Hello friends,
I realize its almost the middle of January, but it has taken me a while to come up with my New Year's cooking challenge. Last year I committed to 52 recipes (one weekly), featuring a seasonal ingredient. I managed to see this project to its completion despite having a new baby, dealing with a tough sibling transition, and training for a marathon. I'm so glad to have done this. I learned a lot and I had fun along the way.
This year brings new and more complex challenges. For starters I now have 2 very active children who refuse to nap, which basically translates to ZERO quiet time during the day. Our dinner time is 6pm sharp every night so I don't do a whole lot of cooking in the evenings (who has energy for it anyway?). So, that brings me to this years challenge...
This year I'm going to feature a monthly recreation of a Mexican favorite...veganized. Yes, you heard it right. I won't be crafting up new recipes. I am merely going to find suitable meat and dairy substitutes to the most popular Mexican dishes we eat. I'm committing to a monthly challenge because of my current time constraints. I have to be realistic, cooking while carrying a baby and tending to a toddler is not an easy feat so I hope that I'm able to bring you some useful information and recipes.
My first challenge is to recreate Green Mole or Pipian. It is typically prepared with chicken broth and simmered with shredded chicken. I plan to make mine from scratch, using pumpkin and sesame seeds, peanuts, green chilies and spices and serving it over....not sure yet. Will report later this month :)
Cheers to the New Year! Hope you all have some interesting challenges of your own. Let me know about them if you do.
Lucia
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, January 11, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Causes
Everyone has a cause, or at the very least we all strive to stand behind what we believe to be real or true.
Public protests are not my preferred way of expressing discontent. I don't judge them. I just don't find my full potential expressed in them.
I am a a rebel, though in many ways I yearn to fit in. There are some things however that I will not compromise.
This weeks theme du jour is acceptance for Breastfeeding in public. I have two things to say: 1) do what is comfortable and acceptable for you and your child. 2) ignore everyone else. When you are comfortable and confident (and you show it!) people will have two options as well. 1) suck it up. 2) accept it and move on. By dramatizing it you only bring unnecessary attention onto it. Stop. Unless that's really your goal.
Public protests are not my preferred way of expressing discontent. I don't judge them. I just don't find my full potential expressed in them.
I am a a rebel, though in many ways I yearn to fit in. There are some things however that I will not compromise.
This weeks theme du jour is acceptance for Breastfeeding in public. I have two things to say: 1) do what is comfortable and acceptable for you and your child. 2) ignore everyone else. When you are comfortable and confident (and you show it!) people will have two options as well. 1) suck it up. 2) accept it and move on. By dramatizing it you only bring unnecessary attention onto it. Stop. Unless that's really your goal.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Week 52--Butternut Squash
Ok, so I'm technically a day late on this post, but here it is, the last of my weekly recipe collection for 2012. This is my own creation and one I hope you will enjoy.
Roasted Butternut Squash Curry
Ingredients (Remember to choose organic whenever possible, especially the tofu and bell peppers)
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
2 white onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 blocks extra firm tofu, drained
4 to 6 cloves of garlic
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled
4TB curry powder
1TB Garam masala
1TB cumin
1tsp cardamon
6 to 8 cups of vegetable mix. I used broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and bok choy
1 quart vegetable broth
2TB olive oil, separated
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl toss butternut squash with 1TB olive oil salt and pepper. Spread on to a single layer cooking sheet and bake until tender (approximately 20 minutes). Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan saute onion in 1TB olive oil until translucent. Add bell pepper and cook until tender. Add spices and cook until just fragrant. Set aside.
4. In a large food processor or blender place onion/pepper mix, garlic, ginger, 1/2 of butternut squash along with some broth and process until smooth. Return to saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add tofu, vegetable mix and rest of butternut squash and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Turn off heat, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve over rice or as is my style, just in a big bowl all on its own :) Enjoy!
Roasted Butternut Squash Curry
Ingredients (Remember to choose organic whenever possible, especially the tofu and bell peppers)
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
2 white onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 blocks extra firm tofu, drained
4 to 6 cloves of garlic
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled
4TB curry powder
1TB Garam masala
1TB cumin
1tsp cardamon
6 to 8 cups of vegetable mix. I used broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and bok choy
1 quart vegetable broth
2TB olive oil, separated
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl toss butternut squash with 1TB olive oil salt and pepper. Spread on to a single layer cooking sheet and bake until tender (approximately 20 minutes). Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan saute onion in 1TB olive oil until translucent. Add bell pepper and cook until tender. Add spices and cook until just fragrant. Set aside.
