Good vs. Evil

We just finished eating dinner and I announced it got an A+ in my book, which if you saw Nate's astonished face you would know I don't give out very often.  I'm a tough critic to my meals.  However, I also made what I found to be an exceptionally dismal meal the night before, so the sharp contrast could have made my rating slightly higher.  

But really. 

It was good, really good.  

And healthy.  

I pulled together two recipes I've been wanting to try.  A harvest turkey burger from our Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals cookbook and a southwestern black bean salad I saw on Pinterest.  So we had our burgers on whole wheat buns and used our black bean salad as a salsa with some tortilla chips.  The whole meal was tasty, light, and satisfying.  Below are both recipes in case you would like to try them too.  

I've really been mulling over my health choices and also the direct effect it has on Nate.  As I am the one preparing meals 98% of the time now, what I prepare and serve really does impact Nate's health too.  Now, don't get me wrong, I don't feel like I've been slowly killing off my husband over the last year and a half.  Not by a long shot, but on the flip side I have not utilized my powers for exceptional good either.  I have not made decisions that are best for me either when it comes to food and health.

Nate and I realized soon after getting married, we had different concepts of what a meal consisted of as our family of origins were different.  Nate has a genuine sweet tooth and lacks a sense of completeness without a finishing "dessert" of some sort.  He has noticed recently, that "dessert" can be as simple as an Andes Mint to help satisfy his craving.  But it's there.  But I don't have that same need.  I only think if desserts for special occasions.  So he has adapted to having desserts less because I don't have them available with every meal, while I have had adapted to having more desserts than I have ever had before in my life, because I do try to be sensitive to his need and have made an effort to have desserts available more often.  

The problem then is for me, I end up eating desserts because it's there not because I necessarily even want it.

I've really been chewing on some health ideas and have been reading a blog from a nutritionist in TX (http://lindawagner.net/blog), and have found it really inspiring.  Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you I'm not having desserts ever again.  But I have really been convicted that the choices of food and health are mine.  What I put in my body has a direct effect on how I feel.  

After thinking about some of the ideas I was reading, I've decided I want to make a change to my breakfast routine for the rest of this week.  I start tomorrow.  Instead of the normal bowl of cereal and coffee.  I'm trading it in for a smoothie.  This way I'll be starting my day with fruit and greens (incorporated into the smoothie too), which can never be a bad thing.  And I'm going to see how I'm feeling at the end of the week and reassess.  

And, I asked Nate if he would like to join me in my quest for health by participating in a new breakfast routine with me.  And he agreed.  I think it might be because I used the word "quest".  I think men are instantly drawn in by that word and a sense of adventure it brings.  But I know Nate also seeks a healthy lifestyle too as we have both had weight struggles, but have both expressed a deep desire to live healthy lives.  But I'm recognizing my part in helping us make these choices.

See...I can use my powers for good and not evil.




**********

• Rachel Ray's Harvest Turkey Burgers
• 1 lb ground turkey breast
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, stripped and fine chopped
• coarse salt, to taste
• fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 2 scallions, fine chopped
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1/2 small zucchini, fine chopped (or shredded)
• extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• 4 leaves green leaf lettuce or 4 leaves romaine lettuce
• 1 vine ripe tomato, sliced
• 1 cup store bought refrigerated creamyranch dressing or 1 cup herb salad dressing
• 4 crusty rolls, split

Directions:

Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl and form into 4 large patties.  Brush with olive oil and cook 7 minutes each side over medium high heat in nonstick pan.  Serve on split buns with lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing.

Southwestern Black Bean Salad

Servings: 12 • Size: 1/2 cup • Calories: 106 • Old Points: 2.5 pts • Points+: 3 pts
Calories: 105.9 • Fat: 6.0 g • Protein: 3.2 g • Carb: 13.0 g • Fiber: 3.6 g  Sugar: 1.2 g 
Sodium: 137.8 mg 

Ingredients:

• 1 15.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 9 oz frozen corn, thawed
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 small hass avocado, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 1 scallion, chopped
• 1 lime, juice of
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp cilantro
• salt and fresh pepper

Directions: 

Combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, scallion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Mix with lime juice and olive oil. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes. Add avocado before serving.

Baked Potato Soup: Hope for a Better Tomorrow

I've joined Pinterest.  Do you find this of interest?  I do.

