playing with bugs

As a child, I remember spending summers with a neighbourhood friend, riding our bikes to the creek, looking for crayfish, catching grasshoppers and spiders and observing our “catches” under a magnifying glass.   I never gave it a second thought of holding those multi-legged creatures back then, carrying them around in the backyard like prized creatures from a safari excursion (okay, we had a big imagination!).  Now as an adult, the mere thought of holding a bug sends me running.

Looking back at those memories, I often wonder at what point in my life did my childhood enchantment turn into measured cautiousness?  Did experiencing life outside of my backyard and in the real world complicate my views of the very things that we were supposed appreciate in the first place?  In other words, can we ever enjoy the simple things in life or will we be distracted with all those shiny new virtual games and apps that bombard us daily.

As much as I love and totally embrace those amazing educational apps that have been able to teach and expose my children to the world beyond what I’ve EVER learned at their age, a part of me still wants them to just…get on a bike.  And to be honest, as a parent I struggle to maintain my own wide-eyed enthusiasm to go along with my kids to explore the outdoors.  However,  have we as adults, modelled this media obsessed behaviour…our noses buried in our phones (and I’m equally guilty of this, spending hours on Twitter or Pinterest) instead of getting dirty and enjoy what nature has given us?  

So, this past summer, I was determined spend more time outdoors and attempt more outdoor activities so we can be more active as a family.  With new helmets and bikes, we discovered more bike trails, climbed trees and discovered all kinds of bugs.

As the weather turns cold, I start to miss those hazy days of exploration in the dirt, and hope we will continue the momentum of playing outside…now exploring in the snow, skating, skiing or sledding down the hill.  And although I still haven’t built up the courage to hold a bug in my hand, I guess for now I’ll just have to settle for the costumed ones I make for Halloween. 

Spider Costume
(directions originally posted here)

For the eyes, we cut styrofoam balls
(found at the dollar store), and cut them in half

Paint and attach green sequins to the styrofoam balls.  

Add a headband with black pipe cleaners attached
(for the Pedipalp or “feelers” of the spider):

For the legs, sewed black stockings filled with batting cotton to a black shirt

For the tail/abdomen, cut a black garbage bag and filled it with
other plastic bags or newspaper.  Add details with black
construction paper. Attach with electric or hockey tape.
 (before we went out in the dark, for safety 
I added reflective tape to the tail too!).

Wear with black pants, socks and gloves.  

dress you up

Working on a film set in my previous life has given me the privilege of witnessing the magic of wardrobe geniuses create characters though either simple clothes or elaborate costume design.  One of my best wardrobe memories was working with a famous (gap-toothed) 70's model turned actress, who wanted her character to wear a high end designer suit for one particular scene.  Unfortunately the production budget didn't allow for such indulgence, so she made one phone call and two days later an outfit specifically designed (her sunglass-wearing-fan-waving designer friend had her measurements on file), was couriered to her from France, and it was worn for the scene. Oh the magic of movies!!!

Now that my "film set" is now a school gymnasium stage, I must admit that I still enjoy watching the creativity that's put into the costumes for school plays.  Although I rarely sew, since my daughter loves of all things hippopotamus, last year we created a simple costume for one of her school assignments that didn't require much sewing (as originally posted here)

What I loved most though, was working on this project together.  We worked on it much like a collaborative arts and crafts activity, and what was incredible to me, was watching her imagination soar as she was painting, tying and trying new things to make her costume work.    

When she put on her costume for school, she saw her handy work come to life.  She got into "character" and became a hippo.  She was happiest as can be...and to be honest, the world was her stage.  And to me, that was more magical than any movie set.

Hippopotamus Costume

Here's the directions of making this hippopotamus costume again.  The magic of this, is that it can be adapted to any animal you wish. The mask is a paper mache project and the "body" is a no-sew drawstring bag with armholes...easily done if you have kids who know how to tie knots.

