November's meal plan

"Creamiest Vegan Broccoli Soup"

November was the first time in our marriage that I actually had an organized meal plan and man, did it make life easier! Here are the meals I liked enough to keep for the future, followed by what I did to organize all the meals and lists:

http://www.theppk.com/2013/10/meat-beany-chili-corn-muffins-video/
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2006/10/stormy-black-bean-soup.html
http://balancedplatter.com/potato-pepper-and-pinto-hash-gluten-free-vegan/#more-4173
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/02/quick-and-easy-potato-soup.html
http://ohsheglows.com/2011/04/19/taco-chili-with-nacho-cheeze-sauce/
http://damndelicious.net/2013/10/16/quinoa-chili/
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2007/01/thick-and-hearty-pinto-bean-chili.html <Andy said, "This chili could win awards."
http://www.theppk.com/2013/09/blt-mac-cheeze/ 
http://www.meatlessmonday.com/recipes/spiced-lentil-tacos/ <...with this cashew cheese topping http://milkandcerealblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/cashew-cheese-kale-enchiladas/ (I added a little bit of homemade red sauce as well.)
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/taco-soup-recipe/
http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-best-oatmeal-cookies-youll-ever.html <these are seriously the best! be sure to add in chocolate chips! p.s. I used regular brown sugar and regular cinnamon.
http://www.food.com/recipe/5-minute-vegan-pancakes-132263# <this is one of the recipes I've been using to perfect vegan pancakes. Using 1/4-1/2 cup oatmeal flour with white or whole wheat flour for the rest makes it amazing. I'm still on the hunt, though...not quite settled on this yet.

http://bakerbettie.com/chocolate-chip-peanut-butter-skillet-cookie-wheat-free-vegan/ <using a mixture of at least 1 c. white or whole wheat flour makes this much better and more cookie like. be sure to eat with ice cream!

http://awakenedprincess.com/creamiest-vegan-broccoli-soup-ever/ <This is the potato soup I made last night that I talked about on Facebook. It is my new favorite soup. I doubled it last night I love it so much. It is super easy to make, too, just takes some time to chop up all the veggies. p.s. I like to add nutritional yeast to make it even "cheesier" and healthier!

Ziplist has made my life so much easier. I create a new list each month. There is a recipe tab where you can copy and paste a recipe's URL address and you can then add in all those ingredients into your grocery list. If you have homemade recipes or recipes from a cookbook you can click "create a recipe" for that as well. When a recipe becomes your favorite, keep it in your recipe box and add it to future grocery lists! The only frustrations I have is if you have a lot of recipes that call for onions or garlic (like most do) then you will end up with lots of line items for that, instead of just one all added up together (unless there is a secret way to simplify this I haven't discovered). However, you can edit your list and add it all up and simplify it yourself within the list. Another thing is occasionally something ends up in the wrong category (it is arranged by "produce," "drinks," "frozen," etc.).

Once I know I have all the recipes I want to use for the month, (I email myself recipes all through the month with stuff I want to try so it easily all stays together until I enter it in ziplist) I grab a calendar of sorts and start putting down meals I want to make on different days. I have never done this before, (I always wanted to eat what I was in the mood for) but it is now the one thing I would recommend doing if you really want to be organized. Now I love it! I always know what day I will cook, what it will be, and it saves money on produce! The days I have designated to cook are M/T/F/weekend, other than that there is usually enough leftovers for our small family for now. Once I have my meals mapped out, I disregard the "produce" category in my ziplist shopping list and only write down the produce for the meals I am making for the week. So, I do one big grocery trip at the beginning of the month, and I usually go to the grocery store on the weekends to pick up produce for the coming week. Why did it take me 3 1/2 years to finally figure this out?!

notes:

*I buy cashew pieces (pieces are SO much cheaper and work just as well for me) and nutritional yeast (which can both be expensive, but it evens out for me because I don't buy any dairy) in bulk which appears to be much more affordable if you have that option, as most things in bulk are. I store my nutritional yeast (great way to get your B-12!) in a glass jar on the counter and my cashew pieces in a glass jar in the fridge. I always soak my cashew pieces before using them to aid in digestion.

