Back in the Saddle

I've missed blogging some, and posting a pictoral slide show of our lives a ton.  A year later we've just been through the May birthday gauntlet, Mike and I have been vegetarian for 3 months strong, and the end of the school year is here.  

This morning we went on a family hike in Seashore State Park.  So easy to get to, and such a beautiful place.

This girl just comes alive when she is in the park.  It's a really cool thing to see.  She is amazing because she's got these fierce opinions on things (i.e. the outfit) that makes you think she doesn't need a thing in the world from anyone, but then she gets out in nature and is at her happiest and is such a little kid.  Running everywhere, hooting and hollering, a big smile fixed on her face.

It's just another Meatless Monday

Spring has sprung.  And with it, our yard has exploded!!  It's very overwhelming and exciting at the same time to see all the growth that is happening and admiring the beautiful flowers that are popping up everywhere.

This won't be the first time I admit that I have a lot to learn.  While living in our old house, I always said "I just wish I had a house where the landscaping was done and I just had to maintain it".  Well, this new house has made me learn the true meaning of 'be careful what you wish for'.  A master gardeners yard...while beautiful, takes a lot of work!!  I will be periodically taking pictures and posting them to see if anyone has any clue what some things are in my backyard.  Get excited :)  

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you another Meatless Monday meal we enjoyed.   We had this a few weeks ago (tonight's was super boring b/c I didn't make it to the grocery store) and it was delicious!  I would make it again in a heartbeat.  It is asparagus champagne risotto and blackened tempeh with avocado.  This is the first time we have ever had, or heard of tempeh, but after trying it once it's something we will use again.  For those of you still learning like me, tempeh is a product a lot like tofu, but tempeh retains the whole soybean to give it a higher protein and vitamin content.  The tempeh was delicious and took on the flavor of the Cajun Seasoning and Lime.  I would definitely recommend!!  The recipes are below.

Asparagus Champagne Risotto 

Blackened Tempeh with Avocado

Meatless Monday - Smoky Corn and Black Bean Pizza

One of our new years resolutions was to do one vegetarian day per week.  To see how hard it was to not eat meat one day, and also to make decent vegetarian food.  It's officially the third month of the year, so I figured we've been doing it long enough, might as well share.  Tonight for dinner we had Smoky Corn and Black Bean Pizza.  I found the recipe on Pinterest....it combined 2 things I love - pizza and black beans....and it looked downright delicious.

So I figured, what the heck?  I'll give it a shot.  I normally like to make my pizza dough from scratch but since we started using more whole wheat flour, I really haven't loved any final products.  So I decided to Trader Joe's whole wheat pizza dough and.....ummm, it was amazing.  First step, roll out your dough to about 12 in.  On a piece of foil, sprinkle 2 tbsp corn meal.

 Next step, lay your dough on top of the cornmeal, coating the entire underside of the dough. 

 

Rinse and drain one can of black beans, one can of corn and 2 roma tomatoes.  (*note, this recipe would be much better when tomatoes are actual IN season).  Mix together.

 Now it's time to grill.  Grill your pizza dough on the non-corn meal coated side for about 4-5 minutes over medium heat.  Flip your crust and quickly spread on 1/3 c barbeque sauce, sprinkle with the tomato mixture and then close the lid and cook for another 4 or 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.  And Voila!  Smoky Corn and Black Bean Pizza!  We affectionately named our dinner bearskin rug pizza, because I'm apparently not that good at stretching pizza, and this is what shape it turned out to be.

 The verdict?  It's good, but not great.  A little bland.  Next time I will add some red onion to the corn, black bean, and tomato mixture, and will top it with cilantro and avocado.   But this was a REALLY quick, easy dinner.  A check in the win box for that, for sure. 

The Happiest Place on Earth

 These kids had no idea what was about to happen...

hesitant at first, but once they realized where they were, there was no going back!

guess what she just got a glimpse of??

so excited!!  (but really has no idea what is going on..)

one happy little girl :)  I think this picture alone made the trip worth it!

enthralled by Mickey Mouse and the princesses!

 and then we got to meet the REAL RAPUNZEL! 

she may look like she is not too sure, but this was actually her favorite part.

 Then, it was time for a few rides.. Winnie-the-Pooh...

 And of course, It's A Small World

Needless to say, it was a pretty epic day for our family. 

We stayed out waaay past our bedtime and were zombie-like on the tram back to our car.

First visit to Disney World down.  When do we get to do it again??

Disney Teaser

Mama got a new lens

The point of this blog is to share pictures and stories.  I haven't been very inpired, Christmas was so busy and then now I have a case of the winter blues!  But I got a new lens recently and that has made me want to pull my camera out more and take pictures.  I wanted an every day lens that would do better than the kit lens that came with my camera.  After much debate and research (if you know me at all, you know I'm a disaster at making decisions...) I settled on the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8.  My old lens only went to 4.5 and boy do those extra stops make a difference!  Here are some of the first shots I took - I actually think it's fun that some of them are distorted a little with the wide angle.  I'm hoping this lens is just waht I need to jumpstart me into 2012.

   

Dear 16-year-old me

This is a great video.  Watch it, share it, learn from it.