My Way, No. 26

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— How to Create a Work Wardrobe on a Budget. Did you enjoy the Stitch Fix clothing site? The young lady who started the trend among the cohorts recently told me she feels most comfortable in a skirt at work. I replied that (in an office setting), I feel most comfortable in a skirt suit. She said she thought people would laugh at her if she wore a suit. Professional dress for the office has always been important to me, and this blog post gives a few tips on working it on a budget. A while back, I managed a non-profit women’s business clothing boutique (one of many roles in a large organization). Those looking for professional interview and work wear were able to receive several outfits, accessories, a handbag, shoes, and toiletries to jumpstart their careers. It was really one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. Many women in the community donated clothing for this venture, as well as several large mall clothing stores (Big THANKS to those who give back!). You might look for similar organizations within your community (for men or women). Donations of this kind are so appreciated by those who receive them. I would always tell the clients my ‘first job’ story (a short-lived job, as the business closed a month after I started): I was informed by the assistant manager that the general manager chose me (over those with experience, resumes, etc.) because I “looked better” than the other applicants. That statement has never left my thinking in professional environments. Maybe I’m stretching, but I really believe I have received several positions and promotions based on professional appearance. For many positions, I had neither experience nor education. There was the time, though, I think I was hired because I told the interviewer I liked her hair. I wasn’t qualified at all. Her face just lit up, and I got the job, haha!

— As I mentioned in my post World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multi-Cultural Action Center, July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Look for another edition of my Mental Health Series soon. Previous installments can be found under the category of Health on my blog menu (click on the 3 lines at the top right-hand corner of the screen to view the menu).

— Today’s Adventures in Food (I may get back to WhirlwinDISH posts sometime soon): Encouraged by my Healthy Appetizers Post, I gave a few more lighter bites a try this past week. Nothing fancy, just some standard-type apps. I don’t know that I would deem my nibbles health-y, but perhaps health-ier or light-er than what I could have had (in sat fat, trans fat, calories, salt, sugar, whatever the new latest thing we are not supposed to have is, etc, lol). I saw a recipe listed from that roundup for Teriyaki Turkey Bites, and that sounded smashing. I whipped up a quick kitchen sink-teriyaki with orange zest. I used very finely ground turkey (which you can do with a food processor), garlic, onion, s&p, brown rice flour, and my homemade non-fat yogurt. I baked them off, then gave them a good roll around in the sauce reduction. Finished with a bit more orange zest. These were absolutely fabulous — melt in your mouth tender. And, I used wonton wrappers for an eggroll type filling — shredded Brussels, carrots, leeks, salmon, fresh ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Wonton wrappers are a quick, easy portion control vehicle for any number of fillings. You can do breakfast burrito-type filings, ravioli, fruit, all kinds of meats or veggies, potatoes (like pierogies)…so many possibilities. They are usually only 15-20 calories per wrapper. I just gave them a Misto of oil and baked until golden. Along with a pot of goji berry green tea, I was in petite food heaven.

I also made these Honey-Balsamic Turkish Chickpea Mini Pitas:

My mom had a Turkish spice blend from Penzeys’ Spices that I wanted to try on grilled chicken. Lacking chicken again, lol, I came up with these mini-pitas instead. (I also saw a Grilled Chicken Caesar Skewers with Kale Pesto recipe on the Apps post I would like to try. Yums!) Penzeys’ has several U.S. locations, so you might try locating one in your area. If you are unable to find one, you might try online or mail orders. I know many of you make your own blends, but some of you may not. I make many of my own, but I also use blends that others have put together. I know folks in remote and rural areas appreciate the handiness of mail deliveries! Penzeys’ has some wonderful blends, as well as single spices and herbs available. I love receiving their catalouge every month. They feature wonderful down-home recipes, and the business owner always writes such nice letters. He seems a socially conscious/responsible sort. I relayed that to one of the store employees, and she said, “Everyone says he’s really like that. Very kind, transparent…what you see is what you get.” That makes me feel good about shopping there. The employees are there to build relationships, not just sell merchandise. I think if you care about people, the rewards will eventually come. Anyway……..about these pitas: I made the bread the same way I did in my Making Yeast Bread Doughs with a Food Processor post, subbing non-fat yogurt for oil. They were about 3 inches across. I stuffed them with a bit of homemade yogurt cheese, carrots, lettuce, tomato, and cukes. I’ve found I do not have to simmer the chickpeas for an hour or so if I soak them overnight. Once soaked, I just season them (this time with balsamic vin, honey, spritz of oil, and the Turkish spices) and roast. Major time-saver!