*I now highly recommend getting a coffee grinder for things like flax seeds (buy whole flax seeds and store in the fridge as flax meal does not stay good long!). It made the oatmeal cookie recipe such a breeze.

*I did not receive anything from Ziplist. I found the website searching for meal planning help and just like to spread the word about things that are helpful for me so it might help someone else that may be struggling with meal planning like I was.

lately : around here

This week was perfect. 

Finishing crafts that I started last year.

Buying all the cinnamon whisks at Trader Joe's.

Sending happy mail.

Throwing knitting needles across the room because it's really, really hard.

Looking at pretty things I want to make so I don't give up.

Decorating with my love.

Going on lots of walks.

Spending time with friends.

Giving thanks.

Wishing Andy could make fried rice every single night.

Eating all the chocolate.

Happy 1st day of December. I hope your month is merry and bright.

how to feel amazing

This is not a sponsored post and I am not a professional health person of any kind. I do not even know how to get a sponsored post and will probably never be famous enough for one anyway. But when I find something I love, I like to tell people because I like it when people tell me about what they love.

Last Thursday Andy woke up sick. He had a headache, was achy, and his temperature was 99.5 (which may or may not mean anything, apparently temperature can vary from person to person). Someone he works with had just gotten over the flu so I was worried he could  have caught something. He got worse as the day went on and drank lots of water and slept.

On my way home I went to Rainbow Blossom and asked one of the workers if they recommend any kind of vitamin C/cold/flu medicine. The lady told me I had to get this. I was afraid she was just trying to sell me the most expensive thing for some reason, but it sounded pretty amazing and she said all the workers love it and use it.

I came home and loosely used this recipe to make vegetable broth (I can't believe how easy it is to make homemade broth!) and about 40 minutes in to cooking it I cooked 1 cup of quinoa separately and added it to his bowl of broth when it was finished.

I gave Andy 2 tablespoons of the ACF and took some for myself. We just drink it straight instead of in juice. It is no worse tasting than something like NyQuil--it is just really strong. Once it's in you I can't describe how amazing and clean you feel. Then I had him eat his bowl of broth with quinoa in it (I added spices like black pepper, white pepper, and red pepper. We really like our peppers.) and told him not to eat anything else and to go back to sleep while I went to my class. The next morning he stayed home to be safe and already felt much better than the day before. For breakfast he took a shot of ACF and drank a green smoothie, lunch was only broth again with ACF, and dinner was a baked potato and more ACF. By Saturday he felt as good as new (though still has a small cough and drainage at night) and I haven't gotten any symptoms. This is now our must have for cold and flu season!

Details:
This has 1,000 mg of Vitamin C, 15 mg of Zinc, 600 mg of Echinacea Purpurea extract, 750 mg of Elderberry extract, and a host of other great herbs.

crowder concert

I clapped, I danced, I sang my favorite hymns with hundreds of other people. David Crowder will probably be the worship leader in eternity. Also, K-LOVE came by while we were in line and asked if anyone wanted to play a game. I was the only one that raised my hand (does no one like to have fun anymore?) and won a Christmas CD! My favorite moment of the concert was when Crowder was tuning his guitar and did something wrong and then said, "Sorry, I've never really played the guitar before." :) 

It was so nice to go to a concert with Andy. We really haven't been to one since we moved here. We used to go to concerts all the time together, but those were Classical and usually the symphony when I could go for free. Those were the days.

unknown fact: Our first concert we went to together was a Deas Vail concert my first semester of college. Except, we did not know each other and I do not remember seeing him, though I probably did because that was the most awkward concert I've ever been to...no one was there and people sat on the floor. But it was Deas Vail, so it was still amazing.

lately {november}

meal planning for Christmas

perfecting pancakes on Saturdays

learning to knit

planning a perfect Christmas present

always cooking in a cast iron skillet that was Andy's great-grandmother's

wanting big, comfy socks

listening to Dr. Bruce Ware teach theology

savoring dark chocolate often

creating traditions

stepping on lots of colored leaves during bright November walks

realizing I need to start thinking about the new year

i made magic.

