What's Going on

I really need to be better about updating this thing. Seriously. I now have more time, well somewhat more time than I did before. I quite C-K two weeks ago and it has been the best decision of my life. That place was a time/life/soul suck. Bad, bad, bad juju. So now my days are spent working three days a week at a creative shop, doing a Work-Study at Yoga Now, studying to re certify my NCTMB license, and generally regaining my life back. Its a good balance. I remember what its like to be 'me', as in doing things because I enjoy them not because I have too. My birthday is fast approaching and with it a lot of new lessons learned this year. First lesson. Being true to yourself is way more important than worrying about how people view you or what they say about you. Ethics, people. Very important. The whole idea of putting away childish things, second lesson. I don't need excessive amounts of booze or acquaintances, I only need those that I count as true friends. Third. Compassion, kindness, grounded behavior, will help you weather any storm and the ability to focus your energy and believe in what you are passionate about is important and DOES MATTER. Fourth, being in a shadow is no way to be. As in stand in your own light, all goes back to number three, that if its important to you than it matters. end.of.story. So this month of December is filled with vegan potlucks, numerous birthday celebrations, compassion, love, and celebrating. I am very optimistic about the end of '09 and the upcoming New Year. J'Taime.

I'm Back

So, it has been a crazy summer, what with inclement weather, adjustments to married life, new friends and old leaving and entering my life at an alarming rate. Now that we are at the end of summer and road season, its time for me to get back on the proverbial horse and start doing my Sunday dinner blog. I thought we would start the week off right, with an old standby in this household. I was able to make this recipe due to an unexpected gift from Les and Ty, and their abundant CSA box. They had a plethora of beets so, being the lovely people that they are, they passed on a nice bag that included those delicious beets on top of some other very lovely vegetables that will grace our table this week. Thanks to both of you and your generosity! This Sunday dinner blog the feature is my "Sweet beetin' bean burritos with mango pineapple salsa" (or kumquat if they are in season)! Really, this is a super simple recipe, full of delicious veggie goodness, and Joe cant help but eat at least three of these in one sitting. here is the recipe:
2 small to medium size beets (with tops) and sweet potatoes, diced
1 15 oz can black beans rinsed and drained
1/4 red onion, cut into strips
1 poblano pepper, cut into strips
1/2 tbsp cumin
2 tbs olive oil
sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Directions: preheat oven to 450 degrees take diced beets (remember to save the tops) and the sweet potato and put into casserole dish place 1 tbs olive oil into pan along with cumin, salt and pepper. toss until coated and place in oven. Remember to stir occasionally.

while veggies are roasting you can make your salsa

Pineapple mango salsa:
1 cup finely diced pineapple
1 large ripe mango peeled, finely diced
1/4 cup diced red onion
1 jalepeno finely diced (more or less to taste)
1 tbs Cilantro (optional) 1/2 lime zested and juiced
salt to taste
combine all ingredients in large bowl and place in fridge so flavors can combine
Kumquat variation: Omitt pineapple, add 10-15 fresh kumquats thinly sliced into rounds
After Salsa is finished, start the bean mixture
heat skillet on medium heat add olive oil
saute poblano and red onion until soft and translucent
add the can of beans and chopped beet greens, stirring to incorporate
place lid on skillet and turn heat to low, stir every couple of minutes so mixture doesnt burn.

after 5 minutes remove from heat and let sit, while you remove beet and sweet potato mixture from the oven.

to assemble:
take burrito shell (we love ezekial brand sprouted wheat tortillas-not gluten free) heat in oven for 30 seconds to soften
place spoonful of beet mixture and spread in a horizontal line (left to right) near the bottom middle of your shell next add bean mixture right next to the beets fold sides over and bottom and start rolling cut in half and serve with salsa and a salad or guacamole and chips.
To make GF version, I opt for a burrito bowl idea sometimes adding Follow your Heart vegan cheese that I shred on top. Enjoy!

Winds out of the East.

