Summer Eats - Cajun Chicken Salad

Photo by Simply Recipes

The transition to cooking food for summer takes a few weeks for me. I poured through cook books and magazines and then went to my trusted resource, Simply Recipes to find this delicious recipe for Cajun Chicken Salad! I added more lime juice and opted for red and orange bellpeppers over green. My hot sauce of choice was Crystal. This was absolutely delicious, my husband loved it and so did I! Full recipe at Simply Recipes...

Simply Recipes Eggs Nested in Sauteed Chard & Mushrooms

Simply Recipes posted a meal idea after my own heart. I have every one of these ingredients most of the time and LOVE this combination of flavors. Eggs Nested in Sauteed Chard and Mushrooms

photo by Simply Recipes

Asparagus and Poached Eggs - friends forever :)

Photo from Martha Stewart

 Oh how I love ASPARAGUS and POACHED EGGS!



Whatever the season, time of day or mood I'm in -  I never grow tired of asparagus and perfectly poached eggs.

Here's a tasty recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food for Asparagus with Poached Eggs and Parmesan! I like to add a squeeze of lemon or heck, why not hollandaise sauce.

Photo from Joyful Abode

My favorite easy hollindaise recipe comes from Ina Garten aka the Barefoot Contessa :)
 
I found this beautiful photo from another Paleo friendly blog - Joyful Abode!

Creamy Curry Zucchini Pasta

Photo from Peas and Crayons

Peas and Crayons: Creamy Curry Zucchini Pasta sounds delicious and makes me think of summer!

15 uses for coconut oil besides cooking - via Apartment Therapy

A handy dandy list by Apartment Therapy on 15 non edible uses for coconut oil. I already use it as a skin moisturizer and aftershave....it melts right into the skin. They list rust removal and leather cleaning among other ideas that got my attention. How do you use coconut oil? Have you tried any of the 15 ideas listed?

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic

If you want salty, crunchy, naturally sweet and fork tender yumminess, try my recipe for Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic!

I adapted this from a side dish a friend brought over. The key is to let the oven pre-heat and then get those Brussels BROWN with crispy leaves. Also, don't be afraid of using a LOT of FAT!

Chicken Paprikash from Simply Recipes

photo from Simply Recipes

Tonight's dinner in foggy Oakland is Chicken Paprikash from Simply Recipes! I added crimini mushrooms because I just LOVE mushrooms....it's simmering on the stove right now. I might add red bell-peppers next time too. I washed and dried my hands many times - but still managed to drop my knife and make a nice slice across my toes! Luckily it was shallow and even luckier - my husband is fastidious about providing a first aid kit in both  cars and the kitchen! A sprinkle of blood coagulant and I was back in action.

Delicious Dinner this weekend...

On Saturday we celebrated our friend Damon's Birthday at an awesome Korean Restaurant called Jong Ga House in Oakland. I was excited to find this delicious dish on the menu - steak tartar with sesame oil, raw sliced garlic and a raw egg yolk. I drizzled a touch of the mustard sauce on it, broke the yolk and savored the tender chopped beef.

What are the Best Cooking Oils from Real Food University and several other folk...

photo from RealFoodDigest.com

I've been having a whole lot of fun experimenting with different cooking oils and fats. My favorite right now is ghee and bacon grease (which I always have on hand.) Coconut oil has so far been a snack.... I just scoop a spoon of it, put that spoon in my mouth and savor the sweet flavor.

I found a couple of great posts around the net that give the health and cooking whys and hows of different fats so I thought I'd include them all in one post.

Real Food University gives a short video on the best cooking oils.

Mark's Daily Apple combines two great tastes that taste great together - Ghee & Coconut Oil

and

Real Food Digest gives the what/how and why in their Complete Guide to Fats and Oils

So, tomorrow morning I am totally trying that ghee/coconut combo..... what do you like to cook with?

Baked Fennel at Martha Stewart Everyday Food

Photo from MarthaStewart.com

I was visiting my mom on Wednesday and enjoyed going through her Martha Stewart Everyday Food booklets. So  many lovely photos, great ideas and this recipe caught my eye... Baked Fennel with Parmesan and Thyme .

Lemon Chicken at Simply Recipes

Photo from Simply Recipes

I haven't tried this one yet but it looks delicious....

Lemon Chicken

over at one of my favorite recipe websites...

Simply Recipes!

Let me know if you try this one out. I see it in my kitchen in the near future :)

Easy Italian Wedding Soup

My go - to soup for a chilly night! 
Even BETTER the next day :)

Ingredients:
1 - 1lb Roll New York Style Brand hot Italian sausage
(or your favorite Italian style sausage)
2 boxes Kitchen Basics Original Chicken Stock
(my favorite stock with no weird ingredients)
2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
2  large organic eggs and 1 t-spoon oregano
1 head cabbage or bunch kale
1 yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 bunch celery
1 bunch flat leaf Italian parsley

Cauliflower-Goat Cheese Gratin on the Food Network

Photo from Food Network

Here's a favorite recipe for cold weather comfort

Cauliflower-Goat Cheese Gratin! 

