Something That's Beautiful

Dear, Jade Rebekah

2012-01-29T19:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Jade,

My darling daughter, I don't know if words will ever be able to tell you how much I love you and how proud I am of you. It's hard to believe that you are now 20 years old, I remember the day you were born in such vivid detail, it can't possibly have been that long ago....but here were are. Two decades later.

This has been such a hard year and I am so proud of how you have weathered the storm. Not only are you doing well, you are thriving. I think one of the best things that has happened this year is I finally understand the phrase "work yourself out of a job" as a parent. You have truly become my friend.

I have every confidence that you will go on to be successful in your academic pursuits and eventual career. The birthday card I have you this morning pretty much sums it up....Daughter of my heart, Joy of my life, Sunshine of my world.

Happy 20th Birthday.

Love Always,

Mom

Recipe of the week: Twice baked sweet potatoes

2012-01-25T18:02:00.000-08:00

My family loves twice baked potatoes and when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it. Sweet potatoes are so tasty and much better for you than regular potatoes. You can read here about their health benefits. I made a couple of changes to the original recipe, instead of a shallot I used a large green onion that I bought from the farmer's market. It was the size of a small lemon and I used olive oil instead of butter, you can use either. I'd use whatever I have on hand. My picture isn't as pretty as the original, but they sure were tasty! Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Twice baked sweet potatoes

2 medium or large sweet potatoes
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion
1 bunch of spinach leaves
1/4 cup light sour cream
2 ounces light cream cheese
1 cup chickpeas
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
Bake sweet potatoes at 350 for 45-60 minutes, or until fork tender.
Cut sweet potatoes in half and let cool for 5-10 minutes. While sweet potatoes are cooling, saute the onion and olive oil over medium heat until translucent. Add fresh spinach and heat for 2-3 minutes, until spinach has cooked down. Set aside.

Scrape the sweet potato out of the peel, leaving a thin layer inside with the peel so that it can stand up on its own. Mash the sweet potato with the cream cheese and sour cream. Stir in chickpeas, spinach mixture, and salt and pepper.

Coat potato skins with a drizzle of oil and bake for about 5 minutes to get a crispier outside. Remove from oven and fill each skin with the sweet potato mixture and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake again for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and filling is heated through.

Three things...

2012-01-24T07:05:00.000-08:00

3 Things in life that once gone and never come back:

Time, words, opportunity.

3 Things in life that can destroy a person:

Anger. pride, unforgiveness

3 Things in life that you should never lose:

Hope, peace, honesty.

3 Things in life that are most valuable:

Love, Family & Friends, Kindness.

3 Things that are never certain:

Dreams, success, fortune.

3 Things that make a person:

Hard work, sincerity, commitment.

~Author Unknown~

I hope you have a beauty-filled day.

Ciao

Read the label first!

2012-01-19T19:23:00.000-08:00

This is so funny! I always thought these warnings were ridiculous until a few weeks ago when my husband came home from work with a burn mark on his chest. I asked him what happened and he said he was trying to steam iron his shirt, while he was wearing it! So this is for him and all the other people out there that might need this....

Some actual product warning labels:

On the bottle-top of a (UK) flavoured milk drink -
AFTER OPENING, KEEP UPRIGHT. (duh!)

On a New Zealand insect spray -
THIS PRODUCT NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS.

In a US guide to setting up a new computer -
TO AVOID CONDENSATION FORMING, ALLOW THE BOXES TO WARM
UP TO ROOM TEMPERATURE BEFORE OPENING.
(Make sense...except these instructions we're IN THE BOX!)

In some countries, on the bottom of Coke bottles -
OPEN OTHER END.

On a Sears hairdryer -
DO NOT USE WHILE SLEEPING.
( Now THAT I'd like to see! )

On a bag of Fritos -
YOU COULD BE A WINNER! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. DETAILS INSIDE.
(The shoplifter special!)

On a bar of Dial soap -
DIRECTIONS - USE LIKE REGULAR SOAP.
(And that would be how?)

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on BOTTOM of the box)
* DO NOT TURN UPSIDE DOWN.
(oops...Too late! You lose!)

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding -
PRODUCT WILL BE HOT AFTER HEATING.
(Are you sure? Let's experiment.)

On a Korean kitchen knife -
WARNING KEEP OUT OF CHILDREN.

On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights -
FOR INDOOR OR OUTDOOR USE ONLY.
(As opposed to what...use in outer space?)

On an American Airlines packet of nuts -
INSTRUCTIONS - OPEN PACKET, EAT NUTS.
(I'm sure glad they cleared that up.)

On a Swedish chainsaw -
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP CHAIN WITH YOUR HANDS OR GENITALS.
(What kind of consumer phone-call led to this warning?)

On a child's superman costume -
WEARING OF THIS GARMENT DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO FLY.
That's right, destroy a universal childhood fantasy!)

Recipe of the week: Cauliflower crust pizza

2012-01-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

I made this recipe the other day and liked it a lot. It's certainly not the same texture as pizza crust but it doesn't have flour or gluten. I topped mine with olives, fresh basil, tomatoes, mozzarella and Parmesan. This makes one pizza, enough for 2 people, or one if you're really hungry! A Votre Sante!

Cauliflower crust pizza

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of red pepper
olive oil (optional)

pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings

To "rice" the cauliflower:
Take pieces of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves. Add pieces to the food processor and pulse until it looks like rice. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate it with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes. There's no need to add water, the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook it.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a pizza pan or cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

To make the crust:
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.
Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven. Add sauce, toppings and cheese. Return to the oven for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese or put in the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes.

Book Review: Beautiful Outlaw

2012-01-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

I received an autographed copy of Beautiful Outlaw in the mail back in October with an invitation from John Eldredge to read it and review it for my blog, I was so excited when I opened the package.

Beautiful Outlaw is well written and depicts the personality of Jesus unlike anything I've read that's nonfiction. The only other time I've read anything about the playfulness of Jesus was in The Shack by W.P. Young. John Eldredge does an amazing job of breaking down different component of Jesus's personality from his fierceness, his playfulness, his generosity, his disruptive honesty, his humility etc.

In every chapter John breaks down at least one of the parables in the gospels and points out what most of us have never seen about Jesus's personality. I think the chapter about Jesus's being cunning was my favorite. I love how being innocent as doves and as shrewd as snakes is depicted.

The chapters that had the most impact on me were 14, 'Letting Jesus Be Himself- With You and 17, Letting His Life Fill Yours. I found some very profound truths that I needed to hear in those chapters.

Thank you, John for another amazing book, I hope and pray that people find the scandalous freedom you and Jesus speak of.

Until next time.
Ciao.

Recipe of the week: White chocolate gingerbread cookies

2012-01-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

I found a version of this recipe on Pinterest a few weeks back, they were delicious. I put half the batch in the freezer, the froze well and we are still enjoying them. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup unbleached flour
2 tsp. Ginger, Ground
1 tsp. Cinnamon, Ground
1 tsp. baking soda
a dash of nutmeg
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
1 egg
1/4 cup granulated sugar or raw sugar
1 tsp. pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup white chocolate chips

Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl.
Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg and vanilla; beat well.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. To make uniformed sized holes in the center of the cookie, I used the back of a rounded measuring spoon. Mine look like this. Immediately drop about 7-8 white chocolate chips into center of each cookie, stir slightly with a toothpick. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days or freeze in an air tight container.

The original recipe was from McCormick and Company Inc. I adapted it some.

Resolutions

2012-01-03T12:04:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! I know many people make New Year's resolutions....I'm really not one of them. I have thought about it this year and if there's one thing I'd like to start doing again, it's scrap booking. I was an avid scrap booker for years and as I had more kids and got busier it went by the way side. Now I have countless photos that I've never even printed out, let alone put them in a scrap book!

I know most people are trying to lose weight or get back in shape, if that's you, I found this on Pinterest and thought it was fairly good advice....

I hope you had a joyous holiday season and pray that this finds you well. I for one was very happy to start a new year, 2011 was very challenging on many levels.

Until next time....Ciao!

Recipe of the week: Persimmon Pudding

2011-12-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite desserts, its too bad persimmons are only ripe during the holidays. It's one of the first things I learned to make when I really started cooking in high school. You need really ripe persimmons for this, I bought mine and let them sit for a week. You only use the pulp, I peeled mine and sorta smashed it with a fork. I used pecans this time but you can use walnuts if you like them better. Some people put raisins in theirs but I don't really like cooked raisins unless they're in oatmeal cookies. If you try it let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

2 cups of persimmon pulp

3 eggs

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1/2 nutmeg

1/2 cup melted butter

2 1/2 cups evaporated milk

1 1/2 cup whole wheat or unbleached flour

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl add the eggs to the persimmon pulp, whisk in the sugar. Add baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Pour in melted butter, stir and add the evaporated milk. The mixture will be sort of soupy, whisk in flour, fold in chopped nuts. Pour into a greased 9 X 13 pan. Bake for 1 hour or until knife comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream.

Easy Gift Idea

2011-12-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

The past few years my sister and I have been making homemade marshmallows. We use this recipe. (Try making fudge with the homemade marshmallows....hands down the BEST fudge you will ever have!) So this year this is what I did with the marshmallows. I cut them into stars and put them on chocolate dipped spoons, added a cocoa packet in a cute mug and voila' you've got a great gift.

Recipe of the week: Chicken with artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes.

2011-12-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

This past weekend a friend of my dad's sent me home with homemade dehydrated apples and sundried tomatoes. Heaven! If you're lucky enough to have some of these tomatoes on hand use them otherwise you'll have to make do with store bought. I served mine with a salad, you could add rice, pasta or potatoes if you like. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

1.5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 lemons juiced
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
a dash of basil
a dash of mint
a dash of red pepper

I can of artichoke hearts drained
1/2 cup-1 cup of sundried tomatoes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all of the spices with the lemon juice and olive oil...pour over chicken breasts. Marinate in a dish or a large plastic zipper bag. Marinate for at least an hour, the longer the better. Bake in covered pan at 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Add artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes and cook uncovered for another 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Great workout when you can't get to the gym...

2011-12-11T19:47:00.000-08:00

I've started doing this on days when I can't get to the gym (or when I was out of town this past weekend). It's easy, fast, you don't need any equipment and you don't need a lot of space to do it. Try once and repeat as long as you have time for, I think the other day I did it 4 times in a row.

Life's Little Instructions...

2011-12-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

I love stuff like this....it's important to remember that it's the little things in life that make the most difference.

Until next time, Ciao.

Things I love about December

2011-12-02T18:24:00.000-08:00

So here we are, already December 2nd. There's lots of things I love about this time of year, so I thought I'd share a few with you. These are in no particular order.

I love how most everyone is friendly
Hearing Christmas songs like O Holy Night in the grocery store, what other time of year would you hear a worship song at Vons!
Reading Luke 2 and drinking homemade hot cocoa on Christmas Eve
Getting to say Merry Christmas or Happy New Year instead of just 'Hello', it's so much more fun.
Going to look at Christmas lights
Making cookies and marshmallows with my kids, sister, niece and nephews
Baking some of my favorite bread and cookie recipes and taking them to friends
My mom's English toffee, it's the only time of year she makes it
Getting together with friends and family just because
Dressing up, just to be festive

What are your favorite things about the Holidays?

