Gal Pals!

Our Spring Break has come and gone! Before school resumed today, we managed just one more playdate. So happened it was with girls (again)!

It went pretty well, better than what one boy thought -- Ben, who'd hesitated to go, because even more so than his Gor Gor Jon, he's already at the 'girls live on a different planet' phase for awhile now!



When two's better than one, to share the load...


It's always a bonus to spend time with friends, besides that an outing like this helps children burn up some of their energies that they never seem to run out of! And I always can use more of such downtime! What about you? ;p

Additional playtime outdoors, after our Science Centre visit, when the rains held back a little!



Now for me to get back to my Operation Cleanup/Pack Up, that I'd swept under the carpet! Not just the vacuuming and mopping that are trickier to get done with two kids tearing through the house leaving a constant trail of toys, Legos, books...

Hope you pack in the most you can, for the week! Have a good one =)

Nothing really blossoming yet over our side, but these hardier greens are a nice reminder that the showers and thunderstorms we've been getting, will bring spring blooms!

Donut or hole...

... which do you see?

Here's another fun thing to do with refrigerated biscuit dough! And because simple baking like this is always "better than playdough!", I saved the recipe that had come banded together with some Pillsbury country style biscuits, to try out for the first time with Ben.

What you need to make these Sugar Donuts (or doughnuts, as they are called here):
One can of biscuit dough -- yields 10 donuts, and 10 centres (that in the absence of a round-shaped cookie cutter, a small plastic cup did the trick for us to hollow out the centre); and 3 TB butter and 1/3 cup sugar are enough to coat the dough, in that order...


So, how do these semi-homemade donuts stack up?


Not quite the Dunkin' Donut or Krispy Kreme you may be familiar with. But it's so lip-smacking, finger-licking good...


Jon helped make more, the second time round!


With some 20 donuts and 20 centres, we shared them with our neighbour's kid and her friend who happened to be over at her place.

There was a little incident after that, when the two girls asked if only Jon could go play with them in the neighbour's backyard. But Ben in his enthusiasm, ran after them, faster than I could put on my shoes. And then, when our door wasn't working properly, I was behind them by a few minutes. By the time I got to the neighbour's backyard, Ben had just flung himself off the swing, right into Jon who was still swinging away quite hard next to him!

I was upset with myself for not having got there faster, even though the whole thing had happened in a flash. Upset also that I had to remind Jon to spare a thought for Ben, when Jon asked if he could stay on to play. But he apparently did not not see all that blood filling up in Ben's mouth. I also tried not to think how this neighbour has a knack for leaving her child with us, and suffice to say she stayed indoors the whole time this incident happened. But Ben was crying so hard, I had to let the girls know the boys and I needed to head home first, for me to know if Ben was alright.

"Love your neighbour as yourself", but am I alone in thinking it's not always easy to be a good neighbour? And while it's nice that our neighbour's child likes to come over to play, I can't always oblige and don't want to make a habit out of it (know what I mean?). Evenings can be quite crazy, when we've just come back after Jon's school, having to settle him down to homework, and with Ben to think about, too. And I do not want to leave both boys, and our neighbour's child, all by themselves in our backyard, when I have to be indoors preparing dinner, or trying to finish up on laundry or some other chore.

Still, I know we mustn't take our neighbours for granted. And there is this dear elderly couple who'll check on us now and then, and that's not easy to come by, the exchange of random gestures. (Remember that clump of hailstones? It was theirs!).

Thank God, only Ben's lower lip was bleeding, and there was just a superficial wound on the chin. Eventually, when the old trick of sugar worked to stop the bleeding, and it was a relief, too, that I hadn't locked ourselves out, we went and asked our neighbour's kid and her friend to come over to our place instead, to continue their playdate.

And that's when all the children helped themselves to more of the donuts! The mothers, when they came to get their girls, didn't seem to mind. Guess a sweet treat every now and then is OK! And well, if you stretch it a little, you could say the donuts were mini lifesavers for our "accidental" playdate! =)



It worked for us:
You could make the donuts plain, as called for in the recipe. I was also thinking melted chocolate -- like sprinkles and choc, or even nuts and choc, but the boys weren't keen on having any chocolate or nuts. So we just added these rainbow sprinkles, and they worked for us quite well!