4. In a large food processor or blender place onion/pepper mix, garlic, ginger, 1/2 of butternut squash along with some broth and process until smooth. Return to saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add tofu, vegetable mix and rest of butternut squash and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Turn off heat, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve over rice or as is my style, just in a big bowl all on its own :) Enjoy!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
A year in review
This is a very long post so be ready to be bombarded by a lot of our very favorite family photos...
A few days ago I was thinking: "Well, it's the end of the year, I'd better start making some new year's resolutions and set some goals." And then it hit me that this year has gone way too fast and A LOT has happened for me to just dismiss it like it's my tendency with most things and events. I decided to change that and relish a little on what has transgressed throughout this year. Even mundane things can have a huge impact in the life of a young family so I'm thrilled to share these very special moments with you.
January
We celebrated our 10th year anniversary. Big deal right? Yes it is! We actually celebrated a few weeks early with a trip to Maui. It was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations to date. I'm so thankful to have had this opportunity. Isaac keeps asking to go back to Hawaii so that means that even he had a good time :)
February
I had not 1 but 2 baby showers!! I'm very thankful to have such loving, caring, thoughtful, and generous friends who took time out of their busy schedules to organize such lovely events. I must admit that it was very awkward at first, but I quickly got over it and enjoyed everyone's company and love for our new baby on the way.
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This year will be forever imprinted in my mind because our beautiful angel was born on Feb. 13th, 2 weeks before her due date. She came to this world to fill every day with sunlight and joy. Welcome to our lives Andrea. I cannot imagine life without you.
Dave turned 39 on February 24th. We had a weekend long celebration of his birthday, first by spending the day in San Francisco, starting with brunch at the Cliff House and then dinner at Umami with some very special friends. Then we headed into the wine country for a couple of days of wine tasting and relaxing with the whole family. Yes, Andrea is only 2 weeks old :)
March
Our son's school sponsored a Parent's Night Out, and we had our first "Date Night" of the year. We were able to get care for Isaac but we brought Andrea to dinner with us. Fortunately she slept through the entire dinner and we got some much needed couples time at Oasis in downtown Pleasanton.
My good friend's dad passed away this month. It was a very heart breaking event for the entire family and we felt it important to be there for our friends. We drove to L.A. to be with my she and her family.
Our church sponsored a St. Patrick's Day dinner and we were able to partake in that. We were fortunate to have a few of our very closest friends join us with their families. A real treat!
April
Our angel was baptized this month. The heavens opened and down came God's special dove to introduce the newest addition to the Catholic church: Andrea Berenice Chacon.
This month Isaac and daddy took part in a "Daddy and Me" soccer series. They both enjoyed themselves on Saturday mornings while Andrea and mommy visited the Pleasanton farmers market.
May
Our gorgeous, and very talented niece graduated college this year. We are very thankful to have had the opportunity to join in the celebration of her achievements. While in Santa Barbara we had a lovely time as a family visiting old stomping grounds and favorite wineries.
This month we also enjoyed the visit of my most special and oldest nephews (and niece!) Jesus, Pablo, Ana, and Pedro. I am so honored to have had them visit and we enjoyed their company as we took in the sights of beautiful San Francisco.
June
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Dave traveled to Germany this month, his first major work travel in a couple years. We all missed him greatly, Isaac in particular. We are very thankful for skype because it makes these absences a bit easier to handle.
My dear Cousin Mayra got married this month and we had the joy of joining her and her family in the celebration. It was such a treat to partake in this wedding because it was clear to us that Mayra and Daniel are perfect for each other. We are also thankful to have had our sister in law Cindy watch Isaac while we were at the wedding.
July
My very special, and oldest guy turned 3 this month. I cannot imagine life without him. He has brought such joy to our lives and changed them for the better. We celebrated his birthday with lots of special friends at "Pump it Up" in Pleasanton. The highlight of the day was to watch his face light up as he saw his birthday cake decorated with 4 of his very favorite Cars figures: DJ, Snot Rod, Wingo, and Boost. Daddy proceeded to surprise him with an collection of Cars, (sold out) figures during our trip to Disneyland (coming up in September). This has been a very special year for Isaac indeed.
