So it just so happens we have grapes in our lawn. Grapes. I knew we had lemons, oranges, and rosemary, however I had no clue we had grapes. It was an ordinary evening around here, and Ian was creeping all over things, tumbling down, remaining up, tumbling down and after that he had one an excess of falls and got genuine testy. What’s more, in the same way as a ton of us, he needs a touch of outside air when this happens, so we take a nature exit in the back yard.

So we are strolling, and I’m educating Ian all concerning what we can cook with these things that are developing in the yard, and Ian is listening and swatting at the lemons, and getting the leaves, and I turn upward and that is the point at which I see them. Grapes. Genuine, genuine, grapes. In our terrace!

Thus I start taking pictures, and as I’m inside mulling over what I’m going to do with these grapes, I see a formula in Genuine Straightforward that appears to be sufficiently simple, thus I get to work. The formula is simple, and its delightful. It’s a win-win on all fronts. Also albeit I modified it a bit due to the things I had close by, my happiness in doing this task was not in the formulas. It was in the photographs.

You see, I’m a words young lady. I want to compose. Furthermore consequently, my default, I’m a pictures young lady. Since at times, there are not words to catch precisely what you are taking a gander at. Different times, words can just depict the way that you are feeling. Furthermore this, is the thing that I am enthusiastic about. This association in the middle of words and photographs, of wonderful nourishment, individuals, and spots.

The tagline for my blog has always been: “A reminder that unlikely things can come together and make something beautiful.”  And it’s true.  Baking is textures, colors, and flavors that seem to have nothing in common but when combined perfectly, they make something beautiful and delicious.  That’s why, after reading this Black & Decker B6000C bread maker review, I have a large Black & Decker B6000C bread machine in my kitchen.  I adore the shades of nourishment, the gift we have that we live in a spot and time that we can consume it, the events that individuals need to appreciate it, and the Scriptural truths that sustenance speaks to. In any case I cherish basically that its an update that occasionally life tosses you curveballs, and we wake up to something new every day, and things don’t generally appear to fit together, however in the event that simply provide for it sooner or later, things typically end up being something lovely. Furthermore on the off chance that it doesn’t? We must recollect that there is trust that it will.

As of late, my spouse has taken another occupation as worship leader at a congregation and this has permitted me to stay at home with Ian. We couldn’t be more amped up for this new season. Also its in this new season that I trust my online journal can be a spot for these photographs, to attempt new things in the domain of nourishment photography and sustenance styling, and a spot for stories. Words and photographs, with a proof of magnificence and the expectation for it when we can’t generally appear to discover it.

Oh, and did I mention that I’m not that good at making up recipes?  I end up wasting too much food, and when I’m hungry, I’m hungry.  Also obviously, I don’t have the persistence with myself to go for new blends. I’d rather appreciate a decently prepared formula that has been attempted and tried by somebody whose blessing is simply that, and afterward I can enjoy, cry over (its happened), and after that photo it.

I know I have parcels to learn, however I trust you’ll go along with me in this new experience. Much obliged to you ahead of time for giving me a chance to stroll with you and you doing likewise for me.

Recipe barely adapted from Real Simple Magazine

Grape, Sage, and Ricotta Toast

Ingredients:

1 large bundle of Red Grapes, seedless (ours had seeds, but I just bit hard enough and pretended like I didn’t notice)

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

ricotta cheese for spreading (the amount will differ depending on one’s presence)

baguette of choice

salt to taste

pepper to taste

4-5 sprigs of sage

Directions:

Cut sage into small-ish pieces. Wash grapes, and then toss them in olive oil, sage, and salt and pepper. Pour all ingredients on to an un-greased cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for about 8-10 minutes, or until the skin splits open. While baking, cut baguette into slices and toast them until golden brown. Remove grapes from oven and spread ricotta on to bread slices. Oh, if you intend to make your own bread at home, I would suggest browsing these best rated large bread machines. Top with grapes, sage, and salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil, and add a bit more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Christmas supper normally implies a pleasant, delectable ham on the grounds that Thanksgiving has quite recently passed, and individuals are typically turkey-ed out. Yet, I can’t stand ham, thus my mother dependably likewise made a turkey. In those days, it truly appeared like no major ordeal, however now I see that she was essentially a holy person for obliging to the majority of our needs.

