What do you think he will be when he grows up?

Our family just returned from an amazing break.

Some spent in Sth Gippsland and some of it in Tasmania.

Our annual Tomato Sauce making adventure with our friends.

As usual it was gorgeous.

It was a quick trip this time.

Just a few days.

But we came home feeling as if our two combined holidays were a family favourite.

There wasn't a bad bit.

All of the one and a half weeks were fantastic.

We had amazing weather & some time just as a family & then some days spent with some of our very favourite people.

Over the holidays I got to observe my kids in a way I don't get the time to do when we are home.

I'm busy.

Sometimes too busy to stop and see what is right before me.

On holidays I got to really watch them interact with adults, with younger children and with each other.

I love that about holidays.

I get asked fairly often from people "What do you think will he 'be' when he grows up?"

I was thinking about this question over our break as I watched my children.

Thinking about what a nonsense that question is.

It never fails to leave me feeling cross.

As if the person asking the question is missing the point all together.

Why would I want to be looking beyond what is right before me?

Why do we feel the need to project the interests and qualities of our children into a profession?

Why can't we place value on the characteristics of what makes up that person instead?

Why isn't being a good human enough?

What I observed in my children over the holidays was compassion, integrity, joy, creativity, love, a sense of fun, intelligence, musical ability, environmental awareness, patience, endeavour.

Alongside were also frustration, stubbornness, outbursts of anger & sadness- all the things you would expect both in children and in adults.

But it was watching my children interact with other adults and their children that was what made me feel so so proud.

Chatting confidently, making jokes, playing music, reaffirming friendships, sharing.

Watching the bigger of our kids tending to the littler children filled my heart.

Watching them WANT look after them, play with them, tend to them when they were hurt.

It made my heart explode with pride & love.

I may have shed a silent tear.

SO ....when someone next asks me "What do you think he will be when he grows up?"

My response will be the same for each of them:  "My hope is that he will be the same amazing human being he is now".

GOURMET GIRLFRIEND'S SOUTHERN STYLE CHICKEN served with APPLE & RADDICHIO SLAW:
As the weather cools so does our desire for comfort food.
My kids LOVE this recipe.
So do I.
My hope is that you will NEVER buy the take away version of this again- for so many reasons.....
You can deep fry this but I oven bake on a rack and get GREAT results!
The slaw is a lovely accompaniment but so would be some gorgeous mash.
Mmmmmm comfort food!


WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
FOR THE SOUTHERN STYLE CHICKEN

• 1kg Organic chicken thighs
• 1tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1/8 tsp ground clove
• 1/4 tsp ground sumac
• 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1 cup plain flour

FOR THE SLAW

• 3 green apples, shredded
• 5 raddichio leaves, sliced very fine
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 3 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• S & P

Preheat oven to 180C.

In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients & spices.


Pat each chicken thigh DRY.


Place buttermilk & garlic into a bowl.


Dip each thigh into the buttermilk first and then the spiced flour & panko.


Place onto a roasting tray with a wire tray (this is important as it allows the fat form the chicken to surround the pieces and stay crispy).


Once all pieces are done place into oven for half an hour.


Remove from oven and turn pieces over.


Return to oven and cook for further 15 minutes.


While the chicken is cooking you can make the Slaw by combining the liquid ingredients and S & P.

Combine the apple & raddichio and then add the Capers.


Mix dressing through.


Serve chicken with a quarter of lime.


NB: you may wish to pan fry in a little oil first to get the rich brown and then transfer to oven to finish off cooking and add crunch, although it is not necessary.

I love this track so very much....it seems perfectly matched to the ideas of this post. Listen carefully to the lyrics.