I am talking to my friend on the phone this morning when she mentions that her nieces got their new school books and uniforms today. I decide to call my daughter’s school to check on when they will start handing out the books.

Mistake number one

It turns out they started handing out the books three days ago and for some reason the SMS informing us of that never got to us. My daughter who was hardly awake at the time walks in on me telling her dad over the phone about the books and goes from sleepy, dragging her feet, rubbing her eyes to wide awake, jumping up and down with excitement in a split second.

MUUUUUUUUUUM WE HAVE TO GO NOW!

pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase

Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase

PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE

 I was planning on going tomorrow but half a million pleases later and watching my child brush her teeth ,  fix her hair and get dressed  in under 10 minutes made me agree to go today.

Mistake number two

 I have to admit that it was wonderful watching her enthusiasm and though this meant that the end of summer is near, I am some what looking forward to the re-establishment of routine around the house. I know this comes with its price of homework and my old enemy but hey a few things in life are free lol.

So we get the books,go home super excited,discussing school bag options. You see, we have a madagascar one and  a walle one which is brand new but we are negotiating getting a toy story 3 one because

Muuuuuuum the books will never fit into the old  ones (old as in still in their wrapping and never been used ones we got as a gift)

and I love Jessie

and I am a second grader now and my taste changed as I grew (That one left me speechless for a few minutes)

I put the bag of books down for a minute to change my cloths.

Mistake number three

I am barely a few steps away when a horrible scream comes from the living room. I run back to find a certain little person who shall remain un-named standing over the bag of books with an empty cup of water held upside down.

The next three hours were spent attempting to dry the books. Several items were used in that quest including a blow dryer and an iron. At the time being the books are stacked in my husband’s office with weights on top of them (namely a stack of my cooking magazines) and I am praying that tomorrow they will be dry without going wrinkly.

I love  arugula. It is the perfect combination between crunchy and peppery.It makes the perfect back ground to a refreshing salad or maybe three. Need something to add crunch to your cheese sandwich? You made pizza and think of topping it with some greens to make it healthy or healthiER?

Arugula comes to the rescue every time.

This particular salad is another result of my research in the name of science. We had this at a little italian restaurant we love, it combined crunchy peppery arugula, creamy eggplant, tangy dressing and I just knew I had to make this at home.  

Eggplant arugula salad with tahini dressing

1 bunch of washed arugula leaves

1 red onion cut into thin slices

1 medium tomato deseeded and cut into strips

1 medium eggplant peeled and cut into strips

1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

For the dressing

juice of half a lemon

2 tablespoons of tahini

a pinch of salt

enough water to thin it out

Add the tahini to the lemon juice and salt and whisk, it will slowly turn to a lighter color and become thicker.

Slowly add the water and whisk till you get it to a drizzling consistency

Set aside

Fry or grill your eggplant slices and season them with a pinch of salt while still hot.

Toss the arugula, tomatoes and onions then arrange in a serving plate

sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle with tahini sauce