Friday...

...another beautiful sunny day. Both girls went to school - Alena started at 7:30!Today which is very early for us :) - while we spent some time on the Farmer's Market. After school we took the girls - and ourselves - out for some delicious, fantastic pizza. We first made sure that the dough and sauce were safe for the girlies. It was a go and they a pizza with mushrooms without cheese. Yay! - For a special afternoon treat we took the girls to the playground Alena hiked to on Thursday. Wow - what an amazing playground! The picture shows the girls together with my most wonderful sister having a great time!...

The last couple of days...

...have been fun and for some - to me unknown reason - I have been unable to upload the post which I wrote last night together with a picture.  Oh well,  so today no picture and just text.

Both girls are going to school and they both like it a lot  Today Alena had a "Wandertag".  A Wandertag is when the kids go on a day hike together with their class.  Theu usually hike through the woods to a playground, where a fire is made,  the kids roast their sausages on the fire, and - of course - play.  I am so excited that she got to be part of it.  Alena was so excited to go hiking with her class.  In preparation we got the sausage already a couple of days ago and had it vacuum packaged.  We bought the sausage from one of the butchers that does not use any lactose in their products.

So today,  I packed her backpack with the sausage, a couple of salami (lactose free) sandwiches, carrot, and also some chocolate which I brought along from PDX, as well as some Gummibears. We dropped her off at school and off they went.  First they took a bus, and then hiked up to the playground.  Good thing Alena loves the outdoors, and hiking :)

Mia Rosie spent the morning at Kindergarten, and the rest of the day at my Mom's house. My Mom has been cooking for us almost daily. She has been adjusting the recipes and making substitutions with safe ingredients.  It almost seems that there are more substitutions available here.  Yoghurt tastes amazing, whip cream, etc.

OK - I just hope that I will be ale to post pictures again tomorrow.  And before I forget, the daily dinner pictures will resume when we get back to PDX.

A nice day...

...we have been enjoying the most amazing fall weather. Just gorgeous and it is not a time to stay indoors. The girlies and I started our school/work routine on Monday. They attend school in the morning while I work. In the afternoon we enjoy some well deserved family time.

Food in Europe has been easy to deal with. We however visit at least once a year, so by now I know what to ask and also found a couple of butcher's whose sausages are almost all lactose free. In Germany we have also some foods we do not get at home. Great chocolate, vanilla, carmel soy pudding; fantastic soy yoghurt; strawberry soy milk etc. A far cry from what I imagined when Alena was first born :)

So, what about the picture? This afternoon we walked from the town we are staying to the neighboring village. We walked past a pasture with cows and Alena said "I love you cows! But I cannot have your milk!"

A nice hike through the vineyards...

...here us a picture of the girlies enjoying a break on our Sunday hike through the vineyards. We walked almost nine kilometers and they both did great. Here they took a break at a chapel we found along the way...

More ice "cream"...

...the weather has been gorgeous and the girlies have been enjoying lots of safe ice cream. This one seems to be - so far - their favorite :)...

Snack at the Wilhelma...

...we - of course - also needed to get the girls a snack at the zoo. Kaffee - coffee - for the parental units and Pommes - French Fries - with ketchup and mayonnaise along with Kinderbier for Alena, and Almdudler for Mia Rosie. Oh, and a dessert of Gummibaeren - here is Alena enjoying her dessert of Gummibaerchen....

Ice Cream at the Zoo...

...yesterday we went to the Wilhelma - Zoo - on a gorgeous, warm, sunny fall day. A day that calls for ice cream - and there also was one "safe" to choose from. Orange - Carrera both girlies enjoyed their treat...

Lunch at the market...

...we like to go to the market on Friday's to eat lunch. One of the butcher's sells all lactose free sausages. They are not only lactose free but also delicious :) Here is Mia Rose eating her Grillwurst on the market square...again, it's not the best picture.

Vegan chocolate chip cookie on the flight...

