Woman in Real Life

Happy Wednesday! For those of you who seem to be stuck in a snow globe, not to worry, someone will break us out soon...I hope. In the meantime, cuddle in tonight and put the fireplace on (for the last time?). Enjoy a hot cocoa, read a great book and bid winter farewell in style. Or just have a good cry. Whichever.

I have so many hopes for spring and the renewed energy it brings. I'd like to go through my wardrobe and discard a bunch of clothes. I'd like to get rid of the magazines piled in my bedroom and have the upstairs carpet professionally cleaned. I'd like to freshen up the interior of my filthy car. The list goes on and on. For now, I'm focusing my limited energies on one area - the kitchen. I am trying to get it back to "clean" every evening (no small feat) and I am experimenting with new, healthy recipes and meal ideas.

My friend Ruthie commented on a post I did in April asking me where I keep all of the treasures that I collect from thrift stores and my parents' house. Here is her comment:

Love that pizza dish! How cute! Great finds, all around. But you need to do a post on WHERE you keep your treasures. Because I, uh, need help.

As I told Ruthie then, I'm not sure I'm much help, because our house is overflowing with dishes. But, although (like most women) I'm working hard to get organized, I do believe in making a place for the things you love. Many of my dishes are from my mom and dad and I wouldn't think of parting with them. The others I have no excuse for. But I'm keeping 'em anyway!

In anticipation of the spring weather that doesn't seem to be coming around here, I have been consuming a lot of morning smoothies. Generally, I use whatever fruit I have in the fridge or freezer on any given day.

I happened to have some pineapple one day and I thought it might add a nice tropical touch to my smoothie.

I threw about five chunks in a Magic Bullet cup and added a banana, a handful of frozen strawberries, half of an apple and some orange juice.

I have to say this has been a week of particularly delectable food. We have our good weeks and our bad weeks around here when it comes to food, as I’m sure most families do.

This week has been a good one, and I have discovered a few new favourites, including the amazing pancakes pictured above, a noodle recipe from a magazine and a fabulous new cake recipe.

I have lots of cell phone photos to share this week. I threw together some collages as quick as I could, because today is a PA Day and the kids are home from school.

My son is content with his portable video game, but I can’t let that go on all day…or can I?

No, I think we’ll make some goodies to occupy them…maybe some muffins or some peanut butter cookies…maybe both.


Last Sunday, we went to the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Family Sunday again.


This time, the kids made zoetropes—devices that produce the illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures. The family area has a visible vault so that you can see the sculptures being stored. My son is standing in front of a giant hockey player. We also did a little tour of some other areas—see the “igloo” covered with a giant quilt…how cool is that?


We bought a poster of Gerhard Richter’s “Helga Matura.” My husband and I both love that painting—and the poster was 70% off. You can’t beat that! The picture on the right is a portrait that my husband made.


My daughter really wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year, so the kids decorated the house with some Happy New Year posters and we ordered some delicious Chinese food (above left). I am a bit tofu-obsessed, which might seem strange to some people, but have you tried the extra-firm? The two photos (middle and right) show a tofu recipe from Nava Atlas’s Vegan Express—“Spicy Tofu Triangles on a Cool Bed of Lettuce,” with a side of potatoes and sweet potatoes in an olive oil vinaigrette.


My husband’s students had exams this week, which gave him time to go for lunch—all you can eat veggie sushi. I want more every time I look at the photos. I never used to like sushi—now it’s an addiction.


I already had two blenders, and yet I went ahead and bought a Magic Bullet. I don’t regret it though, because the kids can make their own individual smoothies now. They make it right in the mug, put on a lid, and they are ready to go anywhere with a smoothie in hand.


I went to the library this week, and what did I get? Cookbooks. See that picture on the right? That’s the cookbook shelf in my kitchen. Clearly, another addiction of mine. I read ‘em while I watch TV.

 
Have a great weekend!

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