If you've never tasted homemade lemonade, you haven't tasted summer. Problem is, when my kids want lemonade, they want it NOW! They're not interested in waiting for the sugar to dissolve in boiling water and then cool down in the fridge before I add the lemon. Good thing Agave syrup dissolves in water right away. … Continue reading Homemade lemonade and popsicles too
Farmers’ markets open this week
Try a peach from the farmers' market, and you'll know why I have to ration them. They look similar to the peaches you might find at a grocery, but pick it up and it screams for you to eat it immediately. The smell is so strong, you feel like you're walking through an orchard. And … Continue reading Farmers’ markets open this week
Raising readers
Each week I fill my arms with as many books as I can carry from the library, so many that I recently bought a piece of furniture to store them. Okay, so it's really supposed to be a gardening bucket, but I'm not taking this adorable piece out to my filthy garden. New library books … Continue reading Raising readers
Yogurt bar & pancakes on Shavuos
As far as I'm concerned, for all that the upcoming holiday, Shavuos, lacks in detailed laws, it makes up for it in delicious foods. I'll take a buttery, broiled filet of fish over a roast any day. Our main course on Shavuos always features fish, coupled with a salad of greens, topped with feta cheese. … Continue reading Yogurt bar & pancakes on Shavuos
Smoothie Cones for Shavuos
I've heard in more than one class on Jewish thought that life is like an escalator. We're constantly moving along, either up or down. If we're not growing, than we're more likely to be descending than remaining stagnant. I've seen it in my own life in spirituality, and certainly that's the message of counting the … Continue reading Smoothie Cones for Shavuos
Getting out to garden
Gardening has become a Mother's Day tradition around here, thanks to Chicago's late spring and the let's-do-what-mommy-wants theme of the day. Even in years where we've had obstacles--like an overdue baby or inclement weather--we've managed to get a few plants in the ground. This year, it meant planting (and planning) around 8 carpools. Aided by … Continue reading Getting out to garden
Sick day soup
Never mind the Tiffany's, Saks and Nordstrom now prominent in Columbus, Ohio malls. I remember the days when to find a decent dress in my hometown you had to go to...Cincinnati. And as for fancy restaurants? Not so many. Think Bob Evans, Big Boy, Denny's and Friendly's. So recently when the only food I wanted … Continue reading Sick day soup
Biking to ‘carpool’
Much to the astonishment of the 4-yr.-old boy in my carpool, I picked up the kids from Tai Kwan Do on my bike. Pointing to my bike and trailer, he asked, "Where do you get this thing?" And then, before I could answer, he exclaimed, "You should have brought a car!" My son merely rolled … Continue reading Biking to ‘carpool’
Free therapy in the Forest Preserve
Ten deer, a blue jay, a dozen retirees and me. Oh, and my sleeping baby. We were the only ones in the Forest Preserve this past Friday morning. I hadn't planned to seek out the tranquility of the Forest Preserve, but I couldn't help but feel rejuvenated. When I decided to add another run to … Continue reading Free therapy in the Forest Preserve
Dark chocolate cherry oat bars
When your kids are driving you mad, your house is a mess, and your work deadlines are piling up, make this recipe. If the tasty, sorta-healthy treat doesn't cheer you up, squeezing the cherries will. Something about squeezing the juice from ripe (or thawed) cherries is intensely gratifying--kind of how I imagine kids used to … Continue reading Dark chocolate cherry oat bars
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