Zoo Time

We finally took the kids to the zoo today. Gramma Stoklosa bought us a family membership to the Toronto Zoo for Christmas this year. We havn't felt much like going in the winter (although the zoo is open year round), but with spring arriving today was the perfect day. Hannah and I had play practice this morning, so we met Joel and the rest of the kids in Whitby. When we were just about to enter the Zoo we spotted the Lynch family. Hannah and Fiona ran towards each other right away and gave eachother a hug. We chatted for a few minutes and then went on to our zoo adventure. The kids got their own maps and we started on our way. We visited the Australian exhibit first. The kids got to see some snakes, sea turtles, really cool bugs that look like dead leaves, Comodo Dragons and an amazing live coral reef. The highlight for me were all the amazing fish. There were so many different kinds, each with incredible patterns that were vibrant and the colours were almost electric. We got to see the Sibirian Tigers, one came super close to the enclosure wall. I certainly would not want to meet a hungry tiger in a dark alley. Their paws are huge. Watching them was amazing. You could see the p0wer they have in their legs and shoulders as they walked around. Jonathan and Benjamin really liked the tigers. We didn't walk around the whole zoo, but we did see some reindeer, wild horses, kangaroo's, camels, a few monkeys and some mountain goats. I am glad that we have a family pass as there is so much to see.

I had an idea when I was on the treadmill this morning. I was thinking of what to make for dinner tonight, with Easter and Passover around the corner I have been in the mood for some tastes of my Jewish heritage. I decided to make some potato latkes and then I started to think about tomorrow....St. Patrick's day. Naturally I decided that I had to make an Irish dish (Potato and Leek pie), not just because of St. Patrick's day but because part of my dad's family came from Ireland. Having two culturally diverse meals planned it made me think of how much I enjoy cooking foods from different countries. I love to eat all the wonderful flavours from around the world. I have wished before that I had a cookbook that had a variety of recipes from man diffent cultures. I love recipe books, but I only have room for so many. I decided that I could make my own (I already have a pretty large collection of multicultural meals, so I would just have to organize them according to the country they came from). Then I got to thinking why not start a blog about it and then write a cookbook (why not think big right?). I have often thought I would like to write a cookbook, but didn't feel like I would have anything new to add...not until today. I am an expert when it comes to feeding my family.
My kids will eat dishes from Greece, South Africa, England, Mexico, Isreal, China, Japan, India,Poland, Scottland without complaint. But I can do better. There are so many wonderful meals waiting to be discovered. I like cooking meals from different countries because I want our family to appreciate how diverse a world we live it, yet how we are all the same. Eating the food from a country makes me feel like I understand a little about the people who live there.

Tonights meal was delicious. The potato latkes were crisp on the outside and nice and light on the inside. I also made chicken strips dipped in matzo meal. Hannah said she didn't like the potato latkes, but just before bed Jonathan said "that was yummy". When I asked him what he said he would show me. I thought he was going to lead me to the buttertart squares, but instead he pointed to the potato latkes (or what was left of them). He asked if I could make them again, but make more just for him! I always know dinner was a hit when my kids ask me to make it again!

Sour Milk

I had to laugh at my little Eden earlier this afternoon. She decided to get into the pantry cupboard and found one of her sippy cups. I did wonder how long it had been sitting there, but I didn't think too much of it...that is not until I heard her gagging a minute later. She gagged a couple of times and then she seemed to be okay. As soon as I heard her gagging I knew that there must have been some sour milk in the cup. I think I gave her some in it yesterday, so it can't have been that bad right?? It was so funny I couldn'thelp but laugh. In fact as I am writting this, the thought still makes me giggle. Eden has a very active gag reflex. It is amazing how the smallest taste of something can make her gag. I can still remember the instant reaction/gag she had when we were at Valerie and Glen's for dinner and I decided to try and give her some chicken broth. I had never tried it with any of the other kids, but thought I would give it a try. I should have known that it would be aweful as the colour was slightly...actually Idon't know what you would call the colour. It looked like gravy that had solidified. As you can imagine, it only took one taste for Eden to gag on it. Just to be sure I hadn't caused her to gag by putting the spoon to far into her mouth I tried to give her a second bite and sure enough she gagged again! Would it be really cruel to give her something she doesn't like on purpose just so we can record her gag reaction?????