We have been toying with the idea of getting a food processor for a long time. We are really trying to examine our lifestyle, needs, and wants and live more simply. We weren't sure if we would use a food processor enough to warrant the expense.
The town we live in has a fabulous outlet mall. We go to one of the kitchen stores to buy refills for our soda stream (http://www.sodastreamusa.com/ ) and the last time we went we also had to refill our CO2 canister so we got a $10 off coupon for anything in the store. Nice! We looked again at the food processors and then went home to think on it a few days, read reviews, etc. When we went back that weekend, they happened to be on sale! So we picked up a really nice Hamilton Beach food processor for $34.99!
love love love it!
We have used it for many things but perhaps my favorite of all is hummus.
I absolutely LOVE hummus! We work with so many people that have never tried it. I love bringing them samples of my hummus and seeing their favorable reactions.
So I'd like to share my recipe and encourage anyone who hasn't ever had hummus to give it a try. It is very healthy and you can custom season it. It makes a great alternative to chip dip or veggie dip!
Basic Hummus:
2 cans (15oz each) Garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup lemon juice (or lime juice) -I have used both fresh and concentrate and both work fine
1/2 cup roasted tahini (can be salted or unsalted, you can adjust salt later)
1/2 cup water
slightly less than 1/4 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves (must be fresh garlic, the minced stuff in a jar gives the hummus a "metallic" taste)
1 1/2 tsp salt (more or less to taste)
combine all in food processor and blend until smooth. Then add "flavors". If making just plain hummus, consider adding more garlic after taste-testing.
Flavors will be stronger (and better) after chilling for 24 hours so when possible, make in advance.
Some flavor ideas:
Roasted red pepper and chipotle
one large red pepper (look up internet directions how to roast them in your oven, it's very simple)
chipotle powder to taste (I used 2-3 tsp)
smoked paprika to taste (1 tsp)
Smoked mushroom, onion, and garlic
we pre-smoked with mesquite wood chips in our smoker 1/2 red onion, 2/3 pkg crimini mushrooms, and a bunch of garlic cloves, all tossed in olive oil.
We added all of the above to the basic recipe, using 6 total garlic cloves.
Spicy hummus (couldn't really think of a creative name)
2 roma tomatoes (smoked on the grill, but you could use the same oven roasting method as the peppers above)
1 tsp Sanaam peppers
2 tsp Aleppo peppers, dried and crushed
1 1/2 tsp Chipotle powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
Other flavor ideas/combinations that I want to try:
- "Pizza" hummus -using italian herbs and tomatoes
- Anything with fresh herbs (basil, rosemary, chives, etc)
- A "cheesy" hummus using cheese powder and hmmmm, maybe bacon salt??
- A curried hummus
- Toasted pine nuts and parsley
- Ranch flavored
Enjoy! Let me know if you come up with any other ideas or suggestions for flavors to try
Friday, January 13, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
First week of 2012
Whew!
With the nice weather added on top of the holiday season, we've been very busy at work. Meeting lots of nice people (as well as a handful of grumpy, not-so-nice people). Sometimes I really wonder what happens to people that they feel they can treat another human being as rotten as they do. Add in the factor of them "losing" and boy, -it is sometimes REALLY hard for me not to laugh out loud!
For example, I was tapping on to the single deck blackjack game. Now single deck blackjack is different from all the other blackjack tables we have in that the cards are "pitched" to the players and they are allowed to hold them in their hands (versus regular blackjack where the cards are laid out on the table by the dealer and players are NOT allowed to touch their cards). Also, since it is a single deck (versus six decks on the regular games), the odds are slightly in the players favor if they have the ability to "count" cards and know if a big or small card is coming next.
While I was waiting for the dealer to finish their hand, the floor supervisor stood behind me and said "This guy is probably going to be very mean." Ok, no big deal but nice to have a little warning.
I tapped on and there was just one guy playing. He was a big guy with plastic-surgery arm candy sitting at his side. I struck up a little chit chat and it was ok for a few minutes. Then I beat him on a hand and it was like a switch flipped. He started freaking out saying that we only switched dealers cuz he actually started to win with the other guy and now look, I am going to take all his money. I kind of laughed and jokingly said "No sir, we all deal for an hour on a table before we get a break so you are stuck with me for the next hour." I could literally watch this guy get angrier and angrier with each passing hand that he lost. He started flinging cards and chips and at one point, even threw the cards so hard that they hit me in the chest. I just stopped, gave him "the look", and continued on. He was acting so childish that I almost laughed outloud.
Needless to say, he lost all his money and stomped off yelling and whining like a little baby.