I don't think I've had a dessert this good for ages. This apple crisp is seriously magic. Why would anyone ever make pie when they can have apple crisp? This is the food of heaven.

Notes: I did not measure my apples. I just filled up a 9x13 baking dish with the amount of apples I wanted. I really wish I wrote down exactly what I did, but I know I left out the white sugar, probably only used 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and added probably a 1/2 cup of maple syrup. I think next time I will figure out how to only have maple syrup sweeten it. Also, I used regular oats and added chopped pecans to the topping. I think the maple syrup and pecans are what made it spectacular. Served with Trader Joe's soy ice cream. Pure bliss.

today.

Today was one of those perfect days you want to always remember. My Chinese craving was fulfilled and topped with Annie May's. We went for a drive and listened to Harry Potter, losing track of all the cares in the city. After it warmed up we finally found a park that's not over crowded and we enjoyed a bike ride. Once home dishes needed washing and papers needed writing, but for a few magical hours all toil was forgotten. 

lately {October}

walking for my commute

realizing this must be a secret to life

piling on the blankets

sleeping in a little more each day to enjoy the cold coming through the open window

listening to books

hanging pictures

dying to ride my bike every day

studying for my last New Testament test

constantly putting books on hold at the library

playing the piano every chance I get

feeling energized by fall

dreaming of a day with nothing in it

wearing gloves often

looking forward to Andy actually being off work for a few weekends

autumn dreams

+have a celebrating Autumn party
+take a sunday drive to see the changing leaves
+bake pumpkin something
+make apple crisp
+find a good fall skirt (or, you know, ten)
+bike ride down tree-lined park streets
+hit the tree swing
+drink apple cider
+have a sleepover and stay up all night giggling

another year

I do not like growing older. But I am increasingly thankful for life and I am increasingly thankful that birthdays feel like an old chapter is concluded and a new one is beginning. The best part of my birthday is it is fall and I get to feel special. The sad part of birthdays as you grow older is it means your husband has to work late and you make your own cake and that regular life goes on. Dishes do not know it is a special day and conferences do not know that it is supposed to be your birthday weekend extravaganza.

For an old soul, I feel pretty young. Most  people here seem to be a little older than us and are often shocked at how young we are. But inside I'm doing the math for how long we'll be in school and how old we'll be and how old we'll be when we have kids and get a house and I don't feel young. I try to remember I love our life and that often the thought of Andy graduating brings sad tears to my eyes and time goes by quickly and so what if I give birth when I'm old. Besides, age is just a number and Andy and I are really already 70 year old crazy love birds in our souls.

Here's to another year of learning, loving, and working on that list. 

(The evening turned out to be magical with a walk to dinner at Caspian Grill, perfect weather for eating outside, and savoring that delicious pumpkin cake.)

good listening

The two chapel messages this week were such a comfort to my soul. I'm posting so I will remember them, but I hope they are encouraging for others as well. I feel inadequate to write my thoughts down at the moment, maybe that time will come some day. For now, I am thankful for hope. I am thankful the past two years my "Sunday school view" of the Bible has been shattered and prepared me for these messages. I am thankful for the Old Testament. I am thankful that after all the disappointments and failures and sin in the Old Testament, God was faithful and sent a King that finally could do everything perfectly. Links below:

for such a slime as this

hope for a weak soul

getting settled

We are beginning to feel settled in our new place, although there is still much to do. The move was bittersweet. I feel like Andy and I grew up in Fuller together. Maybe it is me because I never experienced a different city before, but I'm finding it changes you and makes you grow up. Fuller is where we learned to be married when everything was new, hard, and different.

It is nice, however, to feel like we have our own little place. We no longer feel like college dorm mates. Cooking is a million times easier. Doing laundry feels like I'm resting on a fluffy cloud eating chocolate to my heart's content. Our water pressure would be Kramer-approved. We like it here. It feels like home.

Traditional sleeping on the floor the first night in our new place.

