Mirepoix

One of the most enjoyable parts of being home with Isabelle is our afternoon ritual of starting dinner.  In Idaho, while both Aaron and I were working, dinner prep was often rushed and not child friendly - a hungry mom & dad buzzing around the kitchen trying to get food on the table while isabelle often got upset about not being included and/or hunger.  Now we get to work together to prepare food  - with no rush.  And not only is this fun but it has actually improved her eating habits tremendously (i know i know it isn't brain surgery -  just exciting).  Isabelle is not necessarily a bad eater - she cracks me up when she eats handfuls of sprouts like they are candy or destroys a bowl of plain chickpeas - but she hasn't been exactly outgoing in her eating habits (nose up to anything with the mirepoix or holy trinity - sauteed onion, carrots, and celery).  I think, fingers crossed, that all this involvement in the kitchen is paying off.  All week Isabelle has been (for the most part) eating everything on her plate - and so proud of herself for trying everything.

Here are a few pictures from our week... enjoy!

isabelle with her old gnome hat that she insisted on wearing until her new one was finished

new gnome hat finished - needed for the past weeks cold weather!

kneading the pasta dough

later turned into ravioli that was not so pretty but oh so yummy

note to self: next time don't make ravioli...just make lasagna or spaghetti

cooking the ravioli and heating up some homemade sauce

digging through the recycling for cardboard to cut out leaves, pumpkins, and apples 

to be painted in fall colors

isabelle stirring the risotto - remembering not to break a single grain....

end result: roasted butternut squash and pea risotto

isabelle demolishing her lentil soup and corn bread

so proud she decided to eat her Mirepoix!