Where’s the place to be on a cold, dreary day?

The beach of course!

We met up with our “Get These Kids Outside Or Bust” homeschooling group and today was a true test of our pledge to get outside even in the crummiest of weather.

It was cold. It was rainy. There was whining.

Ava happily played with her friends but Maxine clung to me like a marsupial and said “I want to go home” about 100x in my ear, throwing in the occassional “I’m hungry” despite having just eaten breakfast 30 minutes earlier.

We made it about an hour in the misty rain and upper 30’s temps before finally succumbing to cold, wet feet and went back to the car for some heat and some food.

Curried Chick Pea Sandwich Spread for me – that I didn’t spread on a sandwich but ate with raw veggies instead.

Cheese sandwiches and smiles from the peanut gallery.

We enjoyed our car seat picnic and let the hot air blast us for 30 minutes before the feeling returned to my fingers again and it felt safe to put the car into gear.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert – one for each of us. Definitely feeling warmer now!

Despite today’s weather challenges, I’m still totally into this “get outside and experience nature in all kinds of weather” group we’ve hooked up with. We were unfortunately not dressed appropriately for the weather this morning – or more accurately, we weren’t dressed for the rain.

*shaking fist at weather man who mumbled “a chance of showers”*

See? I did find something else to shake my fist at today after all!

Let’s just call today a lesson, shall we?

Blast of heat + lunch = no chance of holding still for a couple pictures.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent at home – dry and inside.

For dinner tonight I made something that I’m unsure of what to call it. Sweet Potato Lentil Chili maybe? But there are no tomatoes in this. Does the lack of tomatoes disqualify this meal from taking on the title of chili? How about sweet potato lentil stew? OK. That works.

Sweet Potato Lentil Stew

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 c brown lentils, rinsed and drained
2 c vegetable broth
3 c water
chili powder, cumin, salt and crushed red pepper, to taste

Saute onions until soft, add sweet potatoes, lentils, water, broth and spices and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until lentils are cooked. (Red lentils cook faster than green lentils if you’re in a hurry!)

Just 140 calories per 1 cup serving! This recipe made 7 servings, I had 1 1/2 servings for dinner.

This dinner was very easy, totally yummy and very filling! Especially with a tossed salad along side it.

Yeah, let’s just call this stew. The morning was chilly and I’m not in the mood for any thing else “chilly” today.