We have moved!

WE  HAVE MOVED!  YOU CAN NOW FIND US AT

www.foodlaughterlove.com

Can't wait to see you there!

http://foodlaughterlove.com/2014/02/12/339/

I need to laugh!

Seriously trying to remember that I need to laugh in the middle of it all. http://foodlaughterlove.com/category/laughter/

10 reasons to love Kale.

 I LOVE kale … can not get enough of it!!!!
I crave it. I eat it or juice it almost daily. The health benefits of this super food will have you craving it daily too! 

 Here are 10 reasons to love KALE! 

1. Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat.
2. Kale is high in iron. 
3.  Kale is high in Vitamin K. 
4. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants. 
5. Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food. 
6. Kale is great for cardiovascular support. 
7. Kale is high in Vitamin A.
8.  Kale is high in Vitamin C. 
9.  Kale is high in calcium. 
10.  Kale is a great detox food. 

Ok to get you started here are 2
great recipes!  One for snacking & a juice!



Ok to get you started here are 2
great recipes to get you started!
 One for snacking & a juice!
Kale Chips - I love potato chips, so these are a great replacement !
    1 bunch of Kale leaves
    1Tablespoon of Olive Oil
    2 Table spoons nutritional yeast
    salt & pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350, and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Wash the Kale and with a knife or kitchen shears remove the leaves from the thick stem - or just pull them off with your hands. Tear them into Medium size pieces. Dry the kale. In a large mixing bowl addd half of the kale, sprinkle 1/2 of the olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt & pepper and mix well. Repeat with the rest of the kale. Place on a baking sheet or two. Bake until the edges are crisp, slightly brown but NOT burnt.  ENJOY !!!
Green Lemon-aide
2 apples
1/2 bunch of kale
1 cucumber
1/2 lemon
 Juice and enjoy!

Kale Chips - I love potato chips, so these are a great replacement !
    1 bunch of Kale leaves
    1Tablespoon of Olive Oil
    2 Table spoons nutritional yeast
    salt & pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350, and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Wash the Kale and with a knife or kitchen shears remove the leaves from the thick stem - or just pull them off with your hands. Tear them into Medium size pieces. Dry the kale. In a large mixing bowl addd half of the kale, sprinkle 1/2 of the olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt & pepper and mix well. Repeat with the rest of the kale. Place on a baking sheet or two. Bake until the edges are crisp, slightly brown but NOT burnt.  ENJOY !!!


Green Lemon-aide
2  green apples
1/2 bunch of kale
1 cucumber
1/2 lemon
 Juice, add some ice if you would like. Serves 2 ENJOY!!!

Award Winning Crock Pot Mac-n-Cheese

              This is a Mac-n-Cheese I created for a "crock off " a few years and it won! It's still my favorite and I love it, just don't eat that often, but I am sure it would be D.Lish for a Memorial Day or really any day! 

Award Winning Crock Pot Mac-n-Cheese


1 pound pasta any shape you would like1- egg4 cups of milk½ stick of butter4 oz of cream cheese cut into cubes_8 cups of mixed shredded cheese (you can use any kind)I use all kinds of cheese2-3 oz of brie (cut into cubes)2 oz of feta2 oz of parm1 can of artichoke hearts½ package of frozen spinachsalt and pepper to taste

Warm milk, spinach, brie, cream cheese,and  butter.Mix egg with salt and pepperTake the egg mixture off the stove, mix in the egg add ½ of the shredded cheese to the milkPut dry noodles in to crock pot, add the artichoke hearts and spinach and pour half of the milk mixture over noodles and stir, add ½ of the shredded cheese and stir again. Pour the rest of the milk mixture over the noodle and the rest of the shredded cheese. Mix all together. Make sure noodles are covered. 
Cook on high for 2 -3 hours. Leave alone do not stir. 
Serve with a salad and you are good to go!


p.s. adding a little prosciutto and pancetta is heavenly. 

Gin and Tonic with a twist.

A TWIST ON A SUMMER FAVORITE

Each summer I look forward to having a gin and tonic with my bestie Robin. We have been enjoying G& T’s for over 17 years. We have enjoyed them at the beach, on the lake, at parties, and now at our homes, 12 houses down from each other. We actually don’t get to see each other that often, simply because life is busy,  but hopefully that will change this summer! 

