Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts
Saturday, March 07, 2009

Cornucopia

Ok, one doesn't normally think of cornucopias in the middle of spring (it IS spring here in the Big D, even if you are getting cold weather everywhere else!), but I feel like we are in an abundant season, both physically and emotionally.


Case in point, after our typical week of shopping and my first-ever delivery from a local fruit and veggie co-op, we have so much produce on our countertop! Oh, and the picture doesn't show the HUGE potatoes we also scored--after I bought a 5 lb bag of them!!




Funny note: we have taught Bear to call grapes "uvas," the Spanish word, and he thinks all small round fruit are uvas. And don't cherry tomatoes just look so inviting? He sure thought so, but I guess that acidic taste was not quite what he had in mind!!


In terms of emotional security, I was in rather a Slump (a la Dr. Seuss) late last week because I've really struggled with eating well and making other healthy choices and then reeling from the ensuing guilt. However, I got a very encouraging email from friend (yes, G, that's you!) and I got a much-needed kick in the heiney so to speak. I feel much better now, even after a day of eating the right kinds of foods, even if my glucose readings haven't quite reflected that yet. I think I'm finally at a point where I want to do this diabetic diet for Me rather than even the baby inside me. I need it. I want it.


This is going to seem so unconnected, but I cleaned house like mad tonight, and that did so much to lift me up! I'm not sure if it was nesting, per se, but I needed the tops of counters, shelves and all surfaces to be cleaned off, and I made that happen tonight. I feel like I'm in a clean haven, and it's lovely!!! (I should say that Hunny ritually cleans the living room every single night, and it is so nice to wake up every morning and come out to a picked up space, even if it only stays that way for a mere few seconds!)


I've been keeping my hands busy with knitting the romper for Gilia's baby boy, whose arrival should be in a few weeks if he doesn't come home early. I'm not sure it's going to be the going home outfit she wants it to be--it looks huge to me! We'll see. Pics to come.


And one more randomness, we made the yummiest dinner tonight: very easy, very quick, delicious, nutritious, and relatively kid-friendly! (Was that a commercial?) I've had so much marinara-themed things lately that I'm just bored and sick of anything tomato-based right now: pizza, pasta, whatever. I saw this idea on a blog (I'm so sorry, I can't remember where), and thought we need to try it out! So stinking yummy. Seriously. And so adaptable, so if you don't like the ingredients we used, do your own!


Mediterranean Pizzas


whole wheat pitas, your favorite hummus, feta cheese, fresh baby spinach, red onion, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, etc. Take the pita (I got the pocket-less kind), spread with hummus (I recommend roasted red pepper, but Hunny and the boys ate roasted garlic), leaving a little edge for a "crust." Then top it off! Hunny liked all of the above and also included some portabella mushrooms he needed to eat. I ate mine with just spinach, feta, artichokes, and olives (by the way, I made chiffonade with my spinach to avoid that whole one-bite-means-you-eat-all-the-toppings-at-once-syndrome.) I made the boys' version pretty plain: hummus, olives, spinach, tomatoes, and feta. Bear didn't eat much at all tonight, so I'm not sure I can say either way if he liked it or not, but Bunkin approved.


Anyway, I'm back to blogging a bit, after my accidental hiatus. Writing my letters was good for me, but was also emotionally wrought, so I needed space afterwards. And of course, knitting has been taking up a lot of my spare time, so if I'm absent in the weeks to come it's because this romper is making me go crazy! :)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Try try again....

I can't stay away, which simply reinforces that I NEED to take a break!!! However, I got caught up in the bloggy giveaway carnival, browsed around that for a while, then got a dog. Hmm? Yes, I said I got a dog. Can I just say Sucker is my middle name? Hunny said he wanted a dog. He was sick, y'all. So he wanted a dog. I guess vegans don't want chicken noodle soup so they gotta do something, huh? :) So off to Craigslist I went only to find A) hundred of ads for dogs in the DFW area and B) lots of sad, sad posts of dogs on the kill lists at local shelters. And, if you remember my 101 list, I knew just what to do. So we got Sugar.* Tonight. She has been introduced to everyone but Bunkin who was asleep and Mia (Hunny's cat) who will avoid all of us for a month now. Phinny reacted as expected, but seems a bit more neutral now (ever notice how a cat's neutral is still laced with disdain?), and Pele seems pleased as punch that she has a new friend. I'll post pics of the new family member soon, I promise. (* Her name may change; this was her name at the shelter, but I'm not a fan... however, she's 4 months old and used to it, and Bear can say it easily, which is huge....)

By the way, remember this post? I'm on my way! I am now down 13 pounds, and I am amazed. I don't feel like I'm looking any thinner, but just seeing the number going down (a new trend, considering I've been with child for several years now, lol) is soooo encouraging!!! Way to GO!

