Red lentils two ways: a soup and a dip. A bonding is born when you spend time

Nick and Aurelia left to Hong Kong Disneyland yesterday morning for 5 days. We are only three in the house: me and my two young boys. Suddenly, the house feels even bigger than it is already. My family feels smaller though. From five to three, you notice the change.

Nick tells me through mobile texts that Aurelia is quite excited and enjoying the adventure. After spending the day at the park using some of the attractions such as the "space mountain", they have a long nap and ready to go out, as they were a couple. Nick has one or two cocktails in the bar of the hotel while Aurelia has a juice and they watch some Disney movie on the big screen. 

Some friends of mine were surprised when I told them this trip it was just Nick and Aurelia. Why didn't you go? why the two of them? They asked me with curiosity; "Because it is a nice bonding between the two of them"- I replied.

Bonding between parents and children is about spending time together, doing things that make the relation special. I love taking Aurelia to the movies, for example, like my mum used to take me when I was little. It is just the two of us, and we have a lovely time. 

This bonding  is when you build a pattern in which quality of time is important. Even if it is just 30 minutes, your child will appreciate it but you too. And this will have a very positive influence in the future, like we notice in our eldest daughter Aurelia- there are particular things she likes to do just with me or just with Nick, or the both of us. 

I haven't gone to Disneyland with Aurelia but I occasionally organize our girls night at home when Nick is out; or I take her to do the nails and have a merienda afterwards; we run together; and one day we will go on a girls trip somewhere.

Gab loves going to Rockwell mall and have an "aiggkrem" (ice cream) with mum or going to the swings at the park and demands:" higher, mum, higher!" while I push him. 

I like taking Juanan to do the groceries in the morning- I think he enjoys being the center of the attention of all the cute filipinas working at the supermarket who smile and play with him-. 

Perhaps having three children means less time dedicated exclusively to each one than if you had one. It doesn't matter what you do or for how long, the important is spending time with them. I don't believe the new technology- iPads and other gadgets- can replace that. Actually, in my opinion, they jeopardize the bonding. 

Time is precious and the way you spend it is your choice, anyway. 

Summer has already hit the Philippines and with the heat, lots of people are sick, including myself. I am not a person for tropical weather, neither is my husband.  I must confess that the thought of moving back to Canberra, with its four seasons, is one of the main reasons I want to leave Philippines. Wearing a nice cozy coat makes me happy and having a comfort meal even more…

And nothing better than a hot lentil soup with 34 degrees outside and 15 inside my house- I love my aircon, it helps me to feel winter again!-.

Pulses are a main ingredient in the Spanish cuisine. They are healthy and extremely versatile. If you are worried about the flatulent part, add 1/4 teaspoon of asafoetida- yellowish Indian spice-, it is very effective. 

This recipe is from Melissa Clark. It is "bright, deep, compelling and easily accesible".

Serves 6

Red lentil soup with lemon

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and ground pepper
• Pinch of ground cayenne
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups red lentils
• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, mint or parsley

1. Heat the oil over high heat until hot. Add the onions and garlic and cook until golden.
2. Stor in the tomato paste, cumin, salt, pepper and chilli powder or cayenne. Saute for 2 minutes.
3. Add the stock, 2 cups of water, the lentils and the carrots. Bring to simmer, he partially cover the pot and turn the heat down to medium-low. Simmer until the lentils are soft. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
4. Using a blender, puree only half the soup.
5. Reheat the soup if necessary, then stir in the lemon juice and cilantro, mint or parsley. 
6. Serve the soup drizzled with good olive oil and dusted with chili powder if desired.

Dips are an excellent way to encourage children to eat vegetables. They like it because it is fun eating with the hands sometimes.

According to Donna Hay, "This spicy dip is delicious as part of a mezze plate or with grilled flatbread".

Lentil dip

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 1/2 cups water.
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• sea salt

1. Place the lentils in a saucepan and add the water. Boil for 2 minutes. Cover and allow to stand for 12 minutes.
2. Place the lentils in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth.

Note: the way I crush a garlic is with a fine grater. It produces the same effect, to release the flavor and the oil of the garlic than if you crush it with the knife.