Materials:

For the mask

• Newspaper strips
• Equal parts of glue, flour, water (approx. 1 cup each)
• Grey paint
• Balloons (approx. 9" or the size of child's head)
• Elastic

For the body

• Approximately 2- 4 yards of felt material, depending on the size of your child. (check out your local thrift store for remnants...I found my felt fabric for $4 for 4 yards!  Just wash first.)
• Scissors

Directions:

For the Mask:

1. Cut strips of newspaper, approximately 1 inch in width.
2. Blow up the balloon. Gather all the materials.
3. Create the "glue" by mixing equal parts of glue, flour and water.  I used approximately 3/4 cups of each.
4. Wet the strips of newspaper with the glue and attach in layers on the balloon.  I only ended up using one balloon...for the snout, I attached scrunched up newspaper using the glued newspaper strips.
5. Ensure that there are holes for the eyes, the side for the elastic bands to go through (to hold the mask onto the head).
6. Creating mini cones with newspaper, attach as ears.  Scrunch up newspaper for the snout and attach.  Let dry overnight.
7. When dry, paint with craft p.
8. Attach the elastic bands to the holes.
9. When the paint is semi-dry, paint the details
10. Using a market, draw the snout.

For the no sew costume:

1. Using a large piece of felt fabric, fold in half so it's approximately the size of the child. Cut one inch slits all the way down the open side.  
2. Tie all the slits together, into double knots.
3. Turn inside out, so the the "fringe" is on the inside (revealing the braid)
4. Turn the fabric so the braid is on the back, and cut out the arm holes approximately 1 inch from the top.
5. Cut the slits at the top, and then knot the two strips together.
6. Fold the top and bottom approximately 2 inches, and cut slits approximately 1inch apart, all along the bottom and top.
7. Taking a strip of 1 inch width ribbon (I used remnants of the fabric and cut strips), attach a safety pin to one end and weave through the slits along the top and bottom, creating a drawstring effect on the top and bottom of the costume.
8. Pull the top drawstring and tie a bow on the front.
9. Pull the bottom drawstring and tie a bow on the back (so it would look like at tail).

Lights, Camera...Action!

beet ya to the finish line

As my son races past yet another birthday, I am proud of the incredible person that he has become.  I often flashback to the little toddler running to me in tears after being pushed in the playground, and I am astonished at how he has matured so quickly, especially in the last few months, and he seems to have all of a sudden, become a mature young gentleman...a respectful, kind human being with true leadership qualities.

With recent news about the heartbreaking story of the young girl who was bullied so much she ended her life,  just thinking that high school is around the corner can almost overwhelm me with emotion and worry...soon my little boy will be navigating bigger halls of friends, competitors, bullies and strangers.  Will he pass the finish line of high school unscathed?  Will he be okay?

My son joined his school's cross country team for the first time and after a month of weekly practices, he ran his first race. The race was larger than I had anticipated, as it was against a half a dozen other schools.  In a way, it was my first race too, and I found it interesting to observe him stretch and prepare, both mentally and physically for the race. 

After the starting gun went off...he went at a leisurely pace.  I didn't see him for quite a few minutes until towards the end of the last leg of the run...he was smiling and running at a calm and even pace.

At the end of the day, while driving home, he casually mentioned an incident that occurred on the bus en route to the race track.   A few rough kids were teasing him.  Taunting him and sneering that he'd probably be in the bottom half of the team, coming in 100th place or so, because they doubted his athletic abilities.

As my heart crushed hearing this, I calmly asked him how he responded (and the overprotective, emotional parent inside of me wanted to scream and throttle those kids).   He said he smiled, shrugged their comments off, and didn't bother to say anything.  He said he didn't need to.  You see, for the past month at all of the practices, he observed that they were unable to catch up to him, so he understood that they were acting out of jealousy and insecurity.  He knew he was rooted in his faith of doing well, and their harsh words, although rough and bitter at first, just gave him more determination to prove them wrong.

My son came in 4th place out of 100 (tops from his school in his division), and qualified to compete in the regional finals!  All day he was congratulated by friends, classmates, teachers and many other parents.  Prove them wrong, indeed!

