Our week of dinners. My hope is that you can find one meal to make this week. {My absolute favorite this week was the Pot Sticker Burgers. Oh. my. goodness!] I am “off” next week. Spring Break = a week of no cooking for this mom. I will post again once I am back in the kitchen.
**This recipe calls for Coconut Aminos. This is a soy free substitute for soy sauce. Since we are gluten free in my house, this was a great find! I was too lazy to run to Whole Foods….Amazon Prime to the rescue. {Find Coconut Aminos here.}
Thursday:
Just plain old hamburgers. Dinner without a recipe or new ingredients was the perfect choice! Yes, there were frozen fries served for a side. Little Man was very happy.
Brown eggs and a white paint pen is a simple alternative to coloring Easter eggs. It is truly as easy as drawing lines and dots. They turned out great and are lovely displayed together. I cut my egg container in half and sprayed a quick coat of gold spray paint [matte white would look great too.]
I have recently been snacking on chia seed pudding in the afternoon. Chia seeds are packed with antioxidants, omega fatty acids and fiber. When added to milk [of any variety] they magically make pudding in a matter of hours. Skeptical? I get it. However, it truly is a great snack and this recipe really does taste good. I promise.
chia seed pudding:: 1 1/2 cups almond/coconut milk [Any type of milk will work.] 1/4 cup raw chia seeds [Buy here, if you can’t find them in a grocery store.] 2 Tablespoons honey 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix all ingredients together and place in fridge for 3 hours or overnight. Shake [or stir] the pudding a few times to evenly distribute the seeds. You may also have to adjust the amount of seeds in the pudding based on your texture preference.
I was lucky enough to attend an event earlier this month to benefit The [amazing] Kiran Anjali Project. It was inspiring to hear about the work this organization is doing to assist young girls at The Wings School in India. The girls receive a free high-quality education, including arts and tae kwon do, and two nutritious meals a day.
Co-founders, Linda Floyd and Sheryl Hoye, became friends while living in Hyderabad, India in 2008. They met Grace Rajkumar, a woman working with abused women with a dream of opening a school for girls. And so began a journey to better the lives of girls. Linda and Sheryl share a passion for women’s issues and a desire to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Naming their foundation after their daughters, their mission is to support the eduction of disadvantaged children.
As I listened to the stories of girls born in India and the challenges they face everyday, I was reminded of the simple gifts I was given. Given freely and without question. I was valued. I was safe. I was educated. Every child should be able to say the same. I am honored to call Linda Floyd a friend. She kindly shared more about The Wings School and her experience with The Kiran Anjali Project.
What took your family to India?
My husband was working at Microsoft at the time and we were offered the opportunity to relocate to Hyderabad for 2 years.
What was your impression of women in India and how the Indian culture viewed their roles?
Most Indian women lead what we would consider to be traditional roles as wives and mothers. The majority of women go to live with their in-laws once they are married where they are expected to serve and care for their mother and father-in-law. India is a country of extremes. On one end are the small minority of very well educated women who work in professions that are respected and that earn them a good living. On the other end are very poor, uneducated women who are forced into sex work. These women are considered “bad” and beneath contempt.
How did you meet Grace and why did she want to start a school?
My husband was working and my kids were all enrolled in an international school so I had a lot of time on my hands. The local expatriate group had started a committee to vet local nonprofits for possible volunteer opportunities for their members. I accompanied my friend Sheryl who was going to interview Grace Rajkumar. Grace runs a small charity that provides aid to abused and exploited women. I ended up volunteering with Grace and was so impressed by her. When I heard about her dream of opening a school for the area’s poorest girls I decided to help her make the dream a reality.
What were the challenges of getting The Wings School started?
Not much is easy in India but opening a school was certainly much easier than it would have been here in the U.S. We found a suitable building in a village that is at a nexus of public transit routes and we had it renovated. Grace promoted the school through village leaders. I helped to get supplies. Grace’s husband retired from his job as head teacher at one of the city’s most prestigious private schools and came onboard as the principal. Soon families started coming to have their daughters write the entrance exams.
What are the requirements for admittance into The Wings School?
The girls need to come from families that earn about $2 a day or less. The families need to be supportive of their daughter’s education and the girls themselves have to demonstrate aptitude and an eagerness to learn.
Would these girls be in school if they did not attend The Wings School?
The average girl in India receives only four years of education so most of the older girls at the school would likely be sold by their families to work as domestic servants if they were not at Wings.
The girls eat two meals a day at school at no cost to them. Why is this important?
Most girls from poor families in India are malnourished. They receive little more than rice for most meals and are often fed less than their brothers. A hungry child cannot learn so offering the girls breakfast and lunch is essential for their health and academic performance. These meals also provide an incentive for their families to keep them in school. The fact that the school itself is free and the girls also get fed means that families are less apt to sell their daughters.
Along with a rigorous curriculum, the girls take many arts classes and tae kwon do. Why were these disciplines included?
Grace’s vision was for the girls to receive a well-rounded education so that includes the arts. Many of the girls come from families where there is desperate poverty, alcohol abuse and domestic violence. The art, dance and music classes allow the girls to express themselves and unburden their stresses.
Many of the women Grace works with are abused by their husband and/or in-laws. This is sadly the norm amongst the poor in India. Additionally, due to the widespread abortion of female fetuses, India now faces a huge gender imbalance. This has resulted in increasing incidences of sexual assault. Grace wanted all the girls to be confident in their ability to defend themselves. All girls learn Tae-kwon-do and many compete successfully in competitions.
