On My Hearth: Southwestern Chicken Soup

it's a dreary, rainy day here in Florida, perfect weather for a nice bowl of soup. I'll be using veggie "chicken" strips in place of the real meat, vegetable broth instead of chicken.

Southwestern Chicken Soup
from The Best Slowcooker Cookbook Ever by Natalie Haughton

This delicious main-course soup flavored with corn, tomatoes, red and green peppers, and chicken breast strips is a breeze to make, thanks to several convenient canned items. Cumin, added at the end of the cooking time, gives the soup extra zip. Accompany the soup with a fruit salad and slices of peasant bread, and dinner is on.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can diced peeled tomatoes
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
1 (16-ounce) package frozen corn kernels, partially thawed
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Seasoned salt

1. In a 5-quart electric slow cooker, mix together the broth, tomatoes with their liquid, green chiles, corn, red and green peppers, onion, chicken strips, and garlic pepper.

2. Cover and cook on the high heat setting 1 hour. Reduce the heat to the low setting and continue cooking 3 to 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Stir in the ground cumin and season with the seasoned salt to taste. Serve immediately.

Today's Inspiration: Black Dog

Perhaps because I'm still smarting from Jezebel's adventure a while back, or mourning with my friend who had to put his cat to sleep the other day, or maybe I'm just missing my wolves and need to plan a trip to visit them again..but either way, today I read this poem and immediately missed our dog Cody who passed away 3.5 years ago. I don't want another dog at this point in my life, truly I don't, but this poem almost makes me almost change my mind. We always had black dogs and should I ever change my mind I'll certainly seek that ebony fur again.

"Black Dog" by James DenBoer, from Stonework.

Black Dog

Nothing goes on in his head.
It all goes on in his glands,
his muscles, his nose.
He chases every squirrel
every time he sees one,
barks and lunges at every cat;
he'd eat every bit of garbage
on the road if I didn't snap his lead hard.
He doesn't care in a way I can't.
He doesn't confuse past with present;
his only language is what's now
and under his black pads.
He's the perfect one, in fact,
to talk with, in the rain and wind
of January, when winter needs talking to
and writing down to bone-cold.
As with the many names of God,
I repeat his name often-he doesn't know
my name, he doesn't know this
is winter, he doesn't know
he could kill me with those teeth.
He listens to my chatter, my hum,
my chikk-chikk like a squirrel;
my noises keep him interested
and unworried. He scribbles
along the scent of air, his nails click
on wet black stones, he pulls his way
toward red lights on Fair Oaks Avenue,
he leads me back to start.

Weekly Weigh-In

Here is a picture of me taken December 14 of last year at my office holiday party, I was at my highest non-pregnant weight ever. Not great, right? But that was then, and now it's a new year, time for fresh starts. I understand that the number 8 is all about new beginnings so it seems a perfect time to make necessary and desired changes in my life. Weight loss is just one of them, but more of that later.

So, today I went to my Weight Watchers meeting, one week after re-joining. It's been a rather tough week stress-wise and I'm sure I made some less-than-perfect food choices as a result of that but all in all I thought I'd done pretty well. I focused on whole foods, lots of fresh fruits & veggies, and tried to keep the snacking to a minimum, especially at night. I drank tons of water and a bit less wine than I would've liked to...grin..and apparently my hard work paid off because the scale showed a 3.6 pound loss! Whoo-hoo! It's a really good start, I think, but I realize that it's not a practical weekly loss; from here on I will be lucky to get rid of 2 pounds a week. Since there are 23 weeks until Kali's wedding, even if I lose only 1 pound per week I'll be in great shape!

Yeah, I'm pretty happy today, TGIF!!

P.S. Hope you all don't mind, I'm going to post about my weight loss journey here instead of my other blog, just feel the need to pull different aspects of my life together right now rather than compartmentalize.

Today's Inspiration: Declaring Our Intentions

I really love today's Om because for years now I have been declaring New Year's intentions rather than resolutions - a much nicer word and doesn't carry all of the baggage of past failures, you know?

