Kale salad

Who knew that you could use kale to produce such a fantastic salad?!! I am sure you are looking at this entry and saying to yourself, "yeah right, kale is bitter and gross." But... you would be incorrect. If prepared correctly, it is incredible for your health, and can taste just as wonderful. I first found this recipe in Experience Life Magazine, which is one of my favorite publications right now. I made a few slight changes, which I will of course share. From their recipe, I added less olives and more raisins, but it is up to you as to what works and what flavors get you going!

Ingredients

1 bunch of kale, stems removed, cut into small pieces

1/2 lemon- 1 lemon

1/4 cup olive oil

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 healthy pinch of sea salt

1/3 cup walnuts

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives

Optional:

Fresh shredded basil 

Now, let's look at the culprit before

I tell you what to do with him:

It's a very daunting task to know what to do with kale.

• Toast walnuts (Oven: 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Skillet: med/high heat for 3 min) until slightly browned
• Put chopped kale in a mixing bowl & add the lemon juice by squeezing it from the lemon (the more juice, the tangier it will be), garlic, olive oil, and sea salt. Massage the kale for about a minute in order to soften it.
• Add the walnuts, raisins, olives. You can also add freshly shredded basil here if you so desire. 
• Let the salad rest for about 15 minutes before serving to let the kale soften a bit. 

Don't you LOVE my salad tossers?!

 Some Suggestions:

• Do NOT forget to toast the walnuts. It really isn't the same if you don't.
• Try mixing golden and regular raisins to offer variety.
• I promise sea salt makes a world of difference in this recipe, so don't use kosher salt.
• The smaller you cut the kale, the better. It can certainly be bitter if left too raw, so let the lemon juice and other ingredients take over, and let it cat nap before you divulge. 
• Try using almonds instead of walnuts. 
• Feel free to cut back or go overboard on any of the ingredients according to your mood. Tonight, I added more raisins and cut back on olives. Go for the gold!
• Be sure to read Experience Life Magazine's page on "How to Cook Kale"

 I hope you enjoy this salad as much as I and my dinner guests did. We were quite surprised at how delicious kale can be. I also apologize for the pictures. Something is going on with my camera and it is not quite in focus. But...it will do the trick for tonight!


Happy and healthy eating!

~Linbrooke

Scripture Tea

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.  ~Bernard-Paul Heroux

Being sick is the pits. Having a cough and sore throat and headache can be miserable. Seeing as I have been battling the wonderful blessing of sinus congestion the past few days, I have been drinking a lot of tea. And I suppose it may have something to do with the fact that I cannot have caffeine after 3 PM due to sleeping issues. Thus....a comforting cup of tea.

When I think of tea, I think of the calm and soothing feeling I get when I take a sip. It has always calmed me down. My mom knows my sleeping problems, and she also knows that I love tea, so she brought me home a little gift: Scripture Tea. I fell a little bit in love.

They have a Bible verse on every bag of tea. In their words, "Scripture Tea has combined two timeless treasures – Tea and The Bible." And it is really really good tea. As I write, I am drinking a mug of the raspberry flavor, which I would highly recommend.

I had to share this with you because I love when a company takes something ordinary and gives it a unique twist. So far, my bags of tea have had Scripture from the Book of Psalms and Proverbs, and I get excited to open the next one wondering exactly what words of encouragement will be on there. 

Tea is something that provokes inspiration, relaxation, and a reminder of what is important. It forces me to slow down and just be. If I have a Scripture to mull over while I am doing that, it hopefully makes me think about being a better person. Whether you're having fellowship with some wonderful friends, or just taking a break from life, be sure to look into Scripture Tea, even if only for the quality of the product. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.  

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the 

comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company.  

~Author Unknown

 

~Linbrooke

Tis the Season... (Part 2)

Every time I watch a Charlie Brown Christmas, I cannot help but get choked up when Linus talks about the meaning of Christmas. And this is really interesting because I haven’t been to church regularly in about 2 years. My faith is still very much alive inside, though, and at Christmas, it reminds me of Jesus and who He became to the world. For me, I’d say most of my thinking happens when I’m cooking.  

Luke 2:40

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Regardless of how you or I feel about religion, Christmas really has nothing to do with you or me. It has nothing to do with gifts ands lights and decorations (though I still love them)… it’s all about HIM…about Jesus and what his birth and his life meant to the world, and thus, what we can become to the world. Christ was a beacon of hope for helping the needy, feeding the hungry, and loving the world. He was and is an icon of GRACE.

