My Way, No. 29

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

— After writing about Chico’s wrinkle-resistant travel-knit fabric last My Way post, I decided to check out their website. They have a 40% off sale (entire purchase) going on right now. I don’t know how long it will last, though (hopefully, at least through tomorrow if you get a chance to read this by then!). If you are a commuter or globe-trotter, the Travelers collection can be a nice addition to your wardrobe. It’s wonderful to arrive at your destination without looking like you slept in your clothes, lol! When I managed the non-profit women’s business clothing boutique (I wrote about it here), Chico’s sister store, Soma, held a bra drive for us. There must have been 500 good condition, quality bras donated. You don’t know what gifts like that mean to those in need! Or, maybe you do. Ah…I get emotional just thinking about it!

— Adventures in Food: 2-for-1 tomato-based soups! I made a slow-cooker tomato soup base for the Cherokee Hominy and Tomato Soup (from the last My Way Post) and a Lasagna Soup (I originally saw on the Fave Healthy Recipes site).

I took the Lasagna Soup post’s advice and added some veggies: mushrooms, squash, and kale. I used quinoa macaroni (really a quinoa/corn blend). I LOVE whole wheat pasta, but I will say (again) that I really cannot tell the difference. I lighted up the cheese, but just a little hit of parm makes this so good. Simple, good eats.

Herb-y cooking with spaghetti squash. Grilled Spag Squash with Tomato-Mushroom Sauce, & I made a non-fat yogurt-based sauce adapted from the Herbs’ post Mediterranean Smothered Chicken:

The chicken recipe called for the veggies to go into the sauce while cooking, but I just added them after plating. I marinated the tomatoes in a light vinaigrette. I think the sauce would be fab (with the cream or with yogurt) with a number of proteins or even veggies.

The tomato sauce prep had the same ingredients as these roasted tomatoes, but I prepared it on the stove top (and added mushrooms). Again, I know the look of the withered tomatoes isn’t that great (I added a little fresh for garnish), but this was delish! You know flour pasta is my fave, but this was so satisfying. I could eat this every day. The grilling also adds a nice depth of flavor.

I need to do another To Market to Market… post soon! I spotted berhi dates, durum wheat, and pickled mango powder at Jasmine Market here in Tucson. What else should we pickle and powder…hmmm? One of the store staff told me there are like 1000 types of dates (don’t know if that’s an exaggeration???) and some knowledgable folks can point out each variety. When the dates got nice and ripe, I puréed most of them to use as a sweetener. But, they were SO GOOD just by themselves. Nature’s candy. I used the dates to sweeten a greek yogurt brûlée (along with brown coconut palm sugar). (Please forgive the really bad pic in the dark, but I figure you know what brûlée looks like 😉 .)

I wanted creme brûlée, but I thought my body would like the homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt better. I figured someone must have a yogurt recipe, but I didn’t feel like looking one up. I just used my old creme recipe with a yogurt substitution. Flavoring was Mexican vanilla extract (I like the earthiness of it) and a touch of rum. This was delightful and satisfied my craving. Pure Mexican vanilla can sometimes be difficult to find, but mine came from Penzeys Spices. You can get a huge bottle, too (16 fl. oz.), if you like.

Finally, if you are a bread lover, try this Caramelized Onion and Olive Focaccia recipe I posted a while back:

I used capers in place of olives this time. I caramelized my onions with a little balsamic, red wine, and thyme. I threw some red peppers flakes on the dough afterwards.. I did not use as much oil as the recipe called for, but I was still really, really pleased with the results. I only used a 1/2 teaspoon in the dough, with non-fat yogurt making up the difference. And, I just gave it a few Misto’s of oil to finish. Now, don’t start frowning at me! I will try it with all of the oil some day. Many times, I try to cut calories of liquid fats where I can (like I said I do with vinaigrettes and pestos). It’s just a personal preference. If I’m going to consume the cals, I would rather chew them (like nuts or avocados, say). My mind (not just my tummy) seems more satisfied this way, lol. Though, I do love to dunk bread in a good bit of olive oil every now and then! I guess the liquid vs. solid applies to other areas of food in my life as well. Anyway…this bread was so luscious and luxurious (even without the full amount of oil). I would be hard pressed to choose between it and a candy bar. I would eventually choose the candy bar, of course, but it would be a hard decision 🙂 . Haha

— Great article on the Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to a children’s mental health organization. The article also notes her fashion choices. My former co-worker (a fashionista, for sure) told me she loves to use the Duchess’ style as inspiration ‘pins.’ I think many of my friends, as Americans, are fascinated with royalty. I cannot say that I’ve been unaffected. Princess Diana was the only person who ever persuaded me (through admiration) to willingly cut my hair short.

