Summer!!!

First, I must apologize for my prolonged silence on this given blog for the past few months. There is really no excuse beyond these: I was at home so mama was cooking, I've been blogging here, and I'm currently living in the most relaxing place ever which has created a bit of laziness....

Anyways, I'm back for the time being :)

Summer is in full swing up here- lots of sunshine, bike riding, kayaking, iced tea and my favorite- BBQing! Last night Mom and I thought it would be fun to BBQ quesadillas. It was a fun experiment and soo good!

First we chopped up lots of veggies, basil, chicken, and cheese...

Then we put together our own quesadillas- mine was cheese, basil, tomatoes and spinach- so good!

Then we threw them on the grill

Time to dig in! Mom made a huge salad with spinach, almonds, strawberries, feta and cucumbers which was amazing :)

And there ya have it- BBQed Quesadillas!! Such a good summery meal :)

Happy Friday to you all! The rents and I are headed down to GLenwood to see tarah and Kyle then back up to the lake with the WHOLE family including gram and courtney! So excited for the next few weeks.

Week 13- Panko bread crumbs

Well I've been slacking quite a bit on this whole project because one, I'm home and have an amazing personal chef called mom and two, I'm feeling the affects of treatment and have been pretty laid up.

This is a little bit of a cheat because my mom pretty much made this whole meal, but she used panko bread crumbs which are new to me. They look like shredded coconut, but make everything more crispy than normal bread crumbs. This salad is slices of watermelon, arugula, pine nuts, and balsamic. Then she coated goat cheese in bread crumbs, fried it a little bit and waaa-laaah. It was pretty bomb, if I do say so myself.

No good thing does He withhold

Well after a solid 12 hours of traveling and ten days of wandering through Colorado, I’m home. As the airplane neared Burbank, the fasten seat belt sign came on and the cloudy (or smoggy) horizon appeared I started experiencing an array of emotions.

Coming home has been decided for a while, but up until the wheels hit the ground it seemed far off, a distant lofty idea. I’m caught between mild sadness and extreme peace. Sadness for the fact that “spring break” is over, making this feel a little more permanent. For the fact that I’m not in Seattle living with my best friends. For the reality that I’m not all the way better. And yet, while I sat on the plane with tears in my eyes I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. I don’t know how or why, but the Lord has provided peace in this situation and I am so grateful for it.

I’ve been reading the Psalms a lot lately- they seem to know exactly what my heart needs to hear. Here are some of the favs of the week:

“I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears; O taste and see that the Lord is good: how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him” 34:4, 8

“Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him and He will do it; Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” 37:4,5,7

“The Lord gives grace and glory. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” 84:11

“Return to your rest O my soul. For the Lord has dealt bountiful with you” 116:7

“Revive me Lord, according to your lovingkindness” 119:159

So friends, here we go- a new season of life, a new treatment, and a renewed belief in the God who delivers from fear, provides refuge and rest, gives grace and does not withhold any good thing from those who love Him.

Week 12- white beans, spring break, yarn and rest

This week has been a little crazy, but wonderful. Last Thursday I flew into Denver, spent a few march madness-st.patrick's filled days there then headed up to Glenwood Springs with Tarah and Kyle for a few days. From there my parents picked me up and we came up to the lake for the week.

We made some white chili which has ground turkey, white beans (my first encounter with them), garbanzo beans, cilantro, cumin, and lots of other goodness

There's been a little of this....(yes, we bought them)

More of this....

And A LOT of this....

While it's weird and sad to miss out on things at home, it's been a good time of relaxing, reading, cooking and catching up. Looking forward to spending the weekend here and then heading home for some more rest, new treatment and sunshine :)

love love love from the cucina

Week 11- Finals and Chayote Squash

This week's ingredient was the definition of "trying something new." Meg and I were walking through Fred Meyer the other day, say this little guys, had no idea what it was, grabbed it and kept walking....
I had to do a bit of googling, but turns out there is not a whole lot to tell about this squash. While the outside is an awesome lime green and begs to be eaten, the inside is slightly slimy and had absolutely zero taste. It falls into that catergory of "tastes like nothing" along with cucumbers, jicama, and water chestnuts.

So that's the chayote squash- not a lot to tell...

