Meatless Monday

I just found out about this cool campaign to encourage people to cut back on meat by giving up the stuff just one day a week, on Mondays. Since I'm a flexitarian by definition, leaning toward a plant-based diet, this is right up my alley!

From now on, the only recipes I'll be cooking, or posting, on Mondays will be meatless. I already started that today without even meaning to!

On My Hearth: Quick Spinach Roll-Ups

I truly love spinach, eat it every chance I get, often add it to pasta dishes, omelets, etc. Even my kids love it, have since they were babies. I guess there's something to that theory that if you introduce good foods to them when they are young they will acquire a taste for it.

I put this recipe into WW's Recipe Builder and came up with 8 POINTS per serving. It sounds a bit high to me but I guess they should know, right? Anyway, I made something similar years ago and it was very tasty and easier to portion than regular lasagna.
I don't have any chives so I'm going to substitute a bit of parsley; my herb garden is overflowing with it!

Quick Spinach Roll-Ups
Adapted from Healthy Homestyle Cooking,
by Evelyn Tribole (Rodale Press, 1994).

These tempting little packets of spinach and cheese rolled in a lasagna noodle are just the thing for a spring supper. Add a loaf of crusty whole-grain bread and a crisp salad and you have a nourishing and healthful meal: these Quick Spinach Roll-Ups are rich in eye-helping lutein and they’re low in fat!

INGREDIENTS

8 lasagna noodles
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 15-ounce container reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bunch baby spinach leaves, chopped
1/4 cup snipped fresh chives
1 1/2 cups reduced-fat spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup finely shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese

1. Cook noodles according to package directions, drain, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the egg whites, ricotta, Parmesan and salt. Set cheese mixture aside.

3. Lightly spray an unheated large skillet with olive oil no-stick spray. Add spinach and chives. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add spinach mixture to cheese mixture, stirring until combined.

4. Preheat oven to 350F. Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 12-inch by 71/2-inch by 2-inch baking dish.

5. To assemble, place one noodle on a piece of parchment paper or wax paper. Place 1/4 cup of spinach mixture in a mound 1/4-inch from the short end. Roll noodle around the spinach mixture. Carefully remove bundle from parchment and place it, seam side down, in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining noodles and spinach mixture.

6. Pour remaining sauce over the roll-ups in the baking dish. Sprinkle with mozzarella and cover with foil/ Bake 35 to 45 minutes until bubbly.

Serves 4.

My Blog

This past week I was doing some research on customizing my blog, even considered paying someone to do a template for me. I contacted a woman whose work I admired and she sent along a worksheet and suggestions. It was then that I realized how eclectic my blog is, that tho I have the whole Rapunzel/Castle theme I deviate far from that with vintage images, pin-ups, Native American art, etc. etc. I started wondering if perhaps it is just too varied, if I should split up my blogs into different categories? Would that be more reader-friendly? Is it just too..too much? But it is all part of me, and I don't know that I want to split myself up in pieces, you know? I went round and round about it til my head was spinning and then I decided that I would ask you all, readers and fellow bloggers.

What do you think? Should I keep my blog the way it is or find some type of theme and stick to it, split the blog up by "subjects?" Be honest; even tho I'm a sensitive Leo I can take constructive criticism. Really, I can. *gulp*

On My Hearth: a Menu Plan

I'm trying to get back into the habit of planning my menu weekly, but it's tough when, thanks to teenagers and a spontaneous boyfriend, my dinnertime schedule can change on a dime. So I'm going to tentatively plan a few meals and gather the ingredients beforehand so at least I'm prepared. I'm focusing on meals that will refrigerate or even freeze well should our plans change and I end up not cooking one night.

With that in mind, I'd like to share this recipe which I intend to make tomorrow night. It comes from This Mama Cooks, I copied it exactly from her fabulous blog. I'll use veggie crumbles in place of the ground beef, will put it in the crockpot tomorrow morning so it can be enjoyed by everyone on their own time frame.

Taco Soup
(1 cup = 4 points)

Brown 1 lb. very lean chopped meat (I used ground venison) with one larged diced onion in a large stew pot.

Add:

* 16 oz canned tomato sauce
* 16 oz canned kidney beans (rinsed)
* 16 oz canned pinto beans (rinsed)
* 16 oz garbanzo beans (rinsed)
* 16 oz canned yellow corn (undrained)
* 16 oz canned diced tomatoes
* 1 3 oz. can of diced green chilies
* one packet of dry ranch dressing
* 1 packet of taco seasoning mix
* 1 1/2 cup water

Heat to boiling. Immediately lower heat to simmer for 30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy.

I also tried this with a scoop of pineapple and mango salsa in the middle. The cold but spicy salsa with the hot soup was an interesting contrast.

This makes a large quantity and freezes well, too.

Happiness Is...

Surprises!

Yesterday after some exhusband drama that I immediately put an end to (yay, me!), I went for my bikini wax appointment, medicated beforehand by Advil and Chardonnay. (It still ouches terribly, why do we women tortue ourselves?) Anyway, since I was wearing my adorable new polka-dot skirt with ankle-strap stiletto sandals, I felt much too cute to just go home so I called my three daughters and discovered that two of them were available for lunch. Surprise! We had a lovely meal at the Ale House surrounded by dozens of men who I'm quite sure were more interested in the NFL Drafts than my legs, but I could pretend otherwise, right? (Hey, I am very much committed to Beren but if I ever give up the ability to flirt just a little, shoot me. Ok?)

Next, I discovered that Beren's girls were making an unexpected visit. Surprise! Since they had both just been in a drama production and had lead roles, we decided to Surprise them with a little celebration. We took them to dinner at the Olive Garden (groan..those breadsticks!) and then back to our house for dessert. I had the grocery store bakery write "Bravo" on a little chocolate cake for them, they were so surprised! Afterward we all sat around my dining room table, laughing and telling stories. Beren dragged out his old photo albums and showed his girls pics of us when we were young and adorable and so in love...just like we are now.

All in all, a happy ending to an otherwise rotten week.

Surprise!

A Bad Day on the Boat...

..is still better than the week I've had!

First off, I want to thank those of you who have prayed, sent energy, cyberhugs, emails, etc. It means so much to me and I truly did feel the positive energy all around me. It has been one helluva week, and though I don't want to dwell on it anymore I do feel the need for a quick recap:

Monday: Exhusband #2 announces his separation and possible divorce. Not a big surprise since he only knew her for 4 months when he married her, then kept the situation a secret from his kids for an entire year, but whatever. What happens to him affects my kids and ultimately me, especially when the estranged wife decides to regale me with hatefilled emails. This is where I had to learn to detach, turn around, not try to fix things, do things differently. Getting invovled in his mess, in his emotional dramas, is what led me to divorce him in the first place and I simply can't go there anymore.

