Emilia has taken up singing and playing the guitar. She's self taught as we haven't tried to teach her any of this yet. And yes, the lyrics are also her own. Note the little audience she's playing to.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Faux Italian!
Going Paleo has been surprisingly fun. You would think that it would make eating very restrictive since it eliminates grains,etc., which for most people (and my prior self),is one of the main foods consumed. However, Paleo has made me focus on learning how to cook differently and as a result made it so easy to incorporate and eat more veggies! Yeh for veggies!
I don't usually cook to substitute old-fashion comfort food, but every so often it's fun to have the familiar. Not that I have any free time to experiment much, but this past weekend I attempted a faux-Italian meal after coming across some interesting recipes through Pinterest.
Ryan is lactose intolerant. He hasn't had pizza in the past 10 years. So when I came across a recipe for a cauliflower pizza crust which is grain free (to suite my Paleo), I had to try it.
The original recipe uses Parmesan cheese. So I researched for an allergen free substitute cheese with high reviews for taste and texture, and found a great substitute, Daiya cheese (tapioca based).
The crust turned out AMAZING. In fact, I could just eat the crust without the rest of the toppings, it was THAT good. I like it better than normal pizza crust!
I was planning on either a Thai-BBQ chicken pizza or a veggie pizza, but decided to keep it "traditional" to minimize Ryan's eye rolling at my "concoctions". So tomatoes,mushroom,and pepperoni pizza it is! Faux-pizza was a success! It is definitely a keeper.
Next up to test was pesto zucchini faux-pasta. I had purchased a julienne slicer a while back and have used zucchini faux-pasta for spaghetti. This time I wanted to try it with pesto and see how well zucchini meshes with pesto.
Same as with regular pasta, I think leftovers is better for this dish. It allows more time for the pesto to become infused into the "pasta". So, fresh off the stove, zucchini faux-pasta was just so-so. As leftovers the next day, it tasted pretty good. I probably won't make it again though, even though I liked the leftovers. Somehow pesto (at least the store bought pesto) does not sit well with my body because of the high content of oil. I always get a sore throat from foods that have too much oil in it. Maybe if I make my own pesto and exclude the oil... (Note: This was organic, dairy-free pesto from Whole Foods)
Okay, this last experiment is not Italian at all, but I had the ingredients so I decided to try it. Lebanese taro fries with cilantro pesto.
Neither Emilia nor Ryan liked it. The flavors are very strong and the taro itself is a starchy, mushy texture. I thought it was okay, but ultimately prefer the Chinese style of taro patties or the Asian desserts with taro.
All in all, I'd say out of 3 dishes, finding 1 that is a definite keeper is good. The 2nd dish would have been a keeper too if it wasn't for my body's reaction to pesto. I will have to re-attempt the 2nd dish with homemade, oil-free pesto.
I don't usually cook to substitute old-fashion comfort food, but every so often it's fun to have the familiar. Not that I have any free time to experiment much, but this past weekend I attempted a faux-Italian meal after coming across some interesting recipes through Pinterest.
Ryan is lactose intolerant. He hasn't had pizza in the past 10 years. So when I came across a recipe for a cauliflower pizza crust which is grain free (to suite my Paleo), I had to try it.
The original recipe uses Parmesan cheese. So I researched for an allergen free substitute cheese with high reviews for taste and texture, and found a great substitute, Daiya cheese (tapioca based).
The crust turned out AMAZING. In fact, I could just eat the crust without the rest of the toppings, it was THAT good. I like it better than normal pizza crust!
I was planning on either a Thai-BBQ chicken pizza or a veggie pizza, but decided to keep it "traditional" to minimize Ryan's eye rolling at my "concoctions". So tomatoes,mushroom,and pepperoni pizza it is! Faux-pizza was a success! It is definitely a keeper.
Next up to test was pesto zucchini faux-pasta. I had purchased a julienne slicer a while back and have used zucchini faux-pasta for spaghetti. This time I wanted to try it with pesto and see how well zucchini meshes with pesto.
Same as with regular pasta, I think leftovers is better for this dish. It allows more time for the pesto to become infused into the "pasta". So, fresh off the stove, zucchini faux-pasta was just so-so. As leftovers the next day, it tasted pretty good. I probably won't make it again though, even though I liked the leftovers. Somehow pesto (at least the store bought pesto) does not sit well with my body because of the high content of oil. I always get a sore throat from foods that have too much oil in it. Maybe if I make my own pesto and exclude the oil... (Note: This was organic, dairy-free pesto from Whole Foods)
Okay, this last experiment is not Italian at all, but I had the ingredients so I decided to try it. Lebanese taro fries with cilantro pesto.
Neither Emilia nor Ryan liked it. The flavors are very strong and the taro itself is a starchy, mushy texture. I thought it was okay, but ultimately prefer the Chinese style of taro patties or the Asian desserts with taro.
All in all, I'd say out of 3 dishes, finding 1 that is a definite keeper is good. The 2nd dish would have been a keeper too if it wasn't for my body's reaction to pesto. I will have to re-attempt the 2nd dish with homemade, oil-free pesto.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
On Her Actual BDay
Yup. Still behind and back-tracking posts...
Emilia's birthday party was on a weekend. Her actual birthday was spent going about normal routine combined with opening presents throughout the day and random bursts of the "happy birthday" song. You could tell she knew it was her special day.
The morning incorporated a nice bike ride. She's getting better at it!
And then opening presents throughout the day!
Liam wants in on the birthday fun too...
He was intently watching everything.
In the evening, she had a birthday cake (made from the same sugar-free cupcake recipe, except now in a cake form).
She read Liam her new book.
And opened her final presents from mama and baba, Lightning McQueen bike helmet AND a trampoline.
