Filed under: Food, People, Travel | Tags: bread pudding, happiness, health, monkey feet, New Year's Day, risotto, salad, spring cleaning, tart
I am really excited about a few of the current or upcoming happenings in my life. First, I am ecstatic that a certain someone is not at work today. Peace for everyone! Second, I had a really nice New Year’s Day with my husband and family. The mister and I cleaned out what is almost the last of our closets, cabinets and nooks as well as did multiple loads of laundry. We felt immensely productive. During the evening we shared a meal with my uncle, sister, nephew, and cousins. Pork roast, squash with bacon, black eyed peas, broccoli, and baked apples. I loved how healthy and full of good wishes I felt whilst eating! To end our night the mister and I watched a Roy Orbison special made for HBO in the ’80s. It was fun. I went to sleep way too late though.
We are heading to Lubbock this evening to visit more family. Tis the season! I am actually looking forward to the drive and sharing some good meals/activities with people over the next couple of days. I hope I don’t fall asleep in the car.
I am also looking forward to next week. Monday evening Jason and I are going to the market to pick up items to cook for the week. I am thinking arugula, tomato and mozzarella tart with a side of cottage cheese and pears. Perhaps cauliflower gratin, maybe with chicken, and a salad for another meal. We also have the possibility of entertaining some friends over the weekend with a meal. It it all comes to fruition, I plan on a salad with pecans and blue cheese followed by herb chicken with mushroom risotto and maybe bread pudding for dessert.
We are also going to start walking about 3 evenings a week and I am going to the gym with a friend of mine two mornings a week.
2009 is going to be a good year at our house. Lots of health and happiness and damn good food!
Filed under: People | Tags: 2009, career, cooking, goals, health, saving for a house
I think I have completely overwhelmed myself. In thinking about the new year and all I would like to accomplish I may have caused some undue anxiety. I intended on writing about my goals for the new year today however; I began to get a little worked up about all I had set up for myself this year. And now, as a means of alleviating some of those burdens, I am going to say that really, everything is ok as is. Sure, there are some things I would like to work on about myself and there are some goals I want to accomplish. But I don’t want to promise to move mountains or make a complete overhaul in one year. It is typically small things that build up to real change or perhaps one big change a year. So, to settle my nerves and not promise miracles I would like to share a few of the things I would like to take steps toward doing, or perhaps fully reaching a couple of these goals.
The Space Needle. by: Jason Dean
1. Begin to save for a house.
2. Lose the weight I have gained over the past few months. Not in a couple of weeks but over the course of the year without gaining any back.
3. Continue in my progression to air my feelings, fears, ideas.
4. Continue in the development of my relationship with God. No miracles, no major changes but a healthy journey to learn more about myself and my beliefs.
5. Continue down the path of learning to trust myself better. I am getting better at this.
6. Continue to experiment with foods/menus/cuisines expanding my skill set and ability to improvise.
7. Continue to try and do something for others on a regular basis that is unselfish and does not come with any expectations of a return.
8. Continue to write and find an area(s) to develop.
I feel as though these 8 things are, for the most part, already paths I am on and simply need to continue, at my own pace, to explore. It is important to me that I feel good physically, which is something I have not done in a few months. And it is important to me that I continue both my personal, financial and career development. All of these things fall into those categories. If one or two fall by the wayside a bit for me to make greater strides in other areas, that is ok. And if most of them fall by the wayside in order for me to make even greater strides next year, due to increased knowledge, that is ok too.
At this point I am enjoying laying out the things that are most important to me and that I find the greatest enjoyment in working on. By progressing in one area, I gain the confidence and ability to progress in another as well.
Overall, honestly, I am quite proud of myself. I don’t say that enough. And I don’t believe it all the time. But the fact that in 6 of the above areas I have made some excellent headway makes me realize that I am definitely on the right path. And I have both an excellent partner and excellent team by my side to encourage and support me throughout my journeys.
What are your goals for 2009?
Filed under: Food, People | Tags: 2008, 2009, Fort Worth, French food, New Year's Eve, St. Emilion
Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. Jason and I are planning to attend a dinner at our favorite French restaurant, St. Emilion.
We do not know these people however; it is the only St. Emilion photo I could find.
I am incredibly excited about our dinner both due to the meal and atmosphere along with the bidding adieu of 2008 and welcoming of 2009. 2008 was an absolutely wonderful year of accomplishments, new ideas, progression, and wonderful experiences. I have great hopes for 2009 as Jason and I are already making some amazing plans.
In case I do not post again before the new year, Happy New Year everyone!
I have decided to no longer feel ashamed of not blindly trusting all those that I meet. There is a reason I don’t blindly trust everyone. It was the natural thing for me to do, due to the circumstances. And it was probably the most reasonable thing to do as well. I trust people enough to be hurt when they betray my trust. I trust people enough to be hesitant to trust them more at times. I am tired of feeling guilty because I don’t always believe people’s intentions are pure and good – especially when their actions have proven otherwise. Or realizing that things change over time. Not everyone is bad and some people have a greater sense of integrity than others. And everyone makes mistakes. But I am aware of all sides of this.
