The Happy Domestic

The last month or two has had several moments in which I am taken aback at my eldest daughter. She is growing up so quickly, looking more and more like a little girl. She babbles in tones of voice that sound like she is having an adult conversation, and acts like a little mom to her baby sister. She wants to help clear away the dishes after dinner and pick out her own clothes. I look at her and think, "she's not a baby anymore!" Sometimes this makes me a little nostalgic; I wish she could always be my baby. I think every parent goes through this dilemma at various stages in their child's development. We are proud of them, excited for them to learn new things, become independent, discover their own talents and abilities and blossom into wonderful young adults. And at the same time we miss their dependence on us, the complete trust and adoration they had for us when they were babies. We fondly remember times before they required discipline or boundaries. So when my sist

There has been a stash of forgotten seed packets atop my fridge for the past year. I came across them late last week, and thought I must make more of an effort to fulfil my best intentions this year. So when I took the girls for a walk on Friday, I stopped at our friendly nearby Bargain Shop and was happy to find seeding flats and potting soil for sale, cheap! It felt great to get my hands all grubby mixing up potting soil with a bit of water and packing it into the flat cells, poking in the little seeds and covering them over. I have cilantro, salad greens, watermelon, morning glories and sunflowers waiting to germinate now, and still plan to buy seeds for tomatoes, string beans, snap peas, cucumber and peppers that we can enjoy this summer. (There's no sense planting things like potatoes and carrots, they're just as cheap to buy from the grocery store, and simply not worth the effort.) Tending a garden this year will not only give me a pleasant incentive to be outside and get

A favourite blogger of mine, Sheila Wray Gregoire, recently posted about the need to intentionally invest in your marriage, in a feature she calls "Wifey Wednesdays". Knowing of several marriages on the rocks lately, I thought it would be good to share some of the books and other resources that my husband and I have greatly benefitted from in our own marriage. We started reading a number of marriage counselling books together long before our wedding day, and since being married have taken every opportunity to continue learning about each other and improving our relationship skills. I think too many people take their marriage for granted. Like one joke I read: A woman asks her husband, "Do you love me?" Annoyed, he replies, "I said 'I Do' on our wedding day, didn't I? If anything changes, I'll let you know." Unfortunately, many people think that taking a marriage course or informal counselling is a last resort. The truth is that couples who

I came across a "celeb spotting" today of one of my favourite artists, Lauryn Hill, at a book signing with her children. It's good to see a famous mom going down-to-earth, putting her kids first and spending time with them. Then I read the article, and was appalled and disgusted. You can read it yourself here: http://tinyurl.com/dhxnje I don't know if this sick way of thinking is a product of twisted feminist ideologies or of a "fame & fortune" obsessed culture. All I do know is that this devaluation of mothers, motherhood and family values is epidemic in our society. It seems far too many people have this idea that when a woman chooses to devote the greater part of her time to her family, she ceases to use her talents and abilities or to be productive in society. What can I say to change this? I don't know. One thing is certain, our society needs to change NOW, before the family unit that is the basis of human survival goes the way of the dinosaur.

Every day now I hear about the dire state of "the economy". I think few of us are immune to the pressures and anxieties brought on by the current economic climate, but should these worries dominate our lives? I often wonder how friends and family are coping with financial pressures, because it's not something people like to talk about. Money, like politics, is a taboo subject. Well, at the risk of offending, I think it needs to be talked about. I am no financial guru, believe me, but I think that when people can be open about their challenges and share their wisdom - and resources! - with others, everyone is better off. It's clear that the "American way" of dog-eat-dog capitalism is madness, inhuman madness, where a few prosper and many suffer. Throughout history, during famines, drought, natural disasters, war times and other hard times, people saw that bonding together to help each other was their best chance for survival. And now, when the media predicts

My mother-in-law made these for both breakfast and dinner when my husband was growing up and she called them, inexplicably, "Dutch Pancakes". As far as I can tell, they are actually crêpes, and of French origin, but nonetheless are still one of the most requested meals in her household. Very simple to make, and yielding enough for a crowd, these delicious crêpes do take a bit of time to cook if you only have one or two pans, so I recommend giving yourself plenty of time. The good news is, they taste even better when they have been refrigerated. "Dutch Pancakes" 4 c. unbleached or never-bleached light flour 8 eggs 4 c. milk 2 c. water 1/2 tsp. salt butter as needed In a large mixing bowl, beat flour and eggs with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, adding milk slowly to thin. Add salt and mix in water at low speed just until completely combined. Preheat a non-stick skillet between medium and medium-high heat (size doesn't matter, but if you can use multi

