My Way, No. 34

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

Happy New Year to you all!

— I found this so encouraging: This past Thanksgiving and Christmas, we helped the Salvation Army/Jewish Federation prepare the Salvation Army’s annual luncheon (which we’ve been doing for a number of years, as I said last Holiday season). Part of the Christmas crew this past time were a group of co-workers. Their place of employment pays them for 8 hours of community volunteer service, and they chose the luncheon. I wish ALL employers did this. What a seed to sow: 8 hours of your employee’s time (that you are paying for) being given to another organization. That is wonderful!!! I have also seen organizations (like banks, even military) coordinate a day for all (or a portion) of their employees to volunteer with a nonprofit. These things bless my heart so much. Here’s a pic of our Christmas elves from this past year:

— Adventures in Food: The 40 Cents No-Knead Bread was a wonderful addition to our Christmas meal, as well as the Christmas Fruit Salad. Really great choices, and I’ve also made a whole wheat version of the bread now. I combined several techniques from past blog posts for the whole wheat. I’ll update you when I’ve tested them a few more times. Less formal pic of panettone waffles from the day after Christmas (no time for fancier pics from Christmas brunch):

These were so good, I can’t even tell you. You have to be a person that loves citrus zest, though. I made a ton of candied orange and lemon peel in November, hoping it would last through the Holidays. It did. I tried to keep these a little healthier by making whole grain waffles, homemade non-fat yogurt replacing the oil. They were a little sweeter than I would normally prepare, though. I also soaked the dried fruit in hot water & vanilla vs. rum. I ran out of most of my homemade sprouted flours, otherwise I would have used them. For Christmas brunch, I actually made a vanilla yogurt sauce, but there’s just a dollop in this pic. When I feel like indulging, maybe I’ll go for regular white flour waffles topped with whipped cream and syrup, rum soaked fruit. More time, maybe sourdough or yeast waffles. The fruit soaked for about 10 minutes (while I prepared the batter), about 3-4 minutes each waffle. So, I think this was a fab shortcut for panettone flavors. You just have to make sure you work quickly to evenly distribute the fruit and peel (once the batter hits the iron). Not waiting for the Holiday season to roll around again to prepare these!

For New Year’s, I switched up the cherries to blackberries for the individual Pavlovas with Red Wine Compote and Mascarpone Whipped Cream. The blackberries were fresh, and the cherries would have been frozen. This was just a test one (to see how the layering looked), so I used yogurt in place of mascarpone:

Again, these were delish (made them for Thanksgiving, as well)! As I made individual portions (instead of the original larger size), I cooked them for a longer time at a lower oven temp. Sweet Potato Bites & Sweet Potato Cakes with Black Bean Salsa were also delightful, and I’m looking forward to making more of the potato recipes soon. Leftover ‘Bites’ filling made nice veggie burgers!

Saw a recipe for pea guacamole in a 20-year-or-so-old diet cookbook. I didn’t make it according to the directions, but I enjoyed it. I just mixed pico with pea puree. Nice, lighter guac variation. I told you I was on a potato kick, so I baked wavy chips instead of my normal tortillas. Remember my portion control tip about spooning your dip onto your plate (instead of dipping into the bowl)!

I must say I love so many diet books I’ve come across over the years. Even if I do not follow the actual diet itself, they usually have a few good recipes in them (or recipe inspirations). I especially love older books as many of them use common, simple ingredients (and, they’re usually a bargain at second-hand stores). I would think it could be frustrating to “go on a diet” that sends you off to purchase trendy, spendy ingredients, lol. This book only seemed to have a couple of items that were not that common 20 or more years ago.

Great posts to revisit for the New Year: 7 Detox Smoothies with Added Health Benefits, 32 Detox Smoothies (includes juices and teas), and Hydrating Vitamin Refreshers (waters). I love water regardless, but adding fruit, etc., makes it so much more fun (to look at, as well as drink). After the water is gone, I add the fruit to a smoothie. I just try to use whatever I already have around the house (or am planning to use in another dish). The past couple of days I had cranberries, blackberries, citrus, ginger, and chiles:

I told you my co-worker tipped me to make my pitcher/carafe in the morning. At least one more refill, and I’m set for the day!

