Hello Lovers! 

Today is Monday. (I hate Monday!)  It's also Reveal Day.  (I love Reveal Day!).    Getting out of bed this morning was no easy task and I definately have a case of the Monday blues.  However, I am feeling notably more chipper than I have the last two weeks, and the dense fog of misery  and self pity I found myself in has slowly started to clear.  Over the weekend, I gained some new perspective and this morning I discovered that the 5 day weather forecast looks fabulous.  Things are off to a great start!

          

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My assigned blog for this month was Jane's Adventures in Dinner.  Upon receiving the assignment I browsed the site,  bookmarking recipes as I went along.  I generally try to make my assignment recipe at least a week before the posting date just in case I screw it up as this allows me the time to try again and/or select a different recipe.  Unfortunately that wasn't the case this time around and it wasn't until this past weekend that I selected, made and typed up my recipe.  It's safe to say that March didn't get off to a good start for me: the passing of my cat Lucy, fuckery from the narcissist ex, and feelings of general discontent (which I had been unsuccessfully ignoring for weeks) had me twisted and before I knew it, St. Patrick's Day was here, which ment reveal day was a mere two days away and I had work Saturday night, which ultimately left me with even less time. Feeling anxious, I grabbed my tablet and started re-browsing Jane's Adventures:  Pumpkin Pizza, Stuffed Cabbage, Tortilla Lasagna, Banana Rum Brulee....  As you can see I had an awesome selection to choose from.  Since I was short on time, I decided to base my recipe selection on the ingredients I had on hand.  I trotted downstairs to the kitchen and scanned the fridge and pantry.  Of course, I had the bare minimum in the house to work with which came as no surprise here considering the way things have been going, but then, in a sudden twist of luck (and just as I started to panic), I stumbled upon Jane's Irish Soda Bread post. Woo hoo, crisis diverted!  In addition to having everything I needed on hand, it was St Patrick's Day!  This couldn't have worked out any more perfect.

I've never made Irish Soda Bread, but I have eaten it before.  Every year my neighbor makes some and sends it over.   Its the only Irish Soda Bread I ever actually enjoyed, but due to the whole vegan thing, I haven't eaten any in years.   My lack of experience in the Irish Soda Bread area results in me having no recollection of its texture or taste, truth be told the first that comes to mind when I think of Irish Soda Bread is that it has raisins in it.  The second thing that comes to mind is green sugar sprinkles. My neighbor used some on hers. I liked that part best.  *chuckles*

Note:  I adapted Jane's recipe to make the bread vegan and gluten free.  I thought it came out delicious and I ate a considerable amount of it in one sitting *blushes*   I have no idea how close the taste is to traditional Irish Soda Bread and while the texture is slightly crumbly, I consider this recipe a keeper!  

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Irish Soda Bread
Adapted from: Jane's Adventures in Dinner

2 cups gluten free flour *
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking flour
2 tsp guar gum
5 Tbs Earth Balance Shortening, cut small
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk + 1/2 tsp lemon juice
2 eggs worth Ener-G Foods Egg Replacer
2 Tbs Brown Rice Syrup
1 cup currants

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.  Set aside.   In a shot glass prepare the egg replacer and in a measuring cup combine coconut milk with the lemon juice. Set those aside. 

Preheat oven to 350F and prepare your baking pan (parchment line a baking sheet or grease and flour a cake pan). Set pan aside.

Cut shortening into the dry ingredients (I used my fingers to do this), until flour resembles a coarse meal.  Make a little well in the middle and add wet ingredients.  Mix until the dough just comes together, then gently stir in currants.   Scoop dough onto prepared sheet and with wet hands (to prevent sticking), shape into a loaf.  Then, using a serated knife, cut an X into the top of the dough.  Place pan into the oven and bake at 350F until golden and hollow sounding when you tape it, which was approximately 35 minutes in my oven.  When baking is complete, remove pan from oven and allow to cool before transpiring. 

Enjoy with ample butter and green sugar sprinkles!

_Thank you, Jane for the fantastic recipe,  and to the Secret Recipe Club for the much need fun in my otherwise lackluster month thus far.  Hope you all had a lovely weekend and positive vibes for a fantastic week ahead.

