Gorgonzola Tomato Salad Riding without training wheels

I am finally done with training wheels.  Im finished teaching Children how to ride without their wheels. Son learned how to ride on his own, without his two helper wheels a couple of days ago, and Im thrilled to be done with this phase of life.  Now everyone can ride their own two wheelers and its one less thing I have to worry about teaching them.  

Each time Ive taught Children how to ride, its been difficult, because there is fear in learning how to balance.  There is fear about falling and there is fear of failure.  They each wonder if they wont be able to actually ride the bike.  Each child dealt with these fears in different ways.  Daughter #1 closed her eyes, clenched her teeth and faced her fear head on.  Daughter #2 calculated her fear against the benefits, and adamantly sat on the sidelines refusing to do it.  Son kept on wanting to try, but needed continual reassurance that someone was right nearby to catch him, should he fall.

And each child managed to overcome his or her fear and learn to ride.  I did have one rule for all of them, and it was try it 10 times before they could give up.  Daughter #1 kept on trying it way beyond the 10, and mastered it quickly.  Daughter #2 and I fought for every single one of those tries - each one was a battle of her screaming and my cajoling her and reminding her, reassuring her and finally forcing her to finish her 10 tries. (She was riding by try 11.)  Son only wanted to try 2 times, but I explained that no one could learn it in two times, and that each time it would get better.  Each try for him was a look of fear on his face followed by whines of reluctance and complaints of how he didnt like his bike anyways.  

And it made me think about different fears that I have.  What do I fear?  And what can I try over and over again 10 times and see if I cant overcome my fear?  After all, Ive asked Children to do it - what can I do?  It came to me.  I want more practice praying for the impossible.  Ive had experience praying for healing for others, and praying for things for other people - but I want more practice praying boldly for me.  I want more practice asking God boldly for what it is that I want.  I dont want to fear failure, lack of faith, or disappointment.  I want to practice asking boldly.  10 times as it were.  So Ive begun this prayer.  10 times to ask for what it is that I think that I cannot ask for.  Ill let you know how it turns out.

In the meanwhile, I challenge all of you who are scared to cook and scared to try new things to try this simple salad.  You cant mess it up, I promise.  If youre invited to a bbq in the next couple of days or to a potluck dinner where you know the host is cooking up some nice steak or tri-tip, bring this.  

Gorgonzola Tomato Salad
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
1 lb cherry tomatoes (a variety is lovely)
½ cup finely chopped red onion
½ cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Method
Slice cherry tomatoes in half. Place in bowl. Add chopped onion and cheese. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over. Toss and season with salt and pepper.

If you are taking this to a potluck, place tomatoes, red onion, and cheese in a bowl. Add olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper right before serving.

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Fresh Tomato Sauce Pizza Bread Back to the grind

Its funny.  I always catch myself wishing for the next moment instead of enjoying the moment where I am.  Its a bad habit I have, always planning, thinking about my next move, and anticipating what needs to happen next.  During the three weeks that Daughters were off, I spent a LOT of time wondering how soon school would start again.  There was a LOT of fighting (between the girls and then with me) and a lot of time management struggles I had, trying to get things done in my normal efficient manner, but having to face the fact that there were two additional people to deal with.

Every morning started out pretty similarly with my barking orders about chores, about piano practice, about extra math.  Invariably mid morning, Daughter #2 would begin whining about how we never ever ever have pizza EVER.  I do have to agree that we dont often have pizza because Sons allergies make eating it hard.    Daughter #2 even went as far as to ask if we could have it while Son was at school since he wouldnt see them eating.

As Ive been in "eat everything we have at home" mode, Ive been making some crazy things.  At the moment of Daughter #2s timely whine for pizza, I did a quick assessment of my kitchen.  I had about 2 cups of slightly shriveled cherry tomatoes, a tiny bit of fresh basil, two stale pieces of toast (leftover from breakfast) and some mozzarella cheese in the fridge.  It seemed like I might be able to throw something together so I gave it a whirl.  I cooked up the tomatoes with olive oil and garlic, salt and pepper, and make a quick pizza sauce, tossed it on top of the stale bread topped it with cheese and finished it in the toaster oven.

Youd have thought I was some famous pizza maker from some famous Italian town the way Daughters gobbled down the pizza.  And I was very pleased to use up cheese, slightly wrinkly tomatoes, and the stale toast.  Since I was worried that the popularity of this dish was kind of a fluke, I did go ahead and make it again, this time with fresher, more "presentable" ingredients.  The end result was again super delicious and super worth it.

