January 15th, 2009
As in Yoda served to Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. Not as in I cooked Yoda up in a stew. Although, my husband just about has my daughter convinced of the latter.
Amazingly, this has made it into the Parker family recipe book. First of all, let me say, we started a Star Wars lapbook a couple of months ago. It’s slow going because I’m making this one from scratch. If you have any cool ideas or spots you go to, please send ‘em my way. I’ll, in turn, give you everything I collect when it’s all done.
Yo?
Now, back to the stew. Yes, I’m quite serious. At one of our favorite sites: StarWars.com/kids I came across this recipe: Yoda’s Incredible Herb Stew. We made a few changes. And the pictures here are from the first time we tried it. We ate it again tonight with a few more changes. My whole family eats it. Maybe because it’s cool. But I’ll tell ya, my honey and I eat it because it tastes amazing.
YODA’S INCREDIBLE HERB STEW
changed by me
1 pound ground beef or ground turkey – browned
Salt to taste, if desired
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 – 1/2 cup dried parsley
1 finely chopped onions
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic (I use the jar kind)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground basil leaves
1 teaspoon (canned) finely chopped mild green chilies
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 bay leaf
2-3 peeled baking potatoes
Saute onions and garlic in olive oil. In a large pot combine ground meat, onions, and garlic. Add all the rest of the ingredients and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then lower temp and simmer for an hour. Serve with toasty bread.
The changes that were made were either or necessity – I didn’t have the spices that I eliminated or substituted. I didn’t have spinach, but probably wouldn’t use that much of it anyway, because my kiddos more than likely wouldn’t eat as much, and we don’t it lamb. Not a stand, just a yuck and way too much money. If you try this and either try the original recipe or a different version let me know – I’d love to know how your crew likes it!
It was a hit!
January 13th, 2009
I told you I hung a sheet and drew with permanent marker a fireplace in order to hang the stockings of my children for Christmas.
I never said we weren’t ridiculous.
And to answer the “did Santa come down it?” question, well, it was that or he has a master key.
January 10th, 2009
Today we took my honey to work. And as he was getting out of the van, my toddler (21 months) said with the saddest little face, “Where Dad-dy going? Where Dad-dy going? Dad-dy stay?” Not that surprising, you say?
Well then you have not been reading here very long. If you have, then your jaw is dropping. This child begs for Daddy now. Wants to play with him, be with him, sit with him. Is distraught when he leaves. Asks about him when he’s gone.
The others did this too. It’s just that the change is much more dramatic with TheBaby~est. That being, of course, because he hated his daddy. Hated him.
I’m not exaggerating. I wrote about it here, here, here, here, and most especially here at the time. The others as newborns were very fond of their mama, which is endearing, until you begin to realize that it seems as though Daddy is being left out. And then you begin to fret, worry, and generally get paranoid that they won’t “bond” properly. Maybe you, with older children, never had this. I don’t want speculation as to why. Maybe it was all me. Maybe it was because I never left them. Maybe other families never dealt with this. And that’s great. I’m genuinely thrilled for you. But I write this for those of you who are reading this and saying, “Wow, that’s right where I am.” I know if this fourth child would have been my first I would have been devastated, wrought with fear for the future of this baby and his daddy. Being that he was my fourth and I saw the older 3, in varying degrees, go from only mama-babies to daddy’s-play-friends, snubbing mama at every turn for time with Daddy, then I worried a lot less. Don’t get me wrong, you know me, I still worried, just not as much as I would have.
So, to you mamas and daddies that are worried: Fear not. Everything has a season. Mamas – enjoy that sweet cuddle time.
Daddies – your time will come. If it’s as severe as it was with this one, then just ride it out. And know that one day, way too soon, your toddler will cry over your absence as pitifully as they cry for their Mama now. Be encouraged!
January 8th, 2009
Three for the price of one today!
This one I remember my own Mom teaching me. It’s to help with those bunched up sleeves under all those winter jackets. As soon as your toddling little one can follow a direction this is helpful. Notice, my 21 month old is not doing this, but the 3 1/2 year old is! Tell them to do the “sleeve trick” then teach them to hold their sleeve with their hand. They have to master holding it the whole time until they see their hand again.
This next one is how to help little hands peel stickers from a sticker sheet. My kiddos always have trouble getting ahold of the sticker and then not ripping it. So I peel away the in-between sticker thingy and throw it away. Then all they have left are the stickers themselves. So much easier and less frustrating for them.
This last one is a trick I just learned from my cousin-in-law (that is a word, right?) over Thanksgiving. Where’s this been my whole life?! Pull the little triangles up before you give them the juice box, and then tell them to hold the box by its “ears.” No more accidental squirting out all over them! Wow.
January 6th, 2009
Are you kidding me?! I understand the need for safety. I’m all about safety. But as of February 10, 2009 I will be committing an illegal act by trying to sell any of my baby quilts or Dress-A-Dolls. Really. No one will be able to sell anything to anyone under the age of 12 anywhere. Etsy. Their own site. Craft fairs. No where. As a friend of mine said, “Did I wake up in another country, on another planet???”
|
|
|