So in anticipation of our friend Amy returning the neighborhood for a weekend, I decided I should test out a new G&T recipe. I had just bought  fresh local organic strawberries from one of our farmers markets and had quite a bit of mint from our yard. 

May I introduce you to the Strawberry,Mint, Lime, Gin and Tonic aka the SMLG&T 

4-6 ripe strawberries per glass

5-9 mint leaves you decide how much lime.

1/2 teaspoon honey (I used local so it would help with allergies)

Muddle all those lovely ingredients together until a good juice forms, it should smell really great at this point. 

Add ice 

Add 1 oz of your favorite vodka (for a non-alcholic version just add more lime juice & honey!)

Fill glass with your favorite tonic 

Squeeze that lime and you are good to go! 

Now have a great weekend and enjoy!

As always please drink responsibly and know when to stop. 

AND NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE. 

                                                     ( Sorry I almost forgot to grab a photo, it was just that yummy)      

"Refried beans, but not really..."

 "Refried beans, but not really..."

         These are not your typical pinto or black bean refried beans, which are yumm-o and I like to make. I simply didn’t have any around and really wanted to make beans to go with the mushroom tacos.  What I did have was dried Kidney and Adzuki beans.

  About a year ago, I started keeping different types of dried beans around the house, because canned anything is just gross. It may take a bit longer but the health benefits far out way the time. Plus it forces me to manage my time a bit better.  Personally I soak my beans for a couple hours before I cook them. Here is a quick guide from Whole Foods  on cooking beans.

      The reason for having Kidney and Adzuki beans around would be the health benefits of these two power houses.   Adzuki beans, are originally from China and are used in all types of Asian cooking. We first discovered them while living in Korea Town, EVERYTHING has red bean paste!  We all know the kidney bean and are quite use to it being in our chili... they are the main  reason I don’t like chili with beans, funny right. But guess what... they hold flavor like no bodies business! And since white beans aka cannellini beans which are my FAVORITE are actually the same as kidney beans I decided to give them a try.  Check out what Dr. Weil says about Adzuki and Kidney beans.


Alrighty, then enough with the bean talk let’s get to the recipe- all of this is with pre-soaked beans.

1 cup Kidney Beans
1 cup Adzuki Beans
2 table spoons chopped Cilantro
zest from 1 organic lime
juice from 1 lime
1/2 onion chopped
1 table spoon coconut oil
1 pinch of himalayan pink salt
6 cups or more of water
2 drops doTerra Lime essential oil


Place beans on stove with the 6 cups of water and bring to a boil for 10 mins. Reduce heat to a low ...add the zest from the lime, the lime juice, 1 table spoon of cilantro , onion and the table spoon of coconut oil. Cover and let cook for 3 hours. Checking regularly to make sure that the water is still covering the beans, if it get to low just add more water.

After 3 hours(when you soak your beans overnight it doesn’t really take 3 hours, it take maybe 1.5 hours)  make sure the beans are cooked. Add 2 drops of the doTerra Lime essential oil, the rest of the fresh cilantro stir well. And now for the fun part start smashing those beans!!!! Or if you have a Immersion blender you can use that. Blend away until you have refried beans!  Serve with brown rice and your mushroom tacos! Also you could add a little Queso Fresco if you wanted...

 

Sorry it's not a better photo, but these guys where heading out to a client .....

Mushroom Taco's are my new favorite meal.

Mushroom Tacos

 

 

The mighty fungi that could , is how I think of Mushrooms. They are the hidden super food that often gets added to a dish. While they could easily be the the star. Mushrooms are wonderful for our immune systems, because they provide so many different minerals and vitamins we need. They are low in carbs, calories, strangely high in fiber and protein and fat free. Plus they are an AWESOME cancer fighter! I could eat them all the time and chances are they are always waiting in our fridge to be added to something, or maybe just sliced
 and eaten raw.

I am sad to say that the idea for mushroom tacos was not mine, I found a picture on either, Facebook, twitter, or instagram(where I spend to much of my time). Alot of the recipes called for just one type of mushroom and very little else. Since I had just been to the Farmer’s Market, I had some yummy local onion,  swiss chard, and mushrooms  to add. Really I could eat these every single day. 

