Keeping It Simple II

Rainbow Chards...
Very pretty...  -
Using the formula I do for Rapini, I wash/chop/blanch - then  I swish them around a  frying pan over some Olive Oil with a bit of garlic and Red Pepper flakes, just briefly.
Yesterday I served them over some brown rice, a touch of Tamari, some Chickpeas  and a good sprinkling of black Sesame seeds (just because I like them:) ). With a good soup (Caribbean Coconut with Tomatoes, Red Peppers and Green Cabbage) - it made a great dinner.

Keeping It Simple

It's so much easier at this time of the year.
Just pull out the veggie drawer, grab a few items, toss it over olive oil, some onion and garlic and Voila!
Supper is made!

Tonight:
Onion, Garlic, Eggplant, Red Shepherd Peppers, Plum Tomatoes  - in a bit of Olive Oil with Fresh Rosemary, a pinch of Oregano, Thyme and Marjoram - S&P - served over Barley just to make things a bit different. Very nice.

Market At Its Best

I wish I had taken my camera with me. This is THE perfect season:  tomatoes, peppers, peaches, berries... included gorgeous, plump blackberries...
My first stop each week is at the flower stand. They have the prettiest, freshest cut flowers. And they have Orchids. Beautiful, irresistable Orchids. Orchids tend to like me and reward me with gorgeous, long-lasting blooms. That is why I could not resist this beauty:

I promise a better photo as soon as I get a chance...

When I bought the orchid, the gentleman there enlightened me that it needs monthly feeding plus every other month I must give it a powder that encourages blooming...  He also gave me some:) As if that was not nice enough he gave me a bouquet of gorgeus red roses with a heavenly smell... I can't walk by them without sniffing them:)

I was smiling while I went to visit the lady with the mushrooms:

Yellow Oyster Mushrooms...  so fresh and beautiful:)
apparently, they retain their colour through cooking!

Of course, I picked up some gorgeous tomatoes,

(the zebra is my personal favourite)

I could not believe all the colours eggplants come in.. (the red one is a Turkish eggplant)
or those of the beans.

I am now the proud owner of some Rainbow Chards and some Kale.

A good day, I would say:)

What did I do with all the wonderful produce?
So far, I put together a lovely Roasted Vegetable Salad with Lentils, a bit of Feta cheese over fresh Leaf Lettuce, topped with a  home-made dressing of EVOO, Red Wine Vinegar and Dijon.
Delicious.
I'm going to enjoy the next few months with all the great fresh produce!

Tomato Season

Being aware of the seasons, local produce helps bring the most fresh foods to the table.

I stumbled on an amazing (and simple) recipe:

I made it with just Parmesan cheese (and not a lot of it),  Rice and Amaranth Penne, a lovely green salad 

(Fatoush) and it was enjoyed by young and old:)

I have plans to make it as a topping for sandwiches, pizza (w. home-made pizza dough) and still thinking of other ideas... the taste, the smells are heavenly ...

A Delicious Recipe

Still mindful of our food, still exercising regularly, still doing yoga AND meditation...
still conscious of nature around me:

Today's dinner was one of my favourites:
Black-eyed peas - based on this recipe.
I made double the amount- it freezes well.
Not the best picture:

Stuffed Peppers

... the vegetarian kind.
I came across the recipe on the Veg. Times site and just had to make it. It's good for the freezer which means it's good for me:)
Here is the link.
I ended up with lots of left over stuffing - so I will make some more tomorrow.
Rice works just as well:)

The Challenge

The challenge is to stay with it...
Even when certain aspects are skipped - the awareness remains.  That seems to be true about most of the challenges and it can be both positive and negative.
It's negative when I feel anxiety over the things I missed or did not do up to expectations.
It's positive when it serves as a reminder that I need to work on something a little harder. It's good to keep it in perspective that there will be other days, other opportunities to work on it.

Today, I chose a guided meditation, focused on alternate nostril breathing and ham -sa breathing.
Food-wise : I cooked a huge family dinner with all fresh market produce
Gratitude : it was all there, at the dinner table.
See, I'm still working on it.:)

Continuing

Seeing that I have not posted for a few days:

A very pleasant summer "recipe"
Beans and Grains Salad

Cook 1 cup Rice, Barley or Quinoa -  (or a mix of all 3). Put in a large bowl

Chop whatever salad veggies you have on hand:
cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, green or red onions, peppers, radishes - anything goes.

Add either cooked or roasted corn (amount is up to you).
Add 1 can or about 2 cups of cooked Black beans (or kidney beans, or other beans that you have).

Add extras like chopped Sundried Tomatoes, Pumpkin Seeds, a little bit of cheese cut into tiny bits.

Mix a dressing of  1 part Extra Virgin Olive Oil and 3 parts of Balsamic Vinegar (or other vinegar you enjoy)  - season with Garlic (or garlic powder), S&P - some cilantro or parsley would be nice with it.

Add dressing to your Salad and mix well.
Refrigerate - use within 3 days . (It won't last that long - very tasty and refreshing:) )

Enjoy!

Another Day At The Market

Oh, the perfect time of the year!
An abundance of produce - a treat for the eyes  and all other senses.

I've even learned to deal with fruit flies thanks to  an online friend:
Apple cider vinegar in a cup with a paper cone suspended in the middle, sealed, with no space to escape.
Not too many got caught in it  but somehow it  stopped them from multiplying...

The Challenge Continues

I'm doing the Blissology challenge with a friend-
we both agreed to extend it till the end of August.

On that note:

- Food awareness: I'm cleaning out my fridge- tomorrow it's market day:)
Neatballs is on today's menu with brown rice /quinoa pasta and all the veggies I can gather from the fridge.

- Nature Appreciation:
Rain, rain go away... Well, not really, it's good for our plants. A real gloomy day...

I had a helper today:)

- Gratitude:
The two dogs are getting along... Relief!

- Yoga
Planning on some Yin or Self-directed LOOOONG poses

- Meditation
I'll try 5 minutes on my own.

Nature Appreciation

Another day - another park.
I just discovered this wonderful spot .
The area around the water is most likely subject to floods. The trees, shrubs have this coating of sand on them which creates very interesting and unique colouring... Lots of dead tree trunks, driftwood complete the picture. My only regret was that I had only my point-and-shoot with me which did not allow me to  fully document the beauty of the area. But, I'll be back!
(Lots of Ducks, babies and adults, geese - and even a bunny on our way there:) )