The most, the best, the greatest

2011-11-29T20:36:00.000-08:00

I am fascinated by Mother Teresa. I'm not Catholic but I have great respect for the Catholics and every now and then I enjoy attending Mass. Something that always rubs me the wrong way is when people say they aren't Christians (I can't stand that kind of division of the Body of Christ but that's a post for another day.) With social justice, sometimes I want to laugh when someone will tell me about something "new" that's being done. Don't get me wrong social justice is a great thing and if I didn't have kids at home I'd probably be out doing something about human trafficking. What I want to say is "Ever heard of the Catholic church or Mother Teresa?"

Anyway, today I stumbled upon this and thought it was beautiful, and I'm always looking for something filled with beauty to inspire me.

Until next time....Ciao.

The most beautiful day: Today
The easiest thing: Equivocate
The biggest obstacle: Fear
The gravest error: give up, to despair
The root of all evils: Egoism
The most beautiful occupation: Work
The worst route to follow: Faintheartedness
The best teachers: Children
The first necessity: TO communicate
The greatest happiness: To be useful to others
The greatest mystery: Death
The worst defect: Bad temper
The most dangerous being: The liar
The most wretched feeling: The grudge
The most beautiful gift: Forgiveness
The most indispensable: home
The quickest way: The correct one
The most comfortable feeling: Interior peace
The most powerful weapon: The smile
The best remedy: Optimism
The greatest satisfaction: The duty done
The most powerful force: Faith
The most needed beings: The parents
The most beautiful of all: Love

Mother Teresa

Recipe of the Week: Crustless Sweet Potato Pie

2011-11-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

About 15 years ago I started making sweet potato pie, the greatest compliment I ever got was from my late father in law....he grew sweet potatoes and was from the south, he said mine was the best he'd ever had! I really don't care for pie crust or pumpkin pie but I like the flavor (I make pumpkin pie squares as posted here). Sweet potatoes are a great alternative, in my opinion the texture is much better. Today I decided to use up the left over sweet potatoes and make a crustless pie (mostly Paleo friendly...I used buttermilk but you could use coconut milk). We're having it with whipped cream but you could certainly have ice cream or yogurt. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

3-4 medium sweet potatoes baked and peeled (about 1 lb)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp salt
a pinch of nutmeg
a pinch of cayenne pepper
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk or sour cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl or stand mixer mix the cooked sweet potatoes with the spices and sugar. Add the eggs. Beat lightly, gradually stir in buttermilk. Pour into a greased deep dish pie pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes with foil over the top so it doesn't over brown. Remove foil and bake another 25-30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, enjoy!

Recipe of the week: Autumn Fruit Crisp

2011-11-20T18:13:00.000-08:00

Fall is my favorite season and this has all the wonderful flavors of fall and will make your house smell amazing! You need a large deep dish pan for this (I used a super stone pan I got a long time ago from Pampered Chef.) Thanksgiving is just around the corner and this is a great alternative to pie. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante! (This is the recipe I submitted to Whole Foods but I'm not sure it made it, seems like there was a glitch with their system.)

6-7 cups sliced granny smith apples (about 3 large, I peeled half and left the peel on the other half)
4 cups sliced bartlett pears
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped cranberries
2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
4 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 cup organic rolled oats (not quick cooking)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl combine apples, pears and cranberries, toss with lemon juice and granulated sugar. For the topping, in a medium bowl combine the oats, flour, brown sugar and spices. Cut in butter until the texture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the walnuts. Place 1/2 of the fruit in a large baking dish, sprinkle 1/2 of the topping over fruit. Top with the remainder of the fruit and the the rest of the topping. Bake crisp at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until fruit is tender and the topping is golden. Serve with vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt or whipped cream. Serves 8.

Sack Lunches

2011-11-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

I got this as an email and had to share! Thanks again to all who have served.

Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.'

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five
dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to he front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the
Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.
I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich 'God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Recipe of the week: Cranberry Rosemary Muffins

2011-11-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

Several months ago I had breakfast at a restaurant called The Curious Palate in Mar Vista (Venice). If you're even in that area I highly recommend you check them out, they're all about farm to table, and you know how much I love that! Anyway, we had breakfast, everything was delicious. They had these muffins and I've been looking for a recipe but I haven't been able to find one, so after experimenting a little bit, this is what I came up with. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Canberry Rosemary Muffins

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 unbleached flour
1 egg
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp orange rind
3/4 tsp salt
2-3 tsp fresh rosemary
3/4 fresh squeezed orange juice
1 cup chopped cranberries

Topping:
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp fresh rosemary
1 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with muffin liners.

In a large bowl mix all the dry ingredients and the orange rind. In a separate large bowl cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, beat in the egg and then the orange juice. Add the dry ingredients one cup at a time until just incorporated. Fold in the chopped cranberries. Scoop into muffin cups. In a small bowl mix the brown sugar, flour and rosemary, cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle tops with brown sugar mixture.

Bake at for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Things I'm thankful for...

2011-11-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

It's November 10th and I realized I haven't posted since last month. I can hardly believe the Holidays are upon us. I love fall, as you already know and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. At our house I like to go around the table and have each person say what they are thankful for. This month I see a lot of people on Facebook saying each day what they're grateful for, I'm late coming into it so I thought I'd just list a few things here.

A God who loves me no matter what!
My health
A loving husband
Three smart, healthy, talented children that are growing up to be amazing people
Having a loving family (parents, sister, cousins)
Being able to live in a free country
Dear friends that love and support me
My job and getting to work with great people
Opportunities to grow and change
My talents/skills

I encourage you to take a little time this month and reflect on what you're grateful for. Even in hard seasons we have a lot to be thankful for (trust me, on this one!).

Ciao!

Recipe of the week: Candy Bar Cookies

2011-10-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

What are you going to do with all that leftover Halloween candy? Make cookies of course! This recipe calls for mini Snickers bars but I'm sure the snack size cut into 3 pieces would work. You can also use Milky Way, Reeses, Baby Ruth, Twix....whatever you like. I don't make these very often because they're not very healthy, but once in a while won't hurt. Enjoy!

Candy Bar Cookies
1 cup softened butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 tsp.baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
60 snickers miniature candy bars
chocolate glaze (recipe below)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. In large bowl beat together margarine or butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda then add to peanut butter mixture, beat until combined. For each cookie shape a rounded Tbsp of dough around a candy piece, forming a ball. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 for 15 mins, cool on rack. After they're cool drizzle with glaze.

Chocolate glaze:
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp milk
add additional milk 1 tsp. at a time
mix all ingredients together

DIY foot scrub

2011-10-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

Last year for Christmas my mom asked for family pictures, we didn't end up getting them done because my step-dad hasn't been well enough. So tomorrow is finally the day we're going to get them done. We're all wearing jeans and black shirts, I found the cutest shirt at work last week, yay. I'd like a picture of the five of us barefoot, this week has been busy with back to back football games so I didn't have time for a pedicure like I'd wanted. I made a scrub for my feet out of stuff in my pantry and refrigerator and it came out well. My feet are super soft! (Just make sure you rinse the tub out well after you wash your feet, you don't want to slip the next time you take a shower. ) After a couple of coats of coral nail polish, I think my feet are ready for their close up : )

In a bowl mix:
2 Tbsp raw sugar
1 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp oatmeal ground into a fine powder in the blender
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp fresh grapefruit juice (or other citrus)
It's going to be a thick paste. Smear on your feet, wait about 15 minutes and wash off. I wrapped my feet in plastic grocery bags after I put the scrub on so I could still walk around and not make a mess. Enjoy your beautiful feet!
Ciao.

The Golden Box

2011-10-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

Some time ago a man punished his 5-year-old daughter for wasting
a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and
he became even more upset when the child pasted the gold paper
so as to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her father
the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."
The father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his
anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He spoke to her in a harsh manner, "Don't you know, young lady,
when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something
inside the package?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and
said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until
it was full."

The father was crushed.

He fell on his knees and put his arms around his little girl,
and he begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later
and it is told that the father kept that gold box by his bed for
all the years of his life. And whenever he was discouraged or
faced difficult problems he would open the box and take out an
imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it
there.

In a very real sense, each of us as human beings has been given
a golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our
children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious
possession anyone could hold.

~Author Unknown~

Recipe of the week: Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

2011-10-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

I love spaghetti squash, until my kids were older they didn't even know what pasta was. We like it with marinara sauce or with sauce and meatballs. I've recently made it and stuffed it with onions, mushrooms, zucchini and spinach, topped with some parmesan cheese and basil. It goes well with marinara sauce (for the vegetarians in my house), it also goes nicely with a ribeye, like the one I just had or red sauce with meatballs. If you try it let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Ingredients:
One spaghetti squash, about 4 lbs cut in half and cleaned out
2Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion sliced
1 glove garlic diced
1-2 cups sliced mushrooms
1-2 sliced zucchini
3-4 cups spinach
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp basil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Slice spaghetti squash in half and discard seeds. (I use an ice cream scoop to clean mine out). Put the halves in a 9x13 pan with 1/2 inch of water, cover with foil and bake for 40-45 minutes.

While the squash is in the oven, put 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet (I always use cast iron), saute the onion, mushrooms, zucchini. When those vegis are almost done toss in the spinach, you want the spinach barely cooked. Take the squash out the oven and spoon the mixture into one of the halves. I like to leave one of the halves plain and stuff the other. Top with the parmesan, basil, salt and pepper to taste. Serve with marinara sauce, meat sauce or just eat it like it is....enjoy!

What Mom Taught Me

2011-10-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

MOM taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE:
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.
I just finished cleaning!"

MOM taught me RELIGION:
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

MOM taught me about TIME TRAVEL:
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the
middle of next week!"

MOM taught me LOGIC:
"Because I said so, that's why."

MOM taught me FORESIGHT:
"Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you're in an
accident."

MOM taught me IRONY:
"Keep laughing and I'll give you something to cry about."

MOM taught me about the science of OSMOSIS:
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

MOM taught me about CONTORTIONISM:
"Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

MOM taught me about STAMINA:
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is finished."

MOM taught me about WEATHER:
"It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

MOM taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS:
"If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you,
would you listen then?"

MOM taught me about HYPOCRISY:
"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times,
Don't exaggerate!!!"

MOM taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION:
"Stop acting like your father!"

MOM taught me about ENVY:
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who
don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

And most of all ..... MOM taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE:
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

Author Unknown

Recipe of the week: Vegetarian French Onion Soup

2011-10-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

Cooking for my family has become increasingly difficult, earlier this year my youngest daughter, Mackenzie, decided she was going vegetarian. (For moral reasons, which I can support, if you're just jumping on the vegi/vegan band wagon because of some thing you read on the internet, then spare me.) Her two favorite soups are broccoli cheese and french onion. She had a mini-melt down when she found out french onion was made with beef broth the last time she ordered it at Panera. I promised her I'd come up with a vegetarian substitute and this is what I came up with. (FYI: Don't start out with sweet onions, as the onions caramelize they will get sweet and you don't want them to be too sweet.) Let me know what you think (and you can always make it the traditional way with beef broth). A Votre Sante!
For the soup:
1/2 cup butter
3 large brown onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2-1 tsp kosher salt
1/2-1 tsp raw sugar
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 Tbsp flour (optional)
32oz or 4 cups vegetable broth

For the topping:

1/2 to 1 loaf french baguette

Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella or Gruyere (or a mixture)

Butter, olive oil or oil spray

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, cook for about 15 minutes then add garlic, bay leaves, sugar. salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 30 minutes maybe a little longer. Add the wine, bring to a boil, turn back down to medium low. Discard the bay leaves. Dust the onion mixture with flour and stir. (Optional) Turn the heat down to medium low so the flour doesn't burn, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the vegetable broth, bring the soup back to a simmer, and cook for 5-10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

For the topping:

When you're ready to eat, preheat the broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle the slices with the cheese/cheeses and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

Ladle the soup in bowls and cheese bread on top.