But to be honest, more than how well he placed in the race, I am even more proud of how he composed himself before it.  He kept his chin held high, knew his strengths, maturely sympathized with their weaknesses, and didn't let the detractors discourage him.

And if you're wondering where those boys ended up in the race...they came in around 90th place.  And although I will always worry about my kids life in high school, for now...

...I think he'll do just fine.

Roasted Beet Salad
(adapted from Allrecipes)

INGREDIENTS:

• 3-4 large beets 
• 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (optional)
• 1/2 red onion, sliced 
• 1 cup of cooked corn kernels
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Feta (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). 
• Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
• Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 
• Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil and place the beets in the pan. 
• Rub 2 tbsp. olive oil over the beets, and sprinkle with salt (optional). 
• Cover the beets with another sheet of aluminum foil. 
• Roast for 1 to 2 hours,  (until the fork tines go in easily)
• Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
• Peel and cut into quarters.
• Add onions and corn.
• Toss with olive oil and feta (or a greek olive oil salad dressing)

Serve.

gathering with purpose

During this autumn season, I often find myself influenced by beautiful decor ideas featured in home decor magazines, Pinterest, and design blogs.  I especially love those images of beautiful outdoor Thanksgiving settings:  beautiful large harvest tables under large lantern-lit maple trees, with burlap runners, pumpkin and candle centrepieces and seating for 20!

Cookbooks, food magazines and Pinterest (again!) also tempt me to create so many made-from-scratch, delicious recipes that feature this season of bounty.  Garlic & herb infused roasted turkey!  Homemade apple and pumpkin pies!  Garlic infused rice and sausage dressing!  Yes, yes, yes please!

I'm also realistic that as a mother of two active children, my schedule is also filled with birthday parties, school volunteering and extracurricular activities in full swing.  And sometimes it's hard to find the time (or patience) to plan, prepare and create every organic-hand crafted-photograph perfect element of autumn into our Thanksgiving plans.

So this time of year, I try to keep it relatively simple.  By nature of the layout of our home, we serve our meal "buffet style", and Thanksgiving is a potluck dinner.  Our guests get to focus on bringing one or two special dishes.  Home made pies and garlic sausage rice dressing? Check.

This way I can focus on the main food attraction...the garlic herb butter infused roasted turkey!  Organic fresh turkey, infused with fresh herbs, roasted garlic and butter (and yes, I baste my turkey every 20 minutes).  And I keep the table setting relatively simple....one focal point: a gathering of tea lights and pinecones around a single candle.  Simple, but with purpose.

And with purpose is key.  As much as I dream of having a picture-perfect, lavish outdoor Thanksgiving setting, smiling while cooking the whole organic-locally grown in my backyard gourmet meal made from scratch...on the morning of Thanksgiving, I watched my daughter wait by the window in anticipation for our guests.  She didn't care about the table setting, or the enticing smell that came from the oven.  She reminded me of the real purpose of the meal....the gathering of loved ones.

Simple Garlic & Herb Infused Butter 
(Baste for Turkey, Chicken or Pork)

Although this recipe might come a little too late for my Canadian readers (who already celebrated Thanksgiving...sorry about that!), I've used this recipe for chicken and pork...equally useful for a weekday meal.

Ingredients (for a 20 pound turkey):

• 1 cup of butter, room temperature
• 3 tbsp. each chopped fresh rosemary, sage, thyme
• 2 heads of roasted garlic
• Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions:

• In a medium sized bowl, mix together all the ingredients together.
• Loosen skin of the turkey and rub half of the herb butter under the skin. 
• Rub with remaining  herbed butter onto the turkey skin.
• Season generously with salt and pepper. 
• Roast according to the size of your turkey, making sure you baste every 20 minutes with pan liquids.

Gather around your turkey, and enjoy!

three sweet things

Our daughter celebrated a birthday recently, and we are so proud of the young lady she is becoming.  Her sweet smile, her kind heart, her love for all those around her: family, friends, neighbours, classmates...sometimes I don't think many of us deserve her endless ability to love and see the light in all of us, but she gives us her all, every day.

