Baked Apples with Quinoa Stuffing and Cinnamon-Vanilla Cream

I'm not sure why this is true, but for some reason I am more tempted to reach for the most sinful foods during breakfast than at any other meal. I am perfectly happy choosing green salad over pasta and lean protein and veggies over fried chicken and mashed potatoes. But breakfast... I really just very much want all of the carbs. Like every single one. The crusty on the outside, tender on the inside steaming hot waffles with maple syrup (and if they have some chocolate chips in 'em, that won't hurt my feelings at all). The sweet, fragrant blueberry muffins, maybe with a little lemon or vanilla glaze drizzled on top. The biscuits. Light and flaky with plenty of butter and a generous layer of seedless blackberry or beautifully fresh strawberry jam. Bagels with nutella. Please!!! I mean, for real, though. 

Sorry.

That was kinda hateful. I'll stop.

Yeah, let's just say it's pretty super important that I come up with some healthier options for breakfast before I gain 627 pounds just thinking about all those carbs. 

Enter quinoa. I love it so much for so many reasons. I eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. And it makes me happy. See if it works for you too.

Ingredients:

2 Fuji or Gala apples (Yeah, I know apples have carbs, but at least they're complex carbs, and we're pairing them with a super food, so it'll be fine. I promise. :-D)

Lemon juice

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon + 2 pinches coconut sugar, divided

2 dashes cinnamon

1/3 cup cooked quinoa (even better if you cook it with a cinnamon stick)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon stevia

splash pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Prep apples by cutting off top and removing core, creating apple "cup." Chop apple remnants and set aside.

3. Brush inside of apple cups with lemon juice. Melt butter, 1 tablespoon coconut sugar, and 1 dash cinnamon together. Brush generously over inside and outside of apple cups.

4. Place apple cups in small baking dish and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes.

5. While apples finish baking, warm quinoa in non-stick skillet with chopped up apple remnants, one generous pinch coconut sugar, and a dash of cinnamon.

6. Beat cream with stevia, vanilla and last dash of cinnamon until soft peaks form.

7. When apples come out of the oven, pour pan juices into a small sauce pan at high heat to reduce and thicken. Fill apples with quinoa mixture, top with cinnamon-vanilla cream, and drizzle with thickened apple juice-coconut sugar syrup.

Warm, hearty, sweet, nutty, cinnamony deliciousness. I'm pretty sure these taste exactly like how it feels to wrap your soul in a blanket fresh out of the dryer. :-D



The Good List 8-5-15

10. The sound of ice clinking into a glass and then cracking as liquid is poured over it. I know it's weird, but there is something oddly nostalgic and comforting about that sound that makes me happy.

9. Noticing beauty in the most random and unexpected places. Grateful when God opens my eyes.

8. The moon earlier this week. It was enormous and as red as I've ever seen.

7. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation--Maybe my favorite of the entire series. It was a fun ride for sure.

6. The absence of physical pain and illness. It's easy to whine when I'm not at my best health-wise. But I know so many people who deal with severe pain and illness on a daily basis. I am not one of those people, which I take for granted far too often. Today I am grateful.

5. Libraries. I love everything about them. The smell of the books, the sound of cracking spines and turning pages. The hushed tones in people's voices and the gentleness in their movements. The entire experience is so peaceful and calming.

4. Looney Tunes. They really just don't make cartoons like those anymore. Classic.

3. Snapping fresh green beans. Always makes me think of my sweet Memaw.

2. The words, "Thanks, Mom!" So simple, but it makes me smile really big every single time.

1. Realizing that I never have to ask God to be near me, because He always is. Learning to pray instead that I will recognize His presence more readily and cling to Him more quickly.

Quinoa Cakes with Garlic-Sriracha Sauce

So... Quinoa. I talk about this stuff a lot, because I pretty much have a crush on it. It's kind of perfect. You can use it a million different ways and come up with all kinds of creative ideas for replacing much less nutritious ingredients like rice, pasta and flour in some of your favorite dishes.

But. You either like it, or you don't. I get it. As my youngest daughter so profoundly said when she was just a tiny little munchkin, "You can't just decide to like something. Your tastebuds have to change or something." Indeed. That's true. Mostly.

