Monday, May 30, 2016

Inspiration - Teens in the Kitchen

Parker is cooking more and more these days. All three kids go in cooking spurts, sometimes they are super interested and eager to help or go it alone in the kitchen, other times I don't see them until they are ready to eat. It makes sense, I am that way too.

I bought Parker his first cookbook, well the first one that really belongs to him and he will take when he moves out in a couple years. I chose The Vegan Stoner Cookbook (I highly recommend checking out the blog) because the recipes are simple, easy to follow, and make the right amount of food for a college student on his own. On his own. Sixteen snuck up on me and now I can barely look at Parker without seeing him on his own.

He thinks about it a lot too and is eager to learn some life skills and take some risks...at least in the kitchen.
Ingredients: olive oil, garlic, onions, better than bouillon cube (low salt), water, parsley, thyme, turmeric, black pepper, nutritional yeast, red pepper flakes, green beans, mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, tofu, and soy milk.
 Parker is often inspired by food he eats in restaurants. This one is a creamy vegetable soup that he ate years ago in a Thai restaurant. This soup wasn't on the menu and we frequented the restaurant and got to know the owners/chef. The chef made this vegan soup just for our kids.
Parker made this Thai red curry over brown rice that is similar to a dish I make and
a healthier version of something we get at our favorite Thai restaurant.

He is thinking about starting his own vegan cooking show on YouTube. I'll keep you posted.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Mom

As an adult, I don't remember liking my birthday. Special days are stressful and too much pressure.  I like spontaneous fun days, flowers for no reason, cards just to say "I'm thinking of you", but I cringe at days that are designated as special. 

I might have liked my first mother's day, but after my mother died, I didn't really like mother's day either. 

What I do like is looking at my kids and my family and trying to enjoy them every day of the year. I won't lie, that can be difficult at times. But each and every day, even the really tough ones, I am very thankful to have these three amazing people in my life. These people who call me mom.
Parker 16
Dema 12.
Josie 8.