How To Create Your Child's First Cookbook

Back in early March, I was discussing with my cousin Lisa what kids eat and of my cooking, what my children's favourite meals are.

Now I am one for memories and family sentiments.  I have a memory box each for the boys and a joint one for my husband and I.  Anything that I think will be nice to look back on one day goes in there.  From photos to certificates to champagne corks (in mine, not the kids), to birthday cards etc. You get the idea.  I have a journal each for the boys that I started before each of them was born.  The entries were more frequent back when they were babies, but I still do write in there for them from time to time.

The idea being that maybe not right now, but in years to come, they will treasure what has been kept and written. Being boys, this may not be entirely the case, however it will be up to them what they choose to keep or if they choose to keep any of it.  Being my boys, I can see already they both have a strong sense of family and a strong element of sentimentality about them.  Neither look like me so at least they have something of mine!

When Lisa and I were discussing meals, she suggested I get a scrapbook each for the boys.  As I make a meal they love, put the recipe in the scrapbook and one day when they are moving out of home, hand them over their very first cookbook filled with all the home-made recipes they love.

What a FABULOUS idea!

There is always that one recipe that your Grandma baked or your Mum made that you wish you had the recipe for.  Being Taurean and constantly thinking about food, I have made sure that I have obtained these recipes as I have gone along in life.  I NEVER miss out on anything food related. From anyone.

When one of my best friends broke up with her partner, she lamented that she no longer had the recipe for the best Caesar salad dressing you've ever tasted.  I said "I have it." She also commented that there was this great Indian chicken dish that she would no longer know how to make. I said "I have that recipe too." Then there was the all time party favourite, the Watermelon Smash. I said "no worries, I have it." I had obviously spent a lot of time at their place! And what a funny conversation it was when I was able to say "I have it" to each of the recipes my girlfriend wished she still had.  Her ex was a fabulous cook. Gotta give credit where it is due!

So back to the scrapbook.  I actually bought two A4 lined ring bound books.  I thought it would be easier for writing the recipes in there in a straight line! As for the covers of them, I thought it would be a neat idea for the boys to cover the books so that they could always look back on them as adults and see it was something they did when they were 5.  Which brings me to my next point.  My youngest turned 5 earlier this week so now I have two 5 year olds for the next two months.  I specifically waited until they were both 5 as they get such a thrill out of being the same age.  

True to form, Jai's is very ordered.  Cruz's is more abstract.  

The boys had the best time doing this activity and I had the best time watching and helping them. I was chief glue bottle squeezer!  Now I just need to cover them in contact so that their artwork stays in tact.

Thanks Lisa for the idea.  I love it and the boys love it. They are totally on board and suggesting which recipes I should add to their books already.  Caesar salad being one of them!

What's Your Favourite....Age?

We all have it.  We all have either an age we thoroughly enjoyed being, or an age we are looking forward to being.  What's yours?

Looking back, my favourite age would have to have been when I was 27.

For someone who loves being in a relationship, my favourite time of my life was actually when I was single!  And absolutely loving it!  The only person I had to take care of and consider was me.  Well, that's not entirely true.  Of course there are always people to consider, like my flatmate, but you get what I mean.  Life was carefree.  I had a great and well-paying job, no big responsibility like mortgages, I could make plans for whenever with whomever I wanted. I completely ran my own show.  It was bliss with a capitol 'B'!

Life has not gone down hill from there.  Not in the slightest.  I've had a few tough lessons, but you get those.  27 is just a time when I remember the funniest nights of partying, being out at all hours and having the luxury of being able to sleep all of the next day if I needed to. I traveled 'just because'.  Have you ever traveled 'just because'?  Just because you could, with little time to plan, it just seemed like a great idea so you went with it, and had one of the greatest times of your life?  I ate at restaurants and places I had never been to.  I owned a caravan. No. Wait. This one deserves a paragraph all to itself.

