Tag: Bangkok

Life with a Toddler and a Baby Made Simple (and Yummy)

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Weekly milk delivery, check.  Weekly gourmet bread delivery, check.  Almost weekly organic lunch and dinner delivery, check.  This is what life with a newborn and a toddler in the house will do to you – motivate you to find ways to make your everyday life easier.  Along the way, we have not only found some gems for simplifying our daily chores, but some excellent food as well.

Here is what we’ve found and how we’ve simplified:

1. LOVE ME SOME MILK

Logan is a man who is serious about his milk.  Before Katelyn’s arrival, I found myself at the store almost every other day buying a fresh quart of milk.  I used to buy Meiji milk, until a Dutch friend of ours (who knows his milk well) derided me for not buying fresh milk.  I hadn’t realized that Meiji milk was made from powder.  After all, the packaging looked so nice, and I had always assumed it was fresh.  Turns out that Chokchai and Dairy Home are your best bets for fresh milk in Bangkok.  We now opt for Chokchai.  Why?  Because they offer free delivery!  Yes folks, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we have one quart of milk delivered to our home (well, on Fridays, we have two delivered) at approximately 11am.  86 baht/quart and the delivery man is pleasant to boot. No more late night milk runs, no more fussy toddler when his full cup turns into a half cup because we are low on supply.  This has assured we always have fresh milk on hand.

Interested in doing the same?  Decide how much milk you need per week and when you would like it delivered, find a native Thai speaker, simply dial up the delivery number found on the front of the milk carton (02-532-3572), and have your Thai speaker communicate your preferences and address to Chokchai over the phone.  The milk man begins delivering the same week.  It worked like a charm for us.

2. IT MAY PREVENT ME FROM LOSING THOSE LAST FEW POUNDS OF BABY WEIGHT, BUT MAN THIS BREAD IS GOOD!

So, we actually learned about the bread man before Katelyn’s arrival, but now that our little girl is here, we have it delivered on almost a weekly basis.  Urban Pantry makes some seriously fantastic home made bread.  The founder has a really cool back story and I’d encourage you to read this article on CNN Go for more on him and his bread.  If you get on Urban Pantry’s email list, they’ll send you a weekly menu of their bread and condiment offerings (see below for a sample menu we just received).  Our personal favorites are the sun-dried tomato and garlic sourdough, the cinnamon raisin bread, and the rustic whole wheat.  We also recently tried Urban Pantry’s key lime cream cheese . . . if you are a fan of key lime, it is sublime!  Urban Pantry delivers to your door at no cost . . . you can’t beat that!  Email Urban Pantry at urbanpantrybangkok@gmail.com to receive their weekly menus.  You can also catch them on Twitter (@urbanpantrybkk).

Sample Urban Pantry Menu (June 18, 2012)

3.  ORGANICS MAKE YOU FEEL OH SO GOOD

Tired of all the same old sandwich or Thai street food lunches?  Indulge by ordering “mediterranean-influenced wholefood cuisine” from Birds in a Row.  This was a new experiment for us after we arrived home with Katelyn.  I was skeptical at first . . . now I wish I had tried this months ago!

Birds in a Row offers seasonal menus and all you have to do is visit their website (http://birdsinarow.wordpress.com/) to see what’s available and to order.  Some of our current seasonal favorites are:  Salad of lentils, chickpeas, butternut squash and paneer with masala dressing, Summery watermelon, tomato and feta salad with mint and vinaigrette dressing, and paneer cauliflower fritters with curried yogurt sauce and cilantro.  The meals are reasonably priced and are delivered direct to your home (a delivery charge applies).  Make sure to get your lunch or dinner order in by 10am.

I hope these ideas inspire you to try new some yummy new foods, all the while simplifying your life with a toddler(s) and/or baby(ies) at home.  Sometimes when your hands are so full with your little ones, it’s really just about finding ways to make your everyday chores less of a hassle, and Bangkok certainly delivers in that category if you let it.

Easter Bunny Fright

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Today Logan attended his first embassy Easter party, complete with a mega-Easter egg hunt, a clown show, a balloon man, and one very scary-looking Easter Bunny (as evidenced by the below).

I’m surprised Logan ventured this close to the Bunny for a photo.  When Walter tried to hand him over to the Bunny, Logan would have none of it (can you blame him)? After looking at this freakish Bunny, I thought to myself . . . what was the Embassy thinking?  Couldn’t they at least get him a real mask?  Or a furry rabbit suit instead of the see-through white bed sheet he donned?

