Organically Inclined... #StageIVNeedsMore

I don't know if I've ever said it out loud here... But I have Cancer... In honor of the month of October being Breast Cancer and Metastatic Awareness month I've finally decided to put my story out there.  Please Check it Out!!!

F My Big C: In July of 2010,  just two weeks after my mother passed away, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer.... Me being me... I wanted to document "MY STORY". So I got my camera out and put it up on my dashboard while I was alone in my car, and I would just say what was going on with me that day... Good or Bad... Happy or Sad... ;)

I have a NEW BLOG!  This new endeavor is over 5 years in the making! F My Big C is a very raw and uncut accounting of events as they happened during this period in our lives. I hope you will come check it out, add it to your favorites, and for the love of god.... Please comment :)

You can read it at FMyBigC.blogspot.com

Here are some pics of an event I volunteered for, and attended later that night. I was having and ehhhhh day....but I put my Big Grl pants on and got my but down there to show some support and represent!!!

Blueberry Fields Forever... ;)~

About a month ago Kat and I met my Broha and his three girlz to go blueberry picking. We have been before, but it was the girlz first time! I love experiencing new things with them!!! Their perspectives are each so unique and priceless!!! 

I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to create with our beautiful bounty of fresh picked blue orbs of goodness...So I finally settled on muffins...but I had no pan spray for the muffin tins......So I put it in a loaf pan instead and it became The BEST Blueberry Lemon Bread I've ever tasted!!! So glad I actually wrote this one down as I made it! 

Blueberry Lemon Bread

2 C Organic AP Flour

1/4 tsp Sea Salt

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 C Plain Yogurt

1/4 C Sour Cream

1/2 C Packed Brown Sugar

1/4 C Melted Organic Coconut Oil

2 Eggs Beaten

Zest of 1 Large Lemon

Set aside 1 1/3 C Blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Preparation

In a large bowl mix the first 3 ingredients. In another bowl mix the rest together well. Slowly pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir until well blended. Now add the blueberries and gently fold until berries are distributed evenly. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for approx 1 1/4 hrs. Make sure it's golden brown and passes the clean knife test!   We like to pop a slice in the toaster oven and finish with Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread!  ENJOY!!!... ;)~

Challenge Accepted Broha! ;)~

This weekend Kat and I went to my brother's house for his daughter's birthday party. I spent some time with him in the kitchen just shootin' the shit. He was telling me how he recently started a blog about music. Here is the link to his site The Music Performer .... He asked if I ever write mine anymore. The answer was an embarrassing no... In fact I haven't written in about 3 years... and it was 2 years between that last post.... so really it's been almost 5! 

A lot has gone down in that time. To keep real short... My mom passed in June of 2010. One month later I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. My world has been turned upside down and inside out. I've been literally  fighting for my life in this time... Since I write about my life here too I just couldn't deal with putting it all out there! But I think that I have pushed through and am ready to share and start writing again! Plus my brother challenged me to write a post by Wednesday!... Well challenge ON little broha!

This easy recipe is one of my fav morning comfort foods!

Toasted Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Cups 

6 pieces of organic bread of your choice with crust cut off
6 strips of bacon cooked off 3/4 of the way
6 organic eggs
1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice. I like cheddar!
1 scallion chopped
Pan spray
makes 6

1. With a rolling pin (if you dont have one a can of soup will do)  roll the bread out till its flat. Cut the bread in half to make 2 triangles so you have a total of 12. 

2. Spray the inside of the cupcake tin. Place 2 of the bread triangles in the holder and press them down a bit. 
3. Add the bacon to make a circle. 
4. Crack an egg in a small bowl to make sure there are no shells before you add it. Carefully pour the egg into the cup. 
5. Add  cheese of choice on top.  Pop it in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 min or  until whites are set and yolk is to desired liking. 
6. When cheese starts melting sprinkle  scallions on top and continue cooking time.
7. ENJOY!!!

Almost 2 Years Gone By... :)~

I have been inspired to start posting recipes again by the women who attended the cooking class with Dr Veronica Waks this past week! :) ......To all my loyal peeps who have me bookmarked and stop by every now and then to find a recipe ...thank you!!! ... and to my new readers Welcome to ~My Little Peace of the Web~

I can't believe it's been almost two years since I have posted... So much has happened, and my life is... well, Let's say... it just IS... thank Goddess!...

