The Yin and Yang of K.A.L.E.

The two kinds of kale featured in this blog entry have very different and distinct tastes.  And their looks are somewhat contrasting as well.  The first type of kale called Scots kale is slightly bitter with wider and rounder leaves. The green is more of a matte color and the texture is smooth on your fingertip but crisp when eaten raw.  The second type of kale is called Tuscan kale and it's darker, the leaves leaner and the veins are more visible due to the stem.  The texture on this type is tougher but there's no bitterness and when cooked it slightly resembles spinach.  Kale is certainly receiving a lot of hype and understandably so.  It's chock full of vitamins K, A, C, fiber and minerals such as copper, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus.  No glowing body parts here!  Just glowing skin from healthy, nutritional yummylicious eating!

My previous post consisted of a recipe using kale in a green smoothie and was blended raw with other ingredients.  Listed below is the recipe for this simple, super easy and yummy side dish which I've appropriately titled, "The Yin and Yang of K.A.L.E."  All veggies are Organic, of course.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of Scots kale
1/2 cup of Tuscan kale
one half of a small onion
1 cup of mushrooms
2 cloves of garlic
3/4 cup of corn
1 Tbl sp of Earth balance soy free Non GMO vegan butter
1 tsp of grapeseed oil
3 Tbl sp of nutritional yeast
3 tsp of dried basil
himalayan salt to taste
pinch of pepper

In a medium size pan over low to medium heat, add butter to melt.  Meanwhile, chop up onion either in long slices or diced.  Whatever your preference. Hey! Maybe you can 'dlice' them!  When finished, mince the garlic or if you're a true Garlic lover (and a fan of convenience) use your garlic press.  Put them all the garlic in the pan to sautee with their BFF: the Onion.  Next, take your mushrooms and slice them thinly.  (To de-stem or not to de-stem?  I love mushrooms so I keep the mushroom intact.  I know. I know.  The fancy restaurants do the exact opposite but personally, I love ALL of the mushroom! I don't discriminate.)  Add them to the onions and garlic.  With the kale (after a wee little shower under the faucet) I would break off the stems (about an inch) and cut horizontally across the leaves about an inch wide. Place in the pan and look to the corn.  I purchased the frozen, organic corn from Trader Joe's.  Put them in to simmer with the rest.  Give it a few minutes then add the remaining ingredients.  Cover pan and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until the kale leaves are looking like they're ready to dance inside your mouth.  Because I ate the last of the gluten free, vegan stuffing that my friend, Nalasa, left me I needed a side dish to accompany my mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy.  This. Was. Perfect.  :0)

One last thing, if you wanted to add in some spinach for extra iron I doubt the Kale brethren would mind.  I'll have to come up with a new name for the dish like 'The Lean, Green, Not So Mean Side Dish' or something.  Bon Appetit!

The Painted Sky, A Letter

For Sean

November is one of my favorite months.  At this time of year the monarch butterflies migrate and pass through here finding temporary homes in the Eucalyptus trees.  They flit about in ones and twos (or threes or fours) in search of the sweetest nectar and a peaceful place to rest.

I thought about you today, in the middle of this absolutely beautiful gorgeous day in Paradise, while I was doing my walk/run at the beach.  As I was climbing the steps to get onto the pier, the voice of the husband from South Africa (remember the sweet South African couple?) came to mind.  I have no idea why.  And I remembered your comment about how he sounded like Hannibal Lecter which resulted in shivering first because of the accuracy in that statement then smiling which transitioned into laughter.

We are so much like those butterflies. Traveling. Flitting. Transforming.  Always searching for that sweet nectar.  Home so unbelievably close but something calls us to keep searching.  For what?  Nothing.  Everything.  Anything.  A Love hinted and only whispered at.  A sliver of Joy felt once but we hope to feel again.  A sadness we ignore with that futile attempt to bury it.  A loneliness we can never shake off but we forget when we are in the company of fellow Dreamers.

I Miss You! I hope you are receiving what you desire whilst on your journey.

I've attempted several times to write down little moments or memories of my trip but I end up staring at a blank page or filling it up with mundane but current details of my life.

Like, for example, I'm sitting Here on a bench that overlooks a vast ocean.  The sand is littered with clumps of seaweed and wet wood.  From where I am there are no waves which equates to no surfers out.  The sky is a brilliant blue like something painted and too perfect.  There are slashes of white cutting across looking as though they are wings spreading high and about to take flight.  But, the best part which isn't really the warmth of the sun kissing my cheeks and neck but the soothing sounds of the waves…encouraging me…nay singing to me…a song unriddled and without words….just this Deep Love…and Comfort.

And something else…an almost invisible thread…it looks to be the remnants of a web.  It caught my attention peripherally.  In that perfect tiny sliver is a reflection…of the world..of You…of Me…of the Ocean.  And this small detail which most would overlook or miss…tells me in a whisper……………........................................ ...............................................................to never give up……………………................................................ ..........................................to never forget that magic is everywhere…………….. ..............................................................................and most importantly…………………. .....................................................................to never stop seeing Love in its amazing perfection………

I am awake now as You Are.  This is no Dream but a creation manifested with Love and Heart and Hope.

The Path is Here right under your feet.  It is but an illusion of being Lost.  It's the Discovery that this Life is the Journey of Infinite Possibilities.

You are walking and living within the Painting that is Your Life.  As Artist AND Architect.

Let's Celebrate You.  Us. And this moment.

Love You.

:0)

Athena

Greeeeeen Smoothie

They say that Green is associated with Envy. In this particular case, I'd like to say that instead of being 'Green with Envy' let's just say I'm Green with iron, protein, potassium and a whole lotta sweetness!
To offset some of the bitter taste from the kale, I added a tad bit of coconut sugar and maybe a 1/4 cup of Rice Dream ice cream. It actually was too sweet so next time I'll nix the coconut sugar. It was thick, creamy and oh so good!

Here's the official recipe:
3/4 cup spinach
1 1/2 cups of kale (I used two kinds)
1 lg banana
2 tbl sp avocado
3 tbl sp hemp seeds
3 tbl sp Nutiva's Hemp Vanilla Shake powder
1/4 cup of Rice Dream Ice Cream
1 tbl sp coconut sugar
1/4-1/2 cup of hemp milk
1/4-1/2 cup of rice milk
(liquid as needed for preference on thickness)

*All ingredients certified Organic :0)
Enjoy!

Athena
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