Tuesday: Lily's accident. Not only was the accident horrible enough but I had to deal with aforementioned exhusband at length and we truly should not spend inordinate amounts of time together or I get sucked back into bad patterns and behaviors. (See above)

Wednesday: My ex-brother-in-law calls me after 4 years of no contact, decides that now is the time for our children to get to know each other. Um...our kids are teenagers and young adults, much too old to arrange play dates for. I politely suggest passing along phone numbers, emails, etc. and allowing the kids to decide for themselves. I have no problem with it but it's up the kids, right? Not good enough for him so he calls me incessantly, leaving several phone messages. More drama I don't want to be a part of, and a call to do things differently: Detach lovingly.

Thursday: Our slightly retarded, definitely ditzy but sweetest cat came home limping and bloody. I think that perhaps she was hit by a car so I call in sick to work, took her to the vet to discover that her leg/paw was apparently sliced so badly that it required surgery and resulted in her losing a tendon, one claw and part of a toe. She's on antibiotics and has to be confined to a cage for a couple of days but she'll be ok. The bill, however, was not so ok. Groan.

Friday: Beren and I decide that some decompression/stress relief is definitely in order so we pick up lunch from Fresh Market and head to the boat for a day of sailing. The boat motor had other ideas, though, and we ended up stuck on the mooring calling our boat mechanic. But, hey, it's a gorgeous day and there's no reason not to make the best of a bad situation, right? We ate lunch, drank a few beers and played cards for a few hours, had a great time anyway!

So, that was my week! I know there are much, much worse things out there and I am incredibly grateful to the Universe for allowing me to survive all of this mostly-little stuff and sit here this morning to bitch about it. This, too, shall pass and we'll all be fine. This is a chance to make changes, look at my life, be grateful for what I have and work to make things better. Each day we are called to do that, this week was just a shout instead of a gentle suggestion!

Today's Inspiration: Change..again

I'm finding myself in a familiar, uncomfortable situation and my first response is to react as I always have, and I know that the Universe is calling me to do something different, to learn and grow and change. The way I did it in the past didn't work, no sense in repeating it, time to try something new. But change is difficult, and old habits are hard to break. I came across this article in Daily Om which speaks of this, I'm going to spend some time reflecting upon this today.

Daily Om
Conditioned Response
Reactions To Life Events

Our experiences color everything. The events of the past can have a profound effect on how we see our lives now and what we choose to believe about our world. Our past experiences can also influence our emotional reactions and responses to present events. Each of us reacts to stimulus based on what we have learned in life. There is no right or wrong to it; it is simply the result of past experience. Later, when our strong feelings have passed, we may be surprised at our reactions. Yet when we face a similar situation, again our reactions may be the same. When we understand those experiences, we can come that much closer to understanding our reactions and consciously change them.

Between stimulus and reaction exists a fleeting moment of thought. Often, that thought is based on something that has happened to you in the past. When presented with a similar situation later on, your natural impulse is to unconsciously regard it in a similar light. For example, if you survived a traumatic automobile accident as a youngster, the first thing you might feel upon witnessing even a minor collision between vehicles may be intense panic. If you harbor unpleasant associations with death from a past experience, you may find yourself unable to think about death as a gentle release or the next step toward a new kind of existence. You can, however, minimize the intensity of your reactions by identifying the momentary thought that inspires your reaction. Then, next time, replace that thought with a more positive one.

Modifying your reaction by modifying your thoughts is difficult, but it can help you to see and experience formerly unpleasant situations in a whole new light. It allows you to stop reacting unconsciously. Learning the reason of your reactions may also help you put aside a negative reaction long enough to respond in more positive and empowered ways. Your reactions and responses then become about what's happening in the present moment rather than about the past. As time passes, your negative thoughts may lose strength, leaving only your positive thoughts to inform your healthy reactions.

Crash

When get The Call, the one where you discover that something has happened to your child, nothing else matters. Not the earrings you were purchasing to match the cute outfit you just bought to wear to the first-time meeting with your boyfriend's ex-wife. Not the fact that you had to buy a size larger and therefore found yourself wandering into Lane Bryant to buy Spanx. Not the fact that your paycheck was a bit light this week, or your house is messy, or your internet is down. That shit flies out of your head, it is meaningless. Nothing, nothing else matters. Your heart stops, you drop your shopping basket, you tear out of the store, already on the way to her before you even know where you're going. You wait for the person on the other end to tell you that yes, she is ok. That nano-second of time seems endless, the one between "Lily has been in an accident" and "she's ok." Then comes "her car is totaled," but at that point you don't care. You don't want her to drive again anyway. You want to race to her, wrap her in your arms and tell her that you love her. You want to tell her that she's never again leaving your sight, that you'll drive her anywhere she wants to go, that the world is just not a safe place and you're going to protect her from it. And that's what you do. At least, some of it. You arrive on the accident scene and see her sitting on the side of the road crying, pieces of her car all over the grass, the street...and you are just ever-so-grateful that it's just the car, that she herself is in one piece. She. Is. Okay. Thank the goddess, she is ok. Even as she is ranting about lack of transportation, how it was the other guy's fault, even when the officer is telling you that Lily needs to be more careful, that it could have been so much worse. Even as the tow truck arrives and loads the truck, dumps it in your driveway, lays various pieces of it in your garage. Nothing else matters. She is ok. So you pour a glass of wine, hand your ex-husband a beer, sit on the front porch and look at the mangled mess of steel which used to be her vehicle. You weigh your options, you call the insurance company, you sigh and shake your head and put on a brave face. It's only later, when everyone's asleep, when the shock has worn off, in the wee hours of the next morning that you awaken and the reality hits. Hard. It could have so easily gone the other way. You don't want to think about it so you push those thoughts from your head...sirens and hospitals and...you stop yourself. You get up from bed, come to your computer, and you write. You get it all out, barely able to see the screen through your tears. You write while praying, while thanking God, the Universe, the Powers that Be, anyone who will listen. Thank you. Thank you for making it ok. Thank you for the fact that her feisty 17-year-old self is in her bed sleeping. That other than wounded pride and a bit of shock, she is fine. She'll wake up, she'll borrow Kali's car for a few days or weeks until we figure something out. Minor inconveniences compared to the things that could have been, that you don't want to even imagine. None of those things happened. Nothing. Else. Matters.

Just for Fun

Yay! I love Bettie, she's my favorite pin-up!

You are Bettie Page

Girl next door with a wild streak You're a famous beauty - with unique look And the people like you are cultish about it

What Famous Pinup Are You?

Stockings and Garters and Slips, Oh, My!

As I was getting dressed for work this morning I was thinking about a conversation I had with my friend Silke about slips, and how no one wears them anymore. I read in a fashion magazine the other day that slips are outdated, out of style, and unnecessary. Huh. I never knew this and I beg to differ. Not only does a slip fulfill it's original purpose of keeping folks from seeing through your dress, it's also sexy and girly and makes me feel like Maggie the Cat.

And what about stockings? Doesn't anyone don their legs anymore? I live in the tropics where it's too hot to wear clothes most of the time, so I'm assuming that's why even businesswomen have bare legs, but is that true? Do you Northern gals go about your day sans hosiery? I'm kinda sad about this because I love the look of garters & stockings but other than playing "dress up" occasionally I never wear them!

