Katya is Rafiki!!!

Katya's Year 6 class did a performance of The Lion King this week. They did an amazing job. Katya had the part of Rafiki, she sang a solo. All the students are so talented and really blew the audience away.

Today the school had an award and graduation reception (tomorrow is their grad party). The year 6's were given a gift and memorabilia paperweight as they leave primary school and go onto secondary. Some students received awards for effort, attainment, and/or improvement. Katya received a reward for French attainment. :)

Tonight the girls had their Ballet recital. I will post photos later, since I was working backstage Ashi took all the photos, so I will have to snag a few from him to share. :)

A New Kitchen Creation

Parmesan Crusted Artichoke dip

½ cup cream cheese
½ cup mayo
1 can artichoke hearts
1-2 cloves garlic
½ cup Shredded parmesan

1. Preheat oven to 350 Celsius
2. Mix cream cheese and may together until smooth.
3. Dice artichoke hearts and cloves, add to mixture.
4. Stir in cheese reserving about 1/8 cup
5. Pour into small baking dish and bake for 15 minutes
6. Add remaining cheese and bake until melted and slightly browned
7. Serve in Bread bowl or in baking dish

Like Mother, like daughter?

A little history..

When I was 9 I informed my father (who was a butcher) that I didn't really like meat and didn't want to eat it anymore.

His replies were simple:

1. That was fine, but nobody was cooking 2 meals so if I didn't like what was being served I would have to fend for myself. Of course him and my mother always cooked plenty of non-meat food in our meat and potatoes home at mealtime, but occassionally I would be making a grilled cheese sandwich.
2. When we ate at other peoples houses I was to eat what was served, I could ask for a small portion though. (Have to respect others and be grateful, and it wasn't a big deal since I was only not eating it because I didn't like it)
   

So, this is the way it was until I got pregnant with Sabeena. In about my 5th month I started having cravings that I couldn't identify. After sending Ashi to bring back many unsuccessful items;

• Rocky Road ice cream, the one with the marshmallows not the swirled stuff.
• Ruffles, plain and Sour Cream and Onion
• Corn nuts
• Ice pops
  
• Strawberries
  
• Watermelon

and I am sure there were a lot more that I don't remember. Well we went out to dinner at one of our favorite places in Manteca, Isador's, and I ordered my salad and Ashi ordered a Garlic & Cheese Smothered Steak. Well within 15 secs of it being placed on the table I told Ashi (I would like to say that I asked politely but NO, I told) to trade dinners with me. I had identified my craving. I still don't eat a lot of meat, but I do eat it now.

Current Day...

Last week I was doing the shopping with Sabeena and Katya after Ballet, and Katya turns to me and says, "Mom, do you mind if I go and get the cheese and yoghurt? I don't want to go down this aisle. I don't want to eat animals anymore and I don't want to see the meat."

Whoa!! back up. This was totally out of the blue. I tried to discover the source, since only the week before she had eaten a cheeseburger. She replied that nothing happened, nothing was said, she just doesn't want to eat it anymore. I asked her if she was sure, we discussed the things she would have to give up, I determined which level of vegetarian she wanted to be. She said she will still eat eggs and cheese and milk since the animals aren't killed to get those.

So here is the latest at the Sheth house:

Katya is now a Vegetarian

We are going to work together to develop some new vegetarian recipes to include at meal time that can also have a meat version for the others at the table. Last week we went out and we had some vegetarian stirfry and buckwheat noodles. It was very good. Even Ashi ate it.