Inspired by a gas station

Hey y'all,

So after yesterday's gas station soup I got a wild hair to make my own soup. For Lent we gave up land animals and my poor kiddo is quite bored with fish at this point. Lol. I can't say that I blame her, the dinner creativity did take a dip for a moment. But that's okay I'm back on my game and tag teaming my mom in the kitchen. 

Tonight I made her favorite soup: Creamy Tomato Basil

I wanted to keep the soup light for my own dietary needs. So no cream was used in this soup. But the texture was nearly spot on and the flavor turned out very nice. 

Ingredients:

4 lbs of Roma tomatoes 

1 medium red onion 

6 large cloves of garlic

1 medium butter potato

Dried basil (I didn't have fresh on hand)

1 qt of vegetable stock 

Parmesan cheese rind

Kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper

Cut the tomatoes in half and lay in a single layer on a baking sheet. I was tempted to cram them all on to the same pan but I had to remind myself that I'm looking to roast these tomatoes not steam them. So they need space to allow heat to circulate and caramelization to happen. Drizzle the tops with olive oil and the season with salt, pepper and dried basil. 

Place in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes. 

I seem to have lost my photo of the diced onion and minced garlic. But dice the whole onion and mince all 6 cloves of garlic. Peel and dice the potato. This is what adds to the "creamy" texture in the soup without all of the fat and adding some fiber. 

A few turns of olive oil into the bottom of a pot. Sauté the onion, potato and garlic until the onion is soft and near browning. 

The tomatoes should be finished roasting at this point. 

I do not have a food mill, so while the onions softened I peeled the skins from the slightly cooled tomatoes. I waited until they were just cool enough to handle. 

The whole quart of stock goes into the pot once the onions are soft

All of the roasted tomatoes and their juices go into the pot along with the stock and sautéed veggies. 

This is a small piece of Parmesan cheese rind. I dropped 3 pieces about an inch and a half long into the soup. The rind has all of the nutty slightly salty goodness of Parmesan and imparts an different element of creaminess than the potato. 

I allow the soup to simmer for 40 minutes over a medium-low flame. Then I fish out the cheese rinds. They don't really melt down all the way. You can eat them if you like but they are kind of chewy and the flavor can be intense for some. But you never know if you like it until you try it, right? Lol so I say give it a taste!

This little guy is an immersion blender. And he is my friend Lol. It isn't mandatory that you have one in order to successfully make this soup, it just makes for easier clean up since there's one less container. You can easily use your blender, just do a few cups at a time. Please do Not fill your blender pitcher to the top with hot soup and turn it on high. There Will be a mess and it very likely will hurt. 

Because I could I used the immersion blender in the pot with it was still on the stove. 

Blender until smooth and you have this beautiful creamy tomato texture. Give a taste and add your final salt and pepper adjustments as it simmers for another couple of minutes. 

I topped mine with a swirl of extra virgin olive oil an additional crack of black pepper and added a whole wheat roll with a slice of Brie cheese in the middle. 

This dinner turned out better than I anticipated. It's always nice to not race against the clock when I'm cooking and really take my time and enjoy what I'm doing. Funny enough though my kiddo got home and allowed her eyes to be bigger than her stomach. She sat down at the table and polished off her GrandDude's leftover pancake dinner and didn't have room left to finish the soup she had in front of her. Lol go figure. I guess pancakes beat out tomato soup when it comes to the dinner plans of a 10 year old. Oh well, at least my mother and I enjoyed it. 

Time to stretch and then pass out

Peace and Namaste y'all 

What's a Wawa?

Hey y'all,

Today was the longest day I've had in quite some time. A full 12 hour day at work did not leave me much time to cook. So needless to say I ran out on a hunt for lunch since I was poorly prepared today. The closest establishment to my job that sells food is a local convenient store/gas station by the name of Wawa. When I was first told "there's a Wawa just around the corner" I was so confused, but dared not ask what Wawa was because I was tired of being looked at like I'm an alien just because I'm not familiar with this place. 

So instead I drove based on the verbal directions give to me and found the infamous Wawa. When I went inside what appeared to simple be a convenient store I was pleasantly surprised by a full functioning hot deli and coffee shop off to the side within the store. I've eaten food from this store on more than one occasion and I'm inclined to say that they have the most consistent execution in their food. 

Today I chose Broccoli cheese soup with a warm whole wheat roll. And to be honest it was pretty good. It was hot, there were chucks of real broccoli to be found, and the soup was just cheesy enough. It was almost as good as Jason's Deli or Panera Bread. Go figure! A gas station of all places serving good soup. 