So, tell me, dear readers, is it me and my casual location? Or is this lack of undergarments widespread? My Inner Pin-up would really like to know.

On My Hearth: Thai Curry Vegetables

I am thrilled to have found this recipe because I love vegetable curry but the restaurant version is usually really high in calories. I have a package of tofu in the fridge that is begging to be eaten, and a bag of frozen stir-fry veggies that I'll use instead of the fresh veggies tonight.

Thai Curry Vegetables

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 25 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Serve these spicy veggies over jasmine rice for a healthy, low fat, one-dish meal.

Ingredients

* 2 tsp olive oil
* 1 medium onion(s), red, sliced
* 2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
* 2 tsp thai curry paste, red
* 14 fl oz light coconut milk, divided
* 2 tsp fish sauce
* 2 small sweet red pepper(s), cut into 1/2-inch squares
* 1/2 pound baby carrots
* 1/2 pound green snap beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 15 oz firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
* 2 tsp cornstarch
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup basil, leaves, sliced

Instructions

* In large, nonstick skillet heat olive oil. Cook onion and garlic until vegetables begin to brown, 1 to 2 minutes.

* Mix curry paste with 2 tablespoons milk. Add paste mixture, remaining milk and fish sauce to skillet. Bring to a boil. Add peppers, carrots, green beans and tofu. Simmer until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes.

* With slotted spoon remove vegetables; keep warm.

* Mix cornstarch with water. Add to sauce. Bring to a boil, stirring until thickened. Mix with vegetables and basil; serve. Yields 3/4 cup per serving.

© 2007 Weight Watchers International, Inc. © 2007 WeightWatchers.com, Inc.

Today's Inspiration

From the Daily Om, this little gem is a good reminder. I do often react emotionally and cause myself way too much drama! I've had enough drama that's beyond my control, am going to do my best to avoid that which is within my control. I have a co-worker who is a good example of this: she is a sweet girl but constantly has some type of drama in her life, real or imagined. Frankly, she just wears me out! I find myself exhausted just by being around her. Every day I remind myself not to be that way!

Emotionally Reactive
Leo Daily Horoscope

You may be feeling sensitive today, which could have you overreacting when responding to others. In this emotional state, you may not be acting like yourself. In order to not abuse those close to you or ruin new relationships, whether business or personal, you will want to respond from a higher place within yourself. All we need to do is to take a deep breath before responding. In that moment we are able to take a step back, rise above the emotions and respond from a calmer place within us. It may take practice to do this consistently, but it will save hurt feelings and reduce unnecessary drama in your life. Before you interact with anyone today, remind yourself to take a deep breath before responding, and you may feel more centered and calm as you face the day.

Emotions color our thoughts as well as our actions, so it is important to learn to recognize when we are reacting from the influence of something other than our best judgment. Since our thoughts create our world, we want to consciously create the best experience we can. When we catch ourselves caught in negative-thought patterns, taking a deep and cleansing breath and connecting to our center helps us find forgiveness and balance. Making a habit of breathing before we think or act could help you live from the higher place within yourself all the time. Before reacting today, breathe deeply so that you can be your best self, regardless of the circumstances.

Happiness Is...

*taking Beren's children sailing for the first time, watching their joyful little selves bob along with the tide, listening to them laugh with delight when the waves splashed up over the bow of the boat

*honoring Earth Day out on the ocean, and again at home tending to my little garden

*a delicious portobello-mushroom-topped salad enjoyed at the sailing club restaurant; why does everything taste better after a day in the sun?

*a nap on the way home; since I was a little girl I've always fallen asleep in the car

*big goodbye hugs from sweet little girls....Life is Good!

A New Routine: Part 2

I spent about 9 hours cleaning and doing laundry yesterday. I don't know what the "normal" amount of time require for housekeeping is, but doesn't that sound like a lot? I was exhausted by the end of the day and needed a nap, which got me to thinking that there must be a better way. Barring hiring the aforementioned maid, of course. So, I started my own little system, inspired by Kali and various other homemaking gurus.

I got a three-ring binder and made two lists: one for daily routines, one for weekly. I wrote everthing out that needs to be accomplished, used the Paint program to add some cute little vintage graphics, and then inserted them into page protectors. Using a dry erase marker, I crossed of each task as I completed it. My goal is to do a bit each day instead of letting the castle get completely trashed and then killing myself fixing it. Evenutally I will add pages of monthy and seasonally, but for right now this gets me started.

Anyone use this type of system? Thoughts?

On My Hearth: Potato Soup

Beren's girls are here for the weekend so we're continuing on with our own little A-Z Veggie Adventure. We're up to the letter "F" which is a tricky one, have decided on fennel which, if eaten straight, might not appeal to them. So we are going to try Veggie Venture's Potato Soup which has just a hint of fennel. I'm going take the girls to Fresh Market this morning to pick out the ingredients and then let them help with the prep work. I think an important step to loving your food, especially vegetables, is being part of the whole process from selection to final cooking. I can't imagine anyone going into Fresh Market and not falling in love with veggies, their presentation is just so gorgeous!

Here's the recipe, I'll post a review after consumption! (I'll be using vegetable broth instead of chicken so the vegetarians in the castle can enjoy it).

POTATO SOUP

Hands-on time: 30 minutes
Time to table: 90 minutes
Makes 6 cups without and 7 cups with added cream/yogurt

4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon butter
3 leeks, cleaned (how to clean) and white/light green parts chopped fine
8 ounces fresh fennel, chopped fine
1 tablespoon garlic (from a jar, of course!)
2 tablespoons water
1 pound red-skinned potatoes, skins on, diced small
8 ounces carrot, peeled and diced small
1 tablespoon fresh herbs, chopped (the recipe specified tarragon which I think would have been perfect, certainly better than the savory I picked at the grocery)
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup half 'n' half (optional, I like the fat-free half'n'half in soups)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (optional)

Bring the broth to a boil in the microwave.

Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over MEDIUM HIGH. When it's hot, add the leeks and fennel as they're prepped, then the garlic and water. (Less butter is needed when water provides a tad more cooking liquid.) Cook until soft and pungent, about 10 minutes.

Add the potatoes, carrots and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to MEDIUM, cover and let cook unattended for about 30 minutes. Stir in the herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper and let cook another few minutes.

Now, choices:

* Eat as is, lots of lovely lumps of vegetables.
* Remove some of the vegetables with a slotted spoon and puree the rest, preferably right there in the pot with an immersion blender. Return the vegetables to the pot.
* Puree the whole darn pot.

