Lost in Translation

I used to teach ESL at a large university in a nearby city. It was a lot of fun, but it did not get the bills paid. Here's another pre-baby teaching story.

One semester, I taught Reading 1. Reading 1 is the “fresh off the boat” class for students who can barely put full sentences together. I don't know how they ever expected to survive the next semester or even the next year in actual college classes, but I always did my best to help them muddle through paragraphs and strengthen their practical skills for surviving their new lives in this foreign, English-speaking country.

Restaurants and food was always a great unit to cover. One thing I have learned as a teacher of international students is that everyone loves to talk about food; it doesn't matter where you're from. So one day, I started class off with a question. I always like to compare their home cultures to American culture, so I ask away and we discuss what you can and can't do here. I began by asking the class, “Do you ever go to a restaurant by yourself?”

They were totally silent, and visibly uncomfortable. Maybe they didn't quite catch what I said. I restated the question: “Have you ever gone to a restaurant alone?”

Recipe: Blueberry Quinoa Smoothie

It broke freezing today! Did you get to go outside? Sure, there's still well over a foot of snow on the ground and more due next week, but that doesn't matter because daylight savings is this weekend, which means more sunshine! You know it's been a long winter when 34°F and sunny feels gorgeous. 

 

In honor of both the warm weather and the sun staying out past 5pm, I made a smoothie today. Really though, there was just a long period between lunch and dinner - too many errands and appointments, too much teething and feisting. Mommy needed a little pick me up.

Dairy-, Tomato-, Soy-, and Gluten-Free Turkey Meatloaf

This was one delicious meatloaf. However, it bothered Julia. Urgh. My husband was crazy about it, which is good because he's got a lot of leftovers to work through on his own now!

That's a maple apricot glaze on top. Oh yeah.

Recipe: Addictive Potato Wedges

There was some chicken and a vegetable of some kind... blah blah let's get to the important part -- the roasted potatoes.

Yep, this one's a keeper.

Cookies and Milk, or Rice and Rice

Is there a better way to end the day than by tucking in your little one and then tearing into some rice cookies and rice milk with your spouse?

Pull up a chair! Guys, I need to work on my backgrounds.

Bathtime as Meditation

Inhale. Breathe in the humid air. Fill your lungs with that delicious baby scent. 

Exhale. Breathe out a sweet song, a silly lullaby while she chews her toy. Wash away the kisses, giggles and raspberries. Make room for more.

Splash, kick, laugh, rinse and repeat.

Bathtime is our meditation. No matter how cranky, fussy or feisty either of us is, bathtime is the cure. It's our special time of just parent and child. It calms us both.

Review: Gluten-Free Bisquick Pancake and Baking Mix

This morning, we needed pancakes. And Julia said, "Yes, I will behave and quietly play with my toys while you cook." Or at least that's what I thought I heard.

I like the way the light is shining down from heaven on these lovely pancakes.

I  usually don't go for mixes because I like to control the ingredients and because they're expensive. I've tried Pamela's mix and loved it -- except it has dairy and we can't do that anymore. Bob's Red Mill had a nice one for bread or something, but it's made with bean flours and they taste funny. And then I saw GF Bisquik. It's made with rice flour, sugar, salt, gum, and leavening. Safe for Julia, and a lot more reliable/quicker for me to throw together!