Friendship endures time...

Yes, I finally have an internet connection again.  I have to say that has been a wee bit challenging...OK truth be said, it has been really challenging for me ;) Besides the internet situation, the three of us have adjusted well and we have gotten into our routine.  The girls go to school in the morning, while I work, and shop on the market on Monday's as well as Friday's. So, just like in Portland the three of us look forward to the weekend.  This past weekend we drove up to Stuttgart http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart for one of our good friend's birthday party.  They had also invited a bunch of our mutual friends that had moved back from Portland to Germany so it was like a reunion.
44 adults, and 34 kids in all - so much fun.

The kids met their friends again.  Alena played with one a friends whom she has known since she was two.  They had not seen each other in at least one and a half years. It was so cool to see, that after about 30 minutes they played with each as always.  They were inseparable for the entire weekend.  - The same thing happened with Mia Rosie and her friend. Once they warmed up to each other again it was like they had never been separated.  And for me?  Same thing, we just do not need the warm-up period.   I think that is the sign of true friendship.  When you can pick up just where you left off.  Yes, even if you live in different countries and continents.  Cheers to friendship!

Mia Rose and her friend :)

Did anyone say Alena does not like Chocolate Soy Ice "Cream"...

Fun, fun, fun and school

Fun, fun, fun

So, I know it is summer break already in Portland, but there is still another few weeks of school left in Germany.  Therefore, both girls are in school while I work.  Alena is in second grade at the same elementary school I went to :), while Mia Rose is in Kindergarten.  School is only for half the day, so we still have plenty of time to play...In the short time since we arrived we have already been to the pool at TuWass a couple of times http://www.tuwass.de/0_fr_start.htm, been to an amusement park http://www.wildundfreizeitpark.de/de/home.html - click on "virtueller Rundgang" to see pictures, enjoyed Pommes Frites (French Fries), Wurst, and spent lots of time playing outdoors.

All is possible :) - We figured out safe bread, Wurst and thank's to a fairly new EU Regulation all allergens are now declared. Yay...below a couple more pictures of the girls with my Mom

Alena and Omi

Mia Rose and Omi feeding deer

Our trip...

we have arrived in Europe and now I finally have an internet connection again.  Yay!

Our trip was uneventful, long as usual as we flew via Atlanta, but luckily uneventful.  For the trip I packed plenty of sandwiches, fruit, fruit roll-ups, and pretzels for the girlies.  Salami sandwiches - lactose free salami of course - for Alena, and Mia Rosie chose Emmenthaler-Salami sandwiches.  I am so glad we had them because we arrived in Europe with only two sandwiches left :)  For the transatlantic flight I had ordered vegan meals for both ladies.  They both loved the fruit, salad, as well as the grain.  We decided to leave the buns on the tray - and yes, the margarine that served by Delta catering was not vegan.  Thank you to the lovely flight attendant for reading the label for me...

Here is a picture of the girlies on the first plane from Pdx - Atlanta...

Last day of school...

it has happened.  Today.  The last day of Kindergarten for Mia Rose, and the last day of Second Grade for Alena.  Well,  OK they still have at least a couple more weeks of school ahead of them in Germany, but their regular school is done for the school year.  Oh, how bitter-sweet.  My lovies are growing up so fast - in the fall we will have a First and Third Grader.  Wow!  I so clearly remember when they were born.  When we did not know what life would be like. What happened to the time.  Well, I guess that a look in the mirror should be enough ;), right?!  Seriously - time is flying and we are so proud of our girlies.  Both, Alena and Mia Rose worked so hard the entire school year.  It is so exciting to see them grown, and learn...

Leaving for the last day of school for the 2011/12 school year

Alena and her Second Grade teacher Miss Beth

Mia Rose at her Kindergarten desk

Alena and Miss Ellie 

Alena and Miss Nelson

Mia Rose and Mrs. H her Kindergarten teacher (plus Alena)

So this, is my last post from Portland for a few weeks as we leave for Europe in the morning.  Bright and early, yes!  What on earth was I thinking to leave the day after the last day of school.  I am honestly a wee bit spent by now...yes, yes, yes I know entirely self inflicted ;)

Coconut-Carrot-Ginger Soup

1was our dinner last night.  Quick, easy, and delicious.  The idea for this soup came from my very good friend, and I have made a version of it before.  This time I decided to make it a little creamer and added coconut milk, as well as curry.  It turned out quite delicious - milk free - and Alena ate two servings. Whoo-hoo - a total success.  This soup can easily be made vegan by using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.  The next time, I will add some cilantro - for added deliciousness :)

Oh, yes as a side we had bread - not home-made as I am getting a little stressed out so close to our trip - and mixed green salad with the addition of an edible flower from our garden.  By the way, this is from the seeds we planted at Mia Rosies' birthday party :)

Coconut-Carrot-Ginger Soup
Splash of olive oil
1 medium onion diced
2-3 garlic cloves minced
1-2 teaspoons of curry powder
Salt
app. 2 lbs carrots, cleaned and cut into 1/2" chunks
app. 3/4" fresh ginger, minced
2 medium yellow potatoes, or one large
1 can of coconut milk
1 Quart of chicken, or vegetable stock {I like Pacific brand}
1 lime {1/2 juiced and the other half cut in slices for serving}
Salt, pepper to taste.  Optional cayenne pepper {just on my bowl} to taste

1. Heat splash of olive oil in a deep stock pot, add onions, and a pinch of salt. Sautee until onion
    is soft. Add
2. garlic, curry, and ginger. Sautee for a minute be careful that garlic does not burn. Then add,
3. carrots sautee until they get bright in color before adding the potatoes.  Then add,
4. Coconut cream and after another couple of minutes pour in the coconut water, as well as the
    stock. Bring to slow simmer until carrots are soft.
5. When carrots are soft carefully puree the soup {I use a stick blender} - be careful not to burn yourself
    as the soup is very hot - until desired consistency.
6. Just before serving add juice of 1/2 lime, and adjust the spices.

