Easy Paella 101

Today I went to Sam's and finally purchased that huge bag of seafood goodies that is used to fix paella. You know what I'm talking about right? You know the bag with alien like pieces of seafood with tentacles and other oddities frozen in the mix. Well my,my what a culinary treat!! The bag had a simple recipe posted on the bag for southern seafood combo,so I went for it!! the mixture contains: shrimp,squid,octopus,mussels,surimi b.k.a. artificial crabmeat-processed fish pcs. the recipe was simple enough,though I did not have saffron seasoning, and I just missed picking the threads from my saffron crocus, a couple of days ago, I notice them starting to bloom, looked again three days later and poof,they were gone,but that was to be expected after the terrential rain storm we had two days ago!! Okay,back to the paella! I did have tumeric,no regular rice, so I used jasmine, and I added frozen green peas,and it turned out really yummy!

The recipe-my rendition

2 cups of seafood mix

2 cups of jasmine rice,4 1/2cups of water

1 tbsp of tumeric powder

1 heaping tablespoon of chicken bouillon powder

a few fresh bay leaves

1 tsp of salt and pepper

1/2 jar of jarred pimentoes

1 tsp of minced garlic

1 cup of crushed tomatoes-didn't have chopped tomatoes

2 small onions coarsely chopped

olive oil to sautee vegetables

In large dutch oven pot, add enough oil to sautee onion,garlic,pimentoes,and tomatoes-let oil get hot first,do this till onions get color and are soft

next add water and bring to a boil,add in the rice and peas,then bring to a boil again,reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, keeping a close eye, mine had started to stick,when I checked it at 15 and needed alittle extra water. Add frozen seafood mix and cover again for about 7 more minutes. Serve as is, or with some really good crusty buttered bread,I gave mine a couple of shakes of tabasco and it really kicked the flavor up a whole nother notch! Enjoy-sorry my photo not so clear.

Island-Banana Bliss Smoothie

I think that I have expressed the fact that I am a bit tired of my spinach and berry morning smoothie-though I did have one the other day and it was pretty good! But change is inevitable,just like the seasons, right? Now that fall is officiallly here I am making a change-bananas shall replace the berries and I've been thinking about peanutbutter,which I did last year and of course the combination is perfect. I also like pumpkin in my smoothies as well,so I shall keep you posted but for now here is a simple island inspired drink-for you!

1 banana /the riper the better

1/2 cup of light coconut milk

1 cup of water

about 8 cubes of ice

good shake of ground cinnamon

nice sprinkle of flaxseeds

good drizzle of pure maple syrup

in blender

add liquid,bananas,remaining ingred.blend till desired consistency-Enjoy

Bean burgers and Granny?

Let me start off by saying that my granny is in no wise a trendy eater!! She wants her burgers plain and containing meat-simple. She just turned 89 last weekend and is quite the lady,I like to call her "Miss Hell on Wheels"-haha!! She didn't particularly favor the sweet and sour chicken I gave her for lunch so I offered her a bowl of peaches which she readily received. As I went into the kitchen pondering what we would have for dinner I thought why not continue the fresh veggie burger trend and fix something different from yesterday (falafel burgers-so goooood!!!). So I got out a large can of blackbeansand decided to do a mexican style one.I added jarred pimentoes,minced garlic,fresh onion, and spices-quite good,keep in mind that when I was processing the mixture I had absolutely no idea what a treat I would soon be in store for. I fixed the burgers and dressed them with a funky salsa-mayo, and w/the usual toppings of course-fresh spinach leaves,white onion,tomatoe,and alittle sharp cheddar. They looked and smelled devine,so as I bite in I decided to ask,if my princess would try one-knowing for sure that she would flat out refuse the offer,but wait,did I hear a "YES",and to top it all off she not only ate all of her burger,onions, spinach sauce and all,she told me several times that it was really good, wish you could see me blushing-that's my granny-full of suprises!!!

A Day in the Life of Me

Today has been really quiet, Granny had a Drs . appt. so I had the house to myself for several hours. My bumpin is off at school and I'm listening to every lil' sound and wishing that I could fall asleep,but no such luck!! Let's see I ate some fresh pineapple for breakfast,then ate some leftover seafood that I prepared lastnite-whole tilapia,curly fries,and shrimp.all dredged in a light cornmeal batter-really good, better last nite, but still edible!! I'm having sugar-cravings, and am thinking of roasting the butternut squash I purchased yesterday and making it into a cake of sorts,I don't know still thinking. I have been sulking (?) in the house all day, it will be nice to get out and pick up my lil man and get some fresh air, and talk a walk around the garden, I think I hear some cabbages,and brocolli plants calling.... water,water!!! I'll keep you posted!!