Hello, loves!

I cannot believe we are half way through March already.  Seriously, where is the time going?!  The last two weeks have been rough to say the least.  My beloved cat, Lucy, passed away and Ive been in a fog since March 4, which is when I found her in the closet.  She was an old gal and had been showing her age on and off over the last few months.  Marley, who is one year older than Lucy, has taken the loss especially hard and any free time I have had over the last two weeks have been spent with him and the rest of the herd.  In hindsight it was as if she knew it was time to say good bye, and she spent all Friday night into Saturday morning curled up in bed with me and Marley.  It was just like old times and I recall thinking aloud that us three hadn't had a snuggle party in a long long time.  Lucy and Marley were close but when it came to humans, Lucy although generally agreeable to anyone willing to give her attention and  food, was partial to hanging out with my mom.  That said,   when I returned from the shelter and my mom said she hadn't seen Lucy in two days, a horrible sense of dread washed over me.  As I searched around the house I reasoned that I had just seen her, as she spent the previous night with me.  I'm not exactly sure what time I feel asleep but Sunday I popped up early and immediately headed to the market for a can of cat food.  Lucy loved her cans of foo and always came running when once was opened.  This fascinated me and I often pondered how the hell she heard  it being opened.  I popped the top and patiently waited but this time she didn't come.  I went to the basement where my mom was doing laundry and told her I suspected the worst.  An hour later, my suspicions  were confirmed, and I retreated to my room to cry my eyes out and make the necessary calls.   I decided to have her cremated but Sunday was an off day and arranging a special pick up would have cost an arm and a leg, but I was not waiting until Monday to bring her to the crematory.  Fortunately I was able to bring her to the local animal hospital and they took care of the rest.  I got her back the following Saturday and the urn I bought online came this past Wednesday.   Both Marley and the Little One had intense reactions both when I returned with Lucy's ashes and then again when I put her in the urn. Amazing to say the least and I am happy to report that Marley is slowly returning to his usual sunny self and the Little One is up to her usual antics.

On a sour note, as if the events above weren't enough, a certain someone felt the need to kick me while I was down.  Sunday night I received a call from him.  Upon hearing his voice, tears flowed from my eyes and I shared the sad news.  Two hours later, I heard my front door open.  The ex had come to console me.  Most would say this was to be expected, as a few months into knowing him he lost his beloved cat, but several would shake their heads in disapproval while pointing out how I walked right into the chain of events that transpired from there.  Less than 24 hours after arriving at my house, he suggested I keep his cat, as he wasn't in a position to care for her, and if I didn't he would be dropping her off at a shelter.  REALLY GUY?!  REALLY?!   Don't get me wrong, I adore his cat and I 100% agreed that he was in no way shape or form in a position to care for her, but ARE YOU F@$%ING KIDDING ME?!  Needless to say words were exchanged but the fuckery didn't hit it's high note until later in the week, which is when he deemed me an awful person and felt it best to never speak to me again.  Yeah, you read that right.  Fast forward a few days after that when he texts that he has the money he owes me, and when I ask how he wants to work giving it to (ie: dropping it off at my house or us meeting up somewhere) he proceeds to say that he isn't really sure when he can do that he hasn't found a new place to live yet.  WTF?!  SERIOUSLY???!!??  THEN WHY BRING IT UP??!!??  As I sit here and reflect what eats at me most is the fact that out of all people I thought he would understand my loss most considering the traumatic loss of his cat left him broken and unable to function.  His inability to show true, ongoing empathy disturbs me, and I must continuously remind myself that all this is his malfunction and not mind.  It nonetheless stings.

I feel the need to sit with my woes a little longer, but then it's time to pick up the pieces and start putting myself back together.  Positive vibes to all for a fantastic weekend ahead.  Until next time, I'm off like a prom dress!

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Feeding Your Root Chakra
Grounding

• Root vegetables: carrots, potatoes, parsnips, radishes, beets, onions, garlic, etc.
• Protein-rich foods: eggs, meats, beans, tofu, soy products, peanut butter
• Spices: horseradish, hot paprika, chives, cayenne, pepper

Sunday.