Now more choices:

* If you're cooking ahead, stop here and refrigerate the soup to let the flavors meld. (A good choice.)
* Consider eating as is, without the added calories/fat of the cream and yogurt. At the very least, try it! Learn how it tastes without the richness and then decide. I decided to add a spoonful of richness on top, keeping the creaminess concentrated rather than diffused throughout -- this was more than satisfying.
* Or, add the cream and yogurt and let heat but do not allow to boil.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Per Cup (makes 6 cups), without cream and yogurt: 177 Cal (34% from Fat, 13% from Protein, 53% from Carb); 6 g Protein; 7 g Tot Fat; 4 g Sat Fat; 25 g Carb; 4 g Fiber; 99 mg Calcium; 2 mg Iron; 465 mg Sodium; 20 mg Cholesterol, Weight Watchers 3 points

Per Cup (makes 7 cups), with cream and yogurt: 148 Cal (31% from Fat, 14% from Protein, 54% from Carb); 5 g Protein; 5 g Tot Fat; 3 g Sat Fat; 21 g Carb; 3 g Fiber; 67 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 392 mg Sodium; 14 mg Cholesterol, Weight Watchers 3 points

Note: Yes, the nutrition math is right, at least I checked it twice. The difference is the change in the number of servings from the two versions.

ALANNA's TIPS

* Bringing the broth to a boil ahead of time saves a few minutes cooking time later. Skip this step if you're not in a hurry. That said, I often do it even when there's no hurry because it's quite often that the "active prep time" concludes at the same time the soup comes to a boil and can be left unattended.
* If you're going to puree the whole batch, then how large/small you chop the vegetables makes little difference.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE
VERY adapted from Bon Appetit, April 2003

Accountants Gone Wild

So, it was April 18, 1 day post D-Day for accountants, and the office was practically a ghost town. Half the staff took the day off to get reaquainted with their families, the rest of us showed up bleary-eyed and hung over from the office party the night before. We were all a little punchy, and pretty happy to be able to converse with each other in normal terms instead of the gritted-teeth hissing and under-breath mumbling that we'd been doing for the past couple of weeks. This conversation probably won't amuse anyone else but myself, but I'll share anyway.

Female co-worker: You know, my son wants to be a scientist yet my daughter wants to be a bus driver, I don't know about that girl. [shaking head in concern]

Me: Well, that's ok, I wanted to be a go-go dancer when I was a little girl; imagine how worried my Mom was!

Female co-worker: I wanted to be a stripper!

Me: oh, yeah! It's all about the shoes, isn't it? I just wanted a pair of those knee-high white boots that all the go-go dancers wore.

Female co-worker: yeah! Those were great, weren't they?

Male co-worker speaking up from the back of the room: You know, girls, it's not too late. I have plenty of single dollar bills; You both can fulfill your childhood fantasy!

Me: It's gonna one helluva office party next year! Do we think the conference room table can handle both of us dancing up there?

Suddenly we realize that one of the firm's partners is quietly doing some work at the copy machine....and ever-so-softly he says:

I'll bring the video camera.

And they say accountants are boring.

Now Showing at the Castle: Mozart and the Whale

I just watched this movie from Netflix and am now adding it to my Amazon wishlist. One viewing is simply not enough! From Wikipedia: The film tells the story of two people with Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism). Donald (Josh Hartnett) runs a small self-help group for people on the autistic spectrum who are more affected by their autism than he is. Isabelle (Radha Mitchell) is referred to the group by her therapist. Mozart and the Whale is a fictional account, using characters loosely based on the real-life relationship of Jerry Newport and Mary Meinel (now Mary Newport).

The costumes and sets in this film are gorgeous, the actors are just adorable. I want to watch it again slooooly just to devour those aspects.

The cool thing is that when I logged onto imdb I noticed that Jerry Newport posted his own positive comment about the film, certainly can't beat that review!

Now Playing at the Castle: Elizabeth Cook

I just saw this video on tv and am loving it! I can't wait to buy this gal's album, she's awesome! Great lyrics, it sure does "take balls to be a woman!"

Foodie Review: Perdue Perfect Portions

As much as it pains me to admit it, I find it hard to remain meat-free when dieting.I also find it harder to cook. I find that I crave carbs more and will find myself face-first in a bowl of pasta if I don't keep my meals simple: protein, veggies, limited dry carbs. This is how I lost 20 lbs 4 years ago: protein shakes for beakfast and then lunch consisted of chicken, salad, veggies, water..and wine. Well, I can't deprive myself of everything now, I can I? I wouldn't recommend this as a steady diet and as you can see I gained the weight back, but it did help to get the pounds off me and if I'd stuck to a moderated version of that eating plan I'd be fine. But, I digress...

I'm going to try to stick closer to the basics: whole foods, whole grains, lots of veggies. Of course I'll still post recipes; Beren and the kids have to eat now & then, too! But if you don't see a lot of cooking going on at my hearth, it's because I'm simpifying. So, that being said, let me tell you about the latest thing I've been devouring. These little Perdue Perfect Portions are amazing! Individually wrapped chicken breasts, measured out in the exact size for a meal, they are just awesome and only 3 POINTS each! I've been seasoning them myself (my store doesn't have the flavored ones yet), tossing one on my George Foreman grill, pairing it with a bag of Birds Eye Steamfresh veggies and I have a wonderful, low POINTS lunch or dinner in about 10 minutes. You absoluetely can't beat it.

Yippee! We Made It!

It's the end of tax season, thank the goddess! Though we still have lots of extensions to file, and there is always Quarterly input for the corporate clients, the hardest part is over. Today I'll go to work and tension will be lessened and tempers tamed. Since the office had a big ol' party last night there might be a few hangovers, but that's certainly preferable to overworked, exhausted accounts and their harried assistants.

Adios, Uncle Sam, see you next year!

Cast of Characters: Part 4

Finally, a pseudonym has come to me for my middle daughter. Lily, aka Witch Baby, from the Francesca Lia Block books that we all love so dearly.

Lily is wild and free, outspoken and honest to a fault, beautiful despite, or because of, her black snarlball hair and purple tilty eyes. To say that she is unique is an understatement. When I asked her why she loves Lily so much she replied, "she sees what people run away from...she takes pictures of what they don't want to see." This is true. There is no hiding from this child. She demands honesty, challenges me to think the hardest, feel the most, uncover the dark places in myself and "deal with it." Every day she delights me even when I'm exasperated by her energy and spirit. From the moment she was born she has made an impact on the world, she is strong and passionate and I look on with wonder and awe at the woman she is becoming.

So there she is, my daughter, my middle-heart, my "Lily."

On My Hearth: Individual Ham, Cheese and Veggie Frittatas

I have had this recipe on my hearth for a while but never got around to making it; I finally did so last night and just enjoyed one for breakfast. Very tasty and low in POINTS!


Individual Ham, Cheese and Veggie Frittatas

POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 0 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Whip up a batch of these mini frittatas on a Sunday night and you’ve got breakfast ready to go for the work week. Just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds and enjoy.

Ingredients

* 2 sprays cooking spray
* 1 pound frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
* 4 large egg(s), beaten
* 1 Tbsp fat-free skim milk
* 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
* 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
* 2 oz cooked lean ham, finely chopped
* 1/8 cup sweet red pepper(s), finely chopped (2 Tbsp)
* 1/8 cup green pepper(s), finely chopped (2 Tbsp)
* 2 Tbsp onion(s), finely chopped
* 1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

* Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 8 muffin tin holes with cooking spray. Spread potatoes around bottom and press potato up sides of each muffin hole; place in oven and cook for 10 minutes.

