The Underwater Diaries

2007-01-26T09:11:00.000-05:00

Photos and Ramblings

(no food here)

I'm sitting at my kitchen table, listening to Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here," while watching a cardinal perch itself at my birdfeeder in the backyard. I got pretty badly sunburned last night while tanning, because I took the advice of the incredibly stupid clerk who said, "Yeah, 15 will be FINE!" Needless to say, I can feel my cheeks burning (as well as my legs and back!)

It's funny, I went from being incredibly lonely, to having a full social calendar with friends that are more genuine than I could begin to describe. It's amazing to finally meet people who are so much like me; quirky, fun, even a bit depressed at moments that are acceptable, maybe even a little wierd. We all kind of bond on a level that I've never experienced before, and I have never enjoyed being a mommy more. Thank you ladies!!

I have no big foodie entries to post, because my entire family just got over the most AGONIZING stomach flu. I'm keeping it really simple this week, and cooking mostly with already-made-by-someone-else-and-frozen-meals. Eh, I'd bet ya even RR takes a break from the gourmet 30-minute meal cooking itinerary.

Anyway, I will leave you with a few more pictures I've taken of the munchkin over the last few weeks. Enjoy!

2007-01-12T08:08:00.000-05:00

And we call it..."Chicken and Rice Love."

This is a standard dish that I make often, and love very much. Sometimes the ingredients change, depending on my mood, but it always contains some sort of spanish-sounding rice (yellow or garlic herb) and Goya's "Mojo Criollo" marinade. When I cook the rice, I substitute this very thin liquid spice for some of the water, and the dish comes out slightly spicy, slightly citrusy, and always yummy. The rest is just a mixture of veggies I have on hand, and usually chicken. I love beans in my rice, and I use the Goya brand "small red beans." These are smaller than your average kidney bean, and the shell is much thinner. If you want the full recipe, let me know and I'll provide it. To be honest, everything is eyeballed, so I don't really have a "recipe" to begin with. Ha! The joy of cooking without a safety net... :)

These are some random shots I took while making homemade organic caffeine-free iced tea. (say THAT ten times fast!) I have an aunt that buys me big variety packs of tea every year for Christmas, which is lovely. However, I am the only tea drinker in my house, and even if I were to drink a cup of tea everyday I would STILL have leftovers by next Christmas.

So I decided to make iced tea yesterday. I mixed a few different flavors, which was ballsy I know. *grin* It turned out pretty decent, although I have secured the idea that I really dislike chamomile tea. It tastes like...dried mushed up flowers. And that's just gross...

2007-01-03T08:05:00.000-05:00

Orange Cranberry-Fooeey

(or slightly below average muffins)

My family, God love them, are a strange bunch. For Christmas this year, my grandma decided to split a case of oranges among all the children. Now here's the thing, my hubby hates fruit. So I tried my damnest to eat the 20+ oranges that were handed to me a day before Christmas, but alas, there were 6 or so leftover that were slowly rotting on my counter, and I felt REALLY guilty about that. I could not stuff another orange in my mouth, and one can only drink so many screwdrivers. So I set to work looking for a recipe for some sort of delicious dessert that would use the remainder of the citrus hogging up my cooking space.

Every recipe I found called for orange peel, which I really despise in food, so I searched, and searched, and SEARCHED. Finally, I found a recipe for cranberry orange muffins (which are one of my favorites), and I set to work. I juiced all the oranges, and I dug out a bag of dried cranberries, and I giggled as I clicked the beater into place on my new Kitchenaid mixer. (the crimson one , of course)

The recipe called for whole wheat flour, which I think is where things started to go South. I'm new to whole wheat flour, and the kind I have is very grainy in texture. To be honest, I'm not really thrilled about baking at all, because the measurements have to be so precise. I'm the kind of girl that half measures everything, and stops when the color and/or taste look good. With baking, everything tastes like semi-sweet floury ass before it's baked, so I'm screwed where taste is concerned.

I decided to add more cranberries, because the mixture looked bland, so as you'll notice in the photos, there are a ton of little cranberry jewels falling out of the muffins. The muffins didn't rise the way I thought they would, but I'm not sure if it was the muffin, or the new silicone bakeware I used for the first time. Whatever the reason, I was not impressed. I also made a few little loaves of muffin bread, while more appealing to the eye, they are a little bland and grainy in taste-just like the muffins.

