I *heart* my Vitamix

I haven't always been in the best of shape or consumed the most healthy food or drink.  However, I have spent time talking with a nutritionist and generally try to make good choices to be healthier.  This week I am doing a bit of a low-key detoxification process and am feeling better each day!

So last month I splurged a little bit a lot:  I bought myself a Vitamix.  What is it?  Only the best appliance I will ever own.  Literally.  It's a 2 horsepower blender *gasp*. This puppy will turn avocado pits into powder.  It will pulverize anything you put into it.  Of course, given my extensive history of bodily injury in the kitchen, I made sure that the appropriate safety devices were included in the purchase.  The beauty of it is that it allows the consumption of the whole food (skins, seeds, rinds and all) and in the raw state, so you get the maximum nutritional value.  No pulp, no waste, just vitamins and fiber from the food.   It will make and heat soup, grind grains into flour, make bread dough, etc.  I have been making juices, moothies, soups and dressings...it's completely changing my nutrition.  YUM :-)    Here are just a few recipes that I have really enjoyed with my Vitamix!

Smoothie
* Blueberry and Almond, Peach and Almond, Raspberry and Rice, Mango and Coconut
2 cups almond, rice or coconut milk
1 cup of blueberries or raspberries, or one whole peach or mango
1 scoop of whey protien powder
1 scoop of Pro-Greens type powder (preferably with a probiotic)
A couple of ice cubes
Method:  Blend together until smooth.

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Beet, Carrot, Apple and Ginger Juice
1  large or 2 medium beets, cut into wedges
1/2  lemon (peeled for this recipe)
2  large carrots, cut into smaller sections
1  large apple, cut into wedges
1-inch piece of ginger
Method:  Blend together until smooth.

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Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
     For Salad:
1 head of leafy greens, roughly cut
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1 avocado, diced
***
     For Dressing:
1  large carrot
1  large shallot
2 T  fresh ginger (roughly chopped)
1 T  sweet white miso
2 T  rice wine vinegar
1 T  roasted sesame seed oil
1/4 cup  grapeseed oil
2  T water
Method:  (*For the dressing I used my smaller food chopper/blender, rather than the Vitamix.)  Pulse the carrot, shallot and ginger in a blender until finely chopped.  Scrape down the sides.  Add the miso, vinegar and sesame seed oil and blend together.  While the blender is going, slowly drizzle in the grapeseed oil and the water.  Combine the salad and dressing just prior to serving.

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Green Soup
* Broccoli and Arugula or Pea and Basil
1  T olive oil
1  clove garlic
1/2  yellow onion
1  head of broccoli, cut into sections, or 2 cups peas
2 1/2  cups water
1/4  teaspoon each salt and pepper
3/4  cup arugula (watercress would be good too) or basil
1/2  lemon
Method:  Put all items into the Vitamix and blend until smooth. Enjoy cold or warm in the microwave.

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Enjoy!!

Learning to Trust

        It has been an incredible season of life for me, and the recurring theme, my growth-edge, has been Trust.  As most of you may know, I am a "Preacher's Kid"...I am proud to say my Dad was a pastor of a Christian church for most of my life. One of my favorite sermons that he taught was about Trust...and he would put his hands together throughout the message in a "T" formation, like that generally used for "Time-Out".  (We moved several times, hence the re-runs!)  When God is trying to get my attention to trust him, the vision of Dad's hands making the "T" sign come into my head...what great reminder...Thank you Dad!  I am learning to trust God with my time, love and other pursuits. 

Time
        Each morning when I rise, before I begin brushing teeth, washing face, showering, feeding Punkin, etc., I read a daily devotional from "Jesus Calling" (Sarah Young)  I have learned from experience that doing other things first distracts me from doing the most important task of the day:  Prayer.  Pastor Mark at Mars Hill shared a fantastic message this past Sunday, and one of his points was prayer--or lack thereof.  I often will go a whole day or more without praying, as if I believe that I can make it thorugh this or that just fine.  "I have done this work...made this commute...trudged through this routine...for years, so why must I pray for assistance? I could do this in my sleep!"  
        This morning I awoke late.  I hit 'snooze' three too many times and was down to the wire to make it out the door on time.  I looked at the book and was awash in conflict: what is more imporant than spending time with God or being on-time to work?  Answer: Nothing is more important than God...I must make the time investment in Him. I truly desire to honor Him.  But today?  I will be late for work, every minute counts, traffic can be so unpredictable...  This is when the sacrifice has the greatest impact on my faith and increasing ability to trust Him throughout my day.  When I spend the time with Him, not only will He be able to bless my day, but a peace that passes understanding will descend upon me. 
        I can't say that I pause and give God time every morning...I am a work-in-progress.  But I can tell that little by little, as I become more trusting, it is working:  the result of His blessings in response to my trust is remarkable!