Alternative method: Ladle the soup into bowls, top each with 2 slices of bread and top with cheese. Put the bowls into the oven to toast the bread and melt the cheese.

I wasn't sure if my dishes were oven safe so I floated the cheese bread on the top. Enjoy!

The Top 10 things I love about fall

2011-10-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

Autumn or fall is my favorite season, it has been for as long as I can remember. Perhaps it began with new starts, ie, going back to school, making new friends, getting new clothes etc. Growing up both my parents were die hard USC football fans, so Saturdays belonged to college football, my mom is famous for screaming at the TV. Once I got to high school I came to love the game myself (and I especially love it now that my son plays!!). So, now you know my number one reason for loving fall....here are the rest.

Football season
Losing those few pounds I gained during the summer
Sweaters, jeans and boots
Baking yummy treats
Curling up with a good book and a blanket
Hot tea (especially when curled up with a good book)
My favorite TV shows being back on with new episodes
The changing leaves
Soups and stews (my favorite dinners are soup, salad and bread)
Gathering with family and friends because of "the holidays"

Now you've heard my top 10, what are yours? Whatever they are, I hope they are filled with love, laughter and beauty!
Ciao

Getting in shape

2011-10-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

I was at a friends house the other night and we were talking about losing weight and getting in shape. There are LOTS of different opinions out there and as I've said before I believe in balance. I've also done my own research on how and what to eat, which I highly suggest everyone does. The biggest thing you need to know is how what you eat makes you FEEL. Pay attention to that, keeping a food journal will help.

Now, having said all that, I think eating the Paleo way makes the most sense for me. A Christian friend posted a negative comment on something I posted about the "caveman" diet months ago and I deleted the link. Anyone who knows me should know I do not believe in evolution, in the Darwin sense. If you go back just 100 years you can see how the evolution of industrialization has made us as a population sicker, and fatter. And I certainly don't see anywhere in the Bible where they're eating fast food or food from packages. They ate real, whole foods, mostly that were in season.

I told my friend I could have her in shape in 6 months, maybe for some that's a stretch but I dare you to try this for 30 days and see how you feel. (75 to 80% of losing weight and getting in shape is diet.) If you do let me know how you feel! A Votre Sante!

FastPaleo.com CheatSheet

What is paleo and why should I do it?
Paleo is a lifestyle that emphasizes the parts of Paleolithic life which are healthier for us than typical
modern life. The first main example is eating whole foods such as meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs and
healthy fats instead of factory-processed foods and newer agricultural products, especially grains. The
second is making time for regular exercise and proper sleep. Doing these will make us feel better and give
us fitter, more attractive bodies.

Nothing in this FastPaleo.com CheatSheet should be taken to constitute professional advice or a formal recommendation by any certified nutritionist, physician, or therapist; and we exclude all representations and warranties relating to the content and use of this FastPaleo.com CheatSheet.

How do I go paleo? Tell me the steps!

Eat a variety of meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs and healthy fats
Don’t eat added sugars
This includes “organic” sugar and artificial sweeteners. Never drink soda
Don’t eat grains or legumes (This includes soy, rice, corn, wheat, and any grain product like pasta, breads, or cereals) as well as legumes (beans) and white potatoes
Don't eat processed vegetable oils (This includes canola, corn, soybean, peanut, and cottonseed oils, to name a few)
Don’t eat any factory-processed foods (If it comes in a box, most likely you shouldn’t eat it)
Eat dairy only if it is from grass-fed animals and you digest it well
Plan one or two cheat meals a week if it keeps you on track (Try to “treat not cheat” by indulging in more decadent paleo foods occasionally
Exercise regularly and intensely, and rest
Give yourself rest days throughout the week and extended rest every couple months
Get a full night’s sleep in a dark room every night
Drink lots of water
Don’t drink much or any alcohol, and avoid caffeine late in the day

That’s it?
Yep! But, only if you are consistent. The above paleo basics make up 90% of a
successful paleo lifestyle, but they must be followed for you to see results. One of
the biggest keys in doing so is the ability to prepare your own paleo food. The
FastPaleo.com Recipes page has hundreds of free easy-to-follow recipes you can
choose from to find paleo foods that you like and can prepare yourself. Check it out
and as always, Kristin and James and the awesome FastPaleo community are more
than happy to help out in any way we can.

Recipe of the week: Bellissimo

2011-09-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I spent a week at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas and discovered an amazing cocktail. Sadly, when I was there this past week, it's no longer on the menu. Good thing I called and asked for the recipe way back when. I told the bartender what was in it and since he had everything on hand, he was able to come up with a pretty good imitation. Here's the original recipe (or at least what they told me and how I've been making it). Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

1 Shot Red Alize
1 Shot Bicardi Limon
1 Shot sweet and sour mix
2 large dashes Angostura bitters

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice; shake vigorously until very cold. Strain into a tulip shaped glass or champagne flute, serve with slices of lemon and orange. Enjoy!

Not an accident

2011-09-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this! I couldn't have said it better myself. Have a beauty filled day!!

Ciao!

Recipe of the week: Farmer's Market Salad

2011-09-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Last week I had lunch at one of my new favorite restaurants, Mendocino Farms in Marina Del Rey. I love their food but even more so their philosophy. They are all about locally grown, farmers markets and eating seasonally (which I'm about too!) I sampled this salad from the deli case and knew I had to try to recreate it at home. I did and the results were amazing! They used pecans in their salad, I had walnuts so I used those. I didn't have any raspberry vinegar so I used red wine vinegar and some fresh raspberries. If you end up trying it let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

1 large plum sliced
1 pluot sliced
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts (or pecans)
3 oz smoked Gouda sliced into small pieces
4 to 6 cups organic mixed baby greens

Place greens, plums, pluots, nuts and cheese in a large bowl, toss with raspberry mint vinaigrette and enjoy immediately.

Raspberry Mint Vinaigrette

Juice of one lemon
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp raspberries (about 6 large)
2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves
2 green onions (only the white part about 2 inches each)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp agave nectar (or sugar)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Put the first five ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add salt, pepper and agave (or sugar), taste and adjust seasoning, pulse quickly. Add olive oil in a steady stream to mixture, a few seconds in the food processor will mix it up nicely. Toss over salad, enjoy!

Recipe of the week: Healthier "Chunky Monkey"

2011-09-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been quite a while since I posted a recipe. It's been way too hot to cook, so I've been making lots of salads. I think I've turned the oven on a few times to make sweet potato fries and once for cookies this summer. It's September and it's still in the high 80's to low 90's here.

On another note, I've been tweaking my diet a bit. Trying to eat less gluten, dairy, sugar etc. Last night a friend and I were talking about ice cream and my favorite is Ben and Jerry's....pretty much any flavor will work, some I'm more fond of than others, one of those in Chunky Monkey. I had some bananas that I'd frozen for smoothies, but no one has used them, so I thought I'd make ice cream out of them. This is what I came up with. (This is dairy and gluten free so it's Paleo friendly and Vegan) Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

4 large frozen bananas
6 Tbsp unsweetened coconut milk (I got mine at Trader Joe's)
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts chopped (I left some whole)
1-2 oz dark chocolate (I used 72%)
pinch of salt

The only thing you need for this is a food processor. You may have to do small batches depending on the size of your food processor. Put the frozen bananas in, add the coconut milk one tablespoon at a time, add the vanilla. (You could also use bananas that aren't frozen and then freeze the mixture later). Once you have a creamy mixture spoon into a freezer proof bowl. Add the walnuts, salt and dark chocolate, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until the texture resembles ice cream. Enjoy!

Work for it!

2011-09-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

2011-09-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's been 10 years since that awful day we now refer to as 9/11. Where were you? That's the question of our generation....much like my parents was "Where were you when JFK was shot"? On 9/11/01 I was just about to get up to get my kids off to school when the phone rang. It was my mom, she said to turn the news on. When we turned the TV on we saw a split screen of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and we sat speechless as we watched the second plane fly into the north tower. Unbelievable.

I was scheduled to help my cousin move from the San Fernando Valley to Corona that day. After talking it over, we decided to go ahead. What I remember as I drove through LA was the eerie silence. We get so used to the air noise of helicopters, planes etc and to hear absolutely nothing was terrifying. One of those times when the silence is deafening.
I think for me September 12 was worse, mostly because I didn't have anything to do. I remember being glued to the news for most of the day. We had my cousin, her husband and friends from the neighborhood over for dinner, the wine was flowing, it was one of the few times when I had to put my husband to bed.

I've always been one of those people who get teary eyed during the Star Spangled Banner (especially when my daughter Jade sings it). I used to get so upset as a teenager when our cross-town rivals who were "the Braves" used to sing at the end of the national anthem "and the home of the braves"....ugh would make me so mad. Now when I hear the National Anthem, from almost the first 5 words I'm in tears, and if you've actually heard all three verses it means more:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

My prayer now is that we will always remember. God have mercy on us that we would ever forget and take our freedom for granted.

We are the land of the free because of the brave men and women who sacrifice their lives for us every day via military, fire department, police, ambulance and paramedics. Thank you for your service, today and everyday. God bless you and God bless America.

A strong woman

2011-08-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

Lovely Advice

2011-08-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Health:
Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
Play more games.
Read more books than you did in 2010.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
Dream more while you are awake.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Smile and laugh more.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
Call your family often.
Each day give something good to others.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
Do the right thing!
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
The best is yet to come.
Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Memory Lane

2011-08-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

Good grief, I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted here. Such is life....
To say things have been busy here is an understatement. July was about football practice and getting ready to go back to school, and working lots of hours. I can hardly believe it's already August 17! Christian started his sophomore year of high school and Mackenzie started the 8th grade, Jade will start classes the end of the month and I turned 41!

For my birthday, my mom decided she wanted to take me away for the weekend, to Laguna Beach where I was born. We left on Friday and after we checked into our hotel we went to the Sawdust Festival and the Art A Fair, both were fantastic. I love galleries, paintings, sculptures, photography, hand made jewelry and all the stuff that comes with artists. Friday evening we went back to our hotel and got dressed up (mom insisted) and had dinner at what is now called The Lumberyard. When I was little it was the Ivy House, then it became Cedar Creek...all of which we have loved. Dinner was lovely.

After a goodnight's sleep, we had some breakfast and walked all around downtown Laguna. It was one of those "oh this used to be a flower shop, and this used to be Swenson's Ice Cream and that was the bank" etc. So, I started taking pictures. My mom took me all over, from the place she and my dad lived when they were first married, the hospital I was born in, our first house, where I went to preschool, my elementary school, the restaurant my parents owned etc. I took lots of picture as we were going around you can find them on Facebook if you'd like to see them. The coolest thing about the whole weekend was going to the restaurant my parents owned, the GM was awesome. He gave us a tour of the whole place, showed us all the changes that had been made, even walked us through the kitchen and back office. My mom told me that the walk in refrigerator, walk in freezer and the tile in the kitchen are the one's my grandfather put in back in the early 70's! It was great to have that time with my mom, she's been under a lot of stress the last several months with my step-dad being so sick. I know that this was one of those things that I will look back on and cherish.

Last weekend was a high school reunion of sorts....they've been doing this beach bash thing with multiple classes invited for the past couple of years, this was the first year I went. It was great to see so many lovely faces. It was good to catch up with some dear friends from the past...it was also weird to see some folks doing the same thing 23 years later. Some people haven't gotten the memo that it was time to grow up.

