A Girl's Reflections

Recently, I overheard a lady recounting her story of her fist time in a kitchen, plus how she subsequently learned to cook. It had me thinking of my own childhood kitchen encounters.

At age seven I decided I was a “big girl”, I wanted to cook. I took a cassava (a root vegetable) and a knife. Just as I have seen done countless times, I hacked off one end of the cassava cutting the tip of my thumb off along. I was banished from the kitchen “forever”.

Two years later, I was allowed back into my grandmother’s kitchen. She would let me cook alongside her for my uncle who has food allergies. I would be given all of the ingredients needed, pre-chopped and pre-blended. Using separate pots, pans and utensils, I would watch and mimic my grandmother’s cooking. We would make the same meal, mine minus uncle Sammy’s allergens. My uncle would rave all day about how good his food was, something he did not normally do when I was not his cook. I was encouraged and became his official cook whenever I was around.

Making this pasta salad was the first time I had cooked with arugula. It is similar to a leafy green I have used before, cooking with grandma.

Ingredients –
• 1 ½ cups tri-color fusilli or rotini (or similar type pasta)
• 3 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried red pepper flakes (or to taste)
• ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
• ½ cup sliced black olives
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 4 tablespoon capers, rinsed
• 2 111g oil-packed Italian tuna, drained
• Salt to taste (if needed)
• Handful of arugula leaves

Directions –
1. Cook pasta following pack instructions, drain and cool under cold running water and set aside
2. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat until hot
3. Add chopped onions, pepper flakes and sun-dried tomatoes, stirring constantly for about two minutes.
4. Lower the heat; add the vinegar and capers stirring frequently for about a minute
5. Add tuna, stir and flake with spatula until it’s evenly distributed.
6. Turn off heat and add the cooked pasta, mix and add salt if needed.
7. Add arugula and serve warm.

Bon Appétit

Confession #11

He kept saying I tasted like Mountain Dew, a flavor he loved and could not get enough of.
He started calling me “Sweet”

Do you know you taste like Mountain Dew? Have you ever been told?

A few months later I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month
November 14th is World Diabetes Day
November is also my diabetes diagnosis month

I have fun memories of smarties from my childhood. My uncle gave my first box of smarties to me.

I was fascinated by the colorful little candies. I separated them by color and eat them one color after another savoring every piece.

The summer child, recently made a batch of smarties cookies, they are delicious and pretty.

INGREDIENTS –

2 cups of flour
1 cup of turbinado sugar
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup smarties
2/3 cup grapeseed oil
¼ cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp dark molasses

DIRECTIONS

Combine all dry ingredients in mixing bawl.
In a second bowl combine all wet ingredients
Add the wet mixture to the dry – mix well
Then add the smarties
Roll dough into compact balls and place on a cookie sheet
Slightly flatten the compact balls
Bake in a 350 degrees preheated oven for 8-10mins

I am thankful for all of my memories of Thanksgiving past. To all celebrating today -

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for my health and the health of my family and friends.
I am thankful for the life sustaining powers of insulin.
I am thankful for technology, especial the ones that makes my life easier.
I am thankful for the diabetes online community and all its members.

I am thankful for mornings and its promise of a new beginning.

There is something magical about songs. I woke up with a song in my heart – I use to play this song over and over.

It spoke / speaks to me, and for the longest time it was the theme of my life. What is it with fathers and daughters?

Fathers Eyes by Amy Grant

I may not be every mother’s dream for her little girl
And my face may not grace the mind of everyone in the world
But that’s alright as long as I can have one wish, I pray
When people look inside my life, I wanna hear them say

She’s got her father’s eyes
Her father’s eyes
Eyes that find the good in things
When good is not around
Eyes that find the source of help, when help just can’t be found
Eyes full of compassion, seein’ every pain
Knowing what you’re going through, and feelin’ it the same

Just like my father’s eyes
my father’s eyes
my father’s eyes
Just like my father’s eyes