Lumpia (Phillipino Spring Rolls)

So I'm following a blog on Epicurious.com called "Around the World in 80 Dishes". This is the first recipe I have tried. It is a very good recipe for Spring Rolls and I like that it is not deep-fried, so it is a much healthier food choice. I did not make my own wraps, I bought frozen ones at the Asian Market in Calgary. Much easier as they are very thin, crepe-like things that I'm quite sure I wouldn't have the patience to make. In this recipe, I used chicken, cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic and bamboo shoots for the filling, and romaine lettuce leaves to wrap with. So here I am at 10:30 at night, eating Spring Rolls! Very Yummy! Here is the link to the Recipe ...

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/cuisines/aroundtheworldin80dishes/philippineslumpiarecipe/recipes/food/views/Lumpia-Rolls-352989

TIP ... I used lots of water at all the edges so the wrap would seal.

If you're not from the prairie ...

For my Farmer friends ...

If you're not from the prairie,
You don't know what's flat.
You've never seen flat.

When travellers pass through across our great plain,
They all view our home, they all say the same:
"It's simple and flat!" They've not learned to see,
The particular beauty that's now part of me.

If you're not from the prairie,
You don't know what's flat.

From "If You're Not From The Prairie ..." by David Bouchard

This field of Canola took my breath away this morning. I had to take a picture of it. Beauty like this can only come from God. It makes me feel wonder, homesickness, gratitude and thanks. Although it is a picture from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and not that of the Flat Prairies where I grew up, it still makes me homesick for Saskatchewan and the beautiful "checkerboard" of fields that the farmers create for God to play checkers on. God Bless the Farmer!

For the Farmer and his Wife in Montana ... Hope you liked this post!

Shuckin' Peas

I went to the Farmer’s Market today. I didn’t really know what I wanted or needed, but knew it would hit me when I got there. The very first thing to catch my eye was a bag of peas, still in the shell. Of course my mouth watered thinking about how they would taste, both raw and cooked. Mmmmmmmmmmm! But what I yearned for the most was to sit on my couch in my cool house, watch television, and mindlessly shuck peas. My mom always had a large garden when we were kids. Sometimes she even had two gardens! I remember shucking lots of peas and tipping lots of beans! It was a chore left to my two sisters and I, and we usually chose to do it in the cool comfort of the basement, out of the hot Saskatchewan sun, while watching “Days of Our Lives” or some other silly soap! Ah, the lazy days of summer!

Of course, I bought a bag of peas! Then proceeded on to gather up all the ingredients to make a pot of fresh Borscht! Can’t wait to have a bowl!

Month 8

The eighth month of pregnancy includes some interesting twists and challenges. Apparently, one gets a bit off-balance, so to say, during normal physical tasks! Last Sat. I met Deanna F and her girls at a Stampede Breakfast. There were a thousand or more people there, horse rides, live band, etc. Well, forgetting that I am shaped much more like a watermelon, than the pear I am used to, I stepped up onto an 18 inch girder. Seems harmless! But the rocks at the top of the girder did not give me adequate support to gain my balance at the top! A few staggering steps (No worries, I’m going to gain my composure!), then ... “Uh Oh!” here comes a very large pregnant woman, careening out of control, towards a crowd of innocent bystanders (The poor things are just waiting in line to get their breakfast!} An audible “Gasp” comes from the crowd! Then, luckily, gravity kicks in and I fall to my knees! No one gets hurt ... PHEW! Except me ! No worse injury than that to my pride! The feeling is so surreal, as I have experienced this same crazy fall in previous pregnancies. But each time, after the initial stumble, I feel like I will easily gain my ground, but some unknown, unforeseen force suddenly begins to pull me down and there is nothing I can do!! Except laugh, of course!!

Al a Carte???

The first week that my kids were gone, my food consisted of toast, eggs and tea. This was accompanied by a few salads to round out my nutrition. Oh yeah, and I made one trip to OPA!, for a lamb pita and lemon potatoes, and also included a BBQ steak this week when I camped overnight with Collin and Carry! Not a horrible week as far as nutrition goes! This last week, I had a craving for a hot dog, so I bought a package ... and of course, ate them all week! My concentration was more on fruit this week than vegetables, unless you count the sauerkraut on the dogs! This last week also included a stampede trip at which I ate a chicken donair and fresh lemonade! Mmmm ... What shall I eat next week?

The Gifts ....

I've been pondering a blog for about a year now. I knew it was going to be a blog about me. But wasn't quite sure what twist it would take. But after much deliberation and a few surprises on the way, I decided that this blog was going to center around my job as a mother.

I am good at many things, and have developed a passion for helping others. Thus, the drive and struggle to get the education to become a nurse. But there is one thing that I know I am good at, and that is being a mother.

So here goes .... My attempt at a blog, starting with the 4 Gifts that I have received from God. Those 4 Gifts that strengthen me, give me hope, and keep me on stable ground.