Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tasty Tuesday

Good afternoon!  Sorry for my late posting today!  Today I am going to share another soup recipe (I know, I know, enough with the soup recipes).  I got this recipe from my girlfriend who is vegan and gluten free and it's great!  

Lentil Soup

2 Leeks, sliced, white part only
3 - 4 carrots, sliced
3 - 4 stalks of celery, sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
3-4 cartons vegetable stock (12 - 16 cups)
1 - 2 tbsp. basil
Seasoning salt & pepper, to taste
Bob's Red Mill Veggie Soup Mix (1/4 - 1/2 cup)

In a large soup pot, sauté leeks, carrots, celery & garlic in a little bit of water or vegetable stock until a little soft.  (You can use oil if you want) 
Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer to add basil, salt & pepper.  Rinse veggie soup mix in a strainer with cool water and add to pot.  Let simmer until lentils are soft (approximately 20 - 30 minutes). 
NOTES: I didn't use the Bob's Red Mill soup mix because I couldn't find it where I live. I did use a mix of lentils and pot barley, but I think next time I would add more like 1 cup of lentils instead of a half a cup.  I also added a cup of mushrooms and a cup of Kale.  The mushrooms and Kale were a great addition.  I ripped the tough stems off the baby kale, and next time I would use more.

You can mess around with the amounts, but this is a great, hearty soup that offers lots of nutritious foods! 

Enjoy!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Random Acts of Kindness

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's reading this!  I hope you get a day full of whatever you were hoping!  Last night, my five year old daughter brought out some nail polish and lotion because she wanted to give me a foot rub and paint my nails.  No spa could compete with that service!!
 
M's favorite movie is Brave, so I found the YouTube video of Merida being inducted as a princess at the Magic Kingdom yesterday.  We watched it as our nails dried and snuggled on the couch.  
When I woke up this morning, I got a beautiful card from hubby and snuggles from my boys.  M surprised me with her card and present she made in Kindergarten.  So cute!! 

In non-Mother's Day related news, runDisney released pictures of the medals for the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend and Dumbo Double Dare races. 

 The Disneyland Half Marathon probably won't ever work for me to make, the timing is just all wrong.  That doesn't stop me from being mega-jealous of everyone who will be earning these medals.  Good luck and have a blast everyone!!
You can read how this started (along with my first reported Random Act of Kindness) here or the second one here
Random Act of Kindness #3: Maybe this doesn't count as an "act of kindness", maybe it's more of a favor??  I'm not sure, but it put a smile on someone's face and it was in the right spirit, so I'm putting it down.  This week, I heard through the small town grapevine (yes they exist) that a friend of mine was taking her two small son's to the Mother's Day event at the school (the Grade 1 - 4 class invite their mother's in for pampering).  The day was supposed to be for her, but she didn't know what to do with the other kids so she was bringing them along.  I called her up and offered to watch the smaller children so she could enjoy her time with the older ones.  She was happy and it was no problem for me.  My kid's got to play with some friends and she got to enjoy her mother's day experience.  Everyone wins!  :) 
 
Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's, mother-in-laws, step-mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures (aunts, cousins, babysitters, etc).  The world is a better place because of your love for children!!  Hope you have a great day!!
 
 



Thursday, May 9, 2013

Real Beauty


 
This past week has been a lot of things...overwhelming, frustrating, heartbreaking and ultimately enlightening.  My father-in-law, who suffered from a farming accident (read more here) isn't healing properly and had to go back into surgery.  A project I have been working on for over four years came to completion and we have been swamped by it.  But most of all, my heart is hurting for my daughter. 
 
My daughter, M, is five years old.  She is one of the sweetest, kindest souls I have ever met.  She is empathetic and wise far beyond her five short years.  She is beautiful in every way possible.  And at age five, she came home from school crying because one little girl in her class told her "you aren't pretty", "you aren't my friend", "you aren't good enough".  Big, sloppy tears fall down my cheeks now even as I write this.  You aren't good enough!!  At age five!  It breaks my heart that any child can say this and that any child has to hear this.  Truthfully, I think I am taking this harder than her.  After talking to her for a few minutes, she felt better.  She knows that she is beautiful, on the inside and out and she knows that she has friends who love her for who she is.  I know this won't be the last time she encounters these sorts of comments, but I wish I could bubble wrap her little heart and protect her forever. 
 
Then it gets me thinking even further, isn't this what many women feel; we aren't pretty enough, we aren't good enough.  How do I raise a daughter who knows her worth; who knows how important she is, how special she is, how beautiful she is on the inside and the outside?  First things first...show her.  Show her that I think I am pretty, important, special and loved.  And hopefully, she will follow suit and learn the same.  When she looks in the mirror, I want her to see what I see in her.     
 
A few weeks ago, a friend shared the Dove Real Beauty video on Facebook.  The first time I watched this video, I cried big, ugly tears and immediately shared it with my friends.  
 

I love this video but it also makes me sad.  As women, why do so many not see our real beauty?  When we look in the mirror, why is the image so different than what others see. 

This week, I pulled out my wedding pictures.  My brother-in-law told me my wedding pictures looked like I could be a model, so this week I looked at them with his eyes.  Seven years ago, I didn't see it, I almost thought he was being sarcastic.  This week, I looked with gentler eyes, and there was a beautiful, happy young lady looking back at me.

My pledge is to look at myself with kinder and gentler eyes.  Not only for me, but for my daughter.  I want her to love herself and there is no better way to teach than by example. 

Question of the Day: Do you see yourself how others do?

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tasty Tuesday

Good morning!

Sorry for dropping off the earth!  The past week has been...well, it's been...more on that later.  For now, here's another yummy recipe. 

Beef Shishkabobs  

Cut beef into cubes - sirloin steak or sirloin tip roast work well.  (I use 3-4 steaks to feed my family, but you can do use as much or as little as you'd like.)

Marinate for 3 to 5 days in the following (some people use this recipe and marinade longer) I use the Tupperware Jr. Season-Serve container to marinade and flip a couple times a day.  You can use anything, just make sure you stir regularly so all meats gets thoroughly marinated on all sides:

2 tbsp. soya sauce
1 tsp. ginger
2 tbsp. vinegar
2 tbsp. parsley flakes
1 clove garlic or a little garlic salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. honey
1/4 - 1/2 c. oil
1/2 tsp. salt

Double the marinate for a large amount of meat.  Here's a picture while it's marinating (just mixed it up this morning).



This is a local favorite recipe.  I don't know where it originated, but it's been passed through our community over and over again.  It is DELICIOUS!  Pair your kabobs with baked potatoes on the BBQ, garlic bread, and grilled veggies for a delicious summer meal. 

Are you following me on Twitter?  Check me out @EveryDayGirl5.  I'll tweet a picture later this week when these shishkabobs are cooked.