Fun With Animals

We visited my mom and her hubby this weekend. As if there aren't enough animals on mom's property (horses, goats, sheep, and a recently rescued labrador), we decided to take the kids on a field trip to the local zoo. The kids had a blast!

Anyway, I got a little camera crazy at the park, so let's get on with the photos, shall we?

Watch as Zoe gets into a staring contest with an ostrich with an attitude:

The bunnies were oh so friendly! Also, it helped that my kids were feeding them banana chips:


This toucan was sooo ready for his closeup! After I took this shot, he proceeded to get in the way of the other toucan in the cage, to the point that I never got a clear shot of his roommate. Talk about a camera hog:

Never in my life have a seen an iguana as big as this. He also decided to ham it up for the camera. I wonder if the William Morris Agency is representing these guys:

I kept waiting for the iguana to bust out a bottle of Lubriderm lotion, but it never happened. Maybe next time.

P.S.--do any of you internets know why my text is looking all smooshed together? I can't figure it out. I know, that's not surprising given my lack of techie skills. I've given up trying to fix it today, so please forgive me if the text looks a bit wonky.

School's Out for Summer

This morning when I woke Zoe up, her first words were the following: "Summer 2007--The wait is over!!" Gee, think she's excited about school being out or what?

I decided that the best way to get through summer vacation was to develop a plan to keep the kids active, so I picked up a book called The Family Manager's Guide to Summer Survival. It was written by Kathy Peel, and it's full of great ideas to keep the wee ones from being bored, as well as help for setting goals for the summer.

What I find great about the book is that it helped me to look at the different ways I can help my children grow over the summer. Yes, we need to work on helping Zoe develop her writing and math skills; and we want to help Ayden with school readiness. But we want to also promote developing better social skills, get the kids more physically active, and get them to be more responsible around the house. And we want fun!

Tomorrow we're kicking off the summer with breakfast together as a family. I'm making gfcf waffles! (Zoe gets a kick out of that statement--she tries to say it like Donkey in Shrek). Then it's off to the library, and maybe the park. The kids want to have a guitar lesson with their dad in the afternoon--sounds like a full day already! Did I mention my kids still wake up at 6 a.m. even in the summertime?

Have You Seen This Man?

Internets, did any of you see this man on "Dancing with the Stars" last week? For those who have not seen him before, his name is Joaquin Cortes and he's a rock star in the Flamenco world. He performed on t.v. last week, and he was fantastic! Oh. My. God. This man can dance like nobody's business! And don't even get me started on the long hair. Yum.

The Special Mother

I received this via e-mail yesterday from a friend whose child was just diagnosed with Autism. I had read this essay once before, and I think other moms of special needs kids may have seen it before, but it's certainly worth sharing with all of you. If you have a friend with a special needs child, you may want to pass it along.

The Special Mother
by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has her own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

Sushi Anyone?

Yesterday Zoe and I took a trip to our favorite Asian market in search of ingredients to make our own sushi. Zoe digs sushi, particularly California roll (I know it's not technically sushi since it's not raw, but Zoe likes it--so who am I to tell her otherwise?). And I received a set of sushi making and serving materials for Christmas, so it was time to get cracking.

I already had some of the ingredients at home (sesame seeds, ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, wasabi, tamari--I am the Queen of Condiments, after all), so all we needed from the market was some sushi rice, crabmeat, and the nori for rolling. I used the recipe that appears in Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook, replacing the soy sauce for a wheat-free tamari. It was easier to prepare than I thought. Initially the prospect of making sushi seemed daunting; but now that I know how to do it, we'll be making this more often. Everyone loved it, especially Zoe--who was a big help in preparing the rolls.

You Made a Mother Out of Me

Mother's Day at Casa de Flamenco was lovely from beginning to end. I woke up to find Zoe hovering over me with one gift wrapped in newspaper, and another tucked neatly in a paper sack. All the telltale signs of gifts prepared at school--some of my absolute favorite gifts to receive. This keychain was among the gifts Zoe gave to me. Zoe, Flamenco Dad, and Ayden also gifted me with several goodies I had been eyeing at Bed, Bath, and Beyond (Oh, how I love that place!). I got a stick blender, which also has a whisk and mini food-processor attachment. Also I received a kick-ass Santoku knife and bamboo cutting board. I know some folks out there wouldn't consider the kitchenware a good gift idea for a mom. After all, I'm already in the kitchen all day. But I loves me some kitchen tools. Besides, flowers won't last very long, and candy isn't really a good option right now; I am on a diet, remember?