I hope you enjoy this soup!

Urban hike on a sunny Sunday

Yesterday it was three more sleeps to the last day of school, and four more sleeps until we leave for Germany.  Yikes - where did the time go?!  Anyways, we were just so glad that it was finally a sunny day again.  You certainly know by now that we really like to be outdoors - so it was the perfect day for a hike, but we really did not want to drive anywhere. So we planned to walk from our house to Burgerville - a guilty pleasure before our trip to Europe - stop at the playground and back.  Just so you get an idea of distance, it is about 45 blocks from our house to Burgerville.  So it is a good distance for the girls.

Our butterfly Alena led the way as we strolled through the neighborhoods, admired the flowers and gardens.

The girlies were pretty happy when we reached or destination and they got to indulge on their Hamburger Kid's Mean {yes, it is "Galactosemia" safe}.  They even got to drink a rare soda as a treat for the fantastic walking job....

On the way back up, yes it is uphill to get back home, we first stopped at a playground with lot's of monkey bars before walking back.  Luckily we found a couple of swings on the way....

Since it really is a very good distance for the girls to walk we stopped not only for foot massages

 but also at the food carts on Division in search of treats.  We were so excited, because we found an ice cream cart that only sells vegan ice cream.  What about that?!  Is that not absolutely awesome?! All 100% vegan and galactosemia safe for our girlies.  Whoo-hoo, plus 100% delicious - yay, yay, yay that was such an unexpected happy surprise when the owner told us that ALL of his ice cream is vegan. Check it out ->  http://oregonice.com/

Alena enjoyed a scoop of Marionberry, while Mia Rose enjoyed Mango-Pineapple. Yum, yum, yum...

Oh, and yes we did take the bus for the remaining 20 blocks back.  We had lot's of fun in the sun :)

Our girls playing on the monkey bars

Ron put together this video of the girls - Alena is wearing jeans, and Mia Rose her pink "Rapunzel" dress - playing on the monkey bars with their friend.  He is playing the guitar - thought I share the fun here :)

Kindergarten Dance Performance

Today was the last Friday of the school year and Mia Rose's Kindergarten class performed a dance for the parents, and other special persons.  Where did the year go?  I cannot believe that the school year is essentially over and our baby will be entering first grade.  It seems just like yesterday when she started preschool.  Oh, it is such a bittersweet moment...

Here is the video of the performance. Can you find Mia Rose?  She is wearing a bright pink skirt, short purple dress over it, and has a big fluffy pony  tail.

Rhubarb-Starwberry Compote for dessert

and for dinner we had split pea soup. I know, I know one should not make split pea soup in June, unless it is rainy and chilly. Well, it has been so it was the perfect dinner today!

I had a few stalks of rhubarb leftover from our visit to the farmer's market this week. So I decided to spruce the simple dinner up with dessert. Rhubarb-Strawberry Compote - we ate all of our fresh strawberries so I used the rest of our frozen ones. I served the compote with a scoop of vanilla ice "cream"; Tempt - Hemp Milk - Vanilla for our girls, and "regular cow" for the parental units and our guests. It turned out great and was super easy.

Rhubarb-Strawberry Compote
- 1-1/2 lb of fresh rhubarb, unpeeled cut into 1" pieces
- 2 T sugar
- 1 C (or more) fresh or frozen strawberries
- 5-6 T sugar
- 1 package of vanilla sugar
- app. 1/2 piece of fresh ginger, peeled, and cut into about 3 pieces
- water
- 2 T corn starch

1. Place rhubarb pieces with 2 T in a bowl and cover. Let sit for about 30 min.
2. Put rhubarb, strawberries, ginger slices, additional sugar, and vanilla sugar into a pot. Add
water so fruit is barely covered. Bring to a slow simmer. When rhubarb is soft, adjust sugar.
3. Dissolve corn starch with a little cold water. Bring fruit mixture to a boil and slowly add
corn starch to the fruit. Boil for a minute and remove from heat.

Serve with vanilla ice "cream"!

Wednesday is Farmer's Market Day = Mushrooms for dinner

OK - so I am writing this post a day late.  I fell asleep with the girlies last night so even so the pictures and all very ready, this mothership was not ready to write a post about dinner :)  Wednesday is Farmer's Market in downtown Portland.  It is usually also the day that I am in my downtown office, so Ron and I have lunch together.  Now that the market is back open, we usually walk over to there and eat on a park bench out in the sun, or clouds.  Luckily market was yesterday and it was somewhat sunny as it is rainy again today....

Alright, so you may know that we all love mushrooms and the ones from the farmer's market are the best See what I got yesterday

Oregon grown Shitake mushrooms, and fresh - our first - Oregon strawberries.  Dinner, and dessert on a weeknight - yay!!! So what was dinner?  It was Mushroom Risotto - I used my basic risotto recipe http://galactopdx.blogspot.com/2012/05/asparagus-risotto-on-sunday-night.html but used mushroom broth {Pacific Foods} instead of the chicken broth, and of course I did not use the asparagus :).  I sliced the mushrooms first, and sautéed them in a little olive oil before adding them with the last broth ladle to the risotto.  It turned out great - both kids cleaned their plates.

And for dessert?  Sliced Oregon strawberries, with a little pinch of sugar, and some {garden} fresh mint leaves.  Just as a side note,  Oregon strawberries are THE most amazing strawberries ever. Super sweet, full of sugar, and juicy....