HONK HONK HONK
(pause)
HONK HONK HONK
(pause)
HONK HONK HONK.
It continued like this:
choice words,
standing in the driveway,
more choice words,
back to sleep.
Today started again like this...at 3:45 a.m.:
HONK HONK HONK (quick end with remote in hand, sleeping with remote in hand)
HONK HONK HONK (repeat)
HONK HONK HONK (repeat)
Resigned choice words,
standing in the driveway again,
unhooking things and hoping for the best,
back to bed, remote in hand.
Today started again -- permanently -- at 6:30 a.m.
When you feel like your first call should be to a car exorcist, it is reasonable to think that today might be one of those days.
Thankfully...the day vastly improved. The "hey let's unplug this" approach seemed to work, which is good because the car couldn't be seen today. Perhaps, it can go in for a check-up next week. Due to a lack of sleep, illness, and the car situation, the hub was actually home today; it was nice to see him, since I feel like I haven't really seen him with the hectic nature of this week. He kindly drove me to yoga, just in case possession might resume (what kind of zen could be achieved when one is constantly worrying about HONK HONK HONK?), and took care of other car-related activities.
Yoga was wonderful as always and hard. Let's just say that when you open with push-up like activity in slow-mo, you expect to be challenged. Lots of sweat, but also achievement. Here's one comment from my teacher that really struck me, as I thought about wanting to encourage people to do yoga: "Yoga is about quieting the thinking mind." Though asanas (the physical postures) function as vehicles for yoga, it seems it is possible to do yoga without the postures and in any time and place. Another teacher of mine always leaves us with a challenge that is "between us and universe." In that spirit, I offer you a similar challenge (no reports...just between you and the universe): Make some time over the weekend for quieting the thinking mind, even if you quiet it for only 5 min. It always amazes me what 5, 10, 15 minutes of this kind of quiet can do!
After yoga, I walked and played with puppies, ahem...I mean worked. I feel especially lucky to have this job on gorgeously sunny, if crisp, days. Then, I had tea with some friends in the neighborhood, caught up with a dear friend, made two meals, enjoyed some favorite shows with the hub, and am settled in to post to you with my usual cup of tea.
As long as HONK doesn't wake the neighborhood before 11:59, day 3 ended much better than it began!
Fri. lunch...and beyond: Mom G's Chinese Cabbage Salad "The Remix"
This is one of the first meals that I ever ate with the hub's family; aside from being delicious, it evokes happy times. Even though I eat differently now than I did then, I love to keep family food traditions alive. Here's my veganized, reduced fat, and cleanse-friendly version of this favorite:
Serves: 4-6
1 small head of green cabbage, cored and chopped
1/2 c. cashews, chopped
1 T. sesame seeds
1/4 of a yellow onion, thinly sliced into pieces no bigger than an inch in length
1 pkg. vegan ramen (I used Koyo Garlic Pepper Ramen), noodles smashed (careful -- bag often bursts on me!) and spice packet reserved
Mix all of the above ingredients together in a bowl. Then, make the dressing.
Dressing:
2 T. agave
1/3 c. brown rice vinegar
1/2 t. dried tarragon
2 T. sesame oil
1/2 t. black pepper
2 T. soy sauce (or similar product, I used Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
1/2 spice packet
Mix dressing, pour over salad, and stir to combine. Put in refrigerator for several hours, preferably overnight, and serve.
Certainly, this is not the most colorful dish, but the addition of some shredded carrots, red onion, or black sesame seeds would be easy options for a bit of pop.
Thurs./Fri. dinner: The "Magical Fruit" Bowl
As I was packing up the leftovers of this dish, I wondered if I could actually call this a bowl of magical fruit, because there was only one item in the bowl actually fit the nickname -- the black beans. Then, I started thinking, which resulted in googling, which resulted in mental cheering at the title and my nerdtasticness. Tomatoes -- fruit. Corn kernels -- fruit (debated, but arguably true). Chipotle chiles -- fruit. Olives -- fruit. Who knew? And therefore...for the fond, but cautionary nickname and the real, almost magical benefits of these various fruits, I present you with...the "Magical Fruit" Bowl.
Serves: 4
1 T. olive oil
1 small onion, diced (I used 3/4 of the onion left over from the previous recipe)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t. chipotle chili powder *
1 15.5 oz. can no salt, diced tomatoes (DO NOT drain)
1 15.5 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. frozen corn kernels
2 c. cooked brown rice (yes, from yesterday -- always good to plan for multiple use!)
1 T. tomato paste
2 t. cilantro
Salt and pepper
*Tonight, I used 1 t. which I palm-measured; we were a bit overwhelmed. If you like heat, you may opt for the 1 t.. Otherwise, use the amount noted here (you will get a less four-alarm inducing smoky heat), then allow people to add heat as needed.
1. Heat oil to med./med. high heat in large frying pan. Once hot, add garlic and onion; saute for 3 min.
2. Then, add chipotle
3. Add beans and corn; saute for 3 min.
4. Add rice to warm it and add tomato paste. Stir to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir in cilantro and remove from heat.
The hub added some black olives to his bowl. I made the Cashew Crema from Terry Hope Romero's Viva La Vegan and thawed the remainder of the pea/avocado guacamole discussed in a previous post; both added a lovely cooling contrast to the heat.
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