Happy childhood memories are a blessing, so I cherish the good ones and try not to dwell on the bad. One of my favorite childhood memories is turning 40 today, Sesame Street. They taught me to count in English and Spanish. I learned about sharing, good manners, patience and compassion. I laughed often and watched daily. Even today, I hum the songs, know all the original characters and come to attention when I hear their familiar voices. My first crush was Kermit the Frog and all these years later, I am still smitten.
This may seem strange, but I consider Halloween the official start of Christmas. I am sure it started as a child, but really it was owning a store that cemented it for me.
At the store Christmas merchandise would start arriving in September. By October 1st, everything was priced and the theme for the holiday was selected. ( A theme is a must!) On Halloween night we would close early and while everyone else was getting sick on candy or scared out of their wits, we transformed our store into a winter wonderland (or whatever the theme was that year).
This year I am particularly anxious to "get festive". Nothing like a heaping serving of hope all wrapped in ribbon and glitter... to make you feel light and happy.
Feeling energized, awakened and creative, longing for button up cardigans, long walks, and yarn, enjoying crisp apples, sleeping in and early sunsets... Fall, my favorite season is back.
20 years ago, I spent two semesters at the University of Hawaii on Oahu. I have always wanted to go back, but excuses kept getting in the way. My biggest excuse, I just don't have the time and it is not cost effective to go for anything less than 10 days. But really, what is so cost effective about vacation, the point is to have fun... It is not the quantity, but the quality, so throwing caution to the wind and perhaps, good judgment, my partner and I went to Hawaii last week for the long weekend. And... IT WAS AWESOME!
A few weeks ago, I had a setback, a rough patch... a loss and found myself wondering why the universe personally wanted me to suffer. I was wrong.. the universe does not want me to suffer and I have finally heard its message... I am loved.
I have seen this message in many places but I have heard it strongest in the words, warm thoughts and hugs of my friends. Tonight a little after 9:00 a dear friend left her newborn son at home to deliver a still warm apple crisp (the first she had ever made) and a card. The card, contained a beautifully crafted message so poignant and healing that I am 100% certain that the words will comfort me the rest of my life no matter what happens. Her words made me realize that grief is a door you can linger in the doorway, or "come out the other side".
My weekend started with fresh strawberries from my garden and just kept getting better. Saturday, I found the most amazing fabric (a faux fur that is to die for... picture and project details to come). From there I went to PFI, a Mediterranean market (bought PG Tips tea, Raspberry licorice and Spanish smoked Paprika). Lunch at the Macrina Cafe in SODO (below).
The evening spent at the documentary Objectify with a friend and my partner. Dinner at Boom Noodles and for dessert, Cupcake love.
Sunday back to the Macrina cafe with friends, the garden store for oregano and orange honeysuckle (this is the only picture that does it justice) and gardening with the puppies all afternoon long. And finally dinner, where my salmon with a panko crust and lemon butter sauce came out so perfect, I almost cried.....
I think it is particularly telling to follow up a post about procrastination, with an 11 day absence. Honestly I meant to post but… (thinking here) … ah yes, I meant to post, but life interceded. Life in this case, was filled with 3 (8-hour) gardening sessions, 5 brilliant ideas, 2 (45+) work weeks, 2 meltdowns and an epiphany.
The epiphany, it is hard to achieve success of any type, with negative thoughts. Thoughts = Words, Words= Action and Action=Destiny. It is like a lovely little pyramid, mess up the bottom and you are not getting to the top. So this month, I am all about the pyramid… excited to see where positive thoughts will take me.
Work deadlines, thousands of ideas, a mound of laundry and seeds to plant... But why actually accomplish anything when you can procrastinate on the web... My five favorites this week...
http://www.halfpricebooks.com/ Their 20% sale is this weekend, need (okay, WANT) some new cookbooks, a style guide(maybe Chicago) and some really trashy sci fi (yes I have a problem)
http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/29/julie-and-julia-gets-a-trailer/ Just reread the book (for the 5th time) and am planning to try some new recipes from my copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol 1... which I bought at Half Price books last month (and the circle is complete)
Sometime ago, while searching for extra time in my schedule, I realized my commute was potentially a gold mine of unused hours. Normally, I spent the time swearing at other drivers and gesturing like a mad woman, but with my IPOD and a never ending supply of Podcasts, my commute is now, all about uninterrupted listening pleasure.
This week's journey is centered around food, including two new books with historical food perspectives.
In an effort to expand my horizons, seek out joy and find a new career and life that I love, I have begun taking classes, registering for events and seeking out new opportunities.
So far, I have been to book talks, taken a magazine class and attended a sewing workshop. This weekend, I have hit the jackpot, the International Food Blogger Conference in Seattle. I stumbled across this on Brown Paper Tickets and could not believe my luck, that is was in Seattle. I didn't think I just signed up and last week when I looked at the agenda, OMG, every event seems better than the last.
When asked by a college professor, why I did not wear a watch, I told her that I thought time was a man-made construct created for the sake of keeping me down. She stared at me and not missing a beat, told me to get over myself. Harsh, but years later (many, many years later) as I continue to struggle with time and all its rules, I am finally ready to get over myself.
My constant struggle with time has made me weary while my many experiences with time have made me wise. All leading to the inevitable conclusion, that when it comes to time, you can either be its master, or its bitch. Harsh, but the fact is that the truth often sounds harsh when you have been in denial for years.