I wrapped up yesterday's post fixin' to stay on the sunny side of life.  Granted I was high on pie, but there 's nonetheless truth to the idea that how one copes in times of crisi s and with life's little disasters is heavily influenced by one's own thoughts and perception.  I ventured out to conquer the day a whistling dixie and things got off to a fantastic start.  The highlight (of course) was my evening with the meow meows at Last Hope Animal Shelter.  There were alot of new faces this week which is bitter sweet as on one hand it means there were adoptions but on the other it means homeless unwanted, abandoned or abused kitties. 

The little one sandwiched in the bed gave me a good chuckle and the two in the last picture (Onyx and Omar) are absolutely stunning.  II seriously couldnt take my eyes off them.  Black cats are weakness of mine but there are a few non-black cats at the shelter that are near and dear to my heart.  I can't imagine ever abandoning a pet nor could I never not help a kitty in need.  It's safe tp say I get just as much out of my time there as they do!

Let's take a closer look ~

Gorgeous!! 

Three hours of cuddles and purrrrs with these fuzz balls and exactly the heart warming cheer I needed to leave my week's woes behind!  Unfortunately said woe's didnt feel the same as this morning disaster once again struck me down and the resulting aftermath was a crippling sense of dispair and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty.  My own herd must have sensed my misery because they quickly gathered around as I sat and reflected upon the last seven days of unrelentling fuckery. 

The verdict?   The only place I can go fom here is up and I said this because today was the final nail in the coffin for me.  The last straw.  My rock bottom.  I've offically reached quota in terms of dealing with fuckery and bullshit and there was no doubt in my mind that something good was to happen.....     

And as I slowly but surely took the time to dust myself off and put me back together, sure enough - like magic - somethng happened :-)

Saturday.

To say I didnt have a great week would be an understatement.  Between work, a very unnecessary and even more unappreciated ride on someone else's crazy train, and now the snow I am on my wiitts end.  Witts end on a Saturday....     

A wise man once said to me that I can see the glass half full or I can see it half empty.   The genuis of this that is shows you have a choice, which fulfills the human need for a sense of control.  Whether or not you really are in control isnt relevant and if you think about past situations and experiences, don't ya notice that they are always a easier to handle when you feel as though you have the option of taking the reigns and navigating the course instead of buckling up and bracing for impact.   

Being a woman of action, I decided to take the reigns and navigate my way out of the fuckery... with pie .... cause if you think about past situations and experiences, don't ya notice that they are always a little easier to handle when you have pie on hand *chuckles*   Added bonus is having someone sexy to share your pie with...  Ooh La La!

Today I am attending a meditation class in NYC.  It starts at 11am, so I am in a bit of a rush (ha!).  I hit the gym bright and early this morning for 45 minutes of cardio (woot, woot!) and after a quick shower, I hit the kitchen to whip up an oat pancake (formerly called a scramble).  It's been a while since I indulged in one for breakfast and it totally hit the spot. 

1/2 medium banana
4 Tbs Gluten Free Oats
1 Tbs Chia Seeds
2 Tbs Chocolate PB2 (I'm out of sunflower seed butter - waaaaaah!)
4 Tbs Coocnut Milk
Several Twists Trader Joes Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Blend, optional
Splash of Pure Vanilla Extract, optional

Mash banana in a bowl and add remainer ingredients, stirring to combine. Let rest while you heat a generously sprayed (or oiled pan) over medium heat.  Once pan is heated, plop mixture into the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown.  Flip and cook other side another 3 to 5 minutes or until golden.  Enjoy as is or with toppings of choice, such as maple syrup. 

Last night before bed, I made stuffed cabbage (in the crock pot!) which I am fixin' to have for lunch (or dinner - depends what time I get in).  I cant imagine it photographing pretty but I will try so that I can post a picture later this weekend.  My fitness goal for today is 12,000 steps and thus far I logged 7,000 steps on my Fitbit   :-)   Aside from that I have decided to fly by the seat of my pants instead of planning out the weekend.  I am off on Monday (Thank you, Dr. King!) and hoping to cook up some deliciousness between now and then, which means I'll be back with a post soon enough!