Shopping list
 2 tablespoons Rice bran oil ( or bacon fat for paleo)
 1 Sweet Onion Sliced
 2 pounds of Mushrooms
 Let me say this don’t ever wash your ‘shrooms they soak up  the water and lose their yummy taste, take the dirt off with paper towels. Then peel the “skin” off the mushroom, this step is not required, but it makes the mighty fungi all the better! I used a mixture baby bella's, crimini, portabella, chanterelle, and shiitake. Slice thinly mushrooms and save stems for later!
5 leaves of Swiss Chard
( To make ribbons - de- stem your leaf and roll the swiss chard, now slice it, viola you have ribbons)
 1 Avocado
 1 teaspoon Organic chili powered
 1 teaspoon Organic Ancho Chili powered
 1 tablespoon of Coconut amino acids
1 teaspoon of Brags amnio acids ( or add more coconut oil to be soyfree)
 Pinch of Trader Joe’s South African Smoke
3 cloves of garlic
 Cilantro to taste
2 Limes
Avocado
Tortillas
 Directions
Heat 1 tbs of rice bran oil
Toss in the  onion sliced any way you want
while these are caramelizing ...
Prep 2 pounds of mushrooms
Add 3 cloves of minced garlic to your onions, stir then into your onions, for 30 sec. Add your mushrooms and 1 TSB of Rice Bran Oil. Stir for 30 secs, add 1 TBS of coconut amino acids and 1  tsp of brags amino acids. Add, your pepper mix. Mix it in well, turn down the heat a notch.Add your ribbons of swiss chard. Add lime juice from 1 lime. Stir well. Let the swiss chard cook down. Toss in the cilantro right before serving.

Serve with lime wedges, avocado and cheese if you wish. We ate (devoured) ours with corn tortillas, organic brown rice and “refried” beans, check out that recipe here. 

Okra to be or not to be

  This is a post from another blog, I had, but let me just say I am so excited for it to me Okra season soon! I loved the Okra so much it is now one of my favorite things to grow!

Let me say okra has creeped me out for years, I am from the South, grew-up with people eating the slimy, green, squishy vegetable… but I would not & did not.
Yesterday my friend Amy & I went to the 12th South Farmers Market (http://www.12southfarmersmarket.com/) , I love to buy from local farms and eat what ever is in season, personally think it’s great for our bodies. We went by to see one of my favorite vendors www.delvinfarms.com. Cindy Devlin had some beautiful kale, peppers, squashes and some simply gorgeous PURPLE OKRA. I mentioned how lovely it was & started to head out with my bunches of kale, (for kale chips, kale salad, I heart kale). Cindy , asked if I had ever had roasted okra… I said no, & made that it’s gross face. She simply said “It’s not slimy, it’s crunchy” She had me… I think I love french fries because they crunch.
Pre-heat your over to a super hot 475 +
1 bunch of FRESH okra, either purple or green wash & dry. Place on a baking sheet & drizzle with Organic Extra Virgin Oil Olive, sprinkle with some sea salt & pepper, mix them all up with your hands because its so fun to use your hands and lay them single file on the sheet. Pop them into the oven in for 6 minutes flip them over stick them back in the oven and let them sizzle, thinking our cooked for about 18 mins.
As I pulled them out my hubs said, I don’t really like Okra, but I’ll try it…
Well, we inhaled them, I barley got to grab a picture of the finished okra, that turned a deep green as they cooked. On Saturday when I hit up another Farmers Market, I’ll be grabbing more okra!!!!

Dealing with Allergies, Holistically.

                 

   

            It’s that time of year again, where our nose is running, our eyes are puffy. It’s ALLERGY season. Living in Nashville, which is know as the allergy capital of the United States, or so I am told. It’s also the most beautiful place ever. I have never seen so many shades of green!!!

       Last year, my allergies where horrible. Everything from double ear infections, to a 4 month sinus infection. It was HORRIBLE. I think I tried 6 different antibiotics, 3 different allergy medicines, and 2 different nasal sprays. It sucked. I was so thankful for a really great ENT Mark A. Williams, M.D., Ph.D. and his team where life savers! You can check out his practice here ( http://www.entson.net). 

