my three new babies

That you can check out here.

So proud of what we did ! Thanks to Sharnee, Philippa and Cara ! Love you girls !

don't hate because I am on holiday

I am started by summer vacation starting 5 today. I still have little things to do here and there for the next two weeks but the big job is done !!!! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! It was a tough year. I worked and worked and worked and worked. Now, it is OVERRRRRRRRRR! CAN YOU FEEL THE JOY?

new shoes

I have in mind !

I love Mateo Kerba

I remember it as clearly as yesterday. Four years ago, my son Mateo came to the world. I remember when they took him out of my belly and the sound he made. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I remember thinking that he was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. He was so dark. An Arabic prince. That changed my life. Now when I see Lilacs I think of Mateo. They bloom at his birthday.

This is what he looked like a few weeks later.

And this is what he looks like now.

Last week, he turned four and he had his first real big party. He received way too many gifts and he had his first friend to ever sleep over. Bonne Fête mon amour! Maman et Papa, nous t'aimons à la folie. Plus que les autos !

summer has started ! yeah!

got caught again !

During my last almost weekly expedition to Winners and I saw this book by my Friend Jamie at the cash. Took it in my hands, looked at the recipes and said Wow ! Bue then, I put it down again and said Tanja, you have so many cookbooks already ! Put it down ! But then, Jamie appeared and told me to buy it ! And I don't regret it ! And neither does M! Favourite recipes are from Greece and Morocco.

driving a four-wheeler already

I am officially a soccer mom now

Mateo started soccer last night! And he was a champ ! He usually is not keen about new situations but he really surprised me. He listened to the coach, ran the hardest and pulled a sweat. At the end he said : C'est l'fun le soccer maman ! Proud of you boy !

in the mood for sandwiches

I love to cook but making sandwiches is fun too. There are a couple I want to try here

wish list

I wish I could live simply without many possessions but I just can't do it. Every season, a wish list emerges and this is mine for spring. Golden hoops Golden belt Golden glasses Golden or beige handbag a new perfume and beach wear (of course !)

l'Amour du pain !

Since I was child, I have loved bread. My German grandmother would wake in the early hours when it was still dark outside and would put on a flowery scarf on her head and go to the bakery 5 minutes away and get us fresh brotchen. As I child, I did not realize how good it was but now I do. I could see that my mom would love it though. My grandma would prepare fresh jams and special honeys for her... In my family we love bread and pasta. We eat loads of it. We are lucky - we don't get fat from it. When I hear people say that they get fat from bread and I look at them with a puzzled look. I don't see my life without bread. I have it every morning of my life. And I never get bored of it. And I am so lucky, I live walking distant to L'Amour du pain, which I think is the best bakery in the neighbourhood. Even Mateo loves going there now because he knows that Mommy will buy him a mini croissant, or a pretzel, or just a fresh piece of bread (like my mom would give me when we went food shopping together.) M who was not a bread lover that much when I met him has become an afficionado also...

two salads for Mother's Day

that I am trying to tomorrow.

from shutterbean of course !

fancy pasta, garlic and greens

Elias often tells me that you should not compliment your own food but I don't quite get it. If it's good, why wouldn't you say it? Annona, who started cooking and baking in the last months (thanks to relaxed Reno lifestyle and to Gwyneth) would agree with me I am sure.... I guess it is an Arabic etiquette rule :) Two weeks ago, Jojo came over for supper and I made this and I had to share it here because it is SOOOOOOO godd. We have had it twice since. It is super easy to make and so tasteful. For more details, check on smittenkitchen.com 1 pound pasta, whatever shape you like (but chunky ones will match up better with the rabe)
1 pound broccoli rabe, heavy stems removed, remaining stems and leaves cut into 1- to 2-inch sections (I attempt to match my pasta in length)
1/2 cup olive oil
5 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or pressed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more or less to taste
About 1 heaping teaspoon Kosher salt (or more to taste) To serve: Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese Bring a huge pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and five minutes before its cooking time is up, add the broccoli rabe. It will seem like too much for the water, but with a stir or two, the rabe should wilt and cook alongside the pasta. Drain rabe and pasta together and pour into serving bowl. In the same pot or a tiny one, heat the olive oil with the garlic, pepper flakes and Kosher salt over moderate heat, stirring frequently for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the garlic becomes lightly golden. Pour mixture over pasta and toss to evenly coat. Shower with freshly grated cheese and eat at once.

mutti

What would I be if my mom hadn't been my mom? I can't even imagine... What I know for sure is that she brought me so much just by being who she is. I now understand the saying that says: Don't tell your kids what to do. Just show them by setting the example. By looking back at my childhood, I see that my mom was not the type to teach me things. It was more I, who was a sponge and learned by looking at her. It's as if my parents have always trusted me deep down and knew that I would get it... Now, I realize how much I admire her because I have copied so many of her traits. I will never be as funny and cute as her but I still have a lifetime to work on that...:) Thank you Mom for everything you have done for me, still do for me and will do for me. Ich Liebe Dich. Tanja von Hornbach.