I build scrapers mama

Feeling rather un-inventive today (and busy since we had a play-date and 21 pieces of laundry to iron) - I panicked when A asked what our "activity" for the day was. See this is the problem with routines and expectations - kids learn to depend on them and can get very disappointed when we are unprepared, tired, hungover or just plain lazy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Oversized & Gooey)

These cookies are BIG, chewy and thick. The recipe calls for "melted" butter and an extra egg yolk to keep them soft.  I kind of, sort of, broke my diet all weekend so figured I would indulge myself today and start my diet again tomorrow. Plus I had 2 of the cookies, ok fine 3 of the cookies with a large glass of water to convince myself that I was being a bit healthy ... 

Special Touches - kids birthdays ...

A's 3 birthday had to be all about her, her friends and the things that she likes. 

1. Ice cream cone cupcakes (cupcakes baked in cones instead of wrappers)

2. "Happy Birthday" (in spanish) made of blown-up Google searches of letters with her favorite colors/animals

3. Rainbow shaped fruit tray (her favorite fruits)

4. Mini-tables and mini-chairs for her to eat with all of her little guests

5. Home-made papel picado (Mexican tissue paper decoration) in pink & white 

Fresh Rocket yum yum yum

Just picking rocket from the back garden with the kids. Yes we grow some of our own produce. 

Confession - in-laws plant and tend our little vegetable garden. We just take the credit.  

It is still yummy though! 

Happy 4th of July

Rainy day ... and coughing kids ... but still found time to be a bit patriotic. Happy 4th of July fellow Americans.

For Love of Pho: Leluu's Vietnamese Cooking Class (London)

Uyen's herbs

Vietnamese food, in my opinion, is the new "sushi" & so when H surprised me with a day cooking course with Uyen of Leluu's Supper Club I was thrilled. So thrilled I hand-washed my favorite red apron for the occasion & could not sleep the night before. Uyen, who is Vietnamese teaches the course in her Hackney flat and for an afternoon, myself and 5 other strangers learned the philosophy behind Vietnamese food, which is a balance of sweet, sour and salty.