All in all, the last month has been good, but very much a trip down memory lane. When I was in Laguna, I had lots of thoughts like "what if my parents had never split up, what if I'd grown up here" etc....I guess more opportunities to grieve, oh joy, LOL!!

At the end of the day, I find even more reasons that I need beauty and rest for my soul.

I hope you find the same.

Ciao.

Recipe of the week: Pineapple Salsa

2011-07-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

I saw a recipe similar to this awhile back and last night I thought I'd make my own. (It's similar to my orange salsa recipe from last May.) I ate some last night with grilled chicken and had a little tonight with mahi mahi...good stuff. If you try it let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

3 cups fresh pineapple cut into small pieces (about 1/2 of a large pineapple)
2 1/2 cups tomatoes chopped
2 cups chopped onion (I used a sweet onion)
1 large Anahiem chile diced (you could also use jalapenos)
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1/2 tsp dried red pepper
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 fresh ground pepper

Cook the onion, chile, salt pepper and red pepper in a large pan until just tender. Remove from heat and let cool. In a large bowl toss pineapple, tomatoes, onions, pepper and cilantro. Serve with whatever you like, enjoy!

Faces of Grief

2011-07-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to a women's conference, the title was "Faces of Grief". Our culture teaches us that grief is primarily losing a loved one. While, that is absolutely grief so are so many other losses. Loss of a job, pet, house, health, losing friends to moving. What about the loss of a dream or the dream for your child?

If I'm honest, I've had a ton of loss to grieve the past couple of years. Mostly though I haven't grieved, I've just moved on, or so I think. I know it sometimes pops when I least expect it. I can become so easily angered or emotional and when I dig deeper, it's usually not about what's right in front of me. What I got out of yesterday is that your pain matters and it matters to God. However small or large and that it's important to give ourselves room to grieve, otherwise we might not be able to move on.

At my place setting was a bookmark with this on it:

Isaiah 43:2

You will pass through deep waters (of grief)
But I will be with you.
You will pass through the rivers (of sorrow)
But their waters will not sweep over you.
You will walk through fire (of heartache)
But you will not be burned.
The flames will not harm you.

I'm hoping to get to the beach this week, I need some beauty in my life. I hope you have a beauty filled week.

Recipe of the week: Spicy Peanut Sauce

2011-06-30T23:29:00.000-07:00

I've been making this sauce for a long time....the first time I made it was over spring break my junior year of high school in Park City, Utah (my dad and I were there skiing for the week). You can use this on stir fries, marinate chicken in it or use as a base for Pad Thai. I usually use unfiltered apple juice in the jar, this time I juiced an apple. For those who have an allergy to peanuts you can use almond butter or any nut butter. I used raw peanut butter that I made myself and Mother's Market but you can use any kind you like. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

3/4 to 1 cup of apple juice
1/4 cup peanut butter, crunchy or creamy
1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
salt to taste

Pour the apple juice in a sauce pan, add the peanut butter and stir until smooth, add pepper and salt. Serve while warm over vegetables or refrigerate and use as a marinade or dipping sauce. Enjoy.

Recipe of the week: Chinese Chicken Salad

2011-06-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

I think I've tried every Chinese chicken salad out there and I like my homemade version the best. It's super easy especially if you use bagged salad or coleslaw mix, prepared dressing and left over chicken. If I don't have time to make my own dressing I usually use Newman's Sesame Ginger dressing or Trader Joe's sesame soy ginger dressing. The great thing about this recipe is you can double it or triple it depending on how much you want to make, it's a great recipe for parties or bar-be-ques. I don't usually add wontons or dried Asian noodles, but you can if you want. As always if you try it let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

3 cups of sliced or shredded chicken breast
1 head of romaine lettuce cut or torn into pieces
3 cups of shredded cabbage or a bag of coleslaw mix, no dressing
1 can of mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
cilantro leaves, to taste I usually use about 6 sprigs
sliced green onions to taste, I use about 3 full onions
Sesame ginger dressing to taste
Dried Asian noodles or wontons if desired

Toss everything into a large bowl and enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Christian!

2011-06-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

This morning at 12:24 am my son turned 15. He was 9lbs 6oz and 19 1/2 inches long, two weeks ago at his physical he was 180 lbs 5'9" and wears a size 12 shoe! Big difference. It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since I first held him. It goes by very fast.

I'm the first to admit that raising a child takes a village. I feel like this is doubly true for me trying to raise a boy. I don't have any brothers and wasn't really around many boys growing up so having a son and being introduced to the world of boys was like another planet for me. I am very grateful for the people that have come alongside us in raising Christian. Teachers, coaches, pastors and youth leaders, thank you.

I've always thought you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat children and pets. Christian has probably rescued 6 dogs and little kids love him. He has a heart of gold, he's smart, athletic, kind, loves God and loves his family and friends. I've been honored these last 15 years to be his mom. Happy Birthday, son...I love you.

Recipe of the week: Asparagus Artichoke Salad

2011-06-01T19:26:00.001-07:00

I saw a recipe similar to this over the weekend and decided I wanted to try it, of course with my own twist. I roasted the asparagus with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. This is really easy to throw together. You could add some grated Parmesan cheese if you like or even a little feta would be good (I didn't have either, there's always next time!) Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

1 lb of asparagus, trimmed
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
butter lettuce, one head torn or a bag
1 can artichoke hearts in water, quartered
kosher salt
pepper
juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tbsp)
1 tbsp of olive oil

While the asparagus is cooking (about 6 minutes in the broiler or on the grill) put the lettuce, tomatoes and artichoke hearts in a large bowl. Once the asparagus is cooked you want to cut it into bite sized pieces and add to the rest of the salad. Add lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper (as much or as little as you like) and toss. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Would You Listen?

2011-05-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

THE SITUATION: In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold
January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach
pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000
people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a
musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds,
and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A
woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to
walk.

At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him,
then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him
along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again,
but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning
his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other
children, but every parent - without exception - forced their
children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people
stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but
continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total
of $32.

After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one
noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No
one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the
greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most
intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million
dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston
where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play
the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C.
Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a
social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The details of the Joshua Bell story by Gene Weingarten of the
Washington Post are here: http://tinyurl.com/3x9s2a

Recipe of the week: Marinated Carne Asada

2011-05-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't been cooking a whole lot lately...lots of salads and easy to do stuff. I went to a wedding last month and the meat that was served was fantastic! Marinated carne asada and chicken, I asked what the marinade was and was shocked....orange juice, Pepsi and garlic. Weird I know, it's the sugar in the soda that breaks down the fat in the meat making it moist, juicy and tender. (I've used coffee as a marinade for beef for a long time, it also breaks down the fat in the meat making it super tender). I've tried it now a couple of times on both the meat and the chicken and it's fantastic. You can use as much or as little garlic as you want, I used about 6 cloves or 2 tsp of the chopped jarred kind. The secret is letting it marinated overnight, the longer it sits the more tender the meat will be. So, let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

2 lbs of carne asada (flap steak or thin top sirloin)
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 can of Pepsi about 6 oz or 3/4 cup
garlic as much as you like
salt and pepper to taste

Marinate meat overnight. You can cook this in the broiler or on the grill, it only takes about 12 minutes to cook, 6 minutes on each side, if you like it rarer, less time, more well done more time. If you're doing chicken, then the cooking time would be a little longer, you want to make sure the juice runs clear.

Balance

2011-05-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

I believe in balance, in all things. To say I've tried every diet out there is in understatement.
From the SAD to vegetarian, to raw, vegan, eat right for your blood type, Atkins, 80-10-10, Southbeach you name it, I've either read it or tried it. At the end of the day, I believe what I read in the blood type diet saying that only 30% of the population will respond to a give-in program.

I lean towards the Paleo philosophy with a lot of raw food. In my opinion wheat, corn, and dairy are so over processed that we've all developed an allergy to them on some level. But, I admit cheese is my arch-nemesis. My bottom line is how does what you eat make you feel? There are certain things (ie cucumber, bell peppers, iceberg lettuce) that when I eat them I don't feel well, so I don't choose to eat them. Some people call this intuitive eating...I call it common sense. And for me, life is too short to not enjoy the occasional sweet treat (especially since I LOVE to bake) drink or bread...

So, in the end it matters what you do 80% of the time, the other 20%, enjoy! A Votre Sante!

The Blind Sign

2011-05-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his
feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help."
There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and
dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it
around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that
everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving
money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how
things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked,
"Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?

What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but
in a different way."

"I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it."

Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first
sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people
that they were so blessed that they were not blind. Should we be
surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story:
Be thankful to GOD for what you have.
Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you
have 1,000 reasons to smile.

Author Unknown

Legend of the Dogwood Tree

2011-04-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

This legend fascinates me. Although there is no historical verification, it's a widely held view, that the tree chosen for Jesus’ crucifixion was a Dogwood tree. The petals of its flowers grow in the shape of the cross, each bearing the reddish mark of a rusty nail.

The legend told of why the Dogwood does not grown tall or even straight is best described in a poem by an unknown author.

The Legend of the Dogwood

(author unknown)

In Jesus’ time,
the dogwood grew
to a stately size
and a lovely hue.

‘Twas strong and firm
it’s branches interwoven,
for the cross of Christ
its timbers were chosen.

Seeing the distress
at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise
which still holds good:

“Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so.

Slender and twisted it shall be
with blossoms like the cross for all to see.

As blood stains the petals marked in brown,
the blossom’s center wears a thorny crown.

All who see it will remember Me
crucified on a cross
from the dogwood tree.

Cherished and protected,
this tree shall be.
A reminder to all of my agony.”

Quick Chicken Tikka Masala

2011-04-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy some Indian flavors and this was delicious, fast and easy to make. The original recipe didn't have the sugar snap peas in it, but I thought it was add some color and some crunch. I used chicken from a rotisserie chicken that I bought at Costco, but you could easily use boneless, skinless chicken breast, you would just add them with the onion. I had mine by itself but you could serve it with rice, flat bread or naan. Let me know what you think. A Vorte Sante!

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons garam masala
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
2-3 cups diced cooked chicken breast
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large sweet onion, diced
4 teaspoons minced fresh ginger or 2 tsp ground ginger
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
3 cups sugar snap peas, ends trimmed
1/3 cup half and half
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro for garnish optional

Preparation:
Stir together garam masala, salt and turmeric in a small dish (and ginger if you're using dried). Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onion and ginger (if you're using fresh) and cook, stirring often, until starting to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add snap peas. Add the spice mix and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add tomatoes and their juice. Bring to a simmer, stir in half and half. Add the chicken. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with rice, flat bread or naan.

The longest 10 days of my life...

2011-04-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

First off, thank you for those who have prayed for us. It's been a V E R Y long 10 days.

As many of you know, my daughter Jade had a bit of a breakdown and was in the hospital. It's unclear at this point if she will return to school at LMU. Today was the beginning of the process...

I'm not sure I believe the quote by Mother Teresa "I know God won’t give me more than I can handle, I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!” It's one thing to go through things like this yourself but an entirely different thing to watch one of your kids go through it.

I know I need lots of prayer, grace and beauty to get through this, I just haven't found time yet for any of that. I'll keep you posted as to how we're doing.

Ciao.

