Tag: easy

Fashion Plates

Fashion Plates

by doodleplix ♥ 10 Comments

Do you have a uniform?  My sister the fashionista, tells me that my uniform is always jeans or shorts,  T-shirt and flip flops.  “Its always some boring top and and some boring jeans with you, you need to wear more skirts and dresses…do something different…”

My mom had a uniform, in the 70’s, she wore kaftans at home, yes, like Mrs. Roper from Three’s Company.  When she went out, she wore polyester pants and and some type of hippie-ish top like many of the other moms.  Oh those bell bottoms.

Our neighbor had a uniform, in the 80’s, it was a matching mauve or hot pink leisure jacket with teal and white stripes and matching pants with elastic cuffs.  Her shoes of choice were white Reeboks.

My grandfather in India had a uniform.  He wore a white cotton kurtha top and matching panchi everyday, (a panchi is a South Indian sarong worn by mostly older men).   His clothes and mere presence were the stuff of legend.  His clothes always looked clean, crisp and regal.

I saw a guy the other day sporting a tank top and crazy print weight lifter balloon pants.  Wonder if that uniform is new or actually from 1989?

All the other stay at home moms I know have a uniform too.  Yoga pants or capri pants, some type of Dri-fit top and athletic shoes.  I think this getup is the modern day leisure suit.  Some of my friends admit to wearing the same clothes they slept in and not showering daily.  I know, I expressed the same mouth open outrage when I heard also.  I guess they’re saving water and leaving a smaller carbon foot print?

I like my uniform.  It is comfortable, transitions from morning carpool to Trader Joe’s to volunteering at school to coming back home to create art.

I would love to wear more dresses and dressy clothes in general.  However, as a free lance illustrator and stay at home mom, dressing  up daily doesn’t fit my schedule.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I do dress up for special occasions, parties and going out with the ladies.  I am working on moving away from my comfort zone for fun and giggles.  I may have to sport an off the shoulder top on my next girls night out!

 

 

A quick and easy recipe that never goes out of style.

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Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts

1 Bag of shaved Brussels Sprouts (mine is a 10 oz. bag)

2 t Garlic powder (I like a lot of garlic, you can cut back of course)

1/2 t Black Pepper

Salt to taste

Olive oil spray

 

Pre-heat oven to 375 F.

Wash and drain Brussels sprouts.

Spray olive oil spray evenly to coat a metal sheet pan.

Arrange the sprouts flat on the sheet pan.

Spray with oil spray to coat all the pieces.

Bake for 10 minutes and check them to make sure the smaller pieces aren’t burning.

With a flat spatula, turn them over and cook for another 10 minutes.  Ovens vary, so if the sprouts don’t look fully cooked, leave them in for another 3-5 minutes.

Once they are out of the oven, sprinkle garlic powder, black pepper and salt.  These come out really tasty.  Some pieces are crispier than others.

Easy Peasy

Easy Peasy

by doodleplix ♥ 16 Comments

Savory Cauliflower and Channa Masala

These two dishes are favorites of mine because they are easy yet delicious.  I love Indian food, but I don’t always have the time or ingredients for “by the book”, authentic recipes.  Therefore, I make Indian inspired dishes.  Keeping meals healthy and low calorie is really important to me.  Many of my recipes could be made with additional oil for example, but I limit the oil and use oil spray.  I hope you like these simple recipes.

Savory Cauliflower

1 head of Cauliflower

1 medium Onion diced

1 t Cayenne pepper

4 cloves Garlic diced

1/4 t garlic powder

4 T Nutritional yeast

1 T Sunflower Oil

1 t Salt  or to taste

Olive Oil spray or equivalent

Green onions pieces to garnish

 

Wash and clean cauliflower.  Cut the cauliflower into 2 inch pieces.  Place cauliflower into a large pan with about an inch of water.  Cover and let cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes.  Check to make sure that all pieces are cooked and let the cauliflower cook a few more minutes if needed.  Drain water and transfer onto a large plate.

While the cauliflower is cooking, dice onion and garlic.

I like as little cleanup as possible and like the reuse pans whenever I can.  In the same pan, on medium heat, add sunflower oil and diced onion.  Cook until the onions are soft.  Add garlic and cook for maybe two minutes until the garlic is soft, making sure the garlic is not burning or turning dark brown.

Then, add a layer of cauliflower, spray with olive oil spray.  Sprinkle half the amount of garlic, cayenne pepper and salt.  Add a second layer of cauliflower and repeat the olive oil spray, sprinkle the remaining garlic powder and salt.  Let the cauliflower cook with the spices and salt for an additional five minutes making sure that all the pieces are coated.

Add nutritional yeast and make sure the yeast coats the cauliflower evenly.  I like the yeast because it adds protein and an extra layer of taste.

Garnish with pieces of green onion and serve with your favorite bread, vegan garlic naan or parantha.

 

Channa Masala

1 Can of Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed

2 Medium Tomatoes, chopped

1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and diced

4 cloves garlic, peeled and diced

1 t Garam masala (found in the spice section or at your local Indian grocery)

1/2 t cayenne pepper

1/2 t salt or to taste

Oil spray or equivalent

 

Cover the bottom of a medium sauce pan with oil spray.

Add garlic and ginger.  Cook for about three minutes on medium heat making sure they don’t burn.

Add tomatoes and cook until they get really soft and release a little water.

Add garam masala and cayenne and cook for another 3 three minutes or so.

Add garbanzo beans and salt, mix thoroughly.

Serve with your favorite bread, (vegan naan, pita, parantha or tortilla)

 

Please see picture above for both dishes.