This month we also had the opportunity to visit one of our most dear to heart places on earth: Yosemite. We brought the whole family along and we enjoyed a lovely visit hiking, bike riding, and taking in the sights.
On July 29th I ran the SF Half Marathon with a PR of 1:58. I am very grateful for this opportunity, for the joy of running in one of my very favorite cities and courses, and for the time that my husband allowed me to train. It was such a treat to have had my family greet me at the finish line at such early time in the morning. Fortunately the hosts had Irish coffee for all finishers so I was able to share with my hubby, a treat for his hard efforts.
August
On this month we enjoyed our first camping trip as a family of 4 with very special friends. Isaac spent the whole time harassing our friend's dog Meli, but otherwise everyone had a good time :)
This month I helped coordinate my very special friend Tracy's baby shower along with another special friend, Indira. I was a bit intimidated by the whole event at first but I quite enjoyed working with my teammate, and I must say, we put together a pretty nice shower. I hope you enjoyed it Tracy.
This month we took our very first Disneyland trip with the family. This was Isaac's 3rd birthday celebration and so he was surprised and very specially treated with a collection of about 20 sold out Cars figures that his dad spent months bidding on. The most memorable time was watching Isaac play with all his favorite characters until about 2am! Glossy eyes and all, he still posed for this photo.
September
I turned 35 this year. My most special gift was having lots of special friends and family join in the celebration of my birthday. Dave and I put together a "Spanish Nights" themed dinner party and we think (we hope!) everyone had a good time. It was a nice treat to have had my good friend Maria and her family join us from L.A. with my God-daughter Brianna.
October
This year I participated in the Nike's Women's Marathon, my second marathon to date and I finished with a PR of 4:10. I can't begin to mention how thankful I am for this opportunity, for living so close to a city I love which hosts one of the most sought-after marathons in the US, and also for my husband who allowed me the opportunity to train. Those early morning and weekend runs were tough but he pulled through just like I did. It was definitely an amazing gift that I will never, ever take for granted.
A few days after my marathon I underwent 2 (minor) surgeries which proved to be not-so-minor-afterall! For starters I wasn't able to breathe through my nose for 2 weeks. Wait. Did you hear what I just said? 2. Long. Weeks.... Might I mention that I'm somewhat (translate, A LOT!) claustrophobic and completely paranoid about not being able to breathe? I had multiple anxiety attacks and long sleepless nights, but at last I was able to breathe through my nose for the first time in over... 20 years? So I guess it was worth it afterall. Quite conveniently I wore a ninja mask for halloween so it wasn't so bad afterall :) Surgery wasn't bad. Recovery... S.U.C.K.E.D.!.!.!.!.!.
I stayed home passing out candy while my "Cowboy" and "Zebra" went out trick or treating with daddy.
November
This month my honey treated me to a series of 4 Thai cooking classes--an amazing experience to say the least. We cooked (and enjoyed) a total of 24 dishes. I especially enjoyed having such an experienced chef master guide us in the process.
This month Dave took his second business trip of the year to none other than Japan. I dream of visiting this country. Hopefully one day soon.
We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house and we had the pleasure of having 2 very special families join us: The Seegers and the Haneys. We had a lovely spread and overall a very special celebration thanking God for all our gifts.
December
This has been an incredibly busy month for us and I'm sure we were not alone. For starters I was very busy with choir rehearsals for our Advent/Christmas concert on December 14th. Again, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to partake in such a special event and for my husband who took charge of the kids during the multiple rehearsals leading up to the concert.
I am also thankful to have participated in our yearly MOMS cookie exchange. I heart these women and I cherish the special times we spend together. I also heart their special baking talents. We enjoyed their cookies for several weeks to follow.
This month we also had the special joy of visiting the Sacramento train museum with our sister in law Cindy and her husband Darrell. Isaac enjoyed all the exhibits, especially the "walk-thru" trains and the hands on playing areas.