Last adventure: I have been planning to make my mom’s old mulligatawny recipe for a while. I recently saw a blended mulligatawny (just a pic, not the recipe), so I finally got to it. I spotted acorn squash and decided to use it as the base (along with a healthy dose of carrots).

The squash and the carrots gave it some thickness, replacing the roux & cream. I did add the stock it called for, though. Celery, scallions, fresh garlic, pinch of ground cloves, curry spices (pre-blended, not my own blend), diced sweet apple, s&p, couple of bay leaves. It would be nice to still have friends around with laurel trees. I used smoked paprika to replace the smoked pork. All very easy in the slow cooker, and perfect for a chilly night’s meal. I also enjoyed it with brown rice, and once with okra and black-eyed peas (soul food meets Indian, haha). The random garnish (radicchio, scallion, nori) is due to my being rushed to eat. I thought it looked bare for a pic, so that’s what I found (leftovers, lol).

— Homemade Peppermint Lip Balm and Cuticle Oil were lovely! I think the cuticle oil would be a great gift for anyone in the medical profession (or any profession that requires a lot of hand washing). Here are a few other DIYs for you to consider: Heal Thyself: 10 (More!) Colds, Wounds, & More | momtastic.

— 10 Great Ideas for DIY Headboards | Bedroom Decoration Ideas.

— If you love to sew, check out this cute wristlet: A Splendid Assemblage: DIY: Pyramid Wrist Bag.

Or, what about this? Includes several DIY clothing projects as well. DIY Backpack Tutorial | trashtocouture.com.

Don’t sew? Try this project & think of warmer days. DIY Beach Tote – Homey Oh My! It’s as close to the beach as I’m gonna get in Tucson, anyway, lol.

— Today’s Delish Recipes. Lots of quinoa, haha. Yums! Enjoy!

Field Mushrooms with Lentils in Red Wine Sauce | blueplanetcustodians.com.

Harvest Quinoa Salad | reciperunner.com. This was for Thanksgiving, but it looks like it would be a pretty tasty start for the New Year as well.

Quinoa Olive Oil Honey Cake | thewomentalk.com. So moist & yummy!

Moroccan Fish Recipe | laaloosh.com.

Vegetarian Taco Soup | Sweet Mornings.

Elegant Cabernet Strawberry Rhubarb Pudding | Vintage Kitty. Looks lovely! You can probably switch out the fruit for whatever’s available.

Cranberry Wild Rice Bread | theveglife.com.

Quinoa Breakfast Porridge | navelgazingblog.com.

Winter Firecracker Cocktail Recipe | we heart this.

‘Til next time! Take care!

Recipes: Potato & Sweet Potato Appetizers

Sweet Potato Cakes with Black Bean Salsa | bettycupcakes.com.

Hope you’ve been having a wonderful Holiday weekend. Mine has been delightful! Plenty enough seafood lasagna for leftovers. Non-alcoholic cranberry-orange mimosas were a treat, as well as the panettone waffles (sorry, the spelling was incorrect last post, my eyes get so tired sometimes — fixed it!). My edible gifts went over well. I usually only prepare relatively simple items, and this was the first year for marshmallows. I was surprised that so many people are shocked you can make them at home. More about all that another time!

Ever since Chanukah started, I’ve been on a roll with potatoes/sweet potatoes. I think I have consumed them in some form or another every day for the past few weeks. Baked fries, baked chips, mashed, potato salad, hasselback, casseroles, soups, etc. As the cravings continue, I figured I would look up a few easy app recipes for New Year’s. I think just a couple of apps, a dessert, some bubbly, and we’ll be good to go. I may use the Pavlovas with Red Wine Cherry Compote & Mascarpone Whipped Cream as sort of an Eton Mess (all mixed together). I might layer it in a glass, though. I’m still thinking on that one.

The blog post above is actually a round-up of several apps (not all potato), so check it out! Here are a few other spud related recipes I wanted to share with you all:

Baked Potato Bites | cookthestory.com.

Sweet Potato and Toasted Sage Dip | aidamollenkamp.com.

Potato Nests with Sour Cream and Smoked Salmon | homeketeers.com.

Southwestern Sweet Potato Bites | Half Her Size.

Mashed Potato Stuffed Cannoli | Idahoan.com. My step-grandfather, who has since passed, had a potato farm in Idaho. So, this recipe made me a little sad at first. He was such a wonderful, generous man!

