Creation and Destruction

Painting, creating.

Disassembling an old alarm clock, to see how it works.

Creation and destruction, all part of the childhood learning process.

Hat Creek grain burger with sauerkraut, and sweet potato fries. They have a whole line of housemade fermented foods now, also available at Whole Foods, that you can add to your burger.

Winter essentials: zinc lozenges, fire cider.

Tried a seasonal Temple Turmeric drink, Holiday Spiced Lassi. Didn't care for the strong yogurt flavor.

I am always on the lookout for never-before-seen kombucha flavors. Clearly Kombucha's black currant flavor was tasty. 

So addicted to Guayaki yerba mate mint terere. It gives me lots of energy without the spacy, shaky feeling that coffee gives me. I also treated myself to a seasonal Hot Chocolate Clif Bar, and some cinnamon stevia for my morning oats!

Hat Creek Round Rock

Today my friend and I met up at the newest Hat Creek, in Round Rock. I love how they are all designed differently with unique play areas for the kiddos. Jackson and Olivia could barely be enticed to eat, they were so busy exploring the wooden playhouse with its various levels and slides.

Jackson and his friend Mai were tie-dye twins.

I had the usual grain burger with fries. Never a disappointment.

For dinner, something light. Ranch Salad with Red Potatoes and Smoky Chickpeas from Isa Does It. Gotta love that avocado ranch dressing.

All Boy

Today we had lunch with my parents at Hat Creek in Georgetown. I found out that their vegan burger is made with Hot Dang grain patties, which are sold at Whole Foods. I will have to pick some up so we can eat them at home. They are made with wild rice and cashews which gives them a really different texture from other veggie burgers.

There is a play area behind the restaurant, but Jackson preferred to hop the fence and go up a tree.

I've found myself falling into the habit of referring to Jackson as "all boy." As in, "He is all boy!" Usually said while he is wrestling with a buddy, building crazy destroyer-robots and smashing them together, or tromping through the woods and getting caked in mud. It's kind of a shorthand language I can use with other parents while we observe our sons happily putting each other into headlocks.

But, he also likes to watch Monster High with his sister. He loves to help me in the kitchen. He holds my hand when we walk together, and he likes a good cuddle before bed. Not that any of those things can be characterized as boyish or girlish. They are what they are. My son is energetic, happy-go-lucky, enthusiastic, he is six and a half. He is all Jackson.

Burger Time

Any other children of the 80's who remember that video game?

We had burger time at Hat Creek this afternoon with my parents. I love their veggie burgers made with wild rice and cashews. I had to try all the fry dipping sauces this time around, too.

After lunch it was dress-up time.

Hat Creek Fun

Today we had lunch with my parents at the new Hat Creek Burgers in Georgetown. Hat Creek makes an awesome veggie burger with wild rice and cashews, so that's what I ordered, with a side of fried pickle chips. Fried pickles...so evil, yet so delicious. 

Grandma and Grandad just got back from a trip to Florida to visit my aunt and uncle. They brought souvenirs for Jackson and Olivia -- shells, starfish, sand dollars, seahorses. The kids had fun looking at everything and listening to the ocean.

Hat Creek's south location has a playscape, which we love. This new spot doesn't, but there is a big open space out back with picnic tables and a wooden stage. Jackson, Olivia and the other kids decided to turn the stage into an obstacle course by belly-crawling underneath it.

On the way home we stopped to check out the brand-new Whole Foods in our hood. I picked up spaghetti squash and Field Roast sausages to use for upcoming dinners. Then I treated myself to a couple of goodies. I'd seen ads in VegNews for the new flavors of Veganaise, but hadn't been able to find them locally til now. When I spotted Veganaise horseradish sauce, I had to toss it in  my cart. I also picked up a bottle of ginger syrup, which I'd never come across before. I'm going to try a spoonful in my hot tea.

Burgers and Soba

Hi guys, sorry for the brief absence. Jackson was sick, and that means more time cuddling on the couch and less time writing blog posts. He's doing fine now, though, so I'm getting caught up.

Yesterday we enjoyed an unseasonably warm 80-degree day by having lunch at Hat Creek Burgers, which we love because of their great play area.

Veggie burger and fries...I love their veggie burger because it's made with wild rice, which has a chewy, al dente texture.

For a light dinner, I made Ginger Bok Choy and Soba from Appetite for Reduction. I think this was my first time eating soba noodles, and I really liked them. And every time I eat bok choy, I always have the same thought -- "I need to eat more bok choy!" The recipe isn't heavily seasoned, but Isa says to serve with sriracha and soy sauce to taste. I opted for sambal oelek, my current obsession, in place of the sriracha. Amazing goodness in this bowl.

See you next week, have a great weekend!