And it doesn't really follow suit to talk about food after discussing weight loss, but oh well, we had a super yummy dinner last night that I actually thought to take a picture of! Did I mention i love fall? And winter squashes? I got an acorn squash at the store, intending to roast and enjoy, but then I decided to peruse some of my favorite food blogs, and I got inspired to stuff it with quinoa (pronounced keen-wah). In typical me fashion, I couldn't leave the original recipe alone, so here is what I did, and it was soooo yummy!

Quinoa stuffed Acorn Squash

1 med squash

1 c prepared quinoa

1 c veggies (I used diced red bell pepper and celery)

3 minced garlic cloves

1 (15 oz) can beans, I used garbanzos

3 T soy sauce

1-2 tsp olive oil

various spices

I cut just the top off the squash, saving the lid, and removed the seeds for roasting later, and then microwaved it on high (placing just a bit of water in the bottom of my bowl) covered, for about 15 min. It was soft-ish at that point, and I preheated the oven to 350 while I was microwaving and sauteing my veggies. for sauteing, do what you normally do: water, broth, oil, butter. I threw the beans in last minute just to get them warm. I flavored with soy sauce and coriander, salt and pepper, tho I think the coriander could have been left out. (It was in the original recipe). Mix the veggies and beans with the quinoa. When the squash is mostly tender, I go ahead and fill it with the grain mixture (not packing it in; btw, I had leftover mixture and just saved it for light lunch for the next day) and put the lid back on, back into the oven for 20 minutes or til it's soft. I served it in quarters and it was very filling with a side salad. Very easy despite the several steps involved!!

And pretty, too: So, that's what I've been up to while I'm not supposed to be on the computer!!

Friday, May 30, 2008

Simple living

I'm reading Janet Luhrs's Guide to Simple Living and here are some quotes that I love:
Simple living is about living deliberately.
Living deeply means living consciously...being fully present, fully aware.
Living deeply means living intimately...closely tied to the people, places, and things in your life.
(this next quote really hits home with me)
It is much easier to stay busy and frantic than it is to love and know ourselves and others deeply. We're busy because we want to be busy. Staying busy appears to give our lives meaning, and staying busy is safe.

I don't want to be safe; I wan to live life fully and fearlessly, and teach my sons to love others and choose to be still when there is a time to be quiet and choose to have a few simple relationships so they can love deeply.

Anyway, so far, I'm enjoying this book and am eagerly looking forward to exploring how my faith fits into this, as well as moments of practical application as I protect and nurture my home and raise my sons.

On a side note, we ate from the products of my efforts last night! I made a delicious (if a tad garlic-y) pesto served over pasta-so simple and so yummy! It was truly fascinating to pick basil from my garden and produce a delightfully fresh sauce! This is dangerous ground: I might actually want a huge garden next year!! I am also enjoying some gorgeous flowers as my hydrangeas and gardenias are blooming. The gardenia is scenting my entire house w/ the cuttings I gathered this morning, and it is wonderful.
Still working on my banner pole; I promise pictures very soon!

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Ladies' Night Out!

I hosted a dinner party last night! Well, actually, A hosted at her lovely house, and I prepared the food! I have been talking with Hunny lately about just needing Misty time, and I've been taking Saturday mornings to do as I please for a couple of hours to re-charge. However, a few weeks ago, I got the idea to host a dinner party for two simple reasons: I love to entertain and cook, and I wanted to feel like Misty-not-Mommy for an evening. My three closest girlfriends were able to make it, and the rules were simple: no talking of hubbies or LOs, but we sort of broke that rule. It was still such a nice night to laugh and catch up on each others' lives. I decided to celebrate the arrival of Spring with a Caribbean-inspired menu plan, and I think it was a success!

Appetizer: black bean hummus [mod: 1 can black beans and 1 can garbanzo beans] and fried plantain chips

Cocktail: we made this virgin (two pregnant mamas and a breastfeeding mama!)

Salad: Romaine with a Pineapple Vinaigrette that Bet made up! (1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 c pineapple juice, 3 Tbs red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste--mix well! I was also supposed to serve it with toasted coconut, macadamia nuts and bacon, but I forgot the last two at home!)

Entree: Jerk Chicken Skewers [mod: I just baked the chicken because it rained, and didn't skewer. the cucumber dip was fantastic as a condiment, though. also, we served with a side of brown rice.]

Dessert: Chocolate Natillas [with toasted coconut instead of coffee-bean granita, and which were the low point of the meal for me, personally. a lot of work for something that tastes a lot like pudding!]

All in all it was a wonderful night hanging out with the girls and eating scrumptious food!! I wish I'd remembered to take a picture of the spread!