Fabulous fiber-filled diet

My mantra this month has been "recover."  Adjust back into early wake-up calls, loud classroom moments, and remember what it's like to teach, plan, cook, clean, repeat each week.  While I miss my family and wish winter vacation could go on forever, I enjoy my little routine and one of my favorite parts of each week is trying new recipes.  I love to pack exciting goodies in my school lunches and fill up my apartment with new aromas that my roommate can come home


 
One of the largest parts of my holiday-hangover is reminding my body that chocolate, heavy creams, and carb-on-carb-on-carb are NOT the norm.  This week I went for some higher-fiber foods in my grocery cart and did a little research to find out how to get my fill of lentils, brussel sprouts, and quinoa. :)



 
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
(inspired by Epicurious and shutterbean)
1) I chop up/shave eight whole brussels sprouts into a salad tupper-ware to make one serving for school lunch...just eyeball it. :) I don't have a mandolin so I just chop with a big chef's knife.
**Don't forget to clean your veggies**



 
2) Toast walnuts on the stove for about 5 minutes (flip them over, move around in pan, keep eye out).  After they cool I crunch up about a handful of them into brussels.



3) Chop up one small apple (or half of a large apple) into cubes to toss into salad as well.  I like apples in the pink families (pink lady, rainier, etc).  I leave the peel on.  FIBER!
4) Instead of making my own dressing (which is hard to transport between work and home) - I mixed together 1/2 and 1/2 of my two favorite flavors of Annie's Organic dressing to get a good mixture of garlic, lemon juice, honey, mustard, and olive oil. 
5) DISCLAIMER: I am trying not to eat unnecessary cheese, but shaved parmesan would be amazing.
6) Toss and eat! So satisfying and crunchy! Delicious addition to any lunch or dinner.



101 Cookbooks Lentil Soup - adapted
Heidi Swanson's version of tomato and lentil soup was so satisfying this week while we were having another ridiculously cold evening.  It packs great as leftovers and makes enough to serve about eight people.  I will say that she makes the recipe OVERLY simple and plain so that you can season it how you want to.  I had to 911-call my sister Kiki (the gourmet chef of the family) and have her walk me through the best way to enhance the flavors of the tomatoes and kale.
Again, with the no-dairy, my roommate and I decided to skip her saffron yogurt topping and just to eat it plain, though we vowed next time to add some sliced avocado on top since the cumin made it taste so hispanic. :)

Here are the steps.  I have added below my "finishing touches." --
2 cups black beluga lentils (or green French lentils), picked over and rinsed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 cups water
3 cups of a big leafy green (chard, kale, etc), rinsed well, deveined, finely chopped

Saffron Yogurt
a pinch of saffron (30-40 threads)
1 tablespoon boiling water
two pinches of salt
1/2 cup 2% Greek Yogurt

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan, add the lentils,
and cook for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain and set aside.

While the lentils are cooking, make the saffron yogurt by combining
the saffron threads and boiling water in a tiny cup. Let the saffron
steep for a few minutes. Now stir the saffron along with the liquid into
the yogurt. Mix in the salt and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy soup pot over medium heat, then
add the onion and salt and saute until tender, a couple minutes. Stir in
the tomatoes, lentils, and water and continue cooking for a few more
minutes, letting the soup come back up to a simmer. Stir in the chopped
greens, and wait another minute. Taste and adjust the seasoning if need
be. Ladle into bowls, and serve with a dollop of the saffron yogurt.

Serves 6 to 8.

To finish I heated up several cloves of roughly chopped garlic (I like big chunks) in a pan of olive oil with a little salt and pepper. Then I dumped that in and stirred it into the soup while it was simmering at the end.  Then I salted the soup (almost to death because it is so tomato-heavy!) and added lots of pepper and cumin to taste.  To finish I crushed dried oregano and stirred it in as well.