* Meanwhile, beat eggs and milk together in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add ham, peppers, onion and cheese to bowl; mix to combine.

* Remove potatoes from oven (after cooking for 10 minutes) and press potatoes down firmly with a spoon so that they are spread out like mini piecrusts (potatoes should cover bottom and sides of each hole). Pour about 1/4 cup of egg mixture into the center of each muffin hole.

* Return pan to oven and cook until potatoes are crisp and golden, and the egg mixture is set, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit about 5 minutes before serving. Yields 1 frittata per serving.


© 2007 Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Today's Inspiration: All About You

Care2 sent me the coolest thing today! Just plug in your birthdate and this awesome calculator will tell you your sacred Tree, your special animal, your Native American zodiac sign, your birthstone, the phase of the moon when you were born--and lots, lots more. Oh, and it'll tell you how many seconds you've been alive! This birthday calculator is worth passing around.

Bad "Carma"

Today is one of those days that simply requires a do-over. Nothing life threatening or even earth-shattering, simply annoying things that threw me into a tailspin.

I had a restless night's sleep and woke up late to find that my car wouldn't start and since it's still under extended warranty, I had it towed to the dealer. The sweetheart of a tow truck driver was just out here a few weeks ago to have my daughter's truck towed to the shop, and he remembered us. He shook his head and commented on my "bad auto luck," to which I replied, "yes, I must have bad karma." Kali groaned in the background..the pun was unintended but kinda humorous nonetheless. Bad Car-ma indeed. So, since the dealer had no time to even look at it today, I am housebound and will rely on Kali and Sam to transport me to work tomorrow.

Also, it's the final days of tax season, and I work for an accountant. Needless to say, work is hell. Nerves are raw, tempers are quick, and the barrage of take-in lunch does not help my diet. (I am proud to say I resisted the chicken wings & fries today, thank you very much.)

Last but not least, I got a notice in the mail informing me that my health insurance is going up again, $60 more per month. Damn! I guess they resented having to pay for my surgery last month, huh?

On a good note, though, I was able to have a nice phone conversation with my friend Silke. She's just started a new blog and I'm so excited for her! She's such an amazing writer and a very good friend, she always cheers me up and makes me laugh.

So, that's the Monday I've had. I'm sure that tomorrow will be better, right?

On My Wish List:: a Bento Box

I'm suddenly completely intrigued with these Bento Boxes (aka tiffins) since seeing them first at Vegan Lunchbox and most recently at Andrea in a Weight Watchers Whirl. I've since googled bento box and found tons & tons of blogs referencing them, whew! They are just so pretty, and practical, and earth-friendly! Now, I don't know when I would use it because I never take my lunch to work, but I want one! I'm thinking that perhaps I could use it just to store my daily planned foods, even if just for home. Is that silly? Am I making up an excuse just to own one of these pretty little things? And if so, since when did silliness stop me from doing anything?

I've Been Tagged Wikipedia Meme

I've been tagged! Patty from Morning Ramble tagged me for this Wikipedia MeMe. What fun! This is the way it works:

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in the month and day you were born. (For me--August 20th).

2. List three events that occurred that day:

1866 - President Andrew Johnson formally declared the U.S. Civil War over.
1938 - Lou Gehrig hits his 23rd career grand slam - a record that still stands.
1991 - Collapse of the Soviet Union: More than 100,000 people rally outside the Soviet Union's parliament building protesting the coup aiming to depose President Mikhail Gorbachev.

3. List two important birthdays:

1881 - Edgar Guest, English poet (d. 1959)
1918 - Jacqueline Susann, American novelist (d. 1974)

4. List one death:

1643 - Anne Hutchinson, English Puritan preacher (b. 1591)

5. Tag five friends to do the same: (If they want to!)

k.dee.R<3oso at cierva-veza.verde.
Aisling at The Quiet Country House.
Nan at Letters from a Hill Farm.
Mother of Invention at Spilling Out!
Abigail and/or Becky at Just Another Quick Question.

A Veggie Venture!

Alanna over at A Veggie Venture (one of my favorite blogs!) is offering an opportunity to win free veggie cookbooks! One of the requirements is that you post a recipe on your blog (if you have one) and since I've already done that on my old blog, I'm going to do it again!

Alanna is the inspiration for what Beren and I are doing in our own kitchen: to assist his children in finding new veggies that they love and to eat more healthfully, we are working our way through the veggie alphabet, trying new recipes each weekend that they are here. The girls seem to be enjoying this little adventure; now when they arrive they ask us which "letter" we're up to this week! (We are on "F", by the way, and will be trying fennel next weekend)

One of the first recipes I tried was the Spinach & Artichoke Gratin (focusing on the Artichokes), thinking that the best way to get kids to eat vegetables was to add some cheese to them. This has been very effective so far and this recipe was definitely enjoyed by all.

SPINACH & ARTICHOKE GRATIN

Hands-on time: 20 minutes
Oven time: 25 minutes - 45 minutes (see ALANNA's TIPS)
Makes 8 cups

16 ounces frozen chopped spinach, cooked in salted water and drained
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (reduced from 8 tablespoons)
1 large onion, diced
14 ounce can artichokes, drained, tough bits cut off, chopped
4 ounce jar pimento, drained (optional but provides nice color contrast)
1/2 cup sour cream (reduced from 2 cups/1 pint)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Cook the spinach. While it cooks, heat a large, deep skillet on MEDIUM, add the butter until it softens. Add the onion and saute until soft and golden. Add the artichokes and let cook together for a couple of minutes. Stir in the spinach and the remaining ingredients. Transfer to a lightly greased two-quart casserole dish. Transfer to oven for 25 minutes (so says the inspiring recipe). Otherwise, refrigerate, remove from frig about an hour before going into the oven and cook for about 45 minutes or until very hot and bubbly through the middle.

ALANNA's TIPS

* The recipe recommends 25 minutes in the oven if baked right away while the ingredients are still warm. I made it in advance, took it out of the frig for an hour before going into the oven, it was hot through the middle in 45 minutes.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE
Adapted from The Artist in the Kitchen (although out of print) from the St Louis Art Museum

On My Hearth: Carmela's Lasagna with Basil Leaves

I have posted this recipe before on my old blog, but in case anyone missed it, it's worth a re-post. Since making this for the first time last summer, it's been my favorite lasagna of all time. The fresh basil, picked from my herb garden, is such a nice touch, really adds a special flavor to the dish. I do not use Carmela's meat sauce, though, because I want to keep it vegetarian-friendly; instead I just use some Newman's Own sauce in whatever variety strikes my fancy.

This recipe is from Entertaining with the Sopranos.