Love and Other Pursuits
        I have had quite the incredible life for my 34 years...oh the stories I have!  I have visited 46 states (including Alaska and Hawaii), been to America's beard and hat (haha, Mexico and Canada, including Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Price Edward Island), and have lived in the Pacific Northwest, California, New England and Boston.  I have held jobs requiring wisdom far beyond my years, and have triumphed through the joy and pain of my life decisions (good and foolish).  My career has flourished, with societal appointments, publications, presentations and teaching opportunities.  As a single woman I have always been financially secure through prosperous times and even through the slim seasons.   And yet, I doubt.  How foolish I am!!
        God has brought me full-circle...home at last...content at last.  I am home in Seattle.  I never knew how much I valued home until I had been away in search of life (which I found to some extent, but that's a story for an entirely different time) and found it here at last...in the Pacific Northwest.  God has always been faithful to me.  He has never foresaken me.  His promises are true, and his wisdom just. 
        Which brings me to the question:  WHY would I doubt that God has the very best plan for me??  I justify my doubt as "self-preservation"...I project prior disappointments and failures onto future potential blessings.  I take setbacks or unexpected happenings and read into them "not meant to be".  I am like an actuary:  I am quick to analyze and weigh the risk/benefit ratio. 
        What I know for sure is that God still pursues people...I am proof of that.  (an idea from Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller).  I have felt Him pursuing me for the past few months...something that I despaired wouldn't happen.  How foolish I have been to think He had given up on me!
        One of the ways I was sure it was not in His plan to bless me was in a job that I love, with a life of friends, colleagues and adventures where I love to be.  I live in Seattle, have a job at the UW which inspires me each day, a multitude of friends and activities, and a church I am becoming more involved with as we speak.  It took TRUST to get to this point.  Another way I was sure was not His plan was to bless me with a soulmate...a man of God who would love me despite my prior life...who would adore me and see beauty and value in me.  Oh, me of little faith.  I have met a man who I adore, respect and love.  He is someone who I can laugh with...someone who loves me...someone I pray with.  There is a significant logistical issue associated with our relationship...hence, the TRUST.  This wonderful, Godly man is worth the investment, despite time, effort and distance.
        The fear lies in the "What if?"  The not knowing.  The mystery.  There is fear and beauty in the mystery.
        I am feeling the growth-edge once again, in trusting that God will continue to bring me together with my soulmate (if it is this wonderful man)...trusting that God will be gentle in my evolution from single gal to attached-in-love gal.  I am trusting Him that my heart will not be smashed...again.  I am trusting Him that the logistical nightmare we find ourselves in will be resolved in a heartbeat by His grace.  Where ultimate bliss meets absolute unsurity.

Look at the beauty the clouds bring to the environment...clouds don't always equal rain...
Trust.  That's my growth-edge.

A song on my heart...

“Worlds Apart"
by Jars of Clay

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache
Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me
Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and blow away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart

The Silver Screen...

I LOVE movies.  Netflix probably loses money on me each month because rather than paying for cable, I watch movies through netflix. 

This post is about two AMAZING movies I have seen recently:

1. "The Visitor" with Richard Jenkins. A man who lives in Connecticut suddenly returns to his apartment in New York City to find immigrants who have been subletting his home illegally.  The unexpected result is the awakening of this widower's life and feelings, and a deep, lifelong friendship with the couple staying in his home.

2. "Adam" with Rose Byrne and Hugh Dancy. A young man in New York City with Asberger's syndrome develops a friendship and subsequent romance with the neighbor girl.

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Both of these movies are unbelievably sweet and tender, with amazingly strong performances by all characters, both starring and supporting. They aren't gripping, eyes-glued-to-the-TV action flicks, but they are compelling and beautiful.