Can you tell that I was winging it? :)

Quinoa Breakfast Porridge with Almond Milk
Last weekend in Austin, my bff Vanessa turned me onto this "new and improved" way to get your oatmeal-fix.  I found this online this week and woke up to make it this morning! Add any fresh fruit or "oatmeal topping" you normally would.  I had my first bite this morning for breakfast! (I doubled the recipe because apparently it reheats and saves well - so I can enjoy it during these next few cold mornings.  It made about six cups DOUBLED.  The ratio is 2 cups of almond milk to every 3/4 cup of quinoa.)

**I used quinoa from Whole Foods and my favorite brand of Almond Milk that I've tried.  It's "vanilla flavored" so I will skipped the step where you add "vanilla extract" in the recipe.**



 
1)  Brown 3/4 cups of quinoa over medium heat.  It takes about 5-7 minutes and you need to constantly stir it or the little pieces will burn quick!  This will make it taste toasted and nutty!
2) Add spices that you like.  I added 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and a few dashes of nutmeg.  You can use pumpkin spice too! It smells SO good.



3) Add 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk to the pan. It will seem like there's WAY too much liquid but the quinoa will expand and soak it all up.
4) Add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract (if you don't have vanilla-flavored almond milk).
5) Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.  Or maple syrup.
6) Bring mixture to a boil.  When it starts to boil you are going to reduce heat to low.  You will cover the mixture but it helps to open the lid and stir it every once in a while because it will get sticky on the bottom.
7) When it is done, and looks like porridge (liquid is mostly gone but it has similar consistency to oatmeal), serve yourself.  You can enjoy it by itself or top how you like it.  YUM!



I would suggest any combination of the following:
-raisins
-bananas
-honey
-apples
-berries
-nuts (chopped almonds even!)

If it is not moist enough, add a little bit more milk to it if you like yours a bit soupier.

 HAPPY SATURDAY!

The perfect Saturday at home.  First time in a month!

Speaking of perfect mornings, I have also discovered this fabulous App SONGZA. Much like Pandora radio, it streams music for you.  The beautiful difference?  It picks music based on where you are, what time it is, what activity you might be doing, or what you are in the mood for.  I played some fun, upbeat wake-up music this a.m. while I cleaned my apartment.  You can use it to set the mood for any occasion!  It's free!

ZBB

Do you like your chicken fried?
Cold beer on a Friday night?

Last night I got to see one of my favorite groups in concert.

What an awesome show.

If you aren't familiar with the Zac Brown Band, you are missing out. These fun guys have the catchiest of songs, sing amazing harmonies and play beautiful music. My little brother got me hooked a while back...
I can't decide which ZBB song is my favorite but lets just say I was pretty pumped when this one came on:

They donate tons of money to local charities and also did a great Veterans tribute with "America the Beautiful" at the end of the night.

The arena was packed and at the start of the show we found out that it was the biggest crowd they had ever played for. AWESOME! We also got a surprise visit on stage from Randy Travis....a true country legend.

I am finding myself loving country music more and more.... Not sure why but I can't get enough of the lyrics and it's so darn easy to sing along to in the car. ;)

Special thanks to my BFF Jeff who got us awesome tickets online!

new song

That all will be well

Even though sometimes this is hard to tell

And the fight is just as frustrating as hell

All will be well

heard this song on TV tonight and just fell in love! 

8 months and counting...

I have always loved the start of a new month.  New goals, a fresh page on my pretty flower calendar, and new things to try.  I also have been craving cooler weather (who in Texas hasn't been?) and hope that September can bring us some recess-breezes, comfortable nights out on the restaurant patio, and a few more layers at these football tailgates.  Of course, this new month means fall festivities, College Game Day, a three day weekend, and settling into a new routine.

Being a teacher, I think that September is doubly exciting and meaningful in the education world because it means a new school year.  Unlike the crew of desk-job working adults, teachers don't function January to December, or look at the fiscal calendar, but instead live our lives around "September to May."