But as soon as I discovered this fantastic, easy to make at home treat, Daughters have returned to school and suddenly its packing lunches for them every morning that consumes my mind.  If only I had enjoyed how wonderful it was cooking for them at home (albeit with the incessant fighting) before I sent them back to school.

At least I discovered a great use for cherry tomatoes.

Fresh Tomato Sauce Pizza Bread
Makes 6 to 8 pizza breads

Ingredients
2 cups cherry tomatoes, washed and picked over (Don’t let the shriveled ones scare you - use them too)
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, crushed or finely chopped
8 leaves fresh basil, chiffonade
salt and pepper to taste

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese OR fresh mozzarella, sliced
Bread, sliced according to desired thickness (I’ve used torta rolls, english muffins, french bread, white bread - it all works)
Prosciutto if desired

Method
In a small saucepan, add cherry tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.  Place saucepan over medium heat and cover, allowing steam to help soften and cook tomatoes. Cook for about 12 minutes and then open lid.  Tomatoes should be watery and soft.  Continue to cook with lid off to help evaporate some of the water and slightly thicken the sauce.  Remove from heat.  Toss in fresh basil and set aside.

Toast bread in toaster oven (if it is fresh - if it is stale, no need).  Remove from oven.  Spread a nice layer of tomato sauce, chunks and all, on top.  Sprinkle cheese and any other desired toppings.

Return bread to toaster oven (or regular oven preheated to 400) and toast/bake, until cheese is melty and the desired color.

Enjoy!!

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Avocado and Tomato Pasta Salad This is summer

Right about now, when the heat begins creeping in, and the long sleeves and long pants and jackets make way for short sleeves, shorts, and flip-flops, advertising everywhere turns our thoughts to summer.

And suddenly everyone begins thinking about what the summer "it" thing is going to be.

Already the LA Times wrote about this summers song, Beautiful by Mariah Carey.  (By the way, I had no idea that Mariah Carey was still around.) I listened to it a few times, and found the tune a bit catchy and fun (although the lyrics EXTREMELY worrisome with motorcycles and no helmets and boys doing things) but maybe it is the summer song.  I can see people enjoying it on the beach, in the car, or at a bbq.

There are also summer fashion themes.  Bold graphics, boho chic, shiny metallic looks and peekaboo cutouts.  Yeah, whom am I kidding?  Summer fashion to me means shorts and a tshirt, and maybe a new swim suit.    But you know that summer will bring out new and fun outfits for the rest of the world and youll see me in my khaki shorts and black tshirt uniform.

There are the summer "it" vacation spots - Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Thailand.  These are the places to which people travel in order to enjoy some rest and relaxation.

I know not enough about music, fashion, vacations - but I DO have this summers PERFECT "IT" pasta salad.  Its this one.  Bright, citrusy, cilantro, avocado tomato - and with pasta.  It is so perfect to bring to any picnic you have and it goes with literally everything.  Ive had it with chicken, beef, and fish, and each combination is too yummy to pass up.  You could also shred some rotisserie chicken into it and call it a meal salad, but Ill let you decide to do that on your own.  Its simple to put together and it will taste great at your next gathering.  The best thing about this "it" summer pasta salad is that its easy to put together and easy to eat.

Avocado and Tomato Pasta Salad
Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
1 pound rotini or another curly pasta

¼  cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½  cup olive oil

2 cups red and/or yellow teardrop or grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 cup chopped green onions
2 avocados, peeled, and diced

Method
Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain, rinse well and set aside to drain and cool.

Whisk vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper, in small bowl or measuring cup. Gradually whisk in oil. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.)

Mix tomatoes, cilantro, green onions with pasta.   Add vinaigrette; toss to coat. Add avocado.  Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

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Garbanzo Beans with Sun Dried Tomato Dressing For all complaints my name is James

Friend SH and I have recently been lamenting how much our families complain about the food that we put in front of them.  Its funny because her family will eat what Im cooking and my family loves what shes cooking, but when we cook for our own families, no one seems to be satisfied.  Both of us want to emphasize health, more vegetables than meat, and a focus on eating balanced meal, while our audience members seem to think that what we are serving them isnt what they ordered.  For the record, families, there is NO menu from which to choose.