Right before Christmas we spent 2 days visiting my family and friends in L.A. We had a lovely and very special visit with my mom and sisters and we also got to visit with my 2 dear friends Maria and Paola and their families. I am so very touched by the gift of these few days spent with people I love.
On Christmas Eve morning we had a very special treat: We got to partake in a Christmas themed sing-along at the Davis Symphony Hall, with our children. We enjoy any opportunity to expose our children to the arts and this was a perfect event for that. We all dressed up for the occasion.
We celebrated Christmas Eve at my sister in law's house surrounded by many of her special friends. We had a lovely time and we are thankful to have been invited to this event. This is Andrea's first Christmas celebration.
After the festivities daddy had a week to spend at home with the family. We have enjoyed a week of utmost relaxation, enjoyment, and quality time. We got to celebrate Boxing Day with special friends and amazing food on Wednesday. We spent the day "Inner tubbing" in the snow (fake but who really cares?) yesterday. And we had a lovely day in San Francisco today. We will be celebrating New Years Eve with good friends tomorrow so that pretty much rounds up the whole year. I have spent the last few days in my PJs, reading, watching movies, playing, and drinking wine while enjoying my children. The best gift in my book! I hope your 2012 was amazing in every way.
Cheers to an amazing year 2013! Hope every blessing is bestowed upon you and your family.
A few days ago I was thinking: "Well, it's the end of the year, I'd better start making some new year's resolutions and set some goals." And then it hit me that this year has gone way too fast and A LOT has happened for me to just dismiss it like it's my tendency with most things and events. I decided to change that and relish a little on what has transgressed throughout this year. Even mundane things can have a huge impact in the life of a young family so I'm thrilled to share these very special moments with you.
January
We celebrated our 10th year anniversary. Big deal right? Yes it is! We actually celebrated a few weeks early with a trip to Maui. It was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations to date. I'm so thankful to have had this opportunity. Isaac keeps asking to go back to Hawaii so that means that even he had a good time :)
February
I had not 1 but 2 baby showers!! I'm very thankful to have such loving, caring, thoughtful, and generous friends who took time out of their busy schedules to organize such lovely events. I must admit that it was very awkward at first, but I quickly got over it and enjoyed everyone's company and love for our new baby on the way.
.jpg)
This year will be forever imprinted in my mind because our beautiful angel was born on Feb. 13th, 2 weeks before her due date. She came to this world to fill every day with sunlight and joy. Welcome to our lives Andrea. I cannot imagine life without you.
Dave turned 39 on February 24th. We had a weekend long celebration of his birthday, first by spending the day in San Francisco, starting with brunch at the Cliff House and then dinner at Umami with some very special friends. Then we headed into the wine country for a couple of days of wine tasting and relaxing with the whole family. Yes, Andrea is only 2 weeks old :)
March
Our son's school sponsored a Parent's Night Out, and we had our first "Date Night" of the year. We were able to get care for Isaac but we brought Andrea to dinner with us. Fortunately she slept through the entire dinner and we got some much needed couples time at Oasis in downtown Pleasanton.
My good friend's dad passed away this month. It was a very heart breaking event for the entire family and we felt it important to be there for our friends. We drove to L.A. to be with my she and her family.
Our church sponsored a St. Patrick's Day dinner and we were able to partake in that. We were fortunate to have a few of our very closest friends join us with their families. A real treat!
April
This month Isaac and daddy took part in a "Daddy and Me" soccer series. They both enjoyed themselves on Saturday mornings while Andrea and mommy visited the Pleasanton farmers market.
May
Our gorgeous, and very talented niece graduated college this year. We are very thankful to have had the opportunity to join in the celebration of her achievements. While in Santa Barbara we had a lovely time as a family visiting old stomping grounds and favorite wineries.
This month we also enjoyed the visit of my most special and oldest nephews (and niece!) Jesus, Pablo, Ana, and Pedro. I am so honored to have had them visit and we enjoyed their company as we took in the sights of beautiful San Francisco.
June
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My dear Cousin Mayra got married this month and we had the joy of joining her and her family in the celebration. It was such a treat to partake in this wedding because it was clear to us that Mayra and Daniel are perfect for each other. We are also thankful to have had our sister in law Cindy watch Isaac while we were at the wedding.
