Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Happily busy...and grateful

Trying to finish up the school year with one kid and with the other all her upcoming end of the school year events and graduation for the other makes me tired just filling up the calendar!
But I am grateful that my children are healthy and thriving in everything they do.  Kids are so lucky.  I didn't have so many activities to do afterschool or on weekends.  So much is available!  Celina and Yesenia both take art, acting and dance classes at our local Y Monday-Friday with our family membership.  Yesenia takes a motion and improv class and a puppeteer class at a theater/gallery on Saturdays which are totally free (they do take donations) but how amazing is that!  I don't know why more families aren't taking advantage of so much that is offered in our community and nearby communities.
A few years ago we traveled several miles away from my front door to attend a cooking, art, and acting class.
Everyone should have access to this.
If you're not sure if you have these programs go online and checkout your city's website, your local YMCA or YWCA.  If you are not sure drop me a line and I will help.
This summer in most cities around the U.S. there will be free swimming lessons.  Another great opportunity for children to learn water safety and swim.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so before you get the kids ready for school or weekend fun, have some yummy goodness that will fill you up.

Scrambled Tofu Biscuit Sandwich w/Sausage Gravy
from  Vegan Junk Food by Lane Gold

4 biscuits or English muffins
1 16 oz carton of firm tofu, drained and pressed and broken up into small chunks
1 tsp oil
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/8 turmeric
2 tsps soy sauce
1 14 oz package Gimme Lean sausage
1 tbsp oil
1/4 cup flour
2 cups nondairy milk
1 tsp salt
1tsp pepper

In a medium saute pan over medium-high heat, cook tofu in 1 tsp of oil.
Cook for 5 minutes or when all liquid is absorbed.
Stir in nutritional yeast, onion powder, turmeric, and soy sauce and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from pan.
In the same pan cook sausage in oil until browned.
Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
Whisk in the milk.
Cook, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly.
Season with salt and pepper
On a biscuit or muffin, spoon 1/4 of the scrambled tofu, smother in gravy.  Cover with the other biscuit or muffin.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

May Gloom

Yesterday Yesenia worked in Griffith Park near Shane's Inspiration.  The weather was not typical LA weather.  It was more like a regular day in San Francisco where it was drizzling and gloomy.  Despite the non-typical day in LA fun was to be had.  Yesenia had so much fun looking for gophers and staying very quiet to see them pop their heads out of their burrows.  At one point she was imitating a guinea pig and it was sniffing and looking around his hole in the ground.  I guess she is that good.
After being on set for close to 10 hours, we rushed back to our own city for acting class.  Although she was so tired she had fun with the other kids and high praises from her acting coach.  She's such a trooper.
Not me.  Either my new thyroid meds did not kick in or sitting outside in the cold reading and talking to other cast members (there was another child actor on set but the guardian was never seen except for lunch) really did me in.
I thank God I still had leftovers from the night before because I only reheat, ate and fell asleep still wearing my clothes!

Trying To Stay Warm Soup

1 can stewed tomatoes
3 green onions diced
4 cups vegetarian broth
1 small package of vermicilli or whatever noodles you have on hand
2 celery stalks diced
8 ozs frozen green beans
2 carrots diced
2 bell peppers diced
season with salt or whatever seasonings you have (curry, salt and pepper, vegan worcestshire sauce, etc.)
cover with water.

add all ingredients and cover with water.
boil fast for 10 minutes.
reduce to simmer and continue to cook until veggies are tender.

This is good alone or with a sandwich.

Enjoy!

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