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!!! :)~

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! :)~

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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PEACE... :)~

Wishing you all a litte Peace during the holiday season... I know I sure could use some!

Hey Little Sister... :)~

Happy Birthday to you...

You live in a zoo...

You smell like a monkey...

You act like one too...

Cha-cha- cha!

Happpy Born-day shout out to my younger sister Lisa....She turns 40 today.

Welcome to the elite 40 set little sister! ....Your 40's are gonna ROCK...I swear!!!

We had a picnic at her house over the weekend to celebrate with some old friends and family. Here are some pics of the day.

Playing With the Full Moon RIsing... :)~

Tina Fey or Sarah Palin... :)~

Last night I couldn't wait to see Tina Fey and Amy Poehler portraying Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton on the season opener of SNL..... It was friggin' priceless! ....I wish Fey would come back and write as well as do the news with Poehler....They just play off of each other so well!

Best line in my opinion goes to Hillary at the end where she invites the media to "grow a pair" and if they can't...then they can borrow hers!

Here it is just in case you missed it!...or just want to watch it again and again...I've watched it at least a half dozen times already! Enjoy! :)~

Go Serena! :)~

In just a few minutes my GRL Serena Wiliams... #4 ranked....will take to the court against Jelena Jankovic, # 2 ranked player in the world in the US Open Womens finals tonight. This is Jankovic's first time in the Grand Slam final, and Williams is looking to win a third Us Open crown!

I just love to watch Serena play.... Her strength and Power when she hits the ball.....her passion when she makes a great shot..... and how she will talk to the oncoming ball as if she can coax it out of bounds when it's coming long.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of attending the Open with my friend Ella! ...Very COOL....Thanx bud!...We got to see Roger Federer...(which some kid near us kept calling him Roddick while routing him on the whole match)..and the Robredo & Tsonga match. For the women I only remember watching Bammer and Bartoli.

I've only been to the Open one other time, and that was way back in 1990, when I got to see Argentina's hottie Gabriella Sabatina play.

Here is a short 2 min video curtesy of Youtube of Serena beating Dinara Safina #6 in the semi-finals.

GO Serena! Woot Woot!.. :)~

100 Foods... :)~

Stopped by a fellow food blogger site 28 cooks, and procured this from there...
100 Foods ...The ones in dark green are ones I have eaten.
I was surprised that I have eaten 69 of them!
Oh tooo many jokes!!!

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile......................does alligator count?
6. Black pudding......NEVER AGAIN
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho..........................My friend Jess says this is yummy!
13. PB&J sandwich........one of my favs!
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart...dirty water hotdog...Mmmm!
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras.....................My last meal wish
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese.....blech!
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper .....too hot 4 me!
27. Dulce de leche...........Rich!
28. Oysters...........................allergy
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar..............livin' large!
37. Clotted cream tea....with scones...Mmmm!
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O.....hello...... Jello shots!
39. Gumbo........................................alergy
40. Oxtail..............................very tasty!
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects.......................NO WAY!
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu.......Leathal if not prepared corectly...NO WAY!
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut....now i want a Krispy Kreme!
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone.................alergy
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini..............hate olives and gin
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs ...tastes like chicken...ha!
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill.....Mmm Mmm!
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie......lemon is my fav
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict ......fav way to eat eggs!
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef........like butta!
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab......alergy
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor.......alergy
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Congratulations!!!... :)~

Whoooo-Hoooooo.....I'm an Auntie!!!!...Wooot Woooot!

Congratulations to my My broha John and wife Roo. They just gave birth to their beautiful little girl Remmy. She was born this evening around 11:30 and weights 7lbs ... Mom and baby are doing fine!...Actually Remmy had to be wisked away for at least 2 hrs of tests....but they knew that this was going to happen, so everything is cool.....My brother texted me this pic of her. Happy Born Day to you Remmy!....I can't wait to meet you tomorrow morning and start spoiling the heck out of ya!.....

Love ya more!....Auntie T

Spaghetti Squash Parmigiana... :)~

When I was in high school my friend Carrie would make this for us for dinner.



1 Organic Spaghetti Squash cut in half length wise.
Drizzle w/olive oil and season w/S&P
Roast @ 425 for 50 min or til tender and golden






With fork take off top layer of seeds and discard








With a fork ....fluff till loose to resemble spaghetti












Season with fresh ground pepper and kosher salt

Great in a quick fix sitch!




Spread sauce over squash

Top with fresh or hard mozz







Bake for 15-20 more min or til cheese is golden and Mmmm mmmm bubbly!
You can serve right in the skin if you like...
I made Sausage and peppers to go with mine!

ENJOY! :)~

A month in pics... :)~

Kat & Suzanne in RI



Catching some tasty waves in RI




Packing up the house I grew up in :(

Peek-a-Boo


Grey Face

The Girlz @ the fireworks

Just Cool...

Happy Birthday Anna and Sara!

Cool Sunset @ Jennings Beach

Where's Me Pot of Gold???

Sunset on 4th of July

Christine giving us henna tattoos

Lisa's Henna

My lizard henna

Jen's henna

Sara's henna

Kayla playing w/my camera

Dad & broha getting ready formy niece Remmy(Marie)..hehehe

Roo and Remmy...I think she has my nose...LOL!

Fun waterslide @ Carrie's picnic

Pirate Ship...Arrrrrrrrrgh!

Flower Power! :)~

The Magic Bus...Sneaking into the Gathering of the Vibes w/Jen!

Cousin Ned's sunflowers