Italian Broccoli Pasta

I'm not really sure if the roots of this recipe are truly Italian.  I do know that the original recipe was from a family with Italian roots.  I have to say, this is one of the world's simplest recipe and I especially love that there's really no right way to make it; it's all personal preference.

Italian Broccoli Pasta

~1 lb pasta (I used 13.5 oz whole wheat penne)
~1 lb broccoli, chopped into bite sized pieces (depends on how much you like broccoli; we love it)
~1/2 head of red/purple cabbage
1/2-1lb sausage (again, it depends on how much you like meat)
1/3-1/2 cup olive oil
5-8 cloves of garlic, minced (we are garlic lovers)
1-2 t. red pepper flakes (how spicy do you like your food?)
salt and ground black pepper to taste
parmesan cheese to taste (if you want it)

1. Bring the water to a boil, cook pasta.
2. Steam the cabbage and broccoli until it's as tender as you like it.  I like mine with a little crunch, rather than just mush (the noodles are already mushy, we need some variety!).
3. Brown and crumble the sausage. Drain the grease. (I think chicken would also be yummy in this dish)
4. Put the oil in a sauce pan or frying pan, add the garlic and red pepper, cook on low for about 10 minutes.  (note: do NOT heat the oil first and then add the garlic, or the garlic will fry and burn.)  You can use a colander/sieve to separate the oil from the garlic/red pepper after this, or just leave together (which I usually do, to avoid having another dish to wash).  Basically, you're just making garlic/red pepper infused olive oil.
5. Combine the above ingredients.  Top with some freshly grated parmesan cheese (we've had it both ways, and of course it tastes better with it, but it's also fine without).

 
This isn't an especially flavorful dish, but it's a simple, fun, colorful, and inoffensive dish to make (unless you've got a vegetable hater in the family).  As Jesse put it, "You know, this isn't one of my favorite meals, but I can't stop eating it!"

Jesse also said that it looked like a fake, plastic-y dish because the broccoli and cabbage were so bright and colorful.  Isn't it sad when we think only food colorings make things colorful?  Fruits and vegetables are so beautiful.  The cabbage wasn't in the original recipe.  I added that because a) we had it and needed to use it and b) I love to eat colorful foods!

cauliflower and rice

On Monday I made some roasted cauliflower and a rice pilaf.

I had bought some cauliflower, but Jesse doesn't particularly care for it raw, which is how I've always eaten in it.  So, I tried something new (roasting it) which is something that most people have probably done before.  I guess I just like my veggies raw.   Jesse liked it this way.  I didn't put the cheese on it, but I imagine he would've liked it even more with the cheese...

I didn't have spinach, but I think the spinach would've tasted delicious in the rice.  I also didn't have pine nuts, so I just chopped up some walnuts instead.  Totally not the same.  Pine nuts would've been scrumptious.  I also used twice as many mushrooms as the recipe called for because we love mushrooms, plus they were starting to go bad.

There's so many recipes I want to try.  Why am I so addicted to trying new things?  I think it's a good thing, because I'm eating such a variety of food and ingredients, so I'm getting a more balanced diet than I would if I ate the same meals over and over again.  Or at least, that's what I keep telling myself...

fluffy pancakes

Yesterday morning I made up a recipe for some fluffy pancakes.  Jesse really enjoyed them.  I love that they aren't heavy like whole wheat pancakes usually are, yet they are filling and flavorful.

3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup white flour
2 t. aluminum free baking powder
5 t. sugar
1/2 t. salt
2 eggs, separated
1 1/4 cup milk

1.  In a medium sized bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.
2. In a separate bowl (glass or metal, NOT plastic), beat the eggs whites on medium speed until fluffy and firm peaks form.
3. Beat the yolks with the milk, add to the dry ingredients and mix.
4. Gently fold in the egg whites into the flour/milk mixture, being careful not to over mix.
5. Use 1/2 c. measuring cup, pour batter into a heated frying pan.  Cook over medium-low heat on a nonstick pan (if you have a good quality pan, you won't need to oil the pan), flipping when the edges begin to look dry and firm and bubbles begin to form.

(optional) Healthier add in ideas. After pouring the batter into the pan, sprinkle in some chopped nuts, berries (chopped strawberries or whole blueberries are good), or chopped apple.  You could also put the fruits on after they've been cooked. Another option is some pure maple syrup or sugar-free jam spread over the cooked pancakes. Be creative!

9 miles

This weekend was my first at my job.

It was exhausting, but actually kind of fun.  I walked 9 miles and stood for 1000 miles, I'm sure.  I work with an interesting group of people.  They're all very nice but they have their quirks.  Of course, a week when everyone is working overtime and stressed to their max probably won't give me the best impression of everyone.  But really, I work with some great people.

Also, I just wanted to say that I really, really, really like our new church.

Last, I'm looking forward to spring break.  It's currently week 6 of 17 of classes, and I'm having my first test this week.  It's about time. :-)

i'm a person too

Sometimes I get sad and insecure.  Don't we all?

Do people really do like me do they just tolerate me?  I am opinionated and say things I don't necessarily believe, just so I can get a reaction.  I argue for one side of the coin with one person and the other side with someone else... just for the sake of a good discussion.  Most of the time I'm not truly passionate about any topic.

Despite my flaws, i do love you. I really do. I may not always like you and may not be able to be in your presence you for very long, but I pay attention, I listen, I know things about you.  I know what you like and don't like.  I file it away in my brain.  Sometimes I forget, but it's not very often.  When it comes to people, I almost never forget... not your name, not your birthday (if you've told me), stories you've told me, things you've experienced... if I've spent time with you, it's significantly impacted me.  I remember you for a very long time.

I notice you because you're a person.  I notice if you seem down, if you seem overwhelmed, sad, stressed, lonely, insecure, distracted... I don't usually say anything, but it affects me.  On the other hand, this sometimes creates a problem for me.  I notice how you treat me, if you treat me differently, if you seem upset at me.... I notice it.  I notice that you ignore me or avoid me.  I notice when you're short with me.  I notice when you truly are just tolerating me.  I notice when I'm not accepted.  I notice when we just need time apart to work through our differences.

When this happens I start analyzing it, sifting through memories, paying attention to what I say, what other people say about you, so I can try to figure out what's wrong.  If i can't figure it out, I shut down.  When I'm rejected or confronted, that's my immediate response - to shut down.  I became detached and emotionally distant.  It's what I've always done.  People don't realize this because my secondary response, is much stronger and louder - my survival response, to fight. Except, because of response number one, I used to do it emotionally detached.  I think that's part of the reason I was able to make anybody cry in my former years - I was cold. I couldn't feel their pain anymore.  The other part is because I do know so much about you, I've also observed your weakness. I know how to make you hurt.

Knowledge is power... but power is sometimes death.

Now I'm learning how to balance this. and it sucks. I'm learning to let things go, to breath, to use my fight response in a different way.

Now I have a physically difficult time make insensitive comments (about 15% of the time, something still slips out).  That doesn't mean I don't think insensitive thoughts. It just means I can't speak them. I'm becoming less detached and more empathetic to what people feel (when I'm angry).  and. I don't want my words to be what gives someone a the little push they need before toppling over the edge.  I've already hurt too many people in my life.

I'm ready to move on.  I'm ready to forgive - both myself and you.