...not the most amazing picture it was however the most unexpected delicious treat for the girlies; the dessert of their vegan airplane meal :)

The flight and food...

...yay - we have arrived at our destination! We took two flights and I had made ten salami (lactose fee) sandwiches. They came I handy on our first flight, and the two noir layover. I had so many sandwiches, cookies, etc, because a lactose free meal was not available and I therefore ordered two vegan meals.In the past neither girl was too crazy about theiir vegan meal . So I wanted to be prepared!
I was positively surprised. The meal was quote goo, came with large couches, a salad, and even a vegan chocolate chip cookie. We were all surprised about the cookie. Alena loved it...delicious. OK - I better go and get some rest rest......

A snack at the airport...

...a little 5 Fruit Jamba Juice all fruit for the ladies as we wait

The joy of travel...

...we are leaving for a trio tomorrow. This time I am a little bit challenged, because the airline we are using no longer offers a "lactose free" meal. Instead they are offering a "low lactose" meal. I was not able to figure out what that is supposed to be. So I stead I ordered vegan meals for the girls. Truth be said, they probably will be OK but who knows if the ladies will eat it. So this time I am taking a different approach. I bought 1/2 lb of lactose free salami, a box of dairy free Newman's O's, grapes, and carrots. I made sandwiches, and think that we should be OK for food. I certainly do hope so as we do not want to rely on fast food and McDonald's Hamburgers could be an option, but their fries do contain a milk derivative in the United States. So, fingers crossed that we have plenty of foods :)

Since we are leaving in the morning, I did not cook and we went to Porque No? on Hawthorne. Guacamole & Chips for all, Rice & Beans for Alena, and a chicken Taco for Mia Rose.

Oh, and in case you are wondering - this picture was taken at McKezie Pass on our last trip in early September.

New York Firm Recalls Chicken, Beef, Veal & Pork Undeclared MILK

New York Firm Recalls Chicken, Beef, Veal and Pork Products Due to an Undeclared Allergen

Monday Night Dinner...

...where is the dinner picture? No food picture today because this picture of our girls with their friends turned out so well. Are they not cute :)

Oh, and by the way this picture was taken after dinner, and we went out for dinner. Alena wanted to go to Jam on Hawthorne and as they are now open for dinner that is where we went. They even made a special order of Kids Chai Cakes for Alena, while Mia Rosie dined on a Hamburger...

A Simple Sunday Night Dinner...

...plain pasta with olive oil - as neither girl likes tomato sauce - served along a mixed salad with the usual homemade vinaigrette for the girls. Pasta with tomato sauce, and salad for the parental units. This is one of the few dishes where I give in and let the girls have a slightly different plate then us...I choose not to fight a "you have to eat your pasta with sauce" battle ;)

Oh, and I almost forgot. The ladies also shared a delicious dessert of yummy vegan carrot cake - they both love carrot cake - from Sweet Pea Bakery here in Pdx. All vegan - all safe for our girls :))) Here is the link -> http://sweetpeabaking.com/

Saturday...

...the first rainy Saturday of the fall. There is a certain comfort when the rain comes back. It is so,what like a very well known friend. One I welcome back gladly in the fallout whom I am also happy to see go on holiday in the summer...
In any way, we spent a lazy - for me in the kitchen - Saturday. We had a late breakfast at Slappy Cakes - this is where the picture was taken. It is a restaurant where you can make hour own pancake. There is a vegan batted and the girls are so excited about making their own pancakes. To me, the restaurant is totally overrated, but there was no line today and they really wanted to go...http://www.slappycakes.com/
We then spent the rest of the day at OMSI - Oregon Museum of Science and Industry - and then had friends come over. The three girls played happily whole us adults also had a great time. And dinner? Yes, we had dinner - you will not believe what we has - again - yup, right pizza. Oasis sausage, and black olives without cheese for all three girls....

Friday Night Dinner...

...Homemade vegan cream of tomato soup.