CARMELA'S LASAGNA WITH BASIL LEAVES

1 lb. dried lasagna
5 to 6 cups meat sauce
2 lbs. ricotta
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano
1 large bunch basil, leaves removed, rinsed and dried
12 oz. fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

1. In a large pot, bring 4 quarts salted water to a boil. Add a few pieces of lasagna and cook, stirring gently, until tender but slightly underdone. Scoop the pasta out of the water with a sieve, and cool it in a bowl of cold water. Cook remaining pasta. When cool enough to handle, lay the lasagna out flat on lint-free (not terry cloth) kitchen towels.

2. In a bowl, beat the ricotta and salt and pepper to taste.

3. Spread a thin layer of the sauce in a 9-in. by 13-in. baking pan. Place a few sheets of lasagna in the pan in a single layer, overlapping slightly. Spread evenly with about one-third of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. of the grated cheese. Make a layer of basil leaves and another of mozzarella slices on top. Make two more layers the same way. Top with a final layer of lasagna, sauce and remaining grated cheese. (The lasagna can be made ahead to this point. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight.)

4. Place a rack in the centre of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

5. Bake the lasagna for 45 minutes. If the lasagna is browning too much, cover it loosely with foil. Bake 15 minutes more (longer if it has been refrigerated), or until top is browned and sauce is bubbling around the edges. Let stand 15 minutes. Cut into squares and serve. Serves 8 to 10.

• • • • •

MEAT SAUCE

Use in the lasagna recipe.

1 medium onion, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 Tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. sweet Italian-style sausage, casings removed
1 lb. ground beef sirloin
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 35-oz. can Italian peeled tomatoes, chopped
1 28-oz. can tomato puree
6 fresh basil leaves, torn into bits

1. In a large saucepan, cook the onion and garlic in the oil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes.

2. Stir in the sausage meat. Add the beef and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring often, until the meat is nicely browned and crumbly. Tip pan and discard fat.

3. Add the tomatoes and tomato puree, then add about 1/2 cup water to each can and swirl it around to rinse out the can. Add the liquid to the pan, along with salt and pepper to taste. Partially cover the pan and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened and the oil has separated from the tomatoes, about 1 1/2 hours.

4. Stir in the basil and cook 5 minutes more.

5. Serve immediately.

Today's Inspiration: Empowerment

I just love my horoscope today! My friend Jersey often reminds me to "fake it 'til you make it" on those days when I am feeling gloomy and don't wanna get out of bed. She's almost always right: once I get moving, acting "as if" I'm positive and feeling strong, those very feelings will soon follow. The fact that I can control those feelings/emotions and how I respond to them. is incredibly empowering to me.

(note: above photo courtesy of Beren)

April 13, 2007
Formidable Empowerment
Leo Daily Horoscope

A sense of empowerment may surge through you today, helping you feel formidable when dealing with others. Even if you don't initially feel it, by projecting self-confidence and inner strength you will convince others. Since they are likely to take you seriously and act accordingly, you may begin to feel the confidence you had previously been only pretending to feel. Confidence and empowerment are mental choices, so you may have to convince yourself by acting as if you already posess the feelings you want to have. Today you are able to convince yourself and others of the truth of your confidence and inner strength.

Positive thinking, the use of affirmations, and our imaginations are powerful tools in building our dreams. When we spend time imagining how success feels, or the joy of sharing our abundance with loved ones, our mind begins to believe it. When we can convince our minds that such things are possible, we have made the first step in making them our reality. As with any energy, this works in the negative as well. This is why it is important to keep our thoughts positive. We have the same power to create and experience negative outcomes as positive ones; it is up to us. As cocreators of the universe and of our lives, we are truly formidable and powerful beings. Today as you affirm that truth and feel it deeply, you are able to convince yourself and others of your power over your happiness and success.

Cast of Characters: Part 3

Since neither of my youngest daughters have been inspired to choose a "character" for my blog (apparently the nasty business of school and work consumes them), I'll move along and come back to them later.

Ex-husband #1 and I share such a long, complicated history; it would take a novel-length post to tell our story! In a nutshell: he and Beren are best friends, have been for 35 years now. I dated Beren first, way back in the day when we were young and wild and a little bit crazy. When circumstances drove us apart, I had the good fortune to be "taken care of" by this amazing man who I went on to marry and create a child with. The marriage didn't last, but the friendship did, and it has only gotten stronger and deeper as we have co-parented and befriended each other through the years. He is a wonderful, passionate father who really opens his heart..a rare find in a man nowadays. He has been "with" me through thick and thin, the subsequent break-up of my second marriage and everything that lead up to it. Several years ago he gave me an amazing gift: he and Kali orchestrated a meeting between myself and Beren, the first time we'd laid eyes on each other in 20-something years. They had no idea what would happen, only that I still had feelings for Beren that I needed to explore further or put closure to. The rest is history, as they say, but I have the greatest admiration for this man who loved me, and his friend, enough to give us his blessing. When the rest of the world looked on in shock and disbelief at the situation, my ex-husband showed grace and dignity and acceptance. He was one of our few "cheerleaders," never losing hope that we would make it, that it would all work out. I can't speak for him, but I know that I feel completely loved by him in the most pure, sincere way, and I believe that Beren feels the same.

So, that's the condensed version of the story, and my introduction to Strider..a/ka/ Aragorn..ex-husband to me, best friend to Beren, father of Kali. He says that he chose Strider because he is heroic & chivilrous, and I think that describes him perfectly.

On My Hearth: Black Bean Soup

I happened to find this recipe on the back of the Bush's canned beans, just whipped it up for a quick dinner. I substituted veggie broth for the chicken to make it vegetarian, didn't add the garnishes because I wanted to save the POINTS. I did serve it with a bit of brown rice, though, which helped to "bulk up" the dish. It was very tasty, and couldn't be easier to prepare!

Since the only thing I'm counting is the beans & rice, I calculated this at 5.5 WW POINTS. (1 cup black beans, 1/2 cup brown rice)

Black Bean Soup

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

2 cans (15 ounces) BUSH's BEST Black Beans, undrained
1 can (16 ounces) reduced sodium chicken broth
½ cup salsa
1 tablespoon chili powder
Shredded cheese (optional)
Sour cream (optional)
Chopped onion (optional)
Cilantro (optional)

Mash one can of beans with potato masher or food processor. Pour both cans of beans into medium saucepan. Add chicken broth, salsa, and chili powder. Bring to a boil. If desired top with shredded cheese, sour cream, onion, and cilantro.

An Eeyore Sort of Day

Yesterday was what I call an Eeyore sort of day. Now, Eeyore happens to be my favorite Pooh character but I don't want to be him, you know? I was gloomy all day, just could not shake myself out of the funk I was in. Beren was out of town, my girls were all busy, I was lonely & feeling sorry for myself. So, what do you think I did? I ate my way through the gloomies. Yep, that's just what I did. I stopped counting POINTS after the 2nd WW ice cream bar and the 3 handfuls of chips. So much for willpower, huh?

So, this morning I woke up feeling like crap, disappointed in myself, but instead of continuing on the binge I got my lazy butt out of bed early and walked. All day today I've been guzzling my water and staying OP. I don't know if it'll undo yesterday's damage, but at least I am trying. I feel better already.

