Whole Wheat Rotini with Roasted Zucchini and Cheesy Tomato Sauce

I LOVE to cook and bake, it's one of my favorite hobbies.  I've been baking and cooking for a long time but still feel like I have so much to learn and I'm trying to get better at it.

In January of this year, I became a vegetarian.
I was having so much trouble with my stomach that I had to do a major overhaul on my eating habits. Before January, I kept meat in our meals because my husband is a meat, potato and veggie kind of guy. He likes the full meal deal but I don't eat much at night with my stomach issues and I was beginning to hate cooking dinner. I was starting to hate to cook!  I rarely ate what I made (before I changed my eating habits) at dinner time because of my stomach and I was really only cooking for my husband and son. My son was never a big meat eater and add on that my husband would never eat meat the second day. I always had so much waste.

In January, I changed all that. I took meat completely out of our diets. I don't regret or miss it for a moment. My husband eats what he wants away from the home so he can get all the meat he wants at Wendy's. I still use lunch meat when I pack my son's lunch for school, but even that I'm trying to get rid of.

 I actually started turning away from meat in November 2013 Thanksgiving. I brined a turkey and at the first bite, I was so turned off, I knew my meat eating days were coming to a close. In January, I stopped eating it all together. I've lost over 20 pounds and I feel so much better. I also I don't eat dairy, except for a bit of cheese once or twice a week and I still eat yogurt at times. Sugar is a different story. I have a sweet tooth and that won't change but I do find when I eat too much sugar my body starts to crave it. If I don't get enough sleep I'll crave sugar. I try and keep moderation and balance with the sweet stuff and if I'm going to eat it something sweet?  I'm gonna to make sure it's good. Since changing the way I eat, I feel a thousand times better. More energy, clearer thinking and my body doesn't ache as much.

Since January, I've rediscovered my love for cooking again. I love using fresh vegetables and all the lovely spices to be had. All the recipes I've been trying are full of so much flavor and texture that cooking and eating is fun again!
I made this dish last night. It was tasty and full of flavor and pretty easy to do. I found the recipe in a vegetarian cook book but changed it quite a bit.

Whole Wheat Rotini with Roasted Zucchini and Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

2 medium sized zucchini cut into quarters. (cut length wise in half, then lengthwise half again then chop it up)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 small carrots chopped up

1/2  green pepper chopped

1 garlic clove chopped

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 cup of vegetable stock

around three to four sun dried tomatoes chopped up (I had a small jar of Trader Joe's sun dried tomatoes that I used for this. I used about two tablespoons and chopped them up)

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

One half box of whole wheat rotini. I used the Barilla Plus whole wheat pasta.

1/2 cup ricotta cheese

salt and pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees and on a baking sheet toss half the oil with your chopped zucchini and roast them in the oven for 15 mins or so until they are tender and lightly browned. This doesn't take long. Don't go too long or they get mushy. When these are done cooking, set aside.

While the zucchini is roasting put the remaining tablespoon of oil into a saucepan. Add the onion, carrots and green pepper and cook these on a low to medium heat until tender. I then add the garlic for a minute or two. You don't want to burn your garlic. 

While the veggies are cooking, boil some salted water for your pasta. Cook up your pasta according to the directions, drain and place back into the pot and set aside.

When the vegetables are tender add your can of diced tomatoes, 1 cup of vegetable stock the sun dried tomatoes and the oregano. Let this simmer until some of the liquid reduces a bit. Salt and pepper to taste.

Then add the 1/2 cup ricotta cheese and mix it into the hot sauce. 

When the sauce is warmed mix with the pasta then add the zucchini and mix gently. Serve immediately. 

I used a full box of the whole wheat rotini so the sauce is thinner on the pasta in the picture. I would use only half the box for more sauce. 

This was a very tasty and filling dish. Meat free....and really good for ya!

(recipe modified from the book Good food made Simple: Vegetarian)

German Chocolate Dump Cake

( a conversation between my hubs and I)

Me: " How about some German Chocolate Dump Cake?....as a surprise...but not really a surprise cause I just told you." (he likes German chocolate Cake, but I never make it unless it's his birthday...if he's lucky.)

Hubs: "Dump Cake? What's dump cake and how does German Chocolate become part of a dump."

Me: "Well, you "dump" a bunch of cake ingredients together, and in this case it would be German Chocolate Cake stuff and as a bonus? It's tastes good and I don't have to frost anything. I don't like frosting things."