This year I knew my body, mind and spirit could not go thru all of that again. Nor could my wallet. I was spending about $350 a month on medicine, tissues, and everything else. This year a friend introduced me to doTerra Essential Oils. I bought them to try on my mom, for her heart (I’ll blog about that soon). Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. dōTERRA (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. But I knew I needed to try them on me first. After a week I realized that I didn’t need allergy medicine once a day, I thought maybe it was just the fact that it was simi- nice out. When we where with my mom I realized I had zero post-nasal drip for weeks. The only thing I had done differently was rubbing the oils on my feet morning and night. 

                                                                                          The Holy Trinity:

                                                                     

      We got home and I finally ran out of a few of the oils, I suddenly had an ear ache and a runny nose. I was down for the count.  I immediately ordered more lavender, lemon and peppermint.  I treated my earache with Melaleuca and oregano, just on the out side of my ear and just a tiny drop of each. My earache was gone in days.  Once I got the holy trinity back in my hands as I like to call it. I used 5 drops of each in a shot glass with a tiny bit of water, 3 times a day. After about 2 days, I was able to only use the trinity once a day. Now after a month, I use it only every other day. It’s amazing! I feel so blessed and thankful, that I not only found a natural way to help with my allergies, it is even more cost effective than traditional medicine.  ($30 a month verse $350 a month)

I would love to tell you more about our journey with essential oils , health & healing! Feel free to email me : rebeccasmith9@gmail.com  You can learn more about the oils here. Also I don’t suggest taking essential oil internally unless they are (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®.

Breaking the Myth of Fear.

This morning my first thought was full of fear. It was so negative. I could feel darkness begin to creep in around my heart before I ever raised my head from my pillow. I swallowed it down and tried to push is aside. The same thoughts, kept coming up over the next hour, it sucked.  I didn’t want to start my day this way. I don’t want to manifest the fear/negative into reality. Then I turned on some worship music. Then I checked Facebook and Christine Caine had posted this photo:

All I could say was AMEN.  I went on with my morning. The fear kept coming in. I checked Facebook again ( may have an avoidance issues) and one of our pastor’s had posted this :

Tim Coleman My PRAYER for YOU today is that you are NOT tormented by fear or anxiety of the days ahead. When troubles come you can face them head on because God is IN you and on all sides of YOU yelling, BRING IT ON!!!

Romans 8:31

I stole it right away... 

then it hit me... 

something is happening today... When Fear walks in FAITH walks out. 

Fear is trying to take over not just me, but others, it’s trying to change the positive that is happening and it’s trying to back us into a corner. That is when I said NO, I won’t let it happen, for every fear filled thought I am going to say out loud the positive, 12 times! ( I have been reading several of Dr. Caroline Leaf’s books) I will not draw the negative darkness towards me and mine. I will believe the positive, the best , the blessing and the favor. Ain’t got time for fear. 

I decided to look up what fear even meant, don’t think I have ever done this... 

fear  

/fi(ə)r/

Noun

An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

Verb

Be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening: "farmers fear that they will lose business".

Synonyms

noun.  

dread - fright - apprehension - funk - awe - alarm

verb.  

be afraid - dread - apprehend - funk - be afraid of

Look at that, an unpleasant emotion caused by belief. ( Doesn't seeing it simply written out break the "power" of fear) Well, I control my emotions and my beliefs. So I have the power to change them. OK THEN, GAME OVER... I DECLARE I AM A FEAR FREE ZONE. MY BELIEF IS THAT I HAVE JOY. MY BELIEF IS THAT I AM BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED. MY HOME IS A HOUSE FILLED WITH JOY, BLESSING, AND PEACE, NOTHING ELSE CAN LIVE HERE. 

My day has  been beautiful.  I spent time with people I love, at places that make my heart happy. I won’t let the fear that I have been battling for the last few months distract me from the life FILLED with PASSION that I have been called to live. I won’t let it stop me from starting the business' that have been calling to me for months. I won’t let fear of sickness, lack of money or time rob me anymore. I am walking into my next. I am walking into the purposes of my life. 

It's time friends for us to be who we are meant to be, it's time for the next it's time for us to start.  