My spouse and I made this turkey this Thanksgiving, and it was delightful. It was our first attempt at a turkey, and my spouse did the majority of the work, I simply read the directions. It was so soggy, and the indication of orange was impeccable, not very solid however without a doubt unmistakable. I was a bit threatened to make a 20 pound turkey for our first go-round, however it was really genuinely straightforward. Gone ahead, I’ll reveal to you:

What you will need:

1 18-20 lb fresh turkey

12 clementines

1/3 cup kosher salt

5 cups (or more if needed) low sodium chicken stock

2 medium onions, quartered

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 stick of unsalted butter (1/2 cup)

Select your turkey. This formula and timings are useful for a 18-20 lb turkey. On the off chance that your turkey is littler or bigger, please change cooking times. New turkeys are the best approach, I think. Also my paragon of piety mother let me know so as well, so I virtually simply do what she says in the kitchen.

In the wake of taking internal parts and giblet pack out of turkey, peel 12 clementines, breaking into little pieces. Place clementines in impenetrable compartment or zip lock sack, refrigerate for utilization in the morning. Rub skin sorts out in medium dish with 1/3 measure of Legitimate Salt, so the salt turns into a citrus flavor. Put aside 1 tablespoon of rub for utilization in the morning. Rub staying salt and clementine skins all over turkey, and additionally within both neck and fundamental hole. Place in huge broiling container, spread with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

This photo is from a later step, but the rub in the initial step will look the same, minus the pepper, cavity filling, or tied legs.

Expel turkey from icebox, and wash off totally, including washing every cavity. Pat dry. Flush and dry cooking dish, and spot turkey in skillet, letting sit at room temperature for one hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and set oven rack to the lowest position.  Cut 12 clementines into quarters, as well as 2 medium white or yellow onions.  Stuff main cavity with onions and clementines. Another way you can cook a turkey is with a pressure cooker. It may sound unusual but if you have a large enough cooker, you can cook up a juicy turkey. For starters, look through articles on how to cook with a pressure cooker and reviews of top pressure cookers. They’re a versatile kitchen tool that’s in my opinion very underrated. Where can you buy one? Definitely online because they have significant discounts. It’s not something you need to “try on” at the store so save time and money by buying online at sites like Amazon. Plus, they have been thoroughly reviewed online so it’s better than walking into the store without any idea of the thing that is on display. Our family uses a T-fal pressure cooker – http://www.cookwithpressure.com/t-fal-stainless-steel-6-3-quart-pressure-cooker-review/ –  and we love it. We paid around $100 for it and it’s SO worth it.

Tie legs of turkey together approximately, so that the clementines and onions don’t drop out. Spread 1 stick of margarine everywhere throughout the turkey, making a point to cover the turkey like icing. Sprinkle remaining clementine skin and salt rub alongside 1 teaspoon of crisply ground pepper on turkey. Pour 3 measures of low sodium chicken juices in broiling container.

Broil the turkey at 375 for 45 minutes treating with dish squeezes about every 10-15 minutes. At that point lessen the high temperature to 350 degrees, and put tin thwart on turkey wings in the event that they are beginning to cocoa rapidly. Broil turkey at 350 degrees until inside temperature is at 165 degrees, read by staying a moment read thermometer into thickest piece of turkey leg. This procedure takes around 3 hours to 3 1/2 or 3/4 hours. Make sure to season turkey with skillet squeezes about at regular intervals. I am almost certain this is the thing that made the turkey so clammy and delectable; we seasoned like there’s no tomorrow. Additionally, make a point to add more chicken stock to keep the juice level as high as when you first put the turkey in the broiler, I included around 2 glasses. Include more if necessary, you don’t need the turkey to be dry.

When turkey has arrived at the right temperature, expel from broiler and place on serving tray, covering turkey with tin foil for around 30-45 minutes. We kept on treating every so often, on more than one occasion. Utilize the remaining dish juices to make your sauce:

In a medium sauce container, spot equivalent amounts of spread and flour around 1/3 measure of each. Putting over medium hotness, permit spread to sash and blend with flour until a glue structures. Gradually include turkey squeezes, and whisk sporadically permitting sauce to thicken. Continue including juices until craving composition and sum is arrived at, you can keep the skillet on low hotness until you are prepared to serve. Utilizing these turkey juices will likewise give the sauce an indication of citrus. Serve warm with turkey.

Carve, and enjoy!

Recipe has been adapted from epicurious.com.

