Happy Birthday America!

July 4th has come and gone, but I figure it's not too late to post about it. I made a few days of fun out of it, starting with the traditional 4th of July picnic. My contribution to the family picnic was Quinoa Fruit Salad:

Bunch of fresh chopped mint (from Mom's garden)
1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
2 tbsp. orange juice
1 package sliced strawberries
2 kiwi fruit sliced
1 can rinsed mandarin orange sections
2 cups cooked quinoa

Mix the orange juice, mint, and yogurt together to make a "sauce". Mix the cooled cooked quinoa and fruit together and mix the dressing over it. (I used 1/3 cup of chopped mint and I felt like that was a little bit too much. Next time, I'll use less.) Cool covered for 2 hours, serve, and enjoy!

I took my six year old cousin home for the night and the next morning we headed off to the Springfield Museums the next day. I was super excited to see a dinosaur exhibit at the science museum and we got to be virtual dinosaurs fending for ourselves through the Cretaceous Period. We managed to make it to 4 museums looking at fun things including a mummy sarcophagus, Indian motorcycles, Greek sculptures and more. He was so precious letting me know, "Tell me about it, I have to learn things while I'm here you know." He made my teacher's heart proud. Here's his happy dance in the Wood Museum of Springfield History:

Upon returning home, I figured it was high time to use my creamer potatoes and garlic scapes to make a simple and delicious meal. I wasn't quite sure when I bought them what creamer potatoes were, so I went to the ultimate source: Wikipedia. They say they are small potatoes, softer than normal picked before they are fully mature. What I had on my hands were these:

The little black ones were purple and finger staining when cut open. I stirfried them up with the garlic scapes, and fresh chives (another fun find in Mom's garden). It was too hot to heat my kitchen cooking chicken or fish, so I quickly fried up some eggs. The result: fancy breakfast for dinner:

love letter

I have been thinking a lot this week about how I know God is God. It's actually hard for me to pinpoint and describe because it is something that I know, deep down in that quiet and still place where things you know for sure always live. I can not look at my life and separate Him from it. I understand why someone could, as it hasn't been a long time for me where my heart has felt open to be vulnerable and needy before my Lord, and my friends. I think when we are closed inside, it's pretty hard to see anything else.

For me, my I know  moment began in CCD, 25 years ago. We were reading the story of Samuel, and how God called him three times, and he went to Eli the first two, until Eli realized what was happening and told him to say "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." My little girl heart wrapped around that story probably because Samuel was a child like me, and that night, alone in my room, afraid of the dark and falling asleep because of things that had already happened to shake my sense of safety, I remember whispering those same words, and feeling a peace like none other.

I went back to that story last night, because my heart is aching this week. Breaking with the pain of those I love, and the flutter of things I can't identify quite yet. I just knew that I needed to revisit why I know for sure, so I went back to the beginning of my God story and re-read the beginning chapters of 1 Samuel.


As a little one, I loved Samuel's story. As a woman, I understand Hannah's. Hannah wants a baby with her husband Elkanah. As polygamy is the custom of the day, he has children with his second wife Peninah. She keeps goading Hannah and causing her shame for her barren womb. I have long been touched by Hannah's push to take her neediness to God. The priest at the temple thinks her drunk, and accuses her. I think, at times in my life, if that had happened to me, I would have closed my heart, and walked away in shame and anger. But she clarifies her heart to the priest, is vulnerable and needy, and keeps on crying out to God. That is a picture of a pain-filled heart who knows her God.


 Last night, I was overcome by the way that Elkanah cherished Hannah, giving her a double portion, taking her to the temple year after year to pray. I was struck by his love for her again after Samuel is born and he tells her that they will bring Samuel to the temple after he has been weaned, when he is older. He seems to know that Hannah needs to experience the infancy of this little one, as well as keep her promise to God. It is a longing of my own, especially in a week of pouring out, to be loved like that.

And then, there was Samuel's call. Samuel is a prophet. A great prophet of Israel, who hears of terrible things to come and is afraid to share them with Eli whom he loves. I am not meant to be a great prophet like the days of old, but I can identify with knowing things that don't come from myself. And that perhaps is just the start of how I know for sure.  Because even as a little one, God knew I would long to be known and so he called me. Long to be understood and so He showed me another I could identify with. And even now, can use different parts of  those very same passages to continue to whisper to my heart...to meet me right where I'm at, to remind me that He hears me, loves me, and that He really is.