I went with the girls to New Seasons after school to figure out dinner. At New Seasons the Girls always Love to try the soups, and usually there is at least One vegan Option. That was the case yesterday and the girls tried lentil & Kale. I sampled the unsafe soup "Tomato Bisque" - it was delicious and I had my dinner plan. The result is in the picture above and for a first try it turned out great. It was - as I like to call it - a dinner success.

Here are the details you need
- Olive Oil
- Medium onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon of vegan Butter - I use Earth Balance
- 3 tablespoos of flour
- a large can of crushed roasted tomatoes
- about 1/2 Cup of either plain Soy milk, or Soy creamer
- a dash of Orange Juice
- a 1-2 teaspoons of Sugar, or a Little Bit of Maple syrup (that's what I used b/c we were out of Sugar)

1. Heat up the Olive Oil and add the onion. Sautee until they are soft
2. Add the "Butter",and 1-1/2 teaspoons when melted add the flour - stir in the onion mixture until it becomes One
3. Add the tomatoes, and the water. Stir thoroughly - make sure you work out all clumps
4 add salt, pepper, Soy Milk and bring to a Slow simmer - Lid off - for 20 minutes or so
5. add OJ, and Sugar to taste continue to simmer for a while longer until soup has Dealers consistency. We like our soups thick :)

Add Salt, Pepper to taste - serve with fresh crusty bread. Ohm and before I forget - it probably needs some more tweaking. Let me Know if you try it.
4. Add
-

Look who is all set...

...for the walk to school on this Thursday morning. Mia Rose - backpack on an ready for our lovely morning walk to school :)
>
>

Thursday Night Dinner...

...for the family because the mothership went out for dinner. Yes, it is true I went out all by myself to have dinner with a couple of friends, in any case, this is what the family had for dinner. Panfried chicken skewer, pasta, and sautéed beet greens with garlic. There was even dessert. Almond Bites - they are delicious both girls love them and they are safe. Here is the link http://www.tastethedream.com/products/product/5077/745.php

See what I found in my kitchen today...

...hidden so that I would find it when they are in school. The net made my heart sing :)

Wednesday Dinner...

...rmember what Wednesday's are? Yes, downtown Portland Farmer's Market and it is the day we eat delicious fresh mushrooms. Ron went to the market today and brought back delicious chantarelles. I sautéed them in olive oil with sweet onions, added a little Marsala, salt and pepper - let the alcohol cook out and then added a tablespoon or so of Tofutti sour cream. Tossed the mushrooms with short rigatoni. Along side we had oven roasted fresh red beets. And yes, all four of us love beets. I washed the young beets, chopped them in slices, and tossed them in a little olive oil. Preheated the oven at 425 F, baked them for about 30- 40 minutes until soft, and then sprinkled them with a little salt.

So to sum it up, Wednesday dinner was rigatoni with chantarelles, served with oven roasted red beets, and a salad of baby greens, golden cherry tomatoes carrots in homemade vinaigrette. It was an overall dinner success - yay!!!

Tuesday Night Dinner...

...quick and simple - white Jasmine rice, golden cherry tomatoes, black refried beans, homemade guacamole, and fajita beef. There was so something for everyone. Delicious beans for Alena - who said "oh yum, my favorite - beans!" - and guacamole with fresh garlic and beef for Mia Rose our carnivore. I think Ron was happy too :)

Mia Rose in her classroom...

...first full week of school

Chocolate Decadence Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared MILK in Multiple Lines of Chocolate Products

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts Chocolate Decadence Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Multiple Lines of Chocolate Products

Watkins Incorporated Issues Allergy Alert Undeclared MILK In Soynilla

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts Watkins Incorporated Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk In Soynilla

Monday Night Dinner...

...who goes out on a Monday Night? Yes, that would be us. For some reason on this first work day of the week, we all needed dinner out. We had delicious Vietnamese food at Pho Van on 82nd Ave in SE Portland. Vegetarian salad rolls for all of us, and the girls shared this dish. Grilled pork, rice, and a glass of mango juice. And no, the girls did not eat the kimchi - Ron and I shared it -> delicious :) - We are now ready for the rest of the week...

