Salt and Pepper

I can't tell you how many times I've served someone food and they've asked me what the seasoning is and how many times the answer is salt and pepper.  Season your food people.  Salt and pepper can do wonders if you use them properly. 

If a novice cook can learn nothing else, learn these 2 things:

1. "Brown food tastes good" (Chef Anne Burrell).  Cook your food with the appropriate heat- the brown refers to the colour of properly cooked food, whether it's vegetables or meat.  Brown tastes good...grey does not, black does not.  Brown is your goal. 

2. Season your food while you cook.  Season at every step.  When you're done cooking, no one should be asking for salt or pepper.  I keep salt and pepper in canisters by the stove so that I can easily season throughout the cooking.  Taste your food before serving.

An example of these two skills being put to use is shown in our family's favourite side: roasted broccoli.  First, the broccoli is tossed with a little olive oil and salt/pepper.  Spread it out on a baking sheet.  Roasting should be done at temperatures above 375.  I usually use 400 for broccoli.  You want to develop the brown roasted colour, cook the broccoli through, but leave a little bite.  The result: broccoli that we can't get enough of.  Also- when you roast vegetables, you maintain all the nutrients in them instead of boiling them away.  Also, tastier than steaming. 

Happy Birthday Baby/My Wish For You

Sept 8, 2012- 1 year old

We spent Sept 8 with a couple of cute kids that we were babysitting for some friends of ours so that they'll do the same for K next month when we go away.  We kept it simple (since we had her party the week before) with birthday cake after lunch and 1 small present (a play set of keys that has buttons that make sounds like an actual set- it was a big hit amongst all 3 kids).  Cole and I celebrated with a steak dinner (the first birthday is a big deal to the parents, too).  Unfotunately, K had an awful night.  She slept from about 7:30pm till 10:30pm (so while we were awake) and then was up from 10:30pm till 5am.  I don't know if she's teething, or if it's because she caught the cold of the kids' we were watching, but whatever it was- we had a sleepless night.  Eventually she did pass out in bed with us- it was kind of nice to sleep with her again.  I can't believe a whole year has gone by- it's felt long and incredibly short.

At a year old, K is a spirited, brave, independent and kind little girl.  She loves walking, she loves pools and baths and waterparks, she loves dancing (to ANYTHING), she loves squealing, she loves to wave and say hi.  Her favourite meal to eat is my garlic spaghetti, her favourite dessert is probably icecream.  Her favourite TV show is Sid the Science Kid.  Even after a year of toys, her favourite comfort toy is still her Lamb Chop.

[To K] 
My beautiful daughter, on the off chance I never get to tell you these things myself, here are my wishes for you for your life:

1. I wish for you an education.  There are few things in this world that can never be stolen from you and never lose their value and an education is one them.  I wish for you to develop a love of learning and pursue any and all education you desire- you have already shown me your capacity for quick learning and I have always been able to see the light of intelligence in your eyes.  There may still be some people who will tell you an education is of no worth unless it can yield a big salary or it's of no value unless you plan to have a lifelong career.  Some may even still try to tell you because you are a woman there are certain paths you need to take.  My wish is for you to follow all the desires of your heart when it comes to education.  It doesn't matter how long, how short, how small or how adventurous your ambitions are- an education is never a waste of time.  A better educated society can only help not hinder.  Remember to maintain humility as you study and learn- to be learned is good as long as you remember where all knowledge comes from.  Beware of arrogance.  For a society full of arrogance will only lead to more problems.

2.  I wish for you to gain your own testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I wish for you to follow his precepts and to find peace and joy in all aspects of your life.  I wish for you to gain a testimony of His infinite atonement to be always able to feel of the love and forgiveness that is available to you.

3.  I wish for you to maintain that confidence you have now and to know you can have the life you want.  Pursue your dreams and don't live a life with regret.  But I do wish for you to find balance in your life as well.  I wish for you a family of your own.  I know of no greater calling or profession that provides you with such important opportunities to learn patience, compassion and love than that of wife and mother.  It will be hard to find that balance in your life, which will bring you the most happiness because it will probably involve some sacrifice- but follow your instincts and prioritize what is of the most value and you will lead a life of few regrets.

4.  My final wish for you is to be kind.  If you do nothing else in life but learn to be kind and leave judgments at the door, you will have lead a life of great worth.  This life can be hard, and cruel and scary, but it is your job to be kind.  You are strong and independent and I'm not worried about you losing that, so I wish for you to focus on developing kindness, compassion and not judging others.  Be willing to be vulnerable to others.  You can be strong and kind.  I have had a really hard time with this concept and it's one that I feel is crucial at this time in the world.  There is enough hate and meanness in this world without you having to contribute to it.  Be kind.  In your thoughts, in your words, in your actions.  Always.

I love you and I am so proud of you.  My wish for you is joy.