But enough about casino stuff :)
We have been taking advantage of the nice weather and taking a lot of walks. Skott found an AMAZING piece of pink sea glass the other day, as well as the bright blue chunks. We had never seen or heard of pink before. When I googled it, it is very rare and probably from the depression era. We will have to do something really fabulous with it.
We bought a smoker with some Christmas gift money. We finally got to set it up yesterday. We smoked some turkey legs. They turned out amazing!
There was a gorgeous sunset yesterday. I was trying to capture it through the spare bedroom window, but you just can't get the full beauty on film
Skott made a couple more bracelets out of the reclaimed pallet wood. I thought they turned out really nice! They are a gift for his cousin and partner.
With the nice weather added on top of the holiday season, we've been very busy at work. Meeting lots of nice people (as well as a handful of grumpy, not-so-nice people). Sometimes I really wonder what happens to people that they feel they can treat another human being as rotten as they do. Add in the factor of them "losing" and boy, -it is sometimes REALLY hard for me not to laugh out loud!
For example, I was tapping on to the single deck blackjack game. Now single deck blackjack is different from all the other blackjack tables we have in that the cards are "pitched" to the players and they are allowed to hold them in their hands (versus regular blackjack where the cards are laid out on the table by the dealer and players are NOT allowed to touch their cards). Also, since it is a single deck (versus six decks on the regular games), the odds are slightly in the players favor if they have the ability to "count" cards and know if a big or small card is coming next.
While I was waiting for the dealer to finish their hand, the floor supervisor stood behind me and said "This guy is probably going to be very mean." Ok, no big deal but nice to have a little warning.
I tapped on and there was just one guy playing. He was a big guy with plastic-surgery arm candy sitting at his side. I struck up a little chit chat and it was ok for a few minutes. Then I beat him on a hand and it was like a switch flipped. He started freaking out saying that we only switched dealers cuz he actually started to win with the other guy and now look, I am going to take all his money. I kind of laughed and jokingly said "No sir, we all deal for an hour on a table before we get a break so you are stuck with me for the next hour." I could literally watch this guy get angrier and angrier with each passing hand that he lost. He started flinging cards and chips and at one point, even threw the cards so hard that they hit me in the chest. I just stopped, gave him "the look", and continued on. He was acting so childish that I almost laughed outloud.
Needless to say, he lost all his money and stomped off yelling and whining like a little baby.
But enough about casino stuff :)
We bought a smoker with some Christmas gift money. We finally got to set it up yesterday. We smoked some turkey legs. They turned out amazing!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Goal setting strategies
I will be the first to admit that I have avoided setting "New Years Resolutions" for a VERY long time now.
I thought they were pointless.
I didn't believe in them.
I always broke them and felt like a failure.
Lately I have been feeling a bit unproductive and "restless". I feel like life is passing by so fast and I worry that I am not taking advantage of my mind, my health, and my potential talents, not to mention nuturing and cultivating existing skills and ideas.
I miss the challenge of learning new things.
I miss the excited feelings associated with learning.
I read an interesting article on setting realistic goals. I would like to share some of the keys things in that article:
#1: Write your goals down
When you just think about a goal, it's not physically real and easier to forget or toss aside. The physical act of writing the goal down results is greater success of achieving the goal.
Rather than make some big, long intimidating list of goals, I have decided to make goal notecards and place them in strategic locations around my house (weight loss and healthier eating on the fridge, writing in journal on my bedside table, etc).
#2: Start with the short-term that leads to the long term
I am very guilty of focusing on the long term. But really, the only way to achieve the big, long term goal is by a series of short term goals. I will keep this in mind as I make my goal notecards.
#3: Be specific and detailed
How to you want to be more organized? What steps will you take? How can you lose weight? How can you be more service minded? What specific events can you volunteer for?
#4: Measure actions instead of progress
This didn't make sense to me at first, but then the author went on to explain that most people set really aggressive goals with specific timelines (such as fit into my bikini by summer). Then, when the deadline isn't met, they quit trying altogether. So instead of saying, I want to lose "x" amount of lbs, incorporate actions into your goal by saying I want to do "x" amount of cardio every week and eat at least one fruit or vegetable a day. That way, when you incorporate these actions into your lifestyle, you feel good because you are reaching your goal and not discouraged because the weight insn't falling off as fast, etc.
and perhaps the most valuable point I got from this article was:
Start with just one goal
We all have a million things we'd like to do, things we'd like to change, improve, etc.
Pick one. Do it. Then slowly add in more. Make it a lifestlye change.
As hard as it is for me to pick just one goal, I am going to follow this advice. I am going to write all my goals on notecards and then start with one. When I have comfortably implemented it into my life for at least 3 weeks, I will then get out another notecard.
I am not meaning to be chastizing or critical or anything like that. Different things work for different people. I just wanted to share my strategy that I am adopting this year and hope that you all take time to think about things you want to do, try, and experience.