Heyyyyyy battah battah battah....

Philly experienced a baseball massacare on June 11th. It may as well have been batting practice for the Sox. There were 9 home runs scored by the Red Sox in the first 3 innings, which was GREAT as far as I was concerned! I love the Sox...the crack of the bat with a hit...watching that ball bounce off the Green Monstah. My super friends and I agreed (or maybe I just think we agreed) that if we did happen to catch a ball we'd divide it into 5 equal parts. Of course, I cannot verify how that actually would have played out...and how easily the baseball's stitching would have come undone. Not one ball came near our seats...there was a flaw in the plan.

My awesome friends from Dartmouth, warm sunshine followed by clear crisp evening air, Red Sox at their best, Fenway and it's history...Great memories!!

Kari in Evolution

It's been a crazy life season and writing on this blog has gotten shuffled to the sidelines.  So, it's time to dust off the keyboard and start writing again!

I'm in Boston again, for the first time in 3 years...it is surreal.  So much happened in my life while I lived here, and a great deal more has influenced who I am since my move back to Seattle.  Now the old life and the new Kari converge again, and the result is striking, vast array of emotions.  I have evolved and grown in the past three years...I am looking at the world with new eyes and a new heart. 

Smell is known to be the sense most strongly connected to memory...a profoundly evident truth this week.  Each city has a unique smell.  I recognize Boston immediately as I exit the plane.  The air is thick with humidity with a marked temperature change from the street as I descend deep into the subway station.  Each "T" (subway) station has its own smells and sounds which radiate from the brick, the tile, the tracks.  Each section of track has distinct rhythms...a distinct pattern of grinding metal-on-metal and swaying rail cars, and just beneath the level of consciousness lies a subtle awareness that the train is pulling into Harvard square.  The ride from downtown to Porter square awakens distinct and vivid memories with each layer of scent...rubber, metal, dust, age, damp brick and mortar, faint exhaust.  Train noise overpowers conversation during the commuting rush hour...people noises dominate during off-peak hours.  Adolescents enjoy their freedom, boistrous and jovial.  Tourists bury their noses in maps and brochures and hang on for dear life.  Locals stand fearlessly as though bragging to the rest of us "look, no hands". 

There is freedom in not owning a car.  More freedom than nuisance.  I didn't own a car for more than 2 years...rented or used Zipcar when real necessities arose.  Stretch those legs, walk tall with long strides, move on your own energy.  I admire communities which rely on mass transit and long for Seattle to enjoy the same conveniences.  I remember the pride in making grocery trips by foot or by T...reusable bags piled high in my granny-cart.  Oh to have had a pedometer this week!  Oh how well I have slept this week. 

Observation.  On benches and in cafes there are readers buried deep books...I see imaginary bubbles rise above their heads with images of their thoughts as they absorb the thoughts, facts, stories.  One in five people has phone to their ear...fictional conversations are contrived in my head based on their body language. An elderly woman sits on the sidewalk, a disintegrating Dunkin' Donuts styrofoam cup jingling with change.  A young professional woman walks by dressed to the nines.

Success vs. Failure. 
Wealth vs. Poverty. 
Acceptance vs. Rejection. 
Sun vs. Thunderstorms. 
Art vs. Vandalism.
Home vs. House.
Contentedness vs. Ache.

Breathe.  Just breathe and enjoy the ride.

My dear Seattle, I will be home on Sunday!

Saturday Night...

After a productive day of spring cleaning, what is better than cooking and a movie!?

I made an Indian Chicken Curry with Coconut and Spiced Onions from a Williams-Sonoma cookbook that I have had for years.  The focus of the cookbook is food and wine pairing...and all I can say is: Fabulous!!

Here is the description:
    "A tropical fruit-scented white wine with a somewhat oily texture beautifully accompanies the silkiness that comes from the coconut milk and cream in this braised melange.  The bright fruit flavors of a Viognier are sublime with the sweet and aromatic qualities of the spices."

They had me at "hello". I served this dish as recommended, with basmati rice and sauteed spinach:
 It was PERFECT!  See below for details.