July
My very special, and oldest guy turned 3 this month. I cannot imagine life without him. He has brought such joy to our lives and changed them for the better. We celebrated his birthday with lots of special friends at "Pump it Up" in Pleasanton. The highlight of the day was to watch his face light up as he saw his birthday cake decorated with 4 of his very favorite Cars figures: DJ, Snot Rod, Wingo, and Boost. Daddy proceeded to surprise him with an collection of Cars, (sold out) figures during our trip to Disneyland (coming up in September). This has been a very special year for Isaac indeed.
This month we also had the opportunity to visit one of our most dear to heart places on earth: Yosemite. We brought the whole family along and we enjoyed a lovely visit hiking, bike riding, and taking in the sights.
On July 29th I ran the SF Half Marathon with a PR of 1:58. I am very grateful for this opportunity, for the joy of running in one of my very favorite cities and courses, and for the time that my husband allowed me to train. It was such a treat to have had my family greet me at the finish line at such early time in the morning. Fortunately the hosts had Irish coffee for all finishers so I was able to share with my hubby, a treat for his hard efforts.
August
On this month we enjoyed our first camping trip as a family of 4 with very special friends. Isaac spent the whole time harassing our friend's dog Meli, but otherwise everyone had a good time :)
This month I helped coordinate my very special friend Tracy's baby shower along with another special friend, Indira. I was a bit intimidated by the whole event at first but I quite enjoyed working with my teammate, and I must say, we put together a pretty nice shower. I hope you enjoyed it Tracy.
This month we took our very first Disneyland trip with the family. This was Isaac's 3rd birthday celebration and so he was surprised and very specially treated with a collection of about 20 sold out Cars figures that his dad spent months bidding on. The most memorable time was watching Isaac play with all his favorite characters until about 2am! Glossy eyes and all, he still posed for this photo.
September
I turned 35 this year. My most special gift was having lots of special friends and family join in the celebration of my birthday. Dave and I put together a "Spanish Nights" themed dinner party and we think (we hope!) everyone had a good time. It was a nice treat to have had my good friend Maria and her family join us from L.A. with my God-daughter Brianna.
October
This year I participated in the Nike's Women's Marathon, my second marathon to date and I finished with a PR of 4:10. I can't begin to mention how thankful I am for this opportunity, for living so close to a city I love which hosts one of the most sought-after marathons in the US, and also for my husband who allowed me the opportunity to train. Those early morning and weekend runs were tough but he pulled through just like I did. It was definitely an amazing gift that I will never, ever take for granted.
A few days after my marathon I underwent 2 (minor) surgeries which proved to be not-so-minor-afterall! For starters I wasn't able to breathe through my nose for 2 weeks. Wait. Did you hear what I just said? 2. Long. Weeks.... Might I mention that I'm somewhat (translate, A LOT!) claustrophobic and completely paranoid about not being able to breathe? I had multiple anxiety attacks and long sleepless nights, but at last I was able to breathe through my nose for the first time in over... 20 years? So I guess it was worth it afterall. Quite conveniently I wore a ninja mask for halloween so it wasn't so bad afterall :) Surgery wasn't bad. Recovery... S.U.C.K.E.D.!.!.!.!.!.
I stayed home passing out candy while my "Cowboy" and "Zebra" went out trick or treating with daddy.
November
This month my honey treated me to a series of 4 Thai cooking classes--an amazing experience to say the least. We cooked (and enjoyed) a total of 24 dishes. I especially enjoyed having such an experienced chef master guide us in the process.
This month Dave took his second business trip of the year to none other than Japan. I dream of visiting this country. Hopefully one day soon.
We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house and we had the pleasure of having 2 very special families join us: The Seegers and the Haneys. We had a lovely spread and overall a very special celebration thanking God for all our gifts.
December
This has been an incredibly busy month for us and I'm sure we were not alone. For starters I was very busy with choir rehearsals for our Advent/Christmas concert on December 14th. Again, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to partake in such a special event and for my husband who took charge of the kids during the multiple rehearsals leading up to the concert.
I am also thankful to have participated in our yearly MOMS cookie exchange. I heart these women and I cherish the special times we spend together. I also heart their special baking talents. We enjoyed their cookies for several weeks to follow.
