Some huge, terrible things have happened to me this week. Some people drink too much when they go through a crisis. Some run out and buy cars and designer shoes that they can’t afford. Some make very bad relational decisions. I go to Dan West Garden Center and impulsively pick up an eight-dollar gardenia bush without knowing where I’m going to plant it. YEAH THAT’S RIGHT. THIS IS WHO I AM. THIS IS HOW I ROLL.

5 Comments + Posted in: gardening

My friend Laura tagged me for an honesty meme. So here’s some honesty:

♥ I watch a lot of things on the elliptical machine that I would never sit down and watch otherwise. Like Tough Love: Couples or 50 Cutest Child Stars. But Soapnet just moved One Tree Hill reruns back to my elliptical time, so now I can watch that instead!

♥ It’s a struggle for me to remember that I don’t have to live up to other people’s standards. I’ve made some progress away from perfectionism and finding my worth in accomplishments, but it’s hard to hang on to when I see other goal-oriented people refusing to relax, or people skinnier than I refusing to have dessert.

♥ I resent it when grammar cops lurk around waiting to correct any minor grammar mistake. As Dave Barry once said, “I cannot overemphasize the importance of good grammar. What a crock. I could easily overemphasize the importance of good grammar. For example, I could say ‘Bad grammar is the leading cause of slow, painful death in North America,’ or ‘Without good grammar, the United States would have lost World War II.'”

♥ I have deeper friendships with a few people on the internet than with other people whom I’ve known in person for years. I don’t think this should be considered weird. It wasn’t weird back when they were called pen pals.

♥ I’ve wanted to sponsor a child (through Compassion or something) for years, but have never signed up because I’m worried that someday we won’t be able to afford the bill anymore and then we’ll be stuck.

♥ Sometimes I feel like I can’t deal with the atmosphere and mind games of corporate America for one more day.

♥ I love Hanson and I am not ashamed. If you think they finished with “Mmmbop,” you’re missing out. They’re still making music and are actually pretty indie now. I saw them at the House of Blues in Orlando last fall and it was one of the best concerts of my life.

♥ For the first time in my adult life, I’m not sticking to a rigorous “quiet time” schedule or guilting myself if I don’t do certain things. And I feel pretty good about it. In fact, I’m hungrier than ever to learn about God.

♥ I’m seriously re-evaluating my beliefs about gender roles. I think maybe there’s more than one way to be a Godly woman. Some things I’ve been taught aren’t standing up to experience.

♥ I’m often hungrier after eating my lunchtime Lean Cuisine than I was before. Why does that happen?!?

3 Comments + Posted in: linkup

I had some fresh mushrooms that needed to be used up, so I tried this recipe that I printed out a while back. It was AMAZING! I might make it for my mom soon (she’s always trying to finagle an invitation to dinner, which I guess is a compliment). :)

Mushroom Marsala Pasta with Artichokes
From Smitten Kitchen, originally from Giada DeLaurentis. Serves 4 to 6 (but you can scale it down like I did).

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 pound mushrooms, trimmed, cleaned and chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus 1 tablespoon for pasta water
1 cup dry Marsala wine
1 pound smallish pasta (I used shells)
1/2 pound frozen artichoke hearts, thawed (I used one jar of non-frozen)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup cream (I used half and half)
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
1. Place the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for one minute.
2. Add the mushrooms and one teaspoon of salt. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until all the moisture has evaporated and the mushrooms have cooked down, 10 minutes or less.
3. Add the Marsala and continue cooking until almost all the wine has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Stir in remaining salt. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Drain pasta and add it to the mushrooms, Marsala and onions. Add the artichoke hearts, Parmesan and cream and cook until the artichokes are heated through, about 5 minutes.
6. Stir in the parsley and pepper, then adjust seasonings to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

Someday I’ll talk about something other than food or plants on this blog. :)

3 Comments + Posted in: food

Here’s the planted vegetable garden! I have five tomato plants (grape tomatoes, Big Boy, Brandywine, Celebrity, and Jet Star), four bell peppers, three cucumbers, a jalapeno, a banana pepper, and some zucchini and carrot seeds. The carrots were Evan’s idea and he planted them himself with great excitement. They’re his Chanberries. :)

We used the same irrigation system kit as last year (Drip Irrigation for Dummies – seriously), but with different hoses and a different layout. Last year “drip” was the operative word and it wasn’t very effective, but now it’s more like a sprinkler and the plants are already thriving. Evan also found a timed watering system on clearance, so we can’t forget to water. I have high hopes for a good crop!

Also, a mere week after the first bloom, my Knock Out rose bush has exploded!

5 Comments + Posted in: gardening

I’m trying to eat a little healthier. Or maybe I should say fresher. I decided to try making something on Sundays that Evan and I can eat for breakfast most of the week. This is my first recipe and we both like it! Anything I can do to keep him from hitting the drive-thru on the way to work is a win. :)

Ingredients:
1 cup non-instant rolled oats
1 cup non-fat milk
1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 egg whites
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sugar
raisins or nuts (optional)

Directions:
1. Soak the oats in milk for about one hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 and spray muffin pan with cooking spray.
3. Combine the oat mixture with the applesauce and egg whites.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk dry ingredients together.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until just combined. Add nuts or raisins if desired. Do not over-mix the batter or the muffins will be tough. Spoon muffin mixture into muffin pan.
6. Combine the cinnamon and sugar and top each muffin. Bake for 20-25 minutes. These can be frozen and reheated in the microwave for a quick breakfast.

3 Comments + Posted in: food