Clementine-Salted Turkey

Ingredients:

1 18-20 lb fresh turkey

12 clementines

1/3 cup kosher salt

5 cups (or more if needed) low sodium chicken stock

2 medium onions, quartered

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 stick of unsalted butter (1/2 cup)

Directions:

Pick out your turkey. This recipe and timings are good for a 18-20 lb turkey. If your turkey is smaller or larger, please adjust cooking times. Fresh turkeys are the way to go, I think. And my saint mother told me so too, so I pretty much just do what she says in the kitchen.

After taking insides and giblet bag out of turkey, peel 12 clementines, breaking into small pieces. Place clementines in air tight container or zip lock bag, refrigerate for use in the morning. Rub rind pieces together in medium bowl with 1/3 cup of Kosher Salt, so that the salt becomes a citrus flavor. Set aside 1 tablespoon of rub for use in the morning. Rub remaining salt and clementine rinds all over turkey, as well as inside of both neck and main cavity. Place in large roasting pan, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove turkey from refrigerator, and rinse off completely, including rinsing each cavity. Pat dry. Rinse and dry roasting pan, and place turkey in pan, letting sit at room temperature for one hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and set oven rack to the lowest position. Cut 12 clementines into quarters, as well as 2 medium white or yellow onions. Stuff main cavity with onions and clementines.

Tie legs of turkey together loosely, so that the clementines and onions do not fall out. Spread 1 stick of butter all over the turkey, making sure to cover the turkey like frosting. Sprinkle remaining clementine rind and salt rub along with 1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper on turkey. Pour 3 cups of low sodium chicken broth in roasting pan.

Roast the turkey at 375 for 45 minutes basting with pan juices about every 10-15 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 350 degrees, and put tin foil on turkey wings if they are starting to brown quickly. Roast turkey at 350 degrees until internal temperature is at 165 degrees, read by sticking an instant-read thermometer into thickest part of turkey leg. This process takes about 3 hours to 3 1/2 or 3 3/4 hours. Be sure to baste turkey with pan juices about every 20 minutes. I am pretty sure this is what made the turkey so moist and delicious; we basted like crazy. Also, make sure to add more chicken stock to keep the juice level as high as when you first put the turkey in the oven, I added about 2 cups. Add more if needed, you don’t want the turkey to be dry.

Once turkey has reached the correct temperature, remove from oven and place on serving tray, covering turkey with tin foil for about 30-45 minutes. We continued to baste occasionally, once or twice. Use the remaining pan juices to make your gravy:

In a medium sauce pan, place equal parts butter and flour about 1/3 cup of each. Placing over medium heat, allow butter to belt and mix with flour until a paste forms. Slowly add turkey juices, and whisk occasionally allowing gravy to thicken. Keep adding juices until desire texture and amount is reached, you can keep the pan on low heat until you are ready to serve. Using these turkey juices will also give the gravy a hint of citrus. Serve warm with turkey.

Once turkey has reached the correct temperature, remove from oven and place on serving tray, covering turkey with tin foil for about 30-45 minutes. We continued to baste occasionally, once or twice. Use the remaining pan juices to make your gravy:

In a medium sauce pan, place equal parts butter and flour about 1/3 cup of each. Placing over medium heat, allow butter to belt and mix with flour until a paste forms. Slowly add turkey juices, and whisk occasionally allowing gravy to thicken. Keep adding juices until desire texture and amount is reached, you can keep the pan on low heat until you are ready to serve. Using these turkey juices will also give the gravy a hint of citrus. Serve warm with turkey.

I am a runner.  I don’t usually run because I feel like I need to work out.  I mostly run because it’s the time that I feel most alive.  As my feet hit the pavement, I am able to let a few things out, and I imagine stomping my frustrations below my feet.  I like the feeling of getting somewhere fast, of getting nowhere, fast.  I run with our stroller, I run without it.  I run trails and I run pavement.

But, running makes me hungry. Like, really really hungry.  And I have a major sweet tooth, which I have my mother to blame.  She claims that she ate lots of sweets when I was being formed, so this is all her fault.  Think that’s a myth?  My doctor told me that after 13 weeks I could have one cup of coffee a day as long as I had an extra glass of water that day as well.  My two year old?  Love the taste of coffee.  I only know this because I caught him drinking it, followed by a loud “YUM!” when my back was turned.

