27 September 2010





fall is here and the state park tour begins. camping every friday in a new place. exploring my new state.
this past friday we went out to pedernales falls. we wandered around the park for awhile trying to find this one climbing spot that marisa had been to years back. ended up that since it has been raining so much lately the water was super high and too rough to cross with the dogs. but the dogs were happy. running around freely on the rocks. playing off leash. camping there was full of reserved boyscouts- but we enjoyed our evening. watched the sunset. cooked dinner on the trusty camp stove. drank wine. around 10 we drove 20 minutes southwest to camp in blanco before heading back to pedernales in the morning to boulder at this other secret spot hidden out in the woods. marked by a tree stump, full of carefully placed rocks in each of its crevices.

this is my favorite time of year.
beanie, long sleeve shirt, and shorts weather.









24 September 2010

change

"change is literally the only constant in all of science.
energy, matter, its always changing, morphing, merging, growing, dying.
its the way people try not to change that's unnatural.
the way we cling to what things were, instead of letting them be what they are.
the way we cling to old memories, instead of forming new ones.
the way we insist on believing, despite every scientific indication that anything in this life time is permanent.
change is constant.
how we experience change- that is up to us.
it can feel like death, or it can feel like a second chance at life.
if we open our fingers, loosen our grips, go with it, it can feel like pure adrenaline. like at any moment- we can have another chance at life.
like at any moment- we can be born all over again."

(grey's anatomy)

23 September 2010

Stuffed Cabbage with Quinoa + Roasted Sweet Potato

First:

Cook your cabbage. You'll need a fresh, large head of green cabbage. Trim the bottom root and cut an X into the center core. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the head of cabbage for about five minutes until soft; remove and drain well.

Make the filling.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

For the filling you'll need:

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled, diced
1 red onion, peeled, diced
1 large tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
4 sausages- these can be sweet Italian, chicken apple, turkey, buffalo, cut into chunks
Extra virgin olive oil, as needed
1 cup natural apple juice or cider
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon balsamic or apple cider vinegar
Sprinkle of sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel

To add in later:

A handful of raisins or dried cranberries
1 to 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa

Throw the vegetables, apple, and sausage into a roasting pan and drizzle with a little olive oil. Add the apple juice, maple syrup, vinegar, salt and spices and toss well to coat. Roast in the oven till soft- about 40 to 50 minutes. Stir a few times during roasting to distribute the sauce and seasoning. Meanwhile make your sauce.

To make your sauce you'll need:

1 24-oz jar or can of strained tomatoes- I use Bionature Organic Strained Tomatoes
1/2 cup apple juice or cider
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Sea salt, to taste

Combine the sauce ingredients in a sauce pan and stir. Cook over medium heat until simmering. Cover and lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Taste test before using in the recipe. If you like a bit of spice, add a dash of hot pepper- but please taste test first.

To assemble:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly oil four serving dishes or one medium-large baking dish.

When the cabbage has cooled enough for you to handle, cut another 1/2 inch or so off the bottom core if you need to and gently peel off the leaves one at a time; set the leaves aside on a plate or board. Trim any large leaves that may have a thick spine. Smaller leaves can be combined- use two to make one roll if you need to.



Combine the roasted vegetables and sausage with the cooked quinoa- start with a cup and see how much you need. If you want to stretch the filling, use more quinoa. Add a handful of raisins and stir in.

To stuff:

Lay a cabbage leaf on your work surface and add a spoonful of filling in the center. Fold in the side of the leaf and roll it up; tuck it into the prepared baking dish seam side down. Repeat for the remaining leaves and filling.

Pour the sauce over the stuffed cabbage and bake in the center of a preheated oven for about 30 minutes, till heated through and bubbling.

You can make this stuffed cabbage ahead of time, if you wish; cover and chill. Add an extra 10 minutes or so to the baking time.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.


(gluten-free goddess)

16 September 2010

Lethologica is a psychological disorder that inhibits an individual's ability to articulate his or her thoughts

11 September 2010

kiki

"happiness is a complex thing for human beings. we find it hard to experience happiness without being reminded of the things that could shatter it..."

"some of these things stick to us from our past as traumatic wounds; others are projections into the future as worries and anticipations of disaster."

-deepak chopra