Sunday dessert...

> ...vegan mini cupcakes from Cupcake Jones. Are they not absolutely gorgeous?! I am just so thrilled that they now also have vegan options. Yay :) The girlies assured me that they were just as delicious. In case you are interested, here is the link http://www.cupcakejones.net/
>

Sunday Night Dinner...

...Alaskan Cod, sautéed green beans, "buttered" egg noodles, and salad. Ok - so there are to things to admit tonight. Potatoes would have been a much better fit, but we knew that our carnivore - Mia Rose - probably would not be so excited about fish. It was such a hot day that we needed something light.

Alena, Ron, and I loved the Cod while Mia Rosie stuck by her mantra "I hate fish". So it was all of the above for three of us while, Mia Rose indulged in "buttered" noodles (made with Earth Balance), green beans, and salad. Oh, and there was also dessert for the ladies...

Have a good week everybody!

Our Saturday Walk - and no dinner photo...

...our first weekend since school has started. Let me tell you, the girls were quite happy ;) The weather has been very warm here in Portland, so we were looking for a cooler place to go. A place where there are woods - not hard to find in Oregon - and a creek to cool the air off. We also did not want to drive far, so we decided to go on a little hike in Tryon Creek State Park. It is an amazing place, and we go for walks there a few times a year. There are lots of trees and you can hike down to Tryon Creek where the air is a lot cooler. The sounds of birds, and other wildlife is everywhere. It is a magical place and that within the city limits. Both girls are really good walkers so it is a lot of fun. Here is a link to the park just in case you are interested http://www.tryonfriends.org/ Oh, and before I forget - I think this is one of the first times we have hiked there in the dry season - so what I am trying to say in a convoluted way is that hikes are a lot of fun in the winter as well.

Oh and what about dinner? Well, I did make pictures but am having some technical difficulties. Yes, can you believe it?! In any case, I took a break from cooking and we ordered pizza from Pizzicato. It was sausage and olives without cheese for my lovely girlies...

Have a great weekend all!

Friday Night Dinner

We had a friend over for dinner and I told her that the meal tonight will be "experimental beef". Yup, that is what I told her and that is because I made it up :)

Jokes aside, we had beef with green beans, tomatoes, onions, and garlic; mashed potatoes; mixed baby greens, tomatoes in homemade vinaigrette. Does the salad get boring? I know it is so predictable but so, so good :)

I cooked the potatoes - jackets on - in the pressure cooker, mashed them and added vegan butter - I use Earth Balance -, plain Soy Milk, some chopped flat leaf parsley as well as salt to taste.

For the beef I first sautéed the onions - cut into fine rings - in olive oil until soft, added marjoram flakes, and a couple of finely chopped garlic cloves. I then added the beef - beef stew chunks cut small - and let it lightly brown from all sides. Then add about 1/2 C of dry white wine and let it cook down. Next I added market fresh green beans cut in about 1" long pieces and let it all simmer down. Once it was simmered down, I added a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste, let it all blend together. Added salt, and pepper to taste. In the last step I added two finely chopped tomatoes, and let it simmer for another 15 minutes or so with the lid on. I am very proud to report that my experimental beef dish turned out well. Both girls liked it...

Thursday Night Dinner...

> ...fresh Rigatoni with mushrooms, corn, zucchini, in a light lemon cream sauce, served along - yup, you guessed right - a salad of red leaf lettuce, orange tomato, cucumber and homemade vinaigrette.
>
> Yesterday I also got a beautiful Lobster mushroom, two color corn, and zucchini. I also had a couple chantarelles left over. So I started by sautéing a finely diced sweet onion in olive oil, and once they were soft added the chopped, cleaned mushrooms. Sautéed it for a little while before adding the corn - kernels cut fresh of the cob, then put the lid on the pan. I let it cook for a little while at low heat and then added the juice of one lemon, as well as some grated lemon peel. At last I added the finely diced zucchini, sautéd it for a couple more minutes before adding one tablespoon of Tofutti sour cream. Added salt, pepper, and finely chopped flat parsley to taste.
>
> I served it with fresh pasta - rigatoni - which I bought at Pastaworks. The entire family enjoyed this summertime pasta - which makes me one happy mothership :)

Mia Rosie's first day of Kindergarten

Today, it was happened. Mia Rose started Kindergarten. I will tell you the truth, my heart was heavy for most of the Mia Rose however had a fantastic day!