There was also a spinach-artichoke dip in the Healthy Apps post that could be made low fat or fat-free. I made mine with yogurt cheese, light mayo, s&p, romano, marinated artichokes, beet greens from the freezer, garlic chives, scallions, and capers. I thought the beet greens would turn the dip pink, but miraculously, they did not bleed all that much. I had them frozen for smoothies, but I figured they would suffice for this recipe. I cut up some of the mini-pitas for chips and sprinkled them with my own smoked salt za’atar blend. My dip portion control tip: spoon a bit of dip onto your plate vs. dunking it into a huge bowl (or, use a shot glass like I did in this post). I have an all-in-one measuring spoon to carry to restaurants, etc. You’d be surprised how much less you use if you consciously portion it beforehand. Or, better yet…skip the dip if it’s not absolutely necessary for you to enjoy the app. Some people (my mother!) and restaurants ladle in vast amounts of oil, cream, or butter for dips and sauces, so just be aware.

To end today’s adventures, something sweet: Chunky Dark Chocolate-Covered Granola Bites. I absolutely love that low cal granola recipe I posted several months back, and I often keep that in mind when preparing granola/protein bars. I love to carry snack bars with me when I’m out. Sometimes, I forget, though, and have to grab a Clif Bar. I made these as more of a small bite for when the sweet tooth strikes. Even though they have some healthier ingredients, I don’t try to fool myself — they are really just a small chocolate candy bar, lol. I made a base batch, then divided them into several flavors: oats, oat flour, flax meal, wheat germ, a vegan meal replacement protein powder, non-fat yogurt, pepita seed butter (made with a food processor), toasted teff, quinoa, black sesame, and amaranth (nice crunch from this combo!), vanilla, pinch of salt, and honey. I wanted to use dates or date syrup for this, but I ran out. So, I subbed honey, and they were fab. The chunky add-ins were: goji berries, almonds, cacao nibs, and toasted sesame. I planned on a chile version, as well, but forgot. My fave was the sesame. I really savor the flavors of sesame and chocolate. Even without the chocolate, this was one of my favorite granolas I’ve made over the years. I’m glad I have this blog to keep my memories!

— While taking yoga instructor classes, I met a terrific young lady DIYer. She made all sorts of things like flip flops from recycled tires and homemade sunblock. As the heat goes on (and on), I thought I would share this natural sunscreen (no parabens or undesirables) post: 3 Natural Sunscreen Recipes to Make at Home for Cheap | treehugger.com.

— Gatsby Inspired Hair Accessories | fashionlady.in.

— What you can do with rocks and stones!

Chanticleer Part 2: Garden Seating | CAROLYN’S SHADE GARDENS

Creative Stacked Stone Wall Ideas | goodhomedesign.com. Love the re-purposed wine bottles one.

— Featured Recipes:
Salt Cod Croquettes | finedininglovers.com.

Mango Raspberry Jelly with Pomegranate and Chia Seeds | noGuilt Nutrition.

10 Ricette Vegane con la Papaya | ecco.it.

Muhammara and Cucumber Bites | phamfatale.com.

Grilled Carrot & Walnut Salad with Carrot Top Pesto | Dishing Up the Dirt. This is a farmer’s blog. Read their posts on the trials (like deer consuming some of their crops 😦 ), tribs, and triumphs of working the land. It’s really interesting. Then, make this salad.

Mushroom, Onion, and Stout Grilled Cheese Sandwiches | floatingkitchen.net.

