Roasted Ratatouille with Basic Aioli

Ashley said they eat this once a week....skip the aioli and just toss it with olive oil over pasta.....I plan to make it once a week so I have the left overs for pizza on Friday night....or....YUMMY! The recipe is from "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Cooking."  And evidently....since I didn't know if you EAT the skin of eggplant...or what a yellow summer squash would be I need a whole new line of cookbooks written for me. ::snort:: Thanks, Ashley. 

Prep time: 10 - 15 min 
Cook time: 35-40 min 
Serving Size: 1 1/2 Cups - makes 6 servings

Now - before I share the recipe....I learned not all squash sold in the summer (even yellow) is "summer squash". ::snort:: 

1 large eggplant cut into 1 in cubes
2 med yellow summer squash; cut in 1/2 lengthwise and into 1/2 in chick slices
2 med zucchini, cut in 1/2 lengthwise and cut into 1/2 in slices
1 green bell pepper - cut into 1 in pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 in pieces
1 yellow bell pepper - cut into 1 in pieces
1 large red onion cut into 1/2 moons 1/4 in thick

1/4 C Olive Oil
2 T garlic, minced
2 T FRESH rosemary or 2 tsp dried - crush a bit with fingers
1 Tb chipped FRESH thyme or 1 tsp dried
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 C cherry tomatoes, cut in half

Basil Aioli - didn't use as I didn't have many of the ingredients
1/2 C  loosely packed basil leaves
2 large garlic cloves
2/3 C Tofu Mayo
1 TB nutritional yeast flakes
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat oven to 450*. 

In a large bowl combine vegetables, olive oil and spices. 

Transfer to a cookie sheet - spread in single layer. 

Bake for 15 min. Stir, spread out again, bake another 15 min. 

Stir, scatter tomatoes on top. Bake another 8 - 10 min until veggies are tender and lightly browned around edges. 

If you are making aioli - mix spices in food processor and process 1 min until finely chopped. Add Tofu mayo , yeast flakes and lemon and process 1 min. Serve ratatouille hot with aioli on the side. 

Variation: use ratatouille and aioli as filling for split rolls.....

De'Etta's Variations: mix with spaghetti sauce and pasta for lunch the next day, use left over veggies and make a Roasted Veggie Pizza with the Sourdough English Muffin recipe as the crust, mix it in a tortilla....

Michael REQUESTED I send this for lunch tomorrow! 

Michael, Zander and Arielle ATE this....Michael suggest mushrooms and artichokes added next time..... 

And that yellow Squash? It allowed me to pretend I had cheese on top....and I'll mix it with beans and rice or the bit of left over veggies I squirreled away for lunch tomorrow.  LOL 

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

Another Week Begins

I had the fun of training a local PWOC Spiritual Life who was not able to attend WILD this summer on Monday morning.

The kids and I went to the beach in the afternoon. I didn't take a single photo.

We attended a meeting for all the kids going on the missions trip this week. We're going to be quiet around here with two more gone.

I enjoyed some quiet time with a book and a salad while I waited for the youth small groups to conclude....and I got to steal a quick conversation with a friend of which I don't see nearly enough.

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

Sumo Sunday

Two home runs on Sunday - of the sermon kind.  Michael challenged us to "Be Like Him" - I Peter 1:13 - 17 in the 11:00 service. 

Michael and I took Stacia and Zander bowling as the older two were attending the ecumenical youth kick off.

We headed over to The Grid after bowling. They had quite a crowd....looked like fun. Kim did a wonderful job with the event. 

We headed over to the 17:00 service where Ch. C challenged us to "Love Like Him" - Luke 15:8-10. 

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

Voices in My Head

Saturday began with lots and lots of Japanese...and I wasn't quite sure why I was hearing Japanese voices in my head....maybe hearing voices in several languages signifies....

Ah.....harvesting the field on the other side of our fence.....makes perfect sense.

07:00 - 08:00 found me in a Skype conversation with all but one of PWOC Japan/Guam's Presidents. We hashed out conference, talked about upcoming years and regional activities....always a good time to meet with these dedicated ladies.

08:30 and I was heading to North Base....unfortunately....I forgot a triathlon was going on.....not to worry - I still made it in plenty of time to share with the local PWOC board three principles of spiritual formation/leadership.....Intimacy, Simplicity, Legacy.

I ran by the Misawa Inn, the  commissary and came home. Michael was at the office for the day.

The CHILDREN weren't impressed with my idea to take a nap...and so we headed for the swim beach. Their friends were there and they had a great time. I enjoyed a rare Mommy visit at the beach.

We settled for left-overs for dinner as Michael was still working.....watched an episode of Hogan's Heroes and headed for bed.

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

The Day After

Zander had Stacia out early this morning teaching her how to use her scooter. She seemed like a natural until this afternoon when she fell and was introduced to road burn.