I would say that the teachers I know sing "Auld Lang Syne" with kazoo and a party hat on right after Labor Day.  I think this month is when we sit back and make resolutions, shop for new school supplies and outfits, clean out our closets and drawers, rearrange our seating charts, start new to-do lists on our stationary pad, and try to set out on a new foot.  In fact, talking to my cohort Tyler the other day on the phone (she goes back to school the Tuesday after Labor Day each year) we got to giggling and decided we were going to call each other more often "this year" and we weren't talking about 2011 or 2012 - we were talking about "in second grade" or "in Kindergarten."  She hilariously remarked, "Put THAT on your New Year's Resolution List.  And you know I'm talking about New SCHOOL Year's Resolutions."

This month I am not only starting over, but celebrating little successes.  Celebrating a successful move across the country, a new job that I am so blessed to have found, and celebrating eight months of ME.

That's right, friends.  I have successfully singled for eight months now and I cannot believe it!  

If you had asked me in early January if I would have made it this long on my own, I probably would have started crying.  Not only have I "made it," I have rocked it.  (If I do say so myself....)

this is not me, but can we pretend that it is? 

New things that once seemed so scary have now become familiar habits and parts of my day that used to feel like big decisions now seem small and mundane.  What would I like to do with my Saturday?  What if I say yes to that first date?  What do I feel like eating right now?  If I could live anywhere in the U.S., where would that be?  Do I want to spend my time at work or at home?  What shows will I shamelessly add to my DVR?  Who do I want to spend my time with?  How do you make new friends in a big place?  When is it OK to lean on other people and when should you push through alone? 

In the mornings I try to remember to read this mantra that I found:

Smile, Ana.  Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me.  Today, I will dwell fully in each moment.  I have so much to be grateful for.  My family and friends love me unconditionally.  I will not be critical of myself or others.  I will be the most loving teacher I can be.  I will see the humor in the stressful moments of my life.   I will focus on the positive aspects of my job and the people I surround myself with.  There are little miracles that occur all day and everyday.  This is a wonderful moment! 

 I know I won't be single forever and that as we grow and change, so does the drumbeat we march to, but for right now, in this part of my life, I am most definitely at my best being by myself.  My anxiety is better, I am eating healthier, I feel happier, I am having more fun, I am most productive in my classroom, and I have never tried to many new things in such a short time.

Is my life perfect?  Most definitely not.  And it's about time I learned that nothing is.

Is it time for a Eat, Pray, Love quote?  Oh, Elizabeth Gilbert.

It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection.  So now I have started living my own life.  Imperfect and clumsy as it may look, it is resembling me now, thoroughly.

So, September, I am here.  I am ready for whatever you bring my way.  And I cannot wait!

I think I might also need to play this song each morning when I wake up this month, thoughts? 

"Texas Forever."

On Friday at lunch time I got a text from my roommate and her boyfriend.

last second invite.  a group of us are going to the ranch tonight to hang out -- interested?  leave tonight - come back tomorrow early afternoon.  should be really fun.  about an hour away.  

This situation pretty much embodies perfect timing.  Long week at school getting ready for my students in a few days, early morning alarm clock calls and coffee cup refills every few hours.  Did I need a get away?  You bet.

Friday night was one of those scenes you see out of a movie, or on Friday Night Lights where it is super Texas-ey.

 I could have sworn I heard Riggins reminding us to make memories.  

Full-blast bluegrass music on the drive up and a stop to get Dr. Pepper and Slim Jims at the gas station on our way out of town at sunset.  

Spicy chips and guacamole accompanied our BBQ tacos and cold beer for dinner.

We laughed until we cried while we played fishbowl until the wee hours of the morning.

Just when everyone was about to fall asleep and change into pajamas -- joyride!

Tangled up legs and arms and giggles in the back of the truck while flashlights and cold drinks bounced in the car in our hands as we chased sleepy cows on the property. 

A stop on the bridge to turn up the dance music - we all hopped out to roll down the grassy hill and kick up dirt as we shuffled along to top 40 hits.

After a sleepy morning in our pajamas, cuddling with the Dachshund Roxie, we ate a breakfast of coffee and bacon biscuits.  Squinting into the bright sun, we donned our swim suits and shorts, raced down the hill and squealed at the top of our lungs while we held hands and jumped into the green water.  