Recipe of the week: Banana Cupcakes

2011-03-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

I love banana cake! My high school graduation cake was banana and probably the best I've ever had. Lately I've been searching high and low for a good banana cupcake and haven't found one that I love. There's certain things that I think a banana cupcake cake should have and I couldn't find one or a recipe, so I had to create my own. I don't eat shortening so I wanted one with butter, and I wanted at least part of the flour to be whole wheat and I knew I wanted buttermilk in it because it makes it light, so here's what I came up with. Let me know what you think. A Vorte Sante!

Cake:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup unbleached flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Frosting:

4 oz softened butter
4 oz light cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Add mashed banana and walnuts until just combined, you don't want to over mix it. Divide batter evenly into muffin tin (I use an ice cream scoop) Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For the frosting:
In a mixing bowl or stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream the butter, cream cheese and vanilla until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add powdered sugar, mix for another minute. If you want chocolate cream cheese frosting this is where you'd add about 2 oz melted dark chocolate. Spread over cooled cupcakes and top with a walnut for decoration. Enjoy!

Book Review: 'It's Your Call' by Gary Barkolow

2011-03-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

I got this book last November and finally finished a couple of weeks ago. I would have written this sooner, but I loaned to book to my daughter. There are so many things to ponder, so many things to look deeply at. I love the way Gary writes (and speaks for that matter), he is very authentic and to me that is incredibly valuable.

The first two chapters, 'The Weightiness of Your Life and The Mystery of Your Life' really speak to your heart in regard to how God created you and that He has put a weightiness and glory that is uniquely yours. That you have something to offer the world that will be missed if you don't step into your calling.

I think the thing I got clearest about after reading 'It's Your Call' is that my roles in my life (ie wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend) are not my calling in my life.

I particularly liked Chapter 7, Awakening Your Desires. I was reminded that my desires are the same reason I started this blog...more on that later. One of my favorite parts is near the end when Gary talks about living like an artist. Picasso said "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." I'm not sure what that means for me but I'm definitely pondering it.

Here's a link to Gary's website: www.thenobleheart.com

I highly recommend you get a copy of 'It's Your Call', it's full of truth and beauty.

Ciao.

Recipe of the week: Cilantro Lime Talapia

2011-02-18T20:16:00.000-08:00

We love fish tacos at our house. I used to cook talapia on the grill but the last few times I've done it in my big cast iron pan. I served this with corn tortillas, cabbage, lime and salsa. You can add cheese or guacamole if you like. I make a little sauce for mine. You can make these as fancy or as simple as you like. This recipe is also great served with grilled vegetables or just a green salad. A Vorte Sante!

Fish:

1 lb Talapia fillets (you might want to do more if you have more than 3 people eating)
1/2 to 1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 bunch of cilantro
2 limes
chipotle powder
canned sliced jalapenos
salt and pepper to taste

If your fish is still frozen that's not a big deal, you just have to cook it for a few extra minutes. Heat up your pan (I use a big cast iron one) and add the olive oil. Add the fish fillets and sprinkle with salt, pepper and chipotle. Cut your lime in half and squeeze over the fish, (I cook mine with the halved lime) add about 2 Tbsp of cilantro leaves, throw and a few slices of the jalapeno, cover and cook about 3 minutes. Turn over, slightly reseason and cook for another 3-4 minutes, until the fish is white and flaky, this will take a couple extra minutes if you start with frozen fish.

Sauce:

1 Tbsp olive oil mayonnaise
1 Tbsp vinegar (red wine or white wine)
a dash of chipotle powder or red pepper flakes

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and set aside in the refrigerator until you're ready to put your tacos together. Smear a little sauce on your tortilla, add fish, cabbage, a squeeze of lime and a little salsa....a masterpiece! Enjoy =)

Recipe of the week: Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

2011-02-05T21:39:00.000-08:00

I don't eat a lot of sugar these days, but once in a while I want something sweet. I like cupcakes but I think that boxed cake and canned frosting is gross. Once you've had cake and frosting from scratch you won't ever want the boxed/canned stuff again. My philosophy is that if you're eating healthy 80% of the time, then a little chocolate and sugar won't hurt from time to time. I hope you enjoy this. A Votre Sante!

For the cupcakes:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup butter softened (1 stick)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the flour and the baking soda in a bowl and set aside. In a double boiler melt the chocolate over low heat. In a large bowl, or stand mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add both sugars and beat until fluffy, add one egg at a time, mixing well. Add melted chocolate and vanilla. Add half the dry ingredients, then half the buttermilk, repeat, until the batter is smooth but not overmixed. Spoon batter into 12 cupcake liners. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for at least 20 minutes before frosting.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

6 Tbsp butter
1 cup powdered sugar
5 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla
2-3 Tbsp milk

Cream butter, add sugar, cocoa and vanilla to the butter. Add milk to the butter mixture. Slowly add milk one tablespoon at a time until you have the desired consistency. Enjoy!

Recipe of the week: Mango Chicken Curry

2011-01-27T20:10:00.000-08:00

This is pretty easy to make and has lots of flavor. I use red curry paste but I'm sure you could use another color if you like it more mild. I made it once with zucchini instead of the peas, it was good but I like the peas better. If you try it, let me know what you think. A Vorte Sante!

1 Tbsp coconut oil or olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into small pieces

2 cups chopped cauliflower

1 cup peas (I used frozen)

1 cup chopped mango (I used frozen)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp red curry paste

1 can light coconut milk

In a large skillet saute onion in oil, add chicken and cook over medium heat until the chicken is mostly done. Add cauliflower cook for 2-4 minutes, then add peas and mango. Stir in red curry paste, then add coconut milk and salt, stir until the curry paste is combined. Cook until the cauliflower is tender. Serve with rice or flatbread.

Paradoxes of life...

2011-01-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

Life is full of so many paradoxes. Jade is home this weekend to celebrate her birthday with the family and to attend a funeral. The stuff of life and death, *sigh*.

Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength for the journey that still lies ahead. ~Frederick Buechner

Tomorrow we're celebrating 19 years of life with our precious Jade. She is an amazing woman who taught me what it is to love. Today we will gather with the Ouellette family to remember Kaitlin and celebrate her life.

Please continue to pray for this family. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kaitlinouellette/journal

Have you ever had one of those moments where you think to yourself "I'm going to need this"? An experience or something that you can draw on when you need it. I think of those, as moments of beauty. I hope you have one of those moments today.

Ciao.

My favorite MLK quotes

2011-01-17T19:30:00.000-08:00

Here in the U.S. today is Martin Luther King Jr day. A day where we recognize a man whose life's mission was for equal rights for all. Here are some of my favorite quotes by him....

"Yet, in spite of these spectacular strides in science and technology, and still unlimited ones to come, something basic is missing. There is a sort of poverty of the spirit which stands in glaring contrast to our scientific and technological abundance. The richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers."

"I have decided to stick with love...hate is too great a burden to bear."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."

"The time is always right, to do what is right."

"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."

‎"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."

There is so much beauty in Martin Luther King Jr's words, I hope that you seek and find it.

Ciao

I didn't think it would end this way.

2011-01-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

My friend's 21 year old daughter died this morning just before 4 am. This is what she posted on their blog:

Pippin: I didn’t think it would end this way.

Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path… One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass… And then you see it.

Pippin: What? Gandalf?… See what?
Gandalf: White shores… and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: Well, that isn’t so bad.
Gandalf: No… No it isn’t.

Please pray for the Ouellette family as they learn to live without their precious Kaitlin. For more information go to: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kaitlinouellette/journal

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

A Thousand Marbles

2011-01-07T22:04:00.000-08:00

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.

Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first
to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at
work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are
most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a
steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the
other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one
of those lessons that life could only give you every once and a
while.

I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a
Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with
a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be
in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named
"Tom."

I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm
sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from
home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow
should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends
meet.

Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."

He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has
helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."

And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand
marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.
The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some
live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about
seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900
which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in
their entire lifetime.

Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part."

"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all
this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived
through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking
that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand
of them left to enjoy."

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they
had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up
1000 marbles.

I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic
container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every
Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it
away."

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more
on the really important things in life.

There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run
out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you
and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took
the very last marble out of the container.

I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given
a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a
little more time."

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with
your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday.

Have a good morning!"



You could have heard a pin drop when he finished.

Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few
moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about.

I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the
gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.

"C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What
brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special,
it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together
with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out?

I need to buy some marbles."


~Author Unknown~

Epiphany Blessing

2011-01-06T20:55:00.000-08:00

We decided to do an Epiphany Blessing this evening. I drew 20+C+M+B+11 (May Christ bless this house), on the door jam of our house in chalk.

"Bless, O Lord, Almighty God, this home, that in it there may be health, chastity, strength of victory, humility, goodness, and industry, a fullness of law and the action of graces through God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and that this blessing may remain on this home and on those who frequent it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Happy Epiphany. I hope your day has been blessed and beautiful.

Ciao.

You just never know...

2011-01-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

I realized earlier that I didn't have a 2011 calendar, so while I took the kids to Walmart I looked for one. I found a beautiful one with quotes from Billy Graham. You just never know when you're going to get a message from God. This one came on the cardboard in the middle of my calendar. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

When the time was right,

the sea parted,

the walls fell down,

the lions went hungry,

the sun stood still,

the waves were calm,

the stone was rolled away,

the clouds were parted,

the Lord ascended...

And when the time is right,

the King of Kings will return.

God is never early and He's never late-- He's always right on time and His plan for you is good.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you and hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

May this be a word of encouragement for the year for you.

Ciao.

2010

2010-12-31T16:37:00.000-08:00

Well, 2010 was a year of milestones and since today is the last day, I'd say I made it through the year. Not without a few bumps and bruises along the way. I think in most ways 2010 was bittersweet. Hopefully 2011 will just be sweet.

Happy New Year. I pray 2011 is full of beauty, hope and joy for you and your family.

Ciao.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T08:14:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Today is the day we celebrate God's promise to us....

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Luke 2

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Now if we could just get everyone agree to have peace on Earth and good will towards each other! I pray you have a very blessed Christmas wherever you are, whatever you're doing. For me, I'm just hanging out at home, waiting for the kids to get up. It's a lot different with them being teenagers! Later, we'll go to my mom's for dinner. I'm grateful to have my sister and my step-dad both home from the hospital in time for Christmas.

Maybe the Spirit of Christmas bring you beauty, peace and joy!

Ciao.

Recipe of the week: Cranberry Bread

2010-12-21T21:01:00.000-08:00

I love baking for the holidays! Cranberries are only in season this time of year so I try to buy a few bags and freeze them. This is one of my favorite recipes and I'd say, hands down it's the one people ask me for the most. It's great by itself or with cream cheese on it. I love to put it on holiday goodie platters because it's pretty. I usually use one cup of unbleached and one cup of whole wheat flour. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Cranberry Bread

Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup butter
1 egg
1-2 Tbsp orange rind
3/4 cup orange juice
1 cup golden raisins
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh cranberries
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix the dry ingredients together into one bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir egg with orange rind and orange juice. Blend mixture into flour mixture, stir until just moistened. Fold in cranberries, raisins and nuts.
Spoon into 2 small greased loaf pans or 2 large one. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 75 minutes. Sixty minutes for 2 loaves and 75 for 1...or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan for at least 5 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack. Store wrapped, wait 12-24 hours before slicing.

Our Greatest Need

2010-12-17T15:35:00.000-08:00

Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
so God sent us a Saviour.

-Roy Lessin

Recipe of the week....back by popular demand: Lemon Bars

2010-12-09T21:54:00.000-08:00

My kids have always wondered why lemons are ripe in the winter and yet lemonade is something you usually drink in the summer...things that make you go "hmmm." The secret to making fabulous lemon bars is home grown lemons, if you can get them. I've been lucky enough to have lemon trees at a couple of my houses. And sure enough, they're always ripe in December, just in time to make lemon bars for Christmas and if I'm feeling ambitious goodie plates for my friends. A Vorte Sante!

