Fig Jam

We were recently given a box of figs.  Cool, I thought, this gives me a chance to try some new recipes.  But then we googled the best way to store figs and in the process discovered that ripe figs don't last very long.  Like a day.  Not only that, we had plans for the next day and I wouldn't be able to try making anything until the following day.  That meant I would basically have one day to deal with a whole box of figs!  Back BC (before child) that would not have daunted me - I would regularly undertake several projects in a day.  But now I am finding that beyond the essentials (baby care, meals, laundry, etc) I can only manage one extra thing a day.  That meant that I had to use all of the figs in one recipe!  Jam seemed like a good option.

I found several recipes online and combined different aspects of them to make my own.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out!

Fig Jam

8 cups chopped figs (that's how much I had)
2/3 cup honey (I started with a half cup, tasted it, and added a bit more)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp minced ginger (I love fresh ginger!)
1/2 cup water (I might omit this in the future, or try adding less)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 package pectin

Cut the ends off the figs and roughly chop.  Next time I would probably cut the pieces a bit smaller.  They didn't break down quite as much as I thought they would in the cooking process. 

Add all the ingredients to a large pot, stir and bring to a boil.  Boil for about 15 minutes or however long you want to, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat, and follow whatever canning process you prefer.  The amount of figs that I had ended up only making two and a half jars.

While figs aren't my favourite fruit ever, I really like this jam!  It's not too sweet and has a bit of a bite.  I'd definitely make it again, if someone else ever happens to give me a box of figs!

A Tuesday Haiku

Mother with a cold
So weary but will not stop
Holding her child close

Roasted Chickpeas

As we have been eating more healthy and homemade food, we have stopped buying typical snack foods like chips.  That has been good for us, but I really enjoy salty/crunchy/savory foods.  Give me a bag of chips over a bag of candy any day!  So I get pretty excited when I find something healthy I can make that satisfies my craving for a salty snack.

I came across the idea of roasted chickpeas a couple months ago and it intrigued me.  We have been eating beans a lot more than we used to, so I thought I would give it a try.  I don't know if I set the oven temperature wrong, the timer wrong, or just forgot about them, but I burned them so badly they were pretty much irredeemable.

Discouraged by my failure, I didn't bother trying again until very recently.  What spurred me on was the thought that maybe I could make them in the dehydrator.  Then there would be a much lower risk of me burning them!  So that is what I tried, and they turned out so well that I decided to share my recipe with you!  Although it's not exactly a recipe... they're more like guidelines... :)


Roasted Chickpeas (in the dehydrator)

Canned chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans)
Oil
Salt and/or any other seasoning you want

One batch involves one can of chickpeas.  You can totally do more than one batch at once, and you can use dried chickpeas, but you have to rehydrate them and cook them first.

Drain and rinse the chickpeas.  Gently dry them on a dish towel.  You want the oil to stick, so drying them is important.  Put the chickpeas on your dehydrator tray.  Drizzle a little oil over them and stir them around so that they are all coated with oil.  I used coconut oil, which added a nice flavour.

Then you turn the dehydrator on, and carry on with your day!  I didn't time how long it took for the chickpeas to dry, I just checked on them every now and then, left them overnight, and they were ready the next day.

When the chickpeas are dry and have become crunchy rather than chewy, pour them into a bowl and season them with salt or whatever seasonings you want.  I used salt and pepper.  They would also be good with a spicy seasoning or cinnamon and sugar if you would prefer something sweet.

Enjoy!

Why a Why?

I have been thinking lately about why I have been writing this blog and why anyone should care.  One reason is that it is a place for me to express myself; another is that it is a good way to stay connected with friends and family around the world.  But I wanted to dig deeper.  What is it that I really care about and am trying to communicate?

Through this process I have developed a page called "Why this blog?" which can be found in the column on the right, and also by following this link: Why This Blog?

I also created a new heading: Life, Peace & A Place to Call Home.  These are deep human longings that I am very passionate about.  I believe that we all want to live meaningful, significant lives, that we long for peace and wholeness in our world and relationships, and that we deeply desire a home where we are loved and accepted.

