IRONY ON EARTH DAY

My daughter and I woke up early today (I was up late, and slept through my alarm, but still made it up for 8:30) to pick up a beloved Saskatoon berry bush that our borough was giving away in limited quantities today. We arrived on foot, to be greeted by the longest line of idling cars in the community. How sad that this was billed as an Earth event! I expected most people would not be on foot, but I did expect them to park, or at least organize people without the pollution!

I had a 2.5 km walk home, interrupted by garbage picking through my favourite park with a manual claw that is so fun to use, we were fighting to find the winter collection of refuse and recycling! It felt like Halloweening, with really gross candy! My arms were feeling pretty tired but I thought that it was a good workout, and switching sides, I got home with only a few breaks.

Next was a walk to our local cultural centre, Stewart Hall, with only garbage collecting to distract. We were able to fill a garbage bag on the way, and were almost the only ones doing the map activities. We spent a few minutes doing puppets (kid) and admiring the art exhibit (mom) in the mutually loved library. Parallel play works after infancy sometimes! Our way home was a lot faster, with a full bag of garbage/recycling. We didn't have many stops, and the white pine branches my daughter had collected were a source of fun, and a great midge fly swatter, that by the afternoon was a necessity as we walked along through swarms of the first insects of the year.

On our way home, we went straight to our neighbours for a playdate. My friend and I wanted to explore a new route we plan to eventually run, and we walked another 8.5 km while hashing out life. Time to go home, and eat, with one last return trip left. I walked (how could I drive now on earth day!) my daughter to her dad's and slowly home, with a total of 32,683 steps and 22. 3 km. I wish that  was enough to make up for the dozens of cars idling today, but I know that can't be. Still, it was a great day celebrating simple life, and a joy to be outside with my daughter.

Here's hoping for some Saskatoons, outside of Saskatchewan!

EASTER EGG HUNTS

I have always thought that it would be great to celebrate holidays the day after everyone else does. Boxing Day sales as Christmas shopping. Discounted valentine's and easter chocolates.

Fast forward to today. Yet another Easter worked, but my daughter had the Easter Bunny come while I was there. So after the holiday passes, I buy discounted candy, and I set up an Easter egg hunt for when my daughter returns. A few of the chocolate eggs are displaced by my Calico in the night, but for the most part, it is a fun event, doubly challenging amongst the tax papers and unfolded laundry, but just as exciting as an original hunt! This makes me very happy, and we don't even talk about the fact that neither of us have talked about the Easter Bunny's involvement. So I go to kitchen to make lunch, and am told not to come out of the kitchen until I'm told. Nancy Drew isn't allowed out either, but five cans of her cat food disappear. When it's time to leave the kitchen, I find my daughter has reversed roles, and made an Easter egg hunt for me, and my cat!

What a delight to have such an amazing kid, who gave me her leftover Christmas candy, candy melts and marshmallows, to make an adventure I haven't had since I was a kid! Merci ma poule!

APPLE CABBAGE RAMEN SALAD

Adle's asian salad, revised

Chopped red and green Québec cabbage with sliced apple and green onions in vinegar, canola oil, soya sauce, and sugar dressing

Golden ramen, almonds, sesame seeds fried in margarine

Yield 6 - 10 servings
1-2 (3 ounce) package chicken flavored ramen noodles 1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sesame seeds, toasted
1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
1 large head napa cabbage, shredded (about 2 pounds) 6 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar or regular white vinegar
1(or 2) tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil (may omit) 
1/8 cup white sugar (up to 1/4 cup)

Crush noodles, place them in a medium skillet and brown in butter over medium heat. Add almonds and sesame seeds. Stir often to prevent burning. Add seasoning mix from noodles and cool. Toss in a large bowl with cabbage and onions.

Prepare the dressing by whisking together the vegetable oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar. Pour over salad, toss and serve.

REVISED
2 package ramen noodles (remove the stock packages)
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup sliced almonds

half a green cabbage and half a purple cabbage , chopped
3 green onions, sliced
1 large apple, sliced

Dressing
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoon soya sauce
1/4 cup white sugar

Break up dry ramen and brown in melted margarine in saucepan. Add almonds and sesame seeds. Stir often. Cool.

Toss cabbage, onion and apple together with dressing. Serve cold. Consider setting aside noodle mixture for leftovers for best serving crispness, but holds up well next day even tossed together.

ST. HUBERT ZOO, CRINKLE FRIES, AND HONEYED CARROTS

HOMEMADE CHEESE SHELLS AND BEAN SALAD

DITALI CARROT CHICKEN SOUP

I love to use the carcass of a roasted chicken for broth. As a guilty vegetarian sharing meat, at least I feel like I used the bird completely. A few carrots, tiny ditali pasta that plumps up  and a Peter Rabbit bowl.

MOTHER DAUGHTER VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Sweet ruby grapefruit, pasta with lentil bolognese sauce and parmesan, orzo feta chick pea salad, apple celery pecan salad, baby corn 

Mango, apple celery, baby corn, orzo feta chickpea salad, osso  and melted cheese

THREE INGREDIENT PARTY MARSHMALLOWS

Melt chocolate chips (if you use the microwave,  try ten seconds at a time, or you might burn them) and dip  a marshmallow, and then press into sprinkles. Cool on a silicone plate

FOUR INGREDIENT ORZO FETA CHICKPEA SALAD

Don't forget the olive oil!

A MESSY DELICIOUS BREAKFAST

I had a container of chopped red pepper brought home from school uneaten, so I blew out an egg (my eyes hurt, but Easter decorations rule) and scrambled it, threw in the red pepper, toasted an English muffin, buttered it. It looked a mess, but it was delicious!

A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY

It's a great day when it finally starts and ends above zero, and the forecast predicted rain yesterday, but it was clear and sunny all day.  The birds were chirping at 4 am and when we left the house, it was the first time I didn't need gloves. The ground is mostly free of snow, and the day was easy to garden in. By the time I had returned home, the perennial beds were calling, and it was fun to uncover the new growth under the dried stems I had left for winter interest.

I filled the compost bin with last year's leaves and branches, and put it out for pick-up. When I went out later for a run, the forest was nearly clear of snow, and the stairs were dry. It was a warm breeze and it was lovely to be wearing short pants and a light shirt with only a hat on my head for sun protection.

The cats were crazy, trying ten ways to get out. When my daughter got home, she was immediately busy collecting rocks and elaborately washing them for some specific purpose that I failed to grasp but she was certain of it. I swept off the deck and we took the cats outside. It was a glorious day, and just as we planned to eat our supper out, a dark cloud blew overhead and we got inside just before the rain started! It was fun to see lightening when it was still light out, and tomorrow is the pink full moon, and the rest of the week is above zero. Spring has really sprung!

APRIL FOOLS! POISSON D'AVRIL!

Taped to me and various other places

SUGARING OFF AT HOME

MAPLE SYRUP CREPES