This month we also had the special joy of visiting the Sacramento train museum with our sister in law Cindy and her husband Darrell. Isaac enjoyed all the exhibits, especially the "walk-thru" trains and the hands on playing areas.
Right before Christmas we spent 2 days visiting my family and friends in L.A. We had a lovely and very special visit with my mom and sisters and we also got to visit with my 2 dear friends Maria and Paola and their families. I am so very touched by the gift of these few days spent with people I love.
On Christmas Eve morning we had a very special treat: We got to partake in a Christmas themed sing-along at the Davis Symphony Hall, with our children. We enjoy any opportunity to expose our children to the arts and this was a perfect event for that. We all dressed up for the occasion.
We celebrated Christmas Eve at my sister in law's house surrounded by many of her special friends. We had a lovely time and we are thankful to have been invited to this event. This is Andrea's first Christmas celebration.
After the festivities daddy had a week to spend at home with the family. We have enjoyed a week of utmost relaxation, enjoyment, and quality time. We got to celebrate Boxing Day with special friends and amazing food on Wednesday. We spent the day "Inner tubbing" in the snow (fake but who really cares?) yesterday. And we had a lovely day in San Francisco today. We will be celebrating New Years Eve with good friends tomorrow so that pretty much rounds up the whole year. I have spent the last few days in my PJs, reading, watching movies, playing, and drinking wine while enjoying my children. The best gift in my book! I hope your 2012 was amazing in every way.
Cheers to an amazing year 2013! Hope every blessing is bestowed upon you and your family.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
What I've been eating (and drinking)
'This the season, I know, but I'm ready to get back on track. For the last couple of months I've cut down considerably on most animal protein, sugar, and refined grains. I don't eat much fruit but I upped my consumption of vegetables and fermented foods. I try to eat whole meals and snack less in between, and I stop eating at 7pm. My body has never felt better. Well, hard to keep up with this regime during holidays, travels, and festivities. I'm of the saying that when in Rome...I haven't exactly indulged in everything in sight but I have relaxed on a few things, especially drinking. My body has taken a toll that's for sure.
In the next few days I will be posting the last of my weekly recipes I committed to at the beginning of the year. I enjoyed this project and I'm working on some ideas for next year. More importantly I feel proud of myself for having finished it because during the course of the year I ran through several difficulties and I thought about dropping it more than once. I really don't like quitting something I've started but I had a lot of technological issues with my phone (photos), computer, and lately with my iPad too. I would like to continue a similar project next year but I need to be realistic with my time limitations too. Now that Andrea is super mobile and naps are non existent I find it very difficult to cook elaborate meals so simplicity will be my next theme.
Here are some cooking/eating goals I have for next year:
1. Get back to shopping at the farmers market for most of my fresh goods.
2. Buy pastured meat, eggs, and milk from a local source (I have already placed an order!)
3. Ferment my own vegetables. I am already brewing kambucha successfully.
4. Cook and eat vegetarian/vegan meals at least 5 days of the week. We are already doing 3 to 4.
5. Eliminate all refined sugar and flours and all processed foods from our diet. We have made huge progress on this. I now only bake with almond flour and honey or maple syrup. My husband loves his chips and frozen burritos so that's been hard to eliminate but at least we buy high quality snacks for him and the kids.
I hope you are all enjoying the festivities. Im off to watch a movie and drink some sangria. Cheers!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In the next few days I will be posting the last of my weekly recipes I committed to at the beginning of the year. I enjoyed this project and I'm working on some ideas for next year. More importantly I feel proud of myself for having finished it because during the course of the year I ran through several difficulties and I thought about dropping it more than once. I really don't like quitting something I've started but I had a lot of technological issues with my phone (photos), computer, and lately with my iPad too. I would like to continue a similar project next year but I need to be realistic with my time limitations too. Now that Andrea is super mobile and naps are non existent I find it very difficult to cook elaborate meals so simplicity will be my next theme.
Here are some cooking/eating goals I have for next year:
1. Get back to shopping at the farmers market for most of my fresh goods.
2. Buy pastured meat, eggs, and milk from a local source (I have already placed an order!)
3. Ferment my own vegetables. I am already brewing kambucha successfully.
4. Cook and eat vegetarian/vegan meals at least 5 days of the week. We are already doing 3 to 4.
5. Eliminate all refined sugar and flours and all processed foods from our diet. We have made huge progress on this. I now only bake with almond flour and honey or maple syrup. My husband loves his chips and frozen burritos so that's been hard to eliminate but at least we buy high quality snacks for him and the kids.
