This is the day Your Life Will Surely Change

Some days these lyrics just ring true so I wanted to post them because some days it just serves as a reminder

Well... you didn't wake up this morning
Because you didn't go to bed
You were watching the whites of your eyes
Turn red
The calendar, on your wall, is ticking the days off
The calendar on your wall is ticking
the days off
You've been reading some old letters
You smile and think how much you've changed
All the money in the world
Couldn't bring back those days.
You pull back the curtains, and the sun burns into your eyes,
You watch a plane flying across a clear blue sky.
THIS IS THE DAY -- Your life will surely change.
THIS IS THE DAY -- Your life will surely change.
You could've done anything -- if you'd wanted
And all your friends and family think that you're lucky.
But the side of you they'll never see
Is when you're left alone with the memories
That hold your life together like
Glue

Pictures of the boys

we took a trip to Pingle's Farm in Oshawa over the long Thanksgiving weekend and here are some of the memories. We also went to a Where The Wild Things Are Dance Party the weekend before and I captured a moment outside with Jack and Rowan. Rowan is a huge Wild Things fan from about 6 months of age and he cannot wait for the movie to come out.

The Boycott of Nestle

Last week I posted a list of all the brands that Nestle owns and my reasoning was simply to remind everyone that there has been a boycott for almost 30 years on Nestle products and they still haven't changed their ways. For those not in the know, Nestle has promoted their product in third world countries where water is scarce and polluted, where people who were given formula samples for their babies simply could not afford to buy the formula so skimped on how much they used per bottle and babies died due to malnutrition. If the mother had simply kept breastfeeding rather than turn to formula lives could have been saved. There are other issues of using child labour for gathering the cocoa they use in their chocolate bars, not trading fairly and on and on... please google Nestle boycott and inform yourselves. It is easy to scoff it off and say well it is not happening to me but what if it were? Because a child is impoverished does not mean they deserve any less of a chance at a full life. Taking a stand against companies whose practices are unethical speaks volumes...in this day and age there is no excuse for ignorance.

Full of Thankfulness and Food...so FULL!

It is the day after the Thanksgiving weekend and I am still not hungry. We spent Sunday evening with my step-family, my step-mother's brothers and sisters and all my cousins and my brother and sort-of sister-in-law in Binbrook at my Zio and Zia's house. The food was fabulous (gotta love the Italians!) and the company was fabulous. I did not feel so uncomfortable this time around and it felt good. The kids love their cousins so much and played piano, played guitar with my father, ran around and wrassled with my brothers. They passed out in the car and stayed that way once we got home. The absence of family has really been felt on our end and it is nice to get some family back. I am VERY thankful to be a part of pack so to speak and the tensions to be melting, the attempt at friendship between my step-mother and I and breaking down some serious walls that made life difficult at times for everyone. She is afterall the only real mother I have ever consistently had and the only one who ever taught me anything in life. She is pretty great, too bad it took me so long to figure out the lessons and understand the reasoning.

The sad part on the weekend was Billy missing his father all because of a Beatles CD in the car. It sucks for him but when someone doesn't want to be part of your life you cannot force them and he has been chasing down the ideal of the 'dream father' far too long. He has never had that and never will from his father all he can do is be the dream dad to his own children. He is such an amazing dad so he has surpassed his own expectations for fatherhood and those of his own father. Life goes on and we get past these sadnesses but the thoughts always remain.

Monday we spent with Cousin Cookie and Mars at Pingle's farm in Oshawa. It was a great day even if it was chilly...the perfect fall day to be on a farm eating raspberries off the bush, rolling a wheelbarrrow around looking for pumpkins, the children picking out their own pumpkins and attempting to carry them and buying fudge and pies at the bakery. We then headed to Cookie's house to have dinner and let the children play. It was a great day and makes me appreciate having Cookie in my life.

Today is one of those days that you just want to sleep some more...boy could I use some more sleep!

