Y2 – Day 87 – More Culinary Fun

Our first evening reunited found us delighting,  oooooohing and ahhhhhhing  and applauding our chef extraordinaire.  See yesterday’s post.

Our second course was a Thai Curry over rice.  Non- vegans and spicy hot – shy omnivores enjoyed potato cheese ‘nachos’ V concocted that is truly a novelty.  Potatoes, tofu, green onions, baby bok choy, tomatoes, cilantro, coconut milk, onions and that secret ingredient, love, embrace and meld in a yellow Thai curry sauce over rice.  I don’t know what or how she did it but in very little time, a meal that appeared authentic and time-consuming was dished out.  The intoxicating aroma that filled the large open concept room that is the hub of my son’s new home was making us all delirious (including Cindi).

For dessert, V had the audacity (so typically made with dairy) of creating a vegan Creme Anglaise with vanilla gel, almond milk, coconut cream and vanilla syrup. It was a success.   She steamed peanut butter filled mochi in the sauce and served the sweet, ivory dish with slivers of fresh mango.  I didn’t know how the fruit would match up to the nutty and strong vanilla presence but it was cleverness at its apex. The tang of the orange delicacy produced a high note among the grounding bass hum of nut crunch and vanilla specks left in your mouth as you chewed through the rice gluten.

The flavor profiles and balance of the dinner were ingeniously connected in a subtle yet unmistakable precise manner of someone truly talented.  Bravo!  And thank you to my hosts for their generosity and hospitality.  I am so proud of you guys!

Y2 – Day 86 – Oakland Day One

After a relatively long road trip (@7 hours) and certainly the longest road trip for Cindi (three stops I needed anyway) that we know of, we landed safely at my son and girlfriend’s flat in Oakland, Alameda County, California.  NY daughter is spending her Spring Break with them, Berkeley freshman daughter is 15 minutes away, so I invited myself up for a ‘reunion’.

The Bay Area is notorious for its fresh, interesting and innovative as well as mature approach to food and I look forward to a few good meals and the unavoidable few good extra pounds – although it is a walking, talking kinda urban vibe which alleviates some of the extra calories and guilt.

Cindi took to everyone immediately and vice versa.  We ate at a German restaurant by my waterfront pet friendly hotel (more about this another time) and just spent some lazy together time before heading to a Chinese market (their apartment borders Oakland Chinatown) and a supply store for the feast that was to bedevil us anon. Navigating through this triple tiered Chinese grocery store where fresh, frozen and dried fish, fowl and produce was displayed in naked and abundant abandon was a sensory explosion not unlike fireworks in your head.  My kids confidently sought ingredients, handled themselves like they were born in Asia and left with a box of goodies that were to about to take a transformation I never would have dreamed of.

To say that my NY daughter, V has grown in her culinary skills, is an understatement.  Neither photographs nor descriptions could do her expert hand or her discriminatory palate any justice.  You just had to be there to experience the masterpiece and the creation.

First, she tempted us with steamed then sautéed, crispy bottomed dumplings with homemade vegan filling designed to enchant your taste buds and mouthfeel with cilantro, tofu, onion and secrets.  V’s deft handling of dough mesmerizes.

About to be cooked.Finished and served with an Island Sauce from Trader’s. “Hey, can I have the half bitten one?”  I must have eaten at least four of these between the communal platter and ‘taste and doneness evaluations’ by the stove.More tomorrow on what has proven to be an eye opener for this mom.

Y2 – Day 84 – Tranquil Jonquils Two

We are in charge of our own universe.  We are residents in our minds.  We invite others into our mind but we LIVE there.  We are responsible for our own thoughts.

Think about not what is IN the universe but what IS the universe?  There are planets and solar systems and clouds IN the universe.  The universe IS spaciousness, with no limits and no time.  It is a state of mind.  When we remember, we re-member and unify again.  This universal space also represents potential.  Empty the space through forgiveness and you have new potential, a blank canvas.  There is no more space to paint on a painted picture.  I am the empty canvas when I am freed of all grievances.

Everything is connected.

“We have not realized what damage we are doing to our own minds by holding grievances. This is why the Course teaches that forgiveness is not something we do for the sake of others; we do it for our own well-being.” – The Circle of Atonement describing The Course in MiraclesBacked up by rocks and sprouting strongly upward amid fallen dead pine needles these daffodils/jonquils smile fiercely and boldly knowing their time is short but well worth the effort.

   With gratitude and awe, I take snippets of nature into my camera lens and click.

Y2 – Day 83 – Tranquil Jonquil

Teach only love for that is what you are.

Whatever you extend or project – you believe.  When you extend love you will find unity and peace.  When you project your ego you will hurl away thoughts of guilt and falsehoods.

