Its always something!

Poor Nathaniel!

Had a steel door go OVER his foot at school on Monday.  It went over his shoe and two pair of socks (Thaniel says his feet are always cold :) and still managed to take part of the nail and a bit of the toe.  Luckily it wasn't broken but his poor big toe is a puple and black mangled mess!

Today was the first day I sent him back to school.  He went in a pair of my slippers cause we still cant get a shoe on that foot - poor kid!

Long haired freaky people

sorry this last one is so out of focus :(

Crockpot Indian Inspired Chickpea, Potato & Lentil Ragout

This smells SO good - I cant wait for it to be done!

I haven't tried this one before but it's a variation of a recipe I saw on the Weight Watchers page.  If it tastes as good as it smells it will be a winner!  I also loved that I had all this on-hand! This would be great with Naan - but since I dont feel like running to the store I will probably serve this with Couscous.

 Crockpot Indian Inspired Chickpea, Potato & Lentil Ragout:
1 med onion chopped
2 med potatoes diced
1/2 cup lentils
2 garlic cloves finely diced
1-2 teas fresh ginger shredded or half teas dry
1 small can diced jalapeños (with the juice)
1 14oz can Chickpeas drained
1/2 teas Garam Masala
1 teas Cumin
1 14oz can diced tomates (with the juice)
Salt

Mix all in Crockpot and stir until ingredients are just mixed.  Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hrs or on low for 7-8. 
Salt to taste in the final hour.

Couscous
1 cup whole wheat couscous (I get mine at Trader Joes)
1 cup veggie broth (or coconut water would be yummy too)
2 teas olive oil
salt and pepper (optional)

Boil broth, turn off heat and stir in couscous.  Cover.  Let sit for 5 mins.  Add olive oil and fluff with a fork.

something super YUMMY

is on my stove right now.  It was EASY but TIME CONSUMING - so dont try it unless you are having a lazy day at home with lots of time to fiddle around.


red beans, rice and sausage Risotto:

2 cups (dry uncooked white rice - I used jasmine)
1 teas veg. oil
2 teas butter
11/2 cups chicken broth
1 sweet onion chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
1 yellow bell pepper diced
1 can tomatoes diced in juice
1/3 cup white wine (any kind)
11/2 cups water (as needed)
1/3 cup tomato juice
salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste
1 teas Italian seasoning
chicken sausage (I used low-fat & spicy)
2 cans kidney beans drained

melt butter in oil in a large pan and add rice.  stir to coat. add onion garlic and bell pepper.  cont stiring til onion is translucent (this step is important or you will have crunchy onions :( ).  add broth, wine and water a little at a time, and stir until rice begins to swell and soften.  add tomatoes, beans, sasauge, tomato juice & spices.  redux to low and continue to stir occasionally until rice is soft and no liquid remains (about an hour).

YUM!

In the Crockpot - Mondays

Mondays are usually a crockpot day for me.  Its just after the weekend, I haven't done my shopping for the week and it tends to be a freezer and pantry kind of meal.  Today's meal is inspired by a picture of an Indian recipe I saw while on the internet this morning.

I did not follow the recipe (having only a handful of the ingredients and also as it was a stove-top kind of thing) but the three basic ingredients were the same: Chicken, Chickpeas and Cauliflower.

Heres what I did:

8 chicken tenders  (four full chicken breasts would also work fine)
2 cans (drained) chickpeas
1 (1lb) bag frozen cauliflower (fresh would also be lovely)
1/2 a very large sweet onion, chopped

1 teas yellow curry powder
2 teas Red curry powder
1/2 teas ginger
1/2 teas corriander
1 teas cumin
1/2 teas garam masala
(I love Indian spices and had these all to hand - use what you like)

1 cup Fat-free half and half
1/2 teas coconut extract
(If I had had a can of lite coconut milk - I would have used that instead )

I will cook this on low all day (about 8-10hrs) and then will add salt and/or sugar to taste depending on how the spices develop.  I plan to serve it over Jasmine Rice which I will cook in my rice cooker using Coconut Water.

Smells AMAZING already :)  Happy Monday!

Catching up!

So many things have gone by since my last post.  But I am determined to pick up my blogging again! 

May:  Nathaniel turned 11!  I can hardly believe how time flies!  After his serious illness last year Nathaniel returned to school to repeat the fourth grade and made it through with flying colors! Now, no longer the smallest and youngest in his class he has made more friends and turned into a bit of a mr. cool.  (just ask the girls in his class :)

June:  Both kids finished up school and I had a successful audition for the Oregon Children's theater.  Always rewarding to get a call back for a big professional company!!!! Unfortunately, I was out of town for the call back weekend - but I will continue to put myself out there! 

July and August: somewhat on a spur of the moment the kids and I decided to take the whole summer for a Cross Canada road trip.  Hannah kept a blog up about it - you can catch up here:  tonersontheroad.blogspot.com

Sept.  The kids are back in school - Hannah is in grade Eight and Thaniel is in the Fifth Grade.  Its crazy for me to believe that they have grown so much and so quickly!

Eric is back at work and I am back to theater and Crazy busy!  More on all my current and upcoming projects soon!  For now - enjoy a picture from our summer adventure!

I am here I am here I am here!

Its been forever and there is a ton of stuff going on - cant believe I have not visited my blog in so long!

please know I do check in and read about you all and love hearing about your lives :) 

more to come .. .


p.s. bonus points if you can name the Sondheim musical that the title of this blog is from lol