I hope you are all enjoying the festivities. Im off to watch a movie and drink some sangria. Cheers!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Week 51--Ginger
Did you know that ginger is an herb? Indeed so. But its most common appearance is in its rhizome form, or the underground stem which is all too common in many cuisines. It is also widely used medicinally to treat anything from digestive issues, to respiratory problems, to body pains. I love the spiciness in ginger and I use it generously in my cooking. I also drink ginger tea daily. Lately I have even been using it in my baking and I just can't get enough of it. I'm surprised I haven't yet featured it in this blog.
For this week I thought about featuring my favorite cocktail: Ginger-lime mojito made with sake, but then I thought I would be cheating you since a cocktail isn't really a recipe per se. So I came to my second best idea, a Moroccan stew with plenty of guess what? Yes, ginger. I have made this recipe many times this year, many variations of it too. I mostly make it with beef but this week I only had chicken so that is what I used. So this week I prepare for you a Moroccan style chicken stew with butternut squash. Here is what you will need:
Ingredients (remember to choose organic whenever possible)
1 whole chicken cut into serving size pieces. (I used Trader Joes organic, free-range chicken, a mere $10 for a whole chicken!)
1 large onion diced
2 cups chopped bell pepper ( I used a mix of red, yellow, and orange. Bell peppers are on the top 12 dirty list so be sure and get them organic).
1 large jar of marinara sauce (or 4 to 6 cups of freshly cut tomatoes)
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut up into bite sized pieces.
2 to 4 cups of cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 beer, any kind.
1 quart of chicken or vegetable broth.
8 garlic cloves
1 2in piece of ginger
2TB Garam Masala
2TB curry powder
1TB cumin
1tsp cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
2TB Extra virgin olive oil, separated
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a food processor combine ginger, garlic, spices, up to cayenne pepper, 1 TB olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup of beer. Blend together until a smooth paste is formed. Rub chicken pieces with spice paste and let marinade for 2 hours or overnight.
2. In a pre-heated large skillet brown chicken on all sides. Set aside. Add one TB of olive oil to same skillet and brown onions and bell peppers until tender. Add rest of beer and scrape bottom of skillet. Add marinara or tomatoes and bring to simmer. Set aside.
3. In a large roasting pan or dutch oven combine butternut squash, garbanzo beans, chicken, broth and onion mixture. Cover and bake in preheated oven for 1hr. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
4. Enjoy served over couscous, quinoa, or by itself.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Random thoughts
I've exercised consistently since my senior year in high school. That Summer before starting school I found my passion for running and have never stopped. I have found refuge and wellness in exercise when going through the most difficult and unlikely times in my adult life: during both of my pregnancies, while completing my degree (didn't miss a day, regardless of my load), through chronic sinus infections, after a night of drinking too much wine, after a night of zero sleep with a colicky baby, whenever I wake up to tired or too depressed to want to carry on. It's my way of life. I don't think about exercising, I do it. It is the only way for me.
I've been drinking too much coffee. I am easily irritable.
I am concerned about developing diabetes. I test my blood sugar daily and continue to find ways to keep it under control.
my perfectionist tendencies bring me much stress and depression. I strive to prevent my children from developing such behavioral patterns.
When I was growing up my mother seldom smiled or laughed. I find myself doing the same and I struggle to break this cycle.
Every year I look forward to the holidays. They come and go too fast and I'm typically disappointed. I need to reevaluate my expectations.
I've been reading more and browsing less. It's a good change.
I've been drinking too much coffee. I am easily irritable.
I am concerned about developing diabetes. I test my blood sugar daily and continue to find ways to keep it under control.
my perfectionist tendencies bring me much stress and depression. I strive to prevent my children from developing such behavioral patterns.
When I was growing up my mother seldom smiled or laughed. I find myself doing the same and I struggle to break this cycle.
Every year I look forward to the holidays. They come and go too fast and I'm typically disappointed. I need to reevaluate my expectations.
I've been reading more and browsing less. It's a good change.
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