The paddle boats were broken and the bottom of the lake was sticky, but we swam out to the deep, cool part and relaxed in our life jackets in true Saturday style.  

A stop at chic-fil-a on the ride back home - still in our swim suits.  

Soaking through our tshirts, the sunscreen smell filled the car as we sucked down our peach milkshakes.  

Lyle Lovett playing in the background as we drifted in and out of sleep on 75.  

Even Moses smile, when he saw the promised land.

moonlight + musicals

Tonight was a Casanova family summer tradition.  We went to the park to see a musical under the stars.  There's something that takes me back to Zilker Park in Austin.  Nothing quite like sweating, snacking, singing and clapping along to your favorite shows in lawn chairs, on blankets, and in the middle of the summer.

My Papi and I have the same feet, no? 

The show we saw tonight was High School Musical and tapped our toes to the cheer routines, salsa numbers, and great stuck-in-your-head-all-week catchy tunes.

I am realizing that I really miss singing and think it's something I need to pursue in my new location.  I might need to join a choir, but, I mean, I'm a teacher - I have summers off - why not audition for my own musicals or summer shows next year?

The Casanova clan is deeply rooted in music.  For as long as I can remember, we have ALWAYS had impromptu sing-alongs, played "radio" in the car (where mom names a genre and we shout along to a song in unison from the back seats), gone to choir concerts, harmonized to Christmas carols, held guitar jam sessions on the screen porch and near the piano bench (yeah, Beyonce!) and been lovers of music.

With that, of course, comes growing up in a house full of music and musicals.  I am pretty sure my first movie was Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and can recite every word to "The Prince is Having a Ball!"

(I just looked at YouTube and there are no videos of this epic song...sad!)

I also have always loved Sound of Music, Mary Poppins (no lie, my inner nanny has always looked up to this chick), and the Casanova children definitely used to act out Fiddler on the Roof  (remember my post about "sunrise, sunset?"), babushkas and all.  Kif used to sing "If I Were A Rich Man" in the bathtub - haha!

I feel like it was yesterday that my Papi was taking us to see West Side Story and swimming in Barton Springs in July.

"I want to be in A-me-RI-caaaa!" 

Truth be told - I would have killed for a Sno Beach sno-cone, but Italian Ice was pretty tasty too!

I mean, who doesn't love a good musical?  I am not gonna lie, I often get teary eyed at the end and fall in love with the characters --- no matter HOW good they are.

As a kid my parents would take me to the high school productions in our school district and I ogled and drooled over the "big kids" who put on Bye Bye, Byrdie! and Lil' Abner.  I have SUCH fond memories of being back stage with my buddies at WHS performing in The Music Man, Oklahoma!, and Guys and Dolls.

(Again, in the same vein as my post about baby Everett's mom, Vanessa, I do wish I had some digital copies of incriminating cast pictures with my fellow Madrigals.)

How fun is it to be in a costume?  To scream at the top of your lungs to a song? and I do love me some dancing/choreography.  Remember those Room 211 dance parties I used to have with my class each week?

So,....What are your favorite musicals?

I decided to start seeing more shows and participate in live performances MYSELF...and I'll keep you posted.

dancing in the moonlight

tonight was a great one.

I have been on the road non-stop - weddings, visiting friends I have not seen in over 4 years that I am so excited to live in the next city from, apartment hunting, getting my car fixed, running errands and trying to settle into summer - which, by the way, is halfway over.

I promise several blog posts will pop up in July - some retroactively.  Don't you wish you could rewind time sometimes so that you could get things done earlier?  I sure feel like that this month!

Anywho - I came home for about 30 hours before I am leaving again tomorrow early for a weekend with these loverly ladies:

and I know we are gonna tear up the town - so I need my beauty sleep. I have just so missed writing and posting and wanted to jot down a few notes about how much I love being home and seeing my family.

As excited as I am for this whirlwind weekend that's only hours away - I am sad that the summer is flying by and I am missing time at the house, upstairs, at home, with my fam.