Lemon Bars

1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar (granulated or raw)
1 cup unbleached flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar (granulated or raw)
2 Tbsp unbleached flour or whole wheat
2 tea finely shredded lemon peel
4 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 baking powder

In a medium bowl beat butter and sugar until combined. Add 1 cup flour until crumbly. Press mixture into the bottom of a 8x8x2-inch baking pan. Bake in a 350 oven for 15-17 minutes (or until just golden).

In a small mixing bowl, combine eggs 3/4 cup sugar 2 Tbsp flour, lemon peel, lemon juice and baking powder. Beat 2 minutes or until combined.

Pour filling over baked layer. Bake another 20 minutes or until slightly browned around the edges.

Sift powdered sugar over the top, cut into squares.

Sad Girl Days...

2010-12-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

There are those days when you're just sad. Today is one of them. Life on planet earth can be brutal at times. Sickness, disease, poverty, death, aging and abuse, sometimes it's all too much to bear.

As best as I can, I "accept the things I cannot change". I accept that I'm at the point in my life where I'm going to lose people. My grandparents are all gone, my husband's father and step-father are both gone, two of my uncles are gone, I lost a dear aunt 12 years ago....I have a few friends that are widows. And yet it doesn't get any less hard. The only comfort I have, Sara Groves sums up well...."I know to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord, and from what I know of him, that must be pretty good."

I'm going to need large doses of beauty, thankfully tonights sunset was stunning.

I hope you're finding beauty as well.

Ciao.

Top 10 Reasons why God created Eve

2010-12-01T21:02:00.000-08:00

10. God worried that Adam would be lost in the Garden of Eden
because he wouldn't ask for directions.

9. God knew that someday Adam would need someone to hand him the
TV remote.
(Parenthetically, it has been noted that men don't want to see
what's ON TV; they want to see WHAT ELSE is on.)

8. God knew that Adam would never make a doctor's appointment.

7. God knew that when Adam's fig leaf wore out, he would never
buy a new one for himself.

6. God knew that Adam would not remember to take out the garbage.

5. God wanted man to be fruitful and multiply, but he knew Adam
would never be able to handle labor pains and childbirth.

4. As "keeper of the garden," Adam would need help in finding
his tools.

3. Adam needed someone to blame for the Apple Incident and for
anything else that was really his fault.

2. As the Bible says: "It is not good for man to be alone."

1. And the No. 1 reason of all

[Tada, drum roll, fanfare, etc.]

God stepped back, looked at Adam and declared:
"I can do better than that."

Author unknown, but I don't think was written by a man.

=) I hope you have a beauty-filled day.

Ciao.

Awareness Examen

2010-11-28T21:14:00.000-08:00

AWARENESS EXAMEN
        This short prayer exercise is to help increase one's sensitivity to the Spirit working in one's life and to provide one with the enlightenment needed to co-operate and respond to this presence. If you use this daily you should find it helpful in noticing spiritual movements.
Thanksgiving ....
        Begin by looking over the day and asking to see where you need to be thankful. Do not choose what you think you should be thankful for, rather, by merely looking over the day see what emerges, what you notice, even slightly. Allow gratitude to take hold of you and express this to the Holy One who at this moment beholds you.
Ask For Light ....
        This is a prayer for enlightenment from God. In the next step we will use our own reflection skills to dispose ourselves for the awareness that we hope will come more directly from God. This often happens unexpectedly or by way of a special little surprise even when we are expecting it! We have a hard time to believe that our own reflection and self understanding here is but a disposition for the Spirit's teaching us (Matt 10:20). Therefore ask the Spirit to show you what God wants you to see.
Finding God In All Things ....
        Again look over the events of the day. This time ask the Spirit to show you where God's presence has been in your life, either in you or in others, and in the events of public life:
        What public events from your local environment and larger world have impact or should have impact upon you?
-- where are the signs of the Spirit?-- where are the destructive or divisive powers?        What interior events were significant for you?

-- notice what stands out even slightly, such as joy,

pain, turmoil, increase of love, anger, harmony,

anxiety, freedom, enchainment, presence of God, isolation.

        Where do you sense you were being drawn by God's Spirit?
        How have you been responding to these events or experiences?

Respond To God In Dialogue ....
        Is there any one area you are being nudged to focus your attention on, to pray more seriously over, to take action on? This is where your energy needs focus instead of on the many other things you think are important. Discuss this with Jesus.

  Express what needs to be expressed: ... praise ... sorrow ... gratitude ... desire for change ... ... intercession ...
Help And Guidance For Tomorrow ....
        Ask God for your needs for tomorrow. For example, you may need to pray to overcome something ... to be more sensitive to God's activity in your environment ... to celebrate in some way you ... to let go ... to deal with some issue ... to be open to conversion in some area ... to make some decisions to act against some destructive forces in the various worlds of your life.

Shopping

2010-11-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

Well, here in the US the day after tomorrow is known as Black Friday. The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. Use of the term began by 1966 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the period during which retailers are turning a profit, or "in the black." (Taken from Wikipedia)

Honestly, I think I've only been out once on Black Friday, it was the year that Tickle

Me Elmo was hard to find, maybe 1996? I don't much like crowds, so shopping the

day after Thanksgiving doesn't much appeal to me. I have a few tips in general when

it comes to shopping, at least for clothes.

1. Go by yourself or with a good friend. It's too hard to shop with kids and if you

want a second opinion on how something looks you want an honest opinion.

2. Try everything on. Don't buy stuff without trying it on, chances are you'll have to

return it. And try stuff on that you wouldn't normally wear, I have a couple of tops that

I didn't think much of on the hanger but once I tried them on I loved them.

3. Let sales people help you. A good sales person will get different sizes for you

and give you honest feedback. I once had a lady at a jewelry store tell me the bigger

necklace I was looking at didn't look as good on me as the smaller one. She was more

interested in what looked good on me than making a bigger sale. Guess what?

We went back to her for the next three jewelry purchases we made. Clothes are

the same way, a good sales person will tell you what looks good on you and not try

to sell you stuff that's unflattering.

4. If you shop online, do your online returns through the mail. Almost all companies these

days send you a return label, go ahead and send that item(s) back. (Side note, another

reason to go into the store and try stuff on! So you know it fits)

5. If there's an item that you really really want, save your money and get it instead of buying stuff

you don't really want or need. Chances are you you could have gotten what you really wanted

instead of all those things you bought for $10, $15 or $20.

If you're going out on Friday or just shopping in general I hope you find great deals and things

you look beautiful in. The world needs more beauty!

Ciao.

Recipe of the week: Spaghetti Squash

2010-11-19T05:13:00.000-08:00

Spaghetti squash is a great alternative for pasta, and much healthier! (About 42 calories per cup and pasta is about 220). When my kids were little, they thought the squash was really pasta, unfortunately now they know better. The hardest part of this is cutting the squash.

Preheat oven to 375. Get a large knife and cut in half. Scoop out the seeds like you would with a pumpkin. Once you have it cleaned out, put it into a large class pan 9x13 or larger depending on the size of the squash. Place it skin side up in the pan, fill with 1/2-1 inch of water and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. You want it tender and stringy but not mushy. Remove from oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes before handling. I use an ice cream scoop or a pasta fork to get the squash out of the skin. Serve with you're favorite sauce. I like marinara and a little Parmesan cheese on mine, pesto would be good. I tried it one day with salsa and pepper jack. When my son was little he didn't like tomatoes, so the only thing he'd eat on his was butter and Parmesan. As always, play with you're food and let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

It's just a feeling

2010-11-12T18:41:00.000-08:00

Feelings aren't right or wrong, they just are. Ugh, if I could only remember this! It's not what we're taught by our parents, teachers or society. Feelings are those spontaneous, internal, instantaneous responses to our thoughts and or our beliefs about actions or events; they are our own unique internal reactions to something we see, touch, taste, smell or think.

It's when we try to live by our feelings (or make decisions about things) instead of what we know is truth that we get into trouble. Time by yourself, to really get to know yourself is really important, so that you know what is true for you. Large amounts of beauty helps.

I hope you are finding beauty in your life. Today was one of those 'the clouds have parted and I feel like I live a charmed life' kind of days.

Ciao

Recipe of the week: Corn Chowder

2010-11-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

I love Mimi's Cafe corn chowder. I've had their recipe for several years and love to make it at home but like everything else I've modified it a bit. Mine has more vegetables and less fat. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Corn Chowder

Ingredients
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 cup celery, large dice
3 cups hot water
2 1/2 cups raw potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 cubes
16 oz bag frozen corn (white or yellow)
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tea salt
1 pinch white pepper
4 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 cups half and half
2 1/2 cups milk

Directions:
In a large pot or dutch over, melt butter. Add onion, celery, simmer until softened but not browned. Add water potatoes, corn and seasonings. Cover and simmer 30 minutes or until tender. Whisk flour into 1 cup half and half and stir into soup. Add remaining half and half and milk. Simmer 15 minutes, until soup thickens. Add salt and pepper. To thin add a little more milk, to thicken simmer 5-10 more minutes. Enjoy!

How to eat healthy at parties

2010-10-31T09:03:00.000-07:00

The holiday party season is upon us. I know there's tons of advice out there on this subject, here's mine...

It's not impossible to eat healthy at parties, it just takes a little planning. One night won't ruin your fitness/weight loss goals. My strategy is to bring something that I know I will eat and I try not to arrive starving. It's a lot harder to make good choices if you're really hungry.

I always offer to bring a salad or a vegetable tray. Your hostess will most likely appreciate your help. (In my group of friends I'm known for my salads!) Costco has large vegetable trays with a lowfat peppercorn ranch dip for about $10. (They don't usually have celery on them, so I like to slice some up and take it on the side)

I try to make my salads very colorful. I usually use an organic greens mix, sliced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, sliced yellow or orange peppers, olives, avocado, sometimes dried cranberries, sliced almonds or sunflower seeds. I'll slice cucumbers and either red or green onions and take them on the side (because I don't like them). I also like to grate carrots, raw beets or zucchini. I don't put meat in my salads because I want there to be at least one vegetarian option. You can add cheese if you like, sometimes I'll add feta. There's plenty of dressings out there that are healthy options, Trader Joe's has several, I also like Paul Newman's brand or Litehouse makes some good ones.

I like Bethenny Frankel's advice, "taste everything and eat nothing". To me that means have a little bite of whatever it is you want, just don't go overboard. You'll be less likely to overeat if you have a little bit of that brownie or red velvet cake.

The most important thing is to drink plenty of water! Lots of party foods are really high in sodium. I also try to get in at least 30 minutes of some kind of cardio in early in the day.

A Votre Sante!

Recipe of the week: Pumpkin Pie Squares

2010-10-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

In honor of fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving I thought I'd share my pumpkin pie squares recipe. I actually don't like pumpkin pie, it's a texture thing for me, plus I'm not a big fan of pie crust, so I make this instead. If you don't like pecans try walnuts or even sliced almonds. If you try it let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Pumpkin Pie Squares

Ingredients

1 cup unbleached or whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 15 oz can organic pumpkin
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
2 large eggs
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans chopped
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
Whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, oats, 1/2 c brown sugar in a mixing bowl. Mix on low for 1-2 minutes or until crumbly. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9 X 13 inch pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

While the crust is baking combine sugar, pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs and spice in a large bowl, beat at medium speed for about 2 minutes. Pour over crust. Bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Combine pecans and the remaining brown sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle over filling, continue to bake for 15-25 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Top with whipped cream or ice cream.

