Things I love Thursday…

Things I love Thursday, inspired by Gala Darling!

• Yakiniku at home- my mum bought us a electric nabe (hot pot)/hot plate set while she was here and on the weekend Shun & I enjoyed some yakiniku (Korean BBQ) together. It was kind of like going on a date without even leaving the house (and since I was busy with Noah, Shun did all the prep and then did all the clean up too)- Shun had bought way too much meat and veggies so we plan to do it again this coming weekend.
• Skype chats with Sarah. It was great catching up on Monday for a much overdue chat. Next time, Nay, you will have to join us (It was an impromptu chat, next time I will mail you!)
• My mum`s homemade chocolate slice- mentioned this last week but finished it off this week. Will have to try and make some more soon now that I know where to get shredded coconut. This was my kiwi nana`s recipe, and now my mum makes it and I know how to make it so eventually I will have to teach Noah- I guess it is a “family” recipe!
• Homemade vegetable minestrone soup- I have never made vegetable soup before but with all of us having come down with a cold of some sort over the last week Shun requested it and I figured why not, I could give it ago. I kind of made up the recipe after looking at a couple online and I have posted what I did below for anyone that is interested. I am not usually a huge soup fan but this was great and perfect for winter.
• Shun coming home super early (for him anyway, he got in at 7:30pm!) on Monday night- we actually got to eat dinner together on a week night and this very rarely happens!
• Finding a kids clinic near our house about a 10 minute walk away- not that I had wanted to visit a doctor while Noah was so young but it is good to know there is one so close by and the staff and doctor seemed really nice. When we arrived (Shun walked with us there on the way to work and filled in the forms for me- you try filling in forms while holding a newborn!) they put us in a back room with a bed so that Noah didn`t have to be around other sick children cos he was so little- I thought that was nice. Plus when I had to go back there yesterday they were really good again.
• Making cupcakes- made 18 little cupcakes from a recipe by Mandy`s mum that I have known forever. Thanks Jan! Problem is now I will probably eat them all.
• Noah having a 3 hour nap during the day- I know it is probably because he has been unwell and taking medicine but I got so much stuff done in that time (including the cupcakes, some tidy up, dinner prep and sorting through some of Noah`s clothes) – what finally got him to sleep (after he battled it all morning) was singing Jon Bon Jovi and laying him down on his tummy and taking his legs out of his jumpsuit so that he could move them more freely. I worry about sleeping babies on their tummy as I know they say you shouldn`t but he has been asleep on his play mat in front on me the whole time so I have been able to keep an eye on him. He is still sleeping now (as I wrote that he woke up- will finish list later)
• Getting great advice from blog friends about having a sick baby and about Shun`s potential snowboard trip. We actually spoke a bit about it last night and he said that he doesn`t have to go and that he will pass this time but maybe spend some time with his uni friends some time in February as they have not all caught up for a shinnenkai yet. He had pretty much decided himself not to go which I am happy about- I told him if he wanted to though that I would be fine and would invite Cat to stay in case Noah or I had any problems but he said he was fine with not going. He has asked if he can go to Book Off to buy manga on the weekend and I said “OF COURSE” – having him go out for an hour or two on the weekend is more than fine by me- although should I be worried that my almost 29 year old husband still loves to read comics? hehe
• Easy oven dinners- I love dinners were you can throw everything in the dish, pop it in the oven and 30 minutes later or so it is done! Tonights dinner was pizza chicken and it is in the oven as I write- basically you grab a chicken breast each and pound it flat (or cut it thinner and open it up), smother it in pizza sauce (I used tomato pesto), add chopped pizza ingredients like ham, mushroom, mini tomatos, capsicum and red onion, top with cheese and pop in the oven for 30 minutes. Does anyone have any other easy oven dinners they can share? They are great with a baby because I can prepare earlier in the day if I want to!
• Two spring-esqe days in a row- yesterday and the day before were beautiful days both with tops of 17! February isn`t even here yet and we are already experiencing spring like weather- I love it! Hopefully we get some more days like that in the coming weeks.
• Plans to meet up with Sarah, Nay, Melanie, Cassie and Khea next month! Can not wait! I haven`t met Melanie`s little one yet and haven`t seen Khea`s Missha in a couple of months!!!
• My brother booked my dad`s tickets to Japan for early next month! He will be here for five days and it is only a couple of weeks away. I can not wait for him to meet Noah.
• Discovering things about my son like the fact he has no little toenail on either of his little toes- just like me, my mum and my grandma (we all have them, they are just reasonably non-existent, and mine are the smallest, just like little holes where the toenail should be- it is weird I know but true)
• Having him smile at me and poke his tongue out at me especially when I do it to him first.

What are you loving this Thursday? And remember also to share your favourite easy oven recipes- or any other easy to prepare and cook meals!

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Lulu`s vegetable minestrone soup

Ingredients

1 x large carrot

1 x large potato (or three small ones)

1 x celery stalk

1 x large onion

1 x bunch of spinach

2 x leeks

1 x packet of shitake mushrooms

2 x green piman/little capsicums (This was an afterthought, I just had them in the fridge)

2 x tins of diced tomatos

4 x cups of beef stock

200 grams of pork mince

4 x bacon rashers

5 tsp of minced garlic (you can use less- we just love garlic)

60ml of red wine

Large pinches of oregano, parsley and thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Cook the mince, onion, leeks and bacon in the pot, add the garlic half way through.

2. Add the wine, beef stock and tinned tomatoes and leave to simmer for 10-15 minutes- add the oregano, parsley and thyme as well as the salt and pepper.

3. Add all the rest of the vegetables and leave to simmer for 20 minutes or so (or as long as you would like)

4. That is it! Simple! Oh and if you are going to add pasta in as well then I suggest leaving out the mince- I just didn`t have any little pasta on hand!

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