As promised, adventures in "baby wed leaning" (just comes out automatically now).
Today: strawberries.

food glorious food

While we were in France, our little Leo had his first solid food. And my goodness did he love it. Hard not to when the food came straight from his grandfather's gardens and orchards. Hubby's mum prepared the vegetables into soup, whizzed up berries and mashed peaches. It was a lovely family thing and it all went swimmingly. But I couldn't help but look forward to being home in my own kitchen and to preparing his food myself.
I was telling this to a couple of friends today who have little ones about a year older than Leo and remarking how special I felt it was to prepare his food and how much I was enjoying it. They laughed at me. Wait until it comes back at your face or gets thrown across the room, they said. Or when you've come home from work and have to do the washing and the tidying and the dusting and then the food preparation wont feel so 'special'. Ok, so they may have a point. And the novelty will no doubt wear off soon.

But in the meantime, I am enjoying it. And there is something special about it. Pears and apples, broccoli and pumpkins. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that for 6 months he has only had my breastmilk, and I know that it has been completely up to me and my body to keep him alive and sustained. And I want to keep that going. Perhaps I am anticipating the end of the breastfeeding. Perhaps I just enjoy the wizz of the food processor. Or perhaps I am just revelling in the novelty while it lasts.

**we are also trying some baby led weaning (or baby wed leaning as I keep calling it - envisioning a baby in white on one foot). Stay tuned for adventures with broccoli stalks.

Home again home again jiggety jig...

Despite coming back to winter and despite the jetlag meaning little bubs is up at all hours, it's lovely to be home...
We had a wonderful time away, and so great for Leo to meet all his French family. Just awful leaving them. More on this later perhaps.
In the meantime, here's a few Frenchy pics...

hot cross buns

got baking again today, very satisfying. And I love this time of year, if only because I get the excuse to make these Delicious hot cross buns. I got the recipe a couple of years ago from the 'diet schmiet' segment on Triple R breakfast. It uses cranberries and lots of spices and really is super yummo. Is there anything better than a baby finally napping (not usually very good at it) and allowing me half an hour for a cup of tea and a fresh hot cross bun with more butter than I would if I wasn't alone?!!

note to self... take off rings before kneading dough. 

This morning I baked the most ridiculous cinnamon buns (it's possible that I may have eaten three) and spent a lovely couple of hours reading my latest edition of Dumbo Feather and pottering. I could get used to this lady of leisure business.

happy birthday to me...

Despite waking up with a mother of a head cold, I had a lovely birthday yesterday. Aided immeasurably by hubby's crepes in bed in the morning. He's a keeper, that one. 

wow. that nesting instinct really kicks in, doesn't it?

I've been waking up early lately.... my body preparing me for less sleep perhaps?? So I'm fortifying myself with home made bircher muesli.

Today begins my last week at work!

Parsley agogo...

My sister's vegie garden has gone bananas, thanks in part to Melbourne's abundant rains lately. So she gave me a mountain of parsley, which I've had to develop various uses for. Normally an easy task, but the sheer amount of it has stretched me slightly...

cup day barbecue burgers








salads (my sis made a fabulous tabbouleh with her lot which I forgot to photograph)

parsley pesto (mixed through a chicken and broad bean risotto) 












And there's still more to go! Anyone got more good ideas for parsley use?