Proverbs 31

2010-10-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

In my small group today we talked about the Proverbs 31 woman....most people overlook the fact that it's the woman's character that's being discussed. The end of the passage is my favorite part...

Proverbs 31:

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
³¹ Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

I hope you've had a restful weekend and found plenty of beauty to restore your soul.

Ciao.

Recipe of the week: Fried Green Tomatoes

2010-10-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

One year I had tons of tomatoes that seemed like they were taking forever to ripen so I thought I'd try making fried green tomatoes, after having seen the movie by the same name. I don't make them very often but when I do, this is the recipe I use. I use bread crumbs, if you don't like them, I'm sure cornmeal would be fine, it might be an even more authentic southern taste. I say to use a mixture of canola (or safflowers) and olive oil because the smoking point of olive oil is fairly low and you need an oil you can fry in. I still have lots of tomatoes right now at the middle of October and once again it seems like they're taking forever to ripen, so this is what we had for dinner tonight. I'm not sure how you get ahold of green tomatoes if you don't have a garden, maybe ask your local produce person at the store or someone from your local farmer's market. If you happen to try it, let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Ingredients
6 medium, firm green tomatoes
salt

black pepper
1/2 -3/4cup unbleached or whole wheat flour
1/4 cup milk
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup fine dry bread crumbs or cornmeal
1/4 cup canola oil, or a mixture of canola and olive oil

Directions:

1. Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices; sprinkle slices with the salt and pepper. Let tomato slices stand for a few minutes while you place flour, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes.

2. Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs. In a skillet fry the coated tomato slices, 5 or 6 at a time, in hot oil over medium heat for 2-4 minutes on each side or until brown. (If tomatoes begin to brown too quickly, reduce heat to medium-low. If necessary, add additional oil.) If desired, season to taste with additional salt and black pepper. Serve with Louisiana hot sauce.

The Candy Shop

2010-10-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

There are many people out there raising awareness about human trafficking, the slave trade, exploitation of children, here's one of them:

http://www.stopthecandyshop.com/

Recipe of the week: Apple Almond Gingerbread

2010-10-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

I saw this on Whole Food's website yesterday and thought it looked yummy. (Apples, almonds, gingerbread....what's not to like!) I made it last night and it came out great, and it smelled wonderful baking...all the flavors of fall. I followed the recipe exactly (probably a first), next time I'll add more ginger and I'm sure you could use pecans or walnuts if you don't like almonds. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Apple Almond Gingerbread

Ingredients
5 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more for greasing
3/4 cup slivered almonds, divided*
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons lowfat buttermilk
1/3 cup unsulphured molasses
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
11/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
11/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 Fuji or Gala apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped

Method
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch loaf pan with butter. Put 1/4 cup almonds in bottom of pan and then rotate pan to distribute them around the bottom and sides (they’ll stick to the greased pan); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, molasses, sugar, butter, vanilla and egg. In a second large bowl, combine flour, ginger, baking soda and remaining 1/2 cup almonds. Add apples and toss well. Stir flour mixture into molasses mixture and then spoon batter into pan. Bake until cooked through and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes and then invert onto a plate and serve warm or at room temperature.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2776

Love Story, Love146 Our name is her story

2010-09-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

In 2002, the co-founders of Love 146 travelled to South East Asia on an exploratory trip to determine how they could serve in the fight against child sex trafficking. In one experience, a couple of our co-founders were taken undercover with investigators to a brothel, where they witnessed children being sold for sex. This was their experience. This is the story that changed our lives. 

"We found ourselves standing shoulder to shoulder with predators in a small room, looking at little girls through a pane of glass. All of the girls wore red dresses with a number pinned to their dress for identification. They sat, blankly watching cartoons on TV. They were vacant, shells of what a child should be. There was no light in their eyes, no life left. Their light had been taken from them. These children...raped each night... seven, ten, fifteen times every night. They were so young. Thirteen, eleven… it was hard to tell. Sorrow covered their faces with nothingness. Except one girl. One girl who wouldn’t watch the cartoons. Her number was 146. She was looking beyond the glass. She was staring out at us, with a piercing gaze. There was still fight left in her eyes. There was still life left in this girl...

"...All of these emotions begin to wreck you. Break you. It is agony. It is aching. It is grief. It is sorrow. The reaction is intuitive, instinctive. It is visceral. It releases a wailing cry inside of you. It elicits gut-level indignation. It is unbearable. I remember wanting to break through the glass. To take her away from that place. To scoop up as many of them as I could into my arms. To take all of them away. I wanted to break through the glass to tell her to keep fighting. To not give up. To tell her that we were coming for her…"

“Because we went in as part of an ongoing, undercover investigation on this particular brothel, we were unable to immediately respond. Evidence had to be collected in order to bring about a raid, and eventually justice on those running the brothel. It is an immensely difficult problem when an immediate response cannot address an emergency. Some time later, there was a raid on this brothel and children were rescued. But the girl who wore #146 was no longer there. We do not know what happened to her, but we will never forget her. She changed the course of all of our lives." -Rob Morris, President and Co-founder

We have taken her number so that we remember why this all started. So that we must tell her story. It is a number that was pinned to one girl, but that represents the millions enslaved. We wear her number with honor, with sorrow, and with a growing hope. Her story can be a different one for so many more.

http://love146.org/love-story

Love is...

2010-09-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

I woke up thinking about the passage in 1 Corinthians 13...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (NIV)

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. t does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (NLT)

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. (The Message)

I'm challenged this morning because I don't feel very loving, nor do my relationships. Thankfully I'm a work in progress and so are the people in my life.

I desperately need to find some beauty today, I need room for my soul. I hope you find some too.

Ciao.

Top 5 things I miss about having Jade home

2010-09-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

This is for you, honey, in case you forget, now you'll have it in writing. =)

1. I miss having you to watch TV with, no one else cares about Top Chef or Housewives.

2. I miss having you ask how my day was and actually listening to what I have to say.

3. I miss you being my biggest fan when it comes to culinary adventures/experiments, you like 95% of what I make. The others here, not so much.

4. I miss having an errand buddy.

5. I miss having you say, "come here, I wanna hug".

Recipe of the week: Tomato & Avocado Salad

2010-09-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

The first time I had this salad was 10 years ago when my Aunt was visiting for my sister's wedding, I've been making it ever since, with a few twists. Sometimes I use kalmata olives instead of black olives and sometimes I add a little feta cheese on the top. (I made it last night with tomatoes out of my garden and it was wonderful!) As always, play with it and find out what you like. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

4-5 large tomatoes diced
3-4 avocados cut into small chunks
1 can black olives cut in half
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Add the tomatoes and olives in a medium to large bowl, drizzle with olive oil gently fold in the avocado. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve right away so the avocados don't brown.

Settling In

2010-09-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

I write this today sitting in Mammoth Lakes, CA. It's so beautiful in this part of the state! See for yourself at http://www.mammothweb.com/index.cfm I really needed this for my soul, unfortunately I haven't been able to unplug as much as I had hoped, there's been lots to do for my uncle's memorial service this evening. I have been out for a walk and a run and today we're going to the top of the ski area

It's been a week since I moved Jade into her dorm at LMU, moving day I was a disaster, on more levels that one. Day 2 was better, they had welcome stuff for the parents and a wonderful Mass at 5:00 pm. I really love the Jesuits, if I could find a church like that near me, I think I'd go quite often. It was an emotional service, I felt really settled and very good about where she's at. I miss her like crazy but I'm adjusting to a new normal. Thank God for technology! Texting, cell calls and FB chat are keeping us connected!

Something I realized is that we went from having 3 kids at home to two, there was a time when we only had 2. Then, when Christian goes to college, we'll only have 1 at home and there was a time when we only had one....what a strange paradox. Then it will be just the two of us...like before kids. I guess that's when we've really worked ourselves out of a job.

I'm heading out for a walk, to just enjoy the majesty of the mountains. I'm finding beauty, I hope you are too.

Ciao

Pat Albert D'Amato

2010-08-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

A month ago today my uncle Pat died. He was born April 29, 1955 and died July 25, 2010, he was 55 years old. He died of a massive heart attack at about 4:30 in the morning, he probably didn't know he had a heart condition. Fifty-five! Gosh, that seems so young to me, especially since my husband just turned 53.

Pat and I were once close, not so much in the last several years. My grandmother (Nana) was the glue that held this family together, and when she got sick and then passed, the family scattered. It really makes me sad. It's been quite a month, trying to deal with Pat's estate and get Jade ready for college. Pat loved the outdoors, was always helping someone do something. He never married or had children, his friends were his family. He was living in Carson City for the last 15 years or so but he lived in some other amazing places as well. When I was little we all lived in Mammoth and that's where his memorial service is going to be, Minaret Vista Sunday September 5th at 5:30 pm. Pat helped found the Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue Team and there will be a reunion held at O'Harrel Canyon on Saturday September 4, starting at around 11:00 am. I know that my Uncle Pat will be very missed, may he rest in peace.

(This picture was taken in Zion National Park, March 2010)

Harder than I thought

2010-08-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

This is way harder than I thought. Don't get me wrong I'm super excited for my daughter to be going off to college, I just didn't think (probably naive on my part) that it would be this hard. Today she said good bye to lots of people at church, people that have poured into her life, and ours and have loved her well, it was hard, hard for her, hard for me and probably hard for them. Crying sucks, it leaves you with a big fat head ache.

I feel in some ways that I'm getting a do-over. I didn't leave home on good terms and this has been a process for all of us. To get what she needs, think of all the things that may come up... a time for all of us to process. It's good, hard but good. I'm really proud of the woman that Jade has become. Right now my job is to release her into God's hands. *sigh* Easier said than done.

Life can be such a beautiful thing and yet so painful. Find some beauty this week and I'll try to do the same.

Ciao

Recipe of the week: Lemon garlic dressing

2010-08-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

I've been making this recipe for years. It tastes a lot like Caesar dressing but doesn't have raw eggs or anchovies in it. You can make it up and leave in the the refrigerator for up to a week. I usually make it several hours before I'm going to use it, so the flavors have time to develop. You can also use it as a marinade for chicken or fish. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Lemon garlic dressing

Juice of 1 large lemon (homegrown if you can get it)
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 tea sea salt
1/2 tea black pepper (freshly ground if possible)
1/2 to 3/4 cup safflower oil (Or 1/2 safflower 1/2 olive)

Combine lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Beating continuously with a fork, slowly add the vegetable oil in a stream. Let stand until ready to serve. (A little goes a long way)

Another milestone

2010-08-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I made it through another milestone. A week ago I turned 40. Jade threw me a surprise party with my girlfriends, which was very sweet and I had a GREAT time. One confession, she did have to tell me...three or four people invited me out for the night and I said no. Finally, on Thursday she had to tell me so I'd leave the house. She said I was being a miserable brat, she's probably right.

I had my agenda, I wanted to do my usual Sat. morning thing of going to the gym and the farmer's market, add in a pedicure for the day and I was happy. Well sort of, I'd really wanted to have a birthday party this year but with Jade leaving for college in 2 weeks and having a party this week for her I just didn't want the bother. I figured I'd have a party at some point, I mean really, I'm going to be 40 for the entire year. I am amazingly blessed! I have incredible friends, awesome kids and a wonderful husband. I especially love my GIRLFRIENDS! Thank you for a wonderful birthday...even if you weren't able to make it, your notes, thoughts, gifts and prayers, I cherish.