I decided not to post the recipe, as I'm afraid someone will look at the pictures and try to duplicate my attempt. I assure you it would be a waste of good citrus. You may be wondering, if the muffins were this bad of an experience, why write about them? The truth is, I hate baking. And I'm also not so great about using up leftovers before they spoil. I am really proud of myself for stepping out of my stove-top comfort zone, and trying something different. Because of that, I believe it deserves a post and some grainy-ass photos to go with it. If you've suffered this entire post, I'm sorry. I will attempt to make it up to you in the coming months with cooking tips and yummy recipes, adapted from the slew of cookbooks I have acquired over the last two years. I hope everyone had a lovely New Year's, and thanks for tuning in. :)

2006-12-28T18:49:00.000-05:00

"While the merry bells keep ringing, happy holidays to you..."

Wow, what a year! I know people typically talk about being thankful around Thanksgiving, but I was never one for tradition where being grateful is concerned. The picture to your left is my nine month old bundle of joy...affectionately referred to as, "little man," his proper name being Thomas. This little guy has very quickly become the center of my world, and life has never been so sweet. I've never been overly fond of the holidays, but having a child really does change the outlook. I went completely overboard gift-wise this year, singing my way through stores (when others were grumbling) and baking my ass off. (100 dozen cookies and counting...) My sister-in-law and her beau stayed with us for a few days, and we each made our own gingerbread houses. The pictures of mine are located below.

My in-laws came from South Carolina to spend the holiday with us, and I ended up cooking for 10 people on Christmas. I have never been so content as I was running around the kitchen hollering things like, "Does this stuff look too wet to you?" I cooked the turkey with marinated root veggies underneath, which seasoned the bird to PERFECTION. Have you ever had a turkey that you didn't have to either drown in gravy or salt to death? Yeah well, this one was rockin'! We also had a boneless ham that was cooked with a pineapple core and brown sugar nestled in the middle, and homemade sweet potatoes. Not to mention the regulars...mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, corn, etc. I even had homemade pear and mango jam for the warm rolls. The entire meal turned out fabulous, and I spent the evening beaming from all the compliments. Eat your heart out Rachael Ray...

2006-11-03T06:58:00.000-05:00

My love for all things "Yum-O!"

So for my anniversary, my hubby bought me the "Rachael Ray 365 meals-no repeats!" cookbook, which I have been wanting for MONTHS. I am all of a sudden addicted to Rachael Ray, and her whimsical outlook on cooking. I have stopped using measuring equipment, and instead tell people, "twice around the pan" for the ingredient amounts. Her cookbook is so user-friendly, with a little tab on the end of the pages that says, "It's a keeper!" and "Maybe Later..." I write on the bottom of the pages the changes I made to the recipe, and whether they worked or not. I am in-love with a cookbook, and cannot seem to put it down.

Last night I made a sloppy chicken joe that was baked on top of fresh cornbread. The hubby was so impressed, he said, "Man, that Rachael Ray really knows what she's doing..." which made me beam. Making dinner has never been so fun for me!

Above: Multi-grain pancakes that were oh so yummy.

Below: The spiced pear jam that I SLAVED over last weekend.

2006-10-17T07:47:00.000-04:00

I have been busy. I mean, really busy. Since the baby, my life has been rather slow and uneventful, (other than watching the little one hit milestones) but as of late the munchkin is rather entertaining, and we have been doing the "friends with children" party scene. So much so, that I am rather burned out. I am declining invitations left and right for previous engagements, and all I really want to do is sit on my butt and watch a movie. Hence why I haven't been updating. I made a really yummy spiced pear jam yesterday, but didn't take any photos of the process. I am planning to make concord grape freezer jam today, and am rather excited for the outcome. I will certainly let you know how I fair. :)

2006-09-11T09:52:00.000-04:00

Summer Beauties-Frozen Style

You know, I never realized just how heavily I lean on canned tomatoes until recently. I was making a random pasta dish, went to the pantry and (GASP!) I was out of tomatoes. I try to keep fresh on hand, but I'm sure you will understand that logic is not always feasible-especially in the winter time. The recipe below will allow you to have fresh tomatoes all year long. I had recently stumbled upon an article explaining the art of freezing fresh tomatoes to be just as friendly as the canned variety, only BETTER. So I rushed out and bought a few tomatoes, and set to work. The idea behind freezing them in ice cube trays (as you'll see below) is that you can add as many individual cubes to your dish as needed, which is much better than wasting part of a can. The following photos are my first attempt at creating frozen "canned" tomatoes with garlic.

Step 1: Blanch the tomato in a pot of boiling water for a few seconds.

Step 2: Peel off skin and chop roughly. Add tomato chunk and fresh garlic to food processor.

Step 3: Puree to desired thickness. (I chopped a little more finely than the canned variety.)