But. (Yes, another but.) Even if you don't love it on its own, I do think there are ways to prepare it surrounded by other deliciousness in such a way that you will enjoy the final product. This is one of my favorite recipes for converting non-quinoa lovers. It works almost every single time. I love that. :-) 

The other thing I love about this recipe is that I've made it at least a dozen different ways with different combinations of cheeses, diced veggies, herbs and spices (and sometimes even a protein or two), and it is delicious every time. Today's combination went something like this:

Ingredients:

1 cup pre-cooked quinoa (Any kind is fine, but my favorite is red quinoa prepared with low sodium chicken broth.)

coconut oil for coating pan

1 medium onion, diced

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 teaspoon garlic paste, divided

1/4 cup freshly shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

1/4 cup cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup goat cheese

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 Tablespoon coconut flour

2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon fresh basil, finely chopped

salt to taste

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1/4 cup light sour cream

generous splash of Sriracha

1 teaspoon lime juice

1/2 teaspoon basil paste

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook diced onion in coconut oil on medium heat until it begins to caramelize. Add garlic and continue cooking until garlic is fragrant.

2. In medium bowl, combine quinoa, onion and garlic, 1/2 teaspoon garlic paste, all cheeses, egg, coconut flour, basil, salt and pepper. Mix well and form into patties.

3. Place patties on parchment paper-lined plate, and freeze for at least an hour. ***This is an important step as cakes will melt too quickly and not hold their shape if you try to pan-fry them before freezing.

4. While the quinoa cakes are firming up in the freezer, prepare sauce by combining mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, Sriracha, basil paste and salt and pepper.

5. Once cakes are nice and firm, heat coconut oil in medium-hot pan and fry each cake on both sides for 3-4 minutes. They should be crisp and brown on the outside and perfectly cheesy and gooey on the inside.

6. Serve on a beautiful bed of greens as a salad or as a stand-alone side dish to just about any meal. And don't forget the sauce! 

Stuffed Pork Loin

I'm just gonna let the picture speak for itself on this one. Mercy. (But one note: This is much easier to make than it might look, so it could be a great way to impress someone. Don't be scared. ;-)

Ingredients:

6 boneless pork loin chops

Olive oil, for coating pan

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium onion, finely diced

1 heaping tablespoon garlic paste

4-6 sundried tomatoes, chopped

2-3 handfuls fresh baby spinach

salt

freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1/4 cup goat cheese

1/4 cup cream cheese

Instructions:

1. Coat a skillet with olive oil and cook onions low and slow until nicely caramelized.

2. While onions are cooking, create a pocket in each piece of pork by cutting a slit into the side of each loin, being careful not to cut all the way through. Generously coat the inside of each loin piece with garlic paste. (And don't try to be dainty about it. It's messy business. Just get in there and go for it. The added flavor will be worth it. I promise.)

3. Once onions are nicely caramelized, remove from pan into medium bowl. Coat the same pan with oil again and add minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and basil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is fragrant and spinach is wilted. Add this mixture to the same bowl with the onions.

4. Add goat cheese and cream cheese to the same bowl with the vegetables and mix well. Stuff each pork loin generously with this mixture.

5. Oil pan one more time. Generously salt and pepper both sides of pork and add to hot pan 3 pieces at a time. Cook about 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown on the surface and cooked all the way through.

This is maybe one of my favorite pork recipes of all time. I find that pork can be pretty bland, but the sharpness of the goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes paired with the sweetness of the garlic paste and caramelized onions add the perfect layers of flavor. Enjoy!

The Good List 7-29-15

10. Colorful sharpies. What is it about those things? They're like little vibrantly hued containers of fun-ness.

9. The sound of horses running. There's something about it that just feels good in my ears. Is that weird?

8. A clean, organized kitchen. Although ironically, it makes me wanna get in there and cook a bunch of stuff and make a big ol' mess.

7. When Macy and Grace play with my hair. I could sit there for hours.

6. Stephen Wiltshire. This is astonishing.

5. Simplicity. It's severely underrated.

4. A really good pen. Not too fat, not too skinny, with a really smooth ink flow. Sometimes it's the little things. ;-)

3. My favorite new make-your-cleaning-life-easier tip: If something spills over or explodes in your microwave or if for any reason it's just kinda nasty ;-) -- Cut a lemon in half. Put it pulp-side down in the middle of your microwave. Zap for 20 seconds. Then take it out and wipe everything down with a warm, wet cloth. It's like magic! And then use the same lemon on your cook top, tea kettle and faucets. Grime-free in seconds! Basically, you can pretty much clean at least half of your kitchen with a $.40 lemon and very little effort. You're welcome. ;-)

2. Laughing at myself. Life's way too short not to.

1. Making my kids laugh. Especially when it comes from way down deep in their bellies. Those are my rock star moments. I don't need much else.

