Puree

I love pesto with a passion! Since it is summer time, I needed a change to freshen up my usual recipe. I was reading a magazine called Whole Living Body + Soul and found a perfect alternate. The recipe is called "Mint & Parsley Pesto." Nothing says a little lighter summer fare than mint. Here is a little minty fact, according to Greek mythology, mint symbolizes hospitality. Mint has also been used for years to help in digestion, soothe your skin, and sweeten your tiger breath. I enjoy it in my tea and of course Mojitos. Feel free to explore this enchanting herb and freshen up some of your go to recipes. Appetizers, chicken, seafood, pasta, and bread the possiblites are endless.

Mint and Parsley Pesto

1c. fresh mint leaves
1/2 c. fresh parsley leaves
1 garlic clove
2 Tbsp. toasted pine nuts
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp. Salt and pepper to taste

Pulse the first 5 ingredients in your food processor until coarsley chopped. Then with machine running again, add oil in a steady stream. Season with salt and pepper.

Restore

Speaking from my own recent hurtles, stress can be an overwhelming battle to fight. It can come from your job, family, and significant other. Being the kind of person who likes to focus on others needs versus my own, the stress bat has whomped me good. Trying to find the perfect balance in life should be one of the top goals we need to achieve. Luckily there are many outlets one can choose to help in the release and the calmness to be returned. A yoga breathing technique called Nadi Shodhana, which means "alternate-nostril breathing," is said to clear the head and calm the mind. Gently closing off your right nostril with your right thumb, inhale slowly through your the left one. Then close the left nostril with your right ring finger and little fingers and exhale out the right. Now inhale through the right, exhale left; repeat five times on each side. In doing this process it really has helped me to relax when I am feeling I have met my limit in stress or anger. Realize you are not alone, stress is swarming us in everything we do. Once you learn how to stay afloat, you won't find yourself wanting to sink when issues arrise.

Impulse purchase

Upon my latest pilgrimage to the local grocery store, I always find it interesting the miscellaneous items you are surrounded by while checking out. You are in a drowning sea of candy, razors, lighters, snuggies, tooth paste, beef jerky, and the newspapers that claim Jesus was an alien. You laugh and scorn at who in their right mind would purchase these unloved items..... Last night standing in the never ending line of other angry hungry shoppers, I ended up with a couple. Can't you hear the music, "Dun Dun Dun!!!!" Gasp, how could she? Alas I fell victim to the terror of the impulse purchase. Advert your eyes children, it wasn't a pretty site to behold. My basket of very few items became overwhelmed with chap stick, magazine of twenty minute suppers, Chile chips, miniature hand sanitizer, and gum that claimed to give five hours of fresh breath. Arriving at my casa, I felt the grief of stupidity upon my shoulders to why the heck I needed these items so badly. My belief is that they under staff the employees so hideous lines accrue. People are made to look at the impulse items long enough so they are tempted to buy unnecessary crap. Coporate America wins again saying Buy Buy Buy!!!! You know you don't need it, but for some reason you want it!

Vinaigrettes - Make it yourself

Venturing outside the box in my own kitchen, I have been a recent fanatic of being a doing it yourself gal. Going to the grocery store to buy endless bottles of vinaigrette's for salads and marinades has become ridiculous. When you take into consideration that the ingredients when purchased individually are inexpensive, it seems outrageous to fork over the funds. Finding ways to create interesting concoctions makes cooking an exciting discovery process. The flavors taste just as delicious, especially without all the extra junk they throw into it. You can find enormous amounts of recipes on the Internet or even better, become your own food scientist and discover ones on your own. One I have found and I have used is a recipe from allrecipes.com called "Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette."


Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard
1 tablespoon lime juice
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 pinch white sugar (optional)
1/2 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Blend the red wine vinegar, honey, mustard, lime juice, pepper, salt, paprika, garlic, onion, oregano, and sugar together in a blender until thoroughly mixed. Drizzle the olive oil into the mixture while blending on low. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

Love, Crazy Love

Happy Valentine's Day 2010....

After many years with the love of my life, I am still just as madly in love with him as the first day he asked to kiss me for the first time.....

Herbologist

I have a fascination with the healing power of herbs and tea. There is many solutions to living a healthy life and healing outside the box. The botanical kingdom offers an enormous and exciting range of healing powers as well as breathtaking beauty. Ever since the dawn of the ancient cultures, herbs have played an important role in healing. Just think, before there was prescription medicine what did the human race do??? They did not run out to Walgreens and pick up an RX. Herbal remedies is something I love to put into practice in my daily routine. I am not a big fan of taking medicine at all. I would rather research and try natural methods. Many of my life's woes have been taken care by a simple cup of tea. I encourage you all to think and explore out side the box. You might be wonderfully surprised on the techniques discovered for living a healthy life.

Hair here today or tomorrow

For years I have been trying to grow out my hair to see how it would appeal to me. The thought of being able to create styles with my hair is kind of exciting. I have always wanted to be able to grow it long enough to experiment with vintage styles. The problem is that I do not have the best patience skills and I am easily frustrated. I start out with the best intentions, but I get tired of messing with it and end up cutting it all off. Right now it is at the akward phase where it isn't easy to style. The growth process from being very short to just almost cheek length. I feel like throwing the towl in, but my goal is to see what it looks like or what I can do with it by the end of March. My hair is super thin and as it is growing it looks flat and boring. Different products to make it look big and sexy is turning out to look greasy and homless. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Here are some other vintage styles I have been loving.

My heart and prayers go out to the people of Haiti. I pray that the United States can lend as many hands possible to help in the aid of those people in need! The results of what has happened to that country is devastating. It makes you take the time to think and be thankful for everything we have in our country that we so often take advantage of. I hear people complain over idiotic small issues that occur, when their are people who go without major necessities. I cannot picture what it would be like to not have food, water, medical care, shelter, and a free country. Pray for the people of Haiti and if you can donate anything to the aid of those people, please get in contact with the proper organizations. It's in our hands!

New Year 2010

Happy belated New Year 2010! Wow I cannot believe that 2009 has come and gone in a flash. So many memories of events and occasions spent with family and friends. I am praying that this new year will bring forth more opportunities to explore the city of San Antonio. My vision for the new year is to be more involved in activities through health, food, and art. I would like to have more time to delve into many different art forms and create many possibilities. I need to shake off my rusty art creating hands and get to work. Lots of things I have been putting aside painting, ceramics, small space interior design, and dance. Ooh what a long list of projects I am aiming to fulfill, we will see how 2010 blesses me in my attempts.