Breakfast fit for a Queen-Green Eggs,No Ham!!

I have an on and off again relationship with eggs. I can go weeks without eating one,then BOOM,I'm hooked again. This is one of my favorite way to eat eggs, lightly scrambled with cheese. I originally prepared this dish with creamcheese,but decided to go with some ricotta that has been sitting idle. I wisk the eggs, with alittle water, a couple tablespoons of ricotta,and some dehydrated chives. I cook them on med high heat and it's ready in no time. The other day I decided to green up my eggs even more by add some finely slivered baby spinach,it produced an awesome speckled color, and tasted divine. These eggs are great by themselves or eat them like I do with a side of simply seasoned asparagus spears,and some buttered whole wheat toast-when I fix this I feel like a queen!

Pumpkin Carving 101

It's been over a week since the boy came back from the Pumpkin Farm. We could not wait until Halloween to carve so I got out my trusty tools and went to work! Carving a pumpking is simple and easy if you have a sharp sturdy knife a flimsy one will not do!! So last week when he said Mommie you said you were going to carve the pumpkin. I could not refuse him two days in a row.I know shame on me, but truth of the matter-I simply was not in a pumpkin carving mood. Funny thing is when I got out the marker and pen, I enjoyed the transformation almost as much as he did! I know there are many more carvers out there who would just put our little pumpkin to shame,but for those of you who are beginners I hope this post helps you out!!

What you will need is a magic marker-I always use black, a sharp sturdy paring style knife,and newspaper-if you don't want alot of mess to clean up, and it makes for easy transport to composter,if you have one.

To begin draw simple eyes,nose, and mouth we usually always do triangles,you could of course do squares,circles, or a combonation of the three. I free style a face and then carve, if you plan on putting a light in the candle you can make an opening from the rear,large enough to reach in and scoop out the seeds, and stringy matter (save the seeds if you want to roast for your kiddies and self), and replace once the inside is clean to your liking, I have also removed the top of the pumpkin for the same purpose. I usually wait a few days before I put a light in it,to let it dry out alittle,I usually set it on the porch-you will get visitors if you leave it in the house-fruitflies. Don't forget to not leave your candle unattended!

Fresh Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

fresh seeds that have been thoroughly washed and patted dry

light drizzle of olive oil

light sprinkling of salt and pepper, alittle cumin would probably be nice

baking sheet

preheated oven at 350*

Mix everything together and spread on baking sheet, and let roast for about 7 minutes or till lightly browned, keep your eyes and nose open, so they won't burn. Let cool slightly and enjoy,better than store bought any day!!

Midday Check-In,: Keepin My Word

Hmm,let's see did I do what I said I was going to do? Well yes & no-I did dump out two drawers from my desk-unfortunately still sitting there,but hey I made progress. It has moved from one location to another,rigjt? I did make my flaxseed crackers which are dehydrating in the oven now-so yeah,one thing I can check off. Let's see what else,oh, I cant remember, but one thing for sure I am about to get busy and get working in my yard,today I discovered it much warmer-amazing what you find out when you get off your behind and step outside. Not to say that I've been sitting the entire time, I mean I did get the vacuum out and place it in the dining room before I watched a movie on Netflix, and I did actually fix lunch for a friend. In between checking out recipes on Foodbuzz, I have not been completely idle!! I went outside to feed "Miss Blue" my red,rottweiler and pitt mix, and I dumped pumpkin and pineapple scraps in the compost bin. So I am happy to say that I am going to veer into the real world and feel the fresh air on my face,so I will plant you now and dig you later!!!

Just writing-blogging & food love

Is it shameful to say that I'm becoming addicted to blogging, not only writing which I fantasize about as I drift off to sleep all of the great stories,recipes, life experiences and so on that I intend to share,but never quite make it across the following day,but I will get it slowly-BUT SURELY!! I love,love, love writing always have,ever since I was in schooland I love reading and to find the opportunity to do the two of them is just mind boggling,really!! I love cooking it's one of my passions, I have loved cooking ever since I can remember. In elementary school, I use to check out cookbooks, and Mom would let me add items that I wanted to the weekly grocery list and I would cook dinner for us and for my friends. I was allowed to join bookclubs, and I still have the cookbooks on the shelves now that I ordered when I was like twelve!!! I have had a love affair with food and I have had my battles with it as well. I declared several years ago, to stop my battle with food and to embrace better choices, and to accept that no matter what I do I will never be a size 4,unless I kill myself,which I was not willing to do! I decided not to hate food or myself,but to make better choices, afterall you are what you eat-it was me was me who made bad food choices, it was I who went overboard in my denial of things that I enjoyed. I have learned to embrace and to balance-afterall food is love right! I made a drastic change to my diet and it's a lifestyle that I can live with, and enjoy. I have given up red meat, and poultry,I include alot live foods in my diet, I eat seafood occasionally if I so desire-,I make my own juices, I fix fruit/veggie smoothies,and I like the way I eat now, I feel better,I look better and I have more energy which is worth it's weight in gold on any day!!