This weekend I made some lemon squares and some hello dollies, the hello dollies I have made before and love them but the lemon squares were a new recipe. Next time I will lesson the amount of demerara I put in them and increase the lemon just a bit. If you want the recipes let me know they are super easy and quick!


*Cousin Cookie is actually Lisa and Mars is Marlow

fall recipes that are guaranteed to get the children to eat vegetables

for those who don't eat meat you can substitute your fave meat-free item or don't use any meat like addition at all.

quick chicken stew on rice
( all our ingredients are organic and low sodium)

Steam brown rice for time needed

in a large pan sautee the following in 1/2 cup vegetable broth with a tbsp of olive oil ( either homemade or box)
1 large bunch of heirloom carrots sliced in coins
4 pearl onions cut in fours
2 cloves of garlic minced
4 chicken breasts cut into medium sized chunks
1 large sweet potato cut into small chunks
1 heirloom pepper cut into small pieces
1/2 pint of heirloom cherry tomatoes cut into 2 or 4 pieces
1/2 a zucchini cut into small chunks

cook until golden and then add 3 cups of broth to simmer for 20 mins

once the meal is cooked you should have substancial broth left in the pan if not add more broth and let it get hot then add 2 tbsp of corn starch to thicken liquid to a gravy like consistency

serve over a bed of brown rice




Pasta of choice with a very rich tomato veggie sauce and turkey and beetballs

2 lbs of ground chicken or turkey ( I prefer turkey)
1 egg
1 large beet
2 cups multigrain bread crumbs
1 large bunch of carrots
minced garlic
2 minced shallots
1 large tin of crushed tomatoes
2 masons jars of sauce either homemade or store bought
1 head of broccoli
pepper to taste
2 tbsp vegan worchestershire sauce
1/4 cup raw agave nectar




in the food processor mince 2 shallots divide into two portions, one for the turkey beetballs and one for the sauce portion
finely shred the bunch of carrots and divide between the beetballs and the sauce
peel and finely shred the beet for the beetballs
puree the broccoli and use in the sauce


in a large pot put half the carrots, shallot, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1/4 cup olive oil and broccoli and let it cook a little bit before adding sauce and let simmer. Add 1/4 cup of raw agave nectar

in a large mixing bowl combine the turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, shallot, beet, half the carrots, worchestershire sauce, garlic and mix together and form medium sized meatballs, makes about 25 meatballs then in a large pan sautee in olive oil until browned then put in a glass baking dish and cover with the tin of crushed tomatoes for 15 minutes.

Once the beetballs have been baked for 15 minutes add to the sauce and let simmer until your pasta of choice is cooked and serve!


it always helps to have the kids involved in the making of the dinner as well as they are more likely to eat what they have made just hide the fact that you are adding all the veggies to everything and they will gladly eat this up and ask for more!

the brands Nestle owns

Cereals

• Cinnamon Grahams
• Cheerios (outside US)
• Cini Minis
• Honey Nut Cheerios (outside US)
• Oat Cheerios
• Cookie Crisp
• Fitnesse
• Force Flakes
• Chocapic
• Golden Nuggets
• Golden Grahams
• Honey Stars
• Koko Krunch
• Milo Cereals
• Nestlé Corn Flakes
• Nesquik
• Shreddies
• Shredded Wheat
• Clusters
• Trix

[edit] Coffee

• Bonka
• Buondi (Portugal)^[1]
• Christina (Portugal)^[2]
• Dolca (Argentina)
• Ecco (Peru, Chile)
• El Chaná (Uruguay)
• International Roast
• Kirma (Peru)
• Loumidis (Greece)
• Nescafé
• Nespresso
• Partner's Blend
• Ricoffy
• Ricoré
• Sical^[3]
• Tofa^[4]
• Taster's Choice
• Zoégas