— Still getting 98 degree days here in Tucson, but here’s a cute, easy DIY if you’re in a cooler part of the country (or world). Choose whatever fabric you like: DIY Ruana – anna evers – DIY Fashion blog.

DIY Tutorial 10: Obi Belt From an Old Skirt | fashion.onblog.at.

— Detergents, Stain Removers, Delicates, and more: 10 Natural Laundry DIYs | HelloNatural.co.

Fall is a great arts & crafts time for kids. Colored popcorn is more readily available this time of year, and kids can use it to replace more expensive craft items…then eat whatever’s leftover!

Also, good info for kids here: School Lunch Ideas Using Cultured & Fermented Foods | culturesforhealth.com.

— OMGoodness, how much do I love this? Cool Bird’s Nest Bed | 1 Design Per Day.

— Delish Treats for the Day:

I made a sourdough sprouted durum wheat bread based on this recipe, but I also wanted to share this stencil technique with you from the same blog: Sourdough Rye with Walnuts | hungryshots.com.
She fashioned the stencil herself, and you can surely do the same (if you’re the crafty type). I only had an Eiffel stencil when I decided to do this, and I didn’t want to purchase another one. I am not good at creating such things from scratch…so, I went with that. It turned out OK, so I will be investing in a few more stencils in the future. Fab for folks lacking that type of artistic talent! Here’s a pic (I didn’t make any slashes on the bread because I didn’t know how the image would turn out. Next time.):

Lamb, Smoked Aubergine, Yoghurt, and Onions | Great British Chefs.

Baked Pecan Coconut Crusted Fish Recipe | recipelover.com.au.

I told you how I adore the Moosewood. It always brings back good memories for me. Make sure you check out some of their awesome cookbooks! I think my food co-op should do a cookbook. They also put out some fab eats. Mixed Vegetable Curry | moosewoodcooks.com.

Sprinkles – Allergy Free Alaska.

Shortcut Salted Kouign Amann | the pig & quill.

This is so cute! Must see! Gourmet Restyle : Bubble Fruit | lublyou.com.

Juniper Syrup – The Baked Apple.

Whiskey Cream Sauce | sweetsoursavory.com.

Italian Scones Recipe | Taste.com.au.

Tangerine Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail | eatingwell101.com.

Have a great evening, and I’ll see you next time!

My Way, No. 12

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

— I was extremely busy this past week and could not find the time to blog. So, I will try to let you know some of the things I’ve been up to. But, before we get into all of that, I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to the late Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family. I, like so many others, would have never had the opportunities that have come my way without them. I believe MLK’s legacy has been felt across all of the nations. So, today, we honor that legacy. It encourages one to stand up for what one believes in. Common men and women have sometimes had as great an impact on society as royalty and world leaders (if not greater, in some instances, perhaps).

— From the Arizona Jewish Post, I thought this was a very thoughtful MLK, Jr. Day article.

— You know I love food and often write up all sorts of food-related tidbits on this blog. On this MLK, Jr. Day, I thought it would be cool to showcase a few chefs and recipes from the US and Britain (as you know, I adore British culture & food). Speaking of Britain, have you ever seen the television show Chef? I do not recall when it ran because many times we (the US) receive British programming much later than the original air dates. Perhaps it was from the 90’s…it was such a fab and funny show. I’m sure it’s in some sort of digital format, so check it out if you get the chance.

Avocado Tacos & Brown Butter Roasted Tomato Pasta by Latrice Fowler, African-American Chefs Shine in Atlanta, Black America Cooks, The Top Black Chefs Around the World, 3 Black Vegan Chefs You Should Know. From Britain: Mustard, Bacon, and Caramelised Onion Scones & Pea, Courgette, and Parmesan Rosti w/ Tangy Tomato Dressing by Ainsley Harriot, Spicy Curry Carrot Chutney by Jo Wesley and Avril Rogers, Pancetta Wrapped Scallops w/ Quince and Pear by Patrick Williams, Chai-Spiced Ginger and Date Tea Loaf by Kimberley Wilson, Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds Savoury Biscuits by Enwezor, Lamb, Yam, and Butternut Squash Soup by Lenny Henry, Nice and Spicy Thai Chicken Salad (Larb Gai) & Vegetarian Nut Roast Pie w/ Cranberries by Lorraine Pascale, Citrus and Pomegranate Salad w/ Chili Honey Dressing & Lime and Cranberry Bread and Butter Pudding by Levi Roots.

