Dogs, TLC and TCKs

Faithful, true companion. Steadfast and loving, doting and focused- my Airedale, Max.

Every morning I wake up to a thump, thump, thumping tail on the carpeted floor which says- Hey I love you, how are you this morning-- good morning I love you so very much.  Or... then again, it could be....HEY, DO YOU LOOOVVVVE MEEEEEEEE... he sings with his eyes. Do ya, do ya, do ya ... loooooove me ~cause I really love you! 

What a friendship, kinship, LOVE. 

Max is 9 years old. He is answered prayer. I am allergic to dogs and we needed someone to come into our home to love us unconditionally- because we needed a dog in our lives. He settles emotions, gives those who need an extra little lovin’ some tlc and calms the air.... we needed calming. We needed hypo-allergenic calming!

Our family has TCK’s... third culture kids- we moved our kids every 9 months to 2 years until university hit... then we stayed a little longer and of course are back on the move again. Longer stints this time! Some people laugh when I say “Oh, its only 10 months!

” especially when it ended up being 4 years. Our kids didn’t think it was right that they needed a passport to see their parents. “Mom”, our youngest daughter would say, “ it’s the kids that leave home, not the parents!” 

And as I try to think of things to write about, I guess what I have the most experience with is moving my family and putting others before myself. I guess that is why my girlfriend and I considered ourselves “white and pasty - the glue that holds the family together”, regardless of what situation was thrown our way. Another friend says we are the Spaghetti Mamma's... regardless- its's family first and loads of loving!

This is my first attempt at blog writing... and so we will see where it takes me! Until next time... ciao!

Coq Au Vin for food allergy sufferers

The smells of autumn crisps and coq au vin linger in the air...and I if I could take a bite of air I would do just that! It smells so good! Now onto blogging!

Oral Allergy Syndrome is basically an allergy to fruits and vegetables related to various trees, grasses and weeds such as birch, and ragweed. It makes eating certain foods difficult because I always end up with a swollen tongue (scalloped tongue) and sometimes swelling which affects my whole body.
Tonight I have prepared a lovely dinner with cooked veggies which is supposed to make a difference- sometimes it does and other times it doesn't. Alcohol, a glass of vino, evidently makes the reaction worse. Tonight I have made two fruit crisps so that I can enjoy dessert with everyone else. Apples give me a headache, but my family loves it, and the other crisp is blueberry- to which very few seem to show allergic reactions.

I modify recipes such the Coq au Vin recipe because  I have a pork allergy,  but I think I have morphed the recipe and it still has French character and taste, does not need the fat from the bacon to make it stellar.

The dinner was great, everyone helped themselves to many second, third and fourth helpings- which always makes the cook happy!

a large chicken, jointed into 6 or 8 pieces, giblets and carcass saved
an onion, a carrot and a few peppercorns for the stock 
2 large onions 
a large carrot 
2 ribs of celery 
2 cloves of garlic 
2 tbsps flour 
2 tbsps cognac 
a bottle of white burgundy wine 
4 or 5 small sprigs of thyme  
40g butter 
12 small onions, peeled 
200g small button mushrooms 
boiled or steamed/mashed potatoes, to serve with a nice tossed salad and vinaigrette

Start on the stove and then finish in the oven... I cooked it for about 4 hours... it was delightful! 

Dessert- I served two fruit crisps- one apple with maple syrup instead of brown sugar and a blueberry crisp. (with frozen yogurt).