Hubs:  *silence*

Me: "Yay! German Chocolate Dump cake it is! As a surprise-not surprise because I love ya!"

Ok Peeps...this is seriously a good dump cake. It's easy and tastes just like German Chocolate cake without having to frost the dang thing. (I have issues with frosting cakes among other things. Why do I get up in the morning? Yes...to eat this!...in the morning. I have issues.)

A gal I follow on Instagram has a blog I follow Picture Perfect Cooking and she made this scrumptious cake but called it German Chocolate Upside Down Cake.
I made the cake but I kept calling it a dump cake to everyone I told about it and since I can't get that out of my head, and since it was so good and I wanted to share... you're stuck with it.
Anyhoo, I followed her recipe but changed one thing. I only added one stick of butter instead of two to the creamed mixture. It turned out just fine and one stick of butter less.
Here's the recipe
German Chocolate box mix
1 cup of coconut
1 cup of pecans chopped
1 stick of butter (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
1  eight ounce block of cream cheese (softened)

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a 9 by 13 pan spray with a little non stick spray then put the coconut and pecans on the bottom.
Mix the cake mix according to the instructions, then pour this over the pecans and coconut.
Using a mixer mix together the softened butter,  2 cups powdered sugar and the softened cream cheese until it's nice and creamy smooth.  Put this in several spoonfuls ( I broke it up into 12 spoonfuls) around the cake batter and take the spoon and swirl it in.

Bake for around 45-55 minutes depending on your oven. Mine baked for around 55 minutes. It jiggles a bit when you take it out because of the creamy mixture but that thickens as it sits out of the oven.

It's a really good cake and my husband loved his surprise! I definitely will make this again. Thank you Tammi for sharing the recipe!

Minimalist Living

Have ya'll heard of Minimalist living?

Living with less but in reality you have more?  

Less clutter, more peace of mind. No stuff to hold you back? 

Getting rid of stuff to make room for what really matters and to start really living? 

I've been hovering over this way of life for a few months now. Scanning (lurking) blogs of people who live this way that are happy with this life and pouring over books trying to see what it's about. I'm not sure what pulled my heart strings in that direction (Could be happiness and contentment which are all things these individuals profess have occurred in unloading "stuff")  but that's the direction I'm walking. Quickly, I might add.

I've sensed for such a long time my attachments to material things or my stuff  is causing me to find myself empty on the inside. Looking for the material to fill the spiritual in me. 

“Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.” - Henry David Thoreau 

 One of my problems with this stuff is I tend to get emotionally attached to it. A strong sentimental attachment that I've always had with things since I was a little kid. ( blankets, stuffed animals, rocks (yes, rocks) books , paper, things I would find etc..I think I have some deep issues there) But on a lighter example of sentimental attachment... I still have my wedding dress. I was married over 15 years ago, which to some may not be that big of a deal , but it's in a plastic storage bin in my garage. Why am I keeping it because I'll never wear it again. I don't think I could even squeeze into it for some kicks and giggles! Now, it's just taking up emotional and physical space and  I'm kinda over it. I have pictures of me in it and I look kinda cute so that's where it needs to stay, in the picture but the dress is outta here. 

I feel this way about a lot of stuff in my house.  

So I'm getting rid of it. 

Lots of it.

Not only will this be a clutter cleaning but I think it'll be a spiritual shake off as well. It'll be interesting to see where my heart will be at the end of this journey. Will I feel like a new person ready for a true spiritual awakening with nothing in the material to hold onto. Or... will I be left raw and wounded. Maybe that would be a good thing? I can then open my heart to Jesus. That's what this is really about anyway. Getting rid of the things that hold me back from Him and being able to focus on my passions and living. What I was created to be.

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” - Socrates

A loving, compassionate, creative and giving human being made to reflect God's glory. I have a lot of holes in those very traits that keep me from living to my fullest potential. Getting rid of the "stuff", I think, is a great way to start filling in those holes. Finding completeness. Finding wholeness. 

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” - Confucius 

 This stuff holds me back. One emotional hole is guilt. It's always on my mind to organize, shuffle and find ways of using things, you know, reuse renew recycle? Got to find some way to keep it out of the land fill and I don't have the heart to give it to charity because I'm attached to it! Good God man! I have issues. 

I won't even begin to tell you about my crap (craft) room that is filled with so much stuff that I thought I would do or had a bright idea or new hobby but it all now sits and collects dust. And the guilt because I spent money on it. Oh dear. So, I'm selling it. For crying out loud, I have three sewing machines and a serger that I have yet to use. The sewing machines...yes. The serger...no.  I have issues. 