Thankfully, this little snack is about as healthy as it gets for a sweet treat.  It’s bananas, dark chocolate, walnuts and then a few sprinkles for good measure.  This way I can run, and pop some of these into my mouth to satisfy my sweet craving, but not feel weighted down and lethargic.

Plus, Chip and I made these together, and had tons of fun.  They are super easy and a good, healthy treat for the little ones as well!

Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana Bites

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes, plus freezing

Ingredients:

1-3 ripe bananas (just yellow)
1 cup dark chocolate (75% or higher) squares
nuts of your choosing for sprinkling
sprinkles for fun

Directions:

Set up a double boiler but filling up one sauce pan half-way with water and then placing a small pan inside. Place both sauce pans on stove and turn heat to high. Place dark chocolate squares in top sauce pan and allow water to boil. The dark chocolate will begin to melt slowly. Stir occasionally to keep chocolate from getting too hot.

While water is boiling and chocolate is melting, place one piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Then, slick your bananas about 1/4 inch (thinner or thicker if you’d like) and place on your baking sheet on top of parchment paper.

Once chocolate has been melted, turn down heat to low. Using tongs, pick up each piece of banana and drop into melted chocolate, and turn over so the banana slice is fully covered. Once covered, place back on baking sheet with parchment paper. Repeat for all remaining slices. Warning this chocolate dries quickly, so I would put your sprinkles and nuts on at this step so that they stick. If you have any chocolate left over, I’d recommend just drizzling it on top of slices, and either adding your nuts and chocolate here, or doing it before hand. The nuts and sprinkles will only stick to chocolate that has not hardened, so it depends on how many fixin’s you want on there!

Place entire tray into freezer and allow to freeze completely. You can leave them on there, or to save space, place them into a freezer bag! Take them out one by one and enjoy!

I woke up this morning and was craving a big breakfast. The problem, however, is that big breakfasts generally don’t sit well with me.  I always feel full, bloated, and super tired no matter how many cups of coffee I have.  It’s those dang carbs! They taste oh, so good but they feel oh, so bad! I’ve been Gluten Free for a few weeks now, and the other day I had some gluten for dinner and my body was in shock after. As good as it tasted going down, I swore I would never have gluten again!

These pancakes are made with gluten free flour and coconut flour, and they tasted IN-credible! They are fluffy, light, and full of flavor. I added the juice of a whole lemon and coconut extract to give these babies an extra kick.  These are the perfect pancake for spring, and give you a little break from the ordinary buttermilk.  I also used coconut sugar instead of refined sugar, and coconut milk as well.  Natural sugar and non-dairy milk also help in allowing  your food nourish you instead of feeling full, tired, and unsatisfied.

And to change the pace for the syrup, I made mixed berry syrup and served it warm.  The berries were the perfect addition to the lemon flavor, and I think next time I may get real crazy and add some powered sugar!  Livin’ on the edge over here.

I hope you enjoy these pancakes and please let me know if you feel a difference in your energy and digestive track! 🙂

Gluten Free Coconut Lemon Pancakes

Yield: about 9, 6-inch pancakes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 mines

This blog post was inspired by Amazing Paleo’s Coconut-Lemon Paleo Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose gluten free flour (I used Trader Joe’s)
1/2 cup coconut flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flour)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon coconut sugar
2 tablespoons plus one teaspoons coconut oil, divided
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
juice from one medium sized lemon
1/2-1 teaspoon coconut extract

For the syrup:
1 cup 100% pure maple syrup
1/3 cup frozen mixed berries

Directions:

Mix together all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Measure out two tablespoons coconut oil and then heat in microwave until melted. Add coconut oil, eegs, milk, lemon juice, and coconut extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until completely combined. Place large skillet on stove top, add the two teaspoons coconut oil, and set to medium heat. Once coconut oil has melted, turn the pan around to make sure that the entire bottom is coated. Now, using a 1/3 measuring cup, measure two to three pancakes into pan and cook until you see bubbles on the top of the pancake and edges begin to golden. Flip and cook until it is cooked through. Cook as many as you’d like, serve and enjoy!

I also like to heat my oven to 350 and put the pancakes I’ve cooked into a serving dish with a lid into the oven while the others cook. That way, my first batch doesn’t get cold and we can all eat at the same time.

While pancakes are cooking, place maple syrup and frozen berries in sauce pan on stove. Turn to medium high heat and allow berries to melt, smashing them into the syrup occasionally to spread the flavor. Once syrup begins to boil, turn to the lowest setting. Serve warm.