I owned a caravan.  It seemed and was a great idea at the time.  It was permanently fixed on-site at beautiful Bateau Bay, about a two hour drive north of Sydney on the Central Coast.  The park was bordered on one side by a Golf Course (we never played) and on one end by Shelly Beach.  The location was awesome.  The caravan was orange.  If the Brady Bunch owned a caravan, this was it!  The exterior was orange with white stripes, the interior was orange vinyl with faux timber paneling - scrumptious!  It had an annex with sliding doors at both ends - apparently quite a luxury in comparison to other vans on site as it turned out.  The loos and showers were 50 metres up the pathway - a minor and liveable inconvenience, all things considered.  I would wake up to the sound of waves and a refreshing breeze on my face through my slightly opened window.  It could sleep 9 comfortably, though we did manage 13 one weekend when all who said they 'may' come up, did!  One visit very early on with my girlfriends and the caravan was promptly named "The Convent" - where the only habits were bad habits - and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were founded!  

This isn't us singing Kumbaya, but it does give a good
 indication of what The Convent's interior was like.

See?  Who wouldn't love a time in their life like this?  I have such fond memories of this era (am I old enough to use the term 'era' in reference to my own life?) and will always get lost in the wonderful memories if I sit and contemplate this fabulous age.

When has been your favourite age?  What happened?  Or is your anticipated favourite age still coming?

Photo credit to OurBetty.blogspot.com - my photos of The Convent are locked safely away in storage!

What's Your Favourite.....Holiday Destination?

Here is a topic I could linger on for quite some time as I day dream about the places I have been and the ones I have noted on my bucket list.

Travelling is one of the best educations anyone can receive.  Apart from learning about the town or country you find yourself in, you learn about the culture, history, food, traditions, landscape, the people.  Travelling brings out a new level of independence as you find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings, among foreign languages and with foreign currency. Exciting, thrilling and daunting all at the same time.

Six months ago, I traveled to New York City to visit a girlfriend living there at the time. There is no other way to describe my fleeting 5 day trip than to say it was a fling with the city and I fell head over heels in love!  New York has been on my list of places to visit for many years. Enticed even further by its starring role in the ever popular Sex And The City television series, when the opportunity arose to head there last year, I seized that puppy with both hands.  We toured the city, shopped the city, ate the city, subway'd under the city, observed the city, and I soaked up every bit of New York City atmosphere I could.  I love that place and it remains firmly on my list in the hope that I am graced one day with another opportunity to return there.  

Italy, Italy, Italy.  Who could not love Italy?  I love all things Italian.  The food, style, art, architecture, culture, traditions (I wouldn't mind the siesta being implemented into my work day!) the landscape, even their odd way of parking!  My second trip to Italy was to quench my thirst for the country.  It didn't work. It must be the coins I am throwing into the Trevi Fountain!  Oh to return (again) and attempt (again) another conversation with a shopkeeper from start to finish in Italian.  Bellissimo!

Just one picture, a tad smaller than a post-it note in size, got me hook, line and sinker for Malta.  I saw it in a magazine and from just that one picture, I decided Malta had to go on my list! If ever you have the opportunity to travel to this beautiful country, take it. Without a word of a lie, we traveled the entire country - top to bottom and across - in three and a half hours!  And, we had stopped twice for a cup of tea!!  Malta is quaint, gentle, safe, spiritual, respectful, colourful and fun.  They embrace life in the present whilst holding dear to their heritage.  Just a hop, skip and a jump from Italy, Malta is definitely worth the side trip if ever you are in the area.

They are just three of my favourites of where I have been.  Where would I still love to go?  To be honest, anywhere that I have already been I would return to.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my travels thus far.  Of lands not yet ventured upon by me, I would still love to travel to Canada, throughout more of the USA and still many parts of Europe that I have not ventured into, in particular Prague - I hear it is spectacular.  I am also partial to a beach, relaxing, cocktail in hand, book in the other.  That pretty much narrows it down to anywhere sunny and warm!

Where else should I plan on going?  What have been your favourite holiday destinations and why?  Let me day dream with you whilst you reminisce....

Have a happy and safe Easter everyone!

What's Your Favourite....Movie?

It's Friday, my favourite day of the week!  

What better time to begin a new segment called 'Friday Favourites', than, well, today!

I thought we should start with What's Your Favourite Movie because it's easy.  Not too much brain power required for the end of the week.

When it comes to favourite movies, I actually have a few that spring to mind.

Shawshank Redemption - eeeeeeveryone's favourite!  For obvious reasons too.  It is a brilliant movie.  I personally loved the part when the hole in the wall behind the poster of Rita Hayworth was revealed.  I did not see that coming.  At all.

