Roasted Sweet Potato Fries!

Is there anything better? A healthy side dish you eat with your fingers! Mmmmm

It took a lot of trial and error. This is the best recipe I could work out.

But I slice up the sweet potato the size of regular fires- not too big. I mix with chopped garlic, maybe 2 cloves. Some times I sprinkle it with some pepper and paprika if I am making a spicy dish. Then dress with olive oil. Oven at 375 for about 30-40 minutes. I line my cookie sheet with foil and put some olive oil under the fries so it wont stick. Also, I don't really put the fries in a single layer... stacked works just fine. Salt after cooking.

Another variation is with a little Parmesan cheese half way through cooking.

I've had most problems with getting them to cook evenly so size matters! Hahaha as long as they are all the same.

Enjoy!

Garden Tea

When I have dinner plans with friends, it is always nice to bring a gift. But that can get expensive... We can always whip something up from our garden or with one of Eli's wood pieces. This time, we made mint tea for our block party. Easy as pie. Even easier!

Boil fresh mint leaves (the more the merrier) with two bags of tea (we also add some pineapple sage leaves for fun). Cool in the fridge. Add ice.

Voila!

It's what you can't see

Tonight I made homemade pizza! Mmmmmm But what you can't see is the roasted garlic smothered on the crust paired with grape tomatoes from our garden-perfect!




I used:
Bella Cucina pizza dough
Mushrooms
garden tomatoes
roasted garlic
rosemary
mozzarella

For a side, and to use up the dough, I made garlic cheesy bread....

What was I thinking: bathroom project day 2

We have made some headway on our bathroom. I started to pull off the the first wall of the shower tiles to find a really thick backer board stuck to the tiles- I mean forever bonded to these twelve inch squares. I tried to do one tile at a time but that was not going to happen. The entire wall came together... I guess that makes it easier?

I've got most of the wood framing the tiles off of the wall. As we started the second and biggest wall- RODE BLOCK! There is no backer board behind this tile? It is tiled directly to the wall, as far as I can tell. Not great. Each time we tried to pry the tile from the wall, we made a new dent in the wall.

Now, Eli used to support my idea of re-doing the bathroom, but took a "hands off approach." After a week of confessing that he was no longer intimidated by the project, he took over the project today. I guess that makes it easier for me...

Another chance

I need just one more chance at a baby.

We have been trying for a couple months now. My PCP, who met me once, suggested we wait nine months; my OB who knows me from last year is very excited that we are trying again. Last year was devastating. I hope I never lose another baby.

Every month, we get our hopes up. I stop with the coffee and... that's my only "vice" really- if you can call it that! I tell more and more people that we are "trying". I come up with new reasons why this month would be better than last month to get pregnant. I research the due date to see who's birthday the baby would be born around. I become that crazy lady that talks about the cluster of cells in her belly she can't feel but "knows" is there...

Every time I get my period, I feel like I did last year. I feel like we are never going to be parents. All my friends who have been through this tell me that it gets better; that it will happen one day. What if it doesn't?

What was I thinking?

So... I may have started a new project... I'm re-doing our spare bathroom. (Insert post title here!)

I've been reading home improvement things on-line, like Young House Love (check 'em out), and every Saturday I try to watch This Old House on PBS and pretend that my dad is watching with me like we used to when I was little. So, of course I got this crazy idea that between my two jobs and crafting, "I can just go ahead and re-do the bathroom."

Here is the plan: The tile HAS to go! It's not falling apart or anything... It is just, not pretty... I mean, really! In this particular bathroom, the floor might be a little... um... WEAK! Every time you sit down, you pray you don't keep going! The contractor said,"The sub floor is in good condition, so if the floor gives out, you'll only fall a few inches." Reassuring, I know.

All the fixtures are in good shape. I'll be re-using the toilet, the shower base (after a nice cleaning) and the sink. All I really have to do is the tile, the floor and the paint! Famous last words, right?



Here are our befores :)

Real homemade!

Last night we had a friend over for dinner. The menu was pasta, bread and broccoli with iced tea to drink.

Eli and I made pesto from the basil in our garden and acorns we froze last fall. Of course we had to boil the nuts to make them digest-able. To make garlic bread, I took a loaf and sliced 1 inch pieces, mixed room temp butter with our garden basil and rosemary and a store bought garlic. Mix and spread- then broil until ready. The tea was mint and pineapple sage- both from the garden and a little dried stevia from last years garden.

It was great. And home-grown. I can't wait for our next homemade dinner!

late stage adolescent angst

Everyone rebels at some point. And of course some rebellions can last longer than others. But at what point does it lose it's momentum and become opposition for opposition's sake?

Growing up, my parents always gave us as much information as they could and let it be known that the decision we make is our decision. My sister does the same with her girls except they call it "You're not the boss of me." To this day, I still ask my parents' opinions when making decisions.

It seems that some make their decisions based on the opposition. They think they know what others would say and they say the opposite. Is this adult angst? It reminds me of what I did when I was an adolescent... At some point it becomes less cute and more hurtful.

Rebellion is supposed to be something you stand for, something in which you believe with all you have. But what you say has lost it's impact on others because of your quick rebut and lack of scrutiny.

I am a fan of devil's advocate. I often give two opposing sides when offering advice because it is meant to inform and not persuade. But when only offering the opposing side all the time as your view, it quickly becomes useless for the opponent.

If you really want to change the world, if you want to save others, may I suggest honey? I hear you catch more flies that way. But if the sour scent of vinegar is all you offer to those you think are damned, I wish to not partake in your offerings.

Signed,
Sister.