Today I have a special treat (no pun intended) for you!  My sister in law Sandy has an amazing Paleo food blog.  I have been so inspired by her creations that this week I made a Vegan and Paleo Ice Cream Pie, and she offered to have me guest post on her site!  Here is an excerpt from the full post:

At what point in our lives do we go from having opinions to have convictions?  An old pastor of mine once said that as he got older, his list of convictions got shorter and his list of opinions got longer.  I guess this means that as he learned more and more he allowed his mind to be changed, and things that he once felt very rigid about became a part of a category in which he held his thoughts loosely.  On the other hand, his list of convictions were few, but that much stronger.

You see, the thing about opinions and convictions are that opinions are often determined by our life circumstances while convictions are time-tested, well thought out, I’d-die-on-that-hill, beliefs.  It takes a strong person to have well-educated opinions and an even stronger one to have firmly established convictions.

I’m a firm believer in starting the morning with protein.  I’ve been known to shed a tear over the need, and sight, of bacon.  In fact, just the other day, I spotted some blueberry maple bacon at Whole Foods and lost it.  My two year old looked alarmed and said “weird”.  Fair enough child, fair enough.

I digress.

You can put bacon in these, all veggies, cheese, beans…anything you want!  I did scrambled eggs with spinach, avocados, chicken sausage, black beans, and cheese.  They re-heat so very easily, just three minutes in the microwave oven.  Perfect for a quick breakfast on your way out the door, or just because you have a toddler who wakes up too early and you stayed up too late watching a TV show on Netflix acting like you are twenty-one again.

Fill ‘er up. Roll ‘er up. Wrap ‘er up.

DIY Frozen Breakfast Burritos

Yield: 10-12 burritos, depending on amount of tortillas you use

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This recipe was inspired by Frozen Burritos on Tracy’s blog, Shutterbean. I used her technique only made them into Breakfast Burritos instead!

Ingredients:

Your choice here! Below is the list and ratio of what I used, but be creative and make your own stellar combinations!

1 dozen eggs (approximately one per burritos)
1 cup spinach, chopped
1 can black beans
2-4 avocados, depending on how much you want in each one
1-2 cups of shredded cheese (your choice of blend)
1 package large flour tortillas
tin foil, cut into large enough pieces to wrap each burrito successfully
Gallon bags if you think that your burritos will not be eaten in a quick period of time
Sour cream (optional) for placing on top after you heat it up.

Directions:

Scramble eggs according to your liking. I chopped up the spinach and put them into the eggs to fool my toddler. 🙂 (It worked!) Once eggs are cooked, set aside. Cook sausage or meat of choice according to your liking, and set aside. Open all other ingredients and set them out so that it’s easy for you to grab a small amount and place them in each burrito.

Wet a thin kitchen towel and ring out so that it’s still damp, but not dripping wet. Wrap the damp towel around all of the tortillas at once and microwave on high for 1 minute. This allows the tortillas to be folder easier and prevents breaking. Unwrap towel and begin your assembly line! Don’t put too much in each burrito, or you will have too much filling and your burrito will break. Fold up that baby like you’ve seen them do so many times at chipotle, being careful to fold in the sides and then wrap up the burrito in a piece of tin foil. Mark each burrito with the date so you are aware of when you made them, place in plastic bag, and place in freezer.

To heat up these burritos: Remove form tin foil and heat on high for 3 minutes. Done! Add sour cream if you feel so inclined!

Thirteen point one.  That’s how many miles I ran yesterday with my husband in a local half marathon.  As my feet pounded on that pavement, one foot in front of the other, I realized that there is no point in counting down the miles that are left as I hit each marker.  Because until you are at mile 8, the number of miles left is daunting.  So you have to take it one step at a time.  One breath in and another out. You have to learn to settle in and enjoy the ride.

I’ve been a runner since high school and although it may have been my motivation at one point, numbers on the scale is not what gets me to clock seven, eight, or nine miles. Running, like the Good Word, sets you free.  It is designed to let us tune into our natural instincts, set our feet on the ground beneath us, and allow ourselves to go forward.  Fast. Slow. Paced. But going forward none the less.  And as my husband and I took one step after another this weekend, I was reminded of the reason that I run.  I run because it reminds me to take life in the same way I conquer the long distances; one step at a time, remembering to breathe, and that when I get to those hills-I keep my eyes only a few feet in front of me.