I have pondered my intentions for the past week, dwelling on what's really important to me instead of making flippant promises to myself that I probably won't keep. Now I'm ready to write out my intentions and am placing them on my altar. With help & guidance from the Universe in 2008 I intend to:

*achieve better health by exercising often, eating more whole foods and less processed junk

*gain more financial wealth by saving more and spending less

*foster stronger, closer relationships with my family & friends

*live mindfully and lovingly each & every day


That's really it, if I accomplish those things I will have less stress and more joy, no doubt about it.

Anyone else care to share their New Year's intentions?

January 10, 2008
Declaring Our Intentions
Ready For Change

There comes a point in most of our lives when we feel ready to experience a change we’ve had trouble carrying out. Maybe we’ve been stuck in a home, a relationship, job, or a town that hasn’t felt right for a long time, but we’ve been unable to shift our circumstances in the direction we want to go. At times like this, it can help to declare to the universe that we are ready for a change. Think of it as informing a helpful friend that you need her assistance to move to the next level in your life. If the time is right, the universe will respond with opportunities and offers designed to help you create the change you wish to see.

You can begin the process of making your declaration by getting clear within yourself about what exactly you want to change. Whenever we ask anyone for help, they can assist us that much better if we are specific. The universe also appreciates our clarity and has an easier time answering a direct communication than a vague yearning. When you are clear on what you want, write your declaration on a piece of paper and place it on your altar, if you have one. If you don’t, you can also place it under your pillow or in a box on your nightstand. Set aside a period of time every day to be silent with your wishes for change, repeating your declaration like a mantra. This lets the universe know that you are ready to change and will be receptive to its efforts.

Feel free to continue to refine and redefine your declaration, and remember to be open to the many different ways in which the change you seek might come to be. Remember also to be active in your own efforts, taking opportunities that come your way, watching for signs, and always taking responsibility for your intentions. If things don’t happen quickly, try not to be discouraged; it might take time to free up energy that has been blocked and possibly serving a purpose beyond what we can understand. If you continue your conversation with the universe, declaring yourself clearly and openly, you cannot help but experience the magic of changing and being changed.

Happy Birthday, Elvis....

I hope that wherever you are you are celebrating in style! I'll never forget my 6th birthday, spent it at the Miami Beach Convention Center, standing on a folding chair flanked by my mom, so that I could get a better view of YOU! I was madly in love...sigh....only wish I could've had the pleasure again as an adult but I go on record as being the only one of my friends who ever got to see you. Quite an honor indeed.

On My Hearth: Moroccan Slow-Cooker Stew

I've been eating really well the past few days, lots of fruits & veggies I've never tried before (Payaya and Pomegranate, for example), so I'm going to continue on and with a new-to-me squash! You know how much I love spicy food so this recipe sounds right up my alley.

Moroccan Slow-Cooker Stew

POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 365 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Though delicious on its own, our cumin-scented stew can also please heartier appetites when spooned over whole wheat couscous and sprinkled with minced cilantro.

Ingredients

* 1 sprays cooking spray
* 1 small onion(s), chopped
* 1 medium garlic clove(s), minced
* 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes*
* 1 cup carrot(s), baby
* 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
* 1/2 cup vegetable broth
* 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp ground cumin
* 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
* 15 oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
* 1/2 tsp table salt

Instructions

* Coat a small skillet with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic; sauté for 5 minutes.

* Place squash in a 3-quart or larger slow cooker (crockpot). Add sauteed onion and garlic, carrots, tomatoes, broth, cinnamon, cumin and red pepper flakes. Cover and turn on to low heat; simmer for 6 hours.

* Add chickpeas and salt. Stir, cover and heat for an additional 5 minutes. Yields about 1 1/3 cups per serving.

Notes

* *Partially cooking a hard-shell squash makes it easier to peel. Pierce the gourd in several places with a fork, microwave on HIGH for 6 to 10 minutes, depending on size, and then peel.

Top with plain, fat-free Greek yogurt to help cut the spice (may affect POINTS values).

On My Hearth: Spaghetti Squash Marinara

As I told Julie, I loooovve spaghetti squash! I've just recently started cooking various squashes, have never experimented before. I wonder if it's because of where we live, squash is not popular here in the tropics? I have a butternut squash here at well, will be preparing that in the coming days.

