Thursday, June 18, 2009

Deja Vu all over again

Why is it that we only fight about the same one or two things with our partners? You would think after having the same discussion over and over, it would get tired and we'd find new things to fight about.

Obviously, things are not being resolved, which is why we continue to have the same arguments. But how do you resolve those issues when you can't afford counseling, and all that you have tried is apparently not working?

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Hurricane Preparedness

Sigh. It's that time of year again, folks. In the south, people that live near-ish the coast are getting ready for these lovely large storms that leave a swath of destruction in their wake. To me, the worst part about hurricane season (aside from the actual hurricanes) is trying to build up a stockpile of food.

Not eating meat complicates things, as most nonperishable entrees contain "meat" (or at least that is what we will call that stuff). Trying to eat healthy means that we don't eat a lot of canned veggies, preferring fresh, and in the absence of fresh, frozen.

We do eat canned beans (easier, faster, and honestly, BETTER than my attempts at cooking dried beans. And plus, they are still pretty economical), and canned tomatoes. We also have luxury canned goods such as olives, artichoke hearts, pesto, etc. Oh, to be an American during these times. It's great, I tell you!

(Ok, I have wiped the drool off my keyboard now).....

We don't have a grill (we did have one, and it exploded. Yeah. That was pretty scary.), so our only method of cooking is a camp stove. I'm thinking about making a solar cooker, but until that happens, let's not assume I would be able to cook with one.

What I learned from Ike is that a lot of people purchase chips and packaged bakery items (i.e. Hostess cupcakes). You know, I had honestly NEVER considered those as hurricane items. But they are nonperishables, eh? I don't think that chips would make it in this house. Hostess type snacks might not either, since it's something we literally NEVER have. But in a pinch, I'm going to remember that.

Here are the ideas I have so far:

-Instant oatmeal
-Couscous (fast cooking, and flavored if you want it)
-PB and J :D
-Bread (this would have to be purchased right before a storm)
-canned beans
-canned tomatoes
-canned fruit
-canned veggies
-those delish vacuum-packed dishes you find in the Indian section of the grocery store!
-Stovetop stuffing (I love this stuff, and it's comfort food....good after a scary storm)

I would plan on giving the veggies to a food bank after the season if we didn't use them.

But yeah. That's all I have. Not very good, is it?

I'm going to be thinking and stockpiling, and I'll continue to update if I have any ideas. In the meantime, leave me any comments you may have about what I should add to the list.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Quick....Get shopping!

Hanna Andersson is having their Twice Yearly Sale. Seriously, folks. Get your kids some high quality, organic clothing at Big Box Store prices. But get it NOW.

Sale Sale Sale!

FYI....I don't get money or anything from them. Just awesome clothes. That I pay for. But at a discount. :)

Hippie happenings

Hippies get busy in the summer. Oh yeah.

What are they busy doing? Well....

Mama Duck's Dream Deserves an Oscar!

In My Crazy Life is seeking...herself?

Fashion, Evolved interviews Juliane Camposano of Roselwear.

Join us in a round of Electric Kool-Aid at Hippymom.com!

Melia Lore has a Vulva Skirt. No, I'm not kidding.

She's not sad...she's A Hippy Chick.

Gray Gaia invites you to Embrace the Goddess Soleil!

Happy reading, and enjoy! Now get busy yourself!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Delicious Asian Pasta with Spicy Tempeh and strange salty asparagus

I really like tempeh. I'm always sad when I meet veggies who do not like tempeh. It hurts me, somehow. Or maybe offends me. How can you NOT love the strange Linkflavor and texture that is tempeh? Yum. If you haven't tried it, go get some: I prefer mixed-grain or three grain or some sort of grain tempeh. But there are different kinds. I really ought to branch out.

Anyhoo, I made this great pasta last night:

Asian Pasta with Spicy Tempeh

It was lovely and spicy indeed. I put in 2 tsp. of the chili paste (I get that stuff that has the rooster on the label. Not only do they make a lovely hot sauce (the large squeeze bottle) their chili sauce is fantastically spicy and tasty. Cheap, too. What's not to like?) and it was SPICY, brotha. Hoo. Admittedly, I made the teaspoons heaping, but still. Next time I make this (and there will definitely be a next time) I will probably ease up a bit on the chili sauce.