Here is a new recipe for y'all... and props to Kat for the photo... it came out so crystal clear....and she took it with her phone! :)~

~peaceandlove~ TM

Summer Lentil and Bulgur Salad

1 lb Dry Green Lentils

1/2 Cup Dry Bulgur

1 pt Grape tomato halved

3-4 Carrots small dice

1 Small Red Onion small dice

Baby Spinach

1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

Salt to taste

Rinse lentils. In a large pot add 6-8 cups water and bring to boil. Add lentils and simmer gently for 15-20 min until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water. To prepare the Bulgur place grain in a heat safe bowl. Pour boiling water over to cover at least one inch above grain. Let sit for 1 hour and drain excess water. In a large bowl add lentils, bulgur, tomato, carrots, and red onion, and spinach. Toss with vinegar and salt to taste... ENJOY!!! :)~

Gathering of the Vibes 09 :)~

Teriyaki Pork Chops w/Mango/Avocado/Pear Salsa :)~

Aaaaaaand I'm back!......Ok so it's been a min or two or 4 months... If yer reading this...THANX for coming back!.... My dinner was soooo yum-a-licious tonight it gave me inspiration to leave a quick recipe.

Teriyaki Pork Chops with Mango/Avocado/ Pear Salsa

4 Pork chops on or off the bone

I like mine on... Tastier!

Marinade
1/8c Teriyaki sauce
1 organic Scallion chopped

1 TB packed brown sugar

smidge of organic honey

Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Marinate the pork for 2-4 hrs covered in the fridge

Mango Salsa

1 Mango peeled and diced small

1/2 Bosc pear small dice

1/2 Cucumber seeded and diced small

1/2 Avocado small dice

2 TB Red Onion finley chopped

1 Scallion chopped

1 tsp Chopped Cilantro

Juice of 1 Lime

smidge of organic honey

Kosher Salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Mix together and refrigerate for at least 2hrs

I cooked my chops in a sautee pan on medium heat and got a nice carmelization on each side..Would be great on the grill too!... Serve with the Mango Salsa.... I had a Spinach salad with mine.... YUMMMM!.... Enjoy! :)~

Spanakopita Recipe w/ Video

Spanakopita



1 Large Leek cleaned and diced
3/4 c Scallions cleaned and chopped
1 Med Onion diced
1 TB xvoo
2 Boxes frozen Spinach (thawed and squeeze out excess water)
3/4 c Crumbled Feta cheese
1/4 c Parmesan cheese
2 TB Fresh chopped Dill
3/4 tsp Gound Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1tsp Kosher Salt
1/4 tsp Ground pepper


5 Sheets fillo dough (room temp..Keep covered with damp cloth to avoid drying)
3 Tb Melted unsalted butter

1 Egg yolk
2 TB Milk

Get pan nice and hot...add the oil and the leeks, scallions, and onions. Turn heat down to medium and sautee till tender. Set aside and cool. In a bowl add the spinach, feta, parmesan, dill, spices, egg, and cooled onion mixture. Mix well.

Preheat oven to 400. Grease 9 inch round baking dish with non-spray or butter. On a flat surface carefully place a fillo sheet down. With a pastry brush paint on the butter. Start from the center of the dough using outward brush strokes only. Lay the buttered fillo sheet into the dish with 2 inches overhanging the side. R epeat steps with the fillo... turning pan 1/4 turn with each additon of fillo making a total of 5 sheets. Add the spinach filling. Fold overhanging fillo inward all the way around to make the top crust. Mix the yolk and milk togethert in a bowl. Carefully brush on top of the pie. Place on center rack of oven and bake for 40 min at 425 or until golden brown .... Serve hot or cold ... ~ ENJOY~ :)~

Stuffed Zucchini, Tomato, and Pepper Recipe... :)~

It is day 7 of no meat... Even Ba-Con... Yeah that won't last for too much longer!... LOL...been having a craving!

Kat has been asking me to make stuffed zucchini for dinner one night... So along with the zucchini I picked up a giant tomato and some red & orange peppers, and stuffed them up too! Wish I had gotten a couple of Japanese eggplant....next time!