Maybe you'll like to give them a try, too?

Mind over matter?

It's almost the end of the week-long spring break! The boys have been keeping me really occupied with their lots more than usual of Jon vs. Ben/Ben vs. Jon moments, that's hard to just leave them be. Besides me trying to keep up with them, and keep them out of mischief.

There are also a few things on my mind. One of them is Jon's frequent visits to the bathroom for a couple of weeks now. More than I'm already going, as you'll expect, but I have a valid (you may say, "bigger") reason for doing so.

By this week, when he's been consistently going as often as four to five times every hour (how not for a mother to worry!), we finally made an appointment for him to see the pediatrician. Jon did his urine test today, and thank God, the results were normal! The doctor said it could be a psychological thing.

I went through a similar phase when I was in Primary 1 -- raising my hand every so often to ask the teacher oh-so-politely, "May I be excused?". So much so, my elder sis had to be called in, from her classroom one floor up, to find out if there was anything wrong with me. But I don't remember if my constant urge to go had just gone away like that.

For women, there's the Kegel exercise that can go a long way to help incontinence. What about for children? Any suggestions for what I can do to discourage Jon from still going so often, other than to play it down? Thanks!

White Easter here!

How'd your Easter go?

Over our end, while spring has started, the last frost may not be over yet. Imagine our pleasant surprise when fluffy snow started coming down this morning, and continued on and off throughout the day!

It sure wasn't in the forecast, when we checked the day before. But watching the snowflakes fall from the sky, I said to the husband that the heavenlies must be raining down white confetti to celebrate the risen Christ! ;p

It was the familiar song, "In Christ Alone" -- for which a mime was done at the Christian school's Easter service the other day, that caused tears to well up in my eyes. The same song, we sang in church today, just when I had been trying to look for the lyrics. And like an answered prayer, there it was, in black in white, in the bulletin!

Now to share it with you also, here's one of many videoclips for the song, available on Youtube! Maybe you had just sung it this weekend, too? I still have the tune playing in my head =).



Oh, the love of God, the love of Jesus!

In Him, we stand.

Riding on Spring!

First day of spring, two days ago. Loveliest weather all week!

A great time for errands especially, considering it's been mostly wet weather, with more rain coming up, and I sprang into my "Seize the Day" mode! But picture a not-so-patient Ben having to bear with a "You are taking forever!" mommy, even when I was trying my best to get this and that done as fast as possible.

After Jon's school, we finally squeezed in some real outdoor time! I was going to take the boys to the playground only, but with how there have been way too many of sunny skies one day, and gloomy the next, we tried to make the most of the day. And we ended up saying "hi" to this larger-than-life rhinocerous beetle, a few butterflies, some reptiles, and penguins, and sea lions, too!

All this, while Vern was working hard at his exam, and he was still at it when the boys and I settled down for dinner.

A quick stir-fry of shrimp and mushroom with asparagus, and boneless chicken thighs that take faster to cook than the bone-in variety. A meal like this is quite easily done in about 30 minutes!


Lovely greens, like these baby asparagus, springing up in grocery stores now!

Elsewhere in St Louis and other parts of the Midwest, things were looking bleak when spring made its entrance. Major rivers were flooded from days of heavy rainfall, and melting snow from the northern area. Some 1,000 people were reported to be in shelters, and at least one highway had to be closed.

Thankfully, the waters are beginning to recede today, and the situation expected to improve by Monday.

To one and all reading this, you have a blessed Easter now! Catch you later, and sorry if I've not been able to respond to your tags.

Like mommy...

I'm making breakfast,

and in struts Jon...

doing his Big Mommy imitation!!!

What can I say?

Nothing like a erm belly full of laughter, in any home! Hahaha!

Oh, and here's dear Jon with the "real McCoy!" ;p

About halfway there.
Mugshot taken earlier in the week, at the end of Week 19.

Dented

Kena langa-ed!

