joy and gratitude, life becomes toilsome. 

My grandma held on to that truth with trembling hands.

Today I remember not her infirmities, but her strength and dignity.

I hope your day is full of the joy of sneezing and all of life's other little wonders.

Just one of those days

Today, I am feeling rather slothful. I want to lie on the couch and eat fattening foods while I watch HGTV. It was just one of those days where I couldn't get motivated.

I did, however, go on a bike ride to the bank with Graham in tow...and then I realized from the big sign on the window that it was, in fact, Columbus Day. As a side note, the tellers at the bank are very friendly when I go through the drive-thru on my bicycle.

After dinner, I ate the kids' sour patch kids that I told them they couldn't have because it would give them cavities (don't feel too sorry for them; they didn't eat their dinner, but I did eat mine...and they were asleep by this time). But there were no red ones! Only yellow and green. That's when I knew it was just time to throw in the towel and call it a day.

Tomorrow: a day full of new adventures...

Good night, everyone.