So I guess if you ever find yourself out East and you happen upon a gas station by the name of Wawa. Go inside, check it out, even order something. It should be a decent experience. 

Off I go to do some bedtime yoga. 

Peace and Namasta y'all 

 

Do not feed after 6:30

Hey ya'll,

This week I'm feeling a bit like Gizmo from Gremlins. Being highly aware of what time it is before eating my last meal of the day is a little odd initially. But just like Gizmo I'm sure I'll condition myself in no time and not even Want to eat after a certain hour of the evening. 

I knew that dinner wouldn't be finished tonight until much later in the evening so I chose to eat leftover collard greens with rice and black beans before everyone else ate. 

The stripes of red is today's dose of siracha. I generally have at least one moderately spicy dish a day. Even if it's just hot sauce on my popcorn. And yes, I do eat hot sauce on my popcorn occasionally. Especially when I don't feel like sharing *insert evil maniacal laugh here*. 

This simple dish actually coasted me through the evening all the way to bedtime with no desire to snack. That's pretty exciting because 6:15 seems so early in the day still. Especially when your day outside the home doesn't officially end until around 8:00pm. 

1 bag of chopped collard greens was simmered in water with a smoked turkey wing seasoned with salt and a seeded jalapeño pepper for about an hour. 

White jasmine rice cooked according to the rice cooker instructions 

1/3 of a can warmed black beans mixed into the bowl

Squirt as much or as little siracha as you like 

Just a side note please remember to taste your food as you cook so you know if it needs more seasoning. 

Eat more veggies and drink clean water. Apparently that's the secret to most things health related. Let's test that theory. 

Peace and Namaste Ya'll

Keep it simple sexy

Hey Ya'll,

On Mondays I work through the normal dinner hours and I don't really get a break since it's only a few hours. But recently I've had to stop allowing myself to eat so late once I get home because it's counterproductive to all of my hardwork in the gym each morning. So in an attempt to not simply go hungry every Monday I have decided to keep my final meal of the day very simple so that I can easily eat between tasks. 

Tonight my meal was quite European but surprisingly satisfying. 4 slices of Batard bread spread with French Brie Cheese and topped with a triple fruit spread of cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. 

In general, I like my snacks to have a salty sweet balance. So this idea came from one of my favorite snacks: cheese and crackers with fruit. 

Sometimes keeping things simple allows for a fuller enjoyment what's at hand. You could do this with any of your favorite fresh bread (I love sourdough or ciabatta).  And you could use any cheese that you love. Try a blue cheese with pears and honey if you enjoy pungent flavors. The sky is the limit. No recipe is needed, just an open mind and an appreciation for simplicity. 

Oh yea! I touched my mat today and even had the guts to work on my handstands. They need a lot of consistent work again so here I go on a personal mission to hold a handstand without help from a wall! Wish me luck and safe form Lol. I am a bit short on space for the regular type of practice that I want, but I'm still trying. And that is what matters most to me right now. Because when things aren't ideal at least I don't give up. 

Happy meatless Monday 

Peace and Namaste Ya'll

The jury is still out

Hey ya'll,

So the other day I went to pick up the painted pottery that my kiddo and I did a few weeks ago. 

By the way it was really great fun, check groupon for a deal on something like this in your area. 

But again I digress.....across the street from the shop is this shack called Surf Taco 

I've heard about this place and I figure who better to get a decent hippie experience from in this area than some well traveled surfers?! The menu looked promising and the overall atmosphere reminded me of home. 

Odd bird advertisings included. By the way, I'm really super bummed that I won't be able to go to this comicon. I have to work all day on both days. Boo!!

So I decide to order the namesake taco. The surf taco is a battered and fried piece of cod on a flour tortilla with shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, and crema sauce and fresh tortilla chips. 

Yes this is one overly full taco! And it looked promising. But alas nothing was seasoned. Not the pico, not the cod, not the sauce. And heaven help anyone who eats unseasoned cod fish. 

My tortilla chips look beautiful don't they? Well they were beautiful and then I realized the chips were not salted in the least bit. And anyone who fries food knows that once the oil on the food oils and drains away, you've missed your chance to get it properly seasoned. Also, I hate to say it but I'm pretty sure the deep fryer needed to have its oil changed. Yea, that not so awesome after taste that happens particularly in fast food restaurants. 

So I'm wondering if maybe this was a fluke or if I should just avoid the fried items on the menu and see if they can manage a decent grilled product? I will go back and when I do I will let you all know how I feel about it again. But for now I still miss TexMex in the worst way. 