This is the key to healing the thoughts of separation and fear from our minds.

Don’t let your peace be contingent on another’s behavior. But you must also be willing to give up your perceptions and ask, “Is it possible that this thought in my head is incorrect?”  Be willing to see differently.  Be willing to give up your judgments so you can remove the blocks to love.  It is a choice.

This is what I contemplated on when I meditated on my budding exotic scented daffodil blossom.  Its flexible, feathery, silk, deep saffron center and light buttermilk petals were a labor of love coded into its bulbous DNA.  Spring bursts with the fruits of past endeavors in our garden like when we act ‘as if’ to feel differently.  Love is first an action that consequently, brings up an emotion.  

Y2 – Day 82 – Sunday Dinner

After making hubby (poor baby has a cold) homemade meatballs in Italian tomato sauce yesterday for a duo of mozzarella covered heroes, I used the leftover sauce and meatballs, serving it over spaghetti with garlic bread as a side.  I decided I would love a quick Sunday  Italian feast as well and proceeded to make it vegan.

At Trader Jo’s I bought Organic Polenta sold in a round, sausage like tube.  Always buy corn or corn products organic because this starch is highly gmo’d and sprayed.  Everything but the bread was organic.  Try to purchase your tomato products in glass or vacuum packed cartons.  The cans leach BPA chemicals unless you purchase cans free of this purposely so check your label.

For this one person meal you will need:

non-stick pan or foil

200 grams or 7 ounces of Polenta Tube cut into 1/4″ rounds.  Approximately 6-7 circles

olive oil spray

garlic powder

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 cup veggie broth

2 tsp. dried oregano

2 Tbsp. tomato paste

salt and sugar to taste

1-2 Tbsp. vegan parmesan (use 1/2 cup nutritional yeast plus 2 Tbsp. raw walnuts and whir in a blender or bullet)

For Salad:

one bag of Romaine lettuce

2 Tbsp. Bitchin Sauce found at Mother’s Market or online

5 tsps. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 500 and spray olive oil onto pan or foil.  Place thin rounds of polenta on pan and spray tops lightly then dust (just barely) with garlic powder.  Place in oven and bake for 5 –  10 minutes, then turn over and bake another 5- 10 minutes.  Ovens vary so much and have such idiosyncrasic personalities that they are all different and you have to know yours well so timing is crucial according to yours.  Don’t always go by a recipe. Check and then re-check.

Meanwhile, heat a bottom heavy or non-stick saucepan with broth over medium heat and add onions.  Stir and cover till onions are translucent.  Using the red onions gives the sauce a sweeter flavor but you can always substitute regular brown or yellow onions as long as you keep it organic.  Add paste, sauce, oregano and salt (or veggie Better Than Boullion paste).  Stir and lower heat to a simmer.  Taste for sugar content and add 1/4 tsp to as much as 2 tsps. according to the acid index of your tomatoes and savoriness acquired by cooking down the sauce – it must taste balanced to you.

For salad:

Place Romaine or any lettuce of choice in a medium bowl.  Whisk Bitchin Sauce with lemon juice and toss to coat.  It will taste like a Caesar Salad.

Remove rounds (they should be crispy on the outside or just about) from oven and place on plate in a decorative manner.  Spoon sauce over rounds and sprinkle vegan parm over sauce.  Serve with salad and a heated up roll.Happy Sunday!

 

Y2 – Day 81 – Poisonous Plants for Pets

At the vet today for an ear check up, I noticed a colorful display for potential dangers in the garden for my pet pooch.  I did some further research and was astounded by the list of plants I own that could be hazardous to both felines and canines.

Obviously, if you use chemicals or synthetic fertilizers, follow directions or stop using them.  We have ant control here and spider/ant control up in the mountains.  Our pest control here is toxic but dries within an hour and is then safe, especially after three days.  Up in the mountains, our inside and outside are sprayed with organic, safe combinations of essential oils.  I think I am going to have to insist on non-toxic from our local company and call them this week.  It has never been an issue before because our cats are indoor only but as I veganize plus fall deeper in love with Cindi, I become more and more protective, educated and alert.

