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Okay! So I tried last week’s meatless meal, and it was gross. I am so sorry! I promise today’s is yummy, because I have made it many, many times! Of course my camera battery died while I was making this, so I don’t have a picture, but I promise you, it looks like beans and rice with tomatoes.
You will need:
1 can of black beans 12 or 14 oz.
1 can diced tomatoes 12 or 14 oz.
1/2 yellow onion chopped finely
1 c. frozen corn
Cumin
Peper
Better Than Bullion vegetable Base (you can find this in the soup section of most stores, Whole Foods has it for sure)
2 c. white rice (prepare rice as directed on the package)
To start, prepare your rice as directed on the package. This should take about twenty minutes. While the rice is cooking you can complete the rest of the meal. Dice the onion. In a large pan sauté the diced onion in a little olive oil. Open the beans and rinse them in a colander. When the onion is translucent add the rinsed beans, the can of tomatoes, and corn. Bring to a simmer. Add a 2 tsp. of the vegetable base. Sprinkle with pepper and cumin to taste. If you feel it needs salt, add a little more vegetable base. When the rice is finished, put about a 1/2 c. of rice in a bowl, spoon the bean mixture over the top. And that is it! Enjoy!
I don’t always add the corn or the cumin, sometimes I change things up. You can add different kinds of beans, seasonings, garlic, chilies, vegetables, etc. Whatever you like! If I have red wine or cooking sherry lying around sometimes I add a splash of that.
I don’t like to rush life along, but I really do wish Spring would hurry up and get here. Because then I can wear stuff like this:
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I am tired winter clothes and of the endless lumpy layers, stockings, and static!
Um, so what happened to all the pretty gowns for the Oscars? (I don’t have a clue what awards went to whom, I just want to see beautiful clothes.) Where did they go? Where was everyone? Was it just me or did it seem like there were a lot of people missing? But I can’t really say who . . .am I missing something? Was there a bigger party somewhere else?
Anyway, Penelope Cruz was wearing a lovely dress, but it wasn’t fantastic. And Sandra Bullock was wearing an interesting dress, I can’t say it was my favorite ever, but I did think it was interesting. And Natalie Portman was also wearing a pretty dress, but once again, not fantastic.
And so I ask again. . . what was up with the Oscars? Seriously, I could come up with some better dresses. . . maybe I’ll be a stylist.
I love hats, I always have always will. In recent times my love of hats has induced me to wear non-sunhat type hats to Mass. I figure if Princess Catherine may so may I.
If you want to learn more about hats, this is a brilliant post on millinery by This is Galmorous. Not only does it cover hat etiquette, but also introduces some of the finest milliners in the world, and, of course, has fantastic pictures.
I think most people don’t wear hats because they feel conspicuous and are afraid of what other people will think. My own rule is this: I have never seen a woman wearing a pretty hat and thought “why on earth is she wearing that?” I usually think, “where did she get that, I want one too!” Perhaps people think that people think the same thing when I wear a hat? And maybe, just maybe, seeing me wear a hat will give them the gumption to wear one themselves.
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I woke up late, but somehow time slowed down and I am still on time. I really like my outfit. It’s warm outside (albeit overcast, but that reminds me of California and home). And, I’ve just discovered I like black coffee. This day is off to an amazing start!
Do you like random? Here is a picture of a hedgehog that is too adorable for words.
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And now I am randomly going to quote some Lent appropriate Shakespeare just to top off the morning:
“Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.”
- Cymbeline, 4.2
I thought it might be helpful to post meatless meals each week to give you inspiration for a Lenten Friday meals. I am going to try and make these meals Vegan (without eggs, dairy, fish, and meat) so that anyone in the Eastern Rite will be able to use these as well. However, I will include meals that may use olive oil, so Eastern Riters beware, but I am sure you will know what to substitute for olive oil.
My goal is the post a recipe on Wednesdays so that you have a chance to buy supplies on Thursday and then prepare the meal on Friday. This week I am a little late simply because I had my brilliant idea over breakfast this morning.
Note Bene: if you are not Catholic you might like to participate during Lent in abstaining from meat on Fridays, it’s a good will-power builder (trust me, its seems as soon as you can’t have something, it appears right in front of you) and it’s a heart healthy thing to do.
The first meal is The Pioneer Woman-Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps. I am going to be picking up the ingredients this afternoon to try it out. Since I haven’t tested this meal yet, I cannot vouch for how good it will taste. However, I can vouch for the Pioneer Woman, I have yet to try something of hers I didn’t like! In the future I will try to make sure I’ve tried the recipe before I share it!
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If you want to know what has been on repeat during my commute lately, it’s Caro Emerald’s album Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor. I particularly like the music video below, it’s clever!
And so we begin the season of Lent again. I like Lent, it always comes just when I am most burnt out from the business of life. And then Lent shows up to help reorient and put life back into perspective.
Random factoid: Did you know in Italy they don’t put a cross on your forehead for Ash Wednesday, but sprinkle the ashes on your head? Yup, it came as a shock to me. I’ll never forget expecting the gritting feeling of cold, wet ash being neatly traced into cross on my forehead and then realizing the priest was sprinkling ashes on my head! But it was neat, I think it gives a better understanding of the phrase “remember you are dust.”
My roommate posted this on her wall and I found it intriguing. Why? Well, they are all playing the same guitar for one! Watch their faces for one while they are playing. It makes me laugh. Then, try and figure out which instruments they usually play.