Cheddar Cauliflower "Biscuits"

We don't eat much bread in our family. And I'm just gonna go ahead and admit that it's kind of annoying. It certainly isn't because it isn't delicious. It's just because I don't like serving up all those empty, simple carbs. I sure wish that somehow suddenly a giant loaf of rosemary bread dipped in balsamic-laced, roasted garlic-infused olive oil would magically become health food. But alas. I don't see it happenin'.

So. We eat some of that amazingly fragrant rosemary bread occasionally--for special occasions and when we've been super disciplined and deserve a little splurge (Or ok--a pretty big splurge. Whatever. Stop judging me for wanting all of the rosemary bread.)

But most of the time, I try to avoid such things. So a little treat like this--even thought it really isn't a biscuit at all--can sometimes be just the right bite to make us not miss those carbs so much. 

Ingredients:

2 cups finely grated or processed raw cauliflower

1 large shallot, finely minced

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 large jalapeno, finely minced

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 cup coconut flour

Ingredients:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower, shallot, garlic, jalapeno, eggs and melted butter.

3. Add cheeses and mix well.

4. Stir in salt, pepper, baking powder and coconut flour and combine well.

5. Spray muffin tin with nonstick spray and combine mixture evenly into 12 cups.

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until firm and golden brown.

These are delicious served as a stand-alone side dish with just about any meal, but my favorite way to serve them is with a saucy meat dish like barbecued pulled pork or slow-cooked beef roast. 


The Good List 7-22-15

10. Ginger Ale or Sprite (or Sprite Zero for me) poured over frozen mixed berries instead of ice. Delightfully refreshing!

9. Nigella Lawson. Love her recipes, love her accent, love her sense of humor and the fact that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Pretty much wanna hang out with her for extended periods of time.

8. The feeling I get just before loading a new batch of pictures onto my computer. It's like Christmas morning. What will I find? (I know--I'm SUCH a nerd!)

7. Hand-written cards and letters.

6. The word "conundrum." It might be one of the best examples in the English language of a word that sounds exactly like its definition. Right?

5. Kale chips. So I don't really know who is making the rules about superfoods and who gets to be in that club, but it seems like kale is a pretty popular choice from most opinions, so let's roll with it. It really does have tons of vitamins, fiber, calcium, etc., etc. And if you roast it in the oven with just a little olive oil and salt and pepper-- Kale chips! Delicious and nutritious!

4. Albert Brooks. I forget how funny he is when I haven't seen him in awhile.

3. Serving dessert in stemware. It adds a little magic to even the simplest of yummy treats.

2. Watching an a-ha moment spread across Macy or Grace's face when they learn something new. So much fun!

1. Seeing hope in someone's eyes (or hearing it in their voice) for what you know is the first time in a very long time. Beautifully special.

The Good List 7-15-15

10. Cinnamon. Did you know a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon has just as many antioxidants as a 1/2 cup of blueberries? Sprinkle that magic dust on everything!

9. The word "splendid." It's quite splendid, don't you think? I challenge you to incorporate it into at least one conversation a week and see how people respond. :-D

8. Christopher Elbow chocolates. How gorgeous are these? Almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Ok, actually not even close. It didn't even occur to me to not eat these. Who am I kidding? (But they really are pretty.)

7. VRBO. Lots of good deals to be found using this service. You have to do a little research, but it has always been worth it in my experience.

6. Crock pots. Seriously brilliant invention. Especially on crazy hot days when you'd really rather not turn the oven on at all.

5. Strawberries. If I could afford to serve them with every single meal, I totally would.

4. Olive and red pepper tapenade. Also worthy to be served at every single meal. Tangy and delicious!

3. When it's so windy outside you can barely stay on your feet. It's a great excuse to have wild woman hair all day and not care.

2. The song Carried to the Table by Leeland. It's actually pretty old, but it still slays me every time I hear it.

1. The Jesus Storybook Bible. It might be the best kids book ever written, but I would even argue that it isn't just for kids. Read it and weep at Christ's love for you. You won't be able to help yourself.

Why "The Good List"?

Why "The Good List"?

**Just for the sake of clarity, I originally wrote this post back in 2013, so some of the time references aren't accurate, but changing them seemed inauthentic and not important to the purpose of sharing this, so I'm leaving them as is.**

Many have asked me this question, and I'm pretty sure I've answered it a little differently each time -- all honest answers, but this process has taken on new meanings throughout the years.

