Thoughts on Mommyhood

I am so thankful that God chose me to be the mommy of my little guy.  Mommyhood isn't always glamorous, and it certainly isn't easy.  In fact, it's the most challenging thing I've ever done.  So far, it's been all about survival, with some reflective responses here and there.  My boy is only two, and I can already admit that there are some instances where I wish I would have handled things differently.  I just hope that when he's grown he can look back and know that his mommy loved him more than anything in the world.

Lemon Kale Frittata and Tuscan Flatbread

I found this schiacciata recipe at Foodie International and because I had some fresh, free range eggs, I just had to make a frittata to go with it.  It was heavenly.  This Tuscan flatbread is light and hearty and perfect for dipping and scooping.  

Lemon Kale Frittata

1 dozen eggs

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 tsp. salt (add more to taste)

2 tsp. pepper

 2-3 cloves of garlic (minced)

1/2 large onion (small diced)

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 cups kale (de-stemmed and cut into small pieces)

1 cup goat cheese

1 tomato (medium diced) 

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

1. Heat oven to 375.

2. In a medium sized bowl beat eggs, lemon juice, salt and pepper until smooth. Set aside.

3. In an oven save skillet, sauté garlic, onion, salt and pepper in olive oil over medium heat until translucent (about 2   minutes).

4. Add Kale to garlic and onion.  Sauté until the kale has wilted (about 3 minutes).

5. Using a wooden spoon, spread kale, onions and garlic evenly on the bottom of the skillet.  

6. Pour egg mixture over kale, onions and garlic.  Stir lightly until mixture is evenly dispersed in skillet.

7. Sprinkle goat cheese evenly on top of egg mixture. 

8. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

9. Sprinkle with tomatoes and fresh parsley.  Serve and enjoy. 

   

A Sanctuary

My kitchen looks like a "before" picture of a desperately needed remodeling project.  The cabinets are fairly dilapidated and the countertop space, made from chipped, outdated pink formica that doesn't even match up at the seams, is so maddeningly tiny that I end up cutting and stirring on top of the washer and dryer.  (Yes.  We have a full sized washer and dryer right in the middle of the kitchen.) Yet, for me, it is a sanctuary.  When I am cooking, I'm transported to places I only dream of visiting.  On a Saturday morning, I may be a French country wife, whipping up a batch of savory crepes and goat cheese.  An ordinary Tuesday evening finds me baking rosemary schiacciata and mixing a homemade pesto sauce, the owner of a cozy Italian trattoria.  With a few fresh ingredients, a glass of wine, and French Cafe blasting on Pandora, I dance my way around the kitchen, oblivious to the TV and stresses of the day.  In my sanctuary, I am free to experiment, feeling my way through a dish with only the essence of a place to guide me.

It will be some time before I have an "after" picture of my remodeled dream kitchen.  For now I will indulge myself by stocking my cupboards and fridge with such provisions as nicely aged cheeses, fresh herbs and vegetables, organic meats, and quality oils. 

Whether it be a tiny kitchen, flowerbed or cozy closet nook, I believe everyone needs a sanctuary, a place to dream and be.  What's your sanctuary?   

Mahina

Bursting with luminosity and grandeur, our Hawaiian moon, Mahina, rose ever so gracefully over Koko Head, mesmerizing the entire community.  

What was the moon like in your part of the world?     

The Past Life of a Socialite

Good Morning

Delight

Cutie in Boots

Dinner Party

Dinner Party Bliss

Sunday Morning Beach Breakfast

Sunday Morning

For some reason we have difficulty getting motivated to pack up and head to the beach on a weekend morning.  Yet, every time we do, I'm so glad.  This morning I made crepes with blueberry compote and goat cheese.  We packed up what really did seem like most of our household and made it there in time to beat the crazy beach crowd.  We were rewarded with a full morning of relaxation.  Eating, swimming, climbing coconut trees, soaking up the ocean and sun.  

Come to think of it, I've been blessed this entire weekend.  On Friday we hosted a small dinner party.  My horoscope for the day said that I would enjoy myself, and it couldn't have been more correct.  Everything came together nicely, and we spent the evening engaged in intriguing conversation, eating, drinking and laughing.  It went by in a blur.

I've been thinking lately that I could actually live a wonderfully happy life hosting parties every weekend.  If I had my way, I would own a huge house with a carefully stocked wine cellar, multiple bedrooms, each with an en suite, and an extravagant dinning room. I'd be a fabulous cook and invite the most interesting people over for dinner.  We'd spend the evening eating rich, delicious food and drinking top notch wine.  At the end of the evening, everyone would stumble up to their rooms for the night, filled to the brim with happiness. Perhaps I was a wealthy socialite in a past life.  How about you?  Any inkling about your past lives?
   

Fun with InstaCollage

Oklahoma Winter

Palms on a Beach

Boots

It's the little things that thrill me.  I've just spent the past hour playing with some photos on InstaCollage.  When I could have been folding clothes or doing some other domestic duty, I figured out how to apply multiple effects to a photo by going back and forth from the original effects screen to the edit effects screen. Every photo turns out completely different. Although, the hard part is knowing when to stop. I guess you can over edit a photo.  InstaCollage is an app that you can download on your iPhone.  I'm not too savvy on the technology, but it seems to be a close cousin to Instagram. Check it out.