If you want to hear a great message about walking into your next check out this ! www.oasischurch.tv 

How brussel sprouts went from yuck to more, PLEASE

I never knew brussel sprouts could taste so yummy… they might be a new favorite food!

• 2 cups organic brussel sprouts
• 1/3 cup of dried cranberries
• 3-4 slices of organic peppered bacon
• 1/3 cup of chopped hazelnuts
• 1 clove garlic chopped
• 1-2 heaping handfuls of spinach
• 1/3 cup of diced red onion
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• smidge of butter if needed
• salt & pepper

Wash and halve brussel sprouts season with some salt and pepper & set aside. OK Pour vinegar into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once you’ve got a boil, reduce the heat and allow the vinegar to simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until the vinegar has become thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Lets get that bacon going in a frying pan if you don’t have peppered bacon it’s totally ok, just sprinkle some pepper on both sides of your bacon!

Chop up those hazelnuts & cranberries & please set aside

Chop up your onion, into small bite size pieces

By now you bacon should pretty done, so remove from pan, here you can either save a little of the fat to use or use butter go ahead and add your brussel sprouts & onions. Let that cook for a minute or two , add hazelnuts & cranberries. By now the sprouts & onions should be getting browned :O) add your spinach, saute it all up and add chopped up bacon bits, add balsamic glaze, mix well.

Serve & ENJOY!!!!

The Door

I open the door to find an open field, the colors become clearer as the suns first rays reach out to join us. The wild flowers seem to be signing with joy and the green of the grass flows into the leaves of the trees. Which flow to the blues, yellows, peaches and reds of the breaking dawn. I can hear the birds singing a new song of morning, so different than the clanging of swords that have been raging this night. I have come to meet my Lord, to talk about the days plans. My body and soul are tired and need rest, but there is much still to do.

There He is standing looking radinent and handsome beyond words. His arms are open waiting for me . I choke back tears of joy at seeing Him and knowing the nearness of Him. As we embrace the warmth of the sun fills me, the darkness of the past has gone. This moment is all I can think about, not what has happened or what still needs to happen, but this moment with the one that Loves me with a Love that is beyond any other. It is perfect to behold. He knows my thoughts before I even think them, with Him there is no worry or concern. We walk over to the brook to sit , filled with peace that gives me strength, I am able to be myself. No longer afraid that I might disappoint my Lord, I open my heart.

Words spill from my mouth " I can't fight any longer, it's too hard. My body is too weak, there is too much to do!! I no longer see the vision you have called me to, this last battle is too much and my body is unable to recover. I must hand over the reigns to another, one more worthy of the call. One who is stronger." I take my sword and cross bow and lay them at my Masters feet. And say I am sorry I have failed you tears begin to roll down my face. With his gentle touch he lifts my head and looks into my very soul and says " My darling one, you have not failed me, you know not of the things you have accomplished for Me and my Kingdom . Your battles have been hard but you have trusted in me and we have been victorious. The Battle has been won! NO longer must you fight, but you will spend your days by my side, for I know the cry of your heart. From this day forward you shall spend your time in my courts with me and never else where...

Now, if only I could get ride of the MOLE!

In January I was really impressed upon in my heart to have a garden this year. I just knew I needed one, it would be a learning experience and would be a get me out of my comfort zone project (my family knows I kill the house plants just by looking at them).

I bought seeds and little seed houses, joyfully planted them... kept buying seed... I might have an addiction to seeds now.

I was so sad when 4 weeks later only a few had sprouted.... Mind you our last frost was not until the end of April... there was no way they could have gone out anyway.

I took classes, read online and thought I had it figured out....

We gleefully lugged bags of organic soil, topsoil, manure - both cow and mushroom all around into planters. We used planters since we where not sure if we would live in our current house or be moving... this alone caused me great stress and delays... some how I thought gardens would relax me... Sid built me a planter - it's my favorite.

I loaded up each of the planters and watered daily. Talked to the plants, checked that everything was bug free (I think I bought some cucumbers that had already been gotten). Everything was growing... but slowly... not really taking off. Sunday while at church, I heard that you can't plant peppers with tomatoes - they are not companions, even though they are both night shades ... Well, I wondered about this- Sid and I had just taken a class on herbs and what to plant with what... I didn't know that plants thrive when planted with their companions... So once I got home I spent hours researching companion planting. OH, my gosh.