I first started these lists about 8 or 9 years ago in the midst of a very dark season of my life, the details of which are no longer important. What *is* important is that Jesus rescued me. What he did not do immediately, however, was to remove me from some of the difficult situations I was facing each day. Storms raged on pretty much daily (or at least every "work" day), and God didn't seem much interested in calming any of them. . . except for the one within me. Which -- let's be honest here -- was every bit as much a miracle as walking on water. 

Clearly I was incapable of changing my own heart and mind. I had tried for years to no avail. And I'm not sure even now that I can pinpoint *exactly* what changed or why except to say that Christ intervened. Powerfully. I had wallowed in self-pitying-why-me-this-is-so-unfair-how-can-they-keep-getting-away-with-treating-me-this-way garbage for so long that entitlement mentality had attached itself to me as securely as my very skin. I went nowhere without it. To be clear, it is still my very firm opinion that I *was* being mistreated and sinned against all those years ago, but the magnifying glass I held to the sins against me was firmly and exclusively fixed on just that. Sins against me. I had no vision of anything else. Not my own sins and the grace Christ had so freely lavished upon me in spite of them. Not the blessings I enjoyed every single day. Not the hope I had in eternity. 

Until. . .

Jesus. OH! JESUS! All I can say is that he crashed into me and changed the subject. Again -- not the circumstances. They remained the same for several years following this awakening in me, but my perspective changed dramatically. Mostly. Hence "The Good List". Practicing thankfulness. Opening my eyes to blessings that had never been absent from my life, only ignored. Changing my focus from, "Why me? Why do I continue to deal with this? So unfair!" to "Why not me? Why didn't I wake up with cancer this morning? Praise God!" Imperfectly, for sure, but deliberately. I decided that it would be my goal to actively seek and identify blessings every single day. One for each week day and 2 each on Saturday and Sunday. These could be as silly and small as a really good meal or something that made me giggle. (Or Nutella. I decided it would be fair to list Nutella every week if necessary. ;-)) That made a list of 9. Number 10 would be something a bit more significant. An exquisite passage of Scripture that had spoken to me recently. A truth that God was revealing to me. A story of redemption. Something along those lines. A list of 10 each week. After several years, I've listed a few thousand by now, but the more I list, the more I realize I could never stop writing (or typing as it were), and I still wouldn't cover the tiniest fraction of blessings. That's ok. It's not a test to complete. It's a never-ending exercise in thankfulness.

And after 8 or 9 years of doing this, today my answer to the above question is this:

Why "The Good List"?

For such a time as this.

Because just in the last 2-3 weeks. . .

. . . I listened as Jared read Scripture to our friend Richard, whose brain cancer appears to be in its final stages. He paused occasionally to explain, not because Richard isn't smart, but because. . . .  well, brain cancer. Taking over. I love that Richard closed his eyes during the parts that talked about eternal life with Christ. Never *really* dying. A whole, holy, healthy body forever. Glorious. Meanwhile, Judah, who is 3, said to us, "My Dad talks weird." My flesh raged (UNFAIR!!!), and my heart plummeted. Help him, Jesus!

. . . I visited a beautiful, precious friend in the hospital the day before and then again the day after doctors removed a golf-ball sized tumor from her brain. She still awaits the full pathology report, but the word "aggressive" haunts me. Help her, Jesus!

. . . I dialogued with a friend who began experiencing fainting spells several weeks ago at the exact same time her husband fell from a ladder and shattered his leg. They have been recovering, only to face recent repeat ER visits with her Dad over the last couple weeks with bleeding in his brain. Doctors tried, but their treatments were not as effective as they hoped. His final earthly breath happened late Tuesday night. They are weary. Help them, Jesus!

The list continues. Illness, depression, broken relationships, wayward children, financial stress, difficult job situations. It's a long list. All within a very small community. 

These days have been hard. Scary. Exhausting. Confusing. Frustrating. Demanding.

I might as well admit I'm not waking up with a song in my heart or a dance in my pants as often as I sometimes do. My heart isn't light. What to do with this mess? Where could I go but to Jesus? And why? Because my natural setting is to "look on the bright side", be cheerful, and trust that everything will be fine if I just "let go, and let God"?

Oh my, no. Quite the opposite, actually. Because I'm weak and weary and worn and mostly pretty worthless in regard to my impact on any of these situations. But I've practiced recognizing God's blessings. I've rehearsed gratitude for his never failing goodnesses to me. I've searched for and listed (just a few) of the endless ways he loves me. And I have just enough "muscle memory" at this exercise to send me fleeing to the cross when trouble comes. Because I remember. My stubborn heart of flesh is being slowly conditioned to know how to respond to suffering. With gratitude. Gratitude for the days and weeks and sometimes months at a time when the suffering isn't so prevalent. Even gratitude for understanding the many ways Christ works through suffering. But by no means does this come naturally. It takes practice. Exercise. Consistent, deliberate work. Repetition.

