Food for the heart

So far so good. Didn't get to work out today because I visited my grandmother after work. It was nice catching up to her since I hadn't since her knee surgery 2 weeks ago. She is sweet, in the moment, and truly wonderful to hear her talk. Her life stories are unique and indeed give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside and out! She is the closest bond to my mother that I have left and when I speak with her and hug her, I truly feel that I am oh so close to my mother as I ever will be... Work was good. Busy, but I can't complain because my morning flew by! My mood is good today. I plan to shower up, rest up, and do it all over it again tommorow. (excecpt, include a workout in there!) Dinner was good; made robert some "healthy mole" with some chicken breast, whole grain rice and veggies. He was happy as can be! My man is very simply pleased. This is one of the things I truly love about him. His simpleness is oh soo sexy! As for me, I settled with some rice, veggies, and a veggie patty. I've embraced being a weekday vegetarian for about 4 months now. I do NOT eat any meat products ( I do consume eggs/milk/cheese) Monday through Friday and I do have some chicken or fish on saturday and sunday! Although I am not a TRUE vegeterian, I have cut down my meat intake by at least 70 percent. And to tell you the truth, its gotten easier over time. There are times on the weekend that I don't even consume meat! I honestly can say that my body feels great consuming less meat. I do plan accordingly to increase my protein intake via other routes to maintain muscles mass, especially now that I've continued to exercise. It is a challenge to plan my meals at times, but honestly I am so neurotic that I kinda lOVE it! Hope this week continues to soar high!

Oh oh it's magic...

I finally was able to make my beans into magic! Like Jack and the beanstalk! Little onion here, little tomato, jalapeno, a little garlic and cilantro... Because on the contrary to what my wonderful husband thinks... good refried beans don't just happen. I giggled when my husband assumed that delicious beans just came straight out of the crockpot. I mean, the crockpot is just one part of the process. It saves on the cooking time for sure... But my momma was the true genious when it came to beans. She taught me so much about the litle secrets that make beans so delicious. Like a rite of passage or something...A mexican girl has gotta know her beans!!! Of course, the only thing I'm leaving out is the non-nutritious element that made them so delicious...which is LARD!!! ahoooy! I've made mine with a little canola oil instead..left out the clog artering element, but hey a girl can't get everything she wants!!! My version are not as yummy as my mother's, but equally satisfying...especially when a girl needs to stay in her jeans!! P.S. Just watch out for the tooting!!!

food for thought

I think I got the love of cooking from my mother. Despite how poor we where growing up, we always had a warm plate of food every night. Every plate that was placed in front of my brother and I was so dynamic and almost alive and about to tell a story. A story of passion, wonder, and strength. Cooking dishes today for my own family makes me feel full of wonder and nevertheless closer to my mother more than ever now that she has passed... She was so selfless, and willing to put her own self to make us happy and keep us as together as a family...I miss her everyday and wonder if this emptiness will ever go away.... Nevertheless, even if this emptiness never dissapears, I know now that my love for cooking will bring me closer to the memory of my mother; an unselfish, kind soul. Also, new answers are present in my mind. One is that I love to food and cooking. It is one of my passions in life, along with my nursing profession. I will aim to share my love of food with others...in hopes that it will heal other hearts as well...