Step 4: Pour into ice cube trays.

2006-09-01T15:21:00.000-04:00

And we're off!

We are leaving in a few hours for South Carolina, and to say that I'm excited would be a major understatement. The only cruddy thing about leaving is the weather, as we're going to be driving through a tropical depression. Other than that, nothing but peaches and cream. Storm or no storm, I am SO ready for a vacation! Hope everyone in Blogger Land has a lovely holiday weekend...

Blessings and Light,

Jess

2006-08-30T16:47:00.000-04:00

I have decided to complete this meme, simply because it sounds fun. After much thought and deliberation in my kitchen, the following things are officially "must eat before death" in my book.

1. Eggs Benedict. Hands down, my favorite food. I love them traditional style, or with spinach and asparagus. Just smother it in rich, lemony hollandaise sauce, and I will be your BBF.

2. Gooey Bananas. Check this, okay? Melty vanilla ice cream topped with over-ripe bananas that have been cooked in a crockpot with cinnamon, vanilla, and melted caramel. Oh my God, heaven has arrived!

3. Buffalo Hot Wings. Yeah, I know...everyone has eaten these, right? Wrong. In parts of the United States, people have never HEARD of this New York-inspired dish. Crispy chicken wings, drenched in buttery hot sauce and served with blue cheese and celery. (Side note: The best place to get these is ALWAYS at a local bar and/or pub.)

4. Maryland Hard Shell Crabs (and crab cakes). Did you know that west of Ohio, Old Bay does not exist. It's true. Try to find it in the grocery store, and you will come across things like "crab boils," but not THE genuine staple of an Inner Harbor dining experience. Also, you will never find a breaded crabcake labeled "Maryland Style." It must be broiled jumbo lump with a dash of Old Bay seasoning (served with lemon wedges of course!), or it's not what I consider "from the Bay." Once you go Maryland style crab, you won't go back.

5. Creamed Chipped Beef (with hard boiled eggs) over Bread. I grew up with this Pennsylvania Dutch goodness, and feel it's the cause of probably 80% of my weight issues. I love it, just the same. You take chipped beef and fry it in Crisco, adding enough flour to make it "pasty." You then turn your burner down, stirring in milk until the paste substance becomes gravy. You serve immediately over bread, and top with chopped hard boiled eggs. It sounds gross, but is one of the yummiest (and artery clogging) breakfasts I've ever had.

2006-08-29T13:57:00.000-04:00

Vacation, Lovely Vacation!

We are leaving for South Carolina on Friday for (count them) SEVEN days! I am so excited to be getting away, not to mention seeing Matt's family. I cannot wait for them to spend time with the baby, who is growing like a weed as of late. I picked up a new bohemian skirt today, in honor of "going away" for $20, which was a steal! It's also pouring outside, which always makes me happy. Too much sunshine makes me gloomy. HA! This evening I am going to be completing the "5 things one must eat before death" meme that's been circulating around. I would do it now, but I only have 3 of the 5 foods. More thought, and I'll have them posted. I will leave you with a photo of the munchkin and hubby, intently watching Baby Einstein. Heh.

2006-08-27T08:04:00.000-04:00

Veggie Time!

The above picture was the mixture of vegetables I used to make crockpot beef vegetable soup a few days ago, which turned out really well! I am so ready for fall, and all that it brings. Soup, scarecrows and the changing of the leaves. *sigh* I am READY!

So this year, I decided to plant a few veggies. I planted what I "thought" was green beans, and cucumbers. Below is the fruit of my labor. A teeny tiny cucumber that was tres yummy with Gazebo dressing, and a snap pea. Uh huh, I said snap pea. The vines that I thought were pole beans were actually snap peas, to my obvious surprise. It also only produced one little pea. *grin* So much for a big harvest... :)

2006-08-17T08:08:00.000-04:00

Holy Updates Batman!

So yesterday the baby rolled over for the first time ever! We left him on his belly on the living room floor, so Matt could come take a picture of my garlic monkey bread (photos to follow), and when he went back to the living room, the baby was laying on his back with a VERY stunned look on his face. I tried desperately to catch him rolling with the video feature on my digital camera, but the little stinker wouldn't perform for me.

Above: Thomas being cute.
Below: The pre-rolling pose.

Last night, I had the hankering for mac and cheese, but with a twist. I started cutting up some very ripe tomatoes and I mixed them with some diced onion, garlic, oregano and salt. The tomato mixture was FABULOUS, and I couldn't compromise its light summery-flavor by throwing it in a baking dish with cheese. I reserved some rigatoni, and tossed it with the tomato mixture. Yum! I am definitely going to try this with smaller noodles, some feta and basil and chill for a new pasta salad recipe. *doing a happy dance* I love it when a new recipe comes together...

