Thai Coconut Chicken Curry Soup

This soup originally was inspired by the truly AMAZING soups at Safeway, yep that's right, I occasionally buy prepared food at the grocery store, but it is very rare. My goal is always to find something amazing and perfect my own version. This one took lots of work and many trips to the Asian market, but I finally got it down, and boy was it worth it! Some important things to look for at the Asian market, when you go, are red curry paste, lemongrass stalks (I freeze them so I can use them again in a month or so) kaffir lime leaves (mine had baggies in the freezer) fish sauce and coconut milk. Everything else is relatively available in the grocery store. Another helpful tool is a julienne. Mine is a hand held nifty one I picked up at Sur la Table in Seattle, but there are other options out there. Use with care, I've julienned my knuckles, not that attractive. So here's my very own take on...

Thanks angieanew.com for having a pic!

Thai Coconut Chicken Curry Soup


1 Tbs olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped or julienned
1/2 c uncooked wild rice

Sauté in bottom of large pot. Then add...
3 stalks lemongrass, trimmed to 1 inch pieces, crushed so juices flow
1 Tbs grated fresh ginger
2 T red curry paste (or to taste if you like more/less heat)
3 Kaffir lime leaves
2 T fish sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 can chicken broth
juice of 2 limes

Reduce heat. In separate pot, boil...
2 chicken breasts
2 1/2 c water
2 tsp salt

When chicken is cooked, remove and shred chicken. Add shredded chicken and boiled broth water to main pot. Then add...


1 can coconut milk
2 carrots, julienned

Simmer soup until carrots and rice are tender. 

Ethiopian Chicken Lentils (Doro Wat)

I have my wonderful job to thank for this gift, and you get the finished recipe before they do, so you should feel loved. This came in a nifty recipe pack sample to us at work, and we have each tinkered with it on our own, making it what we want. The best part of this recipe was my sweet Joseph, who usually strikes out in the "complimenting my crazy experiments" department, texted me the next day to let me know it was the best lunch he had enjoyed ALL MONTH! I take immense personal fulfillment through his enjoyment of my efforts, so this was a home run for me! Forgive me for not having step by step pics at the moment, I'm sure I will be making this many more times, so they will come! This recipe doesn't require an extra trip to the ethnic store (well for me, that is) so I can make it any time, no planning necessary!

Ethiopian Chicken Lentils (Doro Wat, minus egg)

2 lbs chicken (I used bone in, skinned)
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1 Tbs olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced to 1/2" thin pieces
3 cloves garlic, chopped or sliced thin
1 Tbs chopped fresh ginger root OR 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp fenugreek
1 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp cloves
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cayenne
1 Tbs chili powder
2 Tbs butter
2 c water
1 c lentils, rinsed

rice and naan for serving

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Rub with lemon juice and 1/2 tsp salt. Let marinate 30 minutes. (Chop your onion, garlic and ginger and gather your seasonings while it marinates)
In a large thick bottomed pot or cast iron dutch oven, heat olive oil. Pat excess moisture off chicken pieces, to ensure browning, add to hot oil in pot and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove from pot and keep warm.
In the same pot, dry cook onions, stirring occasionally until soft and starting to brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger and fenugreek and sautee another 3 minutes, until fragrant. Add cardamom, cloves, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, chili powder, remaining salt and butter. Stir and continue to cook 3-5 minutes to release the aroma of the spices. Add rinsed lentils, chicken and water, ensuring plenty of water to cook the lentils. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender and chicken is no longer pink, about 25 minutes. Serve over rice with naan.

Kale Chip Nirvana

I'm publishing this more for me than for you, I apologize for my selfishness, but you should be grateful that it benefits you as well, right? I created this recipe last year, and it was delicious! But I have since near lost it altogether several times. I am putting out into the expanse of the great world wide web in hopes that I will never lose it again. This recipe is nutty, cheesy (but Vegan and also Raw) and altogether delicious! It is also a fantastic base to build on. Experiment with different spice blends, or some hard cheeses (not Vegan anymore, but very delicious!) Don't forget that kale is an AMAZING super-food, so when you get those salty carb cravings that sabotage your waistline, reach for this super amazing "chip" that will fool your cravings for sure! So here it is, I don't know how much more lead-in I can muster...it's late on a Saturday...

