in lue of a scrapbook

What can I say, they are pretty darn cute.

Happy Monday,

Elena

Whats been cooking?

I have been cooking, somehow once again I missed taking pictures of a lot of the meals I made.  Next week I will aim to take a picture of everything I cook for dinner.

I cook a lot of chicken.  I eat chicken most days of my life.  I don't actually love chicken.  This week  I did not cook any chicken! 

Here is what I did make:

Shrimp Scampi:

This picture is screaming for color, we ate it with asparagus and spinach salad, apparently I should have taken the picture of all the food the table.

Shrimp with pasta is one of my favorite things and is a my pre-long run meal of choice.  I made this in preparation for my 21 mile run.

Here is how I make it. While pasta is cooking put butter, olive oil, and garlic into a pan and cook for a few minutes.  Add shrimp to the pan as well as some lemon zest, lemon juice, and a little white wine if you have some open.  It will only take a few minutes for the shrimp to turn pink, then add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss with the shrimp and sauce. Top with Parmesan and serve (maybe add some parsley for color but it tastes good as is).



Miso Maple White Fish:

Mix miso, maple syrup, sake, and a touch of sesame oil.  Taste it, it tastes good, a little sweet and little salty, a little something extra from the sake.  This sauce would be good on just about anything, if you are not a fish eater try it on tofu or chicken or other meat.

 I like it best on white fish. I make a little packet with foil and pour the sauce on, sometimes a add a touch of butter on each piece of fish.  The I seal up the little pack of goodness and bake.  I normally serve it with brown rice and veggies, this time I used couscous. This meal is a hit for my whole family.

Butternut Squash, Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup:

Taking help from the store with pre-cut butternut squash and using white beans I had frozen made this soup quick and healthy. Thanks Erin for the inspiration.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001947685

A few more meals I made but did not get pictures of:

Warm Asian Noodle Salad:
I cooked bell peppers, onion and carrots with a bunch of spinach, made whole wheat spaghetti, then cooked it all together with Trader Joe's Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette (available in the refrigerated produce section).

Italian Sausage and Veggie Soup:
This is Taylor's favorite soup and she had been asking for it all week, it is good, easy and healthy how can I say no to that.

Here is what is in it: Italian turkey sausage, carrots, zucchini, onions, tomato paste, chicken broth and pasta.   I have an actual recipe I typed up for Rob to make a work, let me know if you want it.

We went out with friends on night we had drinks and appetizers before we went out.

Here is what I made:

Spicy Shrimp with lemon and garlic:

Shrimp, garlic, butter, parsley and lemon roasted.  Serve with bread to soak up the sauce.  So good, not low calorie at all, but a few shrimp wont hurt.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/?s=spicy+shrimp&submit=


Baked jalapeno poppers: cream cheese, cheddar cheese and bacon (I wrapped around half of them because while I don't eat bacon I don't think that everyone should suffer), served them with corn tortillas. (sorry no picture)


Two decadent appetizers done in less then 20 minutes, served with chilled bubbly, how could you go wrong.


What are you cooking this week? 

Elena

on running and schedules

My schedule is challenging,  I'm not saying I am busier then everyone else, because I know I have it pretty good, but my schedule is challenging for me.

When Rob is at work he is gone, he leaves at 5:00 in the morning and does not come home until 9:00 the next morning, and often he is gone for two or three or sometimes 4 days.

I have two small children, and aside from my village of friends, I have no real child care, I don't have family that helps.  When Rob is gone it is just me and my kids. 

Years ago Rob was injured (playing basketball not fighting fires) he was home for months.  I could run every day of the week.  I would have an hour to myself Monday through Friday. 

It was amazing.  It was when I started enjoying running, it was when I first decided to run a full marathon.

This week Rob is taking a class and he is home in the morning, and I get to run.  It is so good.

I set my alarm for an ungodly hour and then I get to spend an hour running with friends. 

It is dark, it is cold, I am tired,  I love it.

Happy Running,

Elena

Ranting and Venting

I feel overly wound. 

Which is bad.  

I am generally happy to operate at a very tightly wound stage.  Overly wound is not good.

I feel as thought my head my explode at any moment, and I don't have a headache. 

Word of cation: Please, please, please don't say the wrong thing to me because I may loose it.

I try to be a good friend, wife, mother....and any other role I play on a give day or week.   How I effect others and the impression I make matters to me.   I hate it when I feel like I am coming up short, or when despite my best efforts, I leave someone feeling shorted.

I am give all of myself, all the time.  When it is not received well I feel it.

I am who I am, this is me, and that is it.  There are no pretenses, no falseness, just me.

I will hold your heart in my hand where I also hold my own.

Be cautious with me.  When I let you in, you hold my heart in your hands. 

Proceed with cation.


Just Me,

Elena