Flamenco Dad prepared a delicious breakfast for us all, complete with his coffee. I swear, I still don't know how he and I both make coffee the same way--but his always tastes better. My sister-in-law, her husband, and their two teenage daughters came over for dinner: which we ordered in. My hubby decided that neither his mom, his sister, or I should have to cook on Mother's Day. I'm telling you, that man is a keeper.

I've already put my gifts to use. In fact, I used the stick blender/food processor to make a fantastic white bean spread, which I served with toasted bread (for the gluten eaters), and veggies (for the gluten free eaters). This recipe comes from the lovely Giada de Laurentiis of The Food Network. It's fresh, creamy, and was a great appetizer. I've got some leftover, which I'm going to use in a vegetarian sandwich.

White Bean Spread

1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

2 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Place the beans, garlic, lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, and parsley in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the bean puree to a small bowl.

Have a Pizza Love

I've been a naughty, naughty blogger for the past several days, no? It's still smoky, hazy, and gross outside--and I'm a little tired of it. Okay I'm a lot tired. I've spent very little time outdoors and cabin fever is setting in. Every time I say that I think of the scene in The Shining when Shelly Duvall's character see's Jack Nicholson's manuscript, which read "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" about eleventy million times. Fortunately I haven't gone that over the edge, but I'm definitely a bit antsy.

I baked this pizza yesterday, and I'm really bummed about not being able to photograph my creation out in my yard. I love having the bright, natural light just steps away from my kitchen door--but it just is not fit for man or beast outside. Boo hoo.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Flamenco, Fire, and Smoke

We had a great show on Sunday. Lots of people showed up to the fundraiser, which hopefully means lots of money raised. I got to try out my new flamenco skirt, which my mother-in-law helped me sew. Actually, she did most of the sewing. Until we started the skirt project I hadn't even sewn a button or a hem, let alone a full skirt with three rows of ruffles. Three! This was not a beginner's project, I don't care what it said on the pattern. Whatever; the skirt turned out great, and I love the color. It's a really pretty turquiose, which looks very vibrant on stage. I'm going to have Flamenco Dad snap a few photos of me in it, which I will post as soon as they become available.

The show went very well. My husband was kind enough to volunteer his services, so he played a few flamenco pieces for the audience. He accompanied me for a dance, and I did two dances with my classmates. The ladies I dance with are twin sisters, and they did a dance called a tanguillo which was very well received. The audience was wonderful! They really enjoyed the show. In fact, a few people inquired about having us perform for other events. My husband made a few business contacts as well.

I live in what many people would say is their dream location. People LOVE Florida. However, right now we are dealing with some nasty air quality conditions. There are wildfires burning in northern parts of the state and southern Georgia, with winds sending smoke directly at us. Schools are cancelling outdoor activities with kids because of the smoke(that means no P.E. outside today). Our local news outlets are warning those with heart or lung problems, the elderly, and children to stay indoors. That means that yours truly is stuck inside, at least until tomorrow--unless it rains before then. So, I'm cooking tonight--there has been quite a lack of cooking going on here lately, hasn't there? Hopefully I'll be breathing freely and taking lovely food photos tomorrow.

I Read The News Today

Zoe gets major kudos today for a job well done. She came home and surprised us with news that she was an anchor on the school's morning program. When I was a kid, there was no such thing as a school morning show, much less one with students working on it. Our district schools have morning announcements on closed-circuit tv, and my baby got to read the news today. Great job, Zoe!

No More Classes, No More Books

Flamenco Dad wrapped up the semester this week, and all I can say is "Whew!" This has been one crazy semester. Aside from his normal workload, he was asked to teach a class in music theory at the community college. On top of that, he took a graduate course in Philosophy. I'm not quite sure how FD got all that accomplished in one semester; seems he's quite good at multi-tasking too (just like his wife).