I don't like peas and didn't have shelled edamame (my pea substitute of choice....and notice that I said I didn't have SHELLED edamame. I totally have the stuff in the pods, but I was feeling WAY too lazy to cook it and shell it) so I just left it out. I made this strange asparagus as a side dish, so I felt like I didn't really need to peas, anyway. And honestly, I didn't miss the bulk they would have added. However, those little yummy baby peas in the pod (the ONLY peas I like) would be quite nice, as would the aforementioned shelled edamame. Which I enjoy saying. Edamame. Satisfying.

The sauce seems like it won't be enough, but it's the perfect amount. The flavor is ALL OVER the noodles, but this isn't a saucy dish. It's amazing. I highly encourage you to try it.

If you don't have the various seasonings called for, you should. They take your cooking to a whole new level and keep you from wanting to eat out, which ends up being frugal in the long run. Or so I tell myself.

Let me close by mentioning that strange asparagus. I got the recipe from Vegetarian Times, and it calls for miso and tahini. I make this wonderful salad dressing that I found in Veganomicom (thanks, Isa!) that calls for equal parts miso and tahini thinned with water. The salad dressing is shockingly good, but although this recipe calls for similar ingredients, it was just salty and thick and strange. I'm sad, because there's a half pound of asparagus in the fridge that no one will eat. J ate one stalk and said yuck, and P won't eat anything green, despite it being his favorite color. I ate my fair share, but I just don't want anymore. Any suggestions on using this stuff up? Maybe if I put it in unseasoned eggs, maybe it would be better. Hmm.....

I hate to end on a down note like too-salty asparagus, so have a laugh before you go:

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Ready for summer

I'm all detailed and ready to go! Take me to the beach, the pool, the bar, you name it, I'm there! Whee!

I've got painted toenails, hair's trimmed up EVERYWHERE, I've been working out and eating (Relatively) healthy. Hee-hee! I'm looking good and feeling good.

I love having some time off, and being able to think and contemplate and even miss my job a little (ok, not the job, but some of the kids). I love being able to go to the park and the museum with my son, preparing healthy meals (I'm thinking asparagus, peach-walnut pilaf, and something tempeh or stir fry for dinner, how's THAT for rock-your-socks delish and healthy!), and reading books. I just re-read Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott, and highly recommend it. She writes about normal people beautifully. The book makes me celebrate ME, even with all my faults.

Tonight, my family is heading off to see .38 Special, Styx, and REO Speedwagon! What fun! I only know one song by each band (that I know of, anyway), but I can't wait to put on a skimpy sundress and lounge on the grass while we rock out! Hopefully, I can make a buck or two today and buy one of those margaritas by the yard! If not, that's ok too....they're awfully high in calories and low on alcohol. :)

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Food for camping

My boys are going camping next weekend so that an out of town friend and I can catch up sans interruptions. Hooray! I have challenged the hubster to NOT eat at any restaurants along the way, only stopping at grocery stores if necessary. This is going to be a MAJOR challenge for my lovable yet lazy hubby, so I'm helping (of course).

They will be gone from Friday afternoon through Monday. So, that's 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, and numerous snacks.

Breakfast:
Pancakes (those just add water mixes are PERFECT for camping)
Eggs (crack the eggs into a heavy ziploc bag so they are ready for scrambles or omelets)
They might try this because it sounds like fun:
http://www.scoutorama.com/recipe/rec_display.cfm?rec_id=155

Lunch:
Sandwiches
Pasta Salad
Fruit
Chips

Dinner:
Chicken leg quarters (bought on sale)
Hotdogs (you gotta, right?)
Nachos, using leftover chicken
http://www.scoutorama.com/recipe/rec_display.cfm?rec_id=266

We are limited not only by funds, but by the fact that my child doesn't like casseroles or other "mixed" dishes. He does, however, LOVE nachos, and I like that you can make these in a skillet.

Snacks:
Chips (must have junk food for us....we don't get them often because we all LOVE chips)
Pasta salad
fruit
crackers
cereal bars (aka Nutrigrain bars)
s'mores fixins
hummus

What else do they need to take for food?