Roasted Asparagus the Roman Way (Vegan)

This was good - though again I didn't have all the ingredients. I'll have to take a photo next time I make it. 

1 lb asparagus spears, washed and trimmed
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 C chopped kalamata olives (didn't have)

Herb and Garlic Marinade
1/3 C water
1/2 C vinegar (I used balsamic)
1/3 C olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed 
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 425*. Whisk together marinade ingredients.  Put asparagus in a large dish, drizzle some of the marinade over the spears until they are well coated. Save the rest for other recipes or for salad dressing.

Roast asparagus (I used a cast iron skillet) for 5 minutes.

Scatter tomatoes and olives over the asparagus and bake for 5-10 min more or until the spears are the at the tenderness you desire.

Makes 4 servings.

Note if you aren't doing vegan Feta cheese would be a great addition to this and you could mix it all up as a salad.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Black Bean, Corn and Brown Rice Stuffed Peppers (Vegan)

I tried this. Mixed reviews. Michael really thinks sauce should go over stuffed peppers....I really liked the pepper not being soggy....but then I decided I like the filling more than the pepper. I discovered this as I had way more filling than I needed so I filled a bowl with spinach, put in 1/4 C of filling, sprinkled with nuts, squeezed a lime over it and YUMMO....and tonight I put some sweet potatoes and this in a tortilla....so I went ahead and made up 5 more "burritos" with it and put them in the freezer for "quick meals" ....and figure I like it well enough to save the recipe - even if I only make it to throw on salads and tortillas. LOL  Yep - still learning this new lifestyle. ::snort:: 

3 Cups of black beans (2 15 oz cans)
1 Cup of cooked brown rice
2 scallions, sliced (I had onions?)
1/4 C chopped cilantro (couldn't find in the commissary???)
2 T oil
2 T fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic (I used more)
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 large bell peppers (evidently the large you can get here is smaller than elsewhere?)
2 C tomato juice (I didn't have and subbed tomato sauce - next time homemade spaghetti sauce for Michael's)

Preheat 350*

Combine beans, rice, corn, scallions, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

I cut the peppers in half lengthwise...seared them on both sides, drained them and then placed them in a large glass baking dish and stuffed.

Supposed to carefully spoon juice over each stuffed pepper and pour the remainder into the dish. Cover with foil and bake for 45 min - 60 min.

Recipe suggests putting rice on a plate, topped by pepper and some of the juice from plate.

Makes 4 servings. (plus)

Do you usually put some sort of sauce over the top? It doesn't get too soggy? I think adding an avocado to the filling for the tortillas and salad would be good. LOL 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

THURSDAY

Another amazing beach prayer walk with Yuuki.

I put in a few hours catching up on Regional business today.

I helped kids with summer school.

I spent 3 hours on dinner..... For Michael and I...need to go buy MORE produce that salad is sad, sad, sad....and a variety of fruit.

The kids had spaghetti meatballs and the same veggie and fruit options.  Michael ATE a pepper....after several recipes mentioning "soggy" stuffed peppers.....didn't use much sauce...turns out my man likes sauce....so not a total hit - but he ATE one.....better than the last beans and rice...which brings me to my next point...I must find some vegan main dish options, we both like, besides a zillion varieties of beans and rice...and this isn't soup weather either. LOL

I liked the stuffing - though it would SING with a bit of cheese, don't you think? As it is - I'll put a bit in salads....in a tortilla....I'll figure it out. The marinade for the asparagus was good.

Look at this - a cool breather!!!!!!

Via Barbara H Facebook status

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Another Boring Day

I attended a Bible study this a.m. and had a lovely time with the ladies as we discussed I Peter. We'll meet her next week as I have an Air Conditioner - a real drawing card in Misawa this time of year. ::snort::  Come to think of it, I could probably do some creative evangelism with the AC about now. 


I spent the afternoon - until like 5:30 - play "executive assistant" to a deputy wing chaplain. ::wink:: We are trying to "climb back into the saddle" after our extended absence. I've been joking that I'm at least trying to climb back on the horse...but I think we're both feeling by now like we need to FIND THE SILLY HORSE before we can attempt to get back in the saddle and ride.  Not sure HOW we were doing all we were doing....and taking a long, hard look at what I put back on the plate. ::grin::

How did it get to be August 1st already? I seemed to have lost most of June and all of July. How did the "dog days of summer" become the "start of school" month?