I doubled the cauliflower and halved the cream.

I also added some chopped, sauteed onion and chopped flat leaf parsley. It was delicious!

Next time I think I'll crumble some crispy bacon and throw it on top! - Heidi

Happy New Year - 2012

Greetings ol' pals!


I usually write something around this time reflecting on the year 
and posting some goals for the next.

It's gonna be shorter and sweeter this time around!

My friend Jennifer Serr interviewed me recently. 

Read her interview at - Bonjour Teaspoon 

I've had a wonderful year and am feeling fit, fine and fabulous!


2011 in a few words:
Comedy pod-casts, periodic ear pain, By Nieves Handmade Natural Body-care, a new knowledge of bay-area traffic navigation, road trip to see Paul F. Tompkins, thrilling news of my brother's engagement, high and lonesome singing, total immersion / fascination / author crush of/on Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes, delightful anniversary trip to Carmel with lot's of Poki-by-the-sea sandy pawed frolicking, Brian's awesome birthday cocktail flight school at St. George Spirits, Cory and Khrys bought a house in Santa Cruz, bonding and beyond with the Lucky Ladies & my Women's Initiative leap group, mentored by talented musicians and lot's of good times with family and friends!


2012 Goal - Continued Happiness!

Christmas Poki!

Fourth of July with the Bennetts in Chico!

Brian and Heidi Married, August, 4th, 2007

Cary and Jenny - engaged!

Poki and I in Carmel

Sexy, Sexy, Science!

In January 2011 I wrote how I would stop dieting and only eat what I crave. But what nagged at me was that I felt that I didn't understand how my body worked, why I was still fat after eating all the "right" stuff, exercising a lot and my Dr's check-ups proved I was perfectly healthy!

Gary Taubes

I am so happy to have read Gary Taubes' book Why We Get Fat and watched Tom Naughton's movie Fat Head.

I learned how and why my body has been acting the way it has, why I've been told the wrong information my whole life (except when I was on Atkins in the '90s) and how to eat for my optimal health!

I can't say what is right for anyone else but if you like reading and thinking I recommend Gary's book and if you're more of a visual person give Tom's movie a whirl on Netflix streaming.

Tom Naughton

The Alameda Small Dog Blog: Poki and Friday cuddling on the table

I am posting pictures of Poki and her friends on the Alameda Small Dog Blog

click on over and enjoy!

Alameda Small Dog Blog

Play Guitar?

It's been a while since I mentioned my brother's cool website

Electric Guitar Review

Full of real reviews and overviews of guitars, equipment, etc.....

For those who LOVE to PLAY GUITAR.

Check it yo'!

Heidi

More Adventures, less STUFF aka more doing, less buying aka more living, less...well, you get the idea!

Well, I picked my theme for 2011 and I'm very excited about how it's shaping up already!

I haven't posted in a LONG time and I think it's because the transition to who I am now is taking a lot of reflection and introspection.

A quick follow up from my last post, Brian has an awesome job working for Kodak Gallery in Emeryville, Poki's photo was even featured on their website over the holidays! I graduated from the Women's Initiative Simple Steps program with a detailed business plan and have continued to enjoy playing music with the Sweet By and By.

On to 2011... I am happy and positive, ready for new challenges and adventures!

I have a wonderful network of supportive and positive friends and family that surround me and a loving dog and husband that give me a sense of joy, warmth and well-being each and every day.

I have successfully transformed my eating habits to very good ones built around what my body likes, and responds happily to. I have grown stronger physically and also mentally.

I simply eat what I crave and leave behind the rest.

I've been the heaviest person in my immediate family for as long as I can remember and I feel extra pressure (that I put on myself) to try every and all things my family members try or suggest because of a nasty inner dialogue that tells me my family members are embarrassed of me and are wondering why I can't get it together as they have and finally lose the weight.

But I have now banished my nasty inner dialogue and that's a wonderful place to be!

I am healthy, I am happy, I am strong and I am capable.

I ask for all of you to see me as I see myself and remember to always be kind, loving and completely accepting of people as they are.

As for my Theme of 2011 - More adventures means I'm going dancing in a couple weeks, snowboarding In about a month and the biggest adventure of all, I'm absolutely, positively starting 2011 as a full fledged working musician!

As many of you know I transitioned to a singing instructor after giving notice at Julie's coffee & tea garden with the notion that I could teach singing as I developed a singing career.

Working as a singing instructor has been a wonderful experience but I realized that if I REALLY want to be a working musician I need to (for now at least) stop teaching and concentrate fully on developing my business as a performer.

So, by the end of January I will have no more students, and will be finishing up the first three demo. songs I started recording in December! Once the three demo. songs are mixed down I can actively seek gigs!