But then I realized a thing or two . . . first of all, as members of the American community living abroad, we better get used to nontraditional-looking Easter Bunnies and Santa Clauses.  I have a feeling there were not too many Bunny suits out there for rent on the Thai market (well, at least the appropriate kind).  In addition, I Googled “scary-looking Easter bunny” images to see how this Bunny compared . . . don’t do it, folks, don’t do it.  There are some terrifying bunnies out there and our Bunny doesn’t even hold a candle to those guys.  I’m pretty sure I’ll have nightmares tonight because of that search.  Secondly, I believe our Bunny was one of our beloved Embassy marines who either volunteered for the duty or drew the short straw to represent the Det at the Easter party.  You think the children were terrified? I bet he was terrified.  I’m sure this is very different from his Monday-Friday (well, Monday-Sunday) day gig.  Furthermore, I wonder how he feels knowing that his picture will be sent out to hundreds of families far and wide in this bunny costume?  And then comes the rest of his Det . . . I can only imagine the ribbing he’ll get for this.  Thirdly, a furry bunny costume and a real mask in this heat?  The Bunny was on-hand for the mega-Easter egg hunt and he was boiling in this costume . . . can you imagine what a furry bunny suit would have done to the poor guy in this Bangkok heat?  So maybe the thin bed sheet was a good idea.

In the end, I realized that most kids Logan’s age are terrified of even the friendliest looking Easter bunnies at the most upscale malls in the U.S. (I can’t count the number of friends’ photos I’ve seen on Facebook that show their kids bawling in the Easter Bunny’s lap this year).  I don’t care what everyone was saying, this guy was a good sport. Either your kids are going to be scared of the Easter Bunny, regardless of his/her costume details, or tolerate him.  So, we are thankful for the Marine who was our Bunny, we are thankful for Embassy Bangkok pouring so much heart and soul into an excellent Easter party for the kids, and most of all, as a Christian family, we are thankful for the real meaning of Easter – – the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it represents.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Find of the Week: Amazing Cupcakes Delivered to your Door (Dangerous, I Know)

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Who likes cupcakes?  And I’m not talking about the beautifully-decorated but only kind-of-sweet cupcakes that you find in most Bangkok hotel bakeries.  I’m talking about real cupcakes – the kind where the cake is succulent and moist and the buttercream icing is divinely sweet and perfectly coiffed on top.  I’m talking about a bakery with a selection of both traditional and creative (without being totally wacky) flavors – and, here is the kicker, one that takes special orders and delivers directly to your doorstep.  That bakery is Sparkles, and its owner and creator, Khun Sophie.

Yummy Sparkles cupcakes

Now I realize that having a thing for cupcakes is very American, and I’m the first to admit that I signed on to the craze that hit Washington, DC in 2008 when Georgetown Cupcake exploded onto the scene.  But other than being the only bakery in town that can truly make an amazing cupcake, Sparkles even has my at-home-equivalent cupcakery beat when it comes to customer service.  Khun Sophie is not only a master baker, she is a people person.  She runs her bakery with a very personal touch by engaging with her customers and knowing them by name.  Now that is something that you definitely can’t get at most well-known bakeries at home.

Sparkles is located in Thong Lor at:  2/6 Sukhumvit Soi 53, (Soi Paidee-Madee), phone:  +66 (0)81 136 3367.  CNN Go also raved about Sparkles in this 2010 online review.

If you’re a cupcake person, I bet with one visit to Sparkles you’ll be hooked.  Become a big enough fan and you can even get on the bakery’s email list to receive alerts about new flavors.   Over Christmas, Sophie featured cupcake flavors such as:  Chocolate and Roasted Chestnuts, Peppermint, Gingerbread and Molasses, Pecan and Maple Syrup, and Toffee and Vanilla.  You can bet when I got that email I made a call to order a couple dozen cupcakes for our Christmas cocktail party.  Really, how can you go wrong?

Baby booties on cupcakes . . . perfect for a baby shower!

Giant cupcake

Sparkles' Giant Cupcake - serves 20 and can be made in the flavor of your choice!

Now that we’ve got cupcakes covered, the next question is, when will some genius baker in Bangkok open up a delicious cake pop bakery?  It can’t be too far behind, right?

Let’s Get Ready for Easter!

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For the last few days, I’ve been wandering the net looking for fun Easter craft and baking ideas.  Getting ready for and celebrating the holidays is so much fun with little ones around!  I thought I’d share some of my favorite finds thus far with you, if for no other reason than to get you into the Easter spirit.

One more thing – if you haven’t yet discovered Pinterest, you should!  It’s a site that lets you organize and share things and ideas that you find on the web.  The beauty in Pinterest is that you can browse pinboards created by other people for specific ideas on recipes or decorating (for example), which is an effortless and fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.  For more of my favorite Easter craft and baking ideas (those not featured below), click my Pinterest link (the red “P”) in the right hand column of my webpage.  Happy Browsing!

Melted Crayon Eggs

Sourced from:  Disney Family Fun

When the most humble of art supplies meets the shell of a just-boiled egg, the crayon wax softens, and the colors swirl together in a magical way. The results are fast, fun, and gorgeous.

