You know that old phrase, right? Necessity is the mother of invention. I've always loved the notion behind that. How many times have I, in a moment of need, come up with some sort of solution or idea that I never would have thought about had it not been for the exact circumstances involved? For example, who came up with putting clear nail polish on a runner in your hose? I'd just love to know the history behind that one!
Anyways, I've begun to think lately that Invention has a few other mothers. Let's just say that Necessity had a little help in the raising up of her offspring. I think that her sisters, Hunger and Desperation, often contribute to the nourishment of Baby Invention.
The Evidence:
Yesterday, Kris and I came home for lunch and I was in a funk. Hungry, but I don't know what for. The office had been cold so a salad sounded terrible. We had the fixings for veggie wraps but that had the same appeal to me as a salad. Tacos sounded boring and a PB&J just isn't my idea of a satisfying lunch on a blustery day. I started hum-hahing around the pantry complaining about how nothing sounds good when I just get desperate and grab a can of tomatoes and go!
You've got to understand that I'm at that awkward stage between grocery trips when you still have a good amount of food but it's all random and nothing seems to go together. So, the following is a loose recipe for our Necessity-driven, Hunger-laden, Desperation-filled Invention of a random Tuesday lunch.
1 can of fire-roasted tomatoes
1/4 t. garlic powder (or 1 clove crushed garlic if you're not lazy like me)
1 t. dried basil
2 T. nutritional yeast (not to be confused with yeast used for baking)
2 T. ground flaxseed
1 t. crushed red pepper
dash of salt
dash of freshly ground pepper
2 T. of 1 jar of prepared basil pesto (the Aldi brand rocks!)
1 bell pepper sliced into strips
6 slices of bread
Dump the can of fire-roasted tomatoes into a small saucepan and begin heating on high. When it starts to bubble add the seasonings and stir until completely combined. Continue heating until the mixture becomes rather thick. In the meantime, toast the 6 pieces of bread and spread a thin-ish layer of pesto on one side of each slice of the bread. When the tomato sauce has thickened up (it should be just thick enough that it is no longer runny) spread a good amount of it on top of the layer of pesto on each slice of bread. Top with a layer of fresh bell pepper and sprinkle with some more crushed red pepper if you believe in the joy of spicy food. Kris and I each ate three....don't judge! We were starving!
I served these as open-faced sandwiches and it was sooooo good! I know that it sounds absolutely random but it was a little like having pasta in the form of a sandwich. The only thing that I would have changed is toasted French bread instead of regular but the whole point in this "recipe" is that I used what I had on hand. The nutritional yeast and ground flaxseed add lots of protein, vitamins, minerals, happy fats, and omega 3's while also being a thickening agent for the tomato sauce. A win win!
So, the point in all of this nonsense is to say that this Invention of a lunch was wonderful and different. I never would have stumbled upon the notion without the triple threat of Necessity, Hunger, and Desperation...the three Mama's of Invention!
Following Jesus wherever He leads
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Our Life in Pictures, Vol. 3
Our Life in Pictures took a break for a few days. On Wednesday when I had planned on blogging about our snow week...it snowed! What a surprise! I couldn't handle blogging about snow and ice while I was surrounded by it so I just gave it a rest for a bit.
But now we're back!
So, last week, February 8, 9, 10, and 11 we had no work or school due to the stupid amount of snow that the heavens rained down on Cowtown. In case you couldn't tell...I hate snow. 4 days off of work? Dandy. Stuck in the house for 4 days? Stupid. Don't get me wrong...I'm thankful! It was lovely, much needed time at home with my husband and pup but I really hate being stuck in the house.
Enough babbling on my part! Here are the pictures!
This is Friday, snowday #4. G was very very ready to go outside and this face says, "Mom please please please!!!"
K is not used to this weather! He enjoyed the snow but hated the accompanying cold. Just like me! If only snow were warm, I would like it. :-)
These are our cars. In our parking lot.
Oh, wait. You can't see the parking lot?
Yeah, neither could we!