In other news I made it through another vegan day - this isn't so terrible....though I need to find hearty meals for Michael to eat....it surely does take more time in the kitchen which brings us back to slowing down.....so I can live the way I desire, parent the way I desire, eat the way I need to eat, have time to work out....going really, really slow at each new commitment....and seeing where God would set the boundaries on the old commitments. Nothing major - just good for a recovering workaholic  ministryaholic to evaluate every few months.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Normal Days

The moment you invite someone into your time of solitude and silence - it is no longer a discipline of silence and solitude. I know, I know - it seems I had to try it to realize it. ::snort::  Stacia wanted to go on my walk with me this a.m. - but my walks are prayer walks - more than exercise related.  I agreed.....but forgot that she would BE there....wanting to TALK....and so I introduced her to the concept of prayer walks...and I lost the solitude....but I took joy in joining her in prayer. Maybe this is a good way to start to teach her a bit of introspection. 

The boys, Stacia and I headed to the produce market at Shimoda Mall. Yummm.....they enjoyed a Krusher at KFC (Do they have those in the states? The kids were asking what they were and I'm not eating such these days. I'll google)...anyway....they enjoyed a Krusher at the window and watched as I bought lots of FRESH (as opposed to commissary wilted in two days tops) produce.  I found these babes for Michael.

 I was really hungry at lunch and craving some of those beans and rice I'd stored up earlier....with no real clue of what I was doing....I sauteed some veggies, garlic, grated ginger and carrot with my fun new 100 Yen tool....

Added some fresh pineapple,  frozen corn, peas and a bit of yakitori sauce....it was lunch for Stacia and I. 

I couldn't eat it all and so wrapped some in  a tortilla for dinner with a salad....and have some left. Michael didn't like it - I got the wrinkled nose. Oh well - I told him there are 8000 beans and rice recipes I'm sure to find one he'll like eventually. 

Arielle and I ran to the base to buy a sprinkler and the items we couldn't get at the produce market. We discovered the commissary is the coolest place in Misawa. I feel terrible for those on base with no AC - 97 * today....but there is hope. 

Via Susan B's Facebook Status

We have AC in the living room and our bedroom. We try not to run it unless it is essential. We dry our clothes on the line which helps keep the dryer heat down....and we're still HOT....but we can sit in front of an AC and fan when needed. 


The kids cleaned the fish tank. I cleaned (deeply) the downstairs.....such is the life of normalcy...a day so normal you almost hate to write about it - but I did and I loved living it.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Getting Back into a Routine

0500 prayer walk on the beach today with Yuuki.  As we began our walk I told God I would LOVE to find a float - several of our family have.  I walked to one end of the beach, turned and walked back to the surf beach, thought about going  back as the 0600 "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" music played, really sensed God saying, "Settle down, linger for a bit, walk a bit further," so I did. I walked back to the surfer's beach....again I kept thinking "linger with Him a bit longer," and so I kept walking and praying and praising....and stumbled over THIS.....

My first float. I wasn't even thinking about looking, it wasn't hidden in the trash...it was just SITTING ON THE BEACH....and I walked all the way to the next breaker....then climbed to the top of the seawall and walked back to the car at Momoishi.  It has cleaned up fairly well - though I have some more oil to remove. 


Prayer Walks seem to wear Yuuki out. She spent several hours in her chair when we got home...after breakfast and water, of course. 

Spent time organizing and decluttering. 


Helped the younger two with some summer school.  I envisioned recess playing in the water to mean SPRINKLER....they had plans with hoses, buckets and such....I moved them to the grass. 

Cooked up some beans and rice, packaged for easier use in salads, and stir fries....also packaged up cashews and raisins for easier "travel". 

Researched some veggie recipes.  Yes, we ARE implementing some changes to our diet this month. 


Tonight was youth group. I wasn't sure the kids could stay awake, but we gave it shot. I met Michael at base and he came home with the two younger. I stayed with Arielle, Nolan and Sam (friend) and read. I fell asleep.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tis the Season....

Via Google Image
Cold Shower Season in Misawa

Water Play Season.....

QUICK Drying Season  (Keeps our house cooler too)

Nekkid Fan Worship Season 

Homemade Juicecicle Season

Whatever you choose to call it - these are the weeks of SUMMER - that time of the year when the humidity is 90-100% and the temps are above 80 degrees. 


I can't complain too much when I remember the past winter of 250 inches of snow...and realize fall will be short and then it will be another long winter. LOL 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...