Short visit from friends & news

This past week was hectic in term of paper work. My divorce is finally finalized, and we’re all set to get married. So exciting! I’ve booked tickets for our upcoming trip to China, in which I’ll work for 3 days and vacation for 10. 🙂 good deal~~~ It would be our last trip to china for a while, at least a year because once the newborn arrives, I don’t think we’d want to travel for a while, so we’re looking forward to enjoy fully this one.

Last Sunday evening, I made meatballs. So easy and so tasty!

For dinner we had sautéed bok choy, mushroom and tofu soup, kabocha and steamed crabs

Tony is an expert eating crabs, and he was showing Sofia how to do it properly

She loved it too!

Monday dinner: 7 vegetables soup + salad

Tuesday: pasta with homemade tomato sauce and meatballs

Wednesday: ricotta spinach lasagna

Thursday: pickled cooked fish + sautéed mustard greens + steamed tofu with mushroom, vegetables and shrimp

Friday: fall bowl made with roasted delicate squash, cauliflower, eggplant and wheat berries. Very satisfying and warming dish.

Saturday morning Tony took Sofia to swimming class while I sipped a pumpkin latte and enjoyed the new book

when she was back, she had ice cream. A new tradition we’ve started. If she behaves well during the week, she can have some ice cream on Saturday. It has been working well for both of us. 🙂

then Tony’s friend’s family from Toronto came to visit us. Tony took them to see around DC in the afternoon while Sofia and I both napped 2 hrs. When I woke up, we went groceries shopping and made a pumpkin bread for the guests.

Then I prepared dinner for us: black fungus salad

sauteed bok choy

spicy and sour soup, first time making it and it turned out amazing!!! It’s really easy too.

Spicy and Sour soup:

6 cups of chicken stock
black fungus and shiitake mushroom hydrated
1 cup canned bamboo shots
1 cup silk tofu sliced
1 cup sweet corn
3 tbsp corn starch diluted in some water
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup dark vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1-1.5 tsp white pepper

To make, boil the stock, add #2-5 and boil for 10 min in low, then add corn starch to the soup, mix, boil for 2 min, add beaten egg. Finally season with #8-10 and voila.

steamed large shrimp in garlic sauce on a bed of vermicelli noodles, another favorite of us. Easy to make and everyone loves it.

sauteed mussel in ginger and green onion. Tony’s favorite dish. We are making it once a week.

beef stew made with potato, carrot, tomato and green pepper. Perfect when served with rice.

it was nice meeting with Tony’s best friend from Canada and his family. We’re looking forward to visit them in the near future.

while adults chat over dinner, the girls went to play right after they finished dinner. Sofia has been very friendly, talkative, she really enjoys playing with other kids.

Next morning, I made breakfast for us… pancakes, pumpkin bread and fried eggs.

the girls enjoyed the pancakes and each other’s company

And finally the big news this week is that we’re getting married!!! Tony proposed surprisingly last night. I was already in bed, really tired. He went out with Jimmy with the excuse of buying fruits for their road trip. I didn’t suspect at all. All I wanted was to sleep by 9pm. When he was back, he gave me a kiss and went to take a shower. When he was done, he came to bed, naked, and said he wanted to give me a “special” proposal, a proposal by a naked man. jajajaj… talking about being creative. It was a sweet proposal, the first one I received. I’ll remember it forever. He promised to love me, Sofia and our newborn, and I believe him. I love you, my love! I really hope we are live happily ever after.