Sigh! Or should I say, Bummer?!!

Someone backed up into our car at the school carpark. Good thing no one was hurt. Ben and I were inside the building when it happened.

But there are a few dents on our car -- the door, and the part next to the tyre, and some paint got scratched off.

The other party's car looked OK; its bumper must have cushioned the knock.

I know that repairs for dents can come to quite a lot. Hopefully, the other person's insurance will be able to cover the damages. Because none of us would want that kind of dent in our pocket!

It's not a good time though, with exams for Vern tomorrow and Friday. And I'm feeling his stress. But go ahead, call me a "female chauvinist" (is there even such a term?), I still prefer to leave such matters to him. The repairs will just have to wait a bit.

Now I'm not surprised if this isn't the first accident to take place in the school carpark. The carpark is on an incline, and like a lot of other mommies who are our children's chauffeur, I may be in the carpool line up to three times a day, but manoeuvring the bends and parked cars, to join two moving lines of cars, can be pretty tricky.

Maybe it's knowing that, it was the reason why the word "Bummer!" didn't cross my mind... until now! Nonetheless, the fact that the other party had bumped into our stationary car, although the car park wasn't that full then, is a reminder for me to be careful. And also not to take the Lord's protection for granted.

Guess what's this...

Sago? Boba?

Have a closer look...

What do you think it is?

Now, see it within context...

Still "catch no ball"?

Here's more of the same thing...

And if you haven't already guessed so...

It's the pea-size hail that struck this morning!

"Plop, plop, plop!", the pellets hit the roof so fast and furious, like rain coming down in torrents! I scrambled to the window and snapped these shots of the view outside.

Then, as suddenly as the hail had fallen, it stopped! Just. Like. That.

We've seen hail here before, but think this one bags the biggest size award (although hailstones can be as large as golf balls and tennis balls even!) .

Our neighbour, whom we happened to drop in with some muffins, was the clever one who bagged the clump -- as you see in the first two pictures -- to show her husband. He was out at that point, and there might not have been hail where he was.

I used it to convince Jon and Ben, too, who were at school, and had missed out on the "action". They thought mommy was making it all up. But no better proof than the real thing, right?

Still, pretty scary, if you ask me! And you know, I could have just been done grocery shopping, walking out of the supermarket and straight into the hail, had I not changed plans and come home after sending the boys to school.

Good thing it was only like a passing shower, and hopefully didn't hurt anyone or cause any damage to rooftops or cars.

It's almost spring!

Less than a week, and winter ends. But outside, leaves haven't grown back on trees, and the critters seem to be in hibernation still. I see only one robin, and at any one time just one squirrel scurrying across the backyard.



Thankfully, the weather's let up some -- it's cold but not that cold, with temperaures slightly above freezing, for most part of the day at least!

Indoors, our only two surviving pots of primrose are faring better. And here's the first fruit of that chilli plant I grew from seeds!

The first fruit of our first chilli plant, but in the absence of bees inside the house, the husband -- who's the one with the green fingers -- becomes the "agent" to the pollinating agent, to take one flower to rub against the other!

Unconventional, but look, it works! And I'll let you know if there are more buds!

I'm trying to pack away our stuff, some at a time, admist the day-to-day activities and chores. And there were a couple things that were nice to do, that I got to squeeze in last week, in-between the usual must-do's.

Like an hour of catching up with a fellow mom, we've been trying to meet since half a year ago! Taking Ben for a developmental screening under the neighbourhood "Parents As Teachers" programme. And being with Jon throughout the full-day chess tournament yesterday, when he'd rather I be there to lend my support, not just drop him off. It worked out well, giving Ben the one-on-one time he always craves, and enjoys, with his daddy.



But it is a stressful period for Vern, and I try to get the boys out of his hair, and not bother him with anything if I can help it. Except to lug our heavy loads of laundry up and down the basement, and it's nice when he takes the trash outside. Anything more, and my dear husband has asked, "How did our grandmothers do it?" (I don't know, I just roll my eyes, and continue to salute all grandmothers! ;p And I appreciate and mustn't take for granted, what a great help Vern is with our boys).

