Whales, Trains and Mexican Meals
Welcome to my office.
I spent a lot of time in there this weekend. I hope one day, I’ll look be able to look back at “my office” and laugh. Hopefully that day I will own a chair. I’m just proud that I’m still able to sit on the floor like I have since I was Lulu’s age, knees spread and bottom on the ground. I must be doing something right.
When I did venture out of my workspace, it was to attend a whale-themed birthday party.
I know what you are thinking, 53 is a little old to have a sperm whale perched on top of your cake. You are right (and I also agree that “sperm” and “cake” should never be uttered in the same sentence). The party was in fact for our friends who were turning 5 and 3.
We arrived by train.
And were treated to multiple rides throughout the day.
Any man that voluntarily rides in a miniature train in giant, slooooow loops to appease his daughters can’t be half bad.
I must be doing something right.
Our friends jumped on the vegetarian/vegan train around the same time we did, so the food was seriously Pea friendly. Lulu passed on sodas and went straight for the chocolate soy milk.
I must be doing something right.
The crowds swarmed when it came time to cut the cake.
Yet my girls chose to shovel blueberries by the fistful while they waited.
I must be doing something right.
Of course, cake was shoveled too.
Gigi was busy with her “new best friend.” She went right up to a girl she’d never met (who happened to have a disability), introduced herself and wouldn’t leave her side the entire party.
I must be doing something right.
How did I reward my family for all their admirable choices? An incredible home-cooked Mexican meal.
Simple Black Beans
Serves 4
- 1 c. dried black beans, soaked overnight and rinsed
- 3 c. water
- 3/4 t. salt
- 2 T. minced onion
- 1 t. minced garlic
- 1 1/2 t. cumin
- 1 t. oregano
- 1 T. lime juice
- 2 T. cilantro, chopped
Soak beans overnight in 3 cups of water and store in the refrigerator.
Drain beans and add 3 cups of water back to the pot. Bring beans to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
Add salt, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano and lime juice. Simmer for an additional 20 minutes or until beans are tender. Garnish with cilantro.
Corn and Millet Pudding
Serves 4
- 3 c. fresh or frozen super sweet corn
- 1/3 c. millet, ground
- 3/4 c. light coconut milk (or other non-dairy milk of your choice)
- 3 T. cornstarch
- 1 T. pure maple syrup
- 3/4 t. salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thaw corn or trim from cob. Place in a large, cooking spray coated skillet over medium high heat and saute corn until just starting to brown.
Meanwhile, add millet to a high speed blender or food processor and grind into a coarse powder.
Add coconut milk, cornstarch, maple syrup and salt and blend until well combined.
When corn is finished, add to the blender and pulse until mixture is blended, but still slightly chunky.
Pour batter into a casserole or an 8×8 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for 40 minutes or until pudding is set and slightly browned.
We served the beans and corn pudding alongside a green salad, topped with White Bean Guacamole.
And Gigi ate beans. Gigi hates beans.
I must be doing something right.
I now have to leave my office behind for the night, as Pea Daddy says it’s my turn to wear the conductor’s hat.
I must be doing something right.
i always crave mexican in the summer!!!!!!!! LOOKS SOO GOOD!
Ahh, a train-themed party!!! Oh the cuteness!!! You guys have an enviable amount of fun in your lives.
As what I am beginning to consider myself to be- a “long-time” reader – I can definitely tell that you are doing more than just a few things right. xoxo
p.s. Am slightly jealous that you can sit in that position on the rug… husband had to pull me up out of an “Indian style” sit the other day… please tell me i’m too young for the Glucosomine… more stretching. That’s the ticket!
p.p.s. Will be trying your scrumptious variation on corn pudding, one of my favorite Mexi’s evah!
Gigi holding hands with her new best friend…heart melting picture.
For the record, you are doing a million things right. Your words and pictures always make me smile, no matter how cranky or tired I may feel. You’re the best Mama Pea.
That corn and millet pudding is definitely something right!! Made in that Vita Mix that is the most right of them all. I love the bloob shoveling
haha my home ‘office’ looks amazingly similar to yours at the moment!!
What a great weekend you guys had!!!
I always wonder what would be the BEST part of parenting. I would have to assume, that it’s seeing your kids do the things that you KNOW are right. Having no walls around people who are ‘different’ from them. Being able to eat store bought/crisco ladden cake…but appreciating blueberries as well. Knowing that you married a man who adores his babes.
That has got to be..just the essence in parenting.
It’s SO IRONIC that you posted this bean cooking tutorial. I confessed on my blog about a week ago that I am scared to make beans b/c there are so many methods, soaking or not, flash boiling, simmering, covering or not, adding seasonings and when..frankly it’s kinda overwhelming to a high raw girl
So I have never made my own beans. I want to…especially after seeing yours!
