Choc Chip Cookies with Orange Zest

I hardly do any baking, but once in a while it's a group activity with the kids. The suggestion from my daughter was initially strawberry cookies, but since we didn't have all the ingredients we settled on easy peasy chocolate chip cookies, but with some orange zest (that was mom's contribution!).

It didn't take even 10 mins to prepare and the results were more like madeleines in texture rather than crispy chewy cookies. Not sure if this is a bad or good thing? So this was our baking attempt today. Mixing and sticking in the oven while we ate our lunch. Then cooled down and ready to eat as soon as lunch was over. Was perfect timing!

So for 10 cookies:
75 gms light brown sugar
75 gms soft butter
1 egg
150 gms self raising flour
choc chips
zest of an orange

1. Mix the sugar and butter together
2. Add in beaten egg
3. Now sift in the flour, choc chips and zest.
4. Put the oven on at 180, and grease a baking tray. Drop small spoonfuls on the tray and bake for 10 mins.

Enjoy!

Ants in my Pants!

My son, who will turn 2 years old in a couple of months is becoming a handful at the dinner table. I have spoken about this a few entries ago and its reached the point now where he is obviously hungry but finds sitting at the dinner table a challenging task. So to recap, we moved house 5 months ago and in the previous place we had one of those high chairs that fitted into our slim dining table. We purchased a new dining table for the new place which is a lot thicker than the last one which has resulted in the high chair not fitting and becoming redundant. I adopted the approach that he is over a year and a half and should be able to sit with all of us on the table together. We have a farm house style dining table with benches and stools where he sits propped up on cushions. However he is not restrained and he feels he can walk off at any time. I did bring lots of books and this helped a lot, and we were happy for a few months and now again its started- 5 mins attention span and back to wandering around the kitchen.

One evening was spent by my hubby placing him back and forth to the dining table till he settled to eat. Kind of like controlled crying but this time to sit at the table. I kid you not, but it took almost ten times till he stopped crying and ate his meal which followed by lots of praise and clapping. However, for me this was the last straw. I was fed up of meal times going this way.

After literally crying to another mommy friend, she suggested to use her high chair. Its one of those that turn eventually into a regular chair and is suitable up to a child's 10th birthday. But I didn't want to buy one without test driving it. So I borrowed it a week ago and my life has changed forever. I realised that most days I would be emotionally drained from trying to feed him and also was left with that anxiety that he hadn't eaten enough. Now ever since the high chair has entered our lives ( yes I say 'our lives' as we are all affected), he has been sitting, reading his books while I feed him. And more often than not he has eaten his entire meal! Bonus!

In reflecting on this, I've realised how crucial it is to sort out difficult eating habits. By no means am I saying that its easy or that one gets it right. I'm just saying that the task of feeding your child 3 meals a day has to be done with a little less stress, less frustration and a little less shouting from my part. Now I understand that my son's habits can be changed and one needs to try new things all the time. I don't know how long it will last. I'm just hoping for the best.

Fish Cakes!

I made some fish cakes this week for the family. I served this with baked beans for the children and a salad for my hubby. Went down a treat!

For 10 fish cakes:

2 fillets of salmon roughly chopped (without skin)
1 fillet of cod roughly chopped (without skin)
4-5 baby potatos, peeled and boiled and mashed
handful of coriander
salt and pepper to taste

Put all in a food processor and blend well.

Now make into palm size fish cakes. Do some small ones for the kids. Set them on a tray or a plate with cling film and leave them in the fridge so they can firm up.

When you are ready to pan fry them, beat one egg and dip into bread crumbs. Now dip each fish cake into the egg, once fully coated roll into the breadcrumbs again till fully coated. Now place into a frying pan with some hot oil.

Fry till crisp on each side, approx 3-4 minutes. Crispy and delicious!

What about Mommy?

As moms we spend so much time and effort for our little ones. Whether it be cooking, school drop off or nursing through the night. It can feel endless from the moment you rise till they are tucked into bed. The day ends with feelings of satisfaction, sometimes disappointment and most days just drained from all the emotional and physical demands.

The day is  broken up into little time slots: 20 mins for laundry, 10 mins for tidying up toys, 10 mins for prepping the vegetables for the evening's dinner, then another 20 for cooking it and 20 mins for the boring washing up and so on and on. Its just endless and these time slots are driving me insane. But in saying that, its the only way to manage the chaos and the never ending toys that are found everywhere- yes including the laundry hamper and the fridge. Help! We've been taken over!

It's already the month of March and spring is just around the corner? Well, kinda...and its Mother's Day on Sunday. And the point I am trying to make is that being in a caring role as a mom or a dad, there is very little care taken of ourselves. We need to to be fed or nurtured as well. I notice of late that whenever I go out to a restaurant I am literally eating like a starved woman. Just being able to order and be fed is the most loving thing! We went to Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant on the weekend, and I honestly can say I ate more than my husband. And it felt great! I was actually full for a change. At home meal times tend to be rushed, or kids' leftovers and of course cold :(

So this Mother's Day--not just moms but dads, take some time to sip a cup of coffee very slowly or just forget about doing the dishes for one day. Being a parent is never ending and as my mom always says 'a mother's job is never finished'.

Happy Mothers Day for Sunday. May it be full of lots of love and kisses!