lazy lunch: avocado

For me, one of the worst things about working at home, is that I hate to eat alone. It is not really the eating itself that is the problem...more the motivation to make something, etc. One thing I have realized is that it is really important for me to keep a few things on hand that are healthy but serve as an instant lunch. Avocados are a perfect choice - creamy and full of "good" fat they are also a good source of fiber, vitamans C and E, and potassium. I like to drizzle the fruit with balsamic vinegar or lime juice and a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground pepper and eat it straight from the skin with a spoon. 

construction paper sculptures

The last time Lila and Lauren were at our house the girls decided they wanted to do an art project but we did not want to start something that was too involved. Lauren remembered the construction paper sculptures that kids were making when we visited the Children's Museum of the Arts. The only supplies needed were contruction paper, scissors, and glue sticks and we had it all.

 

I had borrowed a cool paper cutter from my friend Jodi that the kids love to use. It makes cutting nice straight strips a breeze. Bea and Lila had fun using the cutter and then curling the strips around a pencil to make spirals for their artwork.  I also put the cutter to good use making mini flash cards for Owen out of some index cards. 

rhubarb lemonade

When I saw beautiful rhubarb at the store I could not resist buying it but I really didn't have time to bake a pie. I decided to make a rhubarb simple syrup that could be used to make lemonade or flavor seltzer. It barely took any time at all and it is delicious and so pretty.

RHUBARB SIMPLE SYRUP

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups water

3 stalks rhubarb, cut into 4 inch lengths, spit in half if stalks are thick.

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepot and bring to a boil. Add rhubarb and reduce to a simmer. Cook about 10 minutes. Allow syrup to cool before transfering to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to use.

RHUBARB LEMONADE

1 cup freshly queezed lemon juice

1 1/3 cups rhubarb syrup 

2 cups water

lots of ice

Fill a pitcher with ice and combine lemon juice, rhubarb syrup and water. Stir to combine and serve immediately.

young gardeners

 

I recently had someone come and help me with our rooftop gardens...a few things had died (thanks to the cats designating the pots as a good litter box substitute) that I wanted to replace. In addition, there are always things, such as pruning, that I am too unsure of to do myself. It all went very well and I was so happy to have crossed something off the never ending to do list. Then two things happened. First, my dear cats relocated to different pots that they had ignored prior to our replanting, digging up some strawberies and herbs, much to my horror. Second, my kids were really disappointed not to get to do some of the gardening themselves. Luckily the first situation necessitated a bit more work, so the kids got to help after all.

Oliver is particularly obsessed with the garden and ran excitedly through the shop wanting to buy everything in sight. Like me he has a real affinity for succulents so we bought quite a few of those. We also got some ground cover to fill in around the plants where the cats were digging. Oliver took charge of the planting when we got home, and allowed Bea work with him...I found that to be extra special since the two don't always like to cooperate with one another. I also loved seeing my city kids taking the opportunity to learn and explore nature. Even just a small job in the garden amused them for hours.

mushroom birthday party

In honor of my young friend Coco's birthday, which we sadly missed while we were away, I thought it might be a nice time to share the great party Page threw for her last year. Page has been obsessed with mushrooms for as long as I have known her, and now that love has passed on to Coco. That prompted an Alice-in-Wonderland-style fantasy mushroom party that was visually amazing. Page made enormous paper mache mushrooms and painted them bright red and white and used them to decorate the lovely little barn on their property. In addition to the giant mushrooms she also made a smaller version by twisting brown paper bags so that the bottom of the bag becomes the top of the mushroom and the twisted part makes the stem. These were also used to decorate the barn, and were tucked into the lawn too.

As an activity for the party she gave each of the kids a canning jar and let them make little terrariums filled with moss and tiny mushrooms which they then got to take home as the party favor. Another nature themed activity was a scavenger hunt: the kids had to find a feather, a rock, moss, mushrooms, and a dandelion...all things that were naturally present in their yard. Last but not least, she painted a few large boxes with bright orange paint (there were bright green ones too but somehow I neglected to take a picture!) and cut windows and a door in it to make a little clubhouse on the lawn...and I almost forgot...there were enough big red balls scattered on the lawn that there was constant motion as all the kids kicked and threw the the balls. The whole party was great fun and so pretty.

mango rice

Inspired by Thai cooking, I love the sweet flavors of coconut and mango combined with the fresh bright flavor of cilantro. I make this dish when I notice great mangoes in the store. It combines well with something a little spicy such as the spice rubbed shrimp I posted earlier this week.

