Barley Stuffed Cabbage rolls - fail

Cooking Light: Barley Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

So, I tried this with the cabbage that I got in my Farm Fresh to You box, and my crock pot/slow cooker.  All of these ingredients are good for you stuff, pine nuts, barley, cabbage etc.  I was kind of excited, and the first night it was okay, a bit heavy on the vinegar flavor....okay my hubby did not like it even on the first night. The second day, I'm not sure how but the vinegar flavor increased and it was overwhelming for me.  I will not be making this recipe with that sauce ever again.  If I make the cabbage rolls with that filler, there will be a very different sauce to go with them.
Healthy as these might be, I did not like them and will not be making them with any form of tomato vinaigrette type sauce ever.

I used their photo because I did not get one of mine, and mine were not so pretty either.

A new twist on burrito/taco wraps - and news(ish) stuff

I've been making things with beans, lots and lots of beans.
This dish uses the Raspberry Chipolte Sauce I used with the cauliflower pizza crust. I found it at World Market, luckily Bronco Bob's can also be found on Amazon.

Ingredients:
Whole wheat tortillas
Organic chicken grilled with sauce glazed on top
Tilamook cheddar cheese - made from Cows not treated with hormones
Black beans - slow cooked not from cans

Compile ingredients heat and compile. Serve with veggies.



I've been quiet on here lately, I know. It's the holiday's and I don't have cute kids to post all the fun things that they are doing, or funny things they are saying, or how old they are making me feel.  I feel it more during the holidays.  I've been going to a Grief Share group to support a friend of mine who was recently widowed.  Things like that make my life and things that I'm dealing with so trivial, it's hard to muster up a good recipe or chat about the dangers of BPA.  It's all about perspective.

I have had some other things brewing and I did not want to share the news until it could be confirmed.  It will be soon, and I will post links and shout it out.  Until it's all ready to go I will leave you to wondering what in the world I could be getting all excited about. Here is a hint: InCyst Trained...
Oh fine, here is another hint: Shop Cysters

This Saturday I am hosting a party for my friend. She will be 40, and doesn't mind sharing that with everyone. I will be a bit less excited for anyone to share that news once I get there.  But I've been gearing up for that and getting the house all pretty, or clean and orderly at least.

I will leave you with what I am working on for my health lately....sleep. Yes, that's right, sleep.  It's the one thing that I know for sure is out of balance in my life, and currently the situation in our abode has not suggested that it will be rectified soon.  Here's to hoping and planning on it though. It will require another exhausting cleaning day, since all my previous efforts are now strewn about the art room floor, and there is no longer space to move at all. So there, no art work done this last weekend and none in the foreseeable future.  It seems that I still need to figure out how to have others take responsibility for their own OCD issues and not let them put it all on me.  When I figure that one out, I'll bottle it and sell it.

Day one: partial lights

The before and after...

My little dogs, trimmed a bit.

I had to help poor Bear out, he was beginning to look like a Rastafarian. Well maybe more like mange, and that's a horrible look for such a cute dog. I do need to even him out a bit though.

now for the after shots...

The puppies

I  took these and posted with my new phone. I'm moving up in the world on technology. I still prefer my camera for the real good shots, but these are fun. I have done some with the editing options that I have on my phone, I'll post some of those later.  These phones will have to be our Christmas presents to ourselves.

I didn't fall off the face of the earth.. I swear!

 I know, it's been a while. I'm sorry, truly I am.
This year has been interesting to say the least.  So, we are no longer visiting Dr's and I no longer have to bike to work, so it can be by choice again.  These are things I value highly, and am very thankful for.

As I was dashing out of the house today I just about tripped over my Farm Fresh ToYou delivery. Things have been moving and happening taking me out of my normal routine, I had not thought of the delivery at all until that moment.