Materials
  • white eggs
  • tongs
  • empty egg carton
  • crayons
Instructions
  1. Hard-boil white eggs. Remove them from the hot water with tongs or a slotted spoon, dry them, and rest them in an empty egg carton or on plastic bottle caps (an adult’s job).
  2.  Color them with the crayons’ tips or remove the paper coverings and use the crayons’ sides. For a speckled effect, grate a crayon and sprinkle the bits over the eggs. The waxy eggs are very slippery, so take care when turning them to color the underside.
  3. When you’re done coloring, leave them to dry for about an hour.

Naturally-Dyed Easter Eggs

Sourced From:  Better Homes and Gardens

Bluish-Gray
Mix 1 cup frozen blueberries with 1 cup water, bring to room temperature, and remove blueberries.

Blue
Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Let cool to room temperature and remove cabbage with a slotted spoon.

Jade Green
Peel the skin from 6 red onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Green-Yellow
Peel the skin from 6 yellow apples. Simmer in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer 4 oz. chopped fennel tops in 1-1/2 cups of water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Orange
Take the skin of 6 yellow onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Red-Orange
Stir 2 Tbsp. paprika into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Yellow
Rich yellow: Simmer 4 oz. chopped carrot tops in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Mustard-yellow: Stir 2 Tbsp. turmeric into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Various shades: Steep 4 bags of chamomile or green tea in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes.
Pale yellow: Chop 4 oz. goldenrod and simmer in 2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Faint yellow: Simmer the peels of 6 oranges in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. vinegar.

Brown-Gold
Simmer 2 Tbsp. dill seed in 1 cup water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Brown
Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup strong coffee.

Pink
Faint pink: Chop 4 oz. amaranth flowers and simmer in 2 cups water; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer the skins from 6 avocados in 1-1/2 cup water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Mix 1 cup pickled beet juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
Dark pink: Cut 1 medium beet into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar and let cool to room temperature; remove beets.

Lavender
Mix 1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

Chocolate-Dipped Easter Peeps

Sourced From:  Love From the Oven

For the how-to, click here.

Cereal Treat Easter Eggs

Sourced From:  In Katrina’s Kitchen

Ingredients:
·        ¼ c butter
·        10 oz bag of marshmallows
·        5 c cereal (I used Fruity Pebbles)
Directions:
1.   In a large pan melt butter using medium heat.
2.   Add marshmallows and stir until melted.
3.   Pour in the cereal and mix to incorporate.
4.   Spray plastic eggs with cooking spray. I found it was easiest to use eggs that split vertically. You could just use 1 or 2 eggs for this process as the cereal does not take long to take the shape of the egg.

5.   Spoon the cereal mixture into each half of the egg then close egg to form shape. Pop cereal out after about 10 seconds.

Find of the Week: The Perfect Place for Aspiring Young Musicians

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All toddlers I know love music. They love to make music, dance to music, and share the joy of music with friends. Playing new instruments and discovering new sounds is a powerful creative outlet for children.  Some of the most joyous times in our home are the ones spent testing out new musical instruments and dancing wildly, boldly, and comically to our favorite songs.

Not so long ago a friend of mine asked me if I had stumbled upon the music store across from La Monita*.  Despite the great many times we had been to La Monita, I hadn’t seen the place, so I decided to make a special trip.  From the outside, it’s hard to get a glimpse of what’s inside IQ Plus Music (located in Mahatun Plaza off of Ploenchit Road) because of the dark-tinted windows; however, once you venture inside, you’ll find a wall full of colorfully-decorated high-quality musical instruments for children of all ages.  This place has everything from egg shakers to rainbow music hand bells, ukuleles, and bongos.  The instruments are so visually attractive with fun shapes and colors that they are certain to spark the interest of even the most undecided of young musicians.

Check out the awesome alligator xylophone - I want one!

On top of the high-quality selection of beautiful instruments, the staff at IQ Plus Music is extremely helpful in informing your decision about which instruments suit your child at a certain age and musical ability.  Vice President Quincy Yu, who worked in the same business in California for several years, was an enormous help to me when I was in search of an instrument that would introduce my toddler to musical range.  Definitely seek him out if you make a trip to IQ Plus Music.

 

Store details:

IQ Plus Music
888/110 Mahatun Plaza Building
Ploenchit Road, Lumpini
Phone:  02-651-4062
Web:  www.iqplusmusic.com

*If you haven’t been to La Monita, consider this post a “Double-Find of the Week.”   La Monita, also located in Mahatun Plaza off of Ploenchit Road, is easily some of the best Mexican food in town.  The nachos and cali tacos are amazing.  Yum!  If you’re with your with your toddler, they’ll do a “mini-quesadilla” and a side of Spanish rice and beans.