Our training is over, but like a true runner at heart, I can hardly wait to get in my Vibrams again and go for a long run.  I know my body needs at least one day of rest (according to the advice from the pros, maybe even a week…or two) but rest is not something that I am necessarily good at.  Chip still naps and I am so grateful because it’s a few hours each day that I’ve had to learn the art of resting.  It’s a discipline that I’ve really had to teach myself over the past two years and I’ve gone from being a person that got little to no sleep and hardly did anything for fun, to a person who needs to rest and recharge in order to preserve my sanity.

My times of rest aren’t necessarily times of sleep, but of exploring and doing things that are life giving and cultivate joy.  And on one of these moments of rest, I made a shake.  My feet had just finished pounding the pavement on yet another long run, and I wanted something sweet, yet life giving.  So chocolate, although desired, would not rejuvenate my body.  But it was nature’s candy  (dates!) that did the trick.

And those dates turned out to be a good choice on many levels.  The sweetness they provide matches perfectly with the coconut milk and fall spices of this smoothie.  It’s a genuine sweetness that’s not contrived, altered, or fake.  It’s a natural and free flavor in which I’m reminded that we all are at our best when we are ourselves.  And after doing a bit of researching about the food that I was consuming (and feeding my family), I found a quality about dates that reinforced my discipline to rest.

You see, the date tree takes it’s time before it produces any fruit.  Anywhere from four to eight years in fact.  It grows, strengthens, and waits until the timing is just perfect before it shows it’s sweetness to the world.  It’s patient, and even goes through four stages of ripeness each with their own unique qualities, both good and bad.  At what stage they are picked depends on who is eating it, of course.  And after they begin producing fruit, they will continue to do so for the next ten years.

And while I’m absolutely not waiting four to eight years until I run again, I am remembering that there is something to be said about gaining strength and taking time to rest.  Because when I do, my next run is always stronger.  My feet remain one in front of the other, but the power behind them is that much greater.  I run with a new excitement, and my stamina not only in the moment, but in the months of training ahead is much, much greater.  I am stronger.  I am rested.  I am free.  And the success of each race is just that much sweeter.

Date Nut Smoothie

Yield: 2 smoothies

Ingredients:

2 cups unsweetened coconut milk, or any nut milk will do

1 banana

5 (or more) dates, pitted (The number of dates you put in here will determine how sweet your smoothie is,)

1/2-1 teaspoon nutmeg (depends on how much spice you want)

1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon (again, depends on how much spice you want)

4-6 ice cubs

Directions:

Pit the dates by making a small but downy he middle and removing the seed. Place all ingredients in the blender, with the milk on the bottom and the ice on the top and blend according to manufacturer’s instructions. If you have a frozen banana that will work as well. My blender is a BlendTex blender so the date were not chunky. If your blender is not as powerful, just simply chop the dates up into small pieces before putting them in the blender. Enjoy!

My folks simply praised their 42nd wedding commemoration, which additionally implies their 42nd year visiting a sweet sea shore city. They have never missed a mid year, and I have not either. It’s our family and our dear family companions that go to a seemingly endless amount of time after year. It’s similar individuals, committed to early mornings loaded up with the fragrance of espresso and breakfast. Committed to getting together the vehicle, scouring on the sunscreen, and taking off to the sandy shore. It’s a humble community that hasn’t changed a lot throughout the years; a similar bistros, blossom stands, and pizza joints are things we anticipate each mid year.

It’s the smell of summer. In the first part of the day where the mist hasn’t lifted and even the ocean gulls appear to stage somewhat calmer, the waves crash with a touch of reluctance on the grounds that the tide is still so out of sight. The span of the sea shore is immense at the early morning hours and our objective is to discover a certain something: sand dollars. It’s the money of our excursion, and keeping in mind that we search the shores, we feel so exceptionally little once more; an inclination that I know is a basic piece of my perspective. It’s still at that hour. As I step on that sea shore every day during our excursion I inhale profoundly in and remember my good fortune. There’s something otherworldly about this spot. All obligations are pardoned at the sea shore.

On this specific morning we pulled up to our sea shore home and I could smell the heavenly breakfast that was being set up inside. We immediately put everything out on the table, conveyed the espresso, and plunked down together. Dinners together. With no TV. No electronic gadgets. No papers. Just us. Companions. Family. Friends and family. Our motions and discussions are loaded up with forever and a day of stories and recollections. There is a trust that is profound, an affection that is substantial, and as we each dive into our dishes, we are helped to remember the integrity of food, the tastiness of fellowships, and how great it feels to be full to the edge with both.