Other scary vegetation besides above picture:  Aloe Vera (all over my backyard- gel is great for burns though), Amaryllis, Ferns, Baby’s Breath, Bird of Paradise, Boxwood, Ivy, ALL Lilies, anything from the onion/Allium family including Society Garlic and Chives, Mums, Daffodils, Delphinium, Dracaena, Elephant Ear, Eucalyptus, Ficus, Foxglove, Geranium, Gladioli, Holly, Hydrangea, Iris, Lantana, Larkspur, Lupine (a California native), Marigold, Morning Glory, Mountain Laurel, Narcissus, Poinsettia, Poison Oak of course, Pencil Cactus, Poppies (more natives), Primrose, Snowdrops, Sweet Peas, tomato (any nightshade leaf), Wisteria and Yucca plants.  Basically, anything irritating to us like certain saps, it seems all bulbs (so don’t let Spot dig and chew up), and the litany of Ivies, Ferns and Alliums (onion type).  Check out the Pet Poison Hotline if you have a concern about a particular plant.

So then, I got interested in food of course:  Don’t give your pet – Avocados, obviously no alcohol or caffeine, apricots, bread dough (really?), cherries, chocolate (the darker, the worse), garlic, grapes (and by default – raisins), hops (not even near beer), nuts, mushrooms, moldy food like blue cheese, onions and Allium family, salt, star fruit and xylotil  (sugar substitute).

I hope this helps anyone out there wondering why their companion animal is barfing or acting lethargic.  Do not rule out a seemingly innocent answer to your mystery.  And it’s possible, just rubbing past some of these plants can be an irritation or give an allergic reaction.

Something else I learned today:  When I asked how to introduce Cindi to her human siblings ( they are all in the Bay Area right now), I was told to not yell and scream and be all excited with her by my side.  Instead, I am to leave her in the car, watching (we are driving up in a few days) while we greet each other.  Then, to let her out and invite her to approach everyone else (four new personalities) on the floor at her level, within her own time, going slow with introductions.  That is a lot of excitement for her, after a long, all day road trip!  I am going to sweeten the deal and be a little sneaky (creative) by giving all three of my kids and my son’s girlfriend – doggie treats too.  If you want your pet to have treats though, you must decrease their food ration and they should not be used instead of their food (just saying).  After all, treats are like dessert or snacks and should be used for your pet accordingly.  You know how it feels when we overindulge – lol!!

Y2 – Day 80 – Embrace Me

I like me and embrace me today with all my character and physical flaws.  I work on improving both and then let it go.

For too long, people walk through self-doubt and listen to people willing to support that self-doubt.

As a woman approaching her mid-fifties, I am finally realizing I can resurrect the true me without shame, guilt or a false sense of responsibility.

Be who you are and say what you feel

Because those who mind don’t matter

And those who matter don’t mind.

Dr. Seuss

Mean what you say, say what you mean and don’t say it meanly. Don’t use ‘honesty’  or the ‘truth’ to get your way, gouge someone’s heart out or to manipulate.  If growing up, you observed that other’s approval or happiness was more important than your own, then know – this well can never be filled by an outside source.  It’s an inside job.

Role models for rigorous, emotional honesty are not always exemplary or even existent.  Information is used as power and withheld to make you feel less than or not important.

I am inherently honest, I don’t have a devious bone in my body and I am not a cynic.  I crave truth and authenticity, in myself and others.  I trust me.  I embrace me.  It is my problem if I am not in acceptance of a person, place or situation.  I get to be who I am.  Go out there today and be who you are and just keep your side of the street clean.  Let’s rock!

 

2 – Day 79 – March Flower Madness

My husband is the best, most adorable, generous, thoughtful and loving, smart man ever!  Did I mention handsome and witty funny?  How about wonderful father and selfless provider?

Every month, he sends me bouquets from Calyx Flowers for several years now.  Every month I am showered with luxury arrangements, plants and now wreaths too.  My man must ascribe to the saying  “Happy wife, happy life.” because he is forever making me smile and glow.  Thank You!!

 Yellow and Orange Zinnias on a twig base with apple green avena, nigella pods and sorghum grass.In a colorful burst: Scented pink stock, Salal leafed stems, Blue Telstar Iris, red Mikado spray roses, yellow Skyline roses and pink Hot Lady roses.  

My walls and my spaces are brimming with festive, multi hued personality.  Cheers!

Y2 – Day 78 – 12 Symptoms of Spiritual Awakening

On March 12, I felt it was good to review a list of 12 ways to recognize if you are on a spiritual path that I found on the internet called The 12 Symptoms of Spiritual Awakening: 

  1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
  2. Frequent attacks of smiling.
  3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.
  4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
  5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience.
  6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
  7. A loss of ability to worry.
  8. A loss of interest in conflict.
  9. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
  10. A loss of interest in judging others.
  11. A loss of interest in judging self.
  12. Gaining the ability to love without expecting anything in return.

I seem to have much to work on but this is a great measuring stick of my spiritual fitness.  Some of these traits are seldom in my repertoire of behavior or thought system and some are second nature now.  It is progress.  I need to remember it is a process.

What can you relate to and/or need to work on?