I am also spending January updating my website and looking for other musicians who are interested in playing the music I want to perform. It looks like the musicians will be a combination of folks hired per gig and a few who will be regular players.

I learned a whole lot last year from the shows I performed and plan on soaking up a lot more knowledge as I play with and get to know more professional gigging musicians and band leaders over the course of 2011.

I'll be recording every couple of months too so...

Keep up with all my musical developments at RubyBennett.com

As far as the "Less Stuff" part goes, I'm simply going to be choosing adventure, learning, playing, out door activities and games over gadgets. This counts for how I interact with the world, how I spend time with friends and also what I choose to give as gifts!

The last several months of 2010 were spent playing board and card games, drinking mulled wine, playing music, making and eating wonderful meals with family and friends.

I plan on keeping this up through the winter and not waste time wishing it was summer.

Thank you all as always for believing in me.... 2011 is going to be something wonderful!

Cheers and happy new year!

Heidi

2010 is so awesome!

Wow, it's hard to believe the last time I posted something was in JANUARY!

For my birthday in February I flew to Bisbee, Arizona and had a truly magical time with my birthday buddy Tabbie. Tabbie is blossoming into a gorgeous young woman and just graduated junior high as the Salutatorian of her class!

I'm so proud of her and we all know her momma is too!

The loss of family and friends does affect you in different ways depending on your relationship to them and who you are, how you have grown. I felt happy for my grandma when she decided she was ready to leave but I feel a big, big hole where Penny used to be when she was on earth. I am sooo thankful for all the memories and her laugh stays fresh in my mind. I really miss Zoe, who passed on while I was in Bisbee..... she was in the family for a long time and a great companion to Cary.

What makes things easier is to remember how those we have lost enriched our lives and then to recognize the new friends and family that are with us NOW.

Since I have been working from home and not at a bustling cafe I have had to seek out socialization in a new way. This was hugely challenging at first especially because I had moved away from Alameda, didn't drive and have had a VERY tight budget.

But, I rode my bicycle, learned the bus system, called friends to meet up and set up a tab at Julie's. This helped a bit but I needed MORE!

So, my friend Jennifer and I formed a support group for independent business women called the Lucky Ladies. I bonded with my Sweet By and By band mates, Cary, Gwen and Katie & also networked with other musicians via my connections with my friend Rick and the magic of Facebook. I started taking driving lessons (thanks Flo and Dad) and lo and behold....

I am now a licensed driver! This happened on Monday, June 14th. I passed my test with ease and then Brian and I went to Oakland Grill to celebrate with burgers!

Thank you to all of you who have picked me up, dropped me off and otherwise tolerated my non-driver status!

Special thanks to Kelly, Brian, Flo, Valerie and Kate for letting me drive around with you....and Jay, my driving instructor!!

The other awesome news is that through meeting up with the Lucky Ladies, I found the opportunity to apply for the

Women's Initiatve Simple Steps Business course for low income women

My friend Gwen Harlow and I will start this 11 week course next Tuesday!

I'm looking forward to some edjucated guidence as I move toward more success as a performer and a teacher. My major goals are to have two, very professional websites for my businesses and some high quality recordings that reflect who I am as a singer.

Brian, Poki and I have been enjoying getting out for walks and dog park time, working on the house and bonding as a family.

In recent months our family goals have been, Brian getting an awesome job (he's been training, working on a portfolio and shopping his resume) getting the back yard in shape including major tree trimming and awesome, bargain patio furniture purchases. We've also been doing some excellent recession inspired shopping at Grocery Outlet and the Orowheat Outlet and making some delicious home cooked meals.

I am feeling lucky, optomistic, and blessed.

I look forward to BBQs, planning dog friendly vacations, zipping up to Sacramento to visit Mom, Amy, Cary, Jenny, Michelle, Bob and Magpie Caterers' Cafe!

Heading to Grass Valley to hang with dad, Flo, Joyce and Dan.

And finding a personal trainer!

What are you up to?

The Year of Being Strong!

So,

Two years ago I dubbed 2008 the year of DOING, 2009 was My Life is a Musical - this year is the year of being STRONG.

I want to work with those muscles that have been dormant, tackle challenges with strength and fortitude, I have a strong immune system and I want to keep it that way.

I am inspired by those who forge ahead without excuses.

I want to say "sure I'll go Snowboarding/Rock-wall climbing/Hiking with you"

I want to be able-bodied.

I want to look at food as my delicious fuel and take what is good for me into my body and leave the rest behind.

When I make food to share with others I want to nourish them because I love them and want them to be around a long time.

I want to see more Facebook posts about adventure, challenge and movement and less about sickness and sucky days.

I want to meet friends for walking, biking, bowling, dancing, rafting, and new things I've never asked my body to do.

I want to lift weights, get back to yoga and be thought of as athletic.

I want to go here and do amazing things.

I invite my friends and family to join me in saying.. as I get older, I get stronger!

I want to co-opt Kaiser Permanente's add campaign and THRIVE!

How will you be strong this year??