Earl Grey Caramels | Patisserie Makes Perfect.

Pineapple, Raspberry, and Peach Sangria Blanca | cookswithcocktails.com.

Take care! ‘Til next time!

Healthy Appetizer Recipes

24 Healthy Appetizer Recipes | FaveHealthyRecipes.com.

“When go-to appetizers consist of loaded nachos to deep-fried onion rings, healthy appetizer choices seem to be few and far between. For those watching their weight, appetizers can be a serious diet destroyer. Often, party appetizers are not very filling, so we tend to eat a lot. When a table is full of finger-licking-good food, it is hard to resist. Before know it, we just consumed hundreds of empty calories. A few seemingly harmless nachos could add up to 500 calories to your meal – and that’s before the main meal! However, there is a way that you can enjoy appetizers without all the excess calories. Slim down your starters by following these healthy appetizer recipes.”

My week started with a no-frills dish of sautéed zucchini. The next day, I started craving fried zuc, but you know I rarely pan or deep-fry foods. So, I knew a bit of panko, a Misto of oil, then a bake-fry was in order. I first started using panko (back in the day) after seeing a television cooking program. I don’t recall what the preparation was. The main reason for watching the show was that the chef was attractive, haha. Panko preps come out so nice and crunchy. I had just uncovered my slow cooker full of homemade non-fat yogurt, so I thought perhaps I could use it to replace an egg/flour coating. I have been using the yogurt a lot lately to replace oil and eggs in a variety of dishes (and baked goods). I just mixed in a little s&p and garlic, then coated with the yogurt. I love a little dust of cheese (like parm or romano), herbs, and garlic after they come out of the oven. The following day, I was still in a fried zuc mood, but had to sub yellow squash. I took a pic this time. I adore creamy horseradish dip (as they serve at many restaurants), so I made a low cal dip with fresh horseradish, mustard, light mayo, and a pinch of sweetener. I love to put “stick” dips in a shot glass — makes for easy dunking.

The fried zuc got me in a pub food mood, so I made a few batches of baked sweet cinnamon sweet potato chips, then baked Italian red potato chips. Then, I decided I wanted fried mushrooms. I was out of panko by this time, though, and didn’t feel like preparing a batter. So, I moved on to sesame seeds. Why not? I used portobellos this batch. (I made chalkboards this week, so that’s what’s in the background.)

The dip was a blackberry mustard. I actually mixed in way more blackberry after I snapped the pic, so it was more purplish. I used the same yogurt coating method, only I added a bit of dried rosemary to the yogurt. I haven’t been using my rosemary too frequently, so I may have to dry a fresh batch. I can’t seem to keep up with my dried cilantro! Anyway…making these lightened up apps had me searching for a few more recipes. So, I thought I would share this post. I love standard fare of things like the fried zuc, mozz sticks, nachos, onion rings, quesadillas, stuffed mushrooms, wings, etc., that have found their way onto so many menus. Sometimes, I just want something similar, but lighter, though.

Hope you enjoy these recipes. Have a great rest of the weekend!

My Way, No. 25

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I really saw a lot accomplished this weekend. Just odds and ends, but it feels so good to ‘check things off your list.’ Lists are one of my main motivators, I’ve found. I’m a firm believer in “Write the vision.” Writing a blog post was also on my list, so that’s one more goal down. A former work supervisor (who is a psychologist), told me there’s a physical chemical reaction when we check off our goals. It gives us a natural high, I think she said (or something to that effect). I haven’t researched it, but I think she’s right!

— Today’s Adventures in Food: Don’t laugh, but…inspired by my post Which ‘wich is Which?, I decided to have a 3 o’clock in the morning tea party. I woke up, wanted a snack, and remembered the post’s story about how tea service began…just a little bite to tide you over until the main event. I took a pic because I wanted to remember that even with leftovers and inexpensive foodstuffs, you can create a fun meal (it was early, don’t judge too harshly 😉 ).