Life is so good. It truly is a gift.
I thought they were pointless.
I didn't believe in them.
I always broke them and felt like a failure.
Lately I have been feeling a bit unproductive and "restless". I feel like life is passing by so fast and I worry that I am not taking advantage of my mind, my health, and my potential talents, not to mention nuturing and cultivating existing skills and ideas.
I miss the challenge of learning new things.
I miss the excited feelings associated with learning.
I read an interesting article on setting realistic goals. I would like to share some of the keys things in that article:
#1: Write your goals down
When you just think about a goal, it's not physically real and easier to forget or toss aside. The physical act of writing the goal down results is greater success of achieving the goal.
Rather than make some big, long intimidating list of goals, I have decided to make goal notecards and place them in strategic locations around my house (weight loss and healthier eating on the fridge, writing in journal on my bedside table, etc).
#2: Start with the short-term that leads to the long term
I am very guilty of focusing on the long term. But really, the only way to achieve the big, long term goal is by a series of short term goals. I will keep this in mind as I make my goal notecards.
#3: Be specific and detailed
How to you want to be more organized? What steps will you take? How can you lose weight? How can you be more service minded? What specific events can you volunteer for?
#4: Measure actions instead of progress
This didn't make sense to me at first, but then the author went on to explain that most people set really aggressive goals with specific timelines (such as fit into my bikini by summer). Then, when the deadline isn't met, they quit trying altogether. So instead of saying, I want to lose "x" amount of lbs, incorporate actions into your goal by saying I want to do "x" amount of cardio every week and eat at least one fruit or vegetable a day. That way, when you incorporate these actions into your lifestyle, you feel good because you are reaching your goal and not discouraged because the weight insn't falling off as fast, etc.
and perhaps the most valuable point I got from this article was:
Start with just one goal
We all have a million things we'd like to do, things we'd like to change, improve, etc.
Pick one. Do it. Then slowly add in more. Make it a lifestlye change.
As hard as it is for me to pick just one goal, I am going to follow this advice. I am going to write all my goals on notecards and then start with one. When I have comfortably implemented it into my life for at least 3 weeks, I will then get out another notecard.
I am not meaning to be chastizing or critical or anything like that. Different things work for different people. I just wanted to share my strategy that I am adopting this year and hope that you all take time to think about things you want to do, try, and experience.
Life is so good. It truly is a gift.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Christmas 2011
Last year Christmas looked like this:
I had just graduated, we had a HUGE winter storm, and life was wide open.
I never imagined in my wildest dreams that the following Christmas would look like this:
We kept things VERY simple this year. Didn't send out many gifts (sorry family).
Skott and I both had to work on the day, so we celebrated early on Thursday (our day off). It was a wonderful day!
Backing up a little: having lots of time to think while standing on dead games at work allowed me plenty of time to really plan out Skott's christmas. In years past, I was always stressed with finals around the holidays and was never really able to devote a lot of time to brainstorming Christmas. Well, this year I got a little bold and after a couple weeks of debating with myself, I decided I was going to try and custom paint a pair of Vans shoes for Skott. Mind you, I am not a painter, nor an artist. I did a lot of research, watched a ton of videos, then finally plunged in.
I honestly would encourage anyone mildly interested in this to give it a try. It was a lot of fun! And believe me when I say, If I can do it, ANYONE can do it!
Skott put together a really fun stocking for me! The theme was "All things good.... with one really bad thing"
Guess what that was?
I did a "Forever Young" theme for Skotts stocking
We had a great day together. Went on a walk and went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie.
Hope everybody has a great holiday!
I never imagined in my wildest dreams that the following Christmas would look like this:
We kept things VERY simple this year. Didn't send out many gifts (sorry family).
Skott and I both had to work on the day, so we celebrated early on Thursday (our day off). It was a wonderful day!
Backing up a little: having lots of time to think while standing on dead games at work allowed me plenty of time to really plan out Skott's christmas. In years past, I was always stressed with finals around the holidays and was never really able to devote a lot of time to brainstorming Christmas. Well, this year I got a little bold and after a couple weeks of debating with myself, I decided I was going to try and custom paint a pair of Vans shoes for Skott. Mind you, I am not a painter, nor an artist. I did a lot of research, watched a ton of videos, then finally plunged in.
 |
| Here we go! |
 |
| freehand sketching the design |
 |
| custom mixing the main body color |
 |
| Ready to start painting design |
 |
| Compass Rose custom vans complete! |
Skott put together a really fun stocking for me! The theme was "All things good.... with one really bad thing"
Guess what that was?
I did a "Forever Young" theme for Skotts stocking
We had a great day together. Went on a walk and went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie.
