Creamy Prawn & Mango Curry

Thank you Devon Hall for sharing this amazing recipe from Greedy Gourmet !! It was simply divine, and so so easy!!

Creamy Prawn & Mango Curry

200 grams king prawns/shrimp cleaned and peeled

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp mild curry powder

100 ml light cream

1 ripe mango cubed

cilantro to garnish

1. place oil in a large fry pan

2. place the prawns in the pan and sprinkle with the curry powder

3. when the prawns are pink and almost cooked, add the cream and let it

bubble for a minute or two

4. when the sauce has thickened slightly add the mango stir thoroughly and serve right away.

5. serve on rice (I used Jasmine) and garish with chopped cilantro (I obviously forgot the cilantro!!)

The recipe says it serves 2, I doubled it, you may want to triple it, depending on how many you are feeding.

Delicious!! Will definitely be making this again!! Fredo said next time we should add some green beans!

K

thank goodness for hats.....

I didn't have a shower today....I had no energy. I needed to wash and blow dry my hair, but I didn't...it was hot, I was annoyed and irritated, I still am as I write this....only now I have a beer and dinner on the way! I told a girlfriend my kids got a stomach bug, that lasted a week. I got a 'Beyond irritated/no patience bug" that has lasted pretty much the whole summer...I am sure my neighbors are tired of hearing me yell and discipline....all day!

That is why I say, thank goodness for hats...and thank goodness I found this one at American Eagle for only $9.99! I do remember I was wearing a hat at my bridal shower....it was a Sunday, back then I didn't do my hair on Sundays...that was my lazy day, after watching Coronation Street!!! I might add that the shower was a TOTAL surprise, and I was not happy that my hat blended in with the cream tiles on the walls....I was wearing super big jeans, and my furry boots..I was super shocked they pulled off a surprise, the ugly outfit makes for a better story.

Anabelle laughed at me when I came close to her with my hat on....I guess she thought I looked funny. I was just glad I didn't have to do my hair.

Hoping this 'bug' goes away soon!! and yes...I will shower tomorrow morning.

K

mmmmmmmmm....

My father in law would always make this veggie dish that was so delicious. I finally asked him one day how he did it, glad I asked, because since then I have made it numerous times, and have just started to add it to pasta....we normally would have it as a side dish, or put it on fresh bread (that is still good!) but since the kids love pasta, and it is a great chance for them to eat their veggies I toss it with any kind of noodles. This time, I used Mafaldine?? I have never bought it before?? It's kind of like long, skinny lasagna noodles?? I liked the wavy edges! This is what he told me to do.....

8-10 roma tomatoes

peppers (I used one red, one yellow, one orange. No green, changes the taste!)

1 large eggplant

2 chopped garlic cloves

Chop everything up lengthwise. In large saucepan, fill the bottom with olive oil, maybe 1/4" thick?? Seems like a lot, but it makes a nice sauce with the juices from the vegetables. Add the chopped garlic. Heat the oil and garlic a bit, then add all the vegetables. Let everything heat up and start to cook, once things start to get soft, turn the heat right down, and continue to cook, uncovered. I let it cook for a good hour, I found the longer it cooks the better. Once everything is juicy and kinda mushy, its done. Cook your pasta, drain, then add to your saucepan with saucy vegetable mixture. Coat pasta, add some parmesan cheese and enjoy!!

We had our pasta with a radicchio salad. I love the bitter sting and snap of radicchio, along with the tang of balsamic vinegar. I added chopped celery, some sliced radishes and chopped cucumber. Tossed it with a bit of olive oil, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper. It tasted fresh and delicious!

Seems I am starting to get back into the swing of things....July was a terrible month....

K

g.r.e.e.n.s......

I have felt an intense need for greens....I picked up Kale and Swiss Chard....this is what I tried..

Kale Chips

1 bunch of kale

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp seasoning salt

Snip off the leaves from the stalk, and break into bite size pieces. Wash and dry thoroughly (best with a salad spinner) In a bowl toss with olive oil and seasoning salt. Arrange a single layer on a cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 15 minutes, until the edges are golden but aren't burnt.

I just googled this recipe. I will be honest, I was not a big fan?? I don't know if I did something wrong, or maybe I just didn't like the taste. Glad I tried them though.

Second......

Sauteed Swiss Chard

This was delicious!! Wash and chop one bunch of swiss chard. In a saucepan put 2 tbsp of olive oil and 3 chopped garlic cloves. Heat the oil and garlic, add the swiss chard, cook until wilted. I put this on top of my pizza that night, it was so yummy! And then the next day I added some things to the cold swiss chard, and had a nice hearty salad...

I added a can of corn, and a can of black beans...it already had the olive oil and garlic from the swiss chard, so no need to add anything else! It was super quick and really delicious!

K

my top 5 diaper bag essentials

I don't know what prompted me to do this post. I think I was watching Anabelle digging in my diaper bag, and thinking about the goodies that consumed the pockets....four out of these five things I had in my diaper bag for Noah as well....so I figured, they have done me good, I might as well share!