Here are my boys, K and G, enjoying the snow! G's life was revolutionized by the white stuff and he was terribly distraught when it left. Poor guy!
I believe that G's love of snow is fueled by the following truth: Snow is the only substance in his life that he has been able to play in and eat.
What a guy!
K made this lovely message for me in our snowy parking lot!
Well, there you have it folks. A lot of stinking snow.
Hope that you enjoyed our snow week pictures!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Our Life in Pictures, Vol. 2
Today's pictures are of the hobby variety. Kris got me a Knitpicks giftcard for my birthday! I made two lovely projects from the yarn. The first is a hood, yes, just a hood. It sure came in handy during our snow week! (That'll be the next blog post) The second project is a pair of lovely mittens. More details on that later. The third is a beautiful little electronice device. It makes me happy.
Here is the front view of the hood. I had lots of extra yarn so I made a matching pair of fliptop mittens.
This is the side view; I love the cable pattern. It's made of wool and is very warm.
It keeps the wind out and the warmth in while serving the purpose of a hat, scarf and face warmer all in one!
This is the start of my very first venture into colorwork. The darker color is eggplant but the picture doesn't show that very well. I discovered that colorwork is fun and challenging...I used to think it could be nothing more than boring and tedious.
This is the top view of the first one I finished. The pattern is very tribal looking but I didn't choose it based on this part.
This is the palm...I like it much better! 
Here is the front view of the hood. I had lots of extra yarn so I made a matching pair of fliptop mittens.
This is the side view; I love the cable pattern. It's made of wool and is very warm.It keeps the wind out and the warmth in while serving the purpose of a hat, scarf and face warmer all in one!
This is the start of my very first venture into colorwork. The darker color is eggplant but the picture doesn't show that very well. I discovered that colorwork is fun and challenging...I used to think it could be nothing more than boring and tedious.
This is the top view of the first one I finished. The pattern is very tribal looking but I didn't choose it based on this part.
This is the palm...I like it much better! The unfortunate side to this story is that last night I finished the second one. Sounds great, right?
Nope. I made two left mittens.
If you know anyone with two left hands just let me know. It was so sad!
This was delivered to our little home during the middle of our snow week. I was very thankful for it's ultra timely arrival. I have almost 20 books on it so far and I didn't pay for a single one thanks to promotional books and public domain. I've hardly put it down since it came. Love it!
So there's my little hobbying update.
Tomorrow: Vol. 3, SNOW WEEK!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Our Life in Pictures, Vol. 1
I am going to start a series (a very small one) of "Our Life in Pictures". This blog is filled with more words than pictures so I'm going to change the pace for a bit. Each post will have 6 pictures that show a little about what we're up to these days.
Let me begin with our 6 month anniversary photo shoot with MckMama. One of my favorite bloggers came to Cowtown just a few days after our 6 month "anniversary". I love her photography style and I figured this was the perfect time to have some new pictures of us. Here are 6 of my favorites from the day...
This is one of the first pictures of the day.
I like the moment.
This is from not long after the one above.
I like the coloring she used and K just looks so very comfortable to me.
This is one of my typical faces. Just ask my mom. Or K.
I can't keep a straight face for long. Photographers seem to think that's funny.
A good one of just K.
He has the biggest smile! It's my favorite of his physical features.
His smile says a lot about his personality.
We're silly people.
Have you noticed?
This is my computer background at work. It captures our goofy perfectly.
I love this man more than my luggage.
Name that movie quote.
We are so glad that we have these pictures to capture this amazingly blessed time in our lives.
I pray that God keeps us in this spirit and continues to show us how to cling to Him.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Life.
My Guy.
Started back to school this week. Less hours. More music.
He's a happy camper.
Loving his church job and growing from it.
Sort of playing in a Reggae band.
Riding his bike more.
Playing his guitar more.
Has a couple of upcoming gigs.
Loves me more than I deserve.
Takes out the trash. I am thankful.
Is the most creative musician I know.
And that's saying something.
Is training me to be a happier morning person. I like that.