— Also from Britain: Is the Media Industry Sufficiently Diverse?

— Have you ever been under a time crunch and forced to go to places and do things you would rather not? That’s how last week was for me. Sometimes, my whereabouts/locations can make things difficult. I managed to make the Minimalist Entryway Organizer I wrote about. Instead of bungee cords and a wood frame, I went for a solid wood plaque and elastic. I attached the elastic with a staple gun and drilled a hole in the back for hanging. Such a practical idea for your keys, glasses, etc.:

Also, I’m making a shelf, so I stained a cedar board (after power sanding) with a mixture of coffee and black tea (as I wrote about in my post on The Many Uses of Food Powders). I used soybean oil for finishing, but I’m sure you could use any fixed drying oil (like linseed, hemp, walnut, or sunflower). Super easy and inexpensive. The lighting wasn’t great, so I do not think the pic (before and after) does it justice. It’s a rich caramel color — turned out beautifully:

— I had to pick up a few items for my mom and snapped a couple of cute DIY craft pics:

These DIY’s were made by the store staff. The ‘button letter’ would be totally fun in a child’s room. Or, if you have a more eclectic decor, you could probably make it work in any setting (possibly changing up the color scheme). First initials for couples would be a neat idea.

— What have I been eating this past week? Well, I made a few more of the Detox Drinks with a repeat of the Grapefruit-Cado. I forgot to mention that anytime the recipes call for juice, I use whole fruit. It was such a busy week that I didn’t get a chance to make granola bars. Luckily, I found some organic store-bought ones that were wickedly reduced in price. SQUEAL DEAL! They saved me! I always like to carry some sort of snack bar with me when I go out (so I don’t grab at the nearest candy protein bar in a vending machine, haha). And, I had a couple for snacks in place of my (of late) usual nuts, figs, oatmeal & honey, or za’atar roasted chickpeas. I’ve found the chickpeas curb my cravings for sweets (as you know, I have a sweet tooth). I did have time to whip up a quick cream of roasted garlic and white asparagus soup (with olive oil roux & skim milk, finished with a little extra-virgin and chiles):

And, the Sicilian Roasted Potatoes I made for Christmas have made an appearance 4 or 5 times now. Perhaps I will take a pic soon. I’ve started using a mix of baby Yukons and sweet potatoes. Really quite delicious. As I had a lot of running around to do, I made a batch of egg sandwich fillers. I reheat them in the oven or on the stove, but I suppose you could use the micro (not too long, they might get rubbery). I just used leftover veggies and cooked them in oval rings to fit my homemade bagels. I start them on the stove top and then give them a hit under the broiler:

1) Spinach, Red Bell, White Asparagus, Garlic 2) Kale, Black Olive, Red Onion 3) Broccoli, Feta, Chile (just a little bit of cheese, and my body seemed to handle it OK) 4) Marinated & Grilled Artichokes, Capers, Tomatoes.
Other than that, I began to have a few heavier meals starting with a yummy hamburger (on a bagel, of course 😉 ) and a side of healthy Brussels and smashed baby Yukons bubble and squeak.

— I love to collect tea tins, so I was excited when my fave step-uncle brought me back this Burapa Bird’s Nest Beverage from his trip to Malaysia:

— I was inspired by this Pitaya Breakfast Bowl to purchase dragon fruit for the first time. Wonderful! I consumed some raw and threw the rest in the freezer for smoothies:

— Remember the DIY Silk Scarf Kaftan I posted? Well, here’s a DIY Kimono Cape along the same lines. While running errands for my mom, I saw someone with a gorgeous kimono fabric. You can make this piece with just a couple of scarves, needle & thread, though. Also, make sure to check out the link from this blog post on how to dye shoes.

— From organization to DIY suds: 8 Laundry Room Hacks, Tips, and Ideas.

Take care! See you next time!

Homemade Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets – With Natural Scents

Homemade Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets – With Natural Scents.

Save a little cash with these simple and natural DIY fabric softener, dryer sheet, and dryer ball ideas. Also good info on conventional chemicals used in commercial products.