So I'm on a salad + caramelization kick. It's my reaction to D's love of crisped up food, my love of cream & the realization that my low energy was directly connected to overeating. Oh, how I love to eat! I've figured that since I'm nursing I can still eat massive amounts of whatever I want (like a 20 year-old), but that's just not true. So there's been lots of salads, way more fruit & some seriously kick-a** protein action. And I really feel so much lighter. Not 20. But that's cool...
I'm also feeling very liberated in my recipe style. I just finished a project that included rewriting & testing 120 recipes. Exact ones, with specific proportions. I feel the same way about them that I felt the first time ~ I think they're really good. And as someone who's organized around creative expression, I think it may very well be out of integrity for me for to offer defined prescriptions to anyone for anything. So I may not do that ever again.
This has impacted the way we homeschool right now. That's an area where it's sometimes important to follow a defined activity. I've had to learn to stop announcing what we're doing next, because they always have a better idea & so nothing I plan would get done. Which makes for lots of somethings & not others. So now I just get all the materials ready, & start the activity myself. They all gather around & ask to join me & I "let them," but really keep myself focused on what I'm doing. Instead of interrupting me with how they'd rather do it, they put their own heads down & get to work. I've noticed that they have nothing to rebel against, so they don't. And yet they still bring their own individual expressions & developmental capacities to what we're doing. It's much easier on all of us, I think because it's more in integrity for me.
There are many home educators I really admire, especially inside of the Waldorf movement, where there is a commitment to let the child's own integrity come through, but also a commitment to doing things in very clear forms. All of this is carried out with a sense of wonder, comfort & magic. I have not been able to emulate this when it comes to structured activities, save for the kitchen. This is the one place where I feel very strongly about what I'm doing, but just as strongly about their presence by my side, as observers & active participants. And so now the kitchen is informing the rest of our life learning. This is working for now.
So here's my latest unrecipe...
caramelize onions & an organic, free range chicken breast by browning them in olive oil. salt well, brown well. add a drizzle of cream. let cool & chop fine. slice a green onion, some fresh dill, a celery stalk. toss together & moisten with just a tiny bit of sour cream & mayo, fresh cracked white pepper. serve with a lemon wedge & micro greens. mmmmm
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