On the walk to school, Alena filled Mia Rose in on all the details such as, if you get hurt you go to the office, no running in the halls, etc. Mia Rose is such a big girl. She was a little apprehensive as you can probably see in this picture which I took at the school. But she was so excited to see her classroom, meet new friends, and learn all about the things she has seen from her big sister. I am very, very excited for her.

Leading up to the first school day, I set up a brief meeting with the school nurse to fill her in about Mia Rosie's Galactosemia, but because Alena already started last year the nurse already knew a lot about it. We also stopped in the cafeteria to introduce Mia Rose to the staff. The staff then also noted the information on Mia Rosie's lunch card. So, we should be all set - all that I have left to do it bring some treats for both girls. It will probably be popsicles for Mia Rose, and Tofutti Cuties for Alena...

Alright, one more day of school before the weekend :)

Wednesday Night Dinner. big surprise...

...remember, Wednesday is Farmer's Day Market here in Portland - ok in downtown Portland you can probably find a market any day of the week - and I like to get beautiful mushrooms from the Sprigwater Farm stand. There are mushrooms upon mushrooms. Shitake, Maitake Lobster, Chantarelles, and more. All of us love mushrooms, so Wednesday it is mushroom for dinner.

Today I got Chantarelles, and made a delicious mushroom risotto. The whole family loved it - I call that a dinner success. I made the risotto a little different today as I used Mushroom Broth (from Pacific Foods) instead of Vegetable, or Chicken. It was great and gave the risotto a deep, earthy mushroom flavor. Oh, and in case you wondered. As a side I served a delicious summer salad with red leaf lettuce, cucumber, orange tomatoes, and homemade vinaigrette with plenty of sweet onions...

Alena's first day of Second Grade

Wow! I can hardly believe that my little girls started second grade today. What a difference to the start of school last year. After one year in our neighborhood school we love it. I have no concern that Alena would eat "unsafe" foods - and I do feel that our school is what it should be, a safe place. I checked in briefly with Alena's new teacher, and she - the new teacher - knew about Alena's dietary restrictions and Galactosemia. I am thankful for IEP as all the information is in it, and follows Alena. So here I cheer for successful, exciting, and fun school year for my big girl and all others :) - Have a great 2011/12 school year, all!!!

P.S.: Alena is so excited that school started again - as I write this I hear her tell Ron more
stories from her first day today...

Tuesday Night Dinner is...

...Ron's favorite meal. I think, he would mind if the mustard coated herbed chicken thighs :) All of us actually like this meal, and it is also easy as well as quick. Slather the thighs with Dijon Mustard, then roll them in herbed - crushed garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, tarragon or other herbs - Panko breadcrumbs. Bake it in the oven at 400 F for about 35 - 45 minutes. Voila!!!

Along side, I serve rice and - very unusual for me ;) - a nice, big bowl of salad. The salad of today was red leaf lettuce, cucumber slices, and gold burst cherry tomatoes in homemade vinaigrette. Oh, and one last note...I really like to be on vacation, but there is nothing like cooking in my own kitchen. It is a sense of balance and comfort...

Recall undeclared MILK - Quaker Oats Chewy Smashbar Graham Snack Bar

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts Quaker Oats Issues Voluntary Recall Of Specific 8-Count Quaker Chewy Smashbar Graham Pretzel Snack Bars Due To Undeclared Milk Allergen

Is summer really over?