I find it fascinating.  I can spend so much time looking through the images to see what catches my eye.  Granted, I am a newbie, but so far I'm a fan.  And I almost refused to participate because I couldn't just sign up.  I had to be invited.  I was outraged.  Why on earth do I have to get an invitation? I asked myself. so it was almost the principle of the matter that kept me from being a part of this site.  But my curiosity got the best of me so I swallowed my pride and asked someone I knew who was on it, to invite me into their exclusive club.

And now I have a board to file away fun recipe ideas, craft ideas, home ideas, etc.

I also tried my first recipe from Pintrest.

I saw a delectable looking photo of a slow cooker Baked Potato Soup, and did it NOT disappoint.  (The link is at the end of this post.)

I made it last night for Nate and a friend of ours, and as Nate stood over the dirty dishes after dinner to wash them and/or load them into the dishwasher (because yes, this is the awesome man he is) and just kind of shook his head as if still in disbelief and said:

"This actually gives me hope for the future.  That we can eat like this at home..."  

And trails off.

I looked at him a few moments... Waiting for the words to sink in for him.  

I know he means this as some type of compliment.  But these words he has just uttered did not come out right and I'm not sure if he caught it before my laughter prompted him to replay is last few sentences.  But it didn't take long for him to clarify his words and thoughts to better express his delight that we can craft meals at home for a fraction of the cost than it would to go out and eat at a restaurant.  Because once the soup was done and with the garnishes on top, it did pretty much look like a bowl of soup you would be served at a restaurant.  He redeemed himself quickly.

Thankfully, I'm not easily offended and I got a good laugh out of his dramatic choice of words.

But if you were questioning whether or not you might want to try the recipe, you now know it has power to give hope for the future of at least one man...perhaps it will provide hope to another.

Oh and if you need an invite, you just let me know.

I'll let you into our club.

http://www.mamalovesfood.com/2009/06/baked-potato-soup-slow-cooker-style.html

Shhh...I'm Resting

Well, tonight finds me with filled with quiet and contentment...  You might even say my insides are smiling.

This weekend was not exceptional in any way, and that was just what I needed.

It had been a busy stretch for us and I've been out of town the last few weekends in a row.

Last weekend found us traveling to Ohio to spend time visiting Nate's aunt and uncle.  His parents had come down from Canada to visit for the weekend as well, so it a great arrangement to see everyone.

The weekend before I was traveling to northern Indiana to visit and celebrate my cousins wedding and Dad's birthday which again was a great time to visit with my family but also included hours of drive time and being away from home.

The weeks in between weekends have been full of extras as well.  We are hosting a young adult group for our church, Nate works on Wednesday nights, we have a friend over for dinner on Tuesday nights to help fill the gap in classes for his commuter schedule.  All of these things are good and we enjoy the opportunity to host.  However when the weekends are full, I especially have a difficult time finding time for renewal and rest.

But this weekend, man oh man... this weekend I had zilch on the calendar.

Glorious.

It was one of those weekends, I found myself actually able to say yes to opportunities that came up.

Would I like to go to breakfast with friends?  Yes.

Would I like to take a nap?  Yes.

Would I like to take one last ride on the motorcycle before putting it away for the winter?  Yes.

Do I have anything on the calendar that I need to worry about?  Nope, not at all.


So we did go out to breakfast with friends.  It was the best, unhurried breakfast I've had in such a long time.  Not a single glance at the clock or feeling like we needed to keep on schedule.  It was a great time of laughter and catching up.  Afterwards, I helped our friends with the yard work they were in town to do while Nate had to head home and do some studying.  The sun was out, the weather was beautiful.

I took a nap Saturday and Sunday.  I know, that is so awesome right?!

Nate and I did take a motorcycle ride this afternoon (after my nap) and caught the last few beams of light for the day and enjoyed the crisp late fall air.  Even popped into a McD's and found they had a peppermint mocha...what?!  So great!  The peppermint mocha is one of my favorite things...and while it didn't compare to the 'Bucks it still was a lovely and unexpected surprise today.

So now, I write to you stretched out on the coach with a nice big sigh.
This time of rest has been just what I needed.
A blessing.

My hope is your weekend had some pockets of rest and peace for you as well.