No one can deny the inspiration Christ has brought to so many of us to love with abandon and continue to hope. Who of us can’t celebrate that? It is so hard to think of Christmas as more of an internal rather than external celebration, but if I could do that, Christmas truly becomes amazing. I would feel honored to be a fraction of the person Jesus was.

This Christmas season, as you might have guessed, I have done a lot of cooking. It is a way I can serve others and is very therapeutic for me. With a roller coaster of a year behind me, I truly want to use this season as a way to energize and get excited for the year ahead and the changes I want to make within myself. As much as Christmas is about loving others, I have realized how vital it is to show yourself as much, if not more, love.

Though it is easy to think of our pains and loneliness, Christmas would be transformational if we used it as a time of encouragement, reflection, and introspection. It is my prayer for us all that we could find a way to relax and regroup, whether it be over a cup of tea, or in cooking or baking something delicious for loved ones. 

  I hope you are encouraged this December in knowing that it doesn’t have to be so exhausting, but if we can slow down and recharge, some wonderful things could happen. For me, cooking forces me to slow down and think about the process rather than the end result. I am beginning to understand that the result would be nothing without the process, and that applies to every aspect of our lives.

As it is Christmas Eve, I wish you a day full of love and hope and serenity.

"There is more to life than increasing its speed." Gandhi

 

~Linbrooke

Biscuits and Gravy

Biscuits and Gravy is an all-time favorite...but people get it really wrong all the time, and I don't know how. It is truly a very very simple recipe. Here's my take on it, and I tried to put exact amounts, though to be honest, every time is a bit different. Gravy loves to be fickle, so you have to work with it a bit. My all-time favorite Midwestern breakfast....here we go!

INGREDIENTS

2 cans (8 pack) homestyle biscuits

1 lb. Pork sausage (I use Jimmy Dean)

4 T flour

1 T black pepper

appr. 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream

salt to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees or whatever directions instruct
2. Put sausage into 3 qt. saucepan or large fry pan and let it brown
3. Drain off excess grease (I spoon it out)
4. With sausage in pan, coat sausage in flour. It will be absorbed into the grease on the sausage so you won't really see it
5. Add the heavy whipping cream, salt and black pepper and stir
6. Put on low heat, and cook for about 20 minutes (can vary depending on the stove) until thickened, stirring occasionally
7. Cut biscuits in half, spoon gravy over it 
 

  The art of browning beef:

 

 The beef should be browned all the way through before adding the other ingredients. While the beef is browning, be sure the have the biscuits in the oven as it should take 

about 30 minutes from start to finish to prepare the gravy.

 Drain off excess grease (I spoon it out)

Sausage with flour

With sausage in pan, coat sausage in flour. It will be absorbed into the grease

on the sausage so you won't really see it.

Ingredients pre-stir

 Add the heavy whipping cream, black pepper and a bit of salt- and stir!

Ingredients simmering

 Put on low heat, and cook for about 20 minutes (can vary depending on the stove)

until thickened, stirring occasionally

The final product

 Some Suggestions:

• You can adjust the ingredients depending on the number of people eating. It is easy to cut back or add more of different ingredients, BUT when adding more of any ingredient, add small amounts at a time and taste, taste, taste!!
• I like my gravy meaty, but if you don't, add less of the sausage! 
• The MOST IMPORTANT part of this recipe is coating the sausage in flour. If you forget, it will need to cook much longer, and you will need to add flour. It will still taste wonderful though.
• You gravy will thicken as it cooks, and thicken even more once standing. If it is too thick, you can add a bit of milk. If it is too thin, put a bit of flour in the gravy. 
• I use refrigerated biscuits (Pillsbury Homestyle) for this recipe, but if you want to make homemade biscuits, have at it and send me the recipe. :)
• Cutting the biscuits in half really makes for a better combination of biscuits and gravy
• To make a bit spicier, you could add some cayenne pepper to the gravy. 

 

Enjoy!!
~Linbrooke

 

 

Tis' the Season... (Part 1)

Remember

This December,

That love weighs more than gold!

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

It’s that time of year again. A time of laughter, joy, glitter and gold. Or…rather, that is what the Christmas season is meant to be- but is it really? I have finally admitted…Christmas is a disaster. Now, before you roll your eyes and label me a cynic, hear me out.

After a month of endless parties, gift-exchanges, and family get togethers, frankly, I’d like to crawl in a hole and hibernate the rest of winter. I stumble through the season declaring “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people!” But…I don’t feel very joyful. How unfortunate that we look forward to this season all year only to meet it with frustration, anxiety and loneliness.