#1 Bum Bum Balm by Dimpleskins

This diaper rash balm is awesome!! It seemed to clear up diaper rash just like that! It smells lovely, is a clear balm so you don't get white stuff all over everything while trying to hold legs, grab wipes and a diaper....made locally! 100% cruelty free, and like they say "Never a chemical. Never a worry" They have a little store in New West that carried their whole line of products, as well as some other little baby trinkets (also sold at retailers, check website for locations)! I also loved their unscented Avocado Soap!! I used it the most with Noah, even in the hospital. Their 'Cradle Me' for baby cradle cap, 'Sniffles Eucalyptus Rub' 'BooBoo Goo' and also 'Sweet Cheeks' for chapped cheeks from teething ect. What the heck, the WHOLE line is amazing! I started with a little kit that had sample sizes of everything, so I got to try before I bought large sizes of them all. The kit is $23.95 and the single tins are $12 each. Find them online www.dimpleskinsnaturals.com

Totally worth a drive to the store 451 E. Columbia Street, New Westminster

Tues-Sat 11-5 604-395-MAMA

#2. Travel Sleep Sheep

Oh the sleep sheep...I have both the travel size and crib size! I randomly put this on my registry after a girlfriend was talking to me about while noise and positive sleep associations...I used this consistently in the stroller, playpen, and at home in her crib. For naps and bedtime, Anabelle still uses it, loves the sound of the water. It has 4 soothing nature sounds, a timer, and requires batteries, so maybe a 6th and 7th essential for your diaper bag should be extra batteries and a little screwdriver to change them!! The velcro strap makes it easy to attach to the car seat handle or stroller, and the sound machine is removable so you can easily wash the sheep, or like I did, just bring the soundbox and tuck it behind the car seat padding to avoid extra bulk :-) Another positive was that it has a volume setting, so whenever we were out, I would turn it up all the way to drown out some of the noise.

This is the one I never had for Noah....I WISH I would have!!

Check out the whole line of products www.sleepsheepandfriends.com

#3 Re-usable travel wipe case

I do not use Huggies diapers or Huggies wipes. I have always preferred Pampers products, a personal preference I guess. However, the Huggies travel wipe case I really like! I picked one up one day when I needed extra wipes, then just kept refilling it. It lasted well into Anabelle. Then I did need to get a replacement. You can find nicer ones, but this one suited me just fine. And, it fits nicely into essential #4...see below (my favorite wipes are the Kirkland brand from Costco)

#4 JJ Cole Diapers and Wipes Pod

I had one of these for Noah, and got a girly one when Anabelle came along. Its a sleek wipeable case that comes with a wipeable change pad, will fit a travel wipe case and a few diapers. I liked this because it fits in my diaper bag, and then when Fredo would take Noah or Anabelle out, he would just take this little case instead of the whole bag. He was never gone for long, so all he needed was a diaper change, and it was conveniently packed in this little durable bundle! They carry the line at Babies R Us, as well as a whole slew of other locations....check the website for locations near you! They have come out with some pretty nice new patterns!

www.jjcolecollections.com

#5 Sassy Diaper Sacks

I loved having these tucked inside one of my pockets for when I was out at a friends place, and had to change and extremely stinky diaper! I would either tie it in a sack and leave in my diaper bag to dispose at home, or put it in their garbage, usually the kitchen one, as thats the one that gets taken out the most. I knew that with the fresh powder scent, it would disguise the mess inside the bag! You can buy them all over, I get mine at TJ Kids, $2.99 for 50 Baby Powder scented disposable sacks...I think they are a bit more at Babies R Us

And this, is the bag that holds all the goods!! Skip Hop's Studio Diaper Tote in Pewter Dot!

www.skiphop.com/product/21500.html

I loved that this bag looked like a purse, but was a functional diaper bag! I was hesitant about the stroller clips that replaced the long strap ability to slide over the stroller handle, but they are awesome! They easily clip to my single and double stroller. I got mine at Baby's World but again, they have them everywhere!!

www.babysworld.ca

K

big step

Noah did something huge while we were up in Shuswap at a friends family cabin. The day we arrived, Noah said to me "mom, I am not going on the boat" I didn't ask him too, nor did I even bring it up. It didn't take long for him to change his mind though. The next morning he asked to get his swim stuff and life jacket on, he wanted to go tubing.......

Anabelle was napping at the time so my friend offered to keep an ear out for her, and get her when she woke up. I didn't want to miss what Noah claimed was about to happen, so I jumped on the boat with Alfredo..

When the boat stopped, and the tube was ready to be loaded, Noah did not even hesitate. "My turn, I want to go tubing!" and on he hopped....I was not nervous, I was not scared, I was so happy for him! I could not believe he was about to do this...I was unsure how it would go, but he was doing it non the less. With a smile on his face he accepted the directions from the driver, thumbs up to go faster, thumbs down to go slower.....and we were off....not once during the ride did he take his hands off the handles to give directions, he relied on his buddy (I think he knew if he let go he would have flown off!). I sat watching him all those feet away, at the end of a rope, bouncing on the water on an inflatable device, being pulled by a speed boat. My little Noah...thank goodness for my sunglasses and the wind blowing my hair in my eyes to disguise my tears, I was overcome with emotion, I was so proud of him, WE were proud of him, Alfredo and I could not believe it!

After this first time, he went a few more over the next few days we were there. He had so much fun, Fredo promised him anything he wanted when we got home for being so brave, lol. He chose a plastic mini golf set...

K

every mom needs these!

Thank you to my neighbor who introduced me to individually packets of powdered Pedialyte!! Noah has been quite sick, and to keep on top of his vomiting and diarrhea I have wanted to keep him well hydrated. I normally buy the bottles of Pedialyte and end up throwing it away, usually half full because it has been in the fridge too long! These lovely little packets make 1 cup of Pedialyte, the perfect amount to see how the intake goes!

I know many pediatricians recommend the use of an oral electrolyte solution like Pedialyte to prevent them from becoming dehydrated, especially after diarrhea and vomiting. Pedialyte restores the body's potassium, sodium, and chloride minerals. Something that is key to have on hand, you never know when something like the flu or a tummy bug will hit (like the middle of summer, while on a family vacation! grrrrrrrrrr!).

The crappy thing, is, again, they don't sell them in Canada. They sell the brand Electrolyte here, but not Pedialyte. We all go down to Target, don't we? Make a note to pick some up the next time you go to the USA.

K