Hope everybody has a great holiday!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Starfish at low tide
On Tuesday, I pretty much had one of the worst days I've ever had in a LONG time. Without re-living too much detail, it was all due to one miserable, arrogant, self absorbed individual who (unfortunately) was doing my audition for single deck pitch blackjack. Wow, I have NEVER been so humiliated and discriminated* in my ENTIRE life (*age and *weight)! I didn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry, but boy, the rest of the day I was a mess. Uggggh! I REALLY hate it when stupid people like that get under my skin. No matter how many times you tell yourself that you are better than that, it still hurts. After talking to my managers, they both agreed that what he did was unacceptable and they encouraged me to talk to the casino general manager, which I did the following morning.
My loving husband suggested we take a walk on the beach since it was a really low tide that day. And what a walk it was.
So beautiful!
It just never gets old
 |
| You can see how brilliant the orange starfish are |
 |
| The starfish are only visible when there are minus tides |
 |
| I love the bright anenome at the bottom of the photo |
 |
| I don't know what the orange "globby" thing is on the left, but there were several of them. Any clues? |
  |
| Sunset that day |
 |
| What happens when you are too engrossed in taking pictures when the tide is coming back in! |
 |
| A neat rock Skott found. The dark lines are actually water seeping out of the cracks |
 |
| Skott taking it all in |
 |
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sisterly love
My little sister Josie came to visit for a few days. Due to her school and work schedule, and our work schedule, we were only able to take one day off while she was here, but we still managed to have fun!
We picked Josie up in Portland, which is about 2 hours from us. On our way back from the airport, we ventured to the famous VooDoo doughnut (http://www.voodoodoughnut.com/ -check out their menu, it's amazing!).
The next day, Friday, we went up to the Tillamook Cheese factory. Wow, the air up there is very "reminiscent" of my years growing up on the dairy! Bleh! We toured the cheese factory, had some tasty samples, then got some Tillamook ice cream and wandered through their gift shops. Skott and I try to avoid sweets but Tillamook ice cream is an exception. Skott had two scoops of "Grandmas Cake Batter", I had one scoop of "Pumpkin" and one scoop of "Grandmas Cake Batter", and Josie had one scoop of "Caramel (something)" and one scoop of "Grandmas Cake Batter" (can you tell which flavor is our favorite???).
On the way home from the cheese factory we stopped at another wine and gift shop called The Blue Heron and had more samples of jellies, sauces, dips, etc.
We also stopped by Pacific City on our way home. It is a beautiful little spot with waves that are amazing for surfing.
I (Jodi) had to work Friday night so Skott and Josie stayed home and watched movies. The dogs LOVED their aunt Josie and would fight over her lap (in this picture you can see Fucie won):
Saturday we went to some of the local shops and also the outlet mall. Josie's "special" bus even came to pick her up!
Sunday we went for a walk on the beach. It was a little cold and windy but the sun was shining!
Josie also cut and colored my hair -MUCH appreciated! I am scared to death to try a new stylist here in town.... been spoiled too long with my CareCare doing my hair the past 5 years.
Monday morning it was time to say goodbye :(
I love all my sisters and wish we all lived closer!
We picked Josie up in Portland, which is about 2 hours from us. On our way back from the airport, we ventured to the famous VooDoo doughnut (http://www.voodoodoughnut.com/ -check out their menu, it's amazing!).
The next day, Friday, we went up to the Tillamook Cheese factory. Wow, the air up there is very "reminiscent" of my years growing up on the dairy! Bleh! We toured the cheese factory, had some tasty samples, then got some Tillamook ice cream and wandered through their gift shops. Skott and I try to avoid sweets but Tillamook ice cream is an exception. Skott had two scoops of "Grandmas Cake Batter", I had one scoop of "Pumpkin" and one scoop of "Grandmas Cake Batter", and Josie had one scoop of "Caramel (something)" and one scoop of "Grandmas Cake Batter" (can you tell which flavor is our favorite???).
We also stopped by Pacific City on our way home. It is a beautiful little spot with waves that are amazing for surfing.
I (Jodi) had to work Friday night so Skott and Josie stayed home and watched movies. The dogs LOVED their aunt Josie and would fight over her lap (in this picture you can see Fucie won):
Josie also cut and colored my hair -MUCH appreciated! I am scared to death to try a new stylist here in town.... been spoiled too long with my CareCare doing my hair the past 5 years.
Monday morning it was time to say goodbye :(
I love all my sisters and wish we all lived closer!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Beach Glass
We found some neat pieces of beach glass:
It is very exciting to hunt for these "treasures" and I am proud to say, that for the first time since we moved back, I found just as many pieces of glass as Skott! haha
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)