If you happened to notice the silence from my portion of the blogosphere the latter part of this week, let me excuse myself by sharing the adventures and misadventures of our 3 day family trip to St-Sauveur-des-Monts, QC. When my husband suggested we take a ski getaway with some friends and free accommodations, my first thought was not "Wow, this is going to be so much FUN," but rather "Oh brother, this is going to be a lot of work." And, to any sane mind, I was right. Not that we didn't have fun too, mind you. The weather was perfect, skiing conditions were great (I was told), and the accommodations were amazing. Also the girls got lots of great attention from our friends and their little boys, and had some good bonding time with "Daddy". The packing, however, was mind-boggling, with diapers, formula, baby clothes, food, our clothes, toiletries, cellphones & paraphernalia, ski & snowboard gear, varying degrees of warm outerwear and then the pa

Yesterday I took the girls outside for a walk, and since the weather was beautiful, for the first time I put on my 15 month old's hiking shoes and let her walk beside me while I pushed the baby in the umbrella stroller. She was delighted at the opportunity to explore the sidewalks and roadside, pointing excitedly at birds, trees and parked cars. As she walked, her chubby little legs meandering at their own (snail's) pace, I started to see all the things around us from a new and much smaller perspective. Cars passing were huge dragons that flew by with a whoosh, trodden pine cones were wondrous treasures, cedar hedges with their exotic aromas were curiosities to be explored, and that medium sized rock underfoot just might be found useful. A puddle in one area of sidewalk was a lake that we needed some help crossing, and muddy spots might be deadly sinkholes. My little toddler's ears seemed attuned to every chirp and faraway bark, sounds to which my own ears must have grown d

Everyone says to me "they grow up so fast," and it's true. Four months have flown by since my younger daughter was born, and each stage has come with its own challenges and delights. Some days I am wearied by the constant fussing and finger gnawing that tell me she's teething. And at the same time she's getting cuter every day, responding to me with huge goofy smiles that crack me up. It seems that the older each of my girls get, the more difficult they become and yet the more precious and enjoyable they become also. My elder daughter is starting to present me with real parenting challenges, showing a streak of her mother's headstrong personality, and yet becoming such a sweet natured, affectionate and eager little helper. She's increasingly more fun to spend time with, reading, playing blocks, talking on the phone, "shopping" with her little purse and cart, dressing up. Sure, I chase her out of the garbage about 20 times a day, but that's pa

Readers of my last post may be anxiously waiting to hear the outcome of the sock matchmaking enterprise, so here's the update. After finishing loads of laundry which shall remain unnumbered, my husband and I spent the last part of the evening folding and putting away clothes. Each lonely sock displayed itself in hopes of attracting a match. Each resulting match was a cause for celebration, and slowly the sock drawer filled...and filled, until my husband exclaimed, "I never knew I had so many socks!" Several times he insisted that a pair of socks was not his, only to realize they were newly bought over the holidays and had been missing their partners practically since he first wore them. So when all the lint settled, there are no more than a half dozen single socks left, and many happy couples now have resumed residence in their proper places.

The last day and a half I have been going to town on the laundry. I have 3 good sized hampers, 4 people to wash for, 2 of them babies, and none of us lack for clothes. So when laundry day (whenever I get a chance) comes around, you can imagine that it takes a significant amount of time to get it all washed, dried, folded and put away. Particularly sleepers, and the ever elusive socks. Sometimes if I've been slacking off a bit my husband will casually remark, "By the way, I have no more dark socks," or, "Oh yeah, I'm on my last pair of underwear." This is my cue to get my butt in gear and start the cycle again (no pun intended). It has become apparent in the 3 1/2 years we've been married, however, that I am not the mistress of all things domestic that his mother was (and is). For instance, it has become a running... joke? or point of contention... that every time I do laundry my husband has more odd socks. Those lonely souls with no match, they sit in a