Too much stuff.

Too much clutter taking up valuable emotional and physical space. 

My goal is to get to a place, in a relatively short period of time (a month) to get clutter and stuff free. 

I'm taking the month of June to de-clutter and get rid of stuff. Keep only the things I use and if I don't use it? Get rid of it. Let someone else enjoy it. Or----stuff it in a plastic storage bin in their garage.

I'm starting in my kitchen. So the first week of June will be kitchen. Well, I've actually started now.

Wish me luck. 

See? 

 Not a pretty site. Gah!

Flowers everywhere..

It's been raining today. Weird thing about being a Northwest kinda gal. I get so sick of the rain come February and can't wait for a bit of sunshine. Then, when we have many days with nice weather, I start to miss the rain. I'm weird. Or moody. Or both. Just like the weather.
 I've been going through some tough stuff and to go into my garden and see the beauty there heals my soul. Talking about healing my soul for a minute. I started reading this book.

I follow a gal on Instagram that was starting a study group in her home with this book. Since I live on the other side of the country form her but the book sounded really intriguing, so I ordered it right then. I've been in such a bad state with my faith that this book seemed to pinpoint the feelings I'm having. I've just started it and so far it's grabbed me. Maybe God has grabbed me but I know I've been a bit lost. I feel lost. Maybe this will help point me in a good direction.
I hope so.

My garden is really blooming!
I have never loved petunias until last year when I took a chance and filled some pots. They were so beautiful all summer I had to do the same this year.

 This little pretty below was tucked inside the rose bush.

This little one was one it's last days but I loved how the light was on it as it's tucked in the shadows.  

I can't remember what this one below is called but it tripled in size this year. It's huge! But the flowers are cute little half dollar size petals of orangy goodness. I'll be moving it though. It's a bit of a monster. It's a pretty monster though. 

Like I said in the beginning of this post I've been going through some tough stuff. One of the things is my Mom ending up back in the hospital with an intestinal infection. Bad stuff. It's soooo hard to see my mom this way and I struggle with prayer as it seems my prayers are hitting the wall and bouncing back on the floor all around my feet. I know this is just a time in life and things will get better but I get tired of my heart hurting all the time.

Anyhoo, I made some really yummy blueberry muffins that I'm going to go sink my teeth in. 

Going home..

My Mama is breaking out of this joint on Saturday and going home!

This is a nursing home/rehab facility she's been in for about a month after getting pretty sick.  Not sure if it will be a good thing or a bad thing, her going home, but I'm hoping for the best. My Mom has Congestive Heart Failure and dementia that is associated with the CHF.
Dementia sucks.
So does CHF.
 Some days are really good days though. She can remember lots of things. It's just the short term. Like real short short term ...like....what she said two minutes ago short. That can be frustrating when you have to repeat things over and over to her like it's the first time you've said it. I have patience with her but the rest of my family gets pretty frustrated with her. Many years ago, I was a nursing assistant for around 6 years so  I have a bit of experience with this type of thing so I understand what's happening with her. I try to help out as much as I can. Since she's been at this facility, I've tried to visit as much as I can. I like to bring her a vanilla frappuccino with a scoop of protein in it. She loves those. She's been getting stronger and she's able to walk quite a bit and do many things that she couldn't do a month ago. I'm hoping for the best.

The weather has been beautiful this last week with temps in the high 70 to the mid 80's. This isn't typical weather for this area but I'll take it. The clouds have moved in today though with rain coming tonight.

My garden has been just beautiful!

It's not even in full bloom yet. This will be a really good bloom year, I think. 

Life Changes

Hello. It's been a bit since I've been to my little space.

Around the first week of April my mom's health started to take a downturn and since then she's been in and out of hospital and a nursing home/rehab facility. 

It's been a pretty hard month to say the least. I've been trying to visit my mom every day as I can't imagine how it must feel to be in a place that's not your home for such a long time. We're hoping she'll recover enough to be able to go home again. With help. My Dad is looking into having someone come into the house to care for her when my Dad needs it it. It's been pretty hard to try to do what's best for Mom. The rest of us kids feel she should be in a place where she has 24 hours assistance, but my Dad feels he could do that. When my Dad wants to do something there's nothing that will change his mind. Even if it's not for the best. But who knows? Maybe it'll all be OK. 