Birthday Party #1

For the rest of her life, K will probably celebrate her birthday on Labour Day long weekend because she was 2 weeks late being born giving her an incredibly inconvenient birthday- Sept 8th- back to school time.  So we celebrated her 1st birthday on the 1st.  We had gorgeous weather for our small family gathering in Port Moody where my parents live.  K had a ball and tired herself right out.

K loves balloons so we picked out a special 1st Birthday Ladybug balloon for her but it blew away while I was setting up so we had to quickly stop at a party supplies store and buy an even more expensive last minute 1st birthday balloon.  I think she appreciated it, though.

She got way more presents than a 1 year old could ever want or need and definitely more than her parents wanted to cart back home to the island.

Homemade chocolate cupcakes- K is having the one with peanut butter buttercream frosting.  My favourite was the chocolate lime cupcake with lime cream cheese frosting (curtesy of The Sisters With Aprons blog).

Fell asleep as soon as she was strapped in.  Love this little girl to pieces.

Month by Month

Like a lot of babies, K has a First Year Calendar that's been on her wall all year.  Every month has a picture of her from the 8th.  So there's a month by month record of her growth for the first year. Here is a look at K through her first year.

Born Sept 8, 2011.  This was my first view of her as she was born via C-section.

Oct 8- 1 months old

Nov 8- one of the only times she sat in the bumbo seat..wasn't a huge fan of it

Dec 8- 3 months old and really starting to get mobile

Jan 8- starting to fatten up (began eating cereal a couple weeks prior)

Feb 8- probably her chubbiest picture yet

Mar 8- 6 months old and cute as a button

April 8- 7 months old...crawling and furniture walking

May 8- will take first steps before the month is out

June 8- 9 months old, fully walking and crawling quickly becoming a thing of the past..LOOK OUT!

July 8- expert walker all ready for summer fun

August 8- 11 months old and the only month where I dropped the ball.
I totally forgot to take a picture while she was still awake. 

Sept 8- 1 YEAR OLD! How significant a year seems when watching a child grow.
Look at all that hair!

Camping

This weekend Cole and I were able to leave K with Grandma and go camping all by ourselves.  We went to Stamp Falls and got to listen to the river all night.  Delightful.  On Saturday we spent the day at Sproat Lake.  Probably one of the nicest lakes I've swam in...ever.  It was interesting going back to the little tent after camping all summer in our new monster tent.  It was wonderful being able to choose when we got up based on only us. 

There is something so satisfying about camping.  Leaving behind the excess of the modern life and getting back to basics.  The stresses of life seem to fall away- nothing so complicated can exist while camping.  I LOVE it!

Holy Batman, He Forgot the Baby!

Our generous friends babysat K last night so Cole and I could go see The Dark Knight Rises.  As usual with this series, it didn't disappoint.  I think The Dark Knight is still my favourite one though- who can beat Heath Ledger as the Joker? Theatre was packed- half price Tuesday- it was expected.  Of course Cole sat us in the exact middle, so I soon felt trapped and like I was suddently pregnant again and needed to pee every five minutes.  Mind tricks- as soon as you're blocked in, your bladder has a holding capacity of a pregnant lady but if the theatre was empty I probably would have been fine.  I went twice before the movie started to try and avoid the awkward climb over people situation in the middle of the movie- although still had to anyways.  I stood in the back of the theatre for the last 20 minutes after my pee break so I didn't have to disturb everyone all over again.  After climbing over them twice before the movie started and once during it, I wasn't about to go back during the climax and climb all over again.

On the way home, Cole was so enthralled with the movie that he drove by the babysitter's place as if to just go home.  He forgot about our daughter.  If that's not a film recommendation for you men out there, I'm not sure what is. 

Also, one of the times I was up to go to the bathroom before the movie started, I walked by this lady with her TINY TINY baby.  I had to stop and talk to her- it was TINY.  Apparently her daughter had been born 10 weeks early at 2 lbs.  She was now 8 weeks old and still looked so little (no big surprise, she's still 2 weeks early at this point).  How amazing that the will to fight to live is alive even in a 2 lb person.  Incredible. 

Salad Week

I decided this week to try out four different entree salads.  The summer heat has hit and I wanted a break from slaving in front of the stove.  If you'd like to try them yourself, find the "recipes" here.

Day 1: A salad inspired by one brought by my friend last week at a dinner party.  Loved it!

 Day 2: Taco salad- a classic that I slightly change on a regular basis.  Fed me for lunch for 2 days after as well!

Day 3: A salad I make a lot in the summer seasons but this time I added some prawns to make it a main.  The carmelized onion and feta cheese crostini were so decilious I planned to make them the next night as well but got so busy we didn't even eat till after 9 so they were left out.  So so delicious.

Day 4: Steak salad.  I tried out a chimichurri sauce for the first time ever and thinned it out a bit with more oil so it could be a salad dressing.  I find it an AWESOME steak condiment but too bracing to be a full dressing on a sald this size. 

Who wouldn't want to eat salad all week when they are as awesome as these?