That is at the core of what I blog about.  Some of my posts connect clearly, like a poem on loneliness or descriptions of how we are trying to live ethically.  But some posts might seem less connected.  What does chocolate pudding or Christmas decorations have to do with our deep human longings?

The heart of my passion is the home.  I believe that the home can be a powerful place of life, peace, and belonging.  And I think it is often the little things that make a house into a place that is called home.  Those little, simple things can make a big difference in the world.  I hope that in some small way, I can encourage and inspire you to live life to the full, be people of peace, and to nurture warm homes with open doors.

I hope and pray that our home will be a place that many people can call home.  If you are ever passing by, you are very welcome.

Fresh Fruit Popsicles

Afternoons at the lake.  Running through the sprinkler.  Toasting marshmallows over a campfire.  There are many things that come to mind when I think about childhood summers, including homemade popsicles.  Even as an adult, popsicles are a refreshing way to cool down on a hot summer day.  And with all of the wonderful produce that is available during the summer, fresh fruit popsicles seem like a great idea!

Fresh Fruit Popsicles

Fresh fruit, chopped small
Juice
Popsicle molds

Put the chopped fruit in the popsicle molds.  If you are using more than one kind of fruit you can mix them together or layer them.  Don't pack the fruit in too tightly.  Pour juice over the fruit, filling the molds to about a centimeter from the top.  Gently tap the molds to remove as many air pockets as you can.  Add the sticks/lids and freeze.  If you are using popsicle sticks that aren't attached to lids you will need to freeze the popsicles for about an hour before inserting the sticks.  Once the popsicles are completely frozen, they are ready to enjoy!  To remove the popsicles from their molds, run them briefly under warm water, warm them in your hands for a couple minutes, or let them sit on the counter for five minutes, then they will slide right out.

I made my fresh fruit popsicles with mango and blueberries.  What flavours would you like to try?

How to be a Good Human

Dear reader: Please be aware of the presence of sarcasm.


How to be a Good Human

Be busy.
Fill up your schedule with things to do.
Make sure that you are always accomplishing something.
Work is a good way to be busy
Because then you are also earning money.
But you must also be sure to fill up all of your free time.
Classes and activities can keep you quite busy
And volunteering is also an excellent choice.
Don't forget the endless to do list
Necessary for making your life look perfect.
Groceries to be bought; floors to be swept.
Fill up your life so full
That it becomes impossible to do everything.
Then when people ask you how you are doing
You can say, in a tired voice, "I am so busy."
And you can impress them with how much you are accomplishing.
And you won't need to make excuses
For avoiding messy things like relationships and community.

If, by chance, you happen to have some time
That is not filled by your busy schedule
You must be sure to fill it as quickly as possible.
Or, better yet, spend that time staring at a screen.
Movies, video games, and social media are all permissable.
Then you will trick your mind into believing that you are being busy
Without having to physically do anything.
Be so addicted to busyness
That you don't have time to rest.
Then you can ignore that empty feeling inside
And you won't have to ask yourself questions
About trivial things like purpose and meaning.

Be afraid.
Don't try new things or take risks.
Only do things that are safe and familiar
And keep doing things the way they have always been done.
New is dangerous.
And never forget that the world is a scarey place
With disasters just waiting to happen around every corner.
Always know everything that could go wrong
And let that knowledge paralyze you.
Put your safety above all other priorities
And never stop worrying.
Then you won't be caught unaware
And you won't ever have to leave your comfort zone.

Be afraid of people too.
Especially people who are different than you,
Who look different
Or believe different things.
Don't associate with them.
And certainly don't befriend them.
If you must encounter them in some way
Be sure to inform them how you are right
And don't listen to anything they say
Because you already know that your view is the right one.
Then you won't have to go through the discomfort
Of questioning your beliefs and prejudices.

There you have it, my friends.
Follow these simple guidelines
And you will be a good human.
And you won't have to be bothered by doing something significant
And you certainly won't change the world.