Sometimes I think of her as a little girl...and she is.  However, she surprises me with the amount of mature awareness she possesses.  How she fully understands how to extrapolate the good in all of us, and how her presence makes everyone want to be better human beings.

The one thing that my daughter inspires me to do is be a kinder human.  (Just being in the same room evokes the need for people around her to just give her a big hug!)

So, here's the top three things that my daughter does that I will try to emulate back to her, so I too, can be as kind and sweet as she is.

1)  I will tell her more about my own childhood stories as she tells me hers...allowing her to identify (and feel comfort) with the trial and tribulations of being a little girl in a big world.
2)  Out of the blue, at no particular time or reason, I will remind her of all the wonderful things that she does that makes her beautiful and special. Every day.
3)  I will be patient and remember that "you can't rush art". (Even if that "art" is brushing her teeth during the morning rush).

Even if I don't become even half as sweet as she is, I hope she never changes...and remains sweet as can be.

Three Layered Sweet Square
(Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Coconut)

Ingredients

Bottom Layer

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour

Middle Layer

• 175ml/ 5 oz (about 1/2 can) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened coconut

Top Layer

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. smooth peanut butter

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350degrees
• Melt butter in microwave and stir in the next three ingredients.  
• Press into an ungreased 8x8 pan.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile stir condensed milk with coconut (do this just before spreading onto the bottom layer, or else the coconut would absorb all the milk).
• Once the bottom layer is baked, spread the coconut mixture evenly over top.
• Bake again, for approximately 10 minutes, or until coconut mixture begins to turn golden on the edges.
• Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in microwave intermittently every 25 seconds, stirring in between until melted and smooth.
• Once the first two layers are baked, remove from oven.
• Spread chocolate mixture evenly over second layer and let cool.

Makes approximately 18-24 squares.

peanut butter crispy squares

I remember overhearing at the playground, a young mother complaining that her child had the right to eat peanut butter at school.  Her school was peanut free.

She went on about how allergies in school have gotten out of hand...now there is a ban on all nuts, fish, and eggs because there were too many children with those allergies.  And what about her own child's rights.

As she continued to complain, I noticed that her child was running around the playground, pushing and hitting all the children around him.

Of course I shook my head and told her that every child has a right to go to school and live without an analyphalitic death.  That there are other options besides peanut butter, fish and eggs to send to with their child for lunch and they can have their "right to eat peanut butter" at home.  Then I also pointed out that every child has the right to go to a playground and not be terrorized by a bully (she turned to see who I was referring to, and got embarassingly upset with her child).

I'm not sure how someone who wants these certain "rights" for themselves so selfishly disregard the rights of others.  All I know is this...my kids love peanut butter.  So, I let them have the right to eat peanut butter...at home.  With these amazing easy and delicious peanut butter crispy squares.

Peanut Butter Crispy Squares

Adapted from the book: 150 Delicious Squares

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup smooth organic peanut butter
• 4 cups rice krispies cereal

Chocolate Topping

• 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. smooth peanut butter

Directions

• Combine first 4 ingreidnets in large saucepan
• Heat and stir on low until melted and thick.
• Remove from heat
• Add cereal and stir until coated.
• Press firmly into a 8x8 inch pan
• Let stand unti set.

Topping:

• Heat chocolate chips and peanut butter in small bowl and microwave, stopping and stirring intermittently every 20 seconds.  Continue until chocolate is almost melted.
• Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
• Spread evenly over cereal layer.
• Let sit overnight or in the refrigerator.

Cuts into 24-36 squares.  Eat...at home.

file it under "done"

Young adults or children generally mark "significant" birthdays with an accomplishment.  (On a 16th birthday, you get your driver's license.  On a 21st birthday, you mark the birthday doing more "adult" activities...etc.)

Once you reach *ahem* bigger milestones (30's, 40's, 50's etc.), you take on larger activities, like a huge party or travel to bring in the new age.  But in between those milestone birthdays, similar to what most normal people do at New Year's Eve, I make new resolutions after my birthday.

