More comfort food.

Nothing crappy happened today. We just weren't into cooking so we went with something easy. French fries, perogies and a green salad with orange segements (the wife added the colour, I was in charge of the starch).
I actually had some good news today. A colleague called and offered up her husbands old bike. Turns out they just bought new ones and are no longer in need of their old ones. Their old ones are like new to me so I am very excited to be back in the bike game. Talked to the insurance people and though our deductible is a little steep we can replace everything and get reimbursed for it. So it sounds like insurance does work. We don't know if we are willing to cough up the deductible but maybe once I am getting paid again in the fall we may change our mind. In any case we will definitely be replacing the bike trailer.

In another neat piece of news I saw a family travelling by bike today. Two parents, three kids, two tandem bicycles with one of those ride along trailers on the back of one of them. Talk about seeing a picture of yourself in real life. It definitely looked like the kind of setup we could work. And they were riding through the Kootneys. Saddle bags and the whole bit. Yes it was a little piece of perfection if you ask me. Give me four - five years and I hope that will be us.

Cupboard Snooping.

So we planned to go shopping today. I just didn't happen. So around 4:00 the Mrs. and I started to shuffle around in the kitchen. She pulled out that random can of pad thai sauce that we had. I had been worried it was hot but she assured me there were no chili pepper symbols anywhere on it. After cracking it open I decided it would go nicely with our last two cans of beans (kidney and chick peas) and whatever vegetables I could muster: carrots, onions, celery, and another zuch from the garden. With a little garlic squeezed in it was quite a nice bean stew of sorts.

This was followed by a serving of chocolate cheese cake ice cream with some home made apple sauce. Sweet and tart. Just like my wife... Please don't tell her I wrote than. Wait, she reads this blog. Okay honey, I meant it the best way possible.

I gotta go, the dog house is calling.

A bad sign.

When this is all I can muster the energy to make for dinner.

Some stinkers must have been walking by my house late last night. They decided to take my 12 year old mountain bike and the double kid stroller attached to it. I am betting that it was a joy ride/getting somewhere kind of routine. I doubt there is any resale value. However, it really really sucks. Those were a vital link in our transportation plan. We could go out as a family with me towing the two boys and the wife and daughter riding along. We could go to the library and shopping. Downtown wasn't too far, even on a smoking hot day. Now I am limited to my walking radius or using the car. Man... we just rode our bikes to the river yesterday, it was great. So yeah I am a little down. Didn't do much today, long afternoon nap. Quite a bit of driving around looking for the bike and trailer. Then for dinner I had beers and chips and dip.

At least the kids had some udon noodles. We had bought some smokies but I just couldn't work myself up to turning on the barbecue. I think I will keep drinking and watch some movies until late at night. Hopefully I will be feeling better tomorrow. Although, hung over is usual not synonymous with better. Fuckity fuck fuck fuck.

Okay bright side, trailer had some rips in the fabric and was almost done. Mountain bike was 12 years old and I had been contemplating replacing it. House insurance may cover some of the replacement cost. "I am trying real hard to be the shepherd."

Lunch, in camera.

We had people over for lunch today and had chicken salad, egg salad and pasta salad. The first two of which were meant to be eaten in buns. We also had some veggies and dip. Then the kids played while the adults chatted. Late afternoon we went to the river for a swim and took the play friend along for the ride. It was great. Almost let the son drown. He moved a little out of the swimming hole and found a place where the water was a little over his mouth and he couldn't quite get the leverage to walk back against the slight current.

Fuck me was that ever scary. Holy shit do I have to keep my eyes on him. No life guard there. He thinks he can swim. Not a good combination. Coincidentally I have been thinking about pools recently and how they are so dangerous with little kids. My self talk went something like this, "well as long as you are vigilant and have lots of safety procedures." That shit just went out the window. Not until all our kids are strong swimmers. That has to be the starting point. And then gates that lock, not just latch but "I need an adults intervention to swim" lock.