Sometimes it's worth experimenting a bit in the kitchen. Not when you're throwing a fancy party or inviting the boss for dinner, mind you. But when it's just family, be adventuresome and try something new - just make sure you have a Plan B in case it doesn't work out. This way any failure is just a learning experience, and you can have some fun with it. And who knows, you may hit on a real success! For me, that's the story of this recipe - I wanted to try a new technique, improvised a bit with flavours I like, and voila! My husband rated this a 9/10, and only because it didn't seem right to give simple chicken a perfect 10 (which he reserves for more expensive meals). Even better, this meal costs next to nothing to make. Herbed Lemon Chicken 3 chicken legs (back attached) 1/2 tsp. each dried thyme, basil and rosemary leaves a pinch of salt & pepper 1/4 c. lemon juice 1 c. chicken broth (from bouillon cube) 1 tbsp. sugar 1 tsp. cornstarch Preheat oven to 350°

When I first sat down to write a blog post today, Boo (my 15 month old) had just gone down for her morning nap. I put Baby in her bassinet next to my desk, fussing a bit, and put on my headphones so she wouldn't distract me from my writing. Then I proceeded to stare blankly at the screen for the next several minutes, while Baby's cries grew louder. My goal in the last couple of months has been to carve out some "me" time, an hour or two a day (Boo's nap time is ideal), and although it's not always easy, it does help me cope with the all-day-every-day demands of child rearing. Today though, as I tried to block out the crying baby, I suddenly was hit with the conviction that my approach was absolutely wrong. It's good to take time for myself, but when my baby needs me, I need to put her first. All it took was 5 minutes lying down with her and letting her nurse (just to soothe, she wasn't hungry), and she was sleeping peacefully. Now I have some time to m

This week I came across a note circulating on Facebook that lists the BBC's Top 100 Books and invites people to indicate which ones they have read (most people will have read 6 of the 100). Not all books on this list are necessarily classics, they simply were popular among readers. This note got me thinking about what makes a book a classic, and what value there is in reading them. Sometimes "educated" people have a bit of a superiority complex, but the plain and simple truth is that anyone can be well-read, and even those who don't read much may have great wisdom to offer. Snobbish intellectuals simply become stupid because they won't learn from people they feel are inferior. But when someone reacts against intellectual snobbery by denying the value reading, they also can miss out. True classics not only cross generational and cultural barriers to entertain people on a basic human level, but they also help us better understand the world we live in. Through a good

I snitched the basic recipe for these from Janet & Greta Podleski's Crazy Plates cookbook, and modified it to suit my own tastes. You don't have to tell everyone that the secret ingredient is baby-food prunes! If you like moist and delicious desserts but need to cut down on your fat, I recommend you buy Crazy Plates . Moist & Chewy Low-Fat Brownies 1/2 c. all purpose flour 1 pkg. (3.5 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 2/3 c. sugar 3 tbsp. butter, softened 1 egg + 1 egg white 1/2 jar (about 1/4 c.) baby food prunes 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/3 c. chocolate chips or chopped chocolate Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8" square baking pan and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, pudding mix, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, butter, egg and egg white on medium speed. Add prunes and vanilla, beat again. Add flour mixture, and beat until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread batter evenly in pre

I don't know where it came from originally, but my mom has had this recipe since I was a little girl. I rediscovered it recently and now I always try to keep these ingredients on hand in case of emergencies. 10 Second Coconut Custard Pie 2 c. milk 1 c. sugar 4 eggs 1/2 c. all purpose flour 6 tbsp. butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. salt 1 c. grated coconut Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 10" pie plate and set aside. Put first 7 ingredients in a blender, and cover. Blend on medium-high speed for 10 seconds. Add coconut, blend for 2 more seconds. Pour contents of blender into pie plate and bake at 350° for 50-55 mins until a knife comes out clean when inserted in centre. Let cool before serving.

