"and such"

For some people it's "like." For others it's "you know." For most it's "um." For me it's "and such." Apparently those are my filler words of choice. I had no idea. It was brought to my attention the other day when I was presenting a workshop. It is really nice to have people that will point things like that out to you. Except now you may find me a bit tongue tied as I try to moderate my usage of it.

ham and bean soup

Week 4's recipe I did without a recipe. I made my mom's ham and bean soup all by myself...and I only called her twice to make sure I was doing it right.
Ingredients:

• Left over ham bone with some meat still on it.
• 4-6 cans of various beans drained. (Depends on much you want to make. I used 2 black, 2 pinto, 1 kidney and I have left overs for a few days. If we had white beans or garbanzo beans handy I would've used that, too.)
• 1-2 can tomatoes
• Sliced or diced carrot (My mom mentioned this one a little too late.)
• Onion
• Garlic
• Salt and Pepper and other seasons to taste. (I threw in a bay leaf.)
• 1 spoonful brown sugar (optional but I did it)

Directions:
Simmer ham bone for a few hours.
Pull out the ham bone
Add the beans to the broth with onion and garlic and other seasons.
Pull meat off ham bone and add it to the beans.
Simmer and season to taste.

trying real

On Tuesday I decided to try the Real Food Diet. Not the meatless kind, that wouldn't work for me. The Real Food Diet that you basically eat more whole foods and eliminate processed food and sugar from your meals. It wasn't for the purpose of losing weight, but more for practicing healthy habits. On Wednesday I did really good. I ate lots of fruit and vegetables, eggs, and whole wheat bread. It was great. On Thursday, I started out great. More fruit for breakfast. Some almonds for a snack. After class and the MPA devotional, I had to run to work. On the way out the door I grabbed the refreshments they were serving. As I crossed the street to work I realized the hot dog I was carrying (a good one from Costco) was probably not on the recommended foods list for the Real Food Diet. Oh man. What should I do? I ate it. It was good. Maybe I'll try the diet some other time.

noodles with chicken and asparagus

Week 3's recipe was supposed to be this, noodles with chicken and asparagus. I found it on the back of the box of rice noodles I used to make Chicken Thai Soup. Alas, I couldn't find  Garlic Chili Pepper Sauce anywhere. I even checked at the World Market. I'm sure I could improvise and it would turn out just fine, Thai food is like that, but I haven't done that yet. I will soon. If you happen to find Garlic Chili Pepper Sauce you should give this a try and let me know how it turns out. 

INGREDIENTS

1/2-16 oz box (8 oz) Thin Rice Noodle
2 tablespoons oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Fish Sauce or 1 teaspoon salt
1 lb boneless skinless chicken, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Garlic Chili Pepper Sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 lb (8 oz) thin* asparagus spears, cut into two-inch pieces
*If thicker asparagus is used, boil in salted water 2-3 minutes, drain and immediately cool in ice water. Drain well.

DIRECTIONS

1. Soak Rice Noodles according to directions on box for stir-fry.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir-fry until golden. Add Fish Sauce and chicken. Stir-fry until done.
3. Add soy sauce, Garlic Chili Pepper Sauce, and brown sugar. Mix until sugar is dissolved.
4. Add drained Rice Noodles and asparagus. Stir-fry until noodles are firm but tender. Serve and enjoy.

Serves 4

This Website has a few other savory-looking things probably worth trying. 

 

eclectic

I went to World Market in Park City today. If you want to know what my future house is going look like...drop by.There are items and styles from all over the globe. So much fun.  

ps. I'm not saying that I want to furnish my home with everything from there. I can collect my own stuff from around the world. I'm saying that I want a World Market-ish style and feel in my house. Eclectic and a bit of everything from all over. 

where I wouldn’t go

A few weeks ago I was on a blind date (but that is not the point of this story.) And we were talking about places we’ve been and things we’ve done (usual first date conversation) and that usually leads to top places we would like to go.  (Thailand, Greece, New Zealand) Then he asked me to name five places I would never want to go. Well, I had to think about that one. I’d never been asked that. Nothing came to mind. He changed  the question to last places I would go. I still couldn’t think of anything. I honestly would go anywhere if the opportunity presented itself. Even the Middle East. (If I was guaranteed safety.) Even the dirtiest part of Africa. I would go for the opportunity to see that part of the world. To see the people. To taste the food. To experience the culture.

I do have the few places that are at the top of my list. But I’ve gone to other places that are not at the top of my list. (Peru, and soon China) If the opportunity comes I take it.  I like to try new things, and who knows I may end loving it. (I’ll probably end up loving it.) I would hate to miss out on what could be something really great because I didn’t give it a try. I wasn’t interested in South America until I was sent there a for a year and a half. Now it is one of my favorites places.

Wouldn’t it be sad to miss out on something that could be wonderful and possibly your favorite just because you didn’t give it a chance. It’s better to give things a try in all avenues of life. Travel, food, hobbies, dating...

One of my favorite mommy lines I heard my cousin Erin say to her daughter Lusci when she was protesting eating something. She said, "Try it. You might like it this time." Now to a child, and maybe some adults I know, that might seem like foolishness and a poor excuse for eating something green with funny texture. But others may see the value in it. Giving things another try, even when they haven't been your most favorite in the past, you may discover a whole new world of likes. I discovered one day that I really do like asparagus and shrimp after years of loathing and gagging at the thought of them. Clam chowder...I still can't get past the texture of clams, although I do like the potatoes in it. Maybe one day I'll like mini golf. It could happen. I'll keep giving it a try. I would rather like more things than not.

China? you ask…

yes, China. I’m going there. I’ve decided to defer graduation a few more months and top off my educational experience with a quick study abroad in China.

I’ll be staying for 6 weeks in Xiamen at Xiamen University and visiting Guilin, Beijing, Nanjing, and Xi'an.

More details to come as I learn more.

Why China? I’ve never been there.