Spicy Sweet Potato Appetizers on a Stick | squarepennies.com. You could probably add your fave veggies to these.

Potato Recipe for Kids – Healthy Potatoes Patties Burgers | eatwell101.com.

Healthy Loaded Sweet Potato Appetizer | privatemds.com.

Smoked Trout Potato Skins | chowhound.com. If smoked trout is difficult to find, other types of smoked fish would probably also work.

Baked Potata With Cottage Cheese And Vegetables Stuffing | Pan Gravy Kadai Curry.

Sweet Potato Bruschetta [Vegan] | onegreenplanet.com.

Hope you enjoy these! Modify them to your own diet/lifestyle as necessary. “Shop your pantry” for substitutions (as I saw someone say) if you do not have all of the ingredients readily available. Some of my favorite recipes have come about that way.

See you soon!

85 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes + Tips for Managing the Holiday Blues

85 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes from Potluck | ohmyveggies.com.

Happy almost-Thanksgiving to those in the States! Can you believe November has nearly come and gone? It got cool enough for me to pull out my MK peacoat a few times (a gift from last winter), but it’s been back up to the 80’s just recently. Still deciding on a few Turkey Day menu items? This post has you covered for apps, breads, mains, potatoes, stuffings, cranberry sauce, gravies, salads, pies, cakes, and other desserts. If you’re not in the States (or you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving) this recipe round-up is still sure to please.

I have planned a “less-stress” type of Thanksgiving this year. It’s back to the tradition of pasta that was started some years ago. As I said last year, I’m pretty sure I’m the one who started the tradition (as it’s my favorite dish). I’ve actually already been enjoying my own variations of “Thanksgiving-type” food this past week. Come Thursday, one side of my family will still be having a big turkey with cornbread dressing, baked mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and okra, collard greens with ham hocks (or smoked turkey, if anyone wants a healthier sub), mashed with lots of butta, corn with bacon, and sweet potato pie (no pumpkin allowed).

My easy menu for this year is: Seafood Seville (variety of fish/shellfish with lots of tomatoes, olives, artichokes, sweet peppers, and onions) over a bed of fettucine, salad, Julia Child’s French Bread (from this post) w/ fresh butter (whipped up in the food processor), wine, espresso, and individual Pavlovas with Red Wine Cherry Compote and Mascarpone Whipped Cream. I’m still deciding on a salad. I’m thinking about kale with dried fruits and feta, as it can be made a day ahead. Having as much done as possible prior to the big day helps keep me calm. After gifting myself with the Fawlty Towers series a few months back, though, I keep thinking about making a Waldorf salad. I will start on the bread early Thursday morning, but I just couldn’t get it out of my thinking. Really quite delicious!

I wanted to find (and give) some encouraging words for you all as this Holiday draws near. So, I’m so glad I came across this article:

Tips For Managing The Holiday Blues | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“The Holiday Blues are temporary feelings of anxiety or depression during the holidays that can be associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations or even memories that accompany the season…The difference between the holiday blues and clinical anxiety or depression is that the feelings are temporary. However, short-term problems must still be taken seriously because they can lead to long-term mental health conditions.”

I know for many people, this can be a difficult time of the year. I found this article to give timely, practical advice, and I hope you’ll take a look at it. Also, if you assess that you are frequently comparing yourself to others or competing with others during this season (which can be easy to do), take a look at my post: How to Keep Your Cool with Competitive People (an offspring of my post: How to Deal with a Copycat).

No matter how the Holidays go — you cook a big, successful meal…or, you didn’t know you had to defrost the turkey, and you end up having to order takeout…your pumpkin pie isn’t as good as grandma’s (or so everyone tells you)…NO ONE helps you clear the table or wash a single dish, haha 🙂 …whatever may come, just know this: you are a wonderful, fabulous person, and I am thankful for you! Thank you for taking the time to read my randomness on this blog, my personal outlet journal. It’s been a great comfort to me.

Be blessed, & I will see you soon after the Holiday.

Kathy

My Way, No. 32

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

— I’ve told you how I love jackets. I really like this style (with the shirt & pants) I came across: My Style | Pinterest.