Should be receiving a shiny, sparkly new drum set in the mail soon.
Has incredibly generosity.
Makes me so proud.
My Boy.
Is officially housebroken. This is monumental.
No more wet spots on the floor! Hurray!
Is learning loose leash walking.
It's exciting. No more tugging my arm off.
Has the personality of a 6-yr old little boy.
Has the energy of a 6-yr old little boy.
Heaven help us.
Has started enjoying snuggling.
Has gone 11 lbs. over the housing weight limit and counting.
Loves people more than other dogs.
Has sweet pals like Buster and Boomer to keep him in check, though.
Is only very slightly spoiled.
Wants a sister named Dizzy. Seriously.
Or maybe that's just me, but still!
Keeps me feeling safe when My Guy is gone.
Is the best puppy the world has ever seen!
Me.
Still working.
Not taking classes this semester.
Learning how to be a better housekeeper.
Hating laundry.
Starting a 6 week vegan diet in February.
Knitting lots.
Enjoying being a wife.
Missing my Sherman and HPUville friends.
Addicted to Blood Oranges.
Still not sure what I want to "be" when I "grow up".
Trusting in God to tell me in His time.
Saving up for a Kindle.
Constantly coming up with bizarre names for the 15 children we plan on having.
Kidding, kidding.
Just being the same ol' me.
Started back to school this week. Less hours. More music.
He's a happy camper.
Loving his church job and growing from it.
Sort of playing in a Reggae band.
Riding his bike more.
Playing his guitar more.
Has a couple of upcoming gigs.
Loves me more than I deserve.
Takes out the trash. I am thankful.
Is the most creative musician I know.
And that's saying something.
Is training me to be a happier morning person. I like that.
Should be receiving a shiny, sparkly new drum set in the mail soon.
Has incredibly generosity.
Makes me so proud.
My Boy.
Is officially housebroken. This is monumental.
No more wet spots on the floor! Hurray!
Is learning loose leash walking.
It's exciting. No more tugging my arm off.
Has the personality of a 6-yr old little boy.
Has the energy of a 6-yr old little boy.
Heaven help us.
Has started enjoying snuggling.
Has gone 11 lbs. over the housing weight limit and counting.
Loves people more than other dogs.
Has sweet pals like Buster and Boomer to keep him in check, though.
Is only very slightly spoiled.
Wants a sister named Dizzy. Seriously.
Or maybe that's just me, but still!
Keeps me feeling safe when My Guy is gone.
Is the best puppy the world has ever seen!
Me.
Still working.
Not taking classes this semester.
Learning how to be a better housekeeper.
Hating laundry.
Starting a 6 week vegan diet in February.
Knitting lots.
Enjoying being a wife.
Missing my Sherman and HPUville friends.
Addicted to Blood Oranges.
Still not sure what I want to "be" when I "grow up".
Trusting in God to tell me in His time.
Saving up for a Kindle.
Constantly coming up with bizarre names for the 15 children we plan on having.
Kidding, kidding.
Just being the same ol' me.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Hummus and Hyperbole
I love hummus.
I have my friend Goose and lovely sister M to blame for this. Goose brought it to the house once when we were cooking together but it was entirely new to me, so I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Then, later, when my sister suggested we make some from the recipe of one of our fave bloggers I was prepared.
My life has never been the same! I love it as a sandwich spread, vegetable and chip dip, and even straight off of my fingers. It's that good.
As a vegetarian it's a great source of fiber, protein, and happy fats*. It's definitely become a staple in my diet, and now Kris's as well, over the past year and we both love it. I liked buying it from the store at first, but that can get expensive and it's very easy to make. Just throw together some chickpeas, tahini, water, lime and salt and you've got a little taste of awesome in your blender!
*My special term for healthy, non-animal fat
When we first moved here to Cowtown I started shopping at a local Kroger, which I love dearly. One day, while moseying through the produce section I saw them. These cute little green bean pods with....
Could it be?
Fresh chickpeas????
