Little watchdog!

Pearl...keeping watch out the front window...all 4 lbs. of her!

Tuesdays at the Table

On my recent travels through Blogland..I have come across many different New Years Resolutions for 2010.  Some are heartwarming, others funny, many seem life-changing and some are quite challenging...but there seems to be a common thread in most of them...the call to lead a more healthy life; physically, emotionally and spiritually!  We can all benefit from taking a good look at our lifestyle and  pinpointing the areas that require refining!

One of the things I have decided to pursue this year is to switch my cooking and food consumption to as close to Organic & Natural as I can!  Not a diet or a particular eating program but a conscious way of eating and choosing my foods to improve overall health.  Over the past year I have done a lot of research on the state of our food in America...and have been both enlightened and even sometimes shocked! This seems a good time to take the plunge and make some changes!

I hope to share my journey with y'all through my recipes and home cooking!  I will still include my crafts, decorating and dedication to family and fun...but I am hoping to "clean up" my act when it comes to grocery shopping and food preparation.

So let the cooking begin!

I began dinner tonight with some of these Chicken sausages...they have no preservatives and minimum processing...no nitrates or MSG, and are made from skinless free range chicken meat.  They are delicious too!

140 calories in a whole link!

   Sliced and sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil they are ready to be added to the meal! Set aside and keep them warm.

Next I sauteed some sliced eggplant and zucchini that I had previously cut up and put in the freezer in a little chicken broth. I cooked it on medium heat until the veggies reduced by about 50%.                                

I added some salt and pepper, rosemary and garlic seasoning...

and kept it on low heat while the pasta was cooking.

Boil the whole grain pasta...just until al dente!

These noodles aren't organic, but I am trying to use up what I have in my cupboard...they are however all natural and a good source of whole grain fiber with no preservatives.

My fresh cut tomatoes were added at the last minute so they wouldn't loose their plumpness.

For the final touch...some freshly grated Parmesan Cheese (organic of course).

And Voila!  A big bowl of healthy and hearty pasta....Let's see... I'll call it..."Resolution Chicken Pasta"

Bon Appetito!

Click  here  to check out some more "Tuesdays at the Table" recipes.

"Blue Monday" Cookies!

I finally got to use the sugar cookie dough I had chilled in the fridge!

I made some "Blue Monday" Cookies!

No "Blue Monday Blues" in 2010!  Instead it is "Hurray for Monday!"

Click here to visit more fun "Blue Posts".

Start the New Year with one of the World's Healthiest Foods...

It's the ingredient Grandma didn't use in her chicken noodle soup...unless she was Japanese...Miso...

I have been down with the cold/flu bug, but I got enough energy today to make myself a pot full of a yummy homemade flu remedy.  Veggie Miso Soup...

 Miso is an all purpose high protein seasoning made from a combination of soybeans, cultured grains and sea salt by a fermentation process.  It is a natural balance of natural carbs, essential oils and minerals, vitamins, protein (2 grams in a 25 calorie teaspoon) and all the essential amino acids. It has loads of zinc which gets 1st prize for it's beneficial effects on immune function!  I keep a jar of miso in my fridge at all times; you can use it to spread on bread, use for marinades, combine with olive oil & seasonings for dressings and just mix with hot water for miso soup!  Since it is high in sodium it can be used in many recipes in place of salt.

First I browned some thinly sliced onion, carrots and cabbage in a pot until tender and then added some organic chicken broth and some pre-cooked whole grain brown rice.  After simmering for about 10 mins. the miso is added at the end to maintain its' live cultures and probiotics.( all the things that are good for you).

It is delicious and makes you feel better with each bite!

Sick or Well...start the New Year with a new, healthy recipe...

and perhaps a new ingredient in your kitchen for 2010!

Miso (pronounced MEE-so) may be one of the World's Healthiest Foods

                                                 

A special gift for a "new" sewer...

My girlfriends's daughter, Kellie, just started sewing....

and she got her first sewing machine just before the holidays...

...so I made her a special pincushion for Christmas!

 She made some fabulous gifts for Christmas too!