So why "The Good List"?

So I'll remember.

Because where else could I go to find hope and peace and comfort? Only to Jesus. There is no true good but HIM.

Leftovers Re-Imagined 7-9-15

Do any of you have the same sickness I have that will not allow you to throw away perfectly delicious food even if there is only a teaspoon of it left? I confess that I have this sickness in spades. It's ridiculous. I package it all up in my refrigerator, fully aware that I will likely just end up throwing it away later once it has cozied into the corner of the fridge forgotten for so long that it becomes a fun little game of "Guess what this used to be!" I'm trying to get much better at that. And I have some really fun ways to help you do so too. Over time, we'll talk about lots of ways to become much more deliberate (and much less wasteful) with our leftovers.

Tonight's topic: Leftover-Stuffed Mini-Frittatas. My 2 favorite things about these is that they are so perfect for using very small amounts of items, and they are a great way to allow variety for the family's picky eaters without adding extra work for the cook.

Here's the plan. Collect all of your small amounts of leftovers. This can be almost anything. Meats, veggies, cheeses, quinoa, herbs, etc. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray, and invite everyone in the family to fill their designated tins with the ingredients of their choice. Once this is done, pour over an egg mixture, and bake until golden brown and firm. This can be a complete family meal all by itself, especially if you make sure everyone adds some healthy veggies to their tin. ;-) Personally, I think it even makes for a fun and interactive company meal, and you can elevate it easily by adding a fruit platter and/or a simple salad of mixed greens with a tangy vinaigrette and maybe some dried fruit, nuts and crumbled feta.

Pay no attention to my extremely used muffin tin. It has been very frequently loved on in our house. Meaning we eat a lot. Don't worry about it. We're fine. ;-)

Here is the recipe and some suggestions for filler:

Ingredients:

10 eggs (this should be plenty for a 12-cup muffin tin depending on how many other ingredients are added)

generous splash of cream, half and half, or milk

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and invite everyone to fill their designated tins with whatever leftover ingredients they choose.

3. Whisk together eggs, cream, mustard powder, salt and pepper and pour into each muffin tin.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes until golden brown on top and firm all the way through.

Tonight we used all of the following ingredients (not in the same tin): salmon, Italian sausage, bacon, spinach, caramelized onions, sauteed shallots and red peppers, black olives, tomatoes, green onions and 3 different kinds of cheese. Everyone used different combinations, and some of us even made 2 (or 3) with completely different combinations just for ourselves. Pretty fun and so yummy and satisfying!

There really aren't any rules to this. Any combination of items that work well together as pizza toppings, salad ingredients, sandwich stuffings, etc. will also work well here. Experiment and see what you enjoy most. You might find yourself doubling recipes so that you have leftovers on purpose. ;-)

The Good List 7-8-15

10. My salad spinner. I would very much like to hug whoever invented this thing. So much easier (and more effective) than washing and drying lettuce by hand.

9. Natural, local honey. Liquid gold.

8. Cinnamon vanilla nut coffee. Makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.

7. Shout wipes. Man, do they come in handy sometimes!

6. Gift cards. I mean, who doesn't love a little "free shopping"?

5. Getting to watch entire life cycles of God's little creatures. These are two of my favorites that happened right in our back yard. So beautiful and fascinating!

4. Tangled. I love that movie. Especially the lantern scene. I wanna re-enact that really bad.

3. Water balloons. Easily one of the most fun things in the history of ever, especially on a hot summer day.

2. Salmon spinach salad with strawberries and feta. Glory.

1. Psalm 119:133: "Keep steady [their] steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over [them]. "  The constant cry of my heart for my daughters.

Meaty Lasagna

Today is my youngest daughter's birthday, and this is one of her all-time favorite meals, so it was the obvious choice for today. :-) Happy Birthday, Grace! 

I wonder how many lasagna recipes exist. Surely the count is into the millions by now. And I bet most of them are perfectly scrumptious. If you already have one you love, I'm not suggesting you abandon it. Just offering my favorite for those who might be still looking.

These are some of the reasons this recipe is my favorite: 1. It is actually very easy to make, which is not always the case with lasagna. 2. It is so hearty and meat-filled that you can feed a pretty significant dinner crowd with just one tray. 3. It is easily adaptable to a low-carb meal by simply swapping zucchini strips for noodles and not losing any flavor at all. (Honestly, can we all agree that the noodles just carry the meat and cheese to your mouth?) 4. It is excellent for making ahead of time (or making several trays at a time) and storing in the freezer for a super quick homemade meal later. 5. It is Yummy! This recipe is a favorite of my entire family and a whole long list of my friends. It is probably my most-requested meal. If you don't already have a tried and true favorite, try it and see what you think!

