When the winter wind chills me to the bone I want something to warm me up quick.  Soup would seem to fill the bill yet I’m left hungry a bit later.  The solution is making something of with a bit more substance.  Stews “stick to your ribs” as my grandma would say.

Wandering up and down the grocery aisles leaves a lot to be desired on flavors, ingredients and prices.  Instead I headed to the produce aisle and purchased seasonal items to make a hearty stew.  This curry lentil stew was dinner and lunch for several days keeping me warm through a week of snow. 

Curry Coconut Lentil Stew

Keep warm with simple seasonal stew.  Curry powder gives lentils a kick to keep the chill away.

Prep time:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups vegetable stock, plus up to 1 cup more at end if needed
• 1/3 cup tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger
• 1 can light coconut milk
• 2 cups brown lentils, rinsed
• 1 cup carrots, rough chopped
• 2 large russet potatoes, chopped [skin on]
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 bunch curly kale
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a stock pot on medium-high heat. Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil for 5 minutes.
2. Reduce heat to medium and add tomato sauce, ginger, curry, chili powder, stirring for 3 minutes. Then add vegetable stock, coconut milk, lentils, potatoes, carrots, and salt.
3. Stir, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 35 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, strip kale from center rib and rip into bite sized pieces. After the cook time remove lid and add greens and lime juice. Cover for an additional 10 minutes until greens have wilted. If needed add more vegetable stock for desired consistency.
5. Salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Storage

Stew can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For long term storage freeze in individual portions for up to 6 months.

This is a fun twist on two truths and a lie.  I’ll give you 15 things about me…only one is a lie.  Don’t let me fool you…I don’t want to lie too much.

Read through and choose the lie.

1. I haven’t had a drink of alcohol since I was 21. I’d had enough by then.

2. I helped write a song sold on a major record label. I’m a one time Ne-Yo.

3. I made pretzels with monks in a monastery. That’s how pretzel originated anyway.

4. I went parasailing in Brazil with friends. It’s close to my dream of skydiving, right?

5. The only bones I’ve ever broken were ribs. No fun cast for people to sign. 

6. I’ve marched in the Miss America parade 4 times. I was the contestant from Timbuktu.

7. I almost got married at age 19. Uh yeah…almost.

8. I met Danny DeVito when his son was going to Brown University. My touch with Cheers fame.

9. I was locked out of a mall when it closed and had to walk the perimeter to my car. It’s a lot longer going around the mall than through.

10. There were rumours at my high school that I died, or moved back to Germany. Because they are totally the same thing.

11. I can’t climb a rope.  I got an F on that gym assignment.

12. As a kid I played hide and seek with my dog in the snow.  Her name was Snowy; seemed fitting.

13. I was on stage crew for 6 productions throughout high school and college. I’m the behind the scenes girl.

14. I still remember the closing announcement from working at Bed, Bath, and Beyond in college.  Attention Bed, Bath, and Beyond shoppers….

15. I still wear footie PJ’s around the house.  With bunnies on the feeties.

So what do you think?  Pick the lie and leave it in the comments. 

Play along and give me 4 truths and 1 lie about you for some fun.

Last week was a bit phlegmy.  In my attempts to not get sick before my birthday the cold has hit me full force ever since.  Despite my desire to pretend I wasn’t sick I finally succumbed to lots of sleep and a good book in bed.  I’m hoping to breathe better now…I miss real life.

Now that I’ve depressed everyone including myself, I have some good news that came in the form of emails this week.  Such good news I screamed upon reading.

A week of emails with friends having babies, dinner plans for double dates, lunch with a friend I haven’t seen in months and YouTube and community fun.

But the big deal is…

After the fun last year, I’m happy to present on a topic I’ve been talking about since that weekend.

If you are interested in health or fitness you should think of attending.  It was the highlight of my spring last year.

