Pork Souvlaki with Lemon Roasted Potatoes and Greek Salad (gluten-free, dairy-free)

We did one of our usual (and most enjoyable) Saturday errands yesterday -- a visit to our favourite local food shop to choose items for some delicious weekend family meals. While the four of us were discussing possible selections at the butcher counter, Will noticed some pre-seasoned pork done up on skewers and ready to grill, and he asked if we could get them for dinner. We liked the idea of trying something different, but we decided to buy whole unseasoned pork tenderloin instead, so we could put together a Greek inspired dinner all on our own: souvlaki, lemon roasted potatoes, and a Greek salad with homemade dressing. Our meal was quite simple to prepare, but you'd never know it from the enticing aroma that filled our house and yard as the potatoes were roasting and the pork was grilling. We all loved this very flavourful dinner and will definitely enjoy it again some weekend soon!

Pork Souvlaki with Lemon Roasted Potatoes and Greek Salad

For the pork souvlaki:

2 pork tenderloins, cut into one and a half inch cubes
1/3 cup olive oil
the juice of one and a half lemons, freshly squeezed
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 large clove of garlic, minced
a few sprigs of each of fresh oregano and thyme leaves, finely chopped (lemon thyme is nice, too!)
sea salt, to taste

In a large shallow glass dish, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, thyme, and sea salt. Add the pork tenderloin pieces and stir so that the pork is well coated with the marinade. Cover and marinate the pork in the refrigerator for at least three hours.

Preheat the barbecue. Thread the pork tenderloin pieces onto skewers. (If you're using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for about 15 minutes first so that they don't burn on the grill.) Grill the pork skewers over medium-high heat, turning frequently, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pork is cooked through.

For the lemon roasted potatoes:

5 small red potatoes and 5 small white potatoes, scrubbed and cut into quarters
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
the juice and zest of half a lemon
a sprig of fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
sea salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 F.  Toss the potato pieces with the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest, oregano, sea salt and pepper in a roasting pan.  Roast the potatoes for about 45 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally.

For the salad:

Add mixed greens, chopped red and yellow sweet peppers, chopped cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and kalamata olives to a salad bowl.

In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine:
3 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 small clove of garlic, minced
1 small sprig of fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
sea salt and pepper, to taste

Shake the dressing well, then pour over the salad and toss just before serving. (Extra dressing can be stored in the refrigerator.)

Try this tasty souvlaki dinner -- it will have you wanting to shout "Opa!" (You might want to draw the line at smashing the plates, though.  ;) )

A dangerous time?

Photo credit: CBC news

I've been thinking a lot about the story of Ahmed Mohamed this week. The fourteen year old Texas student built his own digital alarm clock out of a pencil box, and proudly brought it to school to show his teachers what he had created. The school called the police because one teacher thought the clock looked like a bomb; Mohamed was taken out of his school in handcuffs. No charges were laid against him, as police later determined that the clock was harmless and that the boy had not intended to alarm anyone by bringing the clock to school, but Mohamed was suspended from school for three days.

I have sons with big ideas who like to tinker with parts and build interesting things. It makes me feel a little sick to think that a boy who tries to share one of his innovative creations with his teachers could be mistaken for a criminal, handcuffed and taken from school to a juvenile detention center for questioning. I'm concerned not only because of how confusing and downright frightening that experience would be for him, but also because of the message that this kind of suspicion sends to kids whose passion is to look at things differently and put them together in new ways: you can think it and build it if you like, but you've got to keep it to yourself.

When interviewed about Mohamed and his homemade clock, the police chief of his community of Irving, Texas said, "You can't take things like that to school." It's a fair enough comment, I suppose, given the number of incidents in recent years where students have committed horrific acts of violence in schools with weapons they brought in themselves. If a homemade device came into a school and turned out to actually be a bomb, and something awful happened due to a lack of intervention, there would be a shocked outcry of anger that school staff and police had done nothing to prevent a tragedy. But if school is not the place for a bright teen to share his harmless creative ideas and receive encouragement from mentors, then where is? The idea that our society's schools can only tolerate certain "safe" kinds of learning is sad to me.

Mohamed's story, along with others that fill our news feeds each week, show that despite our progress in the areas of inclusion and acceptance, fear still exists where there is a lack of understanding because something is not part of one's own personal experience. Different races, different religions, different kids who are able to build their own clocks out of pencil boxes are still met with suspicion, criticism, or ridicule on a regular basis. We have a long way to go yet to erase the notion that dissimilarities equal threats. I hope Ahmed Mohamed and all of the other innovative young thinkers like him will find within themselves the courage to continue dreaming, creating, and proudly sharing their own unique contributions to the world.