You can't plant hot peppers with sweet peppers, don't plant sweet potatoes by squash, and don’t plant cucumbers by tomatoes, but you can plant sweet peppers by tomatoes... It was all so confusing.

Tuesday I went out and bought another container- a kiddie pool... Yes, I realize that I have 2 acres that I can plant but I am not ready for that!!! Thank Jesus for Gardens of Babylon and Erin, who will be helping us plot and plan.... this summer and for the next few years! And quite a few more herbs, and a few more plants... (It’s an addiction I tell you).

Quickly- ha ha I unloaded the 12 - 25 pound bags of soil I would need... It's was only 96 out... got them into the pool, cried a little because it was so hot, and started transplanting so many plants... It was so scary! As I carried each plant over, I told it, I am sorry I planted you in the wrong spot but I am sure you will love your new home. Finally got everything in, while Sid chopped down a tree. Watered and said a prayer. Woke-up yesterday and ran out to water... everything was looking a little sad. I told them, it was OK they would be happy. And that the trauma of the last 24 hours would be over soon. Last night same thing... except I planted a few more seeds. This morning I go out and everything is so happy!!! Everyone was standing straight, bearing flowers, tomatoes where turning red. It was a lovely sight!

And I realized that this is exactly like life. If we are not surrounded by our "companions” those people that add to our life, add to our growth. We will be stunted, we will not meet our full potential, or bear the fruit we are capable of bearing. I don't want to live like that. So while maybe I have to move away from those that are in the same " group" as me, I will be better, stronger, and more likely to reach my calling when I am planted with my companions. We will grow and help each other be our very best.

- Thanks garden for this great lesson. And thank you to all of my companions, that help me grow!

Laughing

Yesterday I off handily posted on Facebook, that I was thankful that I have learned to laugh at myself. Right after I posted that the thought came, CAN YOU REALLY? Or are you still that PK that feels the need to be perfect all the time. I squished it and moved on.
Here comes this morning. Got ready for a Barre Class @ Seren Motus in Franklin. I even brushed my hair... I NEVER bother with that when heading to the gym... I went and signed in, ran to the restroom, and looked in the mirror, and LAUGHED OUT LOUD at myself, my hair was a HOT MESS and somehow my eye makeup from last night ( I swear I washed it off before I went to bed) was all kinds of nasty. I quickly tried to fix it all, but nothing would work!
Ran back into class only to realize that I had to take off my shoes... can we say I need a pedi in the worst way possible. Once again I laughed out loud!
After the class, which by the way KICKED MY .... I hopped onto the elevator and started chatting with the ladies riding down, who wanted me to know that I should not be discouraged, about doing so badly in the class.... Once again I laughed about loud, and said yup, it was HARD, but hey I have only been able to walk again for less than a year.

Once I made it home after a yummy coffee and great talk with one Katie S.
I realized, my t-shirt had several holes in it and my yoga pants where covered in bleach spots, and I had worn my 14 yr old step daughters sports bra... she is a medium I AM NOT.

At one time all of these things would have had me in tears, and feeling judged, whether real or imaigined. But thanks to God's UNFAILING LOVE, and beating into my head that I have value, worth and I am HIS DAUGHTER, I can laugh at myself, and really quite enjoy who I am !

Day #2

OK so part of me doing something for me is to retrain myself to write. A year ago I could crank out a business plan, you could take to the bank in 3 hours, now it takes me weeks. Ghesh! What happened.

Today I had the privilege of spending time with some of the best women on the planet. You know the friendships you have been praying about for years. I am surrounded by them here in Nashville, it's a blessing beyond words. Today there where NO FILTERS, they where left at home I think (maybe they stayed in bed under the covers). There where a few times when we remembered that small children around. For this former PK, friends who love me with or with out my filter are a blessing.

Ladies I LOVE YOU and I AM SO BLESSED to call you my friends.

things i love about life
#107 coffee with friends,
#108 His Hands Jewelry
#109 Steampunk by Leilani
#110 Cuddling on the couch with the family and all the pets!