I also got creative with the bread machine, and decided to make cheesy garlic monkey bread. I made the dough in the bread machine, then chopped it up and rolled it in a mixture of garlic, cheese and rosemary. I'm not a big rosemary fan, and this recipe felt like it was floating in little green twigs. I followed the recipe anyway, to be sure I didn't screw anything up. Well, the rosemary was a bit much. I ended up trying to scrape it off the bread, but there was just too much! I am going to try this recipe again tonight, but with cinnamon and brown sugar instead of garlic and cheese. *fingers crossed*

Above: Tomato Garlic Pasta Goodness
Below: Cheesy Garlic Monkey Bread

2006-08-14T16:42:00.000-04:00

And we fondly referred to it as, "Ham and Lentil Mush."

So my stew started out well enough, as the above picture speaks for itself. Ham, red lentils, cabbage, carrots, and an onion to be set on low for 7-9 hours in the crock pot. At hour 4, I decided to lift the lid and check out the progress and was surprised to find NO LENTILS in my stew! Instead, a very thick yellow-ish broth that reminded me of butternut squash and tasted like beans. My lentils had dissolved, along with the cabbage and onions, leaving only ham and carrots as the non-mush substance. I went to work trying to fix the soup, and ended up adding potatoes and some leftover turkey from another dish I made over the weekend. The end result? A soup that tastes just like ham and bean, but lacking any obvious beans. I am planning to try the recipe again with a more substantial green lentil, but until then...I am faced with a mushy potato and ham soup.

On a positive note, I FINALLY got a bread machine! I bought it at a yard sale for $3, and have already gotten my money's worth. I made a vanilla almond granola bread with honey and oatmeal. Oh my God, the excitement of watching the dough whirl around the blade! You were supposed to wait a half hour before cutting the bread, but we had it sliced and buttered within seconds of that final beep. *giggle* Good stuff, homemade bread. I cannot WAIT to make homemade cinnamon rolls!

2006-08-11T07:35:00.000-04:00

Pretty Frappuccinos

Last night, the hubby and I were craving something sweet, and full of fattening goodness. There was some leftover coffee in the pot, and these are what I created. Mmmm...

2006-08-10T08:02:00.000-04:00

Portabella yuck burgers, and the quest for the "perfect" veggie food...

So I purchased portabella garlic burgers in hopes that they would be fabulous, and I would have a meat-free lunch alternative to salad. I tried the veggiepatch spinach nuggets, and really enjoyed them...so I had high hopes. Welp, I decided to throw the burgers in the pan, and make a breakfast sandwich of sorts with the burger, egg whites and some cheese. Brilliant idea. They smelled terrible when I opened the package, but I held out hope that they wouldn't smell so rank post-cooking. No dice. I thought maybe they would "taste" good regardless. Not a chance. They were so bad, I actually had to spit out the small bite I had taken. I mean, ew. Do the manufacturers not "KNOW" these things taste like manure? Needless to say, I will not be buying anything that says "burger" that does not contain some type of meat product ever again.

2006-08-09T07:23:00.000-04:00

Omelette Heaven!

There is nothing I like better than some sort of "eggs" for breakfast. I LOVE eggs...scrambled, dippy or benedict style, they are probably one of my favorite foods. That being said, I ventured into the world of egg whites recently, and I have to say I'm quite satisfied. The first time I made them, it was a small disaster. They stuck to the pan, and just looked yucky on the plate. But this morning, oh sweet love of eggs, they were fabulous. I fried a bit of onion and a fresh mushrooom, added some fresh spinach and the eggs. After they were post-runny, I added some tomato and cheese to the middle. And VOILA! The perfect egg white omelette. What a lovely way to start the morning! :)

2006-08-07T07:35:00.000-04:00

Turkey Florentine Pasta (with a kick)

So I sort of made this up as I went along, and it turned out REALLY well. Though it features 3 kinds of turkey (turkey sausage, turkey bacon and turkey breast) this could easily be made into a delish vegan recipe. I would replace the meats with veggies like mushrooms, peppers and green beans.

