I remember doing an online test on a natural birthing forum I was/am a member of when I was pregnant, the test was to decide how crunchy granola you are… turned out I didn’t breast feed enough children at once, didn’t grow my own veg and shaved my arm pits too often to qualify.. 
Anyhow maybe not crunchy granola enough.. but hey I’m feeling pretty good about my crunchy muesli credentials recently after finding this awesome recipe online, I must admit that I felt like a bit of a kitchen goddess baking my muesli in my mini oven til one o’clock in the morning while my boys were fast asleep. We are all big fans and now that the jar is almost empty, I’m getting ready to make another batch in the next few days. I’m adding the recipe below for those you are keen to try it out.
Apologies to the original creator of the recipe as I can’t find the url anymore, thanks for putting this recipe online anyhow I love it!
CRUNCHY MUESLI
Ingredients:
1Kg Oats (from Tesco’s)
200g slivered Almonds (I didn’t have any of these and it was great anyways)
250g Sunflower Seeds (from Helekang)
250g Pumpkin Seed ( I didn’t have any of these either..)
1tbs Cinnamon
Finely grated rind of 2 oranges
1cup firmly packed Brown Sugar
100ml Canola Oil (from City)
2 tsp vanilla Extract (I didn’t bother and I don’t think it really needs it but try it if you have some nice vanilla extract in the house)
200ml water
I also added half a cup of flax seeds
Preheat oven to 160C
Combine, oats, almonds, seeds, cinnamon, rind, sugar plus half tsp of salt in a bowl. Whisk together oil, vanilla and water and drizzle over the oat mixture, then suing your hands mix until well combined. Spread over 2 large oiled baking trays. Bake for 1 hour or until golden, stirring occasionally and swapping trays half way through.
You can add all kinds of seeds and after it’s baked any dried fruit you have. I didn’t bother adding that part of the recipe as I find that dried fruit in Shanghai is extremely expensive.
After the mixture comes out of the oven let it cool down completely and store it in an air tight container, it’s delicious served with yogurt!
Tags: homemade, muesli
Helekang has a really long list of items on their order form. Not only fruit and veg, also organic meat, milk, grains, pulses, coffee, baby wear by Wobabybasics and deet-free herbal insect repellent (imported from US). If your order is over 100rmb delivery is free, if not you pay 10rmb.
I tried it out recently and found the service on the phone extremely good, they were very very polite and helpful. Will be ordering from them again soon…
Tags: fruit, insect repellent, meat, milk, organic, veg
Unfortunately for us Puxi lot this one is in Pudong…
Little Wonders
Tags: daycare, pudong
I noticed they have baby slings available locally on this site http://dragonhorsedesign.com they are make of bamboo fabric, the shape is similar to the Sleepy sling and Tricot slen which is the one I have and used loads with Theo, worth checking out.
Tags: baby, baby sling, carrier
I’ve been on a mostly veg diet for about 5 years, I do sometimes have a little fish but eat not meat at all. Same with my husband so we’re bringing up Theo meat free. Some of you who might have read my blog before might know about my attempts at Baby lead weaning, not an absolute failure but not a success either. Theo preferred breast milk to most things and just spent his time on the high chair throwing food about. That got vvvvvery boring and frustrating and out came the spoon. So I did a bit of a mix of spoon feeding and letting him feed himself. It took a while but I think that in the past month we have turned a corner and Theo finally seems to be enjoying his food and is into trying to things too. At the wknd he just couldn’t get enough egg fried rice while we were having lunch in Suzhou!
Now that I know that food is not going to be wasted I am trying to commit more time for cooking yummy nutritious meal for him. I should add that I was getting a little worried about his protein intake as he was having quite a bit of pasta and veg but really not into eggs or pulses or tofu until my friend Clara sent me this veg burger recipe which he really loved and it’s super easy.
This is a great one because is great for everyone in the family and you can make a load and freeze them.
Here it comes:
2 cans of lentils (drained, rinsed) you can do any other beans cans or soaked and boiled from dry
4 free range eggs
1/2 cup diced fresh coriander
1 clove garlic, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1/2 small onion, diced
1 cup Bread crumbs (I buy the Progresso brand bread crumbs from City, it is a blue cylinder container) I make my own with some toast bread in the mixer
Saute the garlic, carrot and onion in olive oil until a little tender. In food processor or blender puree 1 1/2 cans of lentils and the 4 eggs. Add 1/2 can of lentils which were not pureed into the mixture, so you have some whole lentils in the mix. Add the sauteed carrot, onion and garlic to the mix. Add the fresh cilantro. Add the bread crumbs (can add more or less until the batter becomes a consistency you like). Form into a patty or just drop a gallop of mix into a frying pan with oil. Fry them until crispy. Delicious!
I make mini ones for Theo and he looks pretty adorable feeding himself his baby burger.
Tags: baby lead weaning, burger, food, vegetarian
If you want to get creative and do something arty with your little ones there is now a new art school tucked away at the end of an alley just off Fuxing lu. The school has a nice homey vibe, good prices and lots of interesting creative projects. Here is a little more info I got from Becky who runs the school….
Flying Start is a new centre which holds inspiring and educational art classes and workshops for children aged from 18mths to 9yrs. Classes for younger kids are packed with games, songs and art activities to spark their imaginations. While the older classes offer a range of projects focused on learning new art skills and techniques, alongside contextual and factual studies. There are two clean and friendly studios set up to suit the needs of all kids, with free refreshments. Projects are on display and a qualified teacher is always available to answer any enquiries.
Rm.102, No.20, Lane 1363 Fuxing Zhong Lu. Tel: 6437 0971. info@flyingstart.cn. www.flyingstart.cn
Tags: art, flying, kids, shanghai, start, workshop
You can help built a shelter for those affected by the earthquake. It’s super easy you just need to buy a t-shirt! Go here to read more about it.
Tags: earthquake, help, shelter, t-shirt
I always thought it was weird that there was no lift up to the second floor in the Shanghai Centre and then recently I was finally enlightened by a friend. It’s hidden but it’s there, right by the cash machines on the side of City Super. Finally easy access to World Link!
Tags: centre, lift, shanghai
Theo is one and yes he still wakes up a night for a booby fix, once in the middle of the night and early morning.. more if he’s unwell or teething or whatever. I really want to keep breastfeeding him as I think it’s good for him but I’m starting to get a little tired of night feedings. Most people advocate tough love, as in letting him cry it out but I really don’t think I can do that… I just had a look online and read about babies who still wake up at 2 or 3 years old… have I created a booby monster?
Tags: breast feeding baby, feeding, night
Kidtown has a special 3 month family membership for the month of April. The price is 3500RMB for the entire family. IMSG members will get a 10% discount off the existing price making it 3150. This membership is for 2 parents and all your children so is a really good deal if you have 2 or more.
Contact Kidtown, www.kidtown.cn, tel 6405 5188, 3211 Hongmei Lu.
Thanks to Pippa for sending this info round!
Shanghai Mama