There is a downside to all the chaos that was this semester. Namely, he didn't get to spend as much time with the kids or me as he would have liked. Summers are always great around here though; Flamenco Dad's schedule is much lighter during summer break. We're looking forward to weekend getaways, field trips with the kiddies, and just vegetating on the couch with great movies and great company. And popcorn.

Now that Dad is home I can tend to pressing matters like my hair, which is rapidly turning gray. I had jet black hair just a few years ago--now, if I don't color it I look like Tip O'Neill. Oh, and maybe I'll get a manicure and pedicure. Did I neglect to mention that my gnarly fingernail NEVER fell off? It looks like I'm a goth girl who was too lazy to break out the nail polish remover, but the nail is still there. I'm on the lookout for a nail polish that will do a good job of covering my partially-black fingernail. Any suggestions are appreciated.

When All Else Fails, Sneak 'Em In

I must confess: I've got it very easy when it comes to feeding my kids veggies. Zoe and Ayden love them. Heck, Zoe eats edamame by the bowlful; and Ayden cannot be parted from his favorite, sweet peas. On occasion, the children will resist trying news things. Case in point: my darling angels turned their noses up at the zucchini I brought home from the supermarket. So, what's a mama to do? Easy--I sneak the veggies into their favorite treats and no one is the wiser.

I baked some fantastic zucchini bread (God bless my Cooking Free cookbook), let it cool, then sliced and wrapped up individual portions for the kiddies. I can pop them in the toaster for breakfast or an afterschool snack, or I can toss one in Zoe's lunchbox to take to school. The bread is delicious and moist. The best part of all is that it passed the all-important taste test. Miss Zoe loved it! Success!

1/4 cup canola oil
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup drained applesauce
1 3/4 cup gluten free flour blend
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/4 cup dark raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 and gread a 9x5 inch nonstick loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine the oil and sugar with electric mixer. Add eggs, vanilla, and applesauce and beat until very smooth. Add flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, and cinnamon. Mix on medium until thoroughly combined. Quickly (and gently) stir in zucchini (and the nuts and raisins, if using). Pour the batter into prepared pan(s). Bake 9x5 loaf for 1 hour, and cool on wire rack before cutting.

In Case You Were Wondering...

This is what Ayden's papi got for him for his birthday. It is official: another guitar lover is born!

Planning My Getaway

Eunice, my college roommate, paid me a visit in January. And during that time we talked about going on a girls' weekend with one of our other girlfriends from school. Planning a trip for three women with very different jobs and responsibilities proved to be a challenge--but was so worth it. Well, after several e-mails to each other, and talks with our respective spouses, jobs, and the like--the trip is on! I'll be sans husband and children as I venture into the mountains of North Carolina come June 7.

I'm beyond excited about this trip (although I've never been away from the Man and the kiddies for that long). One of Liana's colleagues was nice enough to let us use his cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains for our stay. I saw a few pictures of the place, and it is gorgeous. I've gotta say, as a Brooklyn girl, the word cabin conjures up images of a small, rustic building with four walls and raccoons hankering to get into the place so they can eat you. Not very realistic of me, I know. Good news: Liana is a doctor--so I've got medical care available in the event that a killer raccoon attacks me.

This cabin that we're going to? If the pictures are any indication, it's bigger than the house I live in now. And guess what? It's got a hot tub, fireplace, picturesque mountain views, the whole nine yards. The girls and I will spend four days in the mountains, hiking and communing with nature; heck, I may even pick an apple or two. Of course, my husband's idea of girls' weekend was a days-long slumber party with pillow fights, sappy movies, and marshmallows. Well, there may be marshmallows. But beyond that, it's going to be a non-stop gabfest for three friends that haven't been all together--just the girls--in YEARS.

Dusting Off My Dancing Shoes

Since I was sick the end of last year and the beginning of '07, I had to take a hiatus from Flamenco class. Well, I had to take a break from Flamenco dancing in general. I had some major respiratory issues going on, which left me out of breath even after some relatively mild exercise. Now that I'm better, I've been exercising more--which means the dancing shoes are coming back on baby!