I still believe in change. That people can make good decisions. That even those who have made poor decisions in the past can turn it all around.
I think that’s enough for now. I no longer feel ashamed.
Whilst preparing all of the food for this Christmas, I began to think about what I would make, if I were to choose the entire meal. Although I absolutely love indulging these few days out of the year I also am interested in seeing what kind of meal I would come up with that was oh, let’s say a bit more on the healthy side of things. Now, I don’t mean healthy as in no fat or crunchy carrots only. No, I mean healthy as in fairly seasonal appropriate, nutritious, not all fat laden, and comfy cozy all in one.
Here’s my rough draft.
Christmas Eve…
I do like the Mexican Fiesta theme. It’s locally appropriate and fits my families tastes well.
Begin with cream cheese covered in homemade salsa. Instead of the usual canned variety and chips to use, I would go for fresh veggies.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/1490318050_b7b790e08c.jpg?v=0
Next, we would have organic, free range chicken or quesadillas with chopped mushrooms, cilantro and goat cheese with sides of organic black beans and mini corn cakes.
http://www.worldcommunitycookbook.org/season/guide/photos/corn.jpg
Dessert would be miniature pralines and a small serving of sweet plantains made with cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar and butter.
http://curiouslyravenous.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html
Uuuuum, de-licious.
Filed under: Food | Tags: apple pie, Christmas cooking, cranberry salad, fruit salad, queso dip
So the mister and I volunteered to cook up some dishes for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts here at home. We tried a couple of new recipes as well as stuck with some old favorites. Nothing this year was particularly daring however; I really did like the two new items we tried. Here is the lowdown…
For tonight we made a large slow cooker pot full of queso. If it has cheese, even fake Velveeta cheese, my family will love it.
For tomorrow, we make a fruit salad (an old favorite), a cranberry lemon salad and an apple pie. So far, everything looks like a good old fashioned success pending the cranberry salad coming out of its mold in one piece! I will post some photos later!
Happy Eating!
Filed under: People
Both applicable to and on the opposite side of my previous post, something really lovely happened last night. My husband and I, along with some of my family, all pitched in and sent my sister and nephew to the Gaylord for a little mini getaway this year as their Christmas present. The idea was a bit of a change from anything before and I think everyone felt it was taking a bit of a risk. However, I was really excited about it and hoped that it would turn out to be a great success.
In speaking with my sister before the event, she seemed genuinely excited. So, I was really happy that they were looking forward to it. Well, last night I received a handful of wonderful text messages saying what an amazing time they were having along with lots of thanks for this unusual Christmas gift.
I cannot think of anything that has made me happier over the past couple of days than hearing about how they really enjoyed themselves. That was absolutely the intention!
So, now it is two days until Christmas and I am becoming giddy about others opening their gifts as well. I hope everyone has a fun little surprise, whether it is from me or not. I hope everyone has a moment where they feel really special and loved. For now, my greatest gift is knowing that I was part of someone’s special moment this season.
Here it is, almost Christmas. Although all of the presents are wrapped and labeled, I am thinking of things I wish for this holiday season and those in the future. Some of them I may find this year and others I hope to find under the tree in the years ahead!
A sense of inner peace with the choices I make on a daily basis.
The ability to find the positive in every situation without giving up my true ideals or intentions.
A passport and fancy little case.
A trip to Paris with my husband. Oooo la la.
An adorable little St. Bernard puppy!
A G-Wagon to carry my St. Bernard to all of his doctor visits, the park, the puppy store, and perhaps an occasional hamburger under a shady tree.
A lovely home that sits upon some land with a big back patio.
dwell.com
A library in my house with two Eames chairs.
And if I had all the power to make my greastes wishes come true, I would be able to install a sense of confidence along with determination and compassion in everyone around me, making everyone’s dreams more a reality than a wish this Christmas. Amen!
In keeping with my last title, I am thinking a lot of equality. Being a word, one might think it simple and easy. However, it is such a complex idea to some. Maybe it is the q – the q always adds complexity. It is a word that carries a lot of meaning for me. It is perhaps one of the most meaningful words in my vocabulary. Why? You may ask. (If not, please skip this entry and wait for the next.) Well, because it acknowledges my individuality yet consistently puts me at the same level as those that are around me. Equality humbles me yet empowers me. It makes me feel as though I have, and deserve, the same opportunities as the wealthy woman next door who runs her own magazine whilst simultaneously helping me to realize that in a split second I could be sitting next to the homeless man on East Lancaster, praying that the shelter does not run out of food today. I am no better, or no worse, than either. I am equal in my opportunity and ability.
There is a 3:1 chance that equality holds an even greater meaning to me due to its application to others as well. It means that homeless gentleman on East Lancaster has the power, the ability and the opportunity to make a better life for himself. It means that a child, raised by a drug addled mother and absent father has every opportunity as the child that sits next to him in class wearing new Nikes and a J.Crew sweater has. It means there is hope. It means that change is possible. And perhaps inevitable.
I know the cynics say that equality is not always possible. That not every one has the same opportunity. But I believe that we all make our own opportunities. And I believe that equality is quite a powerful word. (That’s two q’s in that sentence.)