Last Week’s Goals

This Week’s Goals

• Sick be gone.  Lucky me, I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled today for a follow up.  Hopefully she’ll give me insight on how long this ick will hang on.  It’s hard to rest but I will until healthy.  I’m trying.
• Five-a-day. This is a check in.  When sick I eat what I want when I want…and sometimes nothing.  Especially with my food limitations I need a check in on fruits and veggies to balance my health.
• Fitness Change Up.  My workouts have been static, same week after week.  I’m looking for a bit switch to some other fun…as long as the sickness vacates my body.
• Challenge myself. I saw the New Years Revolution on several of my favorite You Tuber channels.  Rosianna is so sweet with all her tasks, I’ve decided to take some on.  I’ve done a few already and it’s been a great change.  Now for some more personal challenges.
• Work fun.  No that the big things are done (at least for a week) I’m going to enjoy some fun.  Games with kids, crafts with women, and of course organizing.  What can I say…I love organizing for fun.

How did you spend your vacation?

The standard sentence written across the blackboard after each break.  I even wrote ¿Cómo pasaste tus vacaciones? when teaching High School Spanish. 

But no one asks you that as an adult…except Momma.  Instead of waiting for people to ask I’m going to tell ya…I spent my vacation with 3 pounds of butter.

WHAT?!

The lactose-intolerant girl spent her vacation with 3 pounds of butter.  Well, it’s more like I spent my vacation with five amazing bloggers making The Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls.

Emily was nice enough to invite me along to join in with some Western Massachusetts bloggers for a day of fun and baking. 

A few missteps with yeast, 16+ cups of flour, sugar galore and the aforementioned 3 pounds of butter later there were 2 sets each to take home and one to try. 

I love these pictures…I might order a few to frame in my kitchen.

My cinnamon roll partners in crime: Nikki, Lauren <—- her review, Laura & Kristin (fantastic partner blog) and Emily <—– her review.

Photos credits are to Nikki and Lauren.

I’m a sucker for discounted groceries.  Saturdays and Sundays are discount produce when I pick up my bananas for muffins and banana soft serve, peppers to chop for the freezer and potatoes and squashes to roast.

Yet each week zucchini and yellow squash stare back at me saying, “Buy me, buy me!”   Instead of making my traditional pasta sauce I made this chunky garden vegetable sauce and it have become and instant favorite in our house.  A few extra dollars for the zucchini and some pantry ingredients make a nice change perfect replacement.

Chunky Garden Vegetable Sauce

Combine your favorite garden vegetables and some basic pantry ingredients into a chunky sauce.  This is a refreshing meal in a rush.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups zucchini, sliced into rounds
• 1 cup yellow squash, slicked into rounds
• 2 bell peppers, diced (red or green)
• 1/4 cup sherry wine
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce [I use Coconut Aminos]
• 1 – 16 ounce can diced fire roasted tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons basil, dried
• 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a wok or large sauté pan, heat the oil on medium heat.  Sauté the onion and garlic until translucent (approximately 5 minutes).
2. Add zucchini and yellow squash to the pan.  Salt lightly and cover to cook for 5 minutes allowing the squash to sweat.  Add the peppers and cook 5 minutes more.
3. Add the sherry, soy sauce and tomatoes to the pan and stir to incorporate.  Add the spices and taste being careful not over salt.
4. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes to complete sauce.  Top with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
5. Use sauce to top cooked pasta, other grains, or eat straight rom the pan.

Thanks again for all the birthday wishes.  The day was full of ribbons in my hair and multiple classes of hot tea.

For some lucky readers my birthday means presents from me to them too. 

Congrats to this week’s birthday girl.  Lisa you win the food package.

My favorite book of 2012 and a journal to record your adventures goes to Katy Widrick.

Congratulations to you both.  Send me an email with your address so I can get your gifts out soon.

My lips and skin are dry and cracked all the time.  It comes with the pale thin skinned gene.  Shhhh…We try to hide it behind the blue eyes.

But my kind has led to an addiction to lip balm and keeping my hands covered whenever possible or slathered in lotion.  I’ve almost resorted to wearing lotion and gloves to bed.

In a quick survey of my office and home I found lotions and balms in my purse, desk drawer, and coat pocket.  I keep applying them and yet they never seem to work.

Winter makes it all worse.  I’ll spare you the pictures of cracking, painful hands.  Even with all the winter skin problems I still enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, snowshoeing, and many others.