The secret punch to this recipe is the small amount of hot sauce and worcestershire sauce, so if you're planning to try this recipe, do not omit them. I also used spinach artichoke pasta for the first time, which was a delightful alternative to using wheat pasta. (which I cannot acquire the taste for) Overall, major success. This dish is really pretty and rather inexpensive, which makes it great for company. If you make it vegan style, let me know what you think... :)

Turkey Florentine Pasta

1 lb ground turkey

1/2 lb turkey bacon (chopped)

1 lb spinach artichoke fettuccini

1 medium onion (chopped)

1 Tbsp. hot sauce

1 Tbsp. worcestershire sauce

1 14 oz can tomatoes (with italian herbs)

half (regular size) jar of spaghetti sauce

shredded cheese (for garnish)

salt and pepper (to taste)

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

Bring large pot of water to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente. (approx. 7-8 minutes) Heat skillet on medium heat, add olive oil to cover bottom. Add chopped bacon, fry until crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towel to drain excess oil. Add ground turkey to pan, and crumble as it browns. When no longer pink, add worcestershire sauce and hot sauce to meat. Sprinkle with cracked pepper and salt, to taste. Add the garlic and onions to meat, fry until onions are tender. (stirring constantly) Return bacon to pan, add tomatoes and spaghetti sauce to pan. Drain pasta, and add to pan. Reduce heat, and combine pasta with other ingredients. Serve with shredded cheese for garnish.

2006-08-06T09:28:00.000-04:00

Ack! Can I explain how happy I am about the dreamy blog that my friend Jess (over at http://newvegan.blogspot.com/) created for me? I am so much like the little robot, it's scary. Although my words may not convey it, I am SO excited to be blogging on such a cool little corner of the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you Jess!!

Other big news...I have decided to start my own errand-running business, and am meeting with an accountant next week to find out what needs to take place. This is a great step for me, as I am able to contribute to the family, but still keep my son. I had finally given in to the idea of daycare, but the truth is that I can't do it. I don't want some stranger watching my son. And so, this idea how put a little spring in my step, and it's looking like I already have a potential client that will be filling 20 hours a week. Yippee!! In the spirit of the munchkin, I thought I'd also post a more recent photo, as his cuteness never seems to amaze me. *laughing* Proud mommy? Nah, not me... ;)

2006-07-26T15:43:00.000-04:00

So this is completely non-food related, but I feel the need to write. It's wierd, how I only write the emotional stuff when I'm hurting. When life takes an unexpected turn, and I forgot to wear my seatbelt. I feel very lost, and alone inside, which I know is kinda silly. I have a beautiful baby and a wonderful husband, but at the same time am utterly exhausted, and find myself slipping ever-so-slowly into a depression.

When I was a kid, I almost drowned in our pool. I remember the feeling of being trapped under the water, with cold fingers pulling me further from the surface...when a bit of panic strikes and your mind freezes. That's where I am. I look okay to those around me, but I fear that the mirage is starting to crack. I've been snippy and bitchy to my loved ones, totally losing my cool amid the current family crisis.

And yet, I'm honest about my depression with everyone. I know it's an issue, but I'm handling it, and everything was under control until my grandma went into the hospital yesterday morning. I've asked my hubby to look into whether counceling is covered by our insurance, but I get the feeling he isn't taking my pleas for help seriously. Maybe I need to learn the lesson of being less dependent on others, and make the call myself? Maybe I need to meditate with a group and try to ground myself? Either way, I know I'll be okay. Eventually I will get a new job, and this fog will lift on it's own. I'm just not sure I want to wait that long.

2006-07-21T13:46:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the vegan brunch, and I must say it turned out better than I expected. I decided to go crazy this month, and make a few vegan dishes. Keep in mind, my only experience with tofu was last Saturday...and it was "okay" at best. I have been lurking at http://blog.fatfreevegan.com, where I found two recipes that really stood out. The first was a spinach artichoke pie that has been fondly referred to by my hubby as, "the green lasagna." This was amazingly easy to make, and turned out really well. I didn't buy enough extra firm tofu (had 8 oz, called for 16) so I crossed my fingers and threw in some silken tofu to compensate. This was also my first experience with phyllo dough, and I have come to appreciate it's delicate nature. SusanV recommended cutting the dough before baking, which made it super easy to dish out post-baking. Featured below is a veggie bowl, relish tray, homemade vegan focaccia and my homemade bean salad.

I decided last minute to get creative with a bag of dried beans, and made a completely from scratch 16 bean salad. The flavor was great, but the beans were a little hard post-boil. Next time I will use canned beans, but keep everything else the same. I need to get the recipe posted, because I think this is a summer salad worth trying out. Below is a close-up of the colorful salad.
Next, I made a vegan chocolate mousse pie. (recipe also compliments of SusanV over at Fat Free Vegan) This recipe is AMAZINGLY easy, and has a great end result. I used amaretto instead of orange liquor, which was a bit on the bitter side. I am planning to make it again this weekend with peppermint schnappes instead, and am expecting great results. I also added a Dream Whip topping made with Silk soymilk, which lightened the heaviness of the mousse. The picture below shows the mousse pie, a fruit tray and a "chocolate lover's" tray featuring chocolate covered pretzels, strawberries and carob-coated rice cakes.