In other news, finals are over and things are about to change. I keep repeating "it's all gonna be ok" over and over and am trying to believe it. There are a lot of bittersweet feelings floating around. And while this huge suitcase is filling up, the reality still seems far off that I am not in school for 6 months, am moving home and have absolutely no idea what's going to happen.

Im scared, nervous, sad, and unsure. BUT the Lord is faithful. He's got a good, perfect plan for my life and I'm just gonna go ahead an trust that for now. So here we go, ready or not...

Gluten Free Pcakes

This morning we made some awesome gluten free pancakes that we just wonderful!

I love scooping some batter into a measuring cup, adding toppings into it, then adding more batter. When you pour it into the pan, all the goodies get mixed in and you get custom pancakes :) It's especially wonderful when one roommate wants chocolate chip blueberry, one wants blueberry walnut, one wants blueberry cherry walnut and I just want blueberry! Here's roughly what I did, it was kinda a combo of a few recipes- typical

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl:
1 cup rice four; ½ cup tapioca flour; ¼ cup corn starch; 1 tablespoons sweetener (honey, agave, or sugar); 1 tablespoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon xanthan gum

Add 2 large eggs and stir until egg is mostly absorbed. Add 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 cup plain yogurt, stir again. Add a little less than 1 cup water, and only add the rest if needed. It should still have some lumps. Consistency should be a little thick, but liquid enough to pour.

Spray the pan and Scoop batter onto pan. When the top side starts to have bubbles or holes around the edges, flip pancakes

We added a combo of chocolate chips, dried cherries, blueberries, and walnuts then topped them off with butter, jam, PB, syrup or more nuts! It got a little outta control....

Well, I'm one final, one paper, one presentation and FOUR days away from spring break (and technically summer break). It's kinda starting to feel real that I won't be coming back for a little while, but I am feeling ok about it. It's been cool to see how the Lord answered my prayers very clearly, and even though it's not my ideal situation I'm excited to follow faithfully.

The next few weeks are looking like a wonderful time of family, rest, reading, snow, sun and change. Headed to Denver for St. Patrick's Day and March Madness, Glenwood Springs with the Wolfs, up to the lake with the Rents, then home to see the Broggies, family, friends and start treatment!

love love love from the cucina

Week Ten- Parsnip!

Week ten on the blog equals week ten in the quarter...Almost there! My beautiful roommate Bri has been frequenting the farmers market lately and coming home with all kinds of goodness... This week she walked in, threw down her backpack and pulled out a huge bag of unidentifiable vegetables. I was instantly excited.

She roasted a bunch of beets, purple potatoes and other wintery vegetables, then I stole a parsnip to make some soup :) I don't think I'd ever seen a parsnip, let alone eaten one, but they are pretty good! Kinda like a carrot with a hint of minty goodness.

All in all- pleasantly surprised by the parsnip. I'm three classes, two finals, one case study and a presentation away from spring break, also known as summer. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the changes that are in my midst. Still feeling peaceful about it all, but dreading the next week of explaining, processing, packing and leaving. I guess I'm just trying to submit to the idea that this is where the Lord has me and the only place I ever want to be is with Him.

love love love from the cucina.

French Press Saturday.

This week I received the amazingly generous gift of a french press. I've been wanting one for a while now, but never worked up the guts to get one. In my limited experience, I would venture to say that it is the ultimate coffee making machine. Meg and I decided Saturday would be a good day to try it out, so we gave it a go...

Let me tell you- I was not disappointed.

And to top it off, this week we are drinking coffee from Cosa Rica, from my wonderful roommate Bri. So good!

Anyways, it brought quite a bit of joy to our saturday morning. As did the sunshine that finally came out to play. Spring is on it's way!

love love love from the cucina

Middle East Birthday Feast

First things first: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN WANTZ :) You are an amazing friend and I am so incredibly grateful that you are in my life.

In the birthday spirit, we had a little middle east/mediterranean night last night. The three requests were falafels, eating on the floor, and it being laid back. Check. check. check.

We had hummus, flat bread, salad, falafel, cheese, fruit, olives and roasted vegetables. It was so good! :)

I love them all so much! SO blessed to have such amazing roommates

Chocolate kahlua cake success! Great way to end a great meal...

Happy Birthday Megs- you da bomb.

love love love from the cucina

Week 9- Kahlua

Before anyone goes judging me that alcohol is week nine's ingredient, take a look at this-

I bet you're on board now huh? Growing up Aunt Denise always made the best chocolate cake and it only took me about 18 years to figure out the not-so-secret ingredient--Kahlua!