The bitter cold and snow have just arrived for the year but my hands wouldn’t know the difference.  Eucerin offered to send me sample of their Aquaphor healing ointment and lip repair.  My skin and lips were happy to try something to make a difference.

From the moment I opened the Lip Repair it hasn’t left my pocket.  A little goes a long way to immediately coat my lips and keep them moisturized for hours. 

It doesn’t have the scents of other lip balms but also doesn’t have the waxy feel leaving me reapplying every 15 minutes.  I can go several hours between applications without the cracking and peeling on my lips.  For a similar price to traditional lip balms I’ll be buying few more to restock my hiding places.

The healing ointment did exactly what it says…it healed my skin.  Well really, it provided a nice sealing layer for my hands as protection from the cold as well as moisture while cracks healed.

As with the lip repair there is no scent which is a big plus for regular use on multiple areas of dry skin.  Just a little goes a long way so the small bottle lasts. 

I love the Aquaphor Healing Ointment but found a few things that make it tricky.  The bottle is kept in my gym bag because it’s the place it gets the most use.  However the already thick ointment becomes a solid when left in the cold car.  It can take up to an hour indoors to return to normal.

Also when applied it’s initially thick and sticky.  This is not a slather and go lotion.  I can’t touch or do anything for about 5 minutes until it settles in.  Finding something to do for 5 minutes –  without my hands – is difficult when I’m constantly on the go, but my skin thanks me.

Other than that I’m a changed woman.  I haven’t bought any other lotion and don’t intend to.

*I received these samples from Eurcerin at no cost but was not paid for my opinion.  The opinions expressed are mine after 1 month of using the products.*

From my mat I can look out the antique windows into the peaceful woods.  At my favorite studio I’ve enjoyed watching the seasons change. 

Trees bloom in the spring, bringing new life to my view.  A reminder to grow in my patience and strength. 

In fall the leaves change from green to red, orange and yellow as if set ablaze.  The fire fuels my desire to grow in my depth of practice and energy for the months to come.

Sunday I saw winter had arrived outside the windows.  The somber grey of of bare branches had turned to crystal white with the recent snow.  The pure scene through the window contrasted with the frigid air.  A reminder of grounding myself in peace so the inside matches the outside I desire to portray.

Yoga has been relaxing for my body as I stretch from the long work week.  Yet yoga has been just as relaxing for my mind as I reflect and reduce anxiety focusing on patience with myself.

Don’t forget your entries in these fun gifts. 
*Or I’ll eat the chocolate!

Last Week’s Goals

• Birthday Bash. NYC and Avenue Q were fantastic!  I forgot how much I missed the city and seeing a live show.  Note to self: Do this more.*even in snow storms*
• No Workout Excuses. Score!  Even getting back from NYC at 2AM or so didn’t prevent me from a Saturday workout…it was just later, way later.
• Let her eat cake!  One cake at The Hub…and my friend Beth was nice enough to make me cupcakes.  They are waiting for me at her house because I was sick.
• Write guest posts. Ummm…add this to this week’s tasks.  Birthday fun and sickness got in the way.
• Twitter-riffic. I don’t feel at the level of Twitter fun I was before the crazy work schedule…but I don’t know if I want to be THAT connected again.  I enjoyed this week of laid back fun with Twitter without the pressure. BTW thanks for the birthday wishes!

This Week’s Goals

• Get down to business. After a day off I have a busy week of with extra meetings, paperwork and travel.  My days are outlined to make the most of my time and get it done on time.
• Prioritize.  I feel the need to do it all.  Yet in doing so I feel I’ve never done enough or and unsatisfied.  Prioritizing will allow me to focus on work but also to enjoy the small and fine things of life I miss when trying to do it all.
• Pay the bills.  Party time is over and money goals are starting.  Instead of setting large goals that I fail in the first few days…I’m setting a series of small goals for a sense of accomplishment and improvement in my finances.
• RELAX!  This will wait until the weekend but after a long week a relaxing weekend is necessary.  Movies, comfort food, games, and a nap.  Days like that are so necessary.
• Food, food, food.  In a week full of craziness I need meals.  My rice cooker, crockpot, and …well eggs are in great use this week.