Then, when the sun came out, just before the showers hit by week's end, I jumped at the perfect excuse to drop my chores for a bit. Made a detour on the way home, after going with Ben to pick Jon up from school. Where did we go?

To the library, because it has a playground just next to it! That way, the boys could get some playtime before and after Jon got his homework done. And while Jon did his worksheets and reading, I entertained Ben with more books on those creatures that once roamed the earth, that our little dinosaur aficionado picked out himself.

So there we were, at the playground, two days in a row...

Jon and Ben sit on the swings. One of the days, they are munching these microwaved popcorn, that are a cinch to prepare for a light snack.

And then I give them each, "One Super Deluxe (swing) coming up!"

"It feels like flying," exclaims Jon, "except we are upside down!"

And Ben goes, "Higher, higher!".

We hang our heads back, and stare at the lovely blue sky! And take in that warm sunshine!

Ahhh... sun! Ahhh to moments like these -- to sit back and relax!

This may sound odd to some of you, and never mind that I don't sing well, but being on the swings has a way of making us burst into song. It was, "Our God is an awesome God!", on both days, an all-time favourite with Jon and Ben. Often, I'll ask the boys to pick a song, too, for us to sing together, as countdown to when they'll jump off the swings, before we head home!

It's a new week... hope you find some time to watch the clouds, too! Have a great one now! =)

Not exactly Spring Chicken, but here's one chicken that my boys will eat again and again. I use a soya sauce based marinade with practically everything: salt, pepper, sugar, oyster sauce, either rice vinegar or rice wine, and I prefer maple syrup to honey because it always turns out sweeter somehow!


But I haven't figured out what's the best way to roast it. Sometimes I flip the thighs and drumsticks midway. Sometimes I change to the "broil" mode towards the end, but if I leave it on for too long (without covering the chicken with foil), I've triggered the smoke alarm... no kidding!

What's your secret to a perfect roast? Do share!

In the mood for food

This isn't a particular craving...


... just felt like a fast food post! Not fast food as in McDonald's, but food that's quick and simple (simple enough) to make.

Like fellow moms with more on our plate besides just cooking and grocery shopping to do, these are the kinds of meals that work for me a lot.

This was our satay chicken dinner on Saturday night, with some shrimp and green beans, all cooked in the oven...


... turned lunch the next day (below), with a little tweaking...

Now burgers aren't our regular meal to eat at home, but all it took was a few minutes to fry the tomato, and omelete to beef up the chicken. And throw in some lettuce, and it makes for quite a decent midday meal. It was a hamburger bun for one boy, dinner rolls for the other (who's hardly a burger person), and the English muffin (as shown) for us the mom and dad, but all quite easily done.

And the strategy here that I rely on, besides the one-meat, one-vegetable policy, is:
To cook more for dinner, to roll over to the next day's lunch!
Increasingly, I'm applying it to not just our weekday meals, but also over the weekends now, because the time between church on Sunday and Jon's Chinese class is pretty tight to grab anything more than just nuggets and burgers.

Another night's apricot pork dinner (below, left), and lunch the next day (below, right) that this other trick of varying the meal a wee bit with a change of carbo -- macaroni in this instance, instead of rice -- is what I've managed to get by with!

And something like this works especially well, on any of the three days Ben has school, because rice can still be quite a mess for him to eat!

Cooking is a part of my life everyday, the way it wasn't back home when I worked and had domestic help. And now, having to whip up good enough meals to satisfy my finicky eaters, I've realised some things might have been easier to cook for two. Which was where I'd left off my really rusty cooking skills before -- whatever little I had of them -- cooking for just the husband and me, but only when we didn't work late.

For two, it's easy to do a quick stir-fry of meat and/or vegetables, or pop some fish or chicken to steam, or use the rice cooker to do a claypot of sorts. Yet, there's also just so much you can fit into a skillet, wok, or rice pot.

For large quantities, with enough portions to roll over to the next day, here are two ways I use a lot for my family now:

(1) Cook a big pot of stew, braised this or that
Still, I try to wait a week at least, to cook something vaguely similar. Because somehow, my boys aren't always thrilled over such bowls of "all-in-one goodness", no matter how I vary the taste.