With the Holidays fast approaching, I’m sure some of you have youngins in recitals and whatnot. I found this super easy no-sew tutu tutorial I wanted to share: Adorable DIY No-Sew Tutu | simplyrealmoms.com.

You could probably use the same technique for an adult-sized petticoat for, say, a vintage circle skirt (or adult tutu).

— Adventures in Food: After making the citrus-mirin eggplant spread, I decided to prepare a simpler version of one of my all-time fave dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana Zoodles.

Instead of going through the whole bake-fry process, I just cubed it, then added it to my sauce. I think I’ve prepared this at least a dozen times now, and it’s still going strong. This pic, I prepared the zoodles separately. Many times, I just add them right into the sauce, though. I think I prefer them that way. I did my sauce on the stove, but I think I should make a big slow cooker batch soon (if my cravings continue). Extremely filling without being too heavy. Yums!

Moosewood Mixed Vegetable Curry from this post:

I became distracted and almost scorched the forbidden rice. I caught it just in time! This was fab & filling. I only altered it slightly by adding a few raisins while it was cooking (in addition to garnish), just a few mistos of oil, and I threw the carrots and tomatoes in just a couple of minutes before it finished. This can be a super versatile recipe, and you can surely experiment with the veggies you have on hand. Will be making this again soon!

Remember this fancy-dish post: Beetroot-Cured Salmon with Chrain and Herb Salad? While I would love to present this absolutely gorgeous recipe one day, I took the fanciness down a few notches (to my simple level, haha). For my everyday needs, just plain ole bay-goohlz & lahks:

I really liked this change-up from my usual gravad lax recipe. I used rum (as this recipe called for instead of my usual brandy), shredded beets, orange zest, black peppercorns, sea salt, coconut sugar, and basil. I like to weight mine down before placing it in the fridge. Also in this pic is the Rosemary Cranberry Spread from the Pates & Spreads post. I used homemade yogurt cheese for the base. So simple & tasty! I made mini sprouted rye bagels with charnushka (using the NY-Style Bagels recipe) for both. I didn’t have lovage, watercress, or borage flowers for the salad, so I improvised with celery leaves, mint, and toasted walnuts. Yummy! I think I will leave the chrain a bit chunkier next time.

2nd fishy use: Eggs Mornay with Beet-Cured Salmon, Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Chive Oil.

Lighter sauce with skim milk and a wee bit of parm. Sautéed mushrooms and asparagus in the bottom, topped with some sauce, eggs, more sauce, finished with lox, steamed asparagus, and chive oil. If I could have more cheese in my diet, I think I could eat this everyday. Even with a little toast, very satisfying, without being overly heavy.

Last adventure for today: Spicy Sweet Potato-Roasted Apple Soup in a “Pumpkin” Bread Bowl:

I really wasn’t sure how this would turn out, but it wasn’t that bad. The soup part I knew I could handle. Very simple, just baked sweet potatoes, roasted apples & mirepoix (carrots, scallion & leek whites, celery), fresh garlic, chile arbol, nutmeg, few pinches garlic & onion powder (lends a little different profile vs. fresh) few pinches of coconut sugar, a couple of orange segments (at the end, just before blending), water, s&p. I’m not very artistic (even with something as seemingly easy as a pumpkin), so that part made me a little nervy. I think I did OK, considering my lack of talent. I decided to use the bagel dough recipe (without the boiling, just a few spritzes of oil), as it’s a very quick, dense bread. I only made 2 bowls to test it out (1/3 of the recipe, 1 cup of flour w/ 1 TBSP vital wheat gluten). I checked on them after 20 minutes baking time, and they looked just about done. The top of the “stem” was very brown, so I covered it with a piece of foil. They were nicely browned after an additional 5 minutes.

I used sweet potatoes as I prefer them to pumpkin, but pumpkin soup in a “pumpkin” bread bowl is the obvious alternative. The addition of cream would up the luxury factor. I took the bagel dough shortcut, but I know there are all sorts of fab bread recipes out there that would fit the bill. This size bowl is nice for a small app, but you could double it for a main.

— Celebs Call For End To Mental Illness ‘Stigma’ | news.sky.com.

— 17 Genius Uses of Witch Hazel | mixer2mower.com.

— After seeing this, I’m indecisive about making a stone or pottery serving tray. Maybe I’ll do both. Mosaic Serving Tray or Plate | craftideas.info.