I've been invited to perform with some of my classmates at a fundraiser for a local theater company. The event is two weeks away, which leaves me precious little time to get a few of my dances--and me--in fighting shape.The good news is that I still fit into my costumes. The bad news is that I'm hard pressed to find rehearsal time. Flamenco Dad is wrapping up his semester, which means finals, juries, and a rather lengthy research paper he needs to turn in. I'm practicing my routines wherever I can. Ayden has been getting a kick out of watching his mommy fold laundry, dust, and cook while doing the sevillanas, tangos, and rumbas. I'm rehearsing with my classmates this weekend, so I hope to be ready by then.

Orange You Glad...?

This is an orange cake recipe that I adapted from the Food Network website. The original recipe was posted by two chefs, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. Back in the Food Network's infancy, these ladies had a wonderful cooking show called the Two Hot Tamales. The cake is a lovely olive oil cake, not too sweet and oh so moist. I know what you're thinking. "WTF? Olive oil in a cake?" Believe me, I was skeptical the first time I made it. But I'm so glad I put my skepticism aside and baked it; now I'm a believer too.

Orange Cake

3 large eggs

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 cup soy milk

1/2 cup olive oil

1 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix

1 tsp. xanthan gum

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Glaze, optional:

juice of 1/2 naval orange

1 cup confectioner's sugar

1 tsp. corn syrup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease bundt pan and dust with a bit of sugar and gf flour. Beat the eggs with the sugar. Beat in the milk, oil and orange zest. In a small bowl, sift the flour with the xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture 1/3 at a time until well incorporated. Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Remove cake and cool slightly in pan, then invert and cool completely. If using the glaze, combine the orange juice, confectioner's sugar, and corn syrup in a small bowl until thoroughly combined and there are no lumps. Drizzle onto cooled cake.

Note: The glaze really boosts the sweetness quotient of this cake. I've made the cake both with and without the glaze, and it tastes great either way.

Four

Today you are four years old. You entered this world kicking and screaming--and three weeks early. Your papi describes it as an "X-Files" moment. One minute I was lying on an operating table with a doctor looming over me; the next you were here, ready to take on the world.

The day you were born was one of the most joyful, yet scary, days of my life. I was thilled that the day had finally come, and that Zoe's little brother would finally be here. But I was afraid, afraid that the trauma that your sister suffered at birth would be repeated. A first-time mom, I waited for your sister's first cry, which did not come--not until days later. She was a baby born teetering on a precipice between life and death. And as your birth drew nearer, the hopes I had for you were simple: Please, God, let him be healthy. Let me hear that cry and know that he's alright.

I see elements of your dad and me in you everyday. Though make no mistake about it; you have a fire and personality all your own. You are one of the funniest kids I've ever met. You are a flirt, always knowing when to turn on the charm (Lord help me when you get older). You and your sister are best friends, and it shows. You run up and hug me for no particular reason, and it warms my heart.

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby boy.

Getting Over My Split Pea Aversion

I spent the first 30 years of my life avoiding split pea soup. Why, you ask? Two words, people: The Exorcist. The images of Linda Blair, with the head spinning and projectile...well, you know...were enough to leave me emotionally scarred, and repulsed by the sight of split pea soup. Once I finally got over it and gave the soup a try I realized that it was delicious.

This weekend we got hit with a downpour, and the rainy days left me in the mood for soup. I had a bag of split peas in the pantry, as well as a bit of leftover Easter ham in the freezer. Put 'em together and it was a perfect tummy-warming treat. Flamenco Dad had some for lunch today, and the first words out of his mouth were "Hell yea!" Appropriate.

Split Pea Soup

1 large onion, peeled and diced

1 carrot, peeled and diced

2 Tbs. garlic, minced

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 lb. dried split peas, rinsed and picked over

1 cup diced ham

10 cups water

1 Tbs. dried thyme leaves

salt, as needed

pepper, as needed

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion, carrot, and garlic, and sweat until onion appears transclucent. Add dried thyme leaves and stir for a minute. Add the ham, peas, and water. Bring ingredients to a boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer for about an hour. Add pepper to taste, then salt as needed. Note that the ham may be omitted for vegetarian split pea soup.