There is nothing like watching tv on the couch with our legs tangled up sharing blankets like we used to when we were little, and running silly errands to Academy, Target and Best Buy with Kif and Lu - they make me laugh so hard and we get so lost going down each aisle - easily distracted by so many different things.

Tonight was awesome.  I had a "daddy-daughter" date with my Papi - the first in probably 10 years - at a wine vineyard and we got to sample some sweet grapes and have some delicious appetizers.  It is so special to get to meet my parents' friends and see their life in Lubbock thriving.  I know the move from Austin was such a change for all of us - and I just LOVE how quickly and easily they have charmed their way through the town in no time flat.  I hope that I have similar luck in Dallas and that wherever life takes my family down the road we are blessed with great relationships and friendships.  I also really enjoyed having my Papi all to myself - to catch him up on my apartment hunt, new job on the horizon and to chat about the family and everything else going on.

Dinner was also LOVELY.  Laura's boyfriend Blake brought us some awesome food from his favorite Italian place in Bakersfield and we enjoyed meatballs, fresh pasta, great sauce, beans and salad compliments of this cute couple.

We are so excited to celebrate her 21st birthday in just a few days! EEK!

At dinner we enjoyed local wine, got to fill everyone in on what we had been up to, hear about how Blake's summer has been, and somehow got to talking about song lyrics and poetry that we loved.  It was so neat to go around the table and recite some of the poems we had to memorize in elementary school (Kathleen - shout out to Polar Bear in my Frigidaire by Shel Silverstein) and Laura introduced us to The NapTaker:

No - I did not take a nap - The nap - took - me off the bed and out the window far beyond the sea, to a land where sleepy heads read only comic books and lock their naps in iron safes so that they can't get took. And soon as I came to that land, I also came to grief. The people pointed at me, shouting, "Where's the nap, you thief?" They took me to the courthouse. The judge put on his cap. He said, "My child, you are on trial for taking someone's nap. "Yes, all you selfish children, you think just of yourselves and don't care if the nap you take belongs to someone else. It happens that the nap you took without a thought or care belongs to Bonnie Bowlingbrook, who's sittin' cryin' there. "She hasn't slept in quite some time - just see her eyelids flap. She's tired drowsy - cranky too, 'cause guess who took her nap?" The jury cried, "You're guilty, yes, you're guilty as can be. But just return the nap you took And we might set you free." "I did not take that nap," I cried, "I give my solemn vow, and if I took it by mistake I do not have it now." "Oh fiddle-fudge," cried out the judge, your record looks quite sour. Last night I see you stole a kiss, Last week you took a shower, "You beat your eggs, you've whipped your cream, at work you punched the clock, You've even killed an hour or two, we've heard you darn your socks. We know you shot a basketball, you've stolen second base, and we can see you're guilty from the sleep that's on your face. "Go lie down on your blanket now and cry your guilty tears. I sentence you to one long nap for ninety million years. And when the other children see this nap that never ends, no child will ever dare to take somebody's nap again."  --Shel Silverstein 

And of course, we ended the night with a surprise visit from my mom's sweet friend Nancy and ended up blasting music in the living room to have a dance party.  (Note: the dance party was mostly me and Laura shaking it on the rug to rap songs from frat parties while my parents laughed at us and my brother refused to join.  I think Blake wins the "most tolerant boyfriend" award for 2011.)  We did switch gears to country and folk as we got a little bit more tired and moved a bit slower - and how fun it was to two-step with Christopher (once I finally begged him to be my dance partner) and see my parents moving and clapping to familiar songs.  My mom was even twirling in her sling (she had minor shoulder surgery)  to "Chicken Fried" when it came on iTunes.  

What do you like to do with your family when nobody is looking?  

There is something so special about home.  There is something so special about our home.  

Something about not having to get dressed up, or have a plan.

Something about the food and wine tasting better when someone who loves you makes it.

Something about how time moves a little bit slower when we are all in the living room together. 

Something about feeling like you never left each time you come back.

I am so glad to be living closer to this place and to be able to visit more often.
I am so glad I get to spend this summer here in this great place.  

sunrise. sunset.