It's a bit of a funny passage to explain why I am sure. But I think that's the beauty of God. He speaks to us all in ways we can personally understand. I feel loved tonight. Known tonight. I spent a beautiful day actually feeling comfortable in my own skin, which for a girl with one too many extra pounds can be a real feat. Like the beauty of being known and loved inside shined right through to the outside.

To He who was, who is, and always will be....Thank You.

Fresh Food

I have forgotten how much I love the farmer's market. It's the place I first discovered my love for snap peas and snow peas, and that vegetables were nothing short of amazing. Mmmm.

Chevy could totally make this a commercial. It just makes you think Homegrown.

Our treasures

This morning, my friend Wendi and I headed to the Amherst Farmer's Market. I, of course, was on the lookout for peas, but we managed to find some other treasures along the way. I discovered the garlic scapes and am looking forward to using them in combination with some creamer potatoes I had picked up earlier in the week at a farm stand. I think fresh veggies and flowers are just so pretty. Something about their colors and shapes makes me smile. We carried on our quest for fresh and colorful food as we headed into Hadley to Esselon Cafe. I was delighted to discover some gluten free pastry options including chocolate and lemon cupcakes that look strikingly similar to the ones at Cushman's Market, and a  different and yummy looking chocolate cookie. Most meals are made gluten-free upon request as well. My meal:

grilled chicken with roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, and housemade aioli

What a fresh start to a Saturday!

Saturday Staycationing Part 1

Even if a teacher has to work all summer, there's still plenty of time for the staycation. This Saturday's trip: My Mom, and a ride up route 63 with an end stop in Keene, NH.

We had a mid-morning chai and gf cupcake at the previously blogged about Cushman Market. Lunch was a warm rice salad (prepared especially gluten-free upon asking) at the The Lady Killigrew Cafe in Montague, MA, where we had headed to find a craft show that was not to be found...

So we continued on, through Northfield, where we took a little driving tour of the beautiful, to-be-someday CS Lewis College, then on to Keene, NH where I parked in front of a delightful looking country store:

That's when I noticed the little "Wine Tasting Today" Sign. What luck!

The store is filled with wonderful treasures: beautiful jewelry, adorable baby onesies, great educational toys like Melissa & Doug products, and a fine collection of New Hampshire wines:

The wine seller was a personable man, very knowledgeable about the various wines in stock. I found it interesting and fitting that all the wines are local from New Hampshire. It makes me want to look up the various places and go try them out. Hmmm...another staycation? I think so.

I was able to taste, and then purchase a mead called 'Kurt's Apple Pie'. Now, I'm a big fan of both people named Kurt and apple pie so perhaps I was destined to like it. The wine is from The Moonlight Meadery in Londonderry, NH. It is not tart at all, it actually finishes with a warm cinnamon flavor. Fabulous. I am sipping it now as I type this!

I also purchased (without tasting) another mead called 'Fling" which has strawberry and rhubarb, and a Moscato from Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, NH. I haven't popped those open quite yet. Too much wine makes for a sloshy Abbie!

After we left the country store, we headed down the streets of Keene:

Keene is reminiscent of Cambridge and Northampton with it's funky stores and various resturants. There was a store called

that has local artisan wares, and those wooden home signs I love so much. Unlike the store at the beach, it wasn't so crowded that you couldn't read them. I may be back to purchase one soon!

After a while, nature called, and I found both a restroom, friendly staff, and a PERFECT caramel latte at :

The inside was small and pretty popular and crowded but it was the perfect to-go sipper.

All in all, a very nice Saturday Staycation. Sometimes unplanned is the way to go!

All Souped Up

Rain.

Yes, rain makes the flowers grow. Yes, rain is good for preventing droughts and preventing some crazy heat waves, and I certainly prefer rain over tornadoes...

But today rain made for a lazy day off and a longing for walking weather.

Jake, lazing around...longing for some outside play

After filling out some forms for work, setting up appointments and finishing chores, I settled down to do one of my favorite things--peruse recipes! As I was writing down ingredients I would need to purchase, I kept asking myself "Do I have thyme?" "Did I keep the rosemary?" and it occurred to me that I am not quite clear on my own herbs and oils. So, I used my free time to drag them all out of the cabinet, categorize them, alphabetize my list, and put them back. I should have taken a before shot, but here's my after:



The spices and my alphabetical list :)