Last year, my resolution was to ensure I create memories.  Leading up to this was the creation of this blog, which for the most part, documented those special moments.

This year, my resolution is to be more disciplined.

To keep my energy focused on being more efficient and...just get things done.  No procrastination or excuses that keep me in my comfort zone.  In fact, now I do what makes me uncomfortable, having the  discipline to do, no matter how tired I am or difficult the task might be.

So, this past week, I pulled out my "get dirty" clothes, dusted off my paint brushes, and finished a few projects that I've made excuses not to finish.  And while my projects are still in progress,  I've completed quite a few in such a short time....and now I can say, "file it under DONE".

Refurbishing a Metal Filing Cabinet

Now that school has started, it means more paper comes into the house.  Unable to find a "pretty" filing cabinet (is there such a thing?), I took our old filing cabinet, and gave it a facelift.  Here's how it went.

1)  Empty file cabinet, and use painters tape to cover handles.
2)  Using Rustoleum's "Flat White" Exterior spray paint, spray even (and very light) coats of paint, making sure you let it dry in between layers. (I used about three layers).
3)  Using a stencil, tape your design to the front of the drawers.
4)  Using craft paint, using gentle dabs (not strokes!), apply your colour.

Done.

bittersweet beauty

It's hard not to look at a clear blue September sky and not think of a similar beautiful clear day, eleven years ago.  As much as I love the beauty of the horizon...today, that beauty is bittersweet.

One of my post popular posts was about my trip to New York last fall, which included a visit to the 9/11 Memorial site.  To honour those who lost their lives eleven years ago, here's that post again today.

a hole in the heart

(originally published October 5, 2011)

After a whirlwind weekend of indulgent window shopping, seeing the bright and dazzling Times Square, admiring the million dollar architecture and enjoying the scrumptious culinary delights in NYC a few weeks ago…we felt we needed to end our weekend trip by visiting a special place to bring us back to reality and reflect how fortunate we really all are.

{Above photo, courtesy of CNN}

You see, ten years ago, we had planned to be right here in New York.  Before going to a London/Paris excursion on Sept. 12^th, we were planning on stopping by as a post birthday celebration, before heading to London.  But circumstances led to us to stay home instead. Now, not a September goes by when I don’t think about what could have been. It’s amazing how many stories you hear, of someone missing their flight, and someone else taking their place.  How one person was saved because of someone else’s sacrifice. 

Ten years later, looking at the void where the towers were, the enormity of it, the place where monumental heartache took place…I realized that for every hole that is created, somewhere else, another hole is filled.

And even though life seems unfair on the surface, we are guided to fulfill a destiny, a purpose.  And for some reason, all our lives are intertwined in some form or another, with meaningful adjacencies.  (to read a beautiful article about how meaningful adjacencies relate to this memorial, please read Paula Grant Berry's CNN article)

I hope I fulfill my purpose in life…to help create a simple world of love, kindness, and appreciation for our beautiful world.  And especially, during this upcoming Thanksgiving season...to remember to be grateful, and thankful for all we have.

To simply…fill the holes.

Heart Shaped Jam Filled cookies 

(makes approx. 30-40 cookies)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar plus 4 tbsp extra for dusting.
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Preparation

• Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
• Add the egg and vanilla.  
• Add the vanilla and 1/2 tsp of baking soda
• Slowly mix the flour into the mixture until dough consistency.
• Refrigerate for approximately 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350degrees
• Roll out the dough into desired shapes, creating enough for a solid bottom and one with a cut-out on the top.
• Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the edges are golden.
• Top one solid cookie with your favourite jam, and sandwich with a cookie with a cut out.
• Dust the cookies with powdered sugar.

Enjoy...with all your heart.

stone wash

Stone skipping is a ritual that every child (and adult) in our household has done at least once in the summer.  It usually involves the meticulous search for the perfect rock.  Flat and thin.  Smooth as possible.  Then aiming it just right so you can see it glide along the horizon.  With every bounce I could see a smile, as if with each bounce, they were one skip closer to breaking the world record.  (Which by the way, was 51 skips...the world record set in 2007) {Source: Wikipedia}

As I watched by the shore, I noticed all the beautiful colours of the stones along the water.  Every stone unique and beautiful in its own way.  Multitudes of colours, sizes, shapes and age coexisting beautifully on the sand as the waves of the lake crashed over them.