So, that's my sad little story. "Thanks for noticin'"

Happiness Is...

*taking an afternoon nap flanked by my two favorite black kitties (photo above is of Jezebel)

*the new Alice Hoffman book, which I'm about halfway through!

*preparing myself a special dinner, even if I'm the only one home to enjoy it

*Watching The Soprano's with Beren last night, just love this whole Tivo thing!

*ironing..as much as I hate to clean, I really do enjoy ironing, especially doing Beron's work shirts. The smell of starch on the crisp cotton..just love it.

A New Routine?

I have said it before and I'll say it again: I hate to clean. Really, really hate it. Most of us do, I'm sure, there are few women who really get off on housekeeping. I also hate a dirty house and my OCD tendencies kick in when things are untidy, I can't function in messes. Since I lack the funds to hire someone to do my dirty work, I've got to don my cleaning gloves and take care of it myself.

Now, I find that a routine, a system, makes the process easier and more manageable. I've sought advice from dozens of houskeeping books/websites/Yahoo lists, and had quite a good system down while I was a full-time homemaker and part-time business owner. Now that I work out of the home, though, I have less time to dedicate to my humble abode and must revamp my routine. So, where to start?

I know that the current "favorite" is the Flylady but I have some issues with her methods, the Leo in me cannot stand to be told what to do a dozen times a day via e-mail reminders. I am however leaning toward my own version of her "control journal," actually inspired by my daughter Kali. I'm still working out the details, though, and find myself at a standstill.

What I'd like from you, dear readers, is some input here. Do you have a system that works fabulously for you? Can you share the secrets to your spotless kitchen counters and gleaming floors? How do you find the time to balance caring for your home and family while still pursuing your own passions? I know it can be done, I've gotten close before. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to bring the castle back to it's shining glory, anybody with me?

Today's Inspiration: Willpower

April 10, 2007
Willpower Partnership
Leo Daily Horoscope
"Today may find you asserting your willpower to accomplish your objectives. By being focused and persistent in the visualization of your goals, you make the first steps toward their creation. Combined with your single-minded actions, you can take the additional steps needed to close the gap between you and your dreams. You may be feeling unrelenting, but there is no need to force the universe to create the life we imagine for ourselves, because it is already on our side. Rather than forcing something into being, we can work with the universe, cooperating in the dance of creation. By not attempting to do everything ourselves, and instead working with the energy of the universe, we are able to make use of the infinite organizing power available to us. Today we work toward our dreams, knowing that focus and trust in the universe are the best possible tools. "

Wow, today's horoscope really hit me! I have been focused and persistent in my goals lately, especially in relation to my health & weight loss. There comes a time in every process when I feel a shift, a little loosening, the struggle gets just a tiny bit easier. I can see a bit of progress, and then I get into the "zone" where I am determined and much less likely to slide back into bad habits. Usually this happens when I start to see the scale move, it's just enough motivation to keep me going. That's where I am this morning, and it's a really good feeling!

My new favorite inspiration, Steve Pavlina, has something to say about willpower as well, but be sure to check out the rest of his article because he goes on to explain how to make willpower work for you, specifically in the realm of dieting.

What Is Willpower?

Willpower is your ability to set a course of action and say, “Engage!”

Willpower provides an intensely powerful yet temporary boost. Think of it as a one-shot thruster. It burns out quickly, but if directed intelligently, it can provide the burst you need to overcome inertia and create momentum.

Willpower is the spearhead of self-discipline. To use a World War II analogy, willpower would be D-Day, the Normandy Invasion. It was the gigantic battle that turned the tide of the war and got things moving in a new direction, even though it took another year to reach VE Day (Victory in Europe). To make that kind of effort every day of the war would have been impossible.

Willpower is a concentration of force. You gather up all your energy and make a massive thrust forward. You attack your problems strategically at their weakest points until they crack, allowing you enough room to maneuver deeper into their territory and finish them off.

Today's Inspiration: Forgiveness

I've been working on forgiveness, and "letting go" lately, so this article on Care2 really hit home with me. I know that by doing this I will become a stronger, happier, more loving person, it does me no good to harbor anger and resentment. Anger and bitterness is so terribly draining, and the more I let go the more energy I have for more important things in life such as loving my family & friends. I don't have to keep the "offending" person in my life anymore, I can choose not to spend time with those who have hurt me deeply and with whom I've decided to part ways, but I need to do so with a peaceful, loving heart.

Move from Blame to Forgiveness

Adapted from Becoming the Kind Father, by Calvin Sandborn (New Society Publishers, 2007).

Shakespeare had it right. In ways both big and small, the failure to forgive kills love and murders beauty. An unforgiving attitude makes life far less loving and beautiful than it could be. Move from blame to forgiveness, and here’s how:

It is much more satisfying to experience your feelings than to blame them on somebody else. You can move through your feelings--even bad ones--to real connection with yourself and others. And because of this you can learn to:

1. become a good friend and a Kind Father (or mother) to myself;
2. give myself encouragement and support, instead of habitual criticism;
3. pay attention to my feelings and identify what it is that I’m feeling;
4. experience my feelings fully, mourning fully;
5. share my heart experience with others and experience the connection of listening to their experience.

Learning to do this will help you become more forgiving. You don’t have to get angry and blame others to escape your feelings--because now you’ll welcome your feelings. In short, establishing a relationship with yourself will help free you from the blaming lifestyle.

The dictionary defines forgiveness: “To stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone for an offence, flaw or mistake.”

Experts tell us that forgiveness is:
1. Letting go of a negative attachment to the past.
2. Letting go of the intense emotions tied to the past event--recognizing I no longer need to hold onto grudges, resentments, hatred and self pity.
3. Recognizing people are different, want and need different things and sometimes hurt each other.
4. No longer blaming the other person for my feelings.
5. No longer wanting to punish, realizing that punishing another will not heal me.
6. Moving on. Freeing my energy, and putting it to better use.

Copyright: Adapted from Becoming the Kind Father, by Calvin Sandborn (New Society Publishers, 2007). Copyright (c) 2007 by Calvin Sandborn. Reprinted by permission of New Society Publishers.

Weekly Weigh-In

The nice little scale reflects a 1 pound loss this week! Not as much as I'd like but I'll surely take it!

My goal this week is to exercise at least 4 days, I know that helps speed my weight loss immensely and just generally makes me feel better physically and emotionally.

Happiness Is...

*big, new, fluffy white bath towels, bought on sale at Macy's last night. They look so pretty stacked in my black & white linen closet!

*Beren cooking breakfast on Sunday morning, adding a splash of Kahlua to my coffee

*developing a long-lost roll of film, being taken back to 3 1/2 years ago, pre-divorce when life was oh-so-different. I miss my girls at that age, but I am so grateful that we're not living that moment anymore. We're all so much happier now.

*a slightly cool breeze blowing through the open window by my desk

*a giant Swallowtail butterfly perched on the Dutchman's Pipe vine, right next to a fat caterpillar. Butterfly season has arrived!