Arielle gave Stacia a pedicure yesterday. Stacia is now sure she should give me one.... notice the big toe. LOL

I had a long list of things I needed to get done for regional  - I didn't get them all done....but I DID enjoy a two hour Skype meeting with PWOC Japan's Conference Coordinator and a friend who served as a Regional Conference Coordinator in the last 2 year term.  Lots of great information passing back and forth. I'm thrilled to see how God moves through Kristin to bless our ladies in November 2013. 

I also spent a couple of hours working on notes for a talk I'll give tomorrow. 

I had thought I'd make pizza for the kids and ratatouille for Michael and I....as he wasn't impressed with Annies Veggie pizza.....  Everyone loves the Sourdough English Muffin as a pizza dough...and I made it  vegan.....added chicken, turkey pepperoni and cheese on the kids....

I make homemade pizza sauce....and when I smell it - I just couldn't resist....so we made our own veggie....mushrooms, broccoli, jalpeno olives, red peppers,  green onions, tomatoes....I grated a zucchini - I hoped it would look like cheese ...but it got too fine...and lots of garlic....no cheese - totally vegan.

Michael ate it. I liked it. The veggies were a bit crunchy....next week I'll roast them first....or some of them....and I'll be sure to have some artichokes...Michael said it was way better than Annies.  I plan on trying the ratatouille tomorrow.

After dinner, I disappeared again to work on my notes for tomorrow. I'm condensing the general sessions from WILD to share at a local planning retreat.  I was working on a combined slide show but decided really - I would have to go get screen, projector, show up early to get it all hooked up and I think I'd be the only one using it for an hour - then have to put it all back- I'd rather catch the end of  Road to Bali with the family. Star Trek (original) and I'll call it a night.

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

Our Baby is Seven!

Everyone was helpful with their emails and comments on Facebook. We sorted through our impending Birthday disappointment. Stacia has been planning for her birthday party for 8 months and then all but one of her friends moved.  She agreed we'd have a family birthday party and have a new friend party later. She wasn't the least bit worried about gifts - we had planned to ask for food donations for a family we know in place of gifts - she would like to have a friend party later and maybe then we can still collect for the family. Crisis averted.

LATE last night - when Stacia finally went to sleep; she was VERY excited her birthday was approaching..... the kids and I sprang to action.

Arielle made signs 

Nolan and Zander hung streamers

Stacia's birthday finally arrived! It rained a lot....I told her where she was born (San Angelo, TX) rain is precious and rare....this was precious rain to celebrate her birthday. 

Usually our birthday person picks the meal or dinner spot...but this day Michael had a Financial Working Group meeting he needed to attend.....so....we met him for lunch...she didn't get to pick her favorite spot (Papa Genos is what she requested) but she did get to pick where on base we would eat lunch.   

After lunch we came home and relaxed.  We also had a nice long Skype with BreAnne. I worked on upcoming PWOC projects. 

Finally, shortly after 8:00 p.m. we wearied of waiting for Michael.  I called and we agreed we'd go ahead and let her have her cake and wait for him for presents. She was happy. 

Nolan and Arielle made the cake so I wouldn't have to deal with my favorites (Chocolate/ice cream/peanut butter cups) while on this vegan plus adventure. ::snort:: 

Stacia sweetly asked to pray before she had her cake....and was so very thankful for her birthday and to be part of this family. Melted my heart.

Nolan seriously offended Yuuki. He moved her chair and sat in it. She stood up, looked at him, walked over to where her chair should be, looked around and then laid down like this and pouted through all the festivities. ::snort:: 

Zander tells me this is like Monopoly 

Stacia seemed to love all the cards as much as the gifts

Michael passed his Father's Day gift from Jared on to Stacia

Finally gave up on the BX saying "They'll be in soon" and bought a Japanese brand.

Jared Skyped in as we finished presents...so it's good we stayed up late to open them.....He got the boys together and Stacia thought it was great fun for her big brothers to sing Happy Birthday to her!

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

Sunburned Nose - really?

Stacia and I went to the park and enjoyed discussing 2 Peter 2 with a precious group of ladies. I HAVE A SUN BURNED FACE....because I was running late and  didn't put on my make up which has sunscreen in it - I'm a believer. 

After study we headed for the commissary to buy the ingredients to make a Reeses Peanut Butter Ice Cream cake....anyone tracking with me on this? This was HARD...I gave up chocolate May 20th and am now doing vegan plus....which means this is my all-time favorite cake and I didn't lick a spoon. ::snort:: ONLY because Arielle and Nolan took the ingredients off my hands and made the cake when I got home. 

Kids enjoyed playing outside.

I got some regional stuff done...and then was surprised when Kristin Skyped me on my computer....I'd totally forgotten a Skype call we had scheduled. ::snort:: Grace was extended and a great call too.

I took Arielle on a play date and then met a friend for a play date of my own. We went to UNcafe - new to me. I'd assumed it was a deserted building. ::snort:: I loved parking on the sidewalk...they said it was fine....and I really loved that I was not the one driving and trying to find a parking spot!

Michael is  at work....dinner is done....I'm going to wrap up a few more quick projects and steal some time to work on prepping for Saturday's project.... Still praying about the best way to go with 7 hours of training notes.

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