Ingredients:

1/2 pound lasagna noodles (or 2 zucchini thinly sliced in long ribbons)

1 pound lean sweet turkey Italian sausage

1/2-1 pound lean ground beef (I personally think there's no such thing as too much meat in this recipe, so I tend to go with the full pound.)

1 medium-large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (28oz.) chunky crushed tomatoes

2 cans (6 oz. each) tomato paste

2 teaspoons coconut sugar

2-1/2 teaspoons salt, divided

1-1/2 teaspoons dried crushed basil

1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1 container (15 oz.) part-skim ricotta cheese

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

4 cups shredded mozzarella

3/4 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Boil noodles according to package directions or slice zucchini length-wise using mandolin. Set aside.

2. In large skillet over medium heat, brown beef and Italian sausage with onions and garlic until vegetables are tender and meat is no longer pink. Drain. Return meat mixture to pan and add tomatoes, tomato paste, coconut sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt, basil and pepper. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.

***Hey, can I show you a fun trick for getting tomato paste out of the can? Run your can opener around the top *and* bottom of the can, then use the bottom lid to push out the paste. No more trying to dig it out of the corners with a spoon.

3. In small bowl, blend ricotta, egg, Italian seasoning and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.

4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

5. Spoon 1-1/2 cups meat sauce into bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish. Layer 1/3 each of noodles (or zucchini), ricotta mixture, meat sauce and mozzarella into dish. Repeat twice. 

6. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle Parmesan over top, and bake an additional 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is golden and bubbly. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before cutting. (Don't worry. It will stay molten lava hot much longer than that.)


The Good List 7-1-15

10. The storm that screamed and sang and whistled outside my window all night long. I love that sound.

9. Freshly organized closets. The OCD in me has a party every time I open the door.

8. Red beans with sausage after I've cooked it allllllll day. Yum!

7. The Phantom Tollbooth. Such a smart book. The movie is cute too.

6. Megamind. A sweet and funny movie, and now I want a pet alien with a massive blue head and gargantuan green eyes.

5. My extremely well-seasoned (pretty much black) baking stone. That dude has seen some recipes, let me tell ya!

4. Flash mobs. I wanna be in one really bad.

3. The African Queen. Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn are brilliant.

2. The way my house smells when I start the day like this. (I promise you wish you could smell this.)

1. Watching someone create art. I could watch someone paint, draw, sculpt or really create just about anything for hours. It's fascinating to me.

Homemade Aromatherapy

It's amazing to me the extent to which aroma can so profoundly impact my mood/memories. Before my brain can even recognize what's happening, the smell of a pina colada snowcone puts me onto a rubber mat at an old cement waterslide in Sunset, LA (where I lived as a child) with Ronnie Milsap playing on the loud speaker. Every time we left that place, we did so with bloody knees and elbows. It's kind of a mystery that we loved it so much. But I think it might have had something to do with the fact that Mom always let us get snow cones at the end of the day, and my favorite was pina colada. I love that memory!

Aerosol hairspray fumes transport me right back into my 80's cheerleading days when the only thing bigger than my ridiculous shoulder pads was my infinitely more ridiculous permed and teased hair. Questionable as to whether or not that should be labeled a "good" memory, but it makes me giggle for sure.

And the festive smell of pine envelopes me immediately in all things Christmas, taking me back to year after year of adventures in choosing the perfect REAL Christmas tree for the living room of my childhood. My Mom has a fake tree now, which is so much easier, but I'm so grateful for the tradition of the real Christmas trees throughout the years. Such fun and meaningful memories for me.

The gift of smell is a powerful thing indeed. For most of my life, I've largely left these situations entirely up to chance. Meaning, if I happened to get a whiff of one of those smells, I would enjoy the moment briefly, but it never took long to move on and forget about it pretty quickly. Those moments are still great fun--the times when a scent takes me by surprise and walks me down memory lane. But recently I decided that if something so simple can bring such joy, why would I not be more deliberate about it? Right?

And so. . .  I'm creating my own mental library of homemade versions of aromatherapy, and so far I'm loving the results. These are some of my favorites:

Lemon: When I need a little boost or just a spark of energy, this works every time. I challenge anyone to be in a blah mood while zesting a lemon. I bet you can't do it. I can't.