How awesome are these silver and gold leaf concrete bowls? Golden moon surfaces | architonic.com.

— Today’s Lovely Dishes:

Most of the time, I have to be in the mood to eat sausage (unlike bacon). But, what to do with all that leftover T-Day turkey? Here’s an idea: Turkey Breakfast Sausage | paleoaholic.com. 

I’m thinking we might just skip the turkey again this year and go for an all-carb meal of spaghetti, wine, and bread, though.

Homemade sausage would be a fabulous addition to this: Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole | Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Some evil person left Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies in the lunchroom (and baskets of candy in other places). I barely escaped with just one cookie consumed, and I never looked back, lol. Looking for mint recipes, I came across this: Homemade Thin Mint Cookies | flavorthemoments.com.

Make sure to support your local Girl Scouts’ cookie sales, though, too (if you have the opportunity)! I have to give mine away, or else I can easily eat the entire box, haha.

Simple Milk Kefir Yeast Bread | culturesforhealth.com. “Kefir contains various strains of yeast. These yeasts are similar in properties to those found in a sourdough starter, so kefir can be used make bread with no additional yeast or sourdough starter!” I wonder if this would work with water kefir as well???

THE MOTHER OF ALL BREAD DIP RECIPES: OLIVE OIL INFUSED WITH FLAVOR AND TEXTURE | glowkitchen.com.

I love a pb&j smoothie! Several smoothies to choose from here: Delicious Smoothies to Enjoy! – Essential Health.

Flavor up this classic recipe any way you like: Duchess Potatoes Recipe – Chowhound.

Vegan Butternut Squash Veggie Pizza | Minimalist Baker Recipes.

Tastes like waffles in a cup, the blog says: Irish Brunch Cocktail | theflairexchange.com.

See you next time!

My Way, No. 24

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

— As mentioned last My Way post, I was going to try to get out and enjoy nature a bit more. So far, I’ve come across adorable quail, jackrabbits, and hummingbirds in my “travels.” The little baby quail are the cutest things ever. I’ve also seen a lot of small lizards with curly black-and-white striped tails (it seems the stripes are on the underside of the tail). As long as I don’t run into any rattlesnakes, I’m good, haha. Here’s a few shots for those of you not familiar with the Tucson, AZ scenery. The first one reminded me of the Leaning Tower, that’s why I snapped a pic:

— At some points in my life, I’ve wondered “Where are all of the caring, loving people at?” The person who wrote this article let me know that there is someone who cares. I need that sometimes. They cared enough to sit down and pen this piece — letting us all know we need to get back to the basics: World Forgets Importance of Caring for Others http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/abetteriowa/2015/06/12/world-forgets-importance–caring–others/71125060/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

— Mucho Adventures in Food: I got on a bit of a potato kick with potato chips, the Vegetable Kugel with Caramelized Leeks I posted at Passover, and shepherd’s pie.

I made the chips to continue testing out our new food processor. At the lowest slicing setting, they were nice for thicker-style chips. If I want really thin ones, I will use a mandolin. At that thickness, I like to let them dry out a bit before bake-frying or frying. I made the kugel heavy on the sweet potatoes, and it was delish. Sliced up, it is wonderful to freeze and re-heat for a quick meal. I haven’t made shepherd’s pie in years, but suddenly started craving it. It may be because I had ground beef, and that’s rare for me. It’s just one of those simple, comforting meals that bring good memories. I rarely whip up mashed white potatoes beyond the occasional Holiday meal, but I just felt like having them. I make mashed sweet potatoes all the time, though. WAY back in the day when I worked as a banquet chef, garlic-roasted mashed potatoes with lots of heavy cream and butter were one of our staple sides. That’s still my fave way to prepare them today. Unfortunately, my cream and butter portions now have to be limited, so I just opted to use non-fat milk. I also didn’t have all my normal veggie fixin’s and just used what was in the fridge at the time. It was still a wonderful, comforting meal.

As I did indeed have the ground beef, I decided to make the Chipotle Cheeseburger Flatbread Melts I posted here.