I know I am not alone in this due to the numerous conversations I have had with people who tell me Christmas is the saddest time of the year for them. It just doesn’t seem right. In all honesty, the expectations we have for Christmas are verging on the ridiculous side. I'm not sure we feel up to capacity on most other days of the year, much less an entire MONTH of shopping, parties, over-eating, smiling and more smiling, emotions, and loneliness. Can't we just admit… it is hard? Lonely? It’s more of an expectation than anything else. And I, like so many others, find myself lonely and overextended during a season where comfort and joy should be in abundance.

Our inspiration and encouragement behind Christmas can transform our lives…if only we will choose to see the wonders of God’s love and grace. It’s also been an essential reminder to me that the wonders of Christmas can extend throughout the year if I will let them.

 A director of the Food Pantry stated the other day that people are not just hungry at Christmas, but unfortunately the warehouses are mostly empty outside of the holidays. This applies across the board to our emotional, spiritual, physical and professional lives. We focus small pockets of time in hopes that it will carry us through the rest of the year. 

In the days approaching Christmas, I’d like to tell you a little about my journey through Christmas this year, and why I am thankful it has been so difficult. Though I am sure that sounds odd, I feel I have learned some wonderful lessons this year that will help me to love both myself and others better throughout the following year.And don't worry...there will obviously be some good recipes! My mom, sister and I are hard at work in the kitchen this week, so you know it's going to be good uber yummy.

 Be blessed this week, and remember to show grace and love to those that need it most…you have no idea what burdens we are all carrying. I’d like to end this first part with a verse that provides me incredible encouragement, and perhaps you as well:

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

~Linbrooke

Free Rice

World Food Programme has a non-profit website, freerice.com, that is both interactive and conclusive. By taking a very easy and enjoyable vocabulary quiz, you can donate rice with every correct answer. It is truly a revolutionary idea, and for people like myself, a fun way to create small change.

According to their website, FreeRice has two goals:

• Provide education to everyone for free.

• Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

 You can sign into the website through your Twitter or Facebook account, and from there, you can track totals, join groups, and find other ways to fight hunger.

I LOVE THIS WEBSITE. Perhaps you’re unemployed, perhaps you’re bored, perhaps you’re schedule doesn’t allow you to do more for the poor….or maybe you are getting ready to take the SAT. J Regardless, check out this website! Help your vocabulary and help the hungry! 

Click here to begin feeding the world

~Linbrooke

Roasted Root Vegetables

Most people are intimidated by how to prepare root vegetables, but this is a wonderfully delicious recipe. It will warm you up on any cold day!

Delicious roasted parsnips, potatoes and butternut squash

                         

                                                           

Ingredients:

3 red creamer potatoes

1 large parsnip

1/3 of a butternut squash

1/3 cup chicken or vegetable broth

1 T Italian seasoning

3 T olive oil

2 T small cubes of butter

salt and pepper

The vegetables before being roasted

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2. After cutting the vegetables (I cut them into straws), place them in a roasting pan.
3. Pour the olive oil over the vegetables and mix it up.
4. Now mix the broth and herbs into the vegetables. 
5. NOTE: you can wait to add the butter and herbs until after roasting, but I find the flavor is truly enhanced when baked WITH the herbs.
6. Bake for roughly 40-45 min, or until tender when pressed with a fork.

The Final Product!!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe. You can substitute any of these root vegetables for others if you wish. As always, feel free to post any suggestions or comments! 


Merry Cooking!!



AND NOW... introducing my SOUS CHEF, Sir Wrigley:

...sleeping on the job.

Why the deer in the headlights??

Sigh...man's best friend...

Freedom from Hunger

A healthful hunger for a great idea is the

beauty and blessedness of life. 

-Jean Ingelow

Freedom from Hunger(FFH) is a wonderful organization doing amazing things worldwide to alleviate poverty and hunger. As a four star charity, FFH started as Meals for Millions which developed a high-protein powdered food still used in today's aid efforts. Here is a rundown of the organization, then we'll get into the meat of their greatness:

Where They Work: Asia, Africa, Americas

What They Do: Taken from their website, they "bring poor women in Africa, Asia, and Latin America a powerful combination of microfinance, education, and health protection to help them achieve a sustainable, self-help end to world hunger." To do so, they partner with local organizations to educate these women in hopes that they will be self-sufficient at some point. It is not simply through feeding, but also through health, financial and other daily skills needed to empower them.