Just one of those parenting moments that brings you up short. Kid racing towards a stop sign on their bike and you are praying they won't forget to brake. Chasing sister on the side walk and traffic is busy. Put them down to sleep and pray they don't manage roll over and suffocate or some such nonsense.

But the good times are good.

Bait and switch.

So the daughter decided she was going to make dinner again this evening. Planned it out yesterday and everything. Then 4:30 rolls around and she just isn't that into dinner. So I got the nod and was up off the bench within minutes.

Tonights dish was a red pepper and coconut chicken dish. Lots of cilantro. I rather enjoyed it. Pureed half the red pepper and onion and all of the garlic, diced the other half f the veggies. Tore three chicken breasts off the bone and into strips. The diced veggies and chicken pieces were browned on all sides in a large skillet. Then the puree was added back with salt and pepper (note to self more salt and pepper next time). This was cooked for about seven minutes. Then a can of coconut milk was added. Simmered for another 8 minutes or so then the chopped up cliantro was added into the mix. Served over a bed of nice white rice. I added paprika to mine after the fact. Everyone had to add some salt. But it was a nice meal. (okay I had already eaten a bunch before I took the picture, at least the bowl hadn't yet been licked clean)After dinnerthe two oldest and I went to see the new Ice Age movie at the theatre. They both had a good time even if I did eat most of the popcorn. (I have bigger hands and am more focussed, its not my fault.) The going out after dinner was pretty exciting even if I did just have to talk the son down. Bit of an over tired tantrum. I don't know why I partake in these. He is asleep on the couch now and I can easily move him back to his bed. Definitely the path of least resistance and thus should be first choice.

Casserole Heaven

Well I imagine most of my west coast readers are as far from wanting to whip up a casserole in their kitchen as they have ever been. However, we made this one on the barbecue. Didn't see that one coming did you.

I was feeling like we needed to eat vegetarian again but wasn't feeling much like the usual standards. So I decided to make a potato casserole. I started by gently sauteeing half a medium onion and five medium sized chopped up mushrooms. I put three cloves of garlic through my little presser and put those in too. Once they were all sweaty and starting to brown I added more oil. Then I took a quarter cup of flour and sprinkled a bunch of it on. After mixing added some milk and kept mixing. Back and forth between flour and milk until I had maybe two cups of sauce. I finished with salt, pepper and cumin to taste. It wasn't all that thick but had some good consistency and was quite flavourful.

Then in a big roasting pan I oiled the bottom lightly and put down a first layer of scalloped potatoes. Next I added sliced carrots followed by zuchinnin, broccoli, a tiny bit of cottage cheese ( I would have used more but that was all we had left) and then another layer of potatoes. On top of this layer I added some grated mozzarella (you know, its for kids). After it was all done I poured the sauce over everything. In no way did the sauce come close to covering everythnig but seeing as that wasn't my goal it was okay.

I covered the whole deal with tinfoil and put it on the barbecue. With all three burners on low I left it in there for an hour. Our grill didn't get above 350 with all three burners on and I think that was just about right. I would have loved to grill it for about five minutes at the end to crisp up the top but that will have to wait for a cooler day.

The wife added a mixed green salad with some red onion and vinegar dressing. Vegetarian rides again. I gotta tell you, I feel so good the day after eating vegetarian. Hoping to get up to four nights a week.

Otherwise it was a warm day. We gardened, watched videos, went to the library and are going for the after dinner swim. I mean, it is thursday.

A quick visit.

Well we fired up the cue again tonight. After managing to get my mom to stay for dinner I got adventurous and made my own honey garlic glaze. To speed up the process I nuked the bowl full of sauce covered chicken on medium fir 7 minutes. The bbqing still took a while. However the mumma stuck it out and had a couple of drumsticksbefore she flew the coop. See what I did there. Huh, huh .. nice eh?
Currently the two oldest are off with mom at the park while I type one handed and try to entertain with my left. Note to sisters, it is possible but not fun.