Jess brought a vegan chili that was awesome, with homemade vegan cornbread. She also brought vegan chocolate chip cookies that were heavenly, and a still warm from the oven loaf of vegan sundried tomato bread, compliments of her mom. I completely forgot to take photos of Jess's food, but I'm sure she will post some over at http://newvegan.blogspot.com/. I have GOT to get the chili recipe, as both my hubby and I really enjoyed it.

Overall, this was a really great "first vegan" cooking experience for me. I'm feeling pretty confident to use tofu in more recipes, especially desserts. I'd like to say a special thank you to SusanV at Fat Free Vegan for her wonderful recipes, and recommend that everyone check out her blog! Below are close-up photos that I took of all the dishes I made. Enjoy!

2006-07-18T11:52:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I went to this amazing natural foods store in Spring Grove, Pa on Saturday. It was recommended by my friend Jess, and as the hubby was watching the munchkin...I thought a little "me time" was in order. So I was a organic store virgin, and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was like a giddy school girl, wandering down the aisles, studying everything. You could tell most of the people that were there had been there a million times, and they buzzed around me, smiling at my obvious newbie-ism.

I ended up buying a lot of little things. They have a bulk foods room that was awesome, so I "tried" small amounts of everything that sounded appetizing. I also picked up some marinated tofu for a recipe I was trying. This was my first experience with tofu, and the end result was decent. I think that if I was a "tofu eater" it would have been really good. However, I'm not overly keen on the texture of it. I breaded and fried it in small chunks, but the longer you chewed, the bigger they seemed to get in your mouth. I plan to try it again, with an extra firm, non-marinated tofu. And a different recipe. I posted the photos below of my stir-fry. All things considered, a major breakthrough on the non-meat forefront. The hubby and I have decided rather than tofu-ing it, we'd rather just stir-fry veggies and serve over rice. Yum!

Above: The garlic herb marinated tofu.

Below: The tofu soy sauce stir-fry, recipe compliments of Kraft.com

2006-07-10T08:39:00.000-04:00

My own personal challenge...

So here's the thing. I had this "vegetarian brunch" a month ago, and it was a BLAST. See, I'm a meat eater, but I enjoy being open-minded and trying new things. I enjoy being challenged in the kitchen, and my friend Jess put me to the test! She is a vegan, and while I can make a killer vegetarian quiche, I had never cooked something (other than serving raw veggies) for a non-dairy eater. I thought I was being all slick with the fruit and veggie trays, but she couldn't have the dip. So in planning for this month's "Meeting of the Non-Meat Eaters" I have done my homework! I really wanted to post the two recipes I am planning, but I sort of want it to be a surprise. I will hint in that one recipe is a dessert featuring vegan chocolate. The second is a phyllo casserole that sounds divine.

Here's the hard part...

Where do I find nutritional yeast flakes? *grin* I cannot WAIT to post the pictures!

And speaking of pictures... A few weeks back, I saw this large turtle making it's way through our yard on an extremely rainy Saturday. So I took some pictures of it, and a video of it trying to devour our shovel. After some internet investigative work, we concluded that it was a female snapper looking for a place to lay eggs. Very interesting, indeed. Though after the shovel incident, I doubt she will ever contemplate our yard again. :( Here are two of the photos.

2006-07-09T09:06:00.000-04:00

Sketti Heaven... or not quite. So I decided to make spaghetti for some friends that were coming over by very last minute invitation. Hubby wanted to order in, but of course I had to make things difficult and decide to cook. Not only that, but I decided to try these new gourmet chicken sausages for the meat instead of burger or regular sausage. Well here's the deal...The sausages are precooked, and are intended to be heat-and-serve. So simmering for 20+ minutes in spaghetti sauce turns them to rubber. They are also really delicately flavored (tomato pesto and mozzarella) which is a great combo, but in the sauce lost all flavor and tomato-ish texture. They were just little round rubber discs. Below are the pictures when they still looked appetizing.

On to dessert. I made homemade cinnamon meltaway muffins, which the hubby really enjoyed. I thought they were okay, but very crumbly with entirely too much sugar on them for my tastes. The top photo is what they looked like prior to sugar-izing. Overall, dinner was not a big success. I'm quite a good cook, but need to follow the most important rule...no feeding "new stuff" to guests until the hubby and I try it first. Bleck!