A Few Projects to Note (according to me): 

1. Consumer Protection: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities is a program to educate microfinance clients and their lenders to make sure the clients are getting the information they need and are asking the right questions. In light of the the recent controversy over microfinance institutions allegedly taking advantage of those they are supposed to be helping, I love this transparency. It provides resources for both ends to be sure intentions are still good, and clients can discern for themselves what they should expect in a microlender.

2. Mexico City: They are providing a combination of financial services, life-skills training and health education to those in rural areas through a training center in Mexico City. In their own words,

"By collaborating with existing organizations, we double the effect of our technical knowledge and donor support by leveraging the contributions of local, highly committed and knowledgeable people. Our objective is to transfer our skills, knowledge and capacity to local organizations so they provide services for the long term and, ultimately, without our assistance."

Here's why I like them...

• First of all, they ONLY work with women. I find this really interesting, and in their own words, "We don't exclude men: we focus on women." They understand that in many cultures, the mother is responsible for feeding the household, and thus, they are targeting these women and empowering them. They have a wonderful part of their website which documents the stories of women all over the world: click here

• I really admire their comprehensive approach to poverty and hunger. They do not use one avenue to solve one goal, but blend many development issues to address not only hunger, but the needs beyond that. Their website is incredibly informative, I could have a heyday on there! 

• They have an awesome FAQ page

• They do not stand alone, but rather collaborate with as many organizations as possible to achieve their goals to truly diminish hunger, and hopefully, poverty. 

If you have never heard about this organization, truly take the time to browse their web page and find out ways you can GET INVOLVED. They are truly worth watching as they courageously take on incredibly difficult global issues. Know that FFH neither endorses nor sponsors this post. All thoughts are my own unless otherwise stated.

I just think this is a pretty fantastic organization, and so should you!!!

-Linbrooke

Cozy Mac and Cheese

Today, it was incredibly windy and very cold outside. It's also the holiday season, and I find that people are either exhuberant or incredibly sad. Nothing cures either of these extremes like comfort food on a cold, cold day. So... after hiking on the beach with the dog, and realizing what a terrible idea that was, I settled into the kitchen making homemade mac and cheese. Everyone seemed to be a little down today, and food is a great way to cope, isn't it? Invite a discouraged friend, an old friend, or anyone wishing to come in out of the cold to share this comfort meal with you.

Mac n' Cheese

Here is a list of the ingredients you will need:

1 lb. elbow macaroni

1/2 cup evaporated milk

2 eggs

1/2 cup of sour cream

1.5 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Crackers (I tend to use Ritz because they're buttery)

Breadcrumbs

salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook the macaroni, drain it, and rinse it with cold water. 
3. Cover the bottom of whatever dish you will be using with macaroni and sprinkle a layer of cheddar cheese over it. Then repeat with another layer of macaroni and cheese
4. In a bowl, mix the eggs, milk, sour cream, and a dash of salt and pepper. Pour mixture over the macaroni and cheddar.
5. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and some cheddar cheese over the top of the macaroni.
6. Take a handful of breadcrumbs and sprinkle them all over the top of the mixture, followed by crushed crackers (I tend to use Ritz crackers because they are buttery).
7. Bake uncovered for about 20-30 minutes. For me, it is usually closer to 30 minutes, because you want the liquid to be firm enough that it could stand on it's own.

 Some helpful suggestions:

• You can use whatever you cheese you would like! Cheddar, mozarella, velveeta, parmesan, etc. Just be sure that it is a good melting cheese
• Feel free to use more of any ingredient you like. It is not going to ruin the macaroni and cheese. If you are using more liquid, you might just cook it a few minutes longer. If more cheese, cook it a little less.
• The breadcrumbs and crackers are optional, it would still be food without it, but it provides a buttery crunch on top.
• Be creative! Add little bacon crumbles, ham chunks, or lobster bits to give it a little variety.

 
I hope you have enjoyed this recipe! If you have any variations you wish to share, please comment! 

~Linbrooke

The Girl in the Park

"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live."  -Jackie Windspear

This morning, I took Wrigley to an arboretum to meet up with my new friend, Megan. The more I learn about her, the more I admire her, and today, she blew me away. As we took the dogs to a little area on the lake, there was a young woman sitting on a bench. She had a bag, a gallon of water, some music, and a box full of cigarettes, lighters, and other little things. It was very clear she was getting ready to do some kind of drug, though it was hard to say which one. 