I’m so glad Kevin is Cooking! I almost didn’t take a pic because I was so hungry by the time this was finished. I didn’t even wait for the cheese to melt. The aforementioned blog’s pics look way better than mine, so make sure to check it out! I adjusted the recipe ingredients just a bit using what I had on hand. I also used the homemade farmhouse cheddar from this post, and homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt (posted here). This was super quick and easy. I didn’t have pizza dough made, but I was making a batch of those hamburg buns I wrote about…so, I saved a bit of the dough for these flatbreads. I Misto’d a little oil in a cast iron pan, then the dough, and was good to go. Just a small portion was quite filling. Really hit the spot & will be making again for sure.

109 degrees in the shade calls for carrot-ginger pops with cilantro! I use whole veg/fruit juice from my blender, as I don’t have just a ‘juicing machine.’

Sale on mesquite flour at my food co-op (yay!) had me making caprese (with homemade mozz), then roasted corn and onion salsa ebelskivers. I just mixed everything in the batter vs. stuffing it in the center.

I found this recipe for a Mung Bean Salad, and it was delightful!

I really enjoyed the dressing. I need to make a big batch, as I think it could go on all sorts of things. It has maple, mustard, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a few other ingredients. Very tasty! I didn’t use the exact measurements, I just eyeballed them. Sometimes I will measure things out, but it looked so good — I wanted to hurry it up. I added pistachios for a little crunch. I think this is a fab go-to recipe for lots of different occasions.

These scrumptious Gorgonzola Grilled Plums with Maple Syrup and Chiles I posted way back inspired me to cook up a version with what I had on hand: Grilled Apricots with Mascarpone, Basil, Pistachios, and Pomegranate Reduction.

I almost thought to use pignoli, but went with pistachios at the last minute. I seriously would have made this recipe just as it was written if I’d had the ingredients. I mixed the mascarpone with a bit of non-fat yogurt. Straight mascarpone would have been my choice if I could have it. It’s so fabulously delicious. I did have maple, but thought pom reduc “molasses” would be nice.

And, last food bit for today…bagel bites, using the New York-Style Bagel recipe. This is really one my best recipe finds in the past few years. It’s so darn quick (I use the food processor). My mom thinks she doesn’t like bagels, but she eats them if I shape them into a loaf or whatever, haha. Sometimes, you gotta be sneaky.

Veggie, Cinnamon Sugar, Everything, Blueberry, Jalapeño Cheddar, Cinnamon Raisin, Sesame, Stuffed Cinnamon Roll. Next time, I might make them smaller. They were really about “two bites.” I got on a cinnamon kick, too, this past week. Not real healthy or anything, but…cinnamon, salt, and fine home-ground sugar of your choice (or you can use packaged powdered sugar) on popcorn for cinnamon toast popcorn. Yums!

— I wanted to share this post on the value of grinding your own grains. It’s from the same blog the Memorial Day Hot Dog and Hamburger Buns recipe came from. You can really see from her post how much can be saved, as well as it being a healthy choice for your family. Purchasing a mill can be an investment, so this post will give you a good break down of what you can expect to get out of it. I tried looking up “best mills” to also post, but many of the articles were not unbiased viewpoints. There are several types to choose from, including stand mixer attachments, hand grinders, stand alone electric grinders, and blenders that also serve as mills. I think you just have to find the one that meets your needs and fits your budget.

— 3 Household Tips: 1) Put stainless steel dish scrubbies in the freezer after each use to prevent rust from forming (been doing this for years as a tip from my aunt, maybe everyone else already knows this…but, just in case you didn’t), 2) Super Glue around the bottom of your rugs to keep them from slipping. Vid: How to Keep Rugs on the Carpet from Moving , and 3) Attach small furniture slides to the bottom of kitchen counter appliances that are hard to get to, or that you need to move about on occasion. I did this to my mom’s coffee pot that sits in kind of a tight spot. She feels more comfortable sliding it out a bit when pouring in the water. The slides keep the counter from being scratched, as well as provide ease of movement.

— Wedding Style Saturday | My Wedding Nigeria.

If this is what they’re wearing for weddings in Nigeria, I wish the trend would come to the US! “My Wedding Nigeria presents valuable wedding guide to couples getting married to an African, in Africa and especially in Nigeria.” Awesome!

— Love this Boho hammock!
42 Stunning Bohemian Inspired Homes | izismile.com.

— Eats & Drinks: I’m sure many of you have made chana masala. I like this post as it gives a lot of terrific nutritional info. I made a soup version of chana last week:

Chana Masala | Garden Fresh Foodie.