A new dance

We ended our summer with a collection of not-so-very fun things that needed to get done: orthodontic-related dental surgery for Noah, an appointment to have him fitted for orthotics for his shoes, and a thorough cleaning out of our garage, which has been our catch-all storage space over the almost nine years we've lived in this house and was starting to become a rather scary sight. It was as if I had subconsciously decided that I was going to march into a new school year with determination and purpose, rather than being pulled along into it reluctantly, as I'm entirely sure I would have been had I left myself too much time to sit and think on the last weekend of summer holidays.

The dental surgery went very well, Noah's feet are much happier now that he has proper support for them, and our garage has never looked tidier. It was certainly a productive Labour Day weekend; I also spent a day baking to stock the freezer with good (and good-for-them) snacks for the boys' lunch bags. And while I still felt a little reluctant about the end of a wonderful summer as the boys headed back to school earlier this week, now that we're all settling in nicely to a new reality, I'm starting to enjoy the return to routine and the promise that the month of September always suggests to me.

Things are different for us this year, with Noah being in high school full time now. He is up and gone from the house quite early in the mornings to catch a school bus; most days he is on his way out the door just as Will is getting ready to have breakfast. I thought I'd miss our usual habit of the three of us eating and chatting together while we shared stories and the morning paper, but the change in schedule has uncovered a new niceness: I have time in the morning with just Will, and then in the afternoon with just Noah as he arrives home quite a bit earlier than his brother. I appreciate the opportunity to talk one on one with each of them, to hear their thoughts and feelings and the interesting details of each of their lives in those particular moments, without anyone interrupting. It's as important to me as ever in these tween and teen years to connect with my boys regularly, letting them know that I'm here for them even as they find more of their own way in the world.

The boys are both really enjoying their new adventures this week. Noah has already found many things he likes about high school life, and is eager to start training with the school cross-country team next week. For Will, going back to school seems to have lit a fire of ideas and ambitions within him. I found him poring over stock advisor newsletters early this morning and wondering what time the stock market opened so he could check the status of the companies he had selected yesterday for their potential. (This is one of his own ideas for a math enrichment activity this year -- if anyone knows of a program or app that lets kids play the stock market for learning purposes, without actually investing money, I'd love to hear about it!) He's constantly got Rubik's type cubes in his hands that he's solving while walking around the house, and he often speaks to me in html code, all while eagerly awaiting the start of a new dance class season.

Life is a kind of dance itself, isn't it? We're learning new rhythms all the time, trying out different combinations, sometimes stumbling and getting back up, sometimes feeling as though our feet can fly. While we practice the new choreography in our family's life this month, and the boys delight in their next steps, it's a perfect time for me to think about my own aspirations for this year. I find myself eager to make something new and different happen, all while staying true to what I value and love. Here's to September, and the hope of fresh beginnings.

A series of goodbyes

We returned home yesterday after one last meaningful trip up north before the summer comes to a close. Our extended family gathered together in Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday to celebrate my grandma's life in the way she had wanted us to: with fireworks, wonderful memories, and laughter. The evening was a perfect late summer one, with warm temperatures and a gorgeous full red moon that lit up the sky as radiantly as the fireworks themselves. It was exactly the kind of vibrant family party that my grandma would have loved.

The drive up to the Soo felt different this time than it had when we did it back in July. It may have been the subtle physical changes I noticed along the way -- the slant of the late summer sunbeams, the hint of autumn colour already showing in some of the trees -- but I think it had more to do with the reason for our trip, and the wistfulness that always takes hold of my heart this time of year and makes me see and feel the world differently. It's difficult to say goodbye, to summer's long days of carefree togetherness, to family members whose love keeps us firmly rooted on a planet that is forever moving, to who and what we are at this exact moment in time. We want to hold on, to coax the warm sun to stay just out a little longer, to catch the fireworks' last brilliantly glowing sparks before they fall to earth and are extinguished forever.

The morning after our big family celebration, my mom, my aunt Christina, her two young daughters and I travelled up the highway that hugs Lake Superior to bring my grandma's ashes to their final resting place, a majestic bay where the waves roll in along a shoreline dotted with pretty rocks and washed up logs worn silky smooth by the water's caress. The drive was one I hadn't done in years, but its once familiar beauty filled me with a rush of emotion as we curved through lush evergreen forests and climbed hills that offered breathtaking views of the lake once we crested them. Saying a last goodbye to my grandma in this lovely place, where nature's enormity makes the effects of time almost imperceptible, felt peaceful, and comforting, and right.