Yearning for Yogurt

Question: has anyone out there tried to make their own soy yogurt? I'm wondering how hard it is to make. I found a website with instructions for preparing and culturing yogurt, but if anyone has their own experiences to share, I'd love to hear about them. Here's the website I found: http://www.soya.be/how-to-make-soy-yogurt.php. If anybody has other recipes to share, please do so--any advice is greatly appreciated.

Whoorl: Five Questions

Whoorl is one of my favorite blogebrities, a fabulous mama who lives near the beach in California with her hunky hubby and adorable little boy Wito. Whoorl started an interview chain today, and asked me the following questions. I've got instructions for participating in the interview if any internets out there are interested. By the way, before I go on with the Q & A, do yourself a favor and check out Whoorl's blog, www.whoorl.com. She's an excellent writer, funny as all get-out, and (like me) a total beauty product junkie.

1. What are 2 things you miss most about living in the city? I miss being able to take the subway ANYWHERE I want to go. I'm not a big fan of driving. For the first few years I lived in Florida, I had a car without air conditioning. Dealing with the humidity and extreme heat does not make for good hair. Also I miss walking through Central Park on Sundays with my husband. We always had fun, and my legs and glutes were uber-tight in those days. I know this is cheating, but I also miss seeing the Christmas windows at Barneys. And potato knishes. And...

2. Dream job (with a loving nanny) or a SAHM, which one? Definitely a SAHM. You couldn't get me back into business attire for a million bucks. I am NOT corporate material. Office Space is one of my favorite movies for a reason. Plus, I love spending all day with my kids. They are so much fun to be around. Unless you're talking about a day when my kids are making me crazy. Then it's nanny all the way.

3. Favorite dessert? It's those Godiva molten lava chocolate cakes from Morton's. How can you go wrong with chocolate cake that's got melted chocolate oozing out of it, with ice cream on top? I think I just drooled on my keyboard.

4. Do you have a secret talent? Well, I guess the flamenco thing isn't really a secret, so I'll have to pick something else. I make most of my own jewelry. I took African dance in college and it stuck with me. Oh, and I've got an amazing memory. I'm still trying to get on Jeopardy so I can whoop some ass on that show. Take that, Trebek!

5. What kind of cheese do you prefer on your burger, if any? I swear I did not know this question was coming when I planned my dinner tonight. I just grilled up some burgers for dinner. I made some with no cheese, since Zoe must eat gfcf. But I made some for E, his mom, and I that were stuffed with blue cheese*; heavenly doesn't even begin to cover it! My favorite has to be pepper jack cheese. I'm all about spicy, so my favorite burger has pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and jalapeno slices. Ketchup is a must.

Okay, so if any of you internets want to participate, send me a comment with "Interview Me" somewhere in the text. I'll respond by emailing you five questions. Update your blog with the answers to the questions. Include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

*edited to add: Many thanks go to the commenter who reminded me to share that blue cheese also contains gluten, so it's not just a casein issue. And, suffice it to say, that Godiva cake is not gfcf; though if I were to select my favorite gfcf dessert, it would be the Pineapple Upside Down Cake I wrote about in January.

On Top of Spaghetti

Last night I prepared a delicious feast of meatballs and gluten free pasta. My kids love spaghetti and meatballs, so I try to make it once a week. For the meatballs I use a combo of ground beef, pork, and veal, egg, garlic, oregano, parsley, basil, salt, pepper, and a slice of leftover gfcf bread broken up into crumbs. I cooked the meatballs in a pan with a bit of olive oil (gotta love the EVOO), and then simmered in a pot of my favorite pasta sauce. I served the meatballs over Tinkyada Brown Rice Fusilli Pasta. Can I just say that Tinkyada has quickly become my pasta of choice for gfcf cooking? To me, it most closely resembles the texture and flavor of its gluten-containing counterparts. Fantastic!

I'm going to take a couple of days off from the blog--my own Spring Break, if you will. I'm getting ready for the little man's fourth birthday party. See ya!