She had a great day. It was fun watching her. It's amazing how the kids just know the concept. She may not know what birthday means, but she knows that it's a special day for her with friends, family, cake, balloons, candles, cake, and presents. As Ryan and I put her down in her crib that evening, she looked up at us and inquired "more presents?" Haha.
Emilia's birthday party was on a weekend. Her actual birthday was spent going about normal routine combined with opening presents throughout the day and random bursts of the "happy birthday" song. You could tell she knew it was her special day.
The morning incorporated a nice bike ride. She's getting better at it!
And then opening presents throughout the day!
Liam wants in on the birthday fun too...
He was intently watching everything.
In the evening, she had a birthday cake (made from the same sugar-free cupcake recipe, except now in a cake form).
She read Liam her new book.
And opened her final presents from mama and baba, Lightning McQueen bike helmet AND a trampoline.
She had a great day. It was fun watching her. It's amazing how the kids just know the concept. She may not know what birthday means, but she knows that it's a special day for her with friends, family, cake, balloons, candles, cake, and presents. As Ryan and I put her down in her crib that evening, she looked up at us and inquired "more presents?" Haha.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Go Bananas!!
B-A-N-A-N-A-S! Go Bananas!
A while back, I mentioned a focus and personal strive towards healthier lifestyle and eating. While at that time, I was still new and researching the Paleo diet, I had opted for a more "go with the body" feel, I still ended up naturally gravitating to the Paleo template. However, this post is not about that. I will update more on it later as I have found that friends and family ask me about it and I find myself hesitant to really delve into the topic. It usually ends up being more about defending the "Paleo" or trying to simplify a description of it, which in turn, does not answer any questions and spreads the mis-perceptions about the diet (which it really IS NOT a diet, it is a eating lifestyle). Anyways, more about that later on how it was to transition to Paleo and my assessment of it since trying it.
Long story short, I have scoured the internet looking for recipes for cooking up healthy, yummy foods, because I like food and I like eating yummy food.. and healthy food can indeed be yummy. This is one of the recipes I came across which I simply have to share! Instead of ice cream made from dairy milk and loaded with sugar, frozen bananas blended in a food processor creates a consistency and texture of ice cream with a light banana taste. Throw in raw, unsweetened cocoa powder or strawberries/fruit, and you have yourself a frozen ice cream-like treat which is just as yummy and much more healthy than ice cream! Yah! Four bananas makes a pint of banana-cream. It's cheaper and easier than regular ice cream. Win Win!
Here are the sources for more detailed photos and step-by-step instruction (images taken from links below):
Original Post from www.thekitchn.com
Secondary Post from userealbutter.com
Another post for Strawberry or Peach Banana Ice Cream
A while back, I mentioned a focus and personal strive towards healthier lifestyle and eating. While at that time, I was still new and researching the Paleo diet, I had opted for a more "go with the body" feel, I still ended up naturally gravitating to the Paleo template. However, this post is not about that. I will update more on it later as I have found that friends and family ask me about it and I find myself hesitant to really delve into the topic. It usually ends up being more about defending the "Paleo" or trying to simplify a description of it, which in turn, does not answer any questions and spreads the mis-perceptions about the diet (which it really IS NOT a diet, it is a eating lifestyle). Anyways, more about that later on how it was to transition to Paleo and my assessment of it since trying it.
Long story short, I have scoured the internet looking for recipes for cooking up healthy, yummy foods, because I like food and I like eating yummy food.. and healthy food can indeed be yummy. This is one of the recipes I came across which I simply have to share! Instead of ice cream made from dairy milk and loaded with sugar, frozen bananas blended in a food processor creates a consistency and texture of ice cream with a light banana taste. Throw in raw, unsweetened cocoa powder or strawberries/fruit, and you have yourself a frozen ice cream-like treat which is just as yummy and much more healthy than ice cream! Yah! Four bananas makes a pint of banana-cream. It's cheaper and easier than regular ice cream. Win Win!
Here are the sources for more detailed photos and step-by-step instruction (images taken from links below):
Original Post from www.thekitchn.com
Secondary Post from userealbutter.com
Another post for Strawberry or Peach Banana Ice Cream
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Oh, what a DAY!
This photo sums it all. Ignore the fact that it's a little blurry and you'll see a little 2 year old excited and having a blast at her 2-year birthday party. We did manage to get a party going with last-minute planning, and luckily, everything fell into place.
Even with last minute invites, most of her little friends made it out to celebrate her day with her. Party was a success with all the little ones having a blast.
There were costumes and dress up and a puppet stage for imaginations to run wild.
There was a boat, rigged with a slide.. you know, in case a quick get-away is needed.
There was a construction set to build whatever the kids wanted to knock down...
Or sit on and gnaw...
She had tons of fun running to and fro, playing with this and that, independent play...
as well as sharing and playing with friends...
Who's boy is that??!
Liam was a good sport, hanging out and taking it all in without a fuss, letting his big sister enjoy her 2-year old day. Oh what a day!
Even with last minute invites, most of her little friends made it out to celebrate her day with her. Party was a success with all the little ones having a blast.
There were costumes and dress up and a puppet stage for imaginations to run wild.
There was a boat, rigged with a slide.. you know, in case a quick get-away is needed.
There was a construction set to build whatever the kids wanted to knock down...
Or sit on and gnaw...
She had tons of fun running to and fro, playing with this and that, independent play...
as well as sharing and playing with friends...
Who's boy is that??!
Liam was a good sport, hanging out and taking it all in without a fuss, letting his big sister enjoy her 2-year old day. Oh what a day!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
A Liam Dose
Typical routine busy-ness going on... still have a bunch of catching up to do, so I'll simply leave this post with a dose of Liam... and the rare occasion that his hair is semi-fixed.
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