2006-07-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

Lentil Soup Goodness!

I snagged a recipe from Food Snob and tweaked it...a lot. Considering it was a vegan recipe that is now featuring sausage, I guess you could say I made a lot of changes. Here's the new recipe:

Yummy Lentil Soup

2 tsp. olive oil
1 large yellow onion
3 carrots (chopped)
3 stalks celery (chopped)
4 cloves garlic
1 lb. sausage
(fry until sausage is no longer pink and veggies are soft)

3 cans chicken broth (16 oz each)
2 cans tomatoes (i used italian herb) with juice
1 1/2 cups dried lentils
ground coriander to taste
black pepper to taste
2 bay leaves
(add fried mixture to these ingredients and simmer for 35-45 minutes)

**The soup is a tad salty, and I would recommend using no-salt-added broth OR no-salt-added tomatoes, unless you like a salty broth like I do. Also, I recommend using loose sausage and making little balls (like in italian wedding soup) instead of using little links like I did. The flavor is consistent either way, but the casing is not very pleasing to the eye. **

If you try it, please let me know what you think! Bon appetit!

2006-06-29T08:17:00.000-04:00

Thomas Bo-bamis.

Have a mentioned lately how much I love my little man? I spend a lot of time bitching about being depressed, but the truth is that when I look at him...and I mean really look...all the other things just melt away. When he smiles at me, it lights up my soul. I have never experienced love, like the love of a new parent. I am terrified that if he stays this cute, I'll never be able to say no to anything. *laughing* Please enjoy the photos, as I'm not really in the mood to write.

2006-06-26T14:14:00.000-04:00

Kitty on my car, and I wanna touch it.

Hm, yeah. So my hubby's cat really enjoys lounging on my car, which bugs me to no end. When I pull out, my poor Element looks to be shedding. And then there's the crawling IN my car. If you leave the window down just a crack, she is rolling all over my seats. I can fully understand how she gets in, but it's the getting "out" that has me stumped.

On to lunch. The following pic is just a bowl of yummy watermelon. I felt froggy, and ate almost the entire bowl. As you can imagine, a little later I was feeling a lot less froggy, and the melon was a lot less yummy. Heh. I also had a tomato and cheese toasted bagel sandwich with basalmic vinegarette with herbs as a condiment. Tres yummy!

So my basement flooded this weekend. Normally, not a big deal, right? Well, maybe if I didn't have a litter box in my basement. The box flooded, and there was 4 inches of cat stuff floating when I opened the basement door this morning. *sigh* Why me? Not only that, but on my way to turn on the sump pump, my shoe flooded. Bleck.

2006-06-21T12:23:00.000-04:00

My baby boy is napping, and I sit before the screen, tap-tap-tapping my way into feeling better. Trying to belong in a world of new mommies and stay-at-home boredom. I hate this life. Though it is all for my child, I wonder if going to work would make me a better parent? Would I long to see his hazel eyes smiling at me, and not shudder every time he started to cry?

I talked to women who stayed home with their children, and they speak of a "purpose" so much stronger than filling a 9 to 5 day at the office. At first, I felt that way too. In actuality, I think I forced myself to enjoy it. I ignored the signs of boredom, and labeled the afternoon naps as exhaustion. Maybe I'm not exhausted. Maybe my brain just needs more stimulation that a three month old baby can provide. I miss getting up in the morning with a purpose, doing my hair and applying makeup. I feel stranded within this life of sweatpants, with my sole morning decision being whether to wear a bra or not.

Now please do not judge me, because I LOVE being a mother. There is nothing better than hearing my little boy laugh, watching him try to sit up on his own, and coo when I rub his cheek. I even love changing dirty diapers, and washing the clothes full of spit up. I have never had a more important job than that of being someone's mommy.

That being said, having the financial capability to give him the finer things in life would make me feel good. I'm not talking about spoiling him, but not having to wonder if we can afford the Baby Einstein dvd's or not. The realization has set in that my family may just be happier with a second income, and that long overdue construction project may actually get put into motion.

2nd story, here we come!

2006-06-19T17:03:00.000-04:00

Gr. Argh.

You know what I hate? I hate when Americans get upset when they hear someone speaking Spanish. Just because they are in a public place and are speaking another language does NOT mean they are illegal immigrants. It also does NOT mean they are going to take your job in the workforce because of status quo. Oh, and here's the WORST. It DOES NOT MEAN they are talking about YOU!