My Dirty Little Secret

I have to tell you about my latest obsession, something I do at least daily and can't seem to get enough of. Ready? I am suddenly, hopelessly in love with the fabulous ladies of How Clean is Your House? Kim and Abbie made me laugh out loud with their antics and inspire me with their cleaning tips. (Who knew that lemons and salt were so powerful?!) Fortuntely I'm a latecomer to their show so I have lots to catch up on, and the power of TiVo so I never miss an episode!

Now, I have been lusting after their ever-so-fabulous rubber gloves and am on a mission to have a pair of my very own. Lo and behold, just this morning I found some! Carolyn's Kitchen carries a whole bunch of adorable vintage-inspired gloves & aprons, right up my alley! Absolutely adorable, Kim & Abbie would definitely approve.

On My Hearth: Penne Rigate with Chik'n

I found this recipe on the box of a Ronzoni Healthy Harvest pasta box. The original recipe is here, but I've changed things up just a bit to make it vegetarian.

First off, instead of the fresh onion & peppers, I used a bag of frozen mixed peppers & onion I had on hand. Since I'm foregoing chicken for now, I substituted the chicken breasts for Morningstar Farms® Meal Starters™ Chik'n Strips and one other small change is that I used two cans of seasoned diced tomatoes in lieu of the pasta sauce. I followed the rest of the recipe as directed, tho. I must say, it turned out delicious! I'm very pleased with the ease & conveniece of the redux and the final result was a tasty, hearty meal that the vegetarians in my house can also enjoy!

Penne Rigate with Chicken

Ingredients:
1 pkg. RONZONI HEALTHY HARVEST® Penne Rigate
1 each: yellow pepper, onion and garlic clove, chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 jar Pasta Sauce (your favorite flavor)
3 grilled or cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley or basil

Directions:
1. Cook Penne Rigate according to package directions.
2. Sauté pepper, onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in pasta sauce, chicken and parsley. Simmer 2-3 minutes.
3. Serve sauce over Penne Rigate.

Total Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

On My Hearth: Boiled Eggs

Like many others, my hearth will be busy boiling eggs today. I have at least 8 family members who'll most likely want to dye them, and since most of those folks are very artistic, they really get into the process and require many "canvasses" for their art! So I bought 4 dozen eggs today and will commence with the process.

From goodegg.com, here's the recipe for the "perfect boiled egg."

The Classic
Hard Boiled Egg

The simple, classic Boiled Egg, is indeed one of the finest and easiest edible delights known on earth, with just 70 calories, and full of nature’s most perfect form of protein.

While there are many ways of preparing Boiled Eggs, we suggest below the directions for making eggs which are the easiest to peel and which will not have the dark green discolored coating on the yolk (see step 2 for tips to help avoid the green discoloration).

Extremely fresh eggs will not peel easily. In fact, an egg that is just a day or two old is almost impossible to peel. As eggs age, the shells will peel more easily. It is advisable that eggs used for hard cooking (including Easter Eggs) be at least 2 weeks old before cooking for easiest peeling. Hard cooked eggs that are cooked slowly over low heat (and not ‘boiled’) will be more difficult to peel.

Directions for Large Eggs:
1. Place eggs in a saucepan with enough COLD tap water to cover completely by 1 inch. Bring to a ROLLING boil over HIGH heat. Once the water is brought to a rolling boil, PROMPTLY reduce heat to a lower medium boil and cook an additional 10 minutes for a “hard boiled” egg. For a “soft boiled” egg reduce the time by a few minutes.

2. Remove from heat and IMMEDIATELY place eggs under ice cold water or in a bowl of ICED water to chill promptly to help yolks stay bright yellow. Chill for a few minutes in the cold water until the egg is completely cooled. This is an extremely important step which prevents the greenish “ring” from forming on the surface of the yolk over time. If the egg is not chilled immediately after cooking an unsightly dark greenish ring will eventually appear on the outside of the yolk.

3. To peel...crack on all sides, roll egg between hands to loosen shell,and remove shell. Enjoy, with a light sprinkling of salt if desired.

To serve in egg cup, place egg in cup small end down, slice off large end of egg with knife or egg scissors and eat from shell with spoon.

Refrigeration is necessary for hard boiled eggs if they eggs are not to be consumed within a few hours.


Refrigerated boiled eggs, kept in the shell, can be kept for up to 1 week.

Now Playing at the Castle: R. Carlos Nakai

I've been listening to Carlos Nakai for years now, since the 90's when "nature music" was so popular. He simply mesmerizes me with his flute, find it both haunting and uplifting at the same time. Continuing my focus on Native American spirituality, I found this video to be particularly inspiring.

Cast of Characters Part 2

Since I wrote about these two women in my last post, I should probably describe them more completely.

"The story of the Celtic goddess Rhiannon reminds us of the healing power of humor, tears, and forgiveness. The goddess Rhiannon is a goddess of movement and change who remains steadfast, comforting us in times of crisis and of loss."

My best friend, Rhiannon, has known me for 24 years now..before babies, before divorces, when I was first married to Kali's father. I announced my pregnancy on the day of Rhiannon's wedding shower, and it was to her house I would go when I had terrible cravings (for lemons!) and wasn't able to get to the store to fulfill them. She has been my friend through the best of times, and the worst of times. She is one of the few people in the world who know my deepest darkest secrets, my faults and foibles, and love me anyway. During my 1st divorce she introduced me to the hot young "fling" who reminded me of how beautiful and special I was, truly a gift at that time in my life. I was the maid of honor at her 2nd wedding, and she at mine. During my 2nd divorce she sent me a greeting card every single day for weeks & weeks, and would call me incessantly to make sure I'd gotten out of bed, that I was taking care of myself, etc. She helped save me, truly she did, and for that I am eternally grateful. Though we have changed so much over the years, and there are times we don't always see eye to eye, our relatonship prevails. She is more than a friend..she is a sister to me, and I can't imagine my life without her.




Then there's my Mom, who was nicknamed "Sam" by someone years ago, and therefore she wanted to name me Samantha. (My grandmother stepped in and vetoed that, and the rest is history.) Though it had nothing to do with Samantha on Bewitched, I always identified the name with her so here goes. (Besides, "Sam" my Mom did her share of *bewitching* men and can still turn heads wherever she goes!) She is stronger than any woman I've ever met, has taught me everything I need to know about life, about love, about mothering..she made sure that I didn't settle, that I had high standards in everything, that I was always a lady (well, almost always) and that I knew how to fight for what I believe in. From her I got my fericious mothering and my independence, and on a lighter note, my insatiable love of shoes! When I was a teenager she was the "cool mom," driving around in her sexy Camaro, always trim, always stylish, always beautiful. She didn't look a thing like all the other Moms at the private Baptist school, let me tell you! She has always been there for me, no matter what messes I've gotten myself into. She's an incredible mom and grandma and I love her dearly.

So, there you go, two more of the phenomenal women in my life. I am so blessed!