The pic of you and Lulu at the party w/ your shades on…lookin good! Your hair is getting longer…so pretty!
And don’t you just love the “one pot” cooking process called the Vitamix? Dump it all in and blend. Are you even more in love with it now than you thought you could be?
Oohh I love the sound if the corn/millet pudding – even though I hate corn :/
Cute party! I miss parties like that..alas!
Sperm and cake…I know there’s an icing joke in there somewhere.
I may have to make your millet corn pudding, because it sounds fabulous. I bet it would even make a good breakfast
Oh wow – corn millet pudding?? This does sound soooo right to me
Love your girls – they´re simply adorable!! And how sweet of Gigi to take care so kindly of her newest friend
Have a beautiful day
xoxo Mel
I have never had corn pudding but that looks so good. Must make!
a lovely post . . . clearly you ARE doing many things right!
including that corn pudding. yum . . . looks amazing!
Well, if bean haters eat these beans, I better start soaking. Both of my girls are turning their backs on our legume friends lately. What other protein sources do you usually find appealing to Gigi?
Everything looks delicious, as usual! I continue to be amazed by your talent!
You are definitely doing something right
Looks like a great party, and I have to admit, I’m jealous of the huge thing of blueberries…ours are all still tiny!
I find that I do my best work on the floor, in my car, or even in the shower, rather than at a desk! Best creative thoughts occur there!
All of your mexican side dishes look awesome! I’ve been looking for a good black bean recipe actually!
Yea, I don’t know why someone would go for a whale cake. let alone a sperm one. But to each their own.
And you are certainly doing something write Mama Pea!
That picture of Gigi holding the other girl’s hand is so sweet…how amazing for her to just walk up to that girl and befriend her so quickly. I LOVE that Lulu chose chocolate soymilk over soda and scarfed blueberries while waiting for cake! So cool…
I had a good laugh over the sperm cake..he he
bahahaha…sperm and cake. i give em’ credit for the variety though: orca, shark, whale shark, hammerhead and something…
sorry, biologist in me. you know how that goes.
and yes, you’ve def done something right with those girls!
Oh God I don’t think I can ever look at white icing the same thanks to Marianne’s comment above this.
And your girls are, as always, beautiful. And fully welcome to babysit my future children so they can help them choose chocolate soymilk over soda and teach them to make friends with everyone. Your girls honestly made my morning.
you are doing a LOT of things right! i love homemade black beans, and i can’t wait to try the millet pudding
Hey Mama Pea, love your blog! So fun to read (especially since I have my own 16 month old pea), and my family has loved all of the recipes I’ve made from your sight. I just wanted to ask you about the corn and millet pudding. What would you use in place of the millet? Just don’t have any in the house and was wondering what would be a good substitute.
Hey Kim, you could sub cornmeal or even just flour!
are you wearing a bump-it in your picture with lulu? please say yes
those frijoles look amazing! i’ll never use the canned stuff again since i started making them from scratch- it’s a lot easier than i thought it would be, and tastes soooo much better
have a happy monday!
I wish I had Bump-Its! Nope, that Snooki poof is all mine, baby.
You are doing LOTS of things right Mama Pea!!! Your girls are immensely lucky to have you as their mom, let alone the fact that you are home and can spend so much QT with them. You should feel great about that!
Awww the mini train’s really cute! Hahaha love the cake and its hidden innuendos. Your pudding looks great… would love to try that!
YUM, beans/mexican food..it all looks delicious!
Sooooo sweet. Kids are truly amazing, I miss being one.
The photo of Gigi and her new friend literally made me “awwwh” out loud. I featured it on my tumblr blog (www.bringmeinfinity.tumblr.com ), I hope you don’t mind. I linked back to this page.
Obviously you’re doing everything right! I love your family, it makes me have faith that one day I’ll be able to say the same thing, and have pictures to show like this
Gigi and her new friend are ADORABLE! And those dishes…yum! Reminds me of creamed corn, a childhood fave! 
Enjoy your day!
Vegan Mexican=awesome. You=awesome.
Besides being all around adorable (and a perfect excuse to use up that bag of beans I bought weeks ago), I have to say that this post has the cutest collection of outfits yet. Is that an odd thing to notice? Your outfit in the first pic is especially adorable, and I could wear Gigi’s new friend’s outfit every day!
Everyone’s dressing right on top of everything else!
What a fun packed day!
I have no words. Every one of your posts is thoroughly entertaining and heartfelt. I can’t wait for your book!!
precious post
that corn millet dish looks PERFECT!