Beren and I are taking his girls out for pizza on the beach tonight but I really don't want pizza so I'll eat this beforehand, have a small salad and a glass of wine at the pizza joint.

Spaghetti Squash Marinara

POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 40 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

A classic Italian-inspired recipe with one delicious and waistline-friendly change: spaghetti squash instead of pasta!

Ingredients

* 1 medium raw spaghetti squash, (about 2 1/2 lb)
* 1 tsp olive oil
* 1 small onion(s), chopped
* 1 tsp garlic clove(s), minced
* 14 1/2 oz canned stewed tomatoes, cut up
* 1 tsp Italian seasoning
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

* Preheat oven to 350ºF.

* Halve squash lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Place squash, cut sides down, in a large baking dish and prick skin all over with a fork. Bake until tender, 30 to 40 minutes.

* Meanwhile, to make the sauce, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and Italian seasoning; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring often, 5 minutes or until desired consistency.

* To serve, carefully rake the stringy squash pulp from the skin with a fork, separating it into strands that look like spaghetti. Spoon sauce over squash and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yields about 1 1/2 cups of squash, 1/4 cup of sauce and 1 tablespoon of cheese per serving.

Daily Om: Now is the Time

I'm sure this resonates with many of us, especially as we make our New Year's resolutions...we aren't satisfied with some aspect of our life and we want change and that's fine but sometimes we put our lives on hold until it's perfect. I try not to do that but am sure I'm as guilty as the next guy. So again I'm reminding myself to live in the moment, love where I am, do the best that I can every day, and allow the Universe to do the rest.

January 4, 2008
Now Is The Time
Bloom Where You Are Planted

Having a vision for our future that differs from our current circumstances can be inspiring and exciting, but it can also keep us from fully committing to our present placement. We may become aware that this is happening when we notice our thoughts about the future distracting us from our participation in the moment. We may find upon searching our hearts that we are waiting for some future time or situation in order to self-actualize. This would be like a flower planted in North Dakota putting off blooming because it would prefer to do so in Illinois.

There are no guarantees in this life, so when we hold back we do so at the risk of never fully blossoming. This present moment always offers us the ground in which we can take root and open our hearts now. What this means is that we live fully, wherever we are, not hesitating because conditions are not perfect, or we might end up moving, or we haven’t found our life partner. This can be scary, because we might feel that we are giving up our cherished dreams if we do not agree to wait for them. But this notion that we have to hold back our life force now in order to find happiness later doesn’t really make sense. What might really be happening is that we are afraid to embrace this moment, and ourselves, just exactly as we are right now. This constitutes a tendency to hold back from fully loving ourselves, as we are, where we are.

We have a habit of presenting life with a set of conditions—ifs and whens that must be fulfilled before we will say yes to the gift of our lives. Now is the time for each of us to bloom where we are planted, overriding our tendency to hold back. Now is the time to say yes, to be brave and commit fully to ourselves, because until we do no one else will. Now is the time to be vulnerable, unfolding delicately yet fully into the space in which we find ourselves.

Seven Random Things

I have been remiss in posting/reading blogs lately and am embarrassed that I am just now discovering that I've been tagged for a Meme! Wonderful Cate at Beyond the Fields We Know tagged me weeks ago for the Seven Random Things Meme, so here goes!

The rules are as follows :

* link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
* share 7 random or weird things about yourself.
* tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs
* let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1) When I was a little girl I wanted to be a go-go dancer. I wanted long, platinum blonde hair and white boots. My Mom indulged me with the boots, Grandma bought me a wig, but am sure they all breathed a sigh of relief when I gave up the dancer idea. I did, however, walk around topless as often as possible - one of my favorite pics is of me at 4 years old wearing nothing but panties and cowboy boots.

2) I love to iron. Seriously. There is something incredibly therapeutic about steaming & pressing out the wrinkles.

3) I was an animal rights activist when I was a teenager. Thanks to a campaign by teen heartthrob Robby Benson I learned about the harp seal hunt and became obsessed with saving seals. Every book report & speech I did in middle school had something to do with the seals and/or animal rights. I sent petitions, wrote to the Prime Minister, etc. etc. I was teased relentlessly about it, you know how cruel kids can be. I didn't care. To this day friends & family will gift me with stuffed toys, ornaments, etc. of my precious baby seals.

