Relaxing ~

My plate vs. my daughters plate....

In our family we have an old fashion meat and potatoes guy, a vegetarian, a picky eater and the rest of us are sort of normal except the darling daughter that can't have her food touch. Now I am not making fun, but a Thanksgiving meal is probably the hardest plate of food to keep your food separated, and I thought a picture for posterity would be appropriate.

 Handsome vs. cute

I am going to have to make a set of buttonhole napkins for Christmas.

 

My well loved Moosewood Cookbook comes in handy after Thanksgiving. I was vegetarian during the nineties and now eat meat sparingly. What I love about this cookbook is that each recipe is packed with so much flavor that my carnivore husband almost doesn't notice, but he asks. But for those individuals who need to have meat at each meal, the addition of a protein adds chew and texture to an already flavorful main dish. 

Lentil soup with carrots, chopped tomatoes, simmered all day. Just what I needed after a busy Thanksgiving. 

Now to the next holiday and elving to be done ~

What am I going to do with this.....

The shawl is growing, the bread is baked and now what am I going to do with this offering. I am trying out a 'Farmers Market Bag' from Specialty Produce. They are connected with local farms and purveyors of locally produced goods and select items that are in season for $20.00 per bag. Every week the items change. I enjoyed something similar when I lived in the Bay Area. 

This week there is a fennel bulb, avocado, spaghetti squash, white spring onions, purple potatoes, cabbage and romaine lettuce. I will try my hand at onion jam (a recipe found on Specialty Market's website) and there is a recipe for Spaghetti Squash Casserole in my well loved Moosewood Cookbook. The fennel is a mystery. We have 2 bunnies and they turn their noses up to it. The cabbage I will share with a friend, we will enjoy a salad, the avocado is ripening and I am still looking for a recipe for the purple potatoes. Next week will have a slightly different selection and I am looking forward to enjoying blood orange olive oil, that I am purchasing in addition to the FMB. 

In week #9 of Ali Edwards' 52 Creative Lifts newsletter, I found these words, "Comparison is the thief of joy. Theodore Roosevelt". I too fall victim to comparing myself to others and then worse, stop doing those things that make me happy. I am still finding my own voice, my own way and how I might fit in here and there. 

I will be me and you will be you and we can enjoy each other accomplishments...