If you have tuna and egg salad already prepared in the fridge (as I know you do…OK, maybe not 🙂 ), then your tea party-for-one is just minutes away. I took a lot of cues from the tea sandwiches I posted. Earlier in the day, I had prepared 2 different loaves of bread, so I was all set on the bread front (more on that in a bit). I used pretty standard fillings/spreads. I don’t care if folks think they’re over done, cucumber sands are still one of my fave things…so, I went with that first. The recipe in the post calls for a butter-herb spread, but I made use of my homemade yogurt cheese. A leftover boiled red potato provided a base for spicy egg salad with fresh horseradish & homemade mustard. I also mimicked the post’s peek-a-boo round, but I didn’t have a fancy fluted cutter. I used a cuke slice for curried tuna salad (w/ mashed avocado for a little creaminess), and I used the tuna for a sand, as well. Leftover sweet mini peppers provided garnishes, and I stacked them with cukes and yogurt cheese for a small sand. My thought was to have a few celery sticks with peanut butter, but I started to crave the tender, yellow inner stalks. They are my fave part. These sandwiches made for a delightful light snack, and I didn’t feel too weighed down when I had to do my morning workout a few hours later, haha.

— As I’ve said before, I usually try to not alter baking recipes too much…but, I ran out of regular yeast and wanted to bake a 2nd loaf of bread. The first loaf was a whole wheat-Yukon potato bread and was nice and dense. The 2nd loaf was a whole wheat-teff bread. I decided to try the instant yeast I had. I followed the food processor method I posted here, but allowed for only one rise time. The normal recipe calls for (2) one hour rises. Well, after 45-50 minutes, I went to check on it. It was HUGE — like molten lava! The pic of the potato bread (L) is about what the loaf would have looked like had I prepared it the normal way:

The potato bread actually has more flour as well. Besides the dough volume increasing, the texture also became light and airy. It reminded me of a loaf of squishy store-bought bread. I like this kind of bread for simple tuna salad or pb&j. So, I think this was a terrific accidental experiment for me.

— I did get to have my raspberry pie I wrote about in the 4th of July post. I took a big shortcut, though, and prepared a whole wheat pastry crust round, then plunked it atop the raspberries. I put it in a tea cup, so I could feel like I was having something special (instead of just pi-ah, lol). I subbed raw almond butter for the crust’s butter/lard.

I had a teacher who would always tell this joke, “Pie R square, cornbread are round.” lol. He had a wooden paddle that he kept for students who got out of line. He would say, “I’m going to have to perform an operation on you.” Anyway, troublemaking classmates knew to wear a couple pair of underpants just in case, haha.

Raw Salad Bowl with romaine and beet greens, julienne beets, zuc, and carrots, scallions, shaved Brussels,cauliflower, and creminis. I went with a creamy version of the salad dressing used in the previously posted Mung Bean Salad. Tasty!

And, lastly, to get myself out of a banana pudding smoothie for breakfast rut, I made a fruity smoothie bowl.

No, it’s not dragon fruit (though that would have been yummy). That bright pink hue is homemade non-fat yogurt, strawberries, beets, banana, oats, and flax. Make sure to check out that homemade yogurt post if you haven’t already! What I like about the particular slow cooker method used is that a thermometer is not required. Just keep track of your cooking times, and you’re good to go. Or, just go get Noosa Honey Yogurt, haha. I punched up the pink base with a few summer berries, kiwi, oranges, banana, homemade maple-flax granola, goji berries, and chia seeds.

— Apparently the new thing with a few people I know is a sort of clothing roulette site called Stitch Fix. It started with one of the cohorts and then spread. Only, it’s not too much of a gamble, as you give a stylist the low down on your tastes, preferences, etc., and they select items for you based on that info. “For busy women on the go, Stitch Fix is the personal styling service tailored to your taste, budget and lifestyle that helps you look and feel your best every day.” The woman who gave me the scoop told me she’s taking a few of the pieces on her upcoming honeymoon. When she told me she was having a big military production-type wedding, I said, “Oh, just like I Dream of Jeannie.” She said they are going as Jeannie and the Major to a costume party, haha! Awesome. Some days, don’t you wish Jeannie would come and blink your problems away?