Oh well, guess I will have to cook up my own fix to make it through this season. Let's see what successes (or failures) those experiements will bring. 

Peace and Namaste Ya'll

My mom thinks I'm cool!

Hey ya'll,

So I shared a few months ago that I relocated and a boat load of changes have occurred in my life. A super huge adjustment that I'm having in my new location is finding good food outside of my home. Apparently once you leave the south seasoning your food is optional rather than expected. Even chain restaurants taste different! Go figure. 

Now, that I'm sure it's not just isolated incidents, I have decided that the cravings I have no place to satisfy will be satisfied in my own kitchen. If I play my cards right and experiment my butt off I should be able to establish rather impressive skills in various styles of food. I guess instead of spending the thousands upon thousands of dollars on formal culinary training I am going to learn the best way I know how.....through trial and error. 

Yesterday I stuck with my Southern roots but got really creative with this vegetarian brunch item. Savory salt and pepper cheese grits topped with a kale and black bean sauté. This was literally a craving for savory grits and no desire for meat thrown together from whatever was in the fridge. I don't believe in having to run out to the store for specialized items every time I want to eat something tasty. If I'm following a specific recipe that I'm unfamiliar with, then sure. But if I'm just being creative, then what better way to challenge myself than to use only what I have on hand?

One of the biggest downsides to my creations is that I don't measure anything. I cook by my senses: taste, smell, sight, sound, touch. While eating this my mother asked me: "How do you come up with these dishes? How do you know the different flavors will all go together?" My response: "I don't know, I can sort of taste it in my head." 

Ha! I know that sounds weird but it's true. I can literally almost smell the dish I'm imagining and the different flavors all seem to wrap up together for me mentally. But I digress. 

I started with 1/4 of a small yellow onion, about 1/2 cup of diced carrot, 1 large clove of garlic, and 3 cups of chopped kale (I ended up adding more than what was in the bag pictured). 

I didn't have any stone ground grits on hand, plus those take a long time to cook and we were hungry, so I used to 5 minute quick cooking grits in the cabinet. 2 cups of lightly salted boiling water to 1/2 cup of grits. 

After sautéing the onion, carrot, and garlic in about 2 tsp of olive oil until they we tender, I added the kale. Once the kale began to wilt I tossed in 1 cup of leftover canned black beans. 

The black beans simply needed to be warmed through, which only took about 2-3 additional minutes. 

I stirred my grits occasionally and turned the flame down to low. I had a single slice of provolone cheese left and decided to use that since I was fresh out of Parmesan. I placed the slice of provolone on top of the grits to allow for melting and ground black pepper over the top of the pot. After stirring the grits I tasted to see if more salt was needed. When you do this keep in mind that your veggies should be seasoned with salt also and you don't want everything to be overwhelming once it all comes together. 

You will soon find out that I love eating from bowls and large mugs. I'm not sure why, maybe it's because I prefer to eat anywhere other than the dinner table when I'm at home so that I can sit with my legs curled undeneath me. (My mother calls me country, but if I'm home I want comfort Lol)

A big scoop into a large mug or bowl and then a pat of butter to stir into the grits. 

Topped the grits with my veggie sauté and that was it. Altogether it took maybe 15 minutes. The longest part was chopping the carrot and onions. This meal served 2 and we were definitely satisfied. Even the one who never feels her meal is quite complete unless she has meat (my mother). Lol

I recommend a glass of your favorite juice just to allow a sweet and savory balance to the meal. If anyone decides to try this please let me know what you think. My mom thought it was good. Lol

Peace and Namste Ya'll

Here we go again

Hey ya'll!

I've missed writing these last few months but I think I needed a quiet space in my life to process, grow, and advance. A tremendous amount has happened in less than a year's time and I feel badly for starting over here yet again. But I think it's necessary to reevaluate our lives and the things we do to make sure it's really for us and not anyone else. This blog included (not that anyone else is reading Lol). 

I think my 180 Degrees in 180 Days was a remarkable journey that was absolutely necessary in my life at that time. I am so grateful for the chance to have executed it even if I didn't celebrate my last days of the journey here for all to see. 

I'm inclined to believe that now I'm in a place in my life where it is really time to develop, dig, and expose my love for family, life, food, yoga, travel, and myself. The Most High is aligning the stars and I am sitting listening for once as opposed to trying to force things to happen. I intend to return regularly and share what unfolds as my life progresses. 

I am grateful for these new open spaces in my life and intend to fill them with only things that make me happy, allow me to feel secure, and align with my Creator's will. Thank you for being patient with me over the years, I know this will grow and morph into something beautiful. 

Peace and Namaste