Change is coming. Or I should say, already here. I got married on Sunday, for real this time. I'm happy. I can't wait for all the adventures that are ahead of us. I love Joe more than I ever thought possible. My life wouldn't be complete without him. So, with this upon us, its time to Get R and M ready for the same awesomeness, so her and i can go open that cafe. This is going to be the greatest summer ever.

Maybe I will do this....

How come there isn't a lovely fairly that comes down and goes "this is what you should be when you grow up"? I am getting fairly fed up with being unable to make up my mind as to what I want to do in life. I will study literature! No, photography! No....wait...design....no I take that back....how about....Massage Therapy? I already did that. Now....lets do nursing....no no I dont know thats a lot of debt. So I guess I will look into opening a business. That debt sounds more fun.How about a Cafe? Lets say a Vegan/Vegetarian Cafe. With good coffee. Plenty of bike parking. With Sweets. In a neighborhood that needs a Cafe. Say, Logan Square?. We could be a non profit, maybe. That has free WIFI. and old comfy couches. i need help though. Some lady friends, perhaps? With good work ethics, tasty recipes, and plenty of love so that we wouldnt fight all the time. yeah. I think that would be lovely....

OMFG! Or how did I miss this

So, I just have to say, and I also understand that it is way late to even complain or be upset about this, and the outcome turned in my favor, so whatever. Seriously though, this has made my jaw hit the floor, and maybe most of you know this, but LANCE ARMSTRONG CAMPAIGNED FOR JOHN MCCAIN. I mean seriously?! I already hated Lance, but it was more of an annoyance type of hate, like a fly buzzing around. This though, takes the cake. Now it is a strong, disgusted hate for that asshole.

Direction

I know this blog isn't really about anything. I dont use it as a forum, I mainly just write about the mundane things that happen in my life, yet for some reason I like to remember. This weekend, for example, was a ton of fun, albeit a busy one. Joe and I went over to Zach and Allisons for Cuban food on Friday night, that was pretty fun, as we drank some beers, and had a good conversation. Saturday was a lot of running around to get the fellas ready for the trip to Georgia, but it was cool eating delicious soup and ice cream, and the occasional dance break out that would go down. Sunday, as tradition, we have a family dinner at our house. It started years ago, when I lived back in Muncie. We used to have this big fried chicken, mashed potato, corn, two types of gravy and cornbread dinners every week. Everyone would come over and bring a couple cases of beer (or whatever was leftover after Saturday night) and we would EAT. We took the tradition to Chicago, and it ebbed and flowed in attendance, food preference, etc. Nowadays, seeing as we are all in our late 20's, and super busy in our own lives, it becomes harder to meet every week. We do a Vegan bike Gang Brunch around every other month, but that is getting harder to organize, as Matt and Ranise are getting married, on top of Joe and I.
So, we try and maintain a weekly dinner, which is usually just Rene, Joe, and I. Last night Zach came by, which was awesome, and he gave me a really good idea. People tell me whenever I cook for them, that I should write a cookbook. I kind of brush it off, because I really dont think anything I do is extremely hard or special. Zach mentioned that I should blog about my food and recipes. I liked the idea, but was kind of like, whatever. Then I really thought about it, and it made sense. I could go on the whole Sunday dinner theme, and then do the recipes that I made and add a photo of the final project. So, there it is. A new and totally fun direction for me! I wish I would have taken photos of what we had last night. They were totally scrumptious black bean burgers, with a bunch of yummy stuff piled on top. They would rival Kumas anyday, and I am willing to bet on it.

Changes.

It has been a long time since I have posted on here. Nothing really crazy has been happening during the past 6 weeks, same work stuff, same freezing outside. Joe and I were talking the other night and we are trying to decide what to do for our wedding. I know we had this huge party planned, which seemed like such a fun idea, but now we are going over everything, looking at the budget, and it just doesnt seem possible. He then wanted to just go to the courthouse and get it over with, but, seeing as we have both done that before, I really want a wedding. We are going to cut the attendants back a lot, maybe change the location, and we are going to California to drive the PCH for a week for our honeymoon. I am excited, but nervous, and at this point just want to get it over with, unfortunately.