I am and have always been an eager reader. I think I learned to read before I could walk, and I have been swallowing book after book since I can remember.

I enjoy reading pretty much anything with pages. But if I had to choose a literary genre I would choose children's literature without a doubt.

Over the years, I´ve put together a huge collection of children´s books. And I must admit that most of times I pretend I´m buying them for the boys (although then I write "Paloma" in the "this book belongs to...." page).

Kale, Quinoa & Mango Salad

Why do kids who have hard time waking up during school days, wake up early during weekends?

We live quite close to my son's school, so I normally wake them up by around 7.45 am which is not bad. It is really hard for the, to wake up at 7.45 even though they go to bed around 8pm. That is almost 12 hours' sleep!! I can't even remember the last time I slept more than 7 hours in a row...

It’s a different story over the weekends though. They wake up and get up at 6:30 like an atomic clock, every Saturday and Sunday. No matter how late they go the bed. It’s a futile effort to try to convince them, by saying ‘they can sleep as much as they want on weekends’ at bedtime. On the other hand, I am programmed to wake up when I hear them and really have hard time going back to sleep.

Heirloom Tomatoes & Goat Cheese Salad

Last week I went to the doctor. I have a fair amount of moles, freckles and birth marks all over my body and I wanted someone to check everything was ok. I was concerned for a mole in my back in particular, which is quite big.

The doctor inspected my skin centimetre by centimetre while I was feeling a bit uncomfortable for such an exhibition in front of a perfect stranger.

The mole on my back was fine. Not so much another one in my leg. Apparently one of the moles looked suspicious. And he asked me to come back and get it removed, so they can do a biopsy.

Superfood Fruit & Quinoa Salad

My 3 years old wants to be a chef. Since he was just 6 months old he likes to play with pans, pots and wooden spoons. Last Christmas he asked Father Christmas for a blender and a kneading machine. When he got his toys, he said “they are great, but next year I would ask for a real one!”. He has a great toy kitchen and can spend hours preparing the most amazing dishes ever and then offering them to us to try.

When we “eat” his creations exclaiming how delicious they are, he looks at you, earnestly, and says “mummy, is not real food, is just pretending”. Fair enough.

I can’t be around the kitchen without having him next to me, asking me what am I doing, following me everywhere willing to help.

Gooseberry & Mackerel Ceviche

Luck. This is the word I've been hearing the most over the last few weeks. 

How lucky you are. How jammy can you get. You was born under a lucky star. You always come up smelling of roses. 

And I indeed feel fortunate. But to be honest, I know little or nothing about luck. I've never relied on it and I’m afraid of people who do.

So that’s it. I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work and in being ready to take advantage of opportunity. To overcome the bad times

Timbale Duo or the ultimate Uncooked recipe

This week has been a normal week.

A week to switch off the alarm clock at 6.30. To have a shower and eat my breakfast in my way to work. A week to be in an office 8 hours per day, trying to make them as much interesting and pleasant as possible.