Season of Change June 6, 2014

I have been very inactive in my writing lately. I think we all know how it is… it’s almost a writer’s block of sorts, something that just nags and pulls and tugs the motivation for some periods of time. (Not to mention the simple fact life happens and life LOVES curve balls). Anyway, I do plan to get back on the horse soon and start posting regularly again. I have always found writing out my thoughts, my joys, and introspective thoughts, but mostly the things I enjoy doing, makes me feel so much more connected and realize the way I am, the way I feel, and what I like doing connects to so many others. Isn’t it strange to realize how similar so many of us are?

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Roasted Green Pepper Soup – BrokeAss Gourmet February 10, 2014

I had to share this recipe. I had some green peppers to use up and was craving soup. This came out excellent. I made a few minor adjustments as I can never leave well enough alone. Changes: 3 jalapenos, 5 green peppers, 3 cloves garlic, a bit more broth and half-and-half plus added parsley as well.

Roasted Green Pepper Soup – BrokeAss Gourmet.

Garden Lesson November 11, 2013

So here we are in autumn, a beautiful time of year. I’m so happy to see we are really getting a good one this year, the leaves had time to change and create the painted landscape when in previous years they were somehow torn from the trees overnight from a bad storm. There was no time to enjoy them. What comes with the changing season is also the end of the garden. Today I pulled up the remaining plants with the exception of some radishes, beets, and swiss chard that are still hanging in there. I learned some big lessons this year. I branched out and tried growing broccoli. Although it thrived, I realize I can really be a bad gardener. I could not bring myself to eat it as I found some well hidden, broccoli-stalk colored caterpillars hiding between florets. They were so well camouflaged that even after two sets of eyes and hands prodding the head of broccoli, they still remained mostly elusive. Even after the weather became cold and I believed they would have changed to whatever it was they were to change into, I cut some side stalks, inspected and saw none. Then as I chopped up the head to steam, a caterpillar began climbing up the side of the bowl. Gross. I felt so wasteful and for most tossed in the back of the yard for some little creature who needed some extra winter padding. Then I came upon an excellent post that proved I was not alone and explained one method to draw out the creepy crawlies was soaking in vinegar. My main lesson this year is I can handle flies, bees, ants, even beetles (unless they kill my plans), but I cannot handle any strange, alien-looking soft-bodied crawlies like caterpillars, slugs, earwigs, or anything else whose body shape is just not normal. So I need to either toughen up or hit the farmers market for those crops the weird creatures prefer.

Returning Soon June 18, 2013

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted anything at all. However, I’ve made a conscious decision to continue posts soon. It feels good getting a rhythm down and I feel have a good one going with flexibility built in. I can’t complain when work is good, home is good, and health seems good. It doesn’t hurt the weather is warmer (could do with a bit less rain), my garden is going, and I’m getting outside more often. I finished 14 weeks of body boot camp and I feel good. That being said, I’ll resume posting soon and hope I can post some quality information and some good recipes I’ve stumbled upon or just plain made up. I’ll be glad to be back.

Indian Shrimp Curry February 4, 2013

I found the original recipe online here and of course, can never leave well enough alone. I also didn’t have everything I needed to make the recipe and did not feel like making a trip to the store, so I improvised and it worked! My husband would never touch a dish like this with a ten foot pole so this was a solo venture.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 tsp. coconut oil
• 1 jalapeno, minced
• 1/8 onion, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1/8 chili powder
• 1/8 cayenne pepper
• 1/4 of 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1/4 of 14 oz. can coconut milk
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 lb. peeled and cooked shrimp
• 1-1/2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 1/8 tsp. dried mint
• 1/2 cup cooked rice (I mixed gluten-free brown and white together)

Directions

1. In a medium skillet, heat coconut oil and add jalapeno. Heat in oil for about 3 minutes. Add minced onion and cook until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Remove pan from heat and let cool for a minute or two. Add spices up to tomatoes. Return to a very low heat and stir for about 2 minutes until jalapeno, onion, and garlic are well coated with spices.
3. Add tomatoes, coconut milk, and salt, stir well. Increase heat and cook at a simmer for about 10 minutes.
4. Add shrimp, parsley, and mint. Stir well and heat through. About 3 more minutes.
5. Serve over rice.

Baked Pulled Pork Fajitas January 19, 2013

I love making slow food, really low and slow food. The other day, my husband took a 7 pound pork shoulder and cooked it all day on the grill. It was delicious, it had a perfect bark, the sauce was great, the texture perfect. One problem: there are only two of us and there was 7 pounds of meat. Time to get creative. Although it’s great on its own, in sandwiches, maybe a stir fry, or fried rice, I just wanted something different. I look around my pantry and fridge and figured make some sort of Southern, Texan, Mexican, baked thing. It was pretty darn good so I’m putting this out there as a base idea for another use of leftover pork!

Baked Pulled Pork Fajitas

Ingredients

• 2 small flour fajitas
• leftover pulled pork
• favorite barbecue sauce or hot sauce
• Mexican cheese blend
• 2 small celery parts with leaves
• salsa

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lay out fajitas and add a heaping tablespoon to the middle of fajita. Add some extra barbecue or hot sauce. Sprinkle with cheese, about 1 tsp. or to taste. Top with one of the celery parts each.
2. Roll the fajitas as tight as possible and place in a baking dish large enough to accommodate the fajitas.
3. Top with salsa, a dash or two more of desired sauce, cheese (about 1 Tbsp. for now, will add more later).
4. Place in oven and cook, uncovered for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, add more cheese and continue to cook about 5 minutes or until all cheese is melted. Enjoy!

 

Resolutions 2013 – Get Fit January 13, 2013

Tomorrow it begins. My grand scheme to not look like a slim girl in clothes and an out of shape beached whale when shoved into a bikini. As the past two years held a lot of good and a lot of bad, all of it made me very, very sedentary. I perfected sedentary, if I am good at anything it’s knowing how to sit like a champion. I changed my career after over a decade in business that I hated beyond belief. That was an amazing adventure but also one perched in front of a computer researching, writing papers, messaging my classmates. I got a good job in my new career but I also spend 50% of my time in the car traveling and when I arrive at my destination I tend to sit more. Helping care for my mom sure I ran around a lot but that was the most of my exercise honestly. I also quit smoking and although that wonderful act doesn’t make you gain weight, when you supplement with snacking it definitely does. I am a huge proponent of the patch, by the way. It was the one thing this 15 year smoker never ever thought would work and it did. I love to feel confident, I love being active so this year I am taking myself, my life, my confidence back and I am starting a total body boot camp tomorrow – four days a week for seven weeks, an hour a day, kickboxing, yoga, strength training, and zumba (sorry to my future classmates, it may not be pretty). I have a yen to be a part of something, a community, and I always knew I needed an obligation to get me off the couch and this was a perfect fit. It was no amazing expense either, my sister’s township sponsors it so the cost was minimal for what you get. Even better, I get to hang with my sister four days a week. I took pictures today in my target bikini  (don’t worry I will totally spare you and myself), WOW if there is any other motivation to get in shape is to see  yourself plump and bloated in a bathing suit. Sorry body, I am so making this up to you, sorry I embarrassed you. After seven weeks I plan to continue a few of the classes and get running again too, maybe 5k in my future?