MANGO RICE

1 can coconut milk

1 1/2 cups basmati rice

1 ripe mango, peeled,  and diced

1 red pepper, core and seeds removed, finely diced

1/3 cup freshly chopped cilantro

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Lime wedges

Place coconut milk in a liquid measuring cup and add enough water to equal 2 3/4 cups liquid. Place in a pot with the rice and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover, cooking until all the liquid has been absorbed, about 15-18 minutes. Turn off heat and allow rice to sit for a few minutes. Stir in the diced mango, red pepper, cilantro and salt and serve with a wedge of lime.

spice rubbed shrimp

Making a dry spice rub is such a simple way to season things, in this case adding both flavor and color to grilled shrimp. These spices combine well with a sweet accompaniment such as mango rice (I will post that recipe next) or a fresh fruit salsa. This is enough spice rub for about 3 pounds of shrimp but once you make the mixture you can just use about a teaspoon per pound of shrimp and save the rest for another day.

SPICE RUBBED SHRIMP

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon corriander

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

pinch cayenne

3 pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined, tails left intact

2 tablespoons olive oil

Heat grill or preheat oven to broil. Combine all spices in a small bowl. Place shrimp in a large bowl and sprinkle spice mixture over them and stir to combine. Drizzle with olive oil to coat. Arrange shrimp in a single layer on grill or on a sheet pan if cooking in the oven, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until opaque. Serve with lemon or lime wedges.

blood orange salad

When we were in Rome blood oranges were everywhere, and if you ordered orange juice it was usually blood orange juice. We bought them in the market near our apartment everytime we shopped and they were incredibly sweet and juicy. When we got home Bea and I were at the Food Coop and she saw the blood oranges and asked if we could buy more. This salad reminded me of our trip.

BLOOD ORANGE SALAD

2 blood oranges

2 navel oranges

1 small head of bibb or butter lettuce, washed and torn into pieces

1/2 fennel bulb, very thinly sliced, and a few fennel fronds

handful of fresh mint leaves

extra virgin olive oil

1 lemon, meyer if possible

coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Slice the top and bottom off the oranges and remove pith and peel following the curve of the fruit so that the pulp is exposed and the outer membrane is removed. (See sectioning citrus if this is confusing.) Slice into rounds. Combine the lettuce, fennel, and mint leaves in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and juice of the lemon. Arrange oranges on top and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

travel sketchbooks

When we went on our extended family vacation to Rome my Mom brought sketchbooks for each of the kids. We asked them to draw a picture or write something at the end of each day, but we also brought them on many of our outings. It was wonderful way to document the trip, and a really fun way to see what stood out in the kids minds. I love all the drawings they did, and stories they wrote, but the memory that stands out the most is from the day we went to Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, and the Forum. We had waited in a very long line and had climbed a windy path to the top of the hill and decided to sit down and rest for a bit. The kids all got out their books and started drawing, getting totally absorbed. Everyone who walked by smiled or commented at the sight of these little kids sketching Rome, which only made the kids more proud of their work.

Owen's drawing of Palatine Hill. He really loves to do architectural drawings! 

Of the 4 kids, Owen was the one who really embraced the journal concept.
 We all loved reading his "Dear Me," entries each night.

Oliver's drawing of Gladiators; note the gelato spoon columns.

 Oliver loved taking the metro (buying the tickets and collecting the used
tickets were favorite pastimes of all the kids).

Bea did this drawing of St. Peter's Basilica on the day of our arrival. We drove by it in the taxi on the way to our apartment. I was amazed at how much detail she noticed in that brief moment...and almost fainted when she labeled it from her memory of the conversation in the car!

I neglected to mention in my first Rome post that we were in Rome for Easter. None of us are Catholic but my Dad and I both were intrigued with the idea of going to the Vatican on Easter Sunday and seeing the crowd and possibly seeing or hearing the Pope. This was not unanimous, and we all knew it was as crazy as going to Times Square on New Year's Eve (something none of us would ever consider!!) but we decided to go. We got there just as the Pope gave his blessing but we could not get very close since the crowd was so big. At lunch that day Bea drew this picture. When she finished drawing the Pope she started on the female figure and I asked her who it was. She said it was the Pope's girlfriend. I explained that the Pope is not allowed to have a girlfriend, that he has to dedicate his life to God. She shrugged and without missing a beat labeled her drawing God. I love it!

This is Lila's entry on our first day. We rented one big apartment that had room for almost all of us, and then a second little apartment in the same building for one couple. I love all the details she included in this drawing. We were at the top of a cobblestone street, in an apartment building with lots of winding stairs, roof terraces, and big shuttered windows. She even included the daybed on the roof where Ben took a nap that day!