Ginger: Grating fresh ginger has almost a spa effect on me. So yummy and relaxing. Makes me take long, refreshing, deep breaths and savor the moments.

Coffee: Oddly, this smell has the opposite effect on me than it does on most other people. While for most I'm told it is a call to wake up, for me it triggers a moment to relax. I'm guessing this comes from my years and years of work in corporate retail, during which stepping away from my desk for a few minutes to pour a cup of coffee was one of my only escapes from the hundreds of emails and stacks of paperwork I was facing each day. I still use coffee that way. Rather than pour myself a cup first thing in the morning, I'm much more likely to get up and knock out a list of chores and save my coffee for a break after getting the work done. Probably kind of silly, but it works for me. ;-)

Roast: If ever I'm feeling homesick, you can bet roast will be on the menu soon. Something about the smell of a roast in the oven or crock pot all day conjures up some of my favorite family moments. A roast always meant one of two things when I was young--either we were all home to relax and enjoy the day together playing games, doing puzzles, etc. OR someone special was coming over. Either way, it always meant a fun day spent with people who loved me and I them. I wonder if my girls will feel the same way. There's something about serving up a meal of roast with all the fixin's that makes it more of an event than just a meal.

Lavender: I'm not sure I can think of anything more relaxing than the smell of freshly clipped lavender floating in a warm bath, which is why I always have at least one big bush of it growing somewhere in my yard.  So much better than Calgon. ;-)

Bacon: I'm sure this doesn't need much explanation. But in addition to smelling amazingly delicious (which is enough to make me happy), bacon tends to say ADVENTURE. As in--a Saturday morning with no schedule that lets you have a nice breakfast and then just go wherever the day takes you. I love it!

Cinnamon: Certainly, it's yummy any time of year, but since it is a spice that tends to be more prevalent during the holidays, cinnamon almost always puts me in a festive mood and somehow makes me start my mental gift list for all the people I love. It makes me want to craft and bake and write letters and make scrapbooks and maybe even shop a little.

Vanilla: Something about vanilla signifies clean to me. It's one of my favorite candle scents, and I developed a habit a long time ago of lighting a candle after cleaning my house. So something about vanilla makes me want to curl up with a book or a movie, knowing that the chores are done, and I can sit still for a little while with no guilt. I like that.

Rosemary: This one is a bit of a mixed bag that can trigger a number of different things, but all good. Sometimes it has that "someone special is coming to dinner" effect kind of like a good roast. Other times, it has more of a spa effect like a an herb-infused facial or body lotion. And then other times it's similar to the ginger effect. Nothing specific--just makes me slow down and take some good deep breaths so I don't miss the glorious fragrance while I'm chopping it for whatever recipe I'm working on. Any of these are certainly enjoyable, so rosemary is always a welcome scent for me.

The tiny jar of avon lotion I keep on my bathroom vanity. I lost my Memaw several years ago, but all I have to do is open that little jar, and I'm immediately right in her lap again with her arms around me and her giggle in my ear. She had the jolliest giggle ever. Oh, how I love that little jar for putting it back in my mind over and over again!

Those are some of my favorite smells and a bit about the effect they have on me. What are some of yours? I'm adding to my list all the time. Maybe some of your energizing, relaxing, or nostalgic scents will have the same impact on me. I'd love to try!

The Good List 6-24-15

10. Fantastic Mr. Fox. What an odd, interesting, sweet and hilariously random movie.

9. Parcheesi. I found an old school version in a thrift shop recently that looked like it had barely been used. For $1. Yes, that's correct. One dollar. Felt like my childhood climbed right out of the box when I opened it.

8. Watching kids in rain boots dance through every puddle they can find.

7. Miniature horses. I mean, seriously...

6. Caramelized onions. They're pretty much magical.

5. Keith Green. I need to read No Compromise again.

4. When my Mom calls me on release date of the newest kids/family movie and says, "Do the girls have this yet?" The answer is always no because she is usually the first one at a retail establishment on these dates. ;-) And then she always happily responds with, "Good! I'm sending it today." So sweet.

3. Old vinyl.

2. Watching Macy and Grace giggle and "awwww" as they read and re-read scrapbooks about their early lives. The exact reason I spend so much time on those things. My love letters to them.

1. The apostle Paul. Really wish I could hang out with him. One of these days....

Perfect Cookies

Like literally perfect. I know people say things like that all the time. "This is the only ______ recipe you'll ever use again." Maybe. But I like variety. So probably not most of the time. However. This truly is the only cookie recipe I have used in at least 5 years. Because it is incredibly delicious, but also completely adaptable. So you can have your deliciousness and variety all at the same time. It's kind of like magic. I'll explain. . .