Beef stew, braised honey chicken, pork stew, and braised beef with star anise...



A vegetable soup made out of meat bones, like this winter melon one, is fine as a side. But a more "substantial" kind like chicken soup, with greens I cook separately and add to it, is my preferred choice if I only have time to make the pot of goodness our main dish...



(2)Place trays of different kinds of "goodness" into the oven to cook:
I especially like how direct this method is, and how much you can fit into the oven -- just marinade/season the food, and let it cook away!

Curry chicken with shrimp and lady's fingers -- all cooked in the oven, like the toufu, too, which makes for a really simple side dish...

This curry chicken is one alternative to the different combinations and permutations you can play around with a soya-sauce based type of seasoning. This simple marinade works for us:
Curry powder, with salt and sugar, and I like to add some maple syrup or honey too, just to sweeten it, so my spice-challenged three guys won't complain there's too much heat!

Even for fish, instead of steaming it over water in a wok like I still do but with chicken, I use the oven now. As it's frozen fish I always get here, the oven allows me the option to switch it to the "broil" mode towards the end if I think the fish is somehow still "fishy"!

Alternatively, placing the fish in a foil package can seal in the moisture and liquids quite well, to simulate the usual steaming effect. Many a time, I still prefer to use a soya-sauce based seasoning and all the usual works, more than a western, herbed kind of seasoning that I alternate with now and then, for our simple baked fish...

Teriyaki salmon (with just Teriyaki sauce and lemon/lime juice), and cod fish with the usual soya sauce and whole works...

... I like these with porridge!

And while we are already on the topic of the oven, have you also tried
Using the oven to do a "fake-it" deep fry of this and that?

Cornflake chicken, anyone?


Call me "suaku", but I didn't know until coming here and experimenting a bit with the oven, that it works quite well for deep-frying, minus all the oil splattering around on the stovetop that I'm not keen about.

So far, I've only done breadcrumbs for chicken (I like to season it lightly with salt and pepper, and just coat it with flour, egg, then breadcrumbs), and for fish fillet (sometimes using pineapple juice for a change to get the breadcrumbs to stick, instead of flour and egg). Think I'm going to try it with pork chop soon! Yes, in the oven!

The other day, when our storebought breadcrumbs were running low, I saw this nice recipe for Crunchy Onion Chicken on Blur Mommy's Kooky Culinary blog. I don't have the French Fried Onion that the recipe calls for, but her alternative of cornflakes was what worked for me. And no problem either, with adapting it to chicken thighs and drumsticks.

After that, I chanced on a similar recipe in a food magazine at the library -- to coat cod fish fillet, cut into bitesize, with cornflakes, after seasoning it with some oil, salt, and pepper! And like the chicken, you just have to leave it in the oven to bake at 400C, till it's cooked.

Want to give these a try? My boys are more used to the breadcrumbs version, than cornflakes, but it's certainly another way to vary my cooking options!

Nothing like homecooked food...
Straightforward ways such as these, work well for us, and particularly on days when I have to do more shuttling between home and school to fetch the kids, with or without any errands thrown in-between. Maybe I'll do a separate, shorter post another time, on those 'shortcut' bowls of the noodles and pasta kind, that are what I rely on for lunch when for some reason the extras from dinner doesn't exist, or doesn't work so well, and I have to come up with something fast.

For now, I know Jomel will agree -- food, homecooked food no matter how simple it is, can be so comforting, don't you think?

And the COMFORT of all comfort foods, and in the absence of delicious homebaked goods for snacktime or dessert (that are harder for me to find time to make, and even then, it's nothing complicated), there's always...

ICECREAM AND FRUITS to wrap up a homecooked meal! YUM!!!

Yes, even in the dead of winter, and we can eat this every day... just vary the flavour of the icecream and fruit! Of course, yogurt with fruit makes for a healthier option, but ask our boys, and they will pick icecream, for sure!

Have a yummylicious rest of the week now! God bless!