My Top Ten Favourite Movies

It's time for your favourite game show: How well do you know what movies Leane likes?!!!

Just kidding.

(But actually, if you want to guess what my top ten are, go ahead!  I'm curious how many you would get right!)

It's pretty common knowledge that I'm not really a movie person.  I'd much prefer a book (for alone time) or a game (for social time), however I am slowly adding to the repertoire of movies that I have seen.  Today, just for fun, I thought I'd share my current top ten list.

Just for the record, I count series, trilogies and sequels as one movie.  Because they kind of are one story.  And then I can list more movies!

Here we go!  My top ten, in no particular order (but kind of in order):

10. The Penguins of Madagascar
This comical adventure of four penguins is full of laughs.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

9. Singing in the Rain
An old classic with lots of great singing and dancing.

8. Pride and Prejudice
The long one.  With Colin Firth.  It is the best Pride and Prejudice.  Hands down.

7. The Croods
Ever wonder what the typical American family would be like as cave men?  Look no further.  Lots of humour and some touching moments.

6. Epic
As epic as a story about tiny people and forest critters can be.  I like this movie for its humour as well as its portrayal of relationship dynamics.

5. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
A normal man's redemption story.  It makes me want to pack up and go traveling every time I watch it.

4. Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
This movie never fails to make me feel young, brave, and confident that good will always win.

3. How to Train Your Dragon (1 & 2)
A powerful coming of age story.  With awesome dragons.  I want to ride a dragon so bad.

2. Inside Out
Welcome to the world of emotions that live inside your head.  This movie is absolutely brilliant, and if you haven't seen it yet you should go watch it.  Right now.

1. The Lord of the Rings
My preciousssss...

What are some of your favourite movies?  Were you able to guess any of mine?

Meditation on John 6:15 (and the surrounding chapter)

"What kind of king?"

What kind of king would we choose
If we could choose the perfect king?

A popular speaker?
Not bad.

With a large, dedicated following?
Sounds pretty good.

Able to cure any disease?
Fantastic!

Perform miracles?
Exciting!

Multiply food to feed thousands of people?
Awesome!

Even bring the dead back to life?
Sign me up!!

Mixes with the wrong crowd?
Hmm.

Says some pretty controversial things?
Not ideal.

Loses almost as many followers as he gains?
That's problematic.

Tells his followers to carry their cross?
Hold on!

Deserted by his closest friends?
Unthinkable!

Dies?
Wait, what??

What kind of king is this anyway?

Six Months

Our precious Steven has now been in our lives for half of a year!  It is so amazing to watch him grow and learn.  He is very smart, thoughtful, and full of joy.  We love him so much!

10 minutes before this picture I had put him down on the blanket on his back. I guess it's time to baby-proof!

Learning about big people food. Rice is more fun to play with than to eat!

Staying cool at the Canada Day parade

Family climbing trip to Squamish

Little climber-in-training

Selfie with mommy

Crock-Pot Rice

With the very hot weather we are having, I am constantly on the look out for ways to make dinner without warming up the kitchen.  We have been making use of the barbecue, and the toaster oven has been moved out to the deck.  I have also been making crock-pot meals, since the crock-pot can be used outside.  However, most of the things that I would usually make in a crock-pot - like soups and stews - are not exactly what you feel like eating when you're sweating!  But with a little research, you can find that there are actually a lot of different kinds of things you can make in a crock-pot.  For example, you can cook rice!  And it is actually super easy.

Crock-Pot Rice:

Measure one part rice and two parts water into the crock-pot.  (So, for example, two cups of rice and four cups of water.)  Cover, and turn on to the "high" setting.  Let it cook for approximately 3 hours.  (Time may vary depending on how quickly your croc-pot heats up.)  That's it!

I made a lot of rice, so there would be plenty for leftovers.  I used my second crock-pot to cook up some lentils and ground beef, and I cut up some vegetables and cheese, and we had tortilla wraps for supper!  The best part?  Not having to make the kitchen any warmer than it already was!