[edit] Water

• Aberfoyle
• Aqua D'Or
• Aqua Pod
• Acqua Panna
• Al Manhal
• Aquapod
• Arrowhead
• Buxton
• Contrex
• Dar Natury (Poland)
• Deer Park
• Hépar
• Ice Mountain
• Korpi
• Levissima
• Nałęczowianka (Poland)
• Nestlé Aquarel
• Nestlé Vera
• Ozarka
• Perrier
• Poland Spring
• Powwow
• Minere
• Pure Life/Pureza Vital
• Quézac
• San Pellegrino
• San Bernardo
• Viladrau
• Vittel
• Zephyrhills

[edit] Other drinks

• Nestea
• Milo
• Carnation
• Caro
• Chocolate D'Onofrio (Peru)
• Cocoa D'Onofrio (Peru)
• Nesquik
• Nescao (Argentina)
• Nescau (Brazil)
• Vascolet (Uruguay)
• Libby’s
• Growers Direct Organic Fruit Juices
• Good Host

[edit] Shelf stable

• Christie
• Bear Brand
• Carnation
• Coffee-Mate
• Gloria
• Ideal (Peru)
• Klim
• La Lechera
• Milkmaid
• Moça (Brazil)
• Molico (now Svelty)
• Nespray
• Nestlé
• Nesvita
• Nestlé Omega Plus
• Nido
• Ninho
• Svelty
• Emswiss

[edit] Chilled

• Chamyto (Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Philippines)
• Chiquitín (Mexico, Chile)
• Club (Mexico)
• La Laitière (France,Belgium)
• La Lechera (Spain,Mexico)
• Moça (Brazil)
• Chandelle (Brazil, Chile)
• LC1 (Switzerland)
• Molico (Brazil now Svelty)
• Nestlé
• Ski
• Sveltesse (France)
• Svelty (Mexico)
• Yoco
• Munch Bunch (UK)
• Le Viennois (France, Belgium, Switzerland)
• Hirz (Switzerland)
• Nesvita (Philippines, India)
• Ninho (Brazil)

[edit] Ice cream

• Åhusglass (Sweden)
• Camy
• Δέλτα (Greece)
• Diplom-Is (Norway)
• D'Onofrio (Peru)
• Dreyer's
• Edy's
• Frigor (Argentina)
• Frisco
• Häagen-Dazs (North America)
• Hemglass (Sweden)
• Hjem-IS (Denmark & Norway)
• Kotijäätelö (Finland)
• Maxibon
• Motta
• Mövenpick (Switzerland)
• Mivvi
• Nestlé
• Nestlé Drumstick - The Original Sundae Cone
• Oreo (Canada)
• Peters (Australia)
• Push-Up
• Savory (Chile)
• Schöller
• Underground is (Denmark)
• Valiojäätelö (Finland)

[edit] Infant foods

• Alete
• Alfare
• Beba
• Bona (Finland)
• Cérélac
• Farinha Láctea (Brazil)
• FM 85
• Gerber
• Good Start
• Guigoz
• Lactogen
• Nan
• NAN HA
• NanSoy
• Neslac
• Nestlé
• Nestogen
• Nestum (Portugal)^[5]
• Nido
• Piltti (Finland)
• PreNan

[edit] Performance nutrition

• Musashi
• Neston
• Nesvita
• PowerBar
• Pria
• Supligen

[edit] Healthcare nutrition

• Boost
• Carnation Instant Breakfast
• Nutren
• Peptamen
• Glytrol
• Crucial
• Impact
• Isosource
• Fibersource
• Diabetisource
• Compleat
• Optifast
• Resource

[edit] Seasonings

• Buitoni
• Maggi
• Thomy
• Winiary

[edit] Frozen foods

• Maggi (INDIA)
• Stouffer’s
• Lean Cuisine
• Buitoni
• Hot Pockets
• Lean Pockets
• Papa Guiseppi
• Findus (Sweden)

