My strawberries are flowering, I have thumb sized veggies on my bell pepper plant, looks like spring has arrived early in San Antonio this year.
I love spring, there is nothing prettier than blooming wildflowers. I love that our European Starling is back building her nest in our tree for the 6th year in a row. Every year it is so exciting to watch for her babies, and see how she and her mate take care of things.
It's also the Lenten season, a time I traditionally take to start my spring trim down. After All, no matter how much I workout the Holidays always seem to add a pound or two. Lent pulls me back into the reality of a smaller clothing season just around the corner. I remember a healthier, fitter me only a few months back, and I am reminded of the importance of portion control.
If you're like me, still feeling a holiday fluff, take an effort to move everyday, if the weather is nice walk outside and enjoy the view. Ride bikes or kick a soccer ball with your kids.
Of Course there are bad weather days too. Are you stuck in the house? You can still get active follow along with a yoga DVD or get out a jump rope or hula hoop and relive your youth while burning calories.
And most importantly start incorporating fresh local produce into a bigger portion of your diet. Tis the season to visit farmers markets, or start your own garden. A beautiful plate of fresh colorful food makes eating so much more enjoyable, don't you think?

  Happy Spring!

winter kale and kielbasa soup

Sometimes, like tonight I have not planned dinner.  I've been busy having fun.
  These are the nights I have to get creative with what's in my fridge and pantry.  Well lucky me I have the fix-ins for a nice wintry earthy Kale, bean and sausage soup.
  I randomly purchased some natural kielbasa last week, it looked good that day.  The rest of the ingredients are household staples.
  As the soup was cooking my son ran in the house with a friend, they both commented on how good the house smelled and wanted to take a peek in the soup pot, mmm mmm's and smiles followed.  My heart was happy.
   What's the end result.  Well it's a big yummy bowl of goodness.

Here's what I did.

1T of olive oil
14 oz turkey kielbasa sliced
3 big cloves of fresh garlic chopped
1/2 a medium yellow onion dices small
2 stalks of celery diced small
6 baby carrots sliced
1 big bay leaf
a shake of red pepper flakes
1 big bunch of Kale chopped
1 can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
3-3 1/2 cups of low sodium chicken broth ( I did not measure)
splash or 2 of red wine vinegar
salt and pepper
handful of fresh Italian parsley
some lemon zest

I first sauteed the kielbasa in the olive oil until browned.  Added garlic through red pepper flakes and some salt and pepper.  Cook until veg is softened.
add kale, cook down a bit
add beans and broth.  Simmer for an hour or so
taste, season as needed
right before serving I add the vinegar, I like vinegar on greens
I like to top my serving with fresh parsley and lemon zest

Today was a great day.  Sunny, 70 and a school holiday.  A nice day with my son topped off with a great family dinner.  

 

sandwich night

Admittedly I am not a big meat eater.  But I do love a big nice juicy sandwich.  I made this one with tempeh cooked slow in a crock pot with bbq sauce. I steamed the tempeh first to take out any bitterness.  I like the kind with some wild rice mixed in for texture.
    I made a basic BBQ sauce.  I will become better at remember about how much of each ingredient I use, I am a throw things in the pot kind of cook. If you have a basic cooking skill, its easy to eyeball and make things to your own taste. So follow along, and try not to get frustrated.
Cider vinegar - a cup or so
Ketchup -about 1/2 cup
Brown Sugar - 2-3 Tablespoons
Worcestershire sauce -a couple good splashes
butter -about a Tablespoon
salt -small palm, about 2 teaspoons
and a splash of franks red hot sauce.
I just put it all in my small little crock pot and added the tempeh, cooked for 2 hours on high.
  I love sweet and sour flavors!  this sauce was good.
   My goal is always to have my husband enjoy a vegetarian meal, he liked this sandwich a lot.   I topped the tempeh with a basic coleslaw recipe.  I wanted to have it more sweet so I made the slaw with Miracle whip, white vinegar, sugar and celery seed.  It was a bit like the old Kentucky fried chicken coleslaw flavor.  I liked it.
  Today is another rainy day, with this for lunch it feels a bit more summer like.

my first post!

It's a rainy cold day here in San Antonio, what a great day to start something new! 
 I found this tiny little lizard on my parsley a while back.  He was too cute not to share.