I've always used the canned, light brown colored chickpeas but heaven help us all! They had fresh chickpeas! I grabbed a big bag and filled it with 2 pounds of the little lovelies and made my way to the register. It caused a bit of a flurry because the girl at the checkout desk had no idea what they were but I finally got through the line and back home. After unloading groceries I turned on some good music, plopped down on the couch, and started shelling. I was almost done when Kris got home from work and ya know, he's probably never come home to a giddier me. I'm just tellin' the truth. I finished shelling, boiled them lightly, and then proceeded to make the most amazing hummus the world has ever seen. Seriously. We probably ate half of it that night. It was green, as opposed to the typical brown, fresh tasting and we had tons of it. For the next month or so as we would run out I would go back to the Kroger and replenish our stock. Each and every time they were confused about what my fabulous beans were but I still waited patiently.
Until.
One day I returned to Kroger and they were gone. No where to be found.
Little chickpeas! Where are you?
Gone, my friends. Gone.
It was devastating but we made it through. We went through a couple weeks period of salsa making and it was good, too. The days of fresh salsa were days of mourning but then I decided that enough was enough! We're not too good for canned chickpeas and I need hummus in my life again. Salsa and hummus can be friends, right? So I marched on over to the Kroger, bought a can of chickpeas and made more hummus with a fierce resolve. K was excited, I was excited, and Gershwin was under my feet trying to catch the things I drop. Don't worry, it's normal. This hummus was going to be wonderful, I tell you! It's the same recipe! It's the same food processor! The same maker! Great hummus to the rescue.
That hummus sucked, y'all.
It was watery and weird and brown like normal people hummus. It just wasn't the same. I even went back and added sun-dried tomatoes which is one of my favorite hummus add-ins but it just wasn't right. Since that terrible day in September we've only had one or two little containers of plain brown hummus from Aldi in our fridge. We've had a ton of fresh salsa and I'm working on perfecting my recipe, so beauty has come from pain. But where has the hummus gone? Kroger, why must you do this to us?
So, this dorky blog post is here for one reason. This is my formal plea to Kroger...
Please, for the love of produce, bring back the chickpeas!!!!!
I have my friend Goose and lovely sister M to blame for this. Goose brought it to the house once when we were cooking together but it was entirely new to me, so I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Then, later, when my sister suggested we make some from the recipe of one of our fave bloggers I was prepared.
My life has never been the same! I love it as a sandwich spread, vegetable and chip dip, and even straight off of my fingers. It's that good.
As a vegetarian it's a great source of fiber, protein, and happy fats*. It's definitely become a staple in my diet, and now Kris's as well, over the past year and we both love it. I liked buying it from the store at first, but that can get expensive and it's very easy to make. Just throw together some chickpeas, tahini, water, lime and salt and you've got a little taste of awesome in your blender!
*My special term for healthy, non-animal fat
When we first moved here to Cowtown I started shopping at a local Kroger, which I love dearly. One day, while moseying through the produce section I saw them. These cute little green bean pods with....
Could it be?
Fresh chickpeas????
I've always used the canned, light brown colored chickpeas but heaven help us all! They had fresh chickpeas! I grabbed a big bag and filled it with 2 pounds of the little lovelies and made my way to the register. It caused a bit of a flurry because the girl at the checkout desk had no idea what they were but I finally got through the line and back home. After unloading groceries I turned on some good music, plopped down on the couch, and started shelling. I was almost done when Kris got home from work and ya know, he's probably never come home to a giddier me. I'm just tellin' the truth. I finished shelling, boiled them lightly, and then proceeded to make the most amazing hummus the world has ever seen. Seriously. We probably ate half of it that night. It was green, as opposed to the typical brown, fresh tasting and we had tons of it. For the next month or so as we would run out I would go back to the Kroger and replenish our stock. Each and every time they were confused about what my fabulous beans were but I still waited patiently.
Until.
One day I returned to Kroger and they were gone. No where to be found.
Little chickpeas! Where are you?
Gone, my friends. Gone.