The girl was so sweet and asked about our dogs and struck up a conversation with us. After a few minutes, Megan stepped forward and touched the girls arm. "Are you ok?" 

The girl simply said,"oh yeah...I'm fine. I just like to come out here in the mornings."

"Are you sure? Because I see you have a bag, and it is really cold, and I just want to make sure you are ok. Do you have any food or gloves?"

"Yeah yeah, I live close by. It is cold, but I try not to stay here too long."

Megan, "Ok, I am not trying to be annoying, but I have been a social worker and a mother for a long time, and I have been 22 and with no money, and I just want to make sure you have help if you need it." 

The girl paused and looked at us and said, "Oh my God. There are still people like you that exist? This is so good to know around Christmastime. Thank you so much, but I am really ok." 

We said we would leave her to her alone time and to have a great day, and we left.

Not only was she absolutely beautiful, but she was friendly and sweet. What a beautiful girl that I would have passed by, if not for Megan. I was silent for a few seconds after we walked away. Megan turned to me and said, "Sorry, I was trying to figure out how to make sure she was ok without making you feel awkward. It's just that I have seen that too many times, and I can't overlook it." She was worried about making me feel awkward when she was reaching out to someone who seemed to need help!! Unreal...but so inspiring. 

I am left feeling inspired, impressed, and if I were being honest...ashamed. If Megan hadn't been there, I know that I would not have approached that girl, much less be sure she had everything she needs. Isn't that so common for us to do? At times, we don't know what to say, we are afraid of offending them, or we are too scared, perhaps, of what it means to reach down into their lives and extend grace. Or, we are so caught up in our own lives that we are blind to the suffering of the person sitting next to us in a park, in a coffee shop, in our family. 

It was the most beautiful reminder to show compassion, and to do it fearlessly. Would it be better for me to feel less embarrassed than to ask someone if they need a meal or a place to sleep? Let's all remember to never be too busy to ask someone if they need a meal, if they needs gloves, if they need to talk. It is easy to walk past and go about our day, but let us show GRACE to each and every person, and when we have an opportunity, to seize upon it.

Thank you, Megan, for reminding me how important it is to look at every person as an opportunity to show grace and compassion, whether a millionaire who is lonely, or the poverty-stricken person who is hungry. Thank you for showing me what it means to live a a life of grace.

-Linbrooke

p.s. I watch this show, and if ever there is an example of living grace, it is in this series:

About Me

Hey all! 

Just letting you know I have finally finished the "About Me" section. Check it out!

Linbrooke

Guacamole recipe

guacamole:
For my first recipe, I figured I would start easy. This is an oldie but a goodie.  What says a good time like guacamole?!  I know it is December, but I made this for my mom the other night, and it reminded me that guac is never out of style...

The wonderful thing about guacamole is that you can add whatever ingredients you desire, and the amount you use is at your own discretion. I will give you a basic recipe, but you should absolutely take creative liberties with this one. 

The main ingredients EVERY guacamole should have:

  Avocados (1 for each person as an appetizer)

Course Salt- approx. 1 tsp

Cilantro- at least 1/4 cup

Freshly squeezed lime juice- half a lime

Finely chopped red onions-at least 1/4 cup

Optional Ingredients depending on your mood:

Chopped tomatoes for a sweet touch

jalapeño peppers (or hotter peppers) if you're adventurous

sour cream if creamier is better

 

 I have several small suggestions that make a BIG difference:

1. Because red onions are so strong, be sure to finely chop them in order to preserve the flavor but lessen the shock. (see picture above)
2. Also, in choosing chips, less is more. Don't choose a "hint of lime" or this or that. Just stick with the basic tortilla chips and let the guac take the spotlight. This shouldn't be a competition...
3. Cut the avocado in small chunks, but then mash them to your consistency before adding the other ingredients. If you want it really smooth, pop it in the food processor.
4. Use something like this for an authentic feel: Vasconia 4-Cup Granite Molcajete

  
And finally, add it all together. You will figure out what you like. As every chef knows, taste test before you serve! If it is too acidic, add a little more tomatoes or sour cream. If it is not punchy enough, add salt, cilantro, or peppers. Keep adding until it melts in your mouth. This is one of my favorite recipes because if I have had a bad day, shazam! Pop in some serious sour cream and extra cilantro. If I'm mellow, I just stick to the basics. Enjoy, and have fun with this!

¡Buen Provecho!

Lindsay 

p.s. if you want to learn more about the history and variations of guacamole, check out Gourmet Sleuth's Guacamole page