What about some easy naan bread to go with it? Naan Bread | Great British Chefs.

Elevated Breakfast BLT | Baker by Nature. Avec smoked duck uncured bacon.

Vanilla Bundtlettes with Cashews and Pistachios | lisbeths.de. Recipe is in German.

Vegetarian Scotch Eggs | Lady Rhubarb. 2nd recipe. Traditional recipe with sausage is listed first.

How to Make Miso at Home | Renegade Health.

The Sherry Cobbler Cocktail | Kitchen Riffs. This blog always has the best stories! Check it out!

Have a fabulous day! ‘Til next time!

Recipes: Passover

Vegetable Kugel with Caramelized Leeks | whatjewwannaeat.com.

I am trying to keep up with all of the Holidays! César Chávez Day was yesterday, there’s Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday coming up, and, of course, Passover begins soon. Today, I wanted to post a Passover dish that recently caught my attention. Really, this looked so good to me, I am certain I would prepare it for any occasion.

And, if you’re looking for even more menu ideas, check out this eBook with over 50 Passover recipes:

eBook | 4 Bloggers Dish

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!

Christmas Memories & 10 Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

10 Vegetarian Christmas Recipes | Gluten-Free Goddess Recipes.

Christmas is almost here! As I said in the last ‘My Way‘ post, I have been a bit slow getting into the groove this year. It’s OK, though, as I think it’s given me time to really reflect on the true nature of the holiday (instead of just getting busied and swept away with presents, decorating, etc.). It isn’t ‘Tree and Presents Day’ or ‘Commercialism and Materialism Day’ after all, haha. It’s Christmas Day, and that (for me) involves a Spirit of giving and love that hopefully lingers long after the mistletoe has been taken down and the last gift is opened.

I have also been taking time to think about Christmas Past (no ghosts involved, fortunately 😉  ), and the memories that mean the most to me. I don’t recall tons of early childhood memories, but I do remember things like a neighbor buying me all sorts of (not cheap!!!) toys on my “wish list” one year. She was a single mother with two children of her own, so looking back…I find that exceptional. What a blessing! I loved the snow in New York — putting on hefty snow suits with mittens tied to a string (so you wouldn’t lose them), making snow people & snow angels (with your body, lying down in the snow), toboggan races…and as I got older, cross-country skiing. I also recall that at some point, my mother strictly informed me there was no real such person as this ‘Santa Claus’ character I had heard so much about. So, I went around telling all of my friends that “it’s just your parents buying you these toys,” to the dismay of several fable-wielding adults, lol. Ah, I was awful! There are some wonderful church services (experienced later in my life) that come to mind, as well — with captivating dramas and modern music, or more traditional candlelight and orchestras.

Many of my fondest Christmas memories involve food (as do many of my memories in general, lol). My mom loves to have ham for Christmas, but my dearest carni attachment is to duck. I cannot remember us ever having turkey (or goose). Also, lobster and shrimp seems to be a popular choice for both of us. And, it may be one of the few times of the year that I prepare a steak. In New York, my relative’s co-worker (originally from Poland) used to always make nut and apricot poviticas. So, every year, they would share the spoils with us. I think of it every Christmas, but I’ve yet to attempt making my own. Maybe this year will be the year, or maybe I’ll wait until New Year’s. I’ve already had so many fried treats for Hanukkah. My body needs a rest, I think, haha. I have managed to pass on one party already (filled with yummy lard-laden tamales, cupcakes, and sugar galore). I’m not sure when I first had panettone, but it’s also one of my favorites this time of year. I have always purchased them in the store…never thinking to make my own, until I saw this recipe: Panettone. So, that might be on my list soon. I do not have a proper pan, though, so I’ll have to go about it another way.

I shared many recipe links for Thanksgiving, and I think you could easily use most of them for Christmas. Please check them out when you get a moment (if you haven’t already), if you are so inclined. I wanted to share this additional link with the 10 veggie dishes, as I think that’s the route I’m going be taking this year. I was totally tempted by the roasted potatoes dish, for sure! I will probably wait until the last moment to decide on anything else. These recipes come from a gluten-free site, so it’s also great for those with wheat allergies.

Hope you enjoy these, and I will post any other goodies as I find them!