Legends Of The Fall - I remember seeing this movie with my sister and her sister-in-law. The lights came up in the movie theatre at the end, I turned to them both to remark at how awesome it was and saw they had both been crying - what?  I had no idea there was a sad part worthy of a tear in the movie!  From the moment 'Tristan' came riding over the hill on his horse, I saw blue eyes. I believe that was all I saw for the remainder of the movie as well.  Yep, the heart and soul of the movie was completely lost on me as I was lost in a pair of blues instead, such is the effect of Brad Pitt!  Shallow I know, but for the mere fact of my first introduction to the Brad Pitt factor, I love this movie.

Seven Years In Tibet  - whilst on the subject of Brad Pitt...! Yes, Brad starred in this movie, which of course gave it great appeal to me.  However, not many movies drive me to want to purchase the DVD.  I did with this one.  I simply loved the story, the scenery, the meanings.  Jeepers, I now even own two Tibetan Spaniels!

Under The Tuscan Sun - uh, I love everything about this movie.  It's another one I felt compelled to buy the DVD of!  Let's face it.  We can all live vicariously through Frances' life while watching this movie.  The courage to pack up and move to a foreign country (with a broken heart no less), not know the language, befriend the town folk, renovate a house, fall in love again - oh, it has so much appeal and Italy? I just love that place!  For me, this movie was entertaining from start to finish.  Love, love, loved it!

Anything with George Clooney in it - No, that's not the name of the movie!  The fact of the matter is, the guy could stand still and I would still watch him.  I do not mean to sound so dismissive of George's talent, because he is incredibly talented both in acting, writing and directing.  He has many admirable qualities and I am a willing admirer!  Those cheeky eyes and equally cheeky grin lured me to jump on the George Clooney bandwagon years ago and I am yet to disembark.  He's on my list of people I'd love to meet.  Well, he's at the top.  Actually, he's my hall pass!

What are the movies that first spring to mind as being your favourites?


Photo credit to bbmlive.com

Organ Donation - A Personal Story

Today marks a very special anniversary in our family.  

Twenty years and one month ago, my nephew - Master M - was diagnosed with a rare disease called Aplastic Anemia.  In layman terms, his bone marrow was failing to produce platelets which are the blood cells required to clot your blood. This meant that he would bruise wherever he was touched and receiving a cut could prove fatal.  

At the time, Master M was 6, the second of (nearly) 4 children.  Miss L had just turned 9, Master J was 2 and Master S was still in utero.

The only cure for Aplastic Anemia is a Bone Marrow Transplant from a compatible donor. Until the transplant could occur, Master M required a series of platelet transfusions which he received from compatible family members, including myself.  That and so many prayers was the least, in fact all, we could do.

The best option for a perfect match with the bone marrow is always to turn to the siblings first.  My pregnant sister-in-law was due to give birth and on the 6th October gorgeous Master S came into the world.  As the first option, his cord blood was taken and tested to see if it matched Master M's.  It didn't.  The two remaining siblings were then to be tested.  9 year old Miss L who detests needles to this day had not only agreed to be tested "if it would help save" Master M, she was also the closest match.  It was up to her, entirely, to be the one to save her brother's life. 

As a matter of course, Miss L bravely underwent the operation to retrieve her bone marrow and donate this to Master M.  It was not without pain for her - the procedure is such that your pelvic bones are drilled and the bone marrow drawn out, leaving the donor (especially at 9) on the sore side.  The bone marrow was 'patched' to provide a 100% match to Master M's requirements.  After undergoing necessary chemotherapy to deplete his immune system (this increases the chance of acceptance of the transplant), the Bone Marrow Transplant took place.  

Today - the 20th October 2013 - is the day that marks the 20th anniversary of Master M receiving this life saving gift.

The bond created between a then 6 and 9 year old brother and sister runs deep.  What is amazing is that they accept and treat this bond with the same innocence now as when it occurred. To them, it just is.  Because it had to be.  

For us as a family, we realise the enormity of what Miss L did and did without hesitation. A child who hated needles yet 'took one for the team' because options were not just running out, she was it.  But for her, he would not be here.  It's that simple.

This was a time that touched our family incredibly and continues to do so.  We are all listed as organ, plasma, platelet and bone marrow donors.  We have seen it in action and there is no feasible reason for us not to be.  If ever you were wondering whether or not it was something you could do, I say this: if a 9 year old can be a donor without complaint, so can you.  The life, or lives, you could save and the families you would help cannot be counted.