I've been craving this cake for months, and now that I'm old enough to go out and buy the main ingredient, it's finally happening. Meg's birthday is on Wednesday, but like any good birthday it has turned into "birthday week" AKA- family dinner on tonight, presents and breakfast on Wednesday, our first happy hour nachos on Thursday and then celebration with a bunch of friends on Friday.

With so much goodness it makes up for the gloomy, wet days we have been having- anyone else ready for spring? Or just skip to summer? So ready for baseball games, the lake, reading all day, sunshine, and the beach.

Week 8- I'm slacking.....

Well, at the risk of week 8 coming and going without a single word, here is a quick update...

I'm not sure if salt counts as an "ingredient" of the week and there was definitely not a new recipe, but I gave it my best....My doctor last week suggested that I try salting all of my food with this stuff- not entirely sure why- I just do as I'm told.

It's quite strong and apparently the purest, highest-quality salt there is, so that's fun :)

In (way) more exciting news, we are entering into week 9, which also happens to be the wonderful Megan Wantz's 21st birthday!! I'm super excited to celebrate with her all week long, which includes family dinner, going to the Matador for their awesome cheap nachos for the first time, and making my aunt Denise's famous chocolate chip kahlua cake. Pictures and updates to come :)

learning to delight [in his will]

This past week has brought answers- lots of answers.

It's funny how sometimes answers come in the form of the unexpected. Three weeks ago if you told me (and some did tell me) that I would be taking a quarter off, leaving seattle, moving home and trying a new treatment I would have (and did) respond "there is absolutely no way"

And yet, here I am. Taking a quarter off, leaving seattle, moving home and trying a new treatment. AND completely at peace with it.

I feel as if the Lord has molded these verses to my life lately. I'm trying to wait patiently and I genuinely feel as if He is hearing my cries- my literal cries full of tears and the cries of my heart for direction, peace, healing and encouragement. And now that He has heard my cries and given me peace, the next logical step is to trust in Him and delight in His will.

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

and He inclined to me and heard my cry

He put a new song in my mouth,

a new song of praise to our God;

Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.

How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust

I delight to do Your will, O my God;

Your law is within my heart."

Psalm 40: 1, 3, 4, 8

So here we go, as I talk to professors, figure out how to explain myself, take my leave of absence, dive head-first into this unknown- all while delighting in His will for my life.

May His will be done with joy.

new every morning

My mom sent out an email last night, asking friends and family to pray for my gram and gpa. He's moving into an assited care place today and we are all dealing with a world of emotion. Sadness. Relief. Letting Go. Comfort. Pain.

She ended the email with this verse: "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, Great is Thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23

Such a great reminder for all of us- regardless of pain, disappointment, change, the unsteady flow of life- His lovingkindness never ceases and his compassions never fail. They are new every morning and this morning is no exception.

Mom also wrote: "I'm writing because I believe in the power of prayer, as many of you do and I would like to ask you to be in prayer for Mom and Dad over these next few days. I don't imagine this request will be at all burdensome as most of you have been the subject of Mom's and Dad's prayers at one time or another and you have been blessed by them."

If you feel compelled or think about it please be in prayer for my gram, grandpa, and rest of the family today. I can't image the adjustment and change this move will bring for gram, but am praying for a painless day filled with peace and comfort beyond understanding.

love love love from the cucina

Week 7-adding a little spice

Well, the cookbook is in full swing, which involves me trying a few new muffin recipes today.

Let me tell you- I LOVE muffins. It was muffin explosion in our house all afternoon.

Today I tried Banana Blueberry Walnut and Pumpkin Spice with walnuts and raisins or with chocolate chips... We like to have options :)

The pumpkin spice's spice was cloves (which is kinda funny to try to find a picture on google images...) which is turning into the ingredient of the week. I've seen it and tried it, but never cooked or baked with it- so here we go! I'm loving how it adds a little kick to the muffin.