Cute rockabilly hairstyle:
Cool Rockabilly Hairstyles 2014 | Cute Hairstyles 2015.

— 23 garden stepping stone ideas | How To Instructions.

Time To Feed The Hummingbirds | Cooking And Living It Up On A Ground Beef Budget.

— Food for Thought:

Iced Coffee Cubes | hotbeautyhealth.com.

Ramps Burgers with Goat Cheddar & Ramp Pesto | erinmerhar.com.

Green Tartine, or, Radish Top Toast | Emmy Cooks.

Chocolate chip cookie dough brownie bombs – recipe on comments | Matthew 4:4 | Pinterest.

Cucumber Salad with Lemon Balm and Comfrey Flowers | foragerchef.com

Healthy Green Kitchen Spring Tonic Soup with Wild Greens.

Pizza Cake | The WHOot.

Watermelon Keg Recipe from Georgia Pellegrini.

Take care! See you next time!

Which ‘wich is Which?

10 Tea Sandwich Recipes We Love | Rivertea BlogRivertea Blog

On one of my recent urban nature walks, the reality of the “urban-ness” of my location hit me: signage for Baggin’s, a local sandwich shop. I was just smacked down with a brown bag craving. Ah! What was I to do? Go home and make a sandwich for lunch, I reckoned. Would it be as good as theirs? No, but I would make do. I had a whole wheat bread that was intended to be a braided challah. I ended up being lazy and stuck it in a loaf pan, though. It was not Kosher, as I decided to replace some of the oil with non-fat yogurt. I had pinched some of my mom’s chicken, so my brown bag was chipotle-ranch roast chicken (I used chipotle in adobo), a homemade garlic pickle, and home-pickled pepperoncini. I started to make potato chips, but went with the roasted chickpeas from the Caesar salad I just posted for the 4th.

How do you know God loves you? You keep craving a Baggin’s sandwich, and He sends someone to give you one. I was helping out a few folks, and like an angel, a Baggin’s delivery driver appeared.


Long story short, I was soon satisfied with turkey-avocado-bacon goodness. Baggin’s has several Tucson locations, so check the bag pic for their website, if you’re so inclined. Though I can’t have a ton, I love the cream cheese they put on many of their sandwiches. It makes them extra-yum. Even after my sand-stravaganza, I’m still on the lookout for a few good sandwich, spread, and toast recipes/ideas. So, I thought I would share this tea sand post I came across.

Hope you enjoy it, & I’ll see you soon!

Mountains, Sunrises, & Palm Trees

I will admit I have never been a big outdoorsy-type person. I figured, I don’t need a tan, so indoors is good enough for me, haha. But, spurred on by this post, I decided to get out and about a bit more — set my sights on what nature has to offer, if you will. I did attend summer camp when I was younger, and it did give me a love for trees and forests. I have good memories of investigating maples, oaks, wild mushrooms (most likely poisonous), wild berries (probably poisonous as well), and the like. It was at camp that I first felt the squishiness of mud between my toes in a lake (not my fave thing at this stage in my life), learned to use a ‘pedal’ boat, discovered that green peas (canned, I think) weren’t so bad, and developed a love of “poke cake” — vanilla cake from a box, poked with the end of a wooden spoon, fruity gelatin poured through the holes, with whipped cream on top.

I do love the outdoor environments that can be found in places like Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut. I also love harbors, overlooking boats and water. And, of course, I love many of the rural and open spaces in my home state of New York. As I wandered around urban Tucson this past few weeks, I suddenly felt so blessed that 2 of my favorite natural views — palm trees and mountains — abound here. Even in the midst of shopping malls, chains, and big boxes, the beauty of nature overtook me. I’m not great with map directions, and so many local residents would say things like, “North is towards the mountains.” Well, there are mountains everywhere in Tucson, so that didn’t help me, lol.