Kale Chip Nirvana

Those green onion looking things are garlic scapes,
 look for them at farmers markets!

3/4 c sunflower seeds, roasted and salted
1/4 c tahini paste
1/4 c garlic scapes OR 3 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 Tbs tamari, aged soy sauce
1 tsp salt
1/3 c nutritional yeast
1/2 large red bell pepper, roughly chopped
juice of 1/2 lemon
3/4 c water (or as needed to make sure it blends and is pastey)

1-2 bunches of curly leaf kale (depending on the size of the leaves) rinsed and dried

Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor, adding water as needed just to aid in blending. Set paste aside. Rip or cut kale into 2 inch pieces, approximately. I found the larger pieces don't hold the yummy flavor coating as well as you bite into it. Coat each piece evenly with the paste flavoring. I found that thin layers work best, too thick and it isn't tasty. Place pieces of coated kale on dehydrator racks, ensuring the pieces do not overlap at all. You may need to spray oil on your racks, depending on how sticky prone your racks are. Don't want to leave any yummy flavor behind.

Dehydrate kale chips at between 105-115 degrees for APPROXIMATELY 10-11 hours. In reality, this time differs every time, as it is greatly affected by how much moisture is in the leaves, in the paste and how humid the air is. Be sure to watch these carefully, starting at maybe hours 8-9. You want the chips to be crispy, the paste completely dried as well as the leaves. If there is any stem piece connected to the leaf, make sure this is completely dried, as this will re-hydrate the chip once removed from the dehydrator. Re-hydrated kale chips are NOT as tasty.

This is BEFORE I figured out that smaller
 pieces work better, do as I say, not as I do!

Once the chips are dried to crispy, remove them from racks and store them in an air-tight container. I have found that hard plastic containers work much better than baggies, as they can be damaged easily in bags. Also, storing them in the fridge helps to keep the chips fresh. But if you're anything like me, these little buggers won't last for very long!

Loss

Yesterday Joseph and I found out our application to be foster parents was denied by the State, permanently. I can't even put in to words what a blow this is. Basically, I just miscarried. I've been preparing, yes in fact nesting, for four months now. For the first time in 8 1/2 years, I thought that having a baby to care for was finally a real possibility. Now...not at all. There are very few options out there for us.

Yesterday when I found out, and my mind was completely consumed with shattered hopes and plans for the future, I tried to opt out of my commitments for the day. I asked for a half day off work to spend with my husband, who left work right away in the morning, to no avail. Had to tough it out. Also tried to explain my emotional state to slide out of the Relief Society mid week activity I was teaching that night, got a "not possible, sorry." How could I have explained myself better? So people understand? Is it possible for anyone to understand? 

I feel myself pulling away from women my age with children, there is now a discomfort there, like I was encroaching on their club, forging my membership card with this dream of being a foster mother. Now my bluff has been exposed and I'm left barren and childless, completely clueless and outside their life experiences. Did I mention Mother's Day is now in two days? Yep. This will be the worst Mother's Day to date. And as fate would have it, I am part of the presidency in charge of the Mother's Day Brunch we planned for Sunday, third hour of church. I could go, swallow all my feelings, be completely numb, and I could smile through the whole thing. Or somehow, someone will say something to break my shell, and I will melt into a ball of sobbing tears. I have decided not to go. 

I don't want sympathy, answering questions is the LAST thing I want to do. I just want to be understood. I feel like I should let people know, but I don't know how, and I don't want to be swamped with questions. I don't even know what I do want. I just want it all to go away, I want to feel nothing. 

A knock-off Jamba...

Made an amazing find the other day, maybe you've already tried it, but I got the Chunky Strawberry Topper at Jamba Juice, so yummy! But at $4 a cup, there's NO way I'm buying that again, not to mention the sugar headache aftermath. So, if you want to try it, here you go:

I am ball-parking the measurements, feel free to adjust as you like...

