Monday! I am traveling back to Colorado today :
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc.), we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
Ok, we do have a diary schedule. But, when you are ready to write that diary, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMOM a Kosmail with the date. If you need someone to fill in, ditto. FloridaSNMOM is here on and off through the day usually from around 9:30 or 10 am eastern to around 11 pm eastern.
Monday:
BadKitties
Tuesday:
ejoanna
Wednesday:
Caedy
Thursday:
art ah zen
Friday:
FloridaSNMOM
Saturday:
Dave in Northridge
Sunday:
loggersbrat
I did NOT like most vegetables while growing up. Usually, we hid our limp, icky boiled broccoli, asparagus, or whatever in our napkins and then sneakily disposed of them. There was a terrible, mortifying incident involving said boiled broccoli, my father, a phone call from a boy, and the ruination of any cool factor that I may have had at age 17, but I digress.
Once my mother puréed turnips and served them to us, cleverly disguised as mashed potatoes. Bad Mommy!
But then I got my own apartment, around age 20, while still in college, and my roommate(s) and I cooked. I discovered that I LOVED steamed vegetables. Or lightly sautéed veggies with lemon. It was an astonishing revelation :) I promptly bought my parents a steamer and showed my mother how to use it. And finally my father ate his veggies, too :)
I just bought two books for 10 cents each :) One is by Jillian Michaels, called "Master Your Metabolism." The other is, "Patricia Wells At Home in Provence." I cannot wait to try some of Ms. Wells' recipes. They all involve lots of herbs and veggies. I will post some, with pix, after I try them :)
Before roasting
In order to master my metabolism, apparently, I need to eat lots of veggies and proteins, and simple carbs. This is one of my favorite things to make, which came together because I like all three of these roasted:
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
Leeks or onion
Bac-O's or turkey bacon bits (optional)
Olive oil
Pepper
Parmesan cheese
Salt (I don't use it)
Crushed rosemary or other herb (optional)
Halve Brussels sprouts, break cauliflower into florets, slice leeks or onion, and put into roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle pepper, bacon bits, and herb, and toss to coat. Sprinkle Parmesan on top. Roast at 425 for 40 minutes or so, turning every 10 or 15 minutes, until browned and Brussels sprouts are caramelized.
Quantity will depend on number of people fed :) For four, I use 1 head of cauliflower, about a pound of Brussels sprouts, and two leeks or one small onion. This reheats beautifully, too. Sometimes I add a little garlic, and then I have to add parsley, too.
Roasted
And I must include my friend Diana's utterly simple and totally delicious guacamole recipe:
Guacamole
2 medium avocados sliced or cubed
1 beefsteak or 2 plum tomatoes diced
1 small onion diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Juice of 1 small or 1/2 large lime
1 tsp coarse salt
Place all in large bowl
Mix by chopping through with a knife
Mash to desired consistency with a fork
EAT
Add roasted corn and black beans for southwest style
I can't see adding the corn and beans, personally, being something of a guacamole purist, but, hey, the more veggies, the better! I do want to add Cholula Chili Lime powder. I think that is our favorite restaurant's secret ingredient. It's an orange powder in a salt shaker. They add two shakes. I'm pretty sure it's not Lowry's seasoned salt, which is the only other orange powder that comes to mind. Besides Tang :)
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy day! Not sure the Jitney has wifi, so please excuse me if I am a spotty or absent host :)