Just flew back "home" to Savannah for the last time.  The next time my airplane lands here I hope to be visiting old friends.  I won't be a local, won't be sleeping in this apartment, and won't have a 31405 zip code.  I'll be a Texan.  And to be totally honest, I'm pretty damn excited, you guys.

There are so many changes going on right now that I am really struggling to process it all.  I am afraid it is all going to happen so fast here in the next couple of weeks that I won't realize it's over until I'm in the car with my mom headed back west.  This week is our last 4 days of third grade, I am going to be putting everything in my apartment and classroom into boxes that I won't see until August, I will be living in limbo in the LBK for a while, still have no idea who I am going to live with, meanwhile several weddings, fun family trips and girls weekends await me.  I am really REALLY trying to remind myself that it's all going to get done - even though I mostly feel like it's never going to end. :)

I wanted to post that great picture above I took on the plane today.  Sometimes the smallest things can remind us of the bigger picture.  Have I mentioned that I'm a sucker for a good sunset?  There's something special about the sun.  I think it's pretty amazing that every single day it comes back up and we get to have a fresh start.  I also can't help but hum the song from Fiddler on the Roof (such a good movie!) that Reb Tevye and his wife sing to their daughter at his wedding.  My father loves to bust out with this sort-of-sappy song on our birthdays.   It's cheesy but awesome and definitely expresses how I cannot BELIEVE that I am an adult sometimes.

(Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

(Men)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

(Tevye)
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?

(Golde)
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day

As far as growing up and watching your family change, I had such an amazing time with my fam this weekend watching my baby brother graduate from high school!




I remember when we were kiddos and we would play the "Guess How Old We Will Be When......This Happens" game and it is crazy that one of the milestones we have talked about since 1992 took place this weekend.  My parents are about to become empty nesters.  My brother is a Longhorn.  My sisters and I cannot believe how old it makes us feel.

I will post more graduation weekend pictures soon, promise! I have also taken a ton of very cute classroom pictures so that I can remember my kiddos and will have a LOT more time to write and reflect this summer, that's for sure!

Last week of school! Wish me luck!

wilson phillips

I know, I know.  Another blog about a song that's a total blast from the past.

Some may see this as an over-played jam.  To others, it might prove to be a classic.

Either way, don't deny that you totally know all of the words.

The movie "Bridesmaids" has this song stuck in my head tonight.
And of course, the lyrics are deep and meaningful, which helps.

Here are a few token lines:
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind

You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness
You got yourself into your own mess
Lettin' your worries pass you by
Don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind?


Also, please go see the movie.  You will laugh your butt off.  You might even pee your pants.

NOT to mention that this gent is preeeeetty handsome.

Doesn't hurt to have a total hunk in a chick-flick that is NOT a sappy chick-flick.  And to be honest, it's one of the funniest movie I've seen in a while.  Let's just say it brightened up my Monday. :)

Fleetwood Mac

What is your favorite roll-down-the-windows jam of the moment?

Mine is a recent discovery but also a total feel-good classic.

I think the song was sent to me by the universe.  

It was meant to be.

It's my new theme song. 

Like, if-my-life-was-a-movie-or-tv-show kind of theme. 

Who doesn't love this jam? 

This week on Glee - which I'm sure I'll blog plenty about...the assignment was a song off of Fleetwood Mac's album 'Rumours."  This was the big finale - and of course, as usual, I had moments watching where I sort of felt like Rachel, Finn, Quinn, Sam and everyone else did it better than the original.

Don't judge me.  

Not only that, but I have heard it play twice since then.  Once at a restaurant this week and the other time on the radio.  What are the odds?

So of course, I have been listening to it in the morning, in the car, and humming it to myself all week.

Why not think about times to come,
And not about the things that you've done,
If your life was bad to you,
Just think what tomorrow will do.

I think it's perfect for my new transition, all of the times I need to think positively about what is going on, and I love that it focuses on letting go of what's over, what's already happened. ;)

I think I'll rock out to it....right now.