We dove into an egg dish arranged by making fried eggs the manner in which we appreciate. We included cheddar, spinach, zucchini, and hotdog. And afterward we set every last bit of it, in addition to a touch of additional cheddar into a puff baked good and heated it as needs be. It’s such a marvel and thoroughly invigorating that the eggs don’t overcook when enveloped with the baked good goodness. A token of the need of having dear loved ones to keep you warm and wrapped up, while permitting you to act naturally. It’s somewhat firm outwardly and the eggs are cooked impeccably within. The cheddar holds it together and isolates in that gooey, flavorful way that you just observe on plugs with that ideal flame broiled cheddar.

We talked, we chuckled and we made the arrangements for the afternoon. Under the table are exposed feet and little spots of sand that we hauled in from the sea shore. We tidied up, and the children of the gathering, which are the children of our folks, concluded we would go on a run. Also, we ran. Up interstate 101, onto a path which gives the most stunning perspective on the sea I have ever observed. There were slopes that were hard, however my significant other drove the way, and our companion Andy got the back with the young ladies in the center. Also, we made it. We battled through the slopes, we halted and took in the view, we ran on the sea shore, and we became tired. Be that as it may, we likewise were stimulated. We were together, and we were filled by the history we as a whole have, the future we as a whole hold together, and the food inside our guts.

My cup runneth over.

Country Breakfast Pot Pie

Yield: 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 25 mintes

Total Time: 50 minutes

adapted from Pillsbury

Ingredients:

9-11 eggs (The number of eggs will be determined by the number of other ingredients you put into your eggs. We made two, one with only vegetables in which we used 8 eggs and one with vegetables and sausage in which we used 11 eggs)

Many other ingredients of your choosing. How much of these ingredients you put in here is totally your choice! Some options are:

spinach
onions
cheese
summer squash or other seasonal vegetables
chicken sausage
any additional seasonings

1 package pillsbury crescent rolls
1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease an 11 x 13 baking dish and set aside.

Place all eggs into a large bowl, and whisk until egg yolks and whites are combined. Using a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat until completely melted. Add eggs to skillet and let sit for three or four minutes. Nothing will happen immediately, but as the eggs get a bit thicker, begin to stir in order to make a scramble. Add ingredients one by one until the various ingredients are cooked completely. Note: if you are using onions, brown the onions with the butter before adding any eggs.

While the eggs are cooking, pul out one package of pillsbury crescent rolls and lay them out in a star shape, by separating the triangles by the perforated edges and placing all the flat edges in the center and the pointed edges outwards into a star formation into a 11 x 13 baking dish. Remove the eggs from the heat, and place into the middle of the star formation, Take the pointed edges of the star formation and fold them over the center of the eggs, covering all sides of the eggs so that they do not spill out.

Bake for 25 minutes, checking after 15 and then every five minutes later. The dough should be golden brown on top yet cooked all the way through. Serve and enjoy!

I don’t make New Years resolutions, because I feel like if I want to change my life, I should just get up, and do so.  I have no idea though, when that became so hard, or when I became so old.  Chip never wakes up and then groggily says, “Please, mom, just 5 more minutes.”  But I literally am peeling myself off my sheets in the morning to get up.

And I honestly wish that it was different.  That I was a morning person.  But the truth is, is that I’m not a morning person or a night person really.  So I’ve implemented a few things to give myself more energy.

Such as, eating dinner earlier.

Such as, more protein.

Such as, a smoothie every day.

Ugh I’m tired of typing “such as.”  Isn’t there a video of a beauty queen saying “such as” too much?

And of course, a little surprises in my day gives me more energy.  Yes, this smoothie has oats! Not cooked.  Just blended!

What do you do for more energy?

Dairy Free Weekend Smoothie

Yield: 2 smoothies

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 banana

2 heaping scoops of some sort of peanut buttery type food. I used sunflower butter.

1 cup rice milk (or other milk if you prefer)

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

honey to taste (optional)

Directions:

Pour all ingredients except honey into blender, and blend for 1-2 minutes to ensure that the oats get blended real well. Add honey if you deserve for smoothie to be sweeter and blend again. Enjoy!