The basic recipe calls for 1 package of instant pudding and 1-2 cups of mix-ins. (Is your imagination dancing yet?) The recipe I use most often includes vanilla pudding plus 1 cup white chocolate chips and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. But let me help you get your brain excited. What about cheesecake pudding plus dried blueberries and white chocolate chips? Or chocolate pudding plus milk chocolate and peanut butter chips? Truly, the possibilities are endless! (And I haven't even mentioned my favorites yet. I'll tell you about those in more detail later. ;-)

But you get the idea. And here's a tip. These work so well for freezing the batter in individual scoops so that you can bake 1 or 2 or 6 at a time rather than the entire batch all at once. This is especially helpful if you like variety. Make a different recipe each week in the month or two leading up to an event or a houseful of company, and then you can create a "sampler" platter in a matter of minutes. Just throw 3 each of 4 different kinds into the oven for 9-12 minutes. Your guests will be so impressed! 

Here is the basic recipe:

Ingredients:

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 package instant pudding mix (vanilla)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened (NOT melted)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup granulated white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and pudding mix in small bowl. 

3. Beat butter, oil both sugars and vanilla in large mixer bowl until well combined.

4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Gradually beat in flour mixture in 3-4 batches, making sure dry ingredients are well-incorporated after each addition.

6. Stir in chocolate and white chocolate chips. (And I mean, maybe this is just me, but I'm guessing no one would be mad if you accidentally spilled a few extras in there.)

7*. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment paper lined baking sheet or (my favorite) well-seasoned baking stone. Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes until golden brown.

8. Remove from oven and allow to cool at least 2-3 minutes before attempting to remove from pan. 

*You can also spread the entire batch of batter evenly into a pan and bake 20-25 minutes for a delicious homemade cookie cake.

 

 

The Good List 6-17-15

10. Getting in the "A" boarding group on Southwest Airlines.

9. A good, sharp chef's knife. It makes cooking so much more fun.

8. Thrift stores. I hardly ever buy much of anything, but it's fun to see pieces of my childhood scattered throughout these places. So many memories that I'm not sure would come to mind any other way.

7. Enormous peonies. One of my favorite flowers.

6. Having friends I know will always be in my life regardless of our geographical challenges. So grateful for them!

5. Grace's "Good Morning" message on my mirror. :-)

4. Edgar Allen Poe. So creepy and awesome.

3. Bacon. I know, right?!?

2. A freezer full of homemade goodness.

1. Having Macy (almost entirely on her own with no adult help) turn a job shadow assignment into a free ticket for her (and significant upgrade for her family) to the recent Brian Regan show. So much fun!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Alright, listen. I'm not about to sit here and tell you that this recipe will satisfy every single reason you eat pizza. Sometimes you just really need Papa John's thin crust Hawaiian BBQ pizza delivered to your front door. I get it. I really do.

However--if you are like me (I hope you're not, but if you are...), you just can't eat take-out pizza all the time. It's delicious for sure, but it's difficult to stay healthy if this is one of your go-to meals. So. Here's a thought. Save the take-out for every now and then and master this delicious alternative which will satisfy at least most of the reasons you enjoy cardboard box pizza. 

Ingredients:

2 cups cauliflower, very finely grated or processed in food processor

2 eggs

2 cups freshly grated cheese in your favorite combination. (I typically use some combination of mozzarella, Parmesan and sharp cheddar, but I have made this with cheddar only and mozzarella only, and those were equally delicious)

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning (or any combination of your favorite dried herbs. Basil, oregano, and parsley are some of my favorites)

Roasted garlic paste (I keep this in my fridge ALL THE TIME. It makes almost everything more delicious. Recipe here.)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Spray metal pan or baking stone (preferably stone) with nonstick cooking spray. 

3. In medium bowl, combine cauliflower, eggs, cheese(s) and spice(s) and mix well. Press evenly onto pan or stone, about 1/4" thick. Bake for about 7 or 8 minutes, until it just begins to firm. Remove from oven and gently spread garlic paste over crust. (The paste should be soft enough to almost melt right into the crust.) Put back in oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, until golden brown.

This can be topped with any of your favorite sauces and toppings, and then just place the pizza back in the oven until toppings are warmed and cheese is melted.

One note: Most likely, you will need to eat this with a fork rather than pick it up like a typical slice of pizza, but the flavor is so satisfying, and this is so much more nutritious than dough-crust pizza.