It's been a very long while

a very very long while. i am not sure where the last year has gone, well i do actually, going from being very sick into crazy land sickness, then into WOW i feel great, to MY LIFE has radically changed, has left very little me time. Or should I say time for me to focus on some stuff i love, that brings me balance. so it's time to remind myself and create that space time again.

the first thing i wanna do is say :
Jesus I love you, and I miss you something horrid, when I don't spend time with you. Thank you for being available 24/7 even though I am not.

Yummy in your tummy creamed spinach

Your note has been created.

So i looked all over for a creamed spinach recipes and decided to cobble together my own based on all of them! So here you go, I have made this ahead of time so that the flavors can mix together for tomorrow!

Yield: Makes 8 servings

2 lb frozen spinach

1 1/4 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

¼ cup cream cheese

1 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

¼ parm cheese finely grated

Defrost Frozen Spinach . Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water until cool. Squeeze small handfuls of spinach to remove as much moisture as possible.

Heat milk , cream cheese cut up in cubes, and heavy cream in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until warm. Meanwhile, cook onion in butter in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook roux *, whisking, 3 minutes. Add warm milk mixture in a fast stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, and simmer, whisking, until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in nutmeg, garlic, spinach, and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until heated through.

Cooks' note:

Creamed spinach can be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Reheat over moderately low heat until hot.

What is a roux you ask…

Here is your answer:

Roux is a cooked mixture of wheat flour and fat, traditionally clarified butter. It is the thickening agent of four of the mother sauces of ... ( from wikipidia)

Now how do you make one:

Here's How:

0.Melt 1/2 cup (unless a specific amount is called for) of butter, shortening, oil, or other fat in a heavy skillet over very low heat.

0.Gradually sprinkle the hot melted fat with the same proportion of flour and immediately begin stirring.

0.Stir the mixture constantly until it reaches the desired color, which may take from 15 to 30 minutes.

0.Remove from the heat and continue stirring until it has cooled down a bit and there's no risk of burning.

0.Add herbs, vegetables, or whatever your recipe calls for or store roux tightly covered in the refrigerator for later use.

Tips:

0.A dark roux will thicken less than light roux.

0.If black specks appear in the roux, it has burned and you'll have to start over.

If roux is made ahead and refrigerated, pour excess oil from the surface before reheating, or let it return to room temperature.

Cozy Brunch

I woke this morning and just did not want to get out off bed, it was cozy, warm and inviting. So I stayed there, I didn’t have somewhere to be, coffee was calling my name but the pull of the covers won out. As I surfed the web I started to think about the various holidays going on and how right now it’s Hanukkah. I have always lived fairly close to a Temple, had Jewish friends, and when in the hospital the sweet little Bubbeh comes finds me and spends hours speaking Yiddish to me. I never can answer so I just smile nod my head and pat her hand right back.

I love Potato Pancakes they might be the perfect comfort food to me, I order them wherever I can. I have never made them, they seemed like impossibility. My friend Ingie, made them for us last year… they where to die for! But mind you this is the same amazing women who made deviled quails eggs for a party we all had… Yes, it took hours to make them. So this morning when I finally rolled out of bed I thought POTATO PANCAKES for brunch!!! I knew I had everything I needed; I had been searching recipes for days.

Ok so let me say this the recipe below is delish, I just combined all the ones I had read, the only thing I would do different is add parsley and wring the potatoes for a bit longer… so enjoy ! PS I made them with out my daily needed coffee! Also please note that I made them with out my much-needed coffee… wait I still need that Coffee!!!!

Ok on a total side note, Target has Mrs. Meyers Iowa Pine Cleaning Soap and Spray on sale for 2.99 it is heavenly, and very enviro friendly! ( you can see it it in several of my pictures)

Potato Pancakes aka Latkes

5- medium baking potatoes

1- onion

2- eggs

2 tablespoons flour

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

1-teaspoon garlic powder

Vegetable oil

Butter 2 pats

½ cup greek yougart

½ cup sour cream

½ applesauce

Directions

Prep eggs, flour, salt, and pepper and garlic powder

Grate onion with either a hand grater or food processor.