How are your children involved in The Kiran Anjali Project?
I don’t push my kids to get involved in any way. All my kids were at the opening of the school and helped out at that stage. Back in the U.S. my daughter’s Girl Scout troop has raised funds and collected books for Wings.
How can others get involved to effect change?
When I found myself listening to Grace and her dreams of opening a school I thought about how life gives you opportunities. You can either ignore these or grab them and do something. Other people may not have the chance to open a school but we all have chances to make the world a better place. Just do it.
How can parents involve their children?
There are plenty of great ways for families to do volunteer work together. A couple of months ago my oldest son and I prepared and served dinner at a men’s shelter. This was something he wanted to do with me – I didn’t force him. Go with your kids’ interests and don’t make it a chore.
Day 1– Quinoa and Roasted Pepper Chili I actually made this on Monday, but this would be ideal for Sunday dinner. [I prefer to keep prep for weekday meals under 45 minutes and this recipe took about an hour.] I could not find the tomatoes with chipotle chiles, so I just used fire roasted diced tomatoes. You could add one diced chipotle pepper if you want the heat.
Day 2– baked potato topped with left over chili Serve leftover chili on baked potatoes. Dress it up with chopped green onion, sliced avocado, sour cream and hot sauce.
Day 3– Teriyaki Chicken and roasted brussel sprouts My own recipe. Serve over your favorite rice. Chicken: Thinly slice a white onion and lay in bottom of 13X9 baking pan. Cut thin sliced chicken breasts into bite sized pieces [about 2lbs]. Lay on top of onions. Cover onions and chicken with your favorite teriyaki sauce. [Don’t have a favorite? Try one of mine.] Bake in oven at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.
Brussel Sprouts: Cut brussel sprouts in half. Drizzle with olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Roast in oven at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes – until some of the edges start to brown.
Day 4– Crockpot Carne Asada Tacos Anything in the slow cooker makes dinner a breeze on a busy day! These were yummy, with TONS of leftovers.
Day 5- Carne Asada Salad LEFTOVERS! There was so much steak leftover we got a second meal out of it. My husband stuck with the tacos, but I used the steak on a salad. I just added lettuce, tomatoes, red pepper, chopped green chiles, avocado, and salsa.
Hope you can find at least one meal for next week.
I may have gone on an unplanned spring shopping spree yesterday. I purchased two pairs of sandals. Since they are basically the same shoe – I should only keep one! I can’t decide. Really loving both of them. I thought maybe you could help? I plan to wear them with skirts, shorts, and cuffed jeans.
A few details… Matiko: insanely comfortable, extremely well made, zipper in back with leather tassel. Considerably more expensive. I love that they are unique!
Steve Madden: comfortable, ankle strap is much thinner, classic colors. I love that they are simple and easy to wear with just about anything.
A LEGO mom’s dream. All LEGOS in their proper place. There is nothing worse than stepping on a stray LEGO piece in the dark. How can a small piece of molded plastic cause so much pain?
These storage containers are dreamy. Shaped just like a brick with a removable top. They stack just like the smaller pieces and are just so darn cool.
Since I am such a total sucker for storage containers, I just bought a few to get us organized. Now the trick is to get the boys to actually USE them!! That is an entirely different challenge.
I long for a desk to call my own. I have a very small built-in desk in the kitchen big enough for my computer. That is it. If you follow me on Pinterest, you will see an entire board dedicated to this simple idea. A workspace-just for me.
Recently, I have a small obsession with faux fur throws to cozy up a desk [or dining] chair.
However, sometimes the trouble with an obsession on Pinterest is being able to find a source to purchase! I traveled down a blogger rabbit hole and finally came up with a lead. IKEA. And of course, they are no longer available. I am hoping it is a seasonal item and will be back in stock next fall or winter.
A girl can dream.
What are your tricks to finding an item you have seen but don’t know quite how to get your hands on it?
Candied pecans are by far my most favorite holiday treat to make and eat all year long. My sister-in-law shared this recipe with me years ago. [And I mean years ago. Back when you had to print the recipe instead of “pinning” it.] I whipped up a batch on Sunday to add to a cheese plate. It took me about 15 minutes.
These pecans are extremely versatile. Use them to top a salad, give them as a hostess gift, or simply have them on hand to snack on. I am telling you-they are irresistible!
Candied Pecans
1 pound chopped pecans [Find them in the baking aisle. It’s the cheapest way to buy pecans.]
1 cupwhite sugar
2 teaspoonsground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoonsalt
6 tablespoonsmilk
1 teaspoonvanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread nuts in a single layer over a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 4-5 minutes, or until the nuts start to turn brown and the smell of roasting nuts fills the kitchen.
Stir together sugar, cinnamon, salt, and milk in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat for 8 minutes, or until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage of 236 degrees F (113 degrees C). [You will need an inexpensive candy thermometer.] Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla immediately.
Add pecans to sugar syrup, and stir to coat well. Spoon nuts onto waxed paper, and immediately separate nuts with a fork. Cool, and store in airtight containers. Mason jars work great!
I don’t often get manicures, but I think I am going for it the next time I splurge. “Go for it”, you ask? The glitter. I am going to go for the glitter.
It is something I can’t do myself [or at least not very easily] and it would be something totally out of my wheel house. Since emerald is the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year- green is all the rage.