Over the years time has taught me the following lessons and now I am ready to put them into practice:
1. There is a reason; there is not enough time to do everything. Because if you are trying to do everything, you need to stop…now!
2. If you do not make time for the things that are important to you, than whose fault is that?
3. If you have time to worry about something, you have time to do something about it.
4. When it feels like time is fighting against you, consistency can be your greatest ally.
5. Watches and calendars are just tools, their usefulness or lack there of, are totally the responsibility of the user.
6. Lying about your age does not make you younger, it makes you a liar.
7. Your time is extremely valuable, so assign it a $ amount and spend it accordingly.
8. When it comes to navigating your time, let your priorities and goals be your guide.
9. Everyone has a 24 hour day, it is not the amount of time, but how you use it that matters.
10. Children and animals know more about the proper usage of time than just about every adult on the planet.
Like the rest of the planet, I am trying to stretch our food budget. Funny thing, the more I try to stretch it, the better we seem to eat. Recently I purchased a Rotisserie Chicken, the $10.99 Free Range chicken was not exactly cheap, but I was shocked at how many meals it provided.
Meal 1: Rotisserie Chicken with new potatoes and broccoli Meal 2: Spring Vegetable Casserole with Chicken Meal 3: Chicken and Egg Noodle Soup
So generally what I do is play my own version of Iron Chef... I start with the chicken and then ransack the fridge for whatever I can find. Meal 1 was kinda lazy.. and Meal 3 well what else can you do with a few bits of chickens, some bones and vegetables... It was Meal 2 that I will be scribbling down in the margins of my cookbook.
Spring Vegetable Casserole with Chicken* Warning: I suck at writing recipes, so there are no exact quantities or times... Just use your best judgment.
Directions: In a saute pan, add chopped leeks, and carrots. Saute in a little bit of butter or olive oil. Chop up chicken into small bits and add to leeks and carrots. (I also added a tiny bit of the chicken fat)
Add a small handful of rice to this mixture and a little bit of water. I use the rice as an enhancement, not the main ingredient so in the end, there should be as much rice as vegetables. Keep adding water until rice is cooked.
Peas, asparagus and broccoli were actually frozen and bagged organic veggies. I added them to the saute pan with the rice/chicken mixture and then covered and took them off the stove. The steam will defrost them.. add a bit of heat if they don't defrost all the way.
In another sauce pan, melt a couple of tablespoons of butter. Add a little flour (tablespoon size) and make a paste(roux). Add some milk(about a cup) to this paste and bring to a light boil. Add cheese (1/2 cup diced or more if you prefer) and stir until you have a nice sauce.
Place rice mixture in a casserole pan, pour sauce over mixture... letting it soak into the rice. Loosely cover with breadcrumbs and bake for about 30 minutes (350) until it bubbles. Serve with parsley. I seasoned throughout with salt and pepper... Paprika and a little nutmeg also work well.
In my day dreams, I frequently imagine myself living in some quirky quaint seaside town... some place quiet and small, but close to a major city. Some place with lots of trees, where I could walk on the beach and watch the ocean. I looked on the maps, entertained ideas about faraway places and finally conceded that it was after all... just a day dream.
Last weekend, on our return flight from San Francisco, we had to circle before landing. We flew over this beautiful peninsula of trees and houses surrounded by water. Just as I realized what it was, I also realized it was my daydream. The peninsula was my hometown of West Seattle, a quiet little part of Seattle surrounded by water.
I have spent so much time looking for that perfect place, I didn't realize that where I live right now is pretty damn wonderful. I am closely looking at other areas of my life, that I might have overlooked in my pursuit of perfect. I suspect that embracing what I have and not desiring a day dream is the key to happiness... AHA!
I wish I could say I was taking a nap for the last several weeks, hence the lack of blog posts, email and basic communication... but unfortunately, I was just buried under a mound of work, commitments and health issues.
The thing about being so overwhelmed, is that when it comes time to make a move, any move you are frozen. Should I go for a walk? Frozen. Should I post on one of my blogs? Frozen. Should I eat chocolate ice cream with strawberries? YES... I said frozen not dead...
I love food and am a big believer that what we eat directly influences our health. A Little glimpse of my food history, I grew up on the East Coast eating rich, calorie laden foods and lots of junk food. Vegetables were mainly corn, carrots, baked potatoes, and cole slaw. The food tasted great, but perhaps was not the best for me.
I moved to Seattle in my twenties and became a vegetarian (sometimes Vegan). It was easy to eat healthy in Seattle and even though I was still overweight, a vegetarian diet and daily 3 mile walks left me in some of the best health I have experienced.
Fast forward to grad school in Michigan, my vegetarian diet is comprised mainly of Captain Crunch cereal and chick peas. My hair falls out, I look sick all the time and I feel terrible. I eventually start eating meat, but only manage to make myself sick.
Back in Seattle and many years later, I eat pretty well, fresh vegetables, lots of organics, meat, fish and tofu. I cook often and love to experiment with food. I am not at the optimum health place I was at in my twenties, but I have some good ideas of how I can get there.
And finally to my point, I sometimes wonder where I would be if I learned to eat healthy from day one. That is why I am so excited to see that Michelle Obama is such an advocate for healthy eating. From the New York Times: Michelle Obama's Agenda Includes Healthful Eating
