Veggie Mama Loves

Hi. I’ve spent most of this day (nay, most of this week) with a nit comb in my hand. Why won’t they die? WHY?!!

Apart from that, the weekend has been awesome for resting and recovering after a full-on few weeks. I was out three nights last week as well as working almost non-stop, so by the time Saturday morning rolled around I was done. I had a city date with a friend at 11 and I was like “dude, I can’t even get out of my PJs let alone function as a human in polite society” and she laughed and said she felt the same.

I wore those pyjama pants alllllll day long.

I’ve been reading and pottering about and making playdough and cooking and more reading and ignoring the vacuuming (again) and combing frigging nits and going to bed early and having hot baths and facilitating watercolour painting sessions and standing on playdough and getting flour all over my new pants and watching football (sort of) and eating and generally faffing about at a snail’s pace. I can’t complain, y’know? Life’s pretty all right.

Reads

Getting to the end of my zen with Smalls and her slim food choices and I think if I can’t turn this ship around I’m going to have to check in with a professional to make sure all’s well. I’m not angry, just worried that if we don’t do enough now she might never “grow out of it”. I mean she’s been a selective eater since she ever started eating food, and has never had a big appetite. But three years of a pretty minimalist diet can’t be fantastic (particularly her first three years of you know, life), so I’m storing up some ideas to try and bust her out of the rut she’s in. That I’m in.

I’ve gone through Jude Blereau’s Wholefood for Children again and marked a couple of recipes, although neither of my children have ever eaten anything I’ve ever made from that book in the two years I’ve had it, with the exception of Biggie and the carrot + coconut muffins. SIGH.

A couple of cute ideas from the Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book, although mostly I just felt sad that neither of my kids will eat soup.

I’ve been experimenting again with kombucha (although the likelihood either of them will drink that sits at minus 110) and will be doing some kefir tomorrow (likelihood that can get hidden in a smoothie 85% I’ll take those odds) so have been poring over my mate Meg’s Superfood for Life: Cultured and Fermented Beverages, and have my first batch on a second ferment now. I like kombucha, at least. I also like Meg’s writing style and her super-thorough research on digestion and gut health in the book. She’s awesome.

Eats

Ok so last night I did the Southern Fried Tofu but only did egg and cornflour to coat and put it with a Chinese plum sauce. With brown rice and veg, it was the shit.  I also ate it for lunch and it held up well. So many memories of the local Chinese restaurant takeaway as a kid, and pork in plum sauce was my favourite. VERY HAPPY.

Still on the menemen kick, I make it almost every weekend. I was initially skeptical of my interest in eggs cooked in a tomatoey sauce (as shakshuka has never appealed) but with its sweet, mellow capsicum flavour (and a minty yogurt on top) I’m actually surprised at how much I truly love it. I will do a recipe soon, I’ve tweaked it to my liking now.

I also made these flatbreads to go with as we had no bread in the house. The girls ate one each for lunch, one with peanut butter and one with jam, cut into little pinwheels. Probably the best homemade flatbreads I’ve made so far.

Currently have stock in the slow cooker, and will be making some oat bars tomorrow, and probably that pumpkin risotto I talked about last week but never got around to.

Oh before I go – I had the crumbed mushroom and haloumi burger at the Arbory on Wednesday night – DO YOURSELVES A FAVOUR.

Views

Watched the Degrassi episode where Spike finds out she’s pregnant and I cried? I know, I was confused too.

Catching up on Masterchef and wondering if I’m too old to find a 24 year old pretty hot? It’s the eternal question.

Speaking of hot… my husband sent me this the other day:

YES MARCO!

I mean really. Look at that.

I have been missing Masterchef cos I was out watching opera, I took in Pearlfishers on Tuesday night, and La Bohème on Wednesday. Not your everyday viewing, and was rad. I can see it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think its something that’s worth a shot at least once in your life.

Next Thursday night I’m taking Bigs to see The Sound of Music production, which I’m super excited about. I haven’t been to the theatre since Mary Poppins was on offer, so a few years now. I know she’ll love it, it’s always such a visual spectacle. I wouldn’t mind taking her to Matilda too, but we might read the book first.

Listens

Not much! have been too wiped out to do anything other than accept what’s on offer courtesy of Lunchbox. Which is usually fairly eclectic.

Threads

I REALLY need to tell you how I’ve found the black bamboo leggings from the Styling You shop because they are AWESOME. You can move around all day and they NEVER sag at the knee! You hear me? NEVER! They also never move or fall down or get baggy. I wish I’d bought more than two pairs now, I get the feeling I will never be out of them.

Stuff

• Watching these kids play. it’s the actual cutest!
• Nice wine is nice.
• This whole weekend really. More nit combing tonight but then there’s wine and crochet to soothe my frazzled nerves
• The kids getting excited just now to see Jupiter in the sky. They’re now fumbling outside with the telescope, totally adorable.

On This Day

2010: Pizza!

2011: Vegan Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes (today’s link I did last week? I’m so confused)

2012: Stuff I’ve been loving lately (so clever with my titles…)

2013: I was houseproud until I wasn’t

2014: How do you read blogs?

2015: How I get ready for travel: tips for a good trip

aaaaaand I’m out! Gonna go hide some vegetables in dinner… :-/

What’s been good for you this week?