Mr. Green

We do not see each other nearly often enough anymore.  Funny we had more time when the darlings were wee ones it seems. We have made a habit of going out to dinner when we can find a date that accomodates all three of us.  A nice habit it is  but,,,,,

I invited them to my house this time. I wanted to maintain the Spring Cleanse momentum, so I decided to cook.  Hahahahahahah.  As I planned  and shopped I realized the menu theme  - green. 
Everything I eat these days is centered around green; green smoothies and blue smoothies made green with spirulina that stains the world the color of grass but really has no where near the pungent flavor of the green beans I tried in the smoothie today (and will not add again).

My beautiful clear glass platter sitting on my beautiful green plaid tablecloth was colorful enough with hummus and carrots and apples for dipping - green of course. The crisp gorgeous deep green of Kale Chips fresh from the oven spattered with sesame seeds tasted fresh and crisp - and green.  The pale gold of spaghetti squash set off the red and green of the homemade tomato and spinach sauce.  Each of us topped the main course with a sprinkling of the few remaining kale chips. Yummmm.

The girls brought wine - ruby red - and desserts; a creamy white rice pudding and a 4 layer carrot cake that I did not eat but enjoyed the site of.  I finished the meal with a cup of green tea - earthy and warm.  I was satisfied.

Green has all kinds of meanings these days.  It is a good color scheme for a dinner with friends that you do not see often enough.

Chocolate, Pizza and Chia Seed Oatmeal

Chocolate,  Pizza and Chia Seed Oatmeal.

It has been a great ten days.  Full of fun and flavor – and success. 

A healthy spring cleanse full of greens, exotic foods never tried before and familiar ones in new combinations.  Smoothies of an entirely different kind green with spirulina, rich in vitamins and minerals.  Eight pounds of excess baggage left behind – pun intended.  It has been a great ten days.

 

I put my purse down in the nurses’ lounge. The table was covered with open boxes of candy.  Covered.  I looked at my berry delicious smoothie and took a long deep draw on the straw. Yummy.  I was satisfied.  For now.

 

Just one.  That is how it starts.  Just one.  Maple cream, my favorite.  Oh, and coconut.  I love the coconut ones.  And the mint melts in your mouth.  Enough.  I put the  veggie salad and  fresh spaghetti squash with homemade tomatoe sauce and fresh cilantro in the common fridge and begin my shift.  Oh, first I have one more chocolate.

Two hours  five patients, an ICU transfer a change of shift and a staff meeting later, Lisa Sue was on the phone.  “Pizza anyone?”

Oh, pizza, you are not my best friend, but my well planned, home made, nutritious and delicious food is still in the fridge waiting and I am busy. Pizza, how I love you in moments like this.  Warm dough, sweet sauce, meat, lots of greasy delicious meat.  I look in my purse.  “Yup, I’m in. “  I shout as I dig out the dollar bills.

I savor the hot oily flavor unique to the Italian delight.  One small piece, then two.  It is worth every mouthful.  Yup, it is.

*******

I sleep 8 full uninterrupted hours.  Eight.  Heaven.  I wander down stairs and open my friend the fridge and it is full of bright, inviting choices. Exciting choices. 

I have all the colors of the rainbow lining shelves and drawers waiting to be made into the blue and green smoothies that taste of sunshine and good health.  They invite me back into the ritual of the spring cleanse. 

I have no regrets about my choices last night. Why waste regret on something so delicious and in the end, really harmless. It is only the habit of chocolate and pizza that does you in, not the occassional indulgence.

This morning I choose a new dish.  I have soaked chia seeds and oatmeal in coconut milk.  I bake an organic apple and stir it into the gooey goodness, take my green tea and sit in a sunny corner by my computer and begin to type.  

Good Saturday morning world.

It Starts with Gratitude

God is great. God is Good and we thank him for this food. 
Said over corn flakes and PB&J, hot dogs and mac and cheese, those words, or words very similar, were repeated day after day by toothless little ones, hands folded eyes closed and then darting to see who else was looking.

And we THANK HIM for this food.  No matter how ordinary or special, how scarce or abundant, before we ate we gave thanks. A meal - usually around the family table - started with appreciation for the sun and the rain, the toil and the soil, the planting and the harvest. How joyful to give thanks.  How humbling, how centering, how right.

Tonight, without bowed heads or folded hands, Nick gave thanks at the table. In front of us was  a "cleansing " meal that she had prepared.  When she finished her simple, heartfelt prayer,  I lifted the plate of food to my nostrils.  Tangy rich aromas brought me to a halt.  The smell was astonishing.  The combination of a simple squash, a few tomatoes, a bit of cilantro and a touch of garlic and I was spiraling into joy. 

How right that we should give thanks for such riches. Thank you Nick for remembering that it starts with gratitude.

Choices

Choices parade before me in an array of color.
It is both the beginning and the end of  something; of many somethings.  Traditions. Habits.  Choices.
Last week the yellow, pink and purples of sugar covered Peeps mixed with the bold rainbow of assorted jelly beans drew me over and over to the overflowing Longaberger Easter basket sitting on the table.

Each morning for the last several weeks I have poured fifteen extra pounds  into my biggest jeans. Today as I try once again to button them up, sucking with all my might to pull in the belly that so loves the sweet sugary white frosting cross on top of deliciously buttered Lenten treats, I am relieved that Easter has passed and spring has sprung. I am delighted that, knowing where I was headed, I made a promise to myself that today I am determined to keep.  Ambivalent, but determined.

Good food and I, great, abundant, healthy, organic, locally grown or raised food and I, have had a longstanding love affair - but I am promisuous.  I dance with the devils of saturated fats and empty calories and love every dip and swirl.  I am not even discreet about it and now I am being called to task.   My inner being cringes that the indiscretions are scoring the most points.  Oh, and my pants won't zip. 

I walk the aisles of Adams Fair Acre Farms and new choices parade before me in an array of color
It is both the end and the beginning of something.