Place in blender:

1 banana
1/2 c plain greek yogurt
1 Tbs honey
5 frozen strawberries
1/4 c peanut butter
1/3 c soy milk
1 tsp cinnamon/pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla (I wanted the flavor of vanilla yogurt, without the sugar, and with some Mexican vanilla, WOW!)

Blend, or pulse if you want it chunky.

Top cup with Pumpkin/Flax seed Granola
1/2 sliced banana

Eat with a spoon. Hide from anyone who might steal. And don't say I never taught you anything useful!

Dedicated to A Master, my father!

Today I am honored to dedicate an entire blog to bragging about my father, the most talented and incredible artist I know. He has just launched his website, making it even easier for me to spread his breathtaking landscape pieces to you, future devoted fans.   http://www.adairpayne.com/

Reflections on the Day, Adair Payne

This piece is my favorite, by far! I love it so very much that it has been the wallpaper on my phone for the past 2+ years. It is so warm, vibrant and alive! California poppies hold a special place in my heart, and bring to my mind memories of warm hikes in the mountains of my hometown, walking alongside my father who pointed out these beautiful buttercups! He would tell me stories of his youth in Northern California and of growing up with his father, my beloved grandfather.

Between April Showers, Adair Payne

This one I am honored to have hanging in my living room! I love the calmness, the serenity, the cool peace that it brings to my home. The detail is so alive, the green moss and growth so vibrant! Every detail makes you feel as if you were right there, soaking in the solace.

Summer Solitude, Adair Payne

This is a second one I have captured to my phone, a picture I am lucky enough to enjoy every day! I love the movement in the water, the warmth in the rocks, and the clarity with which you can see the river bottom through the water. The filtered sun seeping through the trees is so real, so warm.

After June Rain, Adair Payne

Please visit his site and enjoy his masterpieces yourself! They are breathtaking and moving! I am so very proud of him and I hope his talents can bring you as much joy as they have brought me throughout my life.

Pacific Evening, Adair Payne

What is Nesting?

I found myself in a baby store today, a darling one so sweetly decorated. I unintentionally wandered down an aisle, a possibility I should have considered happening prior to entering the store. As I fondled a crocheted baby  bonnet with a beautiful green flower, I realized in a panic that I didn't belong here, that this was a place I needed to run away from, and FAST! As I literally dropped the bonnet half-caress and quickly re-traced my steps back to the safety of my car, I pondered this sudden feeling in my chest. Is that panic? Is it heartburn?

For years, I have been successful at steering far away from baby paraphernalia, very successful. I don't even give cute tiny dresses a second glance. I am stoic. If I make it to a baby shower, after the self-pep talk in the car ride there, complete with waterproof mascara, I bring the mother some bath and body gift, for HER. Nope, I never buy baby things, so don't invite me to your shower if you want a rattle or a onesie. Self-denial, reppression, these are a few of my faaavorite things! As I found myself beating a quick retreat from the soft coos of the hand-made fleece burp towels today, I had to face the feelings, and the realization that they were still there, despite denying their existence for so very long.

What is nesting? How can I possibly find that instinct that nature tells me I was born with? Can it have survived all these years? How can I overcome the fear of that tiny little pastel wash cloth? How do I convince myself that it will happen? That I may very well have a baby in my arms in under 2 months time? Will I be in denial up to the very moment it happens? Then what will I have done to myself? I am terrified to plan, terrified it will all be for naught, that SOMEHOW the universe will find a way to deny me once again from my God-given birthright. And despite all of my work to circumvent this evil joke, there will still be a void.

At the end of the day, after the panic slowly released its grip on my chest, I discovered something very different in it's wake. Small though it was, it was there. Is that just a tinge of excitement? Are you starting to plan? To visualize? Can you really do this, oh broken heart of mine? I hope you can.

Whoa, there goes the wagon!