[edit] Refrigerated products

• Buitoni
• Herta
• Nestlé
• Toll House

[edit] Chocolate, confectionery and baked goods

• 100 Grand Bar
• Aero
• After Eight
• Allens
• Animal Bar
• Baby Ruth
• Bertie Beetle (Australia)
• Big Turk (Canada)
• Black Magic
• Blue Riband
• Bono(Brazil)
• Breakaway
• Butterfinger
• Butterfinger BB's
• Butterfinger Crisp
• Bon Pari (Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary)
• Cailler
• Capri (Chile)
• Caramac
• Carlos V
• Charge (Brazil)
• Chips Ahoy! (Canada)
• Chocolate Surpresa (Brazil)
• Chokito (Brazil)
• Coffee Crisp (Canada)
• Chunky
• D'Onofrio (Peru)
• Damak (Turkey)
• Drifter
• Frigor
• Galak/Milkybar
• Heaven
• JOJO (Czech Republic and Poland)
• Icebreakers
• Kit Kat(INDIA)(except the United States where Hershey's makes it)
• Lion
• Matchmakers
• Milky Bar
• Minties (Australia)
• Mirage
• Joff
• Munchies
• Negrita (Chile)
• Nestlé Alpine White
• Nestlé with Almonds
• Nestlé Crunch
• Nestlé Crunch Crisp
• Nestlé Crunch with Caramel
• Nestlé Crunch with Peanuts (Limited Edition)
• Nestlé Crunch Pieces
• Nestlé Crunch White
• Nestlé Milk Chocolate
• Nestlé Princessa
• Nestlé Wonder Ball
• Nestlé Yes (Germany)
• Nips
• Nuts (Europe)
• Oh Henry (except Canada)
• Orion (chocolate) (Czech Republic)
• Peppermint Crisp
• Perugina Baci
• Polo
• Prestigio (Chile,Brazil)
• Quality Street
• Rolo (except the United States where Hershey makes it)
• Sahne Nuss (Chile)
• Sensação (Brazil)
• Snowcaps
• Smarties
• Suflair (Brazil)
• Super 8 (Chile)
• Susy (Venezuela)
• Texan Bar
• Toffee Crisp
• Toll House cookies
• Trencito (Chile)
• Turtles
• Walnut Whip
• Violet Crumble
• Yorkie
• Munch(only in India)

[edit] Wonka confectionery brands

• Bottle Caps
• Donutz
• FruiTart Chews
• Fun Dip
• Gobstoppers
• Laffy Taffy
• Lik-M-Aid
• Nerds
• Nerds Gumballs
• Nerds Rope
• Oompas
• Pixy Stix
• Rainbow Nerds
• Runts
• SweeTarts
• SweeTarts Rope
• SweeTarts Shockers
• Tart 'n' Tinys
• Thrills
• Wonka Bars
• Wonka Xploders

[edit] Foodservice products

• Chef-Mate
• Davigel
• Minor's
• Santa Rica

[edit] Petcare

• Alpo
• Beneful
• Dog Chow
• Fancy Feast
• Felix
• Friskies
• Go Cat
• Butchers
• Bakers
• Winalot
• Gourmet
• Mighty Dog
• Mon Petit
• ONE
• Pro Plan
• Purina
• Tidy Cats

In the absence of the blogger

I really need to start using this blog more to be a bit more expressive on screen rather than secretly wanting to tear my hair out or eating my words with a chocolate ice cream chaser. Although to be fair the chocolate ice cream chaser is mighty fine especially if it is Organic Meadows ice cream...yum. I miss being able to blog, my livejournal I nixed because I just didn't feel I could totally say what I wanted when I wanted to. I don't like to have to censor myself in particular if it is something I feel strongly about like organics, homeopathics or chemical free living. My only vices are butter and sweets or butter with sweets any way you slice it it spells BAD!

I want to talk about this whole Roman Polanski debaucle. This should have been resolved over 30 years ago. This man never should have been a safe fugitive in a foreign land for so long. What he did was wrong no ifs ands or buts and anyone who believes he did not get a fair shake or should be released clearly is not a parent or sold their heart and common sense for cold hard cash. No 40 something year old man has any business having any sort of sexual relationship with a 13 years old girl...has any business having any type of sexual relationship with any girl who has teen at the end of her age. It is SICK!