I love the cake! Your kids are awesome for eating healthy food by choice!
YUUUUUM! Dinner looks magnificent! (I suck at spelling) I’m fixin’ (yup, I said fixn’) to go to the market for some fresh fish and decided that I should take your fresh corn inspiration and make a raw vegan corn salsa to go on top !!
Thanks MP
You’re doing a lot of things right:)
I’m a black bean FANATIC. I think I could eat them everyday (and sometimes I do!). And your corn dish looks incredible. Also, I sit just like you on the floor. For some reason, my fiance calls it “the turtle”.
Can you believe I got teary eyed reading how Gigi would not leave the side of the girl with the disability. You are doing LOTS right!
That corn dish looks like a winner. Was it?
It was really amazing, Jill. I get choked up just thinking about it. The funny thing was, Gigi was sweet to her, but was also just as rough and tumble as she would be with her other friends too. She didn’t see her as being any different, which is so incredible and I hope never changes. When we left, Gigi asked if we could have a playdate with her new friend. I’m tracking down her number from our friends.
You are doing lots of things right Mama Pea!!
I’m so proud of Gigi for making friends with that little girl with the disability. That just warms my heart. Kids are so sweet! 
Your mexican meal looks awesome! I love making black beans from scratch. Makes you never want to open up a can of them again!!
Lulu and my daughter could start a Chocolate Soymilk fan club, although she prefers to stuff raspberries rather than blueberries. :O)
That dinner looks delicious! Especially the beans. I’ve been having major hankerings for Mexican lately, and my favorite combination right now is: Alvarado Street burrito wrap with black beans, mango, tomato, salsa, and your white bean guac! It’s amazing!
Also, you are doing SO many things right. You are proof that you can have a happy, healthy, beautiful vegetarian family!
Haha, well I sit on the floor in front of my computer everyday (which is in the corner of the living room, not even an office)!!
I just bought black beans and was wondering what I should do with them. Now I know
And I’ll have to pick up some corn, but I have to make the millet/corn bake too, since it looks so delicious.
Gosh your girls are amazing and obviously you and pea daddy are too for raising them! Those pictures so adorable and I think mama pea needs an upgraded office haha.
That millet pudding? Amazing. You are doing MANY things right.
I think you do a lot of things right. I love black beans and cumin so as soon as I get some cilantro I might have to try those beans
i ADORE millet, so that recipe has just been bookmarked. once i get a kitchen im going straight to the peas and carrots tab!!
ps you are doing WAY more than something right…hell, you are a model mom in my eyes, and after the past few days of babysitting ive been wondering if you are magical or something. seriously, ‘im baffled. how DO you do it!
I am magical. Just like Harry Potter. I also shirk responsibility. (Note to self: update Peas and Carrots tab…)
Definitely doing a lot of things right – love the open heart of Gigi in making friends!
The corn and millet pudding sounds pretty good – a nice change from the heart-attack-on-a-plate Southern corn spoonbread my boy is so fond of.
A whale themed birthday party – I used to work with Greenpeace, and I know many a good soul who would love a whale on their cake…. We are, after all, the original whale defenders
Where is that train station? When we roll into town with the big ol moving truck and all our belongings in tow, you must tell me where it is, my kids love trains!
I love guacamole!!
You do so many things right, your blog cracks me up
Love the hair, which I will also be using your salon next month for my color and cut touch up!
Haha you ARE doing something right!! Or should I say everything? When you feed your kids super tasty veggie food why wouldn’t they jump for those first!? hahaha
Yes you are doing everything right!!! I honestly cannot wait for your book…I am going to get it for every mom I know ; )
VEGAN corn casserole… awesome! I love love love corn casserole. I don’t love my family recipe. You rock
Your kids are awesome. Seriously. When I have kids someday, I want the, to be just like your kids.
Oh.my.peas. is right! Made the black beans and the White Bean Guac tonight to rave reviews! My CUBAN husband went back for thirds, and even my finicky toddler made a pretty darn good dent in everything!
This dinner (including the pudding, but I needed to use up some zucchini tonight!) will definitely be back for an encore performance in the Beetnik’s house!
this.is.amazing. yesssssssssssssss I WILL be making this + linking to it for everyone…I’ve already been racking my brain for a way to veganize + health it up. Thanks for doing the work for me!! This dish is like the death of me…I keep eating cold buttery pieces of it right from the fridge, lol. xo
That picture of Gigi and her new best friend kind of makes me want to cry. It’s so sweet!
I just discovered your blog a few days ago and I have to say that I’m completely in love with/addicted to it. <3
Thank you, Stephanie. I’m happy to have hooked you.
I really want that corn pudding…but do I have the energy to make it?????????
Do it…..