Yesterday was a rough day. I made a quart of fruit/greens juice and left the house at 9, but didn't return until 10pm. I had a quarter cup of soup, same of apple crisp for lunch. What? I MADE it, had to taste it. And it was delicious. But the sugar rush afterwards was intense, and painful. That night, sitting in foster parenting training, I was absolutely starving, tired and light-headed. By the time I was home, I wasn't hungry, but I was tired, and then I couldn't get to sleep, for hours. Lame. I woke up hungry, made a veggie juice, tried to make it delicious like the avocado-infused one I made the other day, and it was UNdrinkable. So, I dumped it, and turned to some bean and rice chips and one of my small home-made energy bars. To be honest, I think I'm just thirsty. But, I made a bad decision and gorged on chips instead. Now I'm sipping my spearmint sun tea and feeling...a little better???

Okay, weird effect I have noticed while juicing...my teeth are absolutely COVERED in nastiness by late afternoon. I'm not sure why, it's definitely not something I notice on a normal day, and I have little ideas as to what causes it. I did lots of Google searches on the "juice fasting fuzzy teeth" phenomenon, and it turns out, I am not alone in this experience. Who knows what causes it, I hypothesize the fact that solid food is not rubbing against my teeth may have a small impact, and also they "say" that film on your tongue is a sign of detoxing. I hope my breath isn't atrocious as well, as they say this is also a common side-effect. Note to self, carry a toothbrush and toothpaste with you if you won't be home for 12+ hours. Here's a great video blog I found while searching: Day 7, Skinny Jeans, Brushing teeth and Elimination

Because I couldn't sleep last night, I slept in this morning, which was kind of a bummer. I feel like I lost hours today, and THEN all that work to juice and I definitely poured it down the drain and ate solid food. But after all the Google searches and reading the experiences of others, I am once again committed to sticking with this, albeit with my occasional solid food bouts. Besides, tomorrow being Saturday, I am picking up two Bountiful Baskets, one organic and one conventional. Plus, Joseph is really wanting to do it with me, he is just struggling with the addiction to munching, and fearing he won't be able to cut it. For me, I have one reached for the cashews, or eaten an avocado with a spoon, just to push through the urge to eat. And I don't beat myself up for it, because I'm still doing a good job overall. Today with the chips, yeah, not as cool, but since I know I was really just thirsty, I'm hydrating and much better. 

In other good news, I'm down to 141.6. I'm mortified to be posting my weight for the world to read, but I am proud to say that that's at least 3 lbs down from pre-fast weight. For 4 days, I'd say not too shabby! It definitely helps to encourage me to keep going. And, since there is some less tasteful details of juicing they speak of, aka gas, diarrhea, etc., for me things have continued on their normal routine, normal elimination, not particularly gassy. I wonder if that's because my normal diet is high in fresh fruits and veggies already, so it's not a particularly shocking experience for my system.

Back to the sleep thing, which I found particularly frustrating last night, the books and blogs talk about feeling energized and needing less sleep while on the juice fast. I didn't feel particularly rested this morning, and I've felt kind of lazy and low energy today, but this is new. The last two days or so have felt awesome. I'm thinking because I was gone so long yesterday and really only made one quart of juice, which I didn't finish, this is primarily why I felt so poorly last night and today. I will make better efforts to make more juices throughout the day and keep my  body nourished. 

Going forward, I am excited for more produce tomorrow and to gain a partner in my journey! Cheers!

So far, so good...with a little chocolate, of course!