4) I like my height. Really do. I am completely comfortable at 5'2" and have never desired to be taller. I always said that it opened up my dating possibilities and I could wear heels as high as I like without a problem.

5) I am incredibly, some would say overly, sensitive. I feel too much, think too much, am simply "too much"..at least for some people. For those who appreciate and accept even if they don't understand me, I am just right.

6) I would keep my Christmas decorations up for another month or so if I could get away with it. That's a new thing for me, just over the past couple of years. I find that I get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season I can't really appreciate the lights & decorations. Now, when the girls are sleeping and I have the house to myself, I am sitting with a fresh mug of coffee enjoying the shiny lights & flickering candles. It's so peaceful and just lovely. I do have white lights that I keep up on my patio year round, and Beren added a string of colored lights along some plants that line the back of my house which I believe are staying as well. Why not? We can keep some sparkle year round can't we?

7) I love vegetables. With a passion. I have yet to meet a vegetable I didn't like. From asparagus to zucchini, they are all fabulous! This year I intend to eat more of them and less of the less-healthy things that I don't really enjoy anyway.

Now, I am going to break the rules here a bit because I'm not going to tag anyone specifically. I've been out of the loop for so long, I don't feel comfortable tagging anyone but I will say this: Consider yourself all tagged if you choose to be, and if you post this meme on your blog please leave me a note here and let me know. I'd love to learn some random things about my friends!

Daily Inspiration: I am Beautiful

I've been honest with you all about my weight gain and various attempts to lose it, even started a separate blog to focus on those issues. I've gone back & forth with diets, exercise, etc., revealing my progresses and setbacks. I know it's an issue, I know it has to be done, but was just tired of the whole thing and took a break from it over the holiday season. I just needed some time to deal with other stresses in my life, enjoy my family & friends without constantly worrying about what I put in my mouth. However, a hurtful remark made over the holiday season has brought these issues very much to the forefront again. I ranted, I cried, I confronted the person who hurt me, I turned for consolation to my children and lover...I berated myself, I spent a couple of weeks filled with self-loathing and disappointment. Then I got angry, attempted to make changes too quickly and ended up with a back injury that had me laid up on the couch for days and still causes daily pain. Finally, I licked my wounds, took an honest look at myself and am now ready to move forward in a healthy, positive way. In the meantime, this lovely OM arrived to inspire and remind me that beauty is more than the numbers on the scale or what I see in the mirror. Thank you to the Universe for sending that message just when I needed it the most.


January 2, 2008
You Are Beautiful
Seeing Ourselves

Many of us do not take the time to notice and acknowledge how beautiful we are as humans. We may be great lovers of beauty, seeing it in the people, places, and things around us, while completely missing it in ourselves. Some of us feel that it is vain to consider our appearance too much, or we may find that when we look at ourselves, all we see are imperfections. Often we come to the mirror with expectations and preconceived notions about beauty that blind us from seeing ourselves clearly. As a result, we miss the beauty that is closest to us, the beauty we are. Sometimes we see our beauty in a shallow way, noticing how well we are conforming to social norms, but failing to see the deeper beauty that shines out from within and that will continue to shine regardless of how we measure up to society’s ideal.

If we can cut through all these obstacles and simply appreciate how beautiful we are, we free up so much energy. We also become less dependent upon the opinions and feedback of others since we become our own greatest admirers. Many of us know that after a great yoga practice or a long, deep meditation, we are more able to see how beautiful we are. This is because we have released some of our baggage, thus unburdening ourselves and summoning forth the spirit that dwells within us. It is the heady combination of the divine spirit and the human body that conveys beauty more accurately than anything else.

To keep ourselves in touch with our own beauty, we can surround ourselves with images that reflect our beauty back to us—photos of a relative or child who has our eyes, images of teachers who embody spirit, or self-portraits that capture our essence in a way that allows us to see ourselves anew. The best way to keep ourselves in touch with our own beauty is to keep looking deeply into our own souls and opening our eyes to the human being we see in the mirror every day.