It was devastating but we made it through. We went through a couple weeks period of salsa making and it was good, too. The days of fresh salsa were days of mourning but then I decided that enough was enough! We're not too good for canned chickpeas and I need hummus in my life again. Salsa and hummus can be friends, right? So I marched on over to the Kroger, bought a can of chickpeas and made more hummus with a fierce resolve. K was excited, I was excited, and Gershwin was under my feet trying to catch the things I drop. Don't worry, it's normal. This hummus was going to be wonderful, I tell you! It's the same recipe! It's the same food processor! The same maker! Great hummus to the rescue.
That hummus sucked, y'all.
It was watery and weird and brown like normal people hummus. It just wasn't the same. I even went back and added sun-dried tomatoes which is one of my favorite hummus add-ins but it just wasn't right. Since that terrible day in September we've only had one or two little containers of plain brown hummus from Aldi in our fridge. We've had a ton of fresh salsa and I'm working on perfecting my recipe, so beauty has come from pain. But where has the hummus gone? Kroger, why must you do this to us?
So, this dorky blog post is here for one reason. This is my formal plea to Kroger...
Please, for the love of produce, bring back the chickpeas!!!!!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Gentle Leading
My life has changed tremendously this year. In the past 12 months I have accomplished and achieved so much more than I ever really dreamed possible. I sang a senior voice recital, graduated early with my Bachelor's degree, cared for a tiny human, planned a wedding, wrote endless thank you cards, married my sweetheart, moved to a new place, got a "grown up" job, and finally got a dog! None of these without tremendous help, of course, but God has certainly done much with me.
(That last one may seem trivial to some, but hey, I waited 22 years for that puppy!)
I've grown and been challenged. I've worked and learned.
But here I am, in my little Seminary duplex, selfish as ever.
I plan our monthly budget and pay our bills and enjoy contributing to our little family in that way. Kris is working so hard on his Master's degree and I enjoy being able to help lighten his load in any way I can so the bills and housework are my big tasks. I feared having the responsibility of the ever-looming budget in my hands but it has really opened my eyes to so much and made me more thankful than I knew I could be.
We are provided for.
Every single month.
We tithe, pay our bills, fill our pantry, and somehow are still able to make extra payments on our school loans. (Yay for the Dave Ramsey plan!)
But still, I feel so selfish.
I know that I can't save every orphan, give to every charity, adopt every sad-faced animal, and feed all the hungry. I really do know that. But my heart won't stop hurting for them. Our tiny 2-bedroom duplex is like a mansion compared to what the people in the Masese slum in Uganda live in. This beautiful young lady writes about it here...
And the clothing that I wear? The places that I shop? I can't even begin to write on my opinions on Fair Trade because it's so overwhelming.
The point is that where do I even start to weed out the selfishness that we live in every day. When I get to talking to K about this he agrees...I have so many ropes pulling me in so many different directions and I just don't know which way to go, which thing to be passionate about. Is it really ok for me to be an animal rights driven vegetarian without also committing to remove from my closet anything that comes from a company proven to use children/slave labor?? And what about the children in Eastern Europe with Down Syndrome? What can I do for them?
The problem is that this world that God has blessed us with is so full of sin that it's completely impossible to not be swimming in it.
So, in an attempt to begin with babysteps, here is the plan that we have come up with together. This Christmas, instead of buying a single thing for each other, we are each choosing an organization to support. God has blessed us beyond what we deserve and we believe that gives us a responsibility to give to others. I'll be making a donation to a charity or organization of Kris's choosing and he'll do the same for me. We don't need a single thing this Christmas...God gave us His son and still provides us with plenty. My hope and prayer is that this little step will be used by God in pointing us to His big plan for all our many thoughts and dreams.
The reason for this post is to (hopefully) get some feedback/encouragement from others in my quest to live a Jesus-loving world-changing life and to help collect my thoughts. Also, so that I can share a charity that has become very special to me....take a look at my Christmas present and see if you can fight the tears...and the love :-)
Here's the main page...
And a more specific one...
LOVE.
-Becca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)