So much about this last trip of summer reminded me that a rich life is filled with both sad goodbyes and joyful hellos. On this same weekend that we honoured a dear family member's last wishes, we received the wonderful news that we had a sweet new family member to love: Matt's brother Nick and his wife Krista welcomed their first baby into the world Sunday morning. Over and over the waves rush forward and then pull back again; the moon turns from a golden sliver to a glowing orb in the night sky. In the space between, each of us experiences a life in all of its wonder, its heartaches and its magnificent glories.

Goodbye, my beautiful Grandma. Goodbye, this lovely summer. Goodbye dear family, until the next time we can be together again. I love you all.

Cool for Back to School: 10 Great Finds for Tween/Teen Boys

I was watching the boys playing their own version of lacrosse one afternoon last week; Noah was going up and down our street on rollerblades, with Will running alongside him as they tossed the ball back and forth to each other. They chatted and laughed together as they went along, their carefree moods indicating that there was nothing more important to them at the time than the game they were both engaged in. Seeing how much they were enjoying each other's company, as they have on so many afternoons over the past couple of months, made me wish that summer could go on forever....

But we've reached that point in August where it's clear that summer is coming to an end soon -- school and routines are waiting just around the next corner. The boys and I have started looking through what we already have in the way of school supplies, making lists of what they'll need for a new year, and doing a little shopping together here and there to make sure they're all set for September.

I remember loving back-to-school shopping when I was a kid. The aisles filled with colourful notebooks and glitter pens and scratch-and-sniff stickers held enormous appeal for me, and I still enjoy browsing the school supply shelves now. I've discovered, though, that this kind of shopping does not much appeal to my boys at all. They're satisfied choosing only a few things for themselves this time of year and then they're begging to escape the mall (which happily leaves us lots of time to still be outside enjoying the last of the summer days!)

So what are my tween- and teenaged boys interested in as far as school supplies go? Here are some of their favourite finds.

Hollister jeans: Noah has reached the stage that a friend of mine aptly refers to as "unicorn sizes". He's grown out of the largest boys' size for jeans height-wise, but he's too slim to fit into the smallest men's size. I was a little worried about what we were going to do for pants for him, until I found that Hollister sells a size 26 men's jean online. It was like finding a real live unicorn the day they arrived and we discovered they fit Noah really well (and he really likes them)!  Hollister has their jeans on sale for $27 CDN a pair right now, with free shipping if you spend $50, and items can be returned to any Hollister store if they don't work out.

Graphic tees: Tees are the staple of many boys' year-round wardrobe, and Bluenotes always has a good selection of humorous graphics that appeal to teens.  Noah is especially partial to the comical cat ones. (Did you know that "taco cat" spelled backwards is "taco cat"?) If your tween/teen is still in kids' sizes for shirts, H&M often has great graphic tees that are just right for Will.

Nike running shoes:  The one store Noah does love shopping in is the Nike outlet, where we always find good deals on quality shoes for everyday wear, phys ed class, and track practice. I'm pretty certain that by now he's tried on every pair of men's shoes in the store to weigh its merits!

PackIt lunch bags:  The boys have been using this brand of lunch bag, which comes in a few different older-boy-friendly designs, for the past several years.  They're great in that they don't require the use of a cooler pack to keep food cold throughout the day; the bag has a gel built into its walls that freezes overnight. Simply pop the folded frozen bag out of the freezer in the morning, fill it with lunch and snack foods, and go.  The PackIt bags are roomy enough to hold teenaged boy size servings of food, too.

LunchBots:  LunchBots stainless steel food containers have long been our favourites -- they're practical, reusable, and stylish looking, too. With a wide range of single and divided containers in various sizes, plus insulated ones for hot foods, it's easy to find the right combination of pieces to keep tween/teen boys well-fed throughout the school day (and the containers should last them well beyond their school years as well).

Madd Gear scooter: Will loves riding his scooter to and from school, and I'm happy to let him; I love that he's getting in some extra physical activity every morning and afternoon. This Madd Gear VX5 Team Scooter is his top pick for a set of wheels right now.

Word Lock: For boys who need to lock up bikes or other modes of transportation in the school yard, this word lock is a fun way to keep their wheels secure. They can set a four letter word of their own choosing as the combination, which may be easier for some kids to remember than a series of numbers. (Bonus: there are no keys to lose, or to find rattling around in the bottom of the washing machine with the jeans!)

Vaultz pencil box: Will really likes this Vaultz pencil box for two reasons: it's easy (it just opens and everything is there in one place), and it has a lock. Maybe this will be a better place for him to store his valuable pencil collection this year. We found the box pictured below in-store at Staples.

Bic 4-colour pens: Remember these from when we were kids? Noah is a fan of the four-in-one colour pen for its usefulness -- no need to carry a bunch of different writing tools around when you have one of these! We found a few different colour variations of the four-in-one pens at Walmart.