How welcoming is your home? Being a great host or hostess is not about having a pristine home or a gourmet menu, whatever Martha Stewart may say. At our house we often have company on short notice, and if your house is anything like mine (suffice it to say, less than pristine) it is crucial to master the art of the 10 Minute Tidy. My husband may joke about my "Sarah piles," but neatly stacking books, papers, clothes and dishes into manageable piles creates an instant sense of order. This makes it easier to deal with the serious cleanup one stack at a time, and if company is due any minute it will do for a short-term fix. Whether friends are dropping by for coffee or perhaps you spontaneously invited family back for dinner, it's helpful to have a quick dessert on hand. (You can always order pizza or Chinese takeout for the main meal.) 10 Second Coconut Custard Pie is a sure bet if you have an hour to spare (baking time), or Moist & Chewy Low-Fat Brownies can be made

I have discovered that to a large degree my attitude controls my environment. For instance, have you ever noticed that if you look someone in the eye and smile, they almost inevitably smile back? Yesterday, with one daughter at Nana's for the day, I took the opportunity to go "fun" shopping with my baby. Since she was born I have avoided going out much for fear of people's scowls if the baby starts screaming. This time my need to do something I enjoy outweighed my fears, and with baby in tow I hit a favourite bookstore and then Michaels craft store. More caught up in the sales than the possibility of a crying jag, we happily toured aisles and enjoyed the attention of many baby lovers. All the new sights and sounds were a great distraction for my baby, and when she was tired out she let me know... then a pit stop for a bottle before we hit the highway for home settled her down for a car nap. If I hadn't overcome my fears and stopped worrying about hypothetical situ

I've always felt that the most important time with my husband is bedtime. There's something special in those last few minutes before sleep that is not shared with the rest of the world. Sleepy reminiscences of the day, telling each other our challenges and plans for the week, and snuggling up as our eyes are closing... these moments are so totally ordinary, and yet they forge a bond of intimacy that strengthens our relationship to meet the demands of life as a team. It can be a real challenge when schedules conflict, or when babies are demanding. Maybe there are a million little things than can be caught up on "if I just stay up a few more hours," but if those precious times with my husband aren't given priority it's not long before I start to feel like a one-person-show. The reality is that more often than not the urgent little things that steal away my time and attention are inanities like eBay, email, and chores that could wait until tomorrow. What do these

I have a confession: I am a food-a-holic. I eat for nutrition, and because I appreciate good food. That's good. I also eat because I'm stressed. I eat because I'm bored. I eat because I'm thirsty. That's not good. When I was pregnant (most of the last 2 years!) I could indulge a bit more, because baby bellies look cute anyway. The aftermath, however, is not pretty, and sometimes now I just feel old, weak and achy, not to mention the F-word... chubby. This is fairly common for women to experience after their second child, I know, and we don't have to feel like this for the rest of our lives. That's why I've set a goal, and made a plan. The Challenge: Regain muscle tone, set healthier habits and fit into my pre-preg pants. I don't believe in diets, so I'm going to share a few strategies that everyone can benefit from, and that will help me achieve these goals. First, I will be drinking at least 8 cups of water a day. That's four 500 mL bottles.

This is my favourite side dish to enhance any beef, pork, lamb or chicken entree, and is super-easy to make. 10 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered 4 tbsp. butter 1 c. light sour cream (or fat-free) 2 tbsp. dried chives salt & white pepper Boil potatoes in salted water until very soft. Drain, add remaining ingredients and beat with electric hand mixer on high until smooth and fluffy. That's all, folks!

Last Sunday we had a house full of people for dinner, 4 couples and 5 small children around the table. Looking for a meal that would be popular with everyone and inexpensive, I pulled out my trusty pork parmigiana recipe. This is a great meal for big families or lots of guests in a laid-back setting. The best part is that when pork tenderloin is on sale (which happens frequently at our No Frills) I can make enough to feed at least 8 adults generously for less than $15. Pork Parmigiana 1 pkg pork tenderloin (2 tenderloins) 4 slices soft bread (I use cracked wheat or whatever is cheapest) 1/2 c. grated parmesan 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper cooking oil 1 can Hunts Onion & Herbs tomato sauce 3 c. shredded mozzarella Prepare two 9"x13" pans with a thin layer of tomato sauce, and set aside. Pulse bread slices in food processor or blender with parmesan, salt & pepper until you have fine crumbs, and transfer to small casserole dish. Trim any fat or gristle from tenderloins a