Is it Cancelled?

Maybe it's plans to go to a friends or family member's house for a party.

Maybe it's just a school day.

A trip downtown to a museum.

Maybe we just planned to go out to dinner.

Then, the weather hits.

Snow.

Rain.

And, then the questions.

"Are we still going?"

"Is it cancelled?"

I think it started with the school district canceling school due to the weather.  Normally, our school cancels classes due to extreme temperatures (below 0F) or a snow storm.  There was that one day they cancelled school because of an impending snow storm.  The storm didn't start until 3 or 4:00 pm (so, the kids could have gone to school and made it back home).  Then there are the times where they cancel due to extreme temperatures (below 0F) because they don't want the kids to wait outside for the bus in those temperatures.  The next day, the weather is the same, but they don't cancel school.

It can be very confusing.

The other day we had plans to visit a college.  The visit included a walking tour.  Of course, it was drizzling that morning.  The first words out of Alex's mouth when he saw me, "Is it cancelled?"

Me:  Why would it be cancelled?''

A: Well, it's raining and we are going to be walking outside.

Me:  Wear a hoodie or bring an umbrella.

I'm trying to drill it into them that life goes on, even when there's bad weather.

Hopefully it sinks in.

I think I might have agreed to having a Halloween party here at our house.  It was somehow put in a line of 6 or 10 questions that the child had to ask me and, I think I might have said, "Yes."

Now to break the news to RT.

Bella has been doing two dance classes for a month now.  I try to do all of my blog post writing during that time.  I usually have a few ideas for posts I want to write.

One day, there was dance class that evening and I was in a panic.  I didn't have any post topics.  Imagine a full, free uninterrupted hour and nothing to write about.  I knew how upset my two loyal readers would be without my fun posts to read.  Fortunately for them, my family pulled through and did something goofy gave me some topics to write about that night.

As I was heading out the door for a wedding (without kids), I decided to make a stop at the restroom. Good thing I did. The toilet paper roll needed changing. 

Vegetarian Diaries - Mexican Quinoa Bake

I found a really delicious recipe.  It's super easy to make and very filling.  Even the meat eaters in the house approved!

This recipe uses quinoa.  I always enjoy recipes that use quinoa.  It's also a fun word to say, isn't it?  Quinoa is a good source of protein (8 grams per cup) and also fiber (5 grams per cup) among other things.  If you don't have quinoa, you could always substitute faro or brown rice.

Here's the recipe:

Mexican Quinoa Bake

ingredients:
1 Tbsp Oil (olive or sunflower oil)
1 jalapeño, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15oz) diced tomatoes
1 cup corn
1 cup quinoa
1 cup vegetable broth
1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
lime (lime juice)

directions:
Heat oil in large skillet.  Saute jalapeño and garlic.
Stir in black beans, tomatoes, corn, quinoa and vegetable broth.  Season with red pepper flakes, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and reduce heat to low and simmer until quinoa is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.  (about 20 minutes)  Stir in cilantro, avocado and lime juice until combined.


If you make the recipe, let me know what you think.

Enjoy!

Pickled Jalapeños

It's always a sad day for me to take down my vegetable garden.  I know it needs to be done.  I don't look forward to it.  It's a sign that summer is definitely over.  I pick everything and compost the rest of the plant.

This year, there was an abundance of jalapeños.  I made two batches of giardiniera and two arches of pickled jalapeños.   I seed my (take out all of the seeds) jalapeños so the giardiniera and pickled jalapeños are not as hot.  The only problem?   My hands burn for days.  Yes.  Days.  Well, when you are cleaning 40-50 jalapeños at one time...

I have to say, I'm thankful that "cleaning jalapeños" is not my full time job.  My hands would burn all of the time.My advice?

Invest in plastic gloves.

I thought I would repost those recipes in case you are looking to preserve some of your summer garden jalapeños.

Homemade Giardiniera

4 jalapeno peppers, sliced* 

1 red peppers, diced 

1 green peppers, diced 

1 large carrot, chopped 

1 medium onion, chopped 

1/2 cup cauliflower, cut into small florets 

1- 2 celery stalk, diced 

1/2 cup salt

Cold water

*you can take seeds out to make it milder

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

2 teaspoons dried oregano 

1 teaspoon black peppers 

1 cup white vinegar 

1 cup olive oil 

In a bowl combine jalapeños, peppers, carrot, onion, cauliflower and celery.   Add Salt and enough cold water to cover mixture.  Mix well.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next day:

Rinse the vegetables thoroughly.

Add the garlic, oregano and black peppers into the bowl.

Stir in vinegar and olive oil and combine for the dressing.  Mix thoroughly.

I put it in a clean glass jar (recycle a glass jar or you can go crazy and purchase a ball canning jar).  The giardiniera can be canned (did that make sense?).  Our supply didn't last very long (Hey!  We're from Chicago!).  Serve on beef sandwiches, pizza, salad or on my famous pasta salad.

Easy Homemade Pickled Jalapenos

15-20 large jalapenos, sliced

2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup distilled water

4 Tablespoons sugar

2 Tablespoons Kosher salt

In a medium sauce pan combine the garlic, water, vinegar, sugar and salt.

Heat to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Once at a boil; add the sliced jalapenos pressing them so they are submerged under the pickling liquids. Remove the pot off of the heat and let them sit for 10-15 minutes.

Use tongs to transfer the jalapenos into a clean jar. Ladle the pickling juices over top until you've reached the top of the jar. Let cool at room temperature before securing a lid and popping them into the fridge.

*Don't forget to wear protective gloves!

I'm Dying

Woke up this morning to talk to one of the kids.  As I am getting ready (in a dark room) trying not to wake RT up, I bumped my head on a door.  A good hard bump on my eyebrow/eye area.  RT said to sit down.  I said I would go get some ice first.

While I am icing my bruise, I decide to look up online results of bumping your head.   Probably wasn't a good idea.  Now I can't fall asleep because I have a concussion.  I also could develop Parkinson's or Lou Gehrig's disease (or maybe both).   So, basically, I'm going to die.

The sad part is, I don't even remember what was so important for me to wake up early.