RuggedKey flash drive: The product description for this 16GB USB flash drive reads as follows: "Since disaster can strike at any moment, it is important to have your files on a rugged USB drive that can withstand water, extreme weather, and heavy impacts."  Apparently, the device will survive an accidental drop from a height of 100 meters, and is heat, cold, and water resistant. That sounds like just about the right amount of protection for a tween- or teenaged boy's school files!

We didn't buy any glitter pens or scratch-and-sniff stickers, but I think the boys are well-prepared supply-wise for a new school year now, anyway! 

For Noah -- 14

It was sunny and hot outside on this morning fourteen years ago, just like it is today. Your dad and I set out for a walk around the streets of our neighbourhood, me in the early stages of labour, both of us feeling eager and excited and frankly, a little bit scared about what was about to happen to us that day. We couldn't wait to meet you, the baby we had held close in our hearts for many months already, and we hoped in earnest that we would know the right things to do to make you feel safe and happy and loved, first as we welcomed you into the world, and then as we helped you grow in all the years that would follow.

I suppose today, as you turn fourteen, I should feel a little bit scared, too. You're heading to high school in a few weeks, and your life over the next several years will be full of changes and opportunities. More and more, you will figure out for yourself what makes you happy, by finding your own path and making your own decisions. But at this moment, I don't feel scared at all. You have such a good head on your shoulders, such a kind and beautiful heart within you, that all I can feel is eagerness and excitement for what is about to happen to you.

Your dad and I have made mistakes over the years as we've learned how to be parents, and yet you have grown into a caring, responsible, wise young man who fills our hearts with pride and a love that we couldn't have even imagined on that hopeful sunny morning fourteen years ago. I hope you'll remember to be as forgiving of yourself when you make mistakes in the coming years as you've been with us. We will always be here for you as a place of safety and love (though we try now to offer it in the least embarrassing ways possible!)

Happy 14th birthday, Noah!  May your year be filled with the very best kinds of adventures.

Love, Mom  xoxo

Hey, what's happening?

It always feels somewhat awkward to come back here after being quiet for a longer than usual period of time. It's like being in a room full of people and not really knowing what to say:

"Um, hi! How are you? What's new?"

"Oh, hi! I'm good! Not much new with me... how about you?"

I figure the most reasonable thing to do right now is to talk about what we've been up to lately and hope that it stops feeling awkward soon.

So here's the scoop:

We recently travelled up to Matt's parents' place on Lake Nosbonsing, near North Bay, for a very fun family reunion weekend. There were siblings and parents and cousins galore, and we all had a wonderful time together playing in and on the water, talking and joking, eating, and visiting around campfires. My mom- and dad-in-law did an amazing job of organizing such a good time for so many people and feeding us all so well throughout the weekend.

Reconnecting with family over the summer is always one of our favourite things to do.

This week the boys are both involved in structured activities: Noah is taking his Bronze Medallion course, in preparation for future summer employment as a lifeguard, and Will has been participating in a Junior Achievement entrepreneurship camp, with a focus on tech startups. Both boys are really enjoying their week (even if getting moving in the morning and packing lunches in the evening feels difficult after so many weeks of complete freedom!) Noah is glad to be engaged in such useful learning and to be back to swimming lengths in a 25 yard pool, where he feels very much at home, and Will has come home from camp every day bursting with excitement and ideas after visiting local offices like Google and D2L and learning how to code. I'm really happy for the time summer gives the boys for exploring new opportunities.

Last night, some of the teachers and students at Will's dance studio helped three local radio personalities learn the "Watch Me" dance. Will has been doing the whip and nae nae all summer long on pool decks and lake rafts (there is proof in some of the photos I posted earlier this summer!), so he was very happy to participate and had a great time. You can watch a video of the event here; Will is at the front in the light blue t-shirt and backwards hat, right between his dance teacher and radio personality Carlos. :) (This was his six minutes and twelve seconds of fame!)

We have also been surprised twice this week by random raccoon sightings. Will and I saw the fence walker on the drive to his summer camp one morning, and this morning, the little tree climbing fella tried to cross a trail I was walking on, got spooked when he saw me, and high-tailed it up a trunk, where he stared at me, unblinking, for a good long while.

I feel like maybe the universe is trying to tell me something this week with the sudden appearance of multiple raccoons, but if it is, I don't have the first clue what the message is.

That's pretty much it as far as news goes here!  We're looking forward to celebrating Noah's 14th birthday on Saturday (14!!?), and to enjoying the last few weeks of summer holidays together. (Must. Ignore. The back-to-school lists and flyers and paperwork that are trying to distract me....)

I hope your summer has been going swimmingly, too.  What have you been up to?