quinoa and hummus

Visiting my daughter, son-in-law, and grandaughter in AZ last week was a real treat in so many ways!  My daughter is mother extraordinaire, overcoming her own hurdle of fighting Crohn's disease and makes sure her family eats healthy.  Every morning was a fresh and organic experience of eggs, ("what way do you want them this morning mom?") raw vegetables, sprouted wheat toast and strong coffee.  Lunch was homemade THIN crusted pizza topped with fresh spinach leaves, homemade tomato sauce, Parmesean or Feta and other raw veggies.  YUM!  So much more to comment about but it would take too long so just suffice it this way---the rest of our time intertwined with the beautiful weather of Arizona's February and all was good!

I know we have "Whole Foods" here in the midwest, but well, my "Whole Family" has this to say.  Arizona's Costco and Arizona's "Whole Foods" is better than ours here in the midwest.  (I have to agree.)  To mention a few of  my personal "must-haves" --when in AZ-- are--  Costco: Texas Caviar and their locally baked sprouted wheat bread.  Whole Foods Salad Bar Items:  purple quinoa, parsely and sallion hummus, tabouli, and whole grain tabouli --among other assorted items. I am now hooked on Quinoa, which has been said to be the perfect grain--it's high in magnesium and protein.  I have now decided with the influence of my healthy eating daughter that hummus is my new dairy substitute--so creamy and can be made is so many ways.  I think the parsely and scallion hummus played a big part in this.  BUT HEY--One step closer to a much more healthier lifestyle of eating!

House De-Cora

Well, the long awaited arrival of my first granddaughter's (Cora) first birthday has come and gone and now I'm left with a house of newly cleaned toys to put away.  So I'm busying myself with my house "de-Cora"!!  (sigh)  We had a lovely lovely time together and being with family is just soooooo important to living life to the fullest!

Sunday Dinner

So funny how we play mind games with ourself, we can enjoy our selfmade distractions, we can "live our own life", do our "thing", seek "fulfillment", live in the "moment","find ourself",  ...etc.  But there is nothing in this world like being with your family.  When we live too close we take each other for granted...but too far and we pine away at for all the times we miss being together.


My faraway daughter....(too far)....wanting to come back home....wrote me this "choke back the tears" blurb from her poetic mind...

here's what i know:

i want to have sunday dinner with all of you...
to create and learn with/from you
to come over without feeling like the clock is ticking...
to enjoy Ohio in the fall
pick up apples at rouster's
make pies
cora to grow up knowing who her family is...her roots
so much more...but enough for now

...how beautifully said!