Where did the time go? Who does not love summer and all the fun times. It seems that time went by so fast, but looking back I realize that really was about three months we spent together having fun, and Alena's first time attending a whole bunch of different camps while Mia Rosie spent her last summer in her amazing preschool.

Alena spent a week in Garden Camp, two different weeks in Circus Camp at The Playground Gym, two weeks at Metro Arts Camp - amazing, arts, music, theater, dance, and the rest of the summer she spent a couple of days - my works days - at several different camps. Martial Arts, Dance, and a Fun Camp.

Oh, and we did take some trips too. We camped a couple of times, saw the Redwood Forest, went to the beach, spent the beginning - with snow - and end of summer in Central Oregon, visited Mt. St. Helen's...yes, we had a great fun summer. Alena told me, that she is ready to go back to school. The big question is, am I ready to go back?! ;)

Happy beginning of fall - and you know what? I also love fall. Crisp mornings, pumpkin patch, apple cider...yes, I am ready too!

Monday Night - Labor Day - Dinner...

...what is a road trip for us without at least one visit to Burgerville? So today, after we got back into Portland from Sunriver we stopped at Burgerville on our way home. - We took the long way home, both girls were great, and we have to admit that the promise of Burgerville made them two happy travelers :)

Sunday Night Dinner...

...ok, I know this is not a picture of our dinner but Mia Rose eating her corn on the cob...Believe me, when I tell you that this picture is much better than the one of the plate :) So, what did we have?! What is the summer, cabin meal that you have to have at least once? Yes, you are right if you guessed steak and corn on the cob. There was supposed to also be a salad, but we rode our bikes late in the afternoon to the playground. By the time we got back to the cabin, time had gotten away from us. So it was steak, with corn on the cob, and A1 :)

Another beautiful day - last hooray of summer...

...what a hot beautiful last day of summer break. We went caving, on another mini hike, rode our bikes, played at the playground, and soaked in the hot tub. Oh summer, why do you have to be over so soon?! Late dinners, late lazy mornings...oh, how we love you :)

Saturday Night Special...

...ice "cream" treat at Ben & Jerry's for the girlies. They both chose Mango Sorbet with sprinkles. Oh, and yes I know the picture is not perfect since both girls were super silly tonight :)

Saturday Night Dinner...

...out at an Asian Bistro. Drunken noodles for me, rice bowl for the Dad, and for the girls? Shared orders of spring rolls, steamed veggies, rice, and Edamame. Each girls also got a special root beer treat...

Friday Night Dinner...

...perfect cabin dinner. Schinkennudeln. Sweet onion sautéed, add diced ham, add a couple to diced tomatoes, and then add the boiled pasta to the pan. You could add Tofutti sour cream but since I did not bring it along...salt, pepper, and paprika worked well :) - Served along a green salad with homegrown tomatoes and homemade vinaigrette with plenty of sweet onions it was a great cabin dinner...

Here they are...

...my loves taking a mini hike through the Lava Forest in Central Oregon. Dp you see the white sunscreen on their faces? Yes, they decided to put the sunscreen on themselves. I honestly think that I do a slightly better job - just slightly, so ;)

In any case, we are enjoying the last hooray of summer here in Central Oregon which is one of our favorite locations. Easy going, and lot's of quality time outside in mother nature. Bike rides, hikes, swimming, etc. Today we took a one mile mini hike, and then had lunch out. It was nt the easiest meal out, but we managed. It turned out that the fries where battered and contained whey. Next they did not know about the buns, however we did find out that the hot dog was without any lactose. So Alena ordered a hot dog, and Mia Rosie ordered plain noodles with olive oil. I went to the store next door and got some chips for Alena to eat with her hot dog. That was the solution :) Turned out fine - not great, but it worked. Afterwards we went to the pool for a nice lo g swim...

Happy last hooray of summer to everyone :)

Thursday Night Dinner...

...Hamburger's off the BBQ with lot's of garden fresh toatoes, lettuce, and a side of oven fries. Perfect cabin dinner :)