Its hard cooking for family because they are the biggest critics and the biggest gripers.  If I make meatloaf one night, Daughter #1 is over the moon while Daughter #2 and Son complain.  (I happen to really like meatloaf as well.)  If I make some steak, Daughter #1 will complain while Daughter #2 and I enjoy it.  Son is neutral.  If I make a spicy curry, Son and I will chow down while Daughter #1 and Daughter #2 complain.

Ive left Husband off of this list of complainers because he is in a different category.  Dont get me wrong - Husband is incredibly supportive of the food that comes out of my kitchen.  He eats everything that I put in front of him, minus beans, and eats with relish and a thankful heart for the food hes been given.  However, he cant just eat the food and smile and say, "It tastes great."  He always has to offer some sort of comment about how it doesnt quite taste like the last time, or how he wishes it was angel hair pasta instead of spaghetti, or how he likes this same dish with gravy.

Hmph.  Every once in a while, when I get good and fed up about the number of complaints (please address James when complaining) I go all crazy and cook something that I KNOW no one else will like but me.  Beans.  A salad.  Something cold.  Something that looks herby.  Something that Im sure that no one will enjoy but ME.

I raided my pantry, stumbled upon a can of garbanzo beans and made a quick and easy bean salad for myself using up some Italian parsley, shallots, and sun dried tomatoes I had.  And THIS....THIS became the hit for the day among Children.

If I were a cartoon character, my head would have spun around in its socket several times and then rolled off.  And my decapitated head would ask, "Oh!  Is THIS what you like?"  But it is really good and tasty and oh-so-easy-to make.

Garbanzo Beans with Sun Dried Tomato Dressing

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons lemon juice

4 sun dried tomato halves (not in oil), finely chopped

2 shallots, finely chopped

15 1/2-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed, drained

¼ cup finely chopped Italian parsley

salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a medium-sized bowl, add whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, sun dried tomatoes and shallots.  Add garbanzo beans and toss into dressing.  Finish with Italian parsley and salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and refrigerate for about 45 minutes or longer to allow flavors to blend.

Serve as a side salad, or on top of toasted bread for a tidy appetizer.

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The sun-dried tomatoes I used - but the amount sold here is a HUGE amount.

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Avocado Tomato Quinoa Salad The C Word

To my warriors - I love you all so much.

In my life, right now, I have four friends who are battling cancer.  There are various types, various stages, various treatments, but at the end of the day, I have four friends who have found out something is happening to their bodies that they cannot control.

As my friends shared their situation with their loved ones, immediately my head began reeling as I thought of these women.  Mothers.  Wives.  Daughters.  Sisters.  Friends.  Teachers.  Mentors.  Caretakers.  The roles that these women fill are myriad and they are AMAZING at what they do.

The C word makes me SO mad.  I started getting angry, and because I am always a little bit obsessed with words, I began thinking of all the C words that I could that could fight Cancer.

Crush.  I want to crush cancer out of these womens bodies.

Cure.  I want them to be cured.

Cut.  I want to cut off any cancer from taking over anymore of their bodies.

Care. I care what happens.

Conviction.  I have conviction that I can make a difference.

Christ.  In Christ, all things are possible.

This same day, a Vacation Bible School song came on and the words struck me as right.  "Dont worry, about anything, but just pray, about everything."

I have been been praying fiercely that God will crush, cut out, cure this cancer, and that these women get the right care.  I know that God will answer my cries, and the cries of so many other people who love these women.  I wrote to one of these women, that in times of great adversity, God has a chance to do something amazing.  Im going to sit right here, praying hard, waiting for Gods amazing, because I KNOW it will happen.

This quinoa salad - its something I want to make for all of these women.   When Gods miracle happens, Ill be cooking for and eating with them.

Avocado, Tomato, Quinoa Salad
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper

1 ripe, yet firm avocado, diced (you want it ripe, but not so mushy that it will fall apart.)
1 ½ cups cherry or grape tomatoes
½ cup chopped cilantro
½ cup chopped scallions

Method
In a large heavy saucepan add quinoa, water, and salt.  Bring to a boil uncovered, and once boiling, cover, and reduce heat to simmer.  Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until all water is absorbed.  Check to see that quinoa is translucent and the germ is visible (the fine line).  Remove from heat and remove quinoa from pot to cool.

While quinoa cools, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, and salt and pepper.  Pour over warm quinoa and toss.  Add avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, and scallions.  Season with salt and pepper if necessary.

Can be served at room temperature or chilled (which I think tastes even better!)  Allow to cool and then refrigerate if you want to have it cold.

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