Day...3 it is now, and I'd say this is going pretty well. I've been drinking about 3-4 drinks a day, about 16-24 oz each. And it's kind of exciting! I've learned that I can satisfy sweet and savory cravings, just by switching things up. I've had to be careful and not make my fruit ones TOO sweet, and I've started putting the spinach and other softer things, like blueberries, in the blender with the juice. I feel like I'm getting more nutrients by keeping those things whole. My scale is telling me I'm doing things right (142.4 this morning), and I am thinking more clearly, I seem to be more motivated, and I'm getting more done. It's like I've shaken the lazy feeling. For the most part, I'm not hungry most of the time. Yesterday afternoon I felt a little light-headed, so I stole 2 or 3 handfuls of cashews. And today I made lunch for the volunteers at the storehouse, so I "tasted" the cranberry pork roast I made. It was pretty good, I had two bites, and a potato wedge, to see if they were done yet. I'd say for not snatching cheese every chance, I did pretty well! Listen, I'm NOT going to serve something I haven't tasted, so a few bites was all I had. But when I got home, I was semi-hungry, so I made a DELICIOUS juice, but then munched on a hazelnut chocolate bar while I drank it. Enough of my transgresses, overall...I'm proud at how well I've done. I add in tofu, about 2.5 oz, an egg, and a tablespoon of ground flax to my morning drink, and just added some tofu, and an avocado to my afternoon drink, and the added protein/fat is quite satisfying! I almost want to eat my veggie avocado drink with a corn chip! But none of that! I'd say if I cheat a few oz of solid food a day, I'm still doing pretty well! Also, I've allowed myself to eat bananas (which I haven't had to yet) and avocados, since those go in the blender anyway. When I need to actually eat food, I just bust open an avocado, sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper, and spoon away! Deeelicious! I love the feeling of enjoying whole healthy foods! And it's amazing what a little garlic salt and cayenne pepper can do! So my lunch veggie juice, which was delicious, was as follows:

2 large carrots
3 kale leaves (smaller size)
1 tomato
1/3 large bell pepper
3 lime wedges
3 radishes
large handful of cilantro
1 inch jalapeno

blend with:
1/2 avocado
3 oz tofu
shake of garlic salt
shake of cayenne pepper

It was delicious, did I mention that???

Givin' this a whirl...more like a juice!

Okay, last night I started a juice fast. It may be drastic, may be crazy, but I wanted to give it a shot! It comes highly recommended by people, and professionals, I trust. I watched the movie "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and got a juicer from my in-laws, and now I'm in business! My initial reasons for doing the fast were to feel better, sleep better, and to help me curb my cravings for white refined carbs. Of course, let's be honest, there's a big hope that I'll lose weight, but it won't be sustainable weight loss, it will just be motivation to work hard and keep it off. I want to do the fast for at least 10 days, 14 if I can. My game-plan is 80% vegetable, 20% fruit. Last night I did 100% vegetable, and it was pretty tasty! Here's the first drink!

2 carrots
2 stalks celery
1 handful of spinach
1 lime section
1 clove garlic
1 green onion stalk
2 tomatoes
1/3 bell pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne
handful of cilantro

It was very yummy! I was going for a V-8 meets salsa feel. Other than burping celery a few times that night, I'd consider this a win! I drank this at 5:30 and I was slightly hungry through the evening, but nothing terrible, nothing that drove me crazy.

This morning I wanted a more fruity drink, and this is what I tried.

2 medium carrots
1 orange, peeled
2 apples, cored and sliced
1 " chunk ginger
2-3 cups spinach

Blended with:
1/2 banana
2.6 oz mango silken tofu

First taste, this was WAY too sweet! I was hoping by adding some tofu that I could get a little added protein to help me through the day, and keep my body from eating any muscle I have instead of fat. After doing this juice recipe, I am realizing that fruit is very sweet! I need to be much more careful when juicing and keep the vegetable ratio much closer to 80%. Otherwise, this juice fast is not going to be helpful, and I was feeling hungry at around 10:30 (I think I ate breakfast around 9:30). When I got hungry, I drank the quart of spearmint sun tea, and felt fine.

So far, I'm doing okay. I am catching myself wanting to munch all the time, but that I think is more out of habit and not hunger. It is hard when I dream of new recipes, new creations, new things to make with all the LOADS of food I do have in the house. It was refreshing to go to Costco and the grocery store and only buy fresh produce. And I didn't think it was very expensive at all. I usually spend much more when I just grocery shop normal.

Here's to lunch, and whatever I dream up for that juice mix! (PS: for my own tracking, weigh in this afternoon, 143.6 or so)

New Year's Resolutions

Here's some brainstorming ideas:

Stay on schedule with the lessons in Sunday School, complete the Book of Mormon. Establish and adhere to a list of "good" foods, make better food choices, see food as a gift and a healer instead of evil. Plant a bigger garden, use all of what I grow. Find more ways to contribute to my community. Look in to going back to school for nutrition. Exemplify my church calling.

More detail to follow...