The book recommended a white wine, as follows:
Dependable:  Fresh, full Viognier
Daring:  Off-dry, tart Riesling

If I had an unlimited income, I would have bought one of each and had a sweet wine/food tasting.  Since my income is limited (and I already spent my grocery budget for the week), I went with the "dependable" option.  On sale was an intriguing 2007 The White Knight Voignier, Clarksburg CA.Viognier, original price $18.00--on sale for $10.00!  At the end of the meal, I highly recommend this wine:  Ideal to compliment this dish!!

In addition to:

2007 The White Knight Voignier Clarksburg, California

I also recommend:
2008 Maryhill Columbia Valley Viognier Goldendale, Washington

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The following is from the Williams-Sonoma Food & Wine Pairing cookbook (1999 version), with my edits in Italics.

Total time = 60-90 minutes

Ingredients:

Indian Chicken Curry with Coconut and Spiced Onions :
- 2 1/2 lb. chicken parts - chicken breasts, large bite-size pieces
- Salt to taste - I used Hawaiian red salt...mild and a very good match
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup peanut oil
- 2 Cups chopped yellow onion - (1 medium-large size)
- 2 Tab. peeled and minced fresh ginger - (or 1+ Tab. ground/powdered)
- 1 Tab. minced garlic - (generous)
- 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground fennel - (of course I had fennel seeds...use a coffee grinder!)
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves - (again, whole cloves...ground with fennel in grinder!)
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper - (could be generous, if you like more than mild spice)
- 1 1/2 Cups (12 oz.) coconut milk - ("Lite" version, 1/2 fat/calories & good!)
- 1/4 Cup slivered blanched almonds
- 1/2 Cup heavy cream - (Half & Half worked great, with less calories & fat!)
- 2 Tab. chopped fresh cilantro (fresh coriander) or mint - (I had fresh mint on hand)

Spinach Side Dish:
- 1 bundle of spinach per person (it will cook down substantially)
- 2-4 cloves of minced garlic
- Splash of peanut oil
- Dash of hawaiian red salt

Basmati Rice Side Dish:
- I used Brown-basmati rice: 1 Cup dry = 2 servings
- Dash of hawaiian red salt
- Cook as instruced on package (slow cook)
- For 2-4 servings, add 1 cinnamon stick & 5 cloves

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Quite without stressed-out planning, this meal came together at the same time (see notes above) which was a great joy! Additionally, the wine pairing suggestion was SPOT ON!!


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TIME TO COOK!!

Chicken Curry Main Dish, Spinach  and Rice Side Dishes:

1.
* Preheat oven to 350 degreesF and ready a baking sheet.

* Rinse the chicken pieces and pat dry with paper towels.  Generously sprinkle with salt and black pepper and set aside. 

* Prepare all ingredients for the main dish, spinach and rice side dishes before proceeding.

2.
* In a sautee pan large enough to hold all of the chicken pieces in a single layer, warm the peanut oil over medium heat.  Add the onion, ginger and garlic, and sautee, stirring from time to time to prevent sticking, until softenend: 5-8 minutes.

* Add the cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, tumeric, cloves and cayenne.  Sauteee to belnd the spices and release their aromatic oils, about 2 minutes. 

* Add the chicken pieces and turn in the the onion-spice mixture for about 2 minutes to coat well.  Add the coconut milk and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is very tender and cooked through, about 30 minutes.

3.
* Begin the rice (boiling, simmering, etc.).  This will be completed approximately the same time as the chicken. (Good news: There will be a bit of leeway on both sides!)

* Meanwhile, spread the almonds on the baking sheet and toast in the oven until they take on color and are fragrant, approximately 5-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside until needed.

* Approximately 5-7 minutes before the chicken and rice are ready, heat a smaller skillet over medium heat with a dash of peanut oil and a few cloves of garlic minced.  Pile the cleaned spinach leaves into the skillet.  Carefully and continually turn the leaves (from bottom to top) until wilted.  The spinach leaves will cook down significantly; estimate 1 bunch of leaves per serving.

4.
* When the chicken is tender, add the almonds and cream, (Add the mint here, to maximize the flavoring), stirring until combined.  Season with salt (I used the hawaiian red again here) and pepper. 

Make-Ahead Tip: The curry can be made up 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated. Reheat over low heat.

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Bon Appetite !!

So sorry there aren't pictures!