another day

Another chilly day-and I have lots of good plans that I hope to bring to fruition. For one I'm working on my wedding quilt-I would like to get married again, and I'm preparing myself,so don't laugh! I started this quilt several years ago and put it down and picked it up again several months ago,and declared it "My Wedding" quilt. It is really quite pretty,if I must say so myselfl Patches of white eyelet,brown corduroy,pcs. of floral and light torquoise thrown in as well. I originally started working on this piece by hand and did quite a few rows. Perhaps this is why I put it down-haha! I worked on it by hand again when I took it out,but I must tell you in all honesty the thrill of completing another hand-sewn quilt has passed! Out came my trusty,Singer-that I ordered from Fingerhut twenty years ago. Never thought the day would come when I could say I did something twenty years ago-but that's another blog in and of it self-trust me it's coming my birthday is almost two months away-so get ready!! As I was saying I plan to quilt today, to organize some of my paperwork,and to fix me some dehydrated flaxseed crackers so keep your fingers crossed.

A Good Day for a Cup of Tea

Today is definitely a good day for a cup of tea, not any tea mind you,I'm not referring to nice cold sweet tea that you sip on the porch with your girlffriends, as the summer sun blazes hot above you,No,no! I'm talking about a nice hot cup of tea that you hold between your hands to feel the warmth on the palms of your hand, the bliss of enhaling mint, lemon,honey... I love tea,and always have never much was a coffee girl. I like my tea lightly sweetened, most always with some type of citrus does not have to be strictly lemon-a nice wedge of lime or orange will suffice. I like tea, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter-I'm not bias any ol' month will do!! I like tea brewed by the sun,or with boiled water from the kettle-In any case today was a good day for tea and where you live is nice and chilly ( and rainy) like it is here-here's a to a cuppa of tea for you too!

Make Mine A Smoothie!

I have to have something healthy for breakfast-be it a smoothie or freshly made juice.If I don't I just don't feel right. Most morning I start with a smoothie made of frozen mixed berries and fresh organic spinach. I have been on this kick for a couple of weeks, since my mangoes are no longer tasting all that great. I usually make this after I do my thirty minute work-out to Denise Austin-light cardio and yoga-doing her routine has literally been a back saver for me,I'm glad that I taped her show, because it's no longer shown here anymore. Okay,let me get back to my morning drink. It's simple and quite tasty, and oh so good for you!!! I start by fill my blender alittle over half full with water, then I add about a cup or so of frozenberries,then I add a huge handful of spinach, a nice drizzle of raw honey, and if I remember some wheatgrass powder. Sometimes I add ice,sometimes I don't -but this has been it for the past two weeks or so, maybe by next week I'll be tired of this and want something totally different-We shall see!! I sometimes add flaxseeds, and wheatgerm as well.

I actually cooked a meal today!!

This has been an interesting day,trying to transition from Foodbuzz to the blog world has been a challenging one! I've been trying to remember that I need to blog here and recipe there,but I will get it . I fixed a really good dinner today, Shrimp with blackbean sauce, sauteed cabbage, and some basmati rice to which I threw in a few frozen greenpeas. The entire meal was really quite good, if I must say so myself and I do!!! I marinated my shrimp lastnite with some garlic,ginger, sesame seeds,and dried chives. I sauteed a small head of cabbage with fresh onion, and carrots. I browned it on high heat then turned it down to steam,quite yummy! The rice was prepared simply, alittle smartbalance (healthy margarine),frozen green peas and chicken stock. as I drained the shrimp I scanned my fridge and found a medium-sized zucchine that was showing it's age, and an almost full pack of fresh snowpeas so I thought I'd add them too-so there you have it dinner and it didn't take all day! You may be wondering why I'm making such a big deal, it's because I didn't eat a salad-which I love and dominates a great many of my meals, I didn't fix something snacky, and it didn't come out of a juicer or blender-so yeah I'm proud, almost as proud as my fresh pumpkin cake but I'll save that for another blog-haha!