 At least the cooler weather makes soup season last a bit longer. Yesterday's soup was Easy Black Bean which I like to refer to as "dump ingredients in a pot and boil". It was the perfect lunch to pack and take along with me to visit my brother as he recovers from shoulder surgery. The side is a crisped up rice tortilla, lightly salted.
                                                                                                       Easy Black Bean Soup
1 can black beans (rinsed)
1/2 box of reduced sodium chicken broth
1 can fat free re-fried beans
1 cup water
1 small jar fat free garlic salsa
cilantro (for garnish)
scoop of TJ's fat free sour cream for the top

 pour in a pot and boil :) makes 4 servings

 Today's soup: Broccoli Potato


 1 tsp olive oil
1 chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small potato, peeled & chopped
1/2 box reduced sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
1/2 package frozen broccoli (or 1 bunch fresh with stems removed)
1/4 cup fat free half & half
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar*

You heat the oil in a saucepan and cook onions until they're softened. Add the garlic and heat a minute more. Add potatoes, chicken broth, water, and broccoli and heat to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove some broccoli, and simmer a few minutes more. I used my hand mixer to puree the ingredients left in the pan, and then added back the broccoli I had removed, the half & half, salt, pepper, and cheese.

Makes 4 servings

* I made the mistake of using a blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and colby jack...and I think sharp cheddar would have made a huge difference taste wise. Perhaps some curry powder or ground mustard would have jazzed things up too. It was an OK soup, but it needed more flavor. I'll play with some other spices in the future.

** New note on this-- today I added a wedge of laughing cow light blue cheese when heating it up, it made the difference. If you don't like blue, it comes in swiss, chipotle, and toasted onion.

Here's hoping for sunny skies tomorrow!

Summer Reading: Not Just for Kids

As a kid, I was the one who took 10 books out every week, and returned those 10 the following week for a new batch. I don't just read books, I devour them. So when I arrived at the library this morning and found this challenge, I was beyond excited!!

I think that you have to read a book from the library's collection and fill out a little review of the book online. Then, when you return the book to the library, they give you a raffle ticket to enter into one of the prizes they are giving away. If you read all 10, you'll have 10 entries. So, I have spent a good chunk of my afternoon checking out the online catalog for choices that aren't checked out  (and hoping they'll be there when I make it back tomorrow) or aren't books that I've already read.

Here are some thoughts & choices:

Challenge #1 Book turned into a movie

Beloved by Toni Morrison

or

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Challenge #3 Biography or Memoir

Death in Salem: The Private Lives behind the 1692 Witch Hunt by Diane Foulds

or

Message from and Unknown Chinese Mother: Stories of Loss & Love by Xinran

Challenge #5 A Love Story

maybe...

Theft: A Love Story by Peter Carey

Challenge #7 A Local Author

My Sister's Bones by Cathi Hanauer (Northampton)

or

Truth by Jacqueline Sheehan ( Florence)

Challenge #8 Fantasy/SciFi

maybe...

Magic Street by Orson Scott Card

These are the only ones I've thought of so far. We'll see if the library has 'em when I want to read them. What do you think of these? Has anyone read them and can tell me to read it, or not to waste my time?

This is going to be fun. I can tell.

Bacon Wrapped Mahi Mahi & Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts

Today, I realized that I'm not going to have much of a summer in terms of time off. While this is ok in the grand scheme of things since it will help me save money for that missions trip I want to take next summer, it does bring an element of stress. As I drove home in the rain thinking about work and an MIA contract, all I wanted to do was spend my afternoon watching movies and cooking. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself.

I also realized today, that I don't love to cook so as much as I like to eat tasty food. And so while the "cooking" part of today was pretty darn easy since Trader Joes did a lot of the work--it was also pretty darn tasty.

I began with my ingredients:

Trader Joes Uncured Bacon Wrapped Mahi Mahi Filets
1/2 pound Brussel Sprouts
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp Balsamic Glaze
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp water
cooking spray

• Brussel sprouts are so cute! I have never cooked brussel sprouts before so I'm not sure if I wasted extra parts or not, but I cleaned them up and halved them like so:

That's my awesome ulu knife. Best kitchen utensil ever.

• I set the oven to 475 to preheat and put the halved brussel sprouts into spray coated baking dish with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.

I put the Mahi Mahi in first for 12 minutes, flipped it and then put the brussel sprouts in with it for 17 minutes. The fish said it should be cooked on the bottom shelf, and so while nothing was burning, things did get a bit smoky. Luckily it was a cool and rainy day, so all the windows could be opened wide! I took the fish out a bit earlier than the brussel sprouts as they still looked super crunchy.

• When you take the brussel sprouts out (make sure they are browned a bit & softened), you mix the water and balsamic glaze together and drizzle evenly over the top of the sprouts.

The tasty results:



I feel much more relaxed after an afternoon in the kitchen and a fun movie. Sometimes it's the simple things in life...