Here is how I will prove it. Have you ever visited another country? Lets say France for instance. You and your family board a plane and go to another country where English is not the first language. Now, did you (as an American) learn to speak French fluently BEFORE entering said foreign country? When you were out in public, visiting the Eiffel tower, did you mutter things like, "Ah, tres magnifique!" (This is the part where you say no.)

See, we as Americans are very spoiled. And we're also extremely rude. We expect people to learn our language (which btw is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn) before entering our country, no matter what the reason. We expect so much, yet the majority of Americans do not return the favor. When visiting a foreign nation, we scowl when things are written in another language on packages, frown at the numerical system, and curse (out loud) when the monetary system is hard to understand.

I defend the right for people in this country to speak a different language. That being said, I don't think a business owner should have to post signs in another language other than English on their doors. If you want to work in this country, you should at least be able to communicate with your employer. That is nothing more than common sense.

When I see a person on the street, and they are speaking in a language other than English, it does not offend me. I do not get tense and automatically assume they are talking about me. If I were to visit another country and was speaking to my husband in English, I would hope that the people around me felt the same. When I receive an instruction manual, and it's printed in English and Spanish, it doesn't offend me. Why would it? Why should I CARE if the manual I'm holding in my hands can help more people than myself? That is a good thing, isn't it?

I have rambled a bit here, but all I'm trying to get across is this...This should not be a matter of racism, it's simply a matter of common sense. America, I'm begging you. Get a grip, get the red off your neck and open your mind.

2006-06-16T10:25:00.000-04:00

Holy hormones batman!

So I had a baby approximately three months ago, and ever since I've felt a little "off." I'm a bit light-headed on a regular basis, and am in constant need of sleep. And don't even get me started on the mood swings!

I'm not sure if this is normal post baby behavior and/or use of hormones, or if I'm lacking something in my body. I need to get a doctor's opinion, but I'm not overly keen on saying, "Hey, I need help...but I don't know what's wrong." I know it'll lead to things like blood tests, etc., and I'm not sure that I'm into heading down that path.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. "Why wouldn't this chick WANT the help?" I guess it's because there is so much going on in my life right now, there's no more room for added stress of any kind. I am so exhausted with my daily life, that I can't breathe. A part of me thinks that going back to work would satisfy my need, but leaving my son in daycare seems selfish. And before all the working moms send me hate mail, I completely respect you. In fact, I'm not sure how you do it. Taking care of my little one, cleaning the house and getting dinner on the table feels like I'm pulling a doubleshift. Add a full-time job into the mix, and how do you accomplish anything 100%?

I know I take things a little too seriously, and at times can be over-sensitive. But trust me, talking to a baby all day without any adult interaction can get pretty frustrating. I guess I'm hoping that my emotions will float back into place, and I will return to being the woman my husband married. I'm up for the challenge of healing this void, but I'm at a complete loss as to where I should begin...

2006-06-14T09:57:00.000-04:00

My name is Jess. My husband calls me Jesska, and I've decided to use that as a pen to sign my entries. I'm a married 23 year old woman with a three month old son named Thomas. I have a wonderful life, even though sometimes it gets a little drawn out and boring. My world revolves around my little boy, and I cannot imagine life without him.

Having a baby is HARD, and do not let anyone convince you otherwise. Parenthood is one big game of trial and error, and I'm hoping to only slightly damage the munchkin in the process. So far, so good...

I have been slowly and silently coerced into becoming a "semi-vegetarian," and am really interested in blogging about it. I will swerve for a squirrel on the road, and am a HUGE animal lover. However, I grew up on a farm and totally understand and respect the process of raising an animal for food. I have no interest in the "fuzzy animal" ideals behind being vegetarian and/or vegan, I simply feel better when I don't eat meat. The other reason I am taking on this bold venture is because I love to cook. I have recently begun to appreciate vegetarian fare, because it's a little difficult to prepare. It's a challenge looking for meat-free recipes that my family would enjoy.

Other things you may want to know about me: I'm a liberal. I am pro-troop, but anti-war. I am an extremely giving person, and sometimes allow others to take advantage of me. I'm into tattoos, piercings, and emotional thought provoking music. My favorite type of people are those that may not agree with what I think, but respect my right to think it. I'm a Pagan. If that bothers you, I'm sorry. I'm a dreamer, and tend to see the good in everyone. I speak like a poet when I'm talking about my emotions, and most people tend to not get me. Those that do are different, just like me. I'm extremely opinionated, and have trouble apologizing. I tend to think my life resembles a rollercoaster, but couldn't begin to explain why.

Well, I should get back to the reality that is a crying baby.

Blessings and Light,

Jesska