Monday 10/31/2011 - Friday 11/04/2011

Service: Regular

(Weights are approximate)

	4	cnt	Washington	Braeburn Apple
	2	cnt	Arvin	Red Pomegranate
	1.5	lb	Livingston	Sweet Potato
	1	lb	Delano	Crimson Grape
	1	bu	Our Farm	Assorted Radish
	1	bu	Our Farm	Nantes Carrot
	1	bu	Our Farm	Bunched Collard
	1	cnt	Our Farm	Spaghetti Squash, winter
	1	bu	Salinas	Green Leaf Lettuce
	1	cnt	Watsonville	Bunched, fresh Dill

I'm never at a loss for what to do with spaghetti squash, I'm happy with it baked with a small amount of butte on it, but this recipe just looked delicious, and it's another way to incorporate kale.

Oh My Gosh Spaghetti Squash

Butternut Squash and onion

I baked up this concoction and made my hubby grumpy.  He is evidently not a fan of Garam Marsala, all the things I'm still learning. I thought it turned out pretty good, but I like Indian spiced food. 

Spice-Roasted Butternut Squash and Onions

1 spray(s) cooking spray
2 1/4 pound(s) butternut squash, fresh, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium red onion(s), halved and thinly sliced ( I used a yellow onion, I'm not fond of the purple onions)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
3 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped (I did not have and so it was not included)

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a large nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place squash and onion on prepared baking sheet; drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with garam masala, salt and pepper; toss to coat.

Roast, tossing about halfway through cooking, until squash and onions are tender and slightly browned, about 25 minutes.

Transfer vegetables to a serving platter or bowl and sprinkle with cilantro; toss to coat.

Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.

POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 6


Here is another variation with apples that sounds good as well:
The Good Bowl: Indian Spiced roasted apples with butternut squash

Weekends are for Fun

This weekend my hubby and I visited his sister and family out in the hills, it was beautiful. The weather was a perfect fall day.  Mom and brother-in-law took off for a ride on his new motorcycle and Sis-in-law and Little Miss and I went for a walk.  It was a great day.  Their house is beautiful and they are almost all settled in from their recent move.

This summer has been busy and flew by rather quickly for all of us, this weekend was a perfect time for us all to get together and spend some quality time catching up and enjoying the late summer weather.

Weight Watchers because I need more support with my change

So in my journey towards health and managing my PCOS, I've learned many things about foods and carbs, about how important sleep and fish oil are, and a bit about how I deal with the stress of everyday life.  I've also begun to make peace with the fact that my mom is not hear, my sister lives far away, and my husband does not understand what I mean by "support".    The realization of these things has lead me to work with others, looking for support and assistance, but none of these have lasted.  Friends have only so much time, energy and effort to give out if they are not on the same plan.

I have a co-worker who is doing Weight Watchers, and my sister-in-law did it once a long time ago, along with countless other friends who loved it and did well.  I've tried the counting on my own before, and was not successful.  To be honest I need the accountability more than I need the points.  I can eat with hunger and stick to it, if I have support, encouragement and something to hold my feet to the fire. Weight Watchers really won't hold my feet to the fire, but each week they will weigh me so it's a draw in that respect.

I need the constant hand holding and encouragement, and I need the support to not get tired and exhausted with me.  So, having people who will do this whether I am there or not is a huge bonus for me.  They are committed already, now I just have to join in myself.  The first week was a learning curve, and I'm hoping that this next week there will be better results.  I may have to check just to make sure.

So, here is where all the food stuff gets to be paired down to understanding the proper portion size, and hopefully all will be right with the world again.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Opens at Nightfall

Closes at Dawn

"Another flourish, and the black silk folds and curves in on itself, becoming a black top hat. The woman places it on her head, topping off an ensemble that looks like a ball gown fashioned out of the night sky: black silk dotted with sparkling white crystals."

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

amazon.com: Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

As I live in California, I can no longer be an Amazon affiliate, but you can go and read portions of the book to find out more about it.

 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!