At first it would seem that the waves are aggressively trying to pull the stones deeper into the depths of the water.  Some of the bigger stones stayed put, as if they had the weight of experience to position themselves so they wouldn't get dragged in.  The smaller stones would move with the waves...some protected by the bigger stones, but many freely rolling deeper and deeper into the water with the pull of every increasingly stronger current.  But no matter how hard the waves pulled...the little stones still never ventured into dangerously deep waters as if they knew when to find their way back nestled between larger rocks, protecting them.

Collectively most of the stones stayed put, and with each passing wave, the water just made them cleaner...as if tears had washed the sand away, making them see more clearly.  Almost like diamonds in the rough that have transformed by the harsh waters, the stones are now like gems shining and glistening from the sun.

After I dropped off the kids on their first day back at school,  I thought back to that day at that beach watching those stones...as if it was nature's reminder of life.  With each passing year as the kids venture into new experiences, whether it's in a classroom, playground, friend's house or at the beach...that no matter where the current takes them, I know they'll grow to become polished gems...shining and glistening in the sunlight.

meat pack

Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.  I am very blessed to have met the person that I will spend the rest of my life with, and we both cherish the time we've spent together.

Since we went on our honeymoon around this time of year, for the longest time, we've always felt that NOW is the best the time to pack and get ready to travel.  We travelled Italy, France & Spain after our wedding, and the fall season in Europe is so beautiful...the temperature is still warm but not unbearably hot, and the crowds of kids are back at school.  For the first few years of our marriage, we always travelled at this time of year, I guess more as a default as it was when we had our honeymoon, but we couldn't ask for better weather.  Perfect for exploring or just relaxing and enjoying the sights and culture.

Now with kids, we're now unpacking after a summer filled with beaches, pools and lazing around, and preparing to pack school backpacks and lunches.   Part of me still wants to travel right now, and the urge to repack our clothes and hop on a plane to Europe is fierce.

Well, Europe will have to wait...for now.  I've always dreamed of taking the kids to see Europe, so maybe it's something we can incorporate with our summer travel plans next year? (fingers crossed)

In the meantime, we'll just have to suffice with packing our BBQ with the glorious flavours of what is remaining of THIS summer.

Meat Medley Kebabs

(serves approx. 6 people)

Chicken (Souvlaki style)

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed in 1" cubes
• Red onions, sliced in large slices

Marinade: 

• 1 lemon juiced, approx 3 tbsp
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped
• 1 onion, sliced.

Mix marinade in non reactive bowl (glass) and toss with chicken.  Marinade at least 3 hours or overnight.  Grill on lightly oiled grate on medium high heat for about 10-15 minutes or until desired doneness.

Pork (grilled apple style)

• 2 pounds of boneless sirloin pork chops (already in strips at Whole Foods, just cut into 1" cubes).
• 6 apples, peeled, cored and cut into bite sized chunks

Marinade:

• 1/4 or small onion, sliced
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped or crushed
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary (or 2 tbsp. fresh)
• 1/2 tsp. allspice
• 1/4 tsp.  nutmeg
• pinch of cloves
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Mix marinade in glass bowl and marinade pork or 1 hour at room temp or 3 hours in the fridge. Add pork, alternating with apple chunks, on skewers.  Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until pork is just done.

Beef (Asian style)

• 2 pounds of sirloin tip steak, cubed
• Red, orange or yellow peppers, large slices.

Marinade

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger (optional)
• pepper to taste
• 1/2 a lemon (or 1/4 cup) lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch

Mix marinade in a glass bowl.  Add meat 30 minutes prior to grilling (this is a fairly salty marinade). Add meat, alternating with peppers on skewers.  Grill on medium direct heat for about 4 minutes.

Enjoy the summer flavours!