I'm gonna do a little digging and see what else I can put it in this week :)

love love love from the cucina

Macrina Brunch

My all time favorite Seattle coffee shop is Macrina. It's where Britt and I used to meet up for cousin coffee, it's where my ADD seems to be the least apparent, and they just happen to serve the best soy latte you will ever have. Every Saturday and Sunday they serve brunch. It has always looked amazing, but I've never splurged and gotten anything...until now!Mom was in town and we decided to give it a go. We both got a huge cup of coffee, she got this amazing egg sandwich and I got the strawberry french toast (yes that is chocolate sauce on the side-like I said, it was a splurge kinda day). It was absolutely wonderful to just sit, sip coffee and talk about life. I'm so so grateful for my mom and her ability to speak truth and peace into my life at any given moment. She's the bomb :)
love love love from the cucina (and Macrina's!)

Week Six- Coconut!

Week six of this year has been a little crazy- filled with lots of emotion, an impulse visit from mama hill (such a blessing), decisions to be made, midterms etc... Somewhere in the madness I took some time to make this granola- it has week six's ingredient in it- coconut!

Here's the recipe in case anyone wants to try it. I think next time I'll add different spices and fruits, but it's soo good!

• Ingredients
• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup sliced almonds with skin (1/4 pound)
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 5 tablespoons mild honey
• Some cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup shredded coconut

• 
  
• preparation
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Oil a 4-sided sheet pan or line with parchment paper.
• 
  
• Stir together oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and coconut in a large bowl. Heat oil, honey, and spice in a small saucepan over low heat (or in a microwave) until heated through. Stir into oat mixture.
• 
  
• Spread evenly in sheet pan and bake, stirring once, until golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• 
  
• Cool granola completely in pan- it crisps as it cools. Enjoy!

love love love from the cucina

Delightfully Free

I've been watching my amazing Aunt Tracy turn her diet and life upside down over the past few years, which has turned into a wonderful project and a beautiful ministry. She's taken on the task of creating gluten-free, dairy-free foods that actually taste good and make you feel good! Over the past few months I've been trying out recipes for her, sharing my ideas and waiting patiently for website, blog and cookbook!

Well the website and blog are up and running and the cookbook is not far behind :)

Check it out:

http://delightfullyfree.com/

http://delightfullyfree.blogspot.com/

On my heart

Sometimes, even my little white kitchen or making a 100th batch of muffins can't bring the peace and comfort my Father can. Praying for strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

I know that you have waited
So so faithfully,
I know that it's been painful
But I want you to know
That you are so pure, so precious, so lovely,
You have been crowned with immeasurable beauty
And Heaven rejoices
The moment you rise each day.

So I sing over you
A song of joy
Let the sun shine on your face.
I'll bring you life
And heal your wounds
Do you know I love you?
Do you know I love you?

I know that it may seem like
The storm will never cease.
But know that I am,
Trust my sovereignty.
I know my ways are hard to understand
My plan is greater than you can imagine
And through all the darkness,
I've never left your side.

So I sing over you
A song of joy
Let the sun shine on your face
I'll bring you life
And heal your wounds
Do you know I love you?
Do you know I love you?

Do you know I love you?
Do you know I love you?

I love you ...
I love you ...

There is strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow

There is strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow

--- 'Heaven Rejoices', Lex Buckley

Super Bowl!!

Let's be honest here- the best part about the super bowl is the commercials, the halftime show (hello black-eyed peas!) and the food! Alex was super super excited for Sunday to roll around, so we all indulged in her nostalgia and mustered up some excitement for super bowl sunday...It did not disappoint. We pulled out the snacks, made some chili and cheered till our heart content.

Overall, I'm gonna call it a victory :)

love love love from the cucina

Life Lately...

Has been a bit of a trial...Lots of exhaustion mixed with an awesome cold and midterms equals a lot of tea and kleenex...

This week will hopefully bring decisions, some much needed rest, birthday celebrations with the roommates and one step closer to spring break :)

love love love from the [sick] cucina

Sunshine and Dressing!

This week has been a little bit crazy. Somewhere in the midst of life, I've managed to make some balsamic vinegar dressing, which is fabulous. It's super simple too- just add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, herbes de provence, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Give it a swirl and that's it!

The sun also finally came out! I'm not exaggerating when I say we hadn't seen it since before Christmas break. Even though it was freezing, I took some time to just sit out in it, look at the mountains and even eat a little lunch at Kerry Park with Alex. There is just nothing like Seattle in the SUN!!! So beautiful.

Hope everyone is having a good week and taking time to look for the Lord's beauty around them- sun or no sun, it's amazing!

love love love from the cucina.