Using a hand grater or food processor, grate the potatoes. Wring dry in a dishtowel. Put into a mixing bowl, and toss with onion, eggs, and flour. Mix well. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, cover the bottom with 1/2-inch of oil. Add 1 pat of butter too! When the oil is hot, spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling into individual cakes. Using the back of the spoon, flatten each pancake. Pan-fry until golden brown on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. Fry the cakes in batches and do not over crowd the pan.

Mix the greek yougart with the sour cream to create a yummy low- fat lower cal topping!

To serve, place a dollop of the applesauce and/ or sour cream in the center of each latke. Place the latkes on a platter and serve warm.

Raw Coconut Lime Cookies- So Yummy

For those of you that know me, my trip into Raw Food, has got to make you laugh and laugh hard. You know I love to cook everything, so that part is not a surprise, but to try Raw Desserts and crave them over yummy Red Velvet CAKES - WHAT!  But yes, I am really enjoying it. So is Sid for that matter :O)

While I am writing this lil' o’l blogger I am listening to the Wicked sound track and thinking of my friend Carol and her love of all things "Wicked and Sweet"

   While I am not 100% vegetarian or raw I do a good bit of it.  I'll do another post on all that later :O) These cookies are a great way to get started... especially when you are craving something sweet and a little crunchy :O) I think they would go great with a watermelon martini!

Original recipe from "LIVING RAW FOOD” by sarma melngailis

The Equipment you will need is:

Food Processor, Dehydrator (or a freezer :O))

2 cups macadamia nuts 

(I only had 1.5 cups so I added 1/3 cup of ground golden flax seeds)

1 cup shredded dried coconut

1-tablespoon lime zest

(helpful hint buy a zester it is so much easier)

1-teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup agave nectar 

(I used Vanilla Agave Nectar recipe to follow)

2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the nuts in the freezer to chill for a few minutes (I had them in there for 8-10 minutes, this helps with the oils in macadamia nuts) Once chilled, pulse the nuts, coconut, & lime zest in a food processor until the mixture is well combined but still a bit chunky. BE careful not to over process the mixture or it will become oily.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the remaining ingredients, and combine well. (I just tossed the other ingredients in the food processor and mixed it in there for those of you wondering if you can do that). - I am all about less to clean up!

Using a ice cream scoop, spoon rounds of dough onto Teflex lined; dehydrator tray and flatten then into round cookies, about ½-inch thick. Dehydrate for about 24 hrs or until cookies reach the desired consistency.

 

·      Alright if you do not have a dehydrator, simply shape like cookies place between parchment, and put them in the freezer to harden for a chilled, crunchy cookie snack.

·      Also We don’t have a crazy fancy dehydrator yet, waiting till we move. So I just use parchment paper in ours works great!

*********************

Vanilla Agave Nectar - from Rebecca's infusion Kitchen

1 bottle Raw Organic Agave

1/2 of an Organic Vanilla Bean

open bottle

splice open the vanilla bean by running the pairing knife down the center, pull it slightly open drop in bottle with nectar... let the nectar sit for a few days. Then use as normal and enjoy a yummy treat!

My first ever Blog.... Oh, my

Well this is defiantly an experiment ! It almost makes me sick to my stomach to be writing my thoughts out, to share with the world. Oh, well I keep hearing the words transparent/transparentsy  where ever  I turn, I think it might be a hint... guess that is what i am about to do... become and walk out my life in a transparent light. I hope it has a tint of rainbown-ness to it... think, blowing bubbles, the light catches the bubble and you can see a rainbow of color in it, which holds the promise of so much. 

What we'll find here in this blog oh, mine.  Thoughts, hope, dreams, dares, food, laughter, love, passion and oh, so much more? :O) 

I am going to start off with life's  pleasure that I have been thinking about... TODAY  as the rain was gently coming down Sid and I played in a play ground at the beach. We swung on swings and slid down slides and I jumped in the puddles, my feet are still cold :O).  This made me want to start a list of LIFE'S PLEASURES... so here I  go :

LP's 

#101 walking on the beach with my hubby and girls 

#102 going to a mid-night showing of a new movie that's coming out 

#103 playing video games with your friends and family 

#104 swinging on swings in the rain with your hunny

#105 Kissing your hunny in the rain :)

#106 an amazing coffee with beautiful latte art

Ok that is all of those for the moment!

Check back soon for some yummy stuff