And now...we're having a graduation/going away party for Jade. I'm not sure what I'm wearing yet, except I know I'll have waterproof mascara on! Seems to be a regular thing lately...

I hope you've a beauty filled week.

Ciao

Recipe of the week: Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2010-08-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

Last summer I had several people give me zucchinis out of their garden, I love zucchini bread and thought what if I added chocolate? Because we all know everything is better with chocolate. This is what I came up with. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
In large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt, mix well. In separate bowl, combine sugar and eggs, beat until well blended. Add oil and vanilla; beat until combined. Stir in zucchini. Add flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Spoon evenly into loaf pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pans; cool completely on wire rack.

Update

2010-07-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a month or so since I updated this blog. I've been working a lot, which has been good, I love feeling productive. Unfortunately, my back has been hurting for about the same time. The thought occurred to me the other night that it might be grief. Sure enough, when I spoke that out some relief came.

The truth is, I thought I was okay with turning 40 and I thought I was okay with Jade going off to college, turns out I'm not okay with either. I've been doing the best I can to just put one foot in front of the other the last month or so. Jade had severe separation anxiety when she was little, I think I'm now the one experiencing it. Blah. So that's what I know. We're having a graduation/going away party for her on August 14 (one week after my birthday... I figure I'll celebrate at some point...my first born leaving kinda trumps all else). Move in date at LMU is Aug. 27....

Recipe of the week: Banana Bread

2010-07-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've been making this recipe for years but I think I perfected it when I was baking for the coffee bar at church (which sadly I'm not doing anymore). I almost always double it but this is for a single loaf. For the flour I use 1 cup of whole wheat and 1/2 cup of unbleached, but you can use all unbleached or all whole wheat. I never use all purpose in anything. I also always use non-aluminum baking powder. We like walnuts but you can try pecans. I've even added dark chocolate chips, the kids loved it, kinda like Chunky Monkey ice-cream in bread. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Banana Bread

1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about 3 medium)
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the dry ingredients together. Make a well in the center and add bananas, oil and egg. Mix until combined, add nuts. Spray loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and fold in batter. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!

Independence vs. Relationship

2010-07-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe today is the 4th of July! This year is just flying by. Happy Independence Day. I am grateful to live in this country, grateful for my freedom, grateful to those who have died to make it possible.

I used to pride myself on being an independent type of girl. A couple of years ago I read an amazing book called 'The Shack'. This quote challenged me: "When you chose independence over relationship, you became a danger to each other. Others became objects to be manipulated or managed for your own happiness. Authority, as you usually think of it, is merely an excuse the strong use to make others conform to what they want." - Sarayu, These days I'm trying to choose relationship more often. Even when it means being late, or not getting something done. I've found it to be worth it. I'm certainly not perfect at it, and sometimes need to be reminded, but in the end our relationships are we've got (according to Sara Groves).

I hope this day finds you well and surrounded by love, beauty and relationships.

Ciao.

Reflecting on graduation...

2010-06-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I made it through yet another milestone. I can now say I am officially the parent of a high school graduate. The last couple of weeks have been really busy with all of the senior activities. I prepared myself by buying waterproof mascara, I thought for sure I'd need it and surprisingly enough I didn't. I think by the time we got there I was just happy. So proud of Jade and all that she's accomplished. I'd listened to her practice her speech several times so even that didn't make me cry.

The only thing that bothered me was that my dad wasn't able to be there. My mom and step-dad were there, as were my sister and brother-in-law (he videoed Jade's speech, I haven't gotten a copy yet, hopefully it came out well!) My friend who is visiting from Minnesota braved 4 hours on the freeway to be there. Jade's friends Kaylee and Brianna were there with us and Brianna said the sweetest thing on our way of the the stadium. She wanted to make sure we took a picture of just the 3 of them, they have one from each one of their graduations. *sigh* That meant so much to me as a mom, you hope and pray that you're kids are going to have good friends, and that just touched me.

So, this week Christian has promotion from eighth grade and Mackenzie has promotion from sixth grade. I keep shaking my head wondering where the time has gone. Oh, and Jade and I have freshman/parent orientation at LMU.
It's a beautiful thing to watch these kids and their friends becoming wonderful young people.

I hope you find something that fills you with beauty this week.
Ciao.

A Story of Three Men

2010-06-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long
white beards sitting in her front yard.

She did not recognize them.

She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry.
Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?" they asked.

"No," she replied. "He's out."

"Then we cannot come in," they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had
happened.

"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"

The woman went out and invited the men in.

"We do not go into a house together," they replied.

"Why is that?" she asked.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said
pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another
one, "He is Success, and I am Love."

Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which
one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said.
Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!" he said.
"Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and
fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the
house.

She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better
to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to
his wife.

"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the three old men,
"Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two
also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth
and Success: "I only invited Love, why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or
Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you
invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him.

Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!

~Author Unknown~

I hope your week is filled with beauty.

Ciao.

Graduation Announcement

2010-06-04T20:47:00.001-07:00

Erskien and Barbara Lenier

are pleased to announce

Jade

is graduating, Salutatorian

from Centennial High School

the Sixteenth of June

2010

Seven o’clock in the evening

1820 Rimpau Avenue

Corona, CA 92881

Jade will be attending

Loyola Marymount University

in the fall of 2010

Recipe of the week: Peach Cobbler

2010-06-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Peaches are one of summer's treasures. Two years ago, we had so many peaches on our tree, we ended up freezing 20 gallon Ziplocs of pitted, sliced peaches. I made peach smoothies, peach cobbler, peach pie, even peach salsa. What we loved the most was the peach cobbler. I took this to a bar-be-que and it was gone in 5 minutes, I didn't even get a piece! It's an easy recipe but takes a little time. If you can get peaches off someones tree, great! If not, try to buy organic, peaches are one of the fruits that are typically sprayed with a lot of pesticides. If you like more cobbler on the top, it's easy to double the topping. If you try it, let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Peach Cobbler

1 cup whole wheat or unbleached flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tea baking powder
1/2 tea cinnamon
1/4 butter
5-6 cups sliced peaches
1/3-2/3 cups sugar
1 Tbsp corn starch
1/4 cup water
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla divided

Preheat oven to 400. For the topping, in a medium bowl stir the flour, 2 Tbsp sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

For the filling, in a large pot combine the peaches, the 1/3-2/3 sugar, the cornstarch,1 /4 cup water and 1 tsp vanilla. Let stand for a few minutes. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Pour into a 2 quart baking dish (a 9x13 pan should work too, if your doubling the recipe a lasagna pan will work)

In a small bowl stir the egg, milk and vanilla together, add to flour mixture, stirring until just moistened. With a spoon drop the topping onto filling, covering most of it.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!

Just had to get something off my chest

2010-05-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

I've recently become aware that a few people have "un-friended" me on facebook because I've offended them. Well, I stand by what I've said before, sometimes you have to offend the mind to expose the heart. I think if I have offended someone (unintentionally) then, it's probably more about them than it is about me. Instead of being offended why not open up a dialog (again something I've said before). Offense can be an invitation to a conversation. How in the world are we supposed to work things out and find common ground if there's no dialog?

I spent the first 34 years of my life trying to be everything to everyone all the time and it got me no where fast. These days, I know who I am and Whose I am. And if that offends someone, well then so be it.

There's a line in the song 'I just showed up" by Sara Groves that goes:

I'm going to look you in the eyes

I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives

Those are the kind of relationships I want.
I hope you find something that fills you with beauty today.

Ciao.

Recipe of the week: Roasted Red Potatoes

2010-05-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is one of my family's favorite way to eat potatoes. Let me know what you think. A Votre Sante!

Roasted Red Potatoes

1 lb red potatoes cleaned and quartered (about 10-12)
1 green bell pepper diced
1 onion diced
3-4 Tbsp olive oil
sea salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss potatoes, bell pepper and onion together and spread out in a 9X13 baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake covered for about 45 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Enjoy!

Mother's Day Blessing

2010-05-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

I know Mother's Day is over but I was so blessed by this I wanted to share it. My friend Lisa, from Minnesota sent this to me. Lisa said to imagine it being read very slowly, each word distinct and purposefully chosen. I hope it speaks to your heart as it did mine. I'd love to hear how this impacts you.

I hope your week has been beauty-filled.

Ciao.

Mary’s Mother’s Day Blessing by Mary Martin Wiens

I am the mother of three little boys ages three and under. I am also a woman who struggled with many years of infertility. During that time of suffering and waiting, the invitation that I heard from God was to become a mother in my spirit with no guarantee that there would ever be children from my body. Because of that invitation, I began to see that there are many ways to give birth, to give life, and to nurture life. So, as I pondered what kind of blessing to offer today, it felt important to honor the mother I was before children, the mother I am now, and the many women I know who mother in both traditional and untraditional ways. I have seen friends do the work of a mother by giving birth a book, by giving medical advice, by teaching, by standing up for justice, by laying hands on others in prayer, by listening. Just to name a few.

So, today I want to bless each of you women who sacrifice so that life can come through you to another. I invite you to let in whichever of these words seem to be for you and let go of whatever is not for you…Now, mothers, receive this blessing…

Mothers of children
Mothers of adults
Mothers to ailing parents
Mothers in spirit
Mothers of creative works
Mothers to those in need
Mothers with empty wombs
Mothers whose arms ache to be filled with one who once was there
You life givers and life nurturers
You who hold the small essential things that make a world
You who are the sole witness to private stories unfolding
You who are the ground on which others find their footing
You who respond to cries of hunger, heartache, fear, or pain
You who shelter growing things
You whose most significant work is unseen
You bringers of tenderness and comfort
To mother is to make oneself vulnerable to loss
To give oneself wholly to something that has the guarantee of at least a measure of failure
To give birth to something beyond you, that doesn’t belong to you, that you can’t control
To engage in a work that reveals both your best and your worst
To surrender your time, your body, your rhythms, your resources
For the joy set before you
So Mothers,
May God the Life Giving Spirit be your source
May God be both witness and companion to all the unseen moments of your life
May God preserve you at your core when the needs of others threaten to wash you away
May God give grace as you seek to unwind the knot of both founded and unfounded guilt and enable you to bring healing in places where you have brought harm
May God give you courage at thresholds of change
May God make of your emptiness a wide and free place
May the One who holds all things together, assure you that divine arms surround all that is beyond your reach
And, When you lift up your eyes to see your life, may your joy be great.

Recipe of the week: Chocolate Zucchini Cake

2010-05-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

I made this a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty good. I got the original recipe from The Flat Belly Diet website. (Which in my opinion is a great resource). As usual I've done some tweaking, I added the cocoa powder and the walnuts and flaxseed and reduced the amount of chocolate chips. I think bittersweet chocolate is better than semisweet, it has a higher cocoa percentage and is less sweet, so it makes it seem more decadent. (I use Ghirardelli 60%) Let me know what you think. A Vorte Sante!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

1 & 3/4 c whole wheat pastry flour
1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c cocoa powder
2 eggs
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/3 c canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 c shredded zucchini
2 c bittersweet chocolate chips, divided
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1/2 c flaxseed

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat an 11" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cocoa and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, sugar, yogurt, oil, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Whisk in the zucchini and 1/2 cups of the chocolate chips, walnuts and flaxseed. Stir into the flour mixture just until blended. Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups chips over the cake. Spread with a small spatula as they melt to form an icing, placing back into the warm oven, if needed, for about 1 minute. Makes about 12 servings. Enjoy.