Positive vibes to all for a fantastic weekend ahead.  Until next time, I'm off like a prom dress!

Refocus on Food & Fitness Day 3
(and back to work after the New Year Day 1 - Meh!)

Yesterday my head felt clear and my spirits soared, while today I woke up feeling groggy and so not in the mood to tackle the day ahead.  Go figure.  Fortunately it subsided and by noon I was back to feeling like my usual sunny self.  However, that too subsided after a kitten fight with Darin.  Adding insult to injury was the text I received from the Narcissist, who by the way STILL owes me money, about an hour or so after.  My ruffled feathers didnt straighten until approximately 4:30pm, which also happened to be when I bounced out of my office and headed straight for the gym.  With my fitbit indicating a mere 2372 steps for the day thus far I was ready to work it out like no other.... and thats exactly what I did!   I left the gym nearing my goal of 10,000 (woot woot!) and feeling the best I'd felt all day.  By the time I arrived home, I was famished.  I hit the kitchen and promptly made a hearty dinner.  Mmmmmmm, so good!!

Hope you all had a great monday and positive vibes for a fantastic week ahead!  I have a standard week lined up, + a hair appointment on friday and a meditation saturday morning in NYC that I am really looking forward to.  I'm hoping to post again mid-week and then again after the weekend.  Until then, I'm off like a prom dress!

1 small granny smith apple, peeled and shredded
1 Tbs Coconut Nectar
1 cup Coconut Milk (So Delicious, Sugar Free preferred)
1 Tbs Chia Seeds
1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Gluten Free Rolled Oats
2 Tbs Currants, soaked overnight
Apple Pie Spice, to taste

Peel and then shred the apple, placing apple shreds in a small container.  Add coconut nectar (or sweetner of choice) and pie spice (to taste).  Add oats, chia seeds, coconut milk, and stir.  Cover and place in fridge overnight.  Prior to eating in the morning, stir in currants and a splash of coconut milk (or water).  Stir and enjoy!

Cranberry Beans in the Slow Cooker

1 1/2 cup cranberry beans, soaked overnight
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic, paste
Water, as needed to almost cover beans in crock

In a 2 quart slow cooker, combine all ingredients and stir to combine.  Cook on high 4 hours and reduce to low until beans are tender.  Once cooked, scoop bean mixture out of the crock with a slotted spoon. 


For the Salad

1 Hearts Romaine, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 chunk red onion, chopped
1 handful grape tomatoes, sliced
1/4 cucumber. chopped
1 Tbs green olives w/ jalapeno's, chopped
1/4 cup Daiya Cheddar Shreds

Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl and heat up cranberry beans.  Once beans are heated, mix into the salad and top with salsa if desired.  Enjoy!  

1 medium zucchini
2 heaping Tbs breadcrumbs
2 heaping Tbs nutritional yeast
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp basil
1/2 recipe tempeh not meat (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 400F.  Spray a small baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Slice ends off zucchini.  Cut zucchini down the middle lengthwise.  Use a small spoon to remove zucchini seeds and pulp and hollow out zucchini leaving a well to place the filling in.   

In a small bowl combine breadcrumbs and nutritional yeast.  Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange zucchini boats in the baking dish.  Spoon half of the nutritional yeast/breadcrumb mix into the zucchini, then fill with tempeh (not meat) sauce.  Sprinkle with remaining nutritional yeats/breadcrumb mixture.  Bake at 400F for 30 minutes or until zucchini is tender and breadcrumb mixture is lightly browned. 

Tempeh (Not Meat) Sauce:

1 package diced tempeh (I used Garden Veggie)
1 bell pepper, diced  
1 large chunk red onion, diced
1 tsp garlic, minced
2 Tbs Italian Seasoning Blend
1 22oz can crushed tomatoes with basil
Salt and pepper

Generously spray a small pan and heat over medium heat.  Cook diced tempeh until it starts to brown.  Add garlic, onion, and bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning blend, and salt and pepper (to taste). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 20 minutes.