I've been enjoying some self imposed radio silence over here at S&S. It has been very hectic, all for very good reasons and some of them will be explored in future posts, but in short...........
I'M BAAAACK!
I have been taking some time for some serious self reflection and between deciding to make changes in my professional life, raising a toddler, expecting another 'bean' in 6 weeks or less plus just the general chaos of living in NYC I've been feeling very, very mentally disheveled. Not to discount my many life blessings in any way but something has to change or I'm going to implode. I'm really feeling the need to eliminate as much nonsense as possible and instead focus on calming the mind chatter, pursuing projects that are emotionally, spiritually, and professionally satisfying while striving to live a simple, authentic, compassionate life. Naturally this will include a healthy dose of zest, good coffee, and colored eyeliner for good measure :)
I've started making a list in my journal of "Things I Know For Sure" which includes things I like and dislike. One thing I LOVE and I'm grateful for is food. Eating good food makes me happy. When my toddler eats well I feel like an "Amazonian Parenting Goddess". If I create a meal from scratch and on a budget using things in my pantry I'm delighted. In my cooking when given the chance to include nutrient rich ingredients that are also vegetarian I pounce and feel like I've won the culinary lotto.
Topics of health have always been on my radar but some statistics really hit home for me in the past 6 weeks. It is no secret that we are facing an obesity epidemic. However, scientists suggest that by 2020 84% of men will be overweight and/or obese and 73% of women will be overweight and/or obese. 1 in 3 kids born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes. Of the top 5 cancers (lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancer) reducing the risk of 4 of them is strongly linked to eating a healthy diet and exercising. To further drive the point home, I received a letter last week from our health insurance company informing us that they are proposing to raise our rates 16.9% next year due in large part because of increasing medical needs taxing the system. (I'm also no dummy and I know that insurance is big business and that this is a MAJOR factor contributing to our broken system of healthcare but we also need to acknowledge how poorly we take care of ourselves in a land of so many opportunities).
As a parent and a concerned citizen I find this incredibly alarming, disheartening, frustrating, and frightening. It is overwhelming to think of the problems facing us and the next generation and I worry about the lasting impact of very own choices. How can I make the world a better place given that I'm a middle class peon living in Queens? What can I do? To quote Robert Frost, "The best way out is always through". It's time to take personal responsibility, put one foot in front of the other, and walk right into the kitchen to create"One Dish Wonders".
"One Dish Wonders" (ODW's) are going to be part of a new series on this blog showcasing simple, user-friendly, and cost effective dishes that I come up with in my own kitchen. Like many folks in our time crunched world I have difficulty getting a decent meal on the table. My biggest challenges include a pick toddler who is erratic in her food choices, I don't have a lot of distraction free time to purchase food and prepare complicated recipes, hubby has an insane work schedule and if he has time to eat at home it's either breakfast or he's eating way past our bedtime. It's really no wonder all of the local restaurants already know my takeout order when I call!
ODW's use what you have on hand and substitutions/additions/subtractions can easily be made. You start with the basic ingredients and alter based on the taste buds of your audience (das Toddler doesn't like a lot of extra flavors, I like lots of spice and extra raw veggies and hubby likes to add meat). These dishes can be made quickly without having to measure out ingredients and you get a ton of food. You can easily feed a crowd, have leftovers for a few days or just make the dish once and you are all set for the day. Personally, I don't like to spend a lot of time each day in the kitchen, I prefer to eat more in the morning and during lunch, and I am happy to eat the same thing for lunch and dinner.
Today's "One Dish Wonder" is a pasta salad that was made by using many staples I had on hand, which I'm sure are in your pantry too. Almost always I have a box of whole wheat pasta, garbanzo beans, red onions, and frozen green peas at the ready. Whole wheat pasta is a wonder-especially if you have picky eaters. Garbanzo beans quickly add a shot of protein and a creamy, buttery taste to any dish. Onions add a nice flavor punch and are super rich in phytonutrients that benefit your cardiovascular and immune systems. They can be eaten raw or cooked (just make sure that you chop them as opposed to using them whole in order to release those good enzymes).
Below you'll find my ODW from today. This is super fast, makes a ton, and is delicious. It's so good I ate three plates already.......
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| Just pretend this picture isn't sideways. I can't figure out how to turn it and there are bigger problems in the world....... |
One Dish Wonder: Pasta Salad with Green Peas, Chickpeas, Onions and Dill Sauce
One Box Whole Wheat Pasta
Frozen peas (I used 1/2 a bag because that's what was left in my freezer but feel free to add more)
1/3 red Onion-finely chopped
1 can chickpeas
2 big spoonfuls of mayo
a splash of vinegar (I used champagne vinegar)
a generous shake of dried dill
S&P to taste
Cook up the pasta and frozen peas together in boiling, salted water. Drain and allow to cool. In a large bowl mix the mayo with the vinegar, spices and onions. Add the chickpeas, pasta, and peas. Stir to combine ingredients and chill. The longer this chills the more intense the flavor. But, if you are super hungry give it 30 minutes and dig in. Serve with a side of raw veggies-salad greens, veggie 'finger food' or with a piece of fruit...or all of the above. Enjoy!
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