The teacher is ‘in the house’

The Teacher is ‘In the House’

I love being a mom, an artist, and a writer… and yes, It has been enjoyable to be at home together. It has been enlightening in some ways and thought provoking in others, but let me tell you, There are moments…

We are currently serving more roles than normal (In our personal and professional lives) filling gaps that are not our norm. Advice? Take 5! Literally 5, whatever that looks like for you… There are 1,440 minutes in the day. You are worth your own time.

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Creativity Counts

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• Family Movie Night
• Battle of the Badminton, nightly tournament
• Happy Hour
• Games & Snacks
• Family Spirit Week!
• Dance Parties
• Long term activities, like planting our garden
• Weekends… I still love weekends…and Brunch, Brunch is important.

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The Savory’s

French Onion Soup

So simple, and so delicious

• 5 or 6 large onions (I prefer the sweeter ones)
• 6 cups Beef Broth
• 1/2 cup butter (demi-sel)
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• Toast of choice
• Gruyere or Emmental cheese, shredded

Roughly chop the onions and sautee in butter. Meanwhile boil the beef broth. Add onion and Worcestershire sauce to broth and let simmer 15-20 minutes. Butter and toast the toast in the oven with mound of cheese on top. Cut toast into triangles. Pour soup into Individual bowls and top with a toast and a little extra cheese if wanted. Open the bottle of Chianti and enjoy…

Start to finish 30 minutes…

Morning Toast

• Sourdough bread
• Butter
• Avocado
• Poached egg (its actually easy)
• Brebis cheese crumbled
• Sesame seeds
• Olive oil
• Fig jam and roasted garlic (totally optional)

So, boil the water. Toast the toast. Butter the toast. Break the egg into the water (I leave for about 2 minutes max). Now its go time! Scoop the egg out of the water (drain any water), set on toast along with some avocado slices. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and brebis on top. Drizzle with Olive oil. Done.

That just took you like 15 minutes and its delicious. Ask someone else to make the coffee…

Zesty Chicken Pasta

• Pasta (I used Strozzapreti, you can use your choice)
• 1 lime
• Spinach leaves
• 2 chicken breasts
• Brebis cheese
• Avocado
• Good quality Olive Oil
• Black pepper

Boil your water and cook your pasta according to the package. Take the chicken breasts and sprinkle with pepper and lime zest. Cook at medium heat with a little olive oil. Cut the avocado into slices. When the pasta is done, drain the water and add the spinach and stir until wilted. Plate the pasta between (2 or 3 servings). Set the chicken on top, avocado to the side and sprinkle Brebis over the chicken. Pour a little olive oil over everything, Zest the lime over each plate, and finally, squeeze the juice over the plates

Delicious and under 30 minutes

Patience, Planning, and a Sense of Humor. These are the truths that have proved effective in the past few months for me. Have I faltered? For sure. Maintaining some normalcy has helped keep everyone pretty grounded though, and alive – alive is important.

Calie Amini

The SWEETS

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups flour (or 1 cup flour, 1 cup oat flour – I like this)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large bananas (or 5 small) mashed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Butter an extra long loaf pan (or a regular loaf pan and something else). Set aside

Preheat oven to 350. Combine applesauce, olive oil, sugar, and eggs. Mix . Dissolve baking soda in 3 tablespoons hot water and add to mix. Add a cup of flour and the salt. Mix. Add the bananas, the rest of the flour, and the vanilla. Mix. Add the chocolate chips (eat a few as you add them – got to make sure they’re okay). Pour into pan. Bake 45 minutes. Its done when a knife comes out clean when inserted in loaf.

Make a cup of coffee and enjoy

Banana Pancakes

• 2 large bananas (not brown or mushy, that’s gross)
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder (I use aluminum free)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Through everything into the blender until smooth. Heat a skillet or nonstick pan to medium. Add a little butter to it. Make the pancakes about 4 or 5 inch. When the bubbles pop on the top, turn them over and cook another minute. Break your first one apart and check that its cooked through. I usually eat this one as I make the rest.

Set out desired topping and enjoy.

Short Stuff’s Parfaits

Per dessert:

• 1 stracciatella yogurt
• 4 or 5 Oreo cookies
• Can whipped cream
• Rasberry jam

Crush all but one Oreo. In a clear glass put a layer of Oreo, Stracciatella, Oreo, Stracciatella, Rasberry Jam, Oreo Stracciatella, Lay final Oreo on top, Rasberry Jam, Whip Cream. Done. Honestly, I’m hooked…

Places that make my life Easier!

Since moving to Paris, I have been using the company Time4UNow, they are amazing. You need time, they can give it to you! They’ve arranged cleaners, gardeners, doctor visits, restaurant reservations, where to go for such and such things… no question to simple or deed left undone. Super happy with this company. http://www.time4unow.com (not an ad)

Hope you Enjoy,

Cheerfully,

Calie