I shared a few outdoor photos in this My Way post, but I wanted to share a few more today. I really hope some of you reading in different parts of the country (or world) will have the opportunity to visit Tucson (if you haven’t already). Just so you know these are urban pics, the first one is near a mall (sorry if you get a Double Double craving 😉 ). I love the way they have the palm trees shaped like an ‘X.’ There’s also one with a small jackrabbit. He blends pretty well with his surroundings (and it was barely light out), so you’ll have to look closely. I put a little colorsplash below him so you could maybe see him a bit better. I didn’t have a zoom lens, so I got as close as I could. He hopped away pretty quickly. Some pics are nearly the same view, just at different times of the day.

Recipes: 4th of July: Lettuce Entertain You

Ode to Caesar | Vegan + Gluten Free | Fare Isle.

I’ve enjoyed a version of this salad multiple times this past week, and I thought it would be splendid to share for the Holiday. I had been craving a classic chicken Caesar salad, but I rarely purchase chicken. Then, I came across this recipe using roasted chickpeas. Problem solved. I planned on preparing the dressing as instructed in the recipe, but had a glitch. It calls for a tofu base, and I accidentally put my tofu in the freezer. I was so irritated, haha! I subbed my own last-minute lemony, buttermilk romano-peppercorn Caesar. I will try the tofu base out sometime soon. I roasted the chickpeas with a little garlic powder, herbs, salt, pinch of sweetener, spritz of oil, and romano.

Lemony Lentil and Herb Lettuce Cups | Dishing Up the Dirt | It’s Alive!

I also saw these lentil lettuce cups, and wanted to give them a go. I didn’t have radishes at the time, so I threw a bit of cucumber in.

I only made 2 portions when this pic was taken, so I did not make the full batch of dressing. I just Misto’d a little oil on the lentils with a squeeze of lemon juice, and added the other ingredients (no dill) accordingly. I will make a larger quantity this weekend. This recipe encouraged me to use lettuce cups for the chickpea Caesar, so I switched up from a full salad for this meal. Then, I started thinking about a Buffalo Caesar, so I just doused a bit of wing sauce on some of the chickpeas, added a bit of homemade blue cheese, then a few slices of celery. Just these 3 ‘cups’ were extremely filling (and tasty!). I couldn’t finish them all in one sitting.

Forgive me, but I have been preoccupied with several things, so I do not have umpteen recipes to list for you today! I may stop trying to gather so many recipes in one post. It can be time-consuming. Luckily, you can always glean from last year’s 4th post!

Taking it easy with the cooking this year is my plan. I may bust out those Kosher pretzel dogs from last year. They were a hit! My mom keeps baking blueberry cobblers of late, so I may leave dessert up to her. Blueberries are her fave, but I usually prefer them in the company of other berries (except muffins). I love raspberry cobbler, though, which stems from a mass-produced pie-cobblerish à la mode dessert I frequently inhaled (probably 100 times) years and years ago. The blueberry keeps reminding me of it, so I may try to re-create it soon.

And, lastly, if you follow the chickpea Caesar salad as written, it’s a great vegan go-to dish. For those of you on that route (or even if you’re not), I also found a yummy-looking patriotic vegan cheesecake recipe with a combo of blueberries and strawberries.

No-Bake Vegan Strawberry & Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake | Blissful Basil.

Happy 4th, and I’ll see you next week!

DIY Bottle Lamp

DIY | Bottle Lamp | lanaredstudio.com.

I really would like a bit more lighting in my home office, so I thought about a DIY project. This is a fairly simple and inexpensive project, so it’s right up my alley. The method used for this project is very versatile, so I wanted to share it. You can get a very chic and sleek bottle and shade, plain jane combo, or anything in between. A trip to a locally-owned thrift store would give this project even more bang for your buck. Don’t forget this week is Independent’s Week! I’m sure your local thrifty-type store owners would be glad to see you. Even if you do not have a large budget to spend (your “2 widow’s mites,” for example, lol), it all adds up for them. I still need to get out to a few places on my list. I was headed out one day, then we had a hailstorm. You might also consider looking into women and minority-owned local businesses. If you are unsure where to find that info, often your chamber of commerce or women’s business associations can provide it for you.