None of us had ever been Castel Sant'Angelo before and we really enjoyed exploring the huge fortress. This drawing of the Angel by Lila is one of my favorites...I guess I let that show a little too much. Bea got jealous and tried to copy it.

roman holiday

Last week was spring break for us, the holiday we traditionally spend with my parents and my sister Lauren and her family. This year the destination was Rome! We all loved the idea but were a little nervous about it too...would the kids enjoy sight seeing when they have grown accustomed to spending this holiday on the beach? Would they be interested in the history and art? The short answer is they loved every minute of it! From day one they were full of energy and approached every outing with delight.

We did do a little to prepare them. First of all, we bought This is Rome and Ancient Rome, knowing that most kids enjoy seeing familiar books come to life. Secondly, my mom brought each child a sketch book -- more on that in my next post! Last but not least, I recommend the guide book Rome with Kids. It was full of suggestions on how to beat the lines and gave hints about how much time various sights would take. It aslo had fun suggestions of how to engage the kids...for example, there was a list of things to look for on the Vatican grounds if you climbed to the top of the Basilica at St. Peter's.

One of the truly special things about Rome is all the ancient history...something I knew the boys would be interested in, especially since they have learned a bit about it in school. The stories are right up their alley...gladiators fighting bears certainly captivated their imaginations! There is something about standing in the vast Colosseum that was very exciting for all of us, looking down and imagining what would have been going on below.

While planning the trip, I was most apprehensive about whether or not the kids would have much interest in the art and architecture. While I was pretty sure the Forum and Colosseum would be interesting for them, I was pretty sure that the Vatican might not be. At the same time, I felt strongly that no trip to Rome was complete without seeing the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Amazingly, the kids were troopers for it all...even more amazing since we left those sights for the last day so had to cram in both into one exhausting and long day.

The highlight of the Basilica was climbing to the top of the dome. You can take an elevator up halfway and the sight within the church at this mid level is mindblowing. It is amazingly vast, and the mosaics and architecture are really spectacular. Then you wind up through very narrow passages filled with stairs to the very top. This time the view is of all of Rome and a great overview of Vatican City. The only downside is that it is a popular thing to do so very very crowded. Still, the kids thought all the stairs were great fun and they did manage to spot most of the things the guidebook suggested. As you finish the climb you are dropped into the Basilica itself and can walk through to see the art. Sadly, the Pieta is now behind plexiglass but it is still pretty amazing to see. The kids enjoyed hearing that Michelangelo was a young unknown sculptor when he made it and that now it is considered one of the best sculptures ever made.

After spending our morning at St Peter's we went for a lunch break so we could rest our legs before tackling the Vatican Museum and seeing the Sistine Chapel. I will admit, that by the time we navigated the mob and the incredible maze of the museum I am not sure the kids had anything left in them to really appreciate the chapel ceiling. I would certainly reserve a whole day for the museum if we were to do it over again. They did get to marvel at many things along the way though. We got to show them a masterful trompe l'oeil ceiling that had us all convinced at least temporarily that the ceiling was actually carved marble. We also saw hundreds of marble statues and each of the kids found aspects of them fascinating...Owen especially wondered how artists carve hard stone and manage to have it look so soft and lifelike. They were also blown away by the intricate tapestries portraying scenes in such detail that you could not believe that it was woven rather than painted. They were also quite curious about all the gore depicted - we had to talk a bit about parts of Christianity that they had been blissfully unaware of up until recently.

As for the architecture, the fact that the ruins are outdoors, and the castles and even churches are full of stairs to climb, means that they got to be very physical most of the time. This is a real plus if you have energetic kids like I do. Walking quietly through the Metropolitan is much harder for them than any place we took them in Rome!

One thing I thought Oliver would be particularly interested in was the work of Leonardo DaVinci since he read a book about him in school recently. Just by chance we found a small exhibit of his machines. It was an interactive show and the kids loved getting to turn all the various cranks and see how things work. It was quite remarkable to realize what a prolific artist and inventor he was...two fields that we often think of as quite different from each other. 

In addition to all of the famous sites we all loved just wandering the streets. My mother was our expert navigator and I have countless photos of her leading our pack. Practically every alley had some magnificent colorful palette or a wall dripping with vines of wisteria or covered in ivy. And all the piazzas were great places to take a people watching break and let the kids run in circles, playing with whatever silly "souvenir" they had talked us into that day.

Last but not least, no report would be complete without mentioning the food. It is hard to go wrong when every imagineable pasta and pizza are standard fare and gelato is allowed every day!! As promised, my Dad got to give Noah his first gelato and it was love at first bite. All in all, we had a wonderful week.