Boy, have I learned a lot this last month and a half. 

About myself. 

I've learned that I won't live forever. Life passes so quickly and letting it pass you by and not living it is a tragedy. Watching TV is a waste of precious time. Being lazy is a life killer. Not only does it waste away precious life but life will pass you by with or without you in it. I want to keep my mind sharp and my body in shape. Running 5 miles a day? NO. But walking and moving and keeping busy. Yes.

I want to do all the things that I only dream about or say I'll do someday. Why wait?

I've learned when I fall into negativity and gossip it pollutes my soul. My family has got these two attributes down to a science. Oh boy.

Oh! and the biggest thing of all! I've finally discovered my purpose in this world. I've never been one to try and find it or think I need to have one but now that I know, it makes life a bit clearer and the path a bit straighter.

I'm a Christian. That's an important part of my life. I know when I fall down the slippery slope of negativity and anger, judgement and being critical of everything and everyone I"m NOT living my purpose. That's when my heart gets sidetracked. I get unhappy and filled with depression. That's a place I hate being. I do know that when I'm doing this....
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Galatians 5:14)  (That would be anyone around me)

I'm happy. I'm peaceful and my heart is at rest.

But when I do this..
^b 15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:15)
I don't like myself very much.

I know when I live like this...
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control.
My life feels good. I'm more at peace than I've ever been. I sleep better and have more compassion for others. My mind is at rest. I see beauty in life and in the things around me. I feel more generous and compassionate.

Sometimes, I find it hard to keep my mind and actions in those places. To be good to others when I want to whack them in the head. (OK...not literally whack them in the head but in my mind. Lots of times) I have a lot of habits that need changing. A lot of knee jerk reactions to circumstances that would better serve me by taking a mental time out and think about it a sec. I do know that the path I've been on, isn't working. Not by a long shot and things have got to change. I'm not wanting to live this way any longer.

Choices.

I do know, beyond any shadow of doubt, if I act in a kind, gentle and loving way to those around me. If I have patience and self control. If I believe the best in myself and others and have hope in the future and act with love in all circumstances. My heart is at peace. I have contentment. I think that's what Paul meant when he said he is content in all things whether he has much or little. Contentment is a HUGE thing for me. When your mind is in these places, the world seems just a little bit better and the future not so uncertain.

My purpose in life?
To know and have a deeper understanding of what love is and how I to live my life with love as the center and sole purpose for breathing.  It's all that matters anyway. In the end that's all that matters.

Isn't this a pretty little thing? Actually, it's about the size of my head!

See the Beauty around you...

Do you ever lose focus on the beauty around you?

I live in such a beautiful state with beauty all around me, yet I miss it at times. I think I've gotten used to it and don't pay attention anymore because everyday things in life get to be more important than stopping and smelling the roses. I don't want to live like that anymore since time flies so fast! The older you get the faster it goes and I know I've got to change some things in a more positive direction so I'll have no regrets.

 I've been trying to live in a mindful way and being more aware of what is around me, the beauty and all that comes with that.  I know when I focus on the good  and the beautiful my heart seems to calm down and I find my mind gets more peaceful.
 I can get pretty hung up on negativity. I also believe I put to high of expectations on people. When I take a walk, since I live in the suburbs, I get so disappointed by the way people treat the environment around them and I tend to focus on that instead of looking past it and seeing the beauty around me. I want to make that thought process more positive and productive and possibly carry a little plastic grocery bag with me to pick up garbage when I see it around. ;0)

I have company on my walks.


These guys- well, the blond is a girl - Chelsea and Tucker. They're pleased to meet you.

I'm making it my goal to take in the beauty around me. To smell of fresh air. The birds singing. ( Oh dear, I feel a belt of song welling up in me..."THE HIIIIILLLLS ARE ALLLLIIIVVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUUUUUSICCC! (ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh) ) Whew! I couldn't hold it in.  Too bad I'd fall on my rear if I tried to spin around )
 Anyhoo!  I love birds! I loved feeding them, but had to quit for a time because of some rodent problems. It seems the problem may have been resolved so, hopefully, feeding the birds will be something I can do again.

 Here's a little hummingbird I captured with my camera. So flipping cute.

When I see the beauty around me and little miracles like that little hummingbird above, it makes me take a deep breath and settle into my soul. It's almost like discovering who you really are, deep down. I think we're meant to live beautifully, see and hear beautifully, love beautifully. Lots to ponder on today.

That's from my bedroom window. Taking a deep breath.