My Spanish Tortilla

Saw some potatoes in the cupboard that needed using so on the spur of the moment I made a Spanish tortilla or Spanish omelette. It's been a while and thought it was all going to fall apart but it worked. Simply three ingredients, potatoes, onion and eggs (adding salt and using oil). So easy and quick too. We're not having dinner at home tonight so the kids can have this for their breakfast. The omelette tastes much better one day later and often in Spanish households they are made one day ahead. Anyone for tapas?

Bento-ing

Our school recently allowed parents to deliver in food at lunchtime and about the same time I was introduced to bento making. Bento is Japanese for "meal in a box" and what was traditionally a practical way of transporting food has been transformed into an artform. 

Maybe that last bit is not so true for me but the Bento group I belong to on facebook display some amazing lunch boxes made for children and spouses that look too good to eat. On one BBC news article I saw recently, there is so much pressure for Mum's in Japan to produce artistic bento boxes on a daily basis that Mum's go to classes taught by bento experts - I need to go to one! And when it comes to "bento gear", the list is endless from boxes, to silicone cups to separate the food, food picks, cups, moulds, nori cutters, cutters for fruit & veg and I'm sure there's a whole load more out there waiting for me to discover!

 I'm not the most creative person but since making the children's food look more attractive, I have been rewarded with empty lunch boxes when I pick them up and to me that is just the best thing ever!

pasta salad, edamame, longan and watermelon sprinkled with sunflower seeds

tuna filled onigiri (rice balls), watermelon, grapes and rice +chicken for Ayden

jam, cheese croissants, yellow watermelon, purple cabbage and cucumber

Home Facelift

Before the crew moved in

How we lived for two and a half months

And how it is now!

Jack's First sailing

Jack had his first sailing lesson on Saturday and loved it - more so than Iman's first lesson. Hopefully he will carry on to love it and maybe encourage another McCarthy to take it up ~ like myself or Donncha. It's going to be early morning starts in Serasa again.

Swimming Gala 2012

First week of May always sees the annual junior school swimming gala. And as per last year I spent the whole morning watching (and occasionally missing) Iman, Jack and Ayden's races and ribbon collection. Jack was very happy with himself coming second in two races and third in another. Ayden was proud and says he came first in everything! And Iman did very well getting one first for the 25m fly followed by two second places and three thirds. Now you would think that has whacked them all out for the day but there is talk of football training this afternoon!

Mini Me

I upload Iman's pictures from her camera only every few months and found one of her wearing my clothes which was a lovely surprise.

My only wish is for these clothes to be looser on me!

Super Dosai

Tried a fairly new Indian for lunch today. Chapatis were lovely and soft but the winner was my super dosai -  thin and crispy with spicy sauces. Kids were very jealous. More of that please!

EPL Masters 2012

We went to the EPL Masters last night. Not my choice of how to spend my Saturday night but the boys had fun especially Jack who managed to get hold of a ball when the players where handing them out and he spent most of the evening hanging over a balcony trying to get the ball signed, one of which was Steve McManaman. Other big names were Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler and Patrick Berger. 

Our Tiger

A lovely family recently left Brunei and we adopted their family cat Tiger. It took her a couple of weeks to settle down and the kids are only just getting used to her. I haven't had a house cat since I was a child and I am loving her company (except she seems to want me to sit with her while she is eating and I don't always have the time to do that). Credit goes to her original family - she is so well trained and such a great temperament. Of course Spotty's nose is out of joint!