Here is the complete recipe and a short movie that I put together to go with it.

:)~ Enjoy! ~(:




Stuffed Veggies

1 zucchini cut in half lengthwise and flesh scooped out
2 Organic Bell peppers of your choice cut in half lengthwise and deseeded
1 Large tomato
2 Japanese eggplant cut in half lengthwise and flesh scooped out (May as well add the eggplant too!)

Rice & Vermicelli
1/3 cup broken up whole wheat spaghetti
1TB butter
1c Long grain rice
2c boiling veg stock

In a pot melt the butter and add the broken up pasta and cook on med for one minute stirring constantly. Add the rice and boiling stock, Stir and cover. Turn heat to low and simmer with lid on for 20 min, Cool and set aside.

Stuffing
2TB XVOO
1 Large onion diced
1/2c Diced red bell pepper
1 Organic carott shreded
1c Chopped zuchini that was scooped out
1/2c Chopped tomato that was scooped out
1 Scallion chopped
1 Clove garlic minced
1 pkg frozen organic spinach thawed and the water squeeed out
1 TB Chopped Parsley
3/4c Grated Reggiano Parmigiano
1/2c Seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4c Heinz Ketchup
S&P to taste

Bread Crumb Topping

In a bowl mix together
1/2c Seasoned bread crumbs
1/2c Shreded Reggiano Parmigiano
2tB Melted butter

Tomato Puree is made with 1c whole canned tomato and juices pureed in food processor with S&P.

In a hot pan add 2TB XVOO. Add the onions first, and sautee till translucent. Add all of the remaining chopped vegetables to the pan and season with S&P. Turn heat down to medium and let veggies cook til tender stirring occasionally.
Mix the egg, ketchup, parm cheese, and bread crumbs together and add to the veggies. Turn off heat and add the rice and mixture...Stir together and refrigerate for 2hrs.

Stuff hollowed out zucchini, peppers, tomato, and eggplant till heaping. Sprinkle with bread crumb mixture, drizzle with XVOO, and top with tomato puree.
Place in oven proof dish with remaining tomato puree, and Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 25 min or til golden.

Goin' lacto/ovo veghead again!... :)~

I have been wanting to cut meat out of my diet again for awhile now, but my reluctant carnivore of a partner has made it kinda hard to be true to this lifestyle change. So last night I went to Vegetarian Time's site and found this. It's 3 easy steps to start cutting meat out!

I went and grabbed a piece of paper and pen and asked Kat: What are 3 vegetarian meals I make that you like... So she said Stir fry, Chili, Pasta Primavera...Then I asked how about 3 things I make that I can change to be vegetarian... and we came up with Stuffed Peppers without the sausage/chopped beef, Eggplant Parm instead of chicken, and took two ideas from the website.... Bean Burritos and Veggie burgers. That's 7 meatless dinners... Then I came up with Pasta and gravy, Risotto, Portabello Quinoa, Salad, Polenta, Spanakopita, and Soups....

There are 14 different meals here we know we like .......Plus tons more ideas on the net!..... See we can eat without meat!....Well at home anyway... I don't expect her to be loyal for lunch!

We picked 5 ...and I made a list for the store. I went shopping today and kicked off the new eating lifestyle with Eggplant Parm with spinach ravioli topped with gravy and sun dried tomatoes, and baby greens with balsamic vin and xvoo.

I also made salsa and hummus from scratch for snacks that we will eat with some organic pita chips...... Tomorrow Hearty black bean soup with grilled polenta! :)~

House For Auction in Naugatuck, CT ,,,Click Image To Enlarge For More Info!!!

House for Auction in Naugatuck, CT

Click on the image to enlarge for info!

In our super tough economy this is a great way that someone could benefit from somone's misfortune. Although this isn't a foreclosure you can certainly get a steal of a house.This is a great starter home for a couple or small family. Convieniently located close to Route 8 & 84. It's a central hub as it's located roughly 20 mins from Bridgeport or New Haven and about 45 min from Hartford.Anyone interested should contact the Attorney listed at the end of the notice.Even if you yourself are not in the market, maybe you know someone who is...spread the word!

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