PNE Foodie Eats

Every kid has to experience those Mini Donuts at the PNE!  

This year did not disappoint for all things nostalgic.  I don't think I've missed many PNE fairs over my lifetime.  Growing up on the East side, a stone's throw from the Pacific National Exhibition, my parents always took us every year. Back then, I recall the smash'em up derbies at night and the lumberjack show. These things I think are no more, but ah well. 

My kiddos love to see the Superdogs and it's practically the first thing we catch after we enter the fair grounds.  This year, instead of the Peking Acrobats, we stuck around the barn to watch the pig races for the first time.  Um. No offense to pig lovers, but we won't be doing that again.  

Bebe bugged us relentlessly to go on the rickety old wooden rollercoaster.  I recall in my youth going on the rollercoaster 8 times consecutively. Hee. It was a teenage thing to do and there was absolutely no lineup so we really got a good adrenalin rush.  Since Bib's only 6, she and Stomach went on the kiddie rides.  It is my duty as the less centrifugally-challenged parent to go on all the big rides.  So we did.  It was fantastically quick but a wickedly great ride.  Afterwards, we caught up with them and spotted Stomach riding with Bib in the helicopter ride.  Lol. The look on his face.  

An outing out to the PNE is never complete without the requisite cheap, hole in the wall Chinese food to end the day.  We went to Penny's on E. Hastings (I can't count the number of times my parents had ordered out and eaten in here in my youth).  Not much has changed here.  The same red naugahyde metal chairs, the same humongous menus.  Stomach exclaimed after our meal of Bok choy with squid, scallops and prawns; Chow mein with gailan and beef; Vegetable egg foo yung (my fave childhood dish--comfort food!)..."gee, we should eat on the Eastside more often."  Yah. No kidding.  The portions are huge compared to the dinky West side or Richmond portions.  Read: *cheap*.

So we decided right then and there to make more frequent outings back to my Eastside roots on a regular basis for shopping and food.  My plan is to hit: Penny's or Koko's for grub, Gourmet Warehouse, Fujiya and Santa Barbara market on The Drive. 

Good times. 

The PNE is the signpost that Labour Day--the saddest holiday in the calendar--is around the corner and Fall is fast approaching. You can practically hear the collective wistful sigh of children and imagine the heave of relief of parents across the country.

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LUNCHBOX BENTO: Even a Kid Could Do It

Carrots and Ranch Dip, 1 mini flower-shaped Coconut Mochi, Flower and Leaf shaped ham sandwiches, Strawberries and Grapes

Sometimes we wish our kids would stay babies forever.  I was never one of those adults who fawned over newborns though (except mine lol!)

I always looked forward to the day my kids would grow up and be independent.   This year as Bebe (for my food blog she keeps the baby nickname ok?) turned 10 I have consistently pushed her to do more on her own.  Along the way, 6 yo Bib (her alias sure tells you how long I've had my food blog!) kind of started doing things her older sister has to do too.  

These beans were grown from one bean seed Bib planted in Kindergarten.  She brought home the little plant and we plunked it in our backyard veggie garden.  Bib actually ate her beans too!

Gradually, along with tidying up their own rooms and picking up after their toys everyday, I've added more chores.  Right after swim lessons both do the laundry.  I taught Bebe how to operate the washing machine and dryer and she does the towels.  Bib washes the swimsuits in Zero by hand and hangs them to dry.  Yes, Bib isn't strong enough to wring the suits dry enough so that sometimes the next morning they are too damp, but a mom's got to let go of things, right?

After watching me make their lunches in the lunchbot quad containers, they were able to make their own lunches today.  Yay!  Happy dance!  I intend to get them involved in the new school year with making more of their own lunches and snacks. Bebe already uses the microwave and can cook basic things supervised.  Hopefully this will pave the way for even more independence and teach them some mindfulness about food, responsibilities and to not take things for granted! 

I chuckled out loud in the past in the lunchtime hallways when I saw my high school students' freshly made lunches delivered hot to the school doors on ceramic plates covered with foil by their stay-at-home moms.  [OK, I'll come clean:  I'll still laugh and razz 18 yo boys who have their moms deliver their lunches to them!]  This will never be me or my kids.  I wonder about whether or not the values I am teaching my kids are getting through to them and am awestruck by how parents' love can be shown in such diverse and divergent ways.  There's no denying we love 'em.

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COCONUT BUTTER MOCHI (GF)

Coconut Butter Mochi cakes are gluten free additions to a school lunchbox. And they look cute in the mini flower shape.




Cut the mochi cakes small.  They are each probably like a kajillion calories but it's a little sweet treat that will put a smile on your face (and your kids' faces too).



Made of sweet glutinous rice flour (a misnomer because there is no gluten in rice), these little cakes are chewy and similar in texture to huge gummies.  Kinda. Well, actually they're like a hybrid gummy-cake texture. I think? The crust is the best part too. This recipe has both coconut milk and evaporated milk but can be adapted to be all coconut milk and you can definitely reduce the butter or substitute with other fats.  Let the adaptations begin!   However, I wanted a recipe that would taste like Hawaii so I didn't change anything.  This one tastes exactly like the mochi I had on our recent trip to Maui.

The recipe I used is from HERE.

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Lunchbots Quad Bento Lunchbox: Floral Fun

Ham sandwich flowers, baby carrots with ranch dip (in round container), blueberries,cantaloupe flowers watermelon flowers and a pineapple skewer.




Ok. Just practicing to see how long it would take to make a kind of healthy bento lunch for the kids.  Not bad.  everything was put together fast because I used the same cutter and foods were compartmentalized.  With the Lunchbox Quad it seems easier because I don't have to worry too much about variety.  The quad forces me to put in different things.

I used my metal flower cookie cutter to cut out the sandwich and fruit shapes.  That feels somewhat good because I haven't been baking much >.< and my bakeware has been sitting unused for a while.

I am thinking about making some other mini foods for the quad.  The gurlz love mini foods and I think making bento could re-invigorate my lack of passion for baking since going GF.

On my to do list:  mochi cakes, mini shortbread lavender cookies, mini scones, mini frittattas...

I'm getting excited thinking about it :)
Hope I can keep it up through crazy September!

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