Fuller, I do not miss your kitchen. (Yes, this was our kitchen, with a tiny refrigerator to the right.)

This is how we clean: spotless.

This is how we look after moving and cleaning.

Our new home! Our first home without an apartment number in the address!

My favorite view on my walk home.

Our first game in our new place--the squirrel game!

Thank you to everyone who helped us move! You blessed us more than you will ever know!

good food

I think our food rut is over. We've been enjoying new things and savoring new flavors. Andy has been saying, "Wow!" a lot. Dinner is a sweet time together now that we have a dining table. I'm still so thankful we like each other and get along. I'm thankful we like the same food. I'm thankful we think the same about food. I'm thankful he likes to cook. I'm thankful we both just like being home together. I'm thankful everything feels right again now that we have a schedule back in our lives. I'm thankful for our need for food, and how it brings us together. Sit, eat, talk, laugh, enjoy.

recipes in order from top to bottom:
+blueberry banana pie vegan overnight oats {this is becoming our usual breakfast}
+pico de gallo {this was made because I was gifted with all the fresh garden ingredients to make it!}
+this was something I made up and wish I had written down; mostly tomatoes, zucchini, Italian spices, onion, garlic, tomato sauce and served over spaghetti
+simple vegan lasagne asparagus {there are no words for how happy this simple dish made me}
+frozen banana peanut butter chocolate milkshake {where has this been all my life?!! we have had it for breakfast and dessert. I can't stop making it. I use almond milk and cocoa powder.}
+red lentil kofta and white beans {this is seriously the best meal we have had in a long time. I just want to shout about my love for lentils from the rooftops.}


p.s. all of these recipes pass my strict cheap, healthy, doesn't keep me in the kitchen too long rules for if I will ever make the dish again.

pixie

This is the best haircut decision I have ever made. I absolutely love my pixie. My first pixie was kind of a long pixie and I didn't have the best bangs. I didn't care for it and almost gave up on having a pixie. But I decided to be brave and try one more time, only much shorter. Wow. I feel feminine. I feel like a woman. I feel like a new woman. And really, I am a new woman. Sometimes I don't recognize the Hannah from a year ago. She would have never imagined life without a hair dryer and only taking five minutes to get ready in the morning. I have either become more lazy or have figured out the important things in life because I never want to go back to tangles and spending more than three seconds on my hair. I feel light, pretty, and bold. World, meet (new) Hannah.

(I find it is really hard to take a good picture of your hair, apparently no matter how much you like your hair. So here are my attempts.)

Dear Andy

(sidenote: I wrote this on Monday, but I often have a hard time publishing what I write the day I write.)

Dear Andy,

Today I got a glimpse into your life. I went to one of your classes with you. Previously I tried to prepare for the class by reading all the material you were reading. After one chapter I deemed that ridiculous and that I had other things to do with my time and proudly gave up. The one chapter was boring, hard, and gruesome. The other five chapters plus 20 pages of online reading I'm sure would have been worse. Class was okay, if you like dark, freezing cold rooms, and watching me fidget like a five year old stuck in a three hour long class filled with explanations of definitions. And then we departed ways, each of us going to our separate jobs. I wondered how you did it. Every single week, plus two other classes (and this class is your "easy" class) and another job thrown in. Plus, me, of course. I was proud of you before and I knew your life was hard, but, wow. You are the best, my perfect companion. Tonight I will gladly do all the dishes, fold your clothes, and read what I want quietly in my reading corner. Thank you, dear.

looking back and looking forward

It is a new year here for us. We have been here for one year (actually 14 months!). It saddens me and excites me at the same time. I am sad to realize how quickly time does pass in seminary. I am excited that we are no longer new here. We know people. We know places. We are almost kind of settled. It's a new school year and we kind of know what we are doing. It is still summer, so I am not done with my "summer to do list," but looking at it, all I can do is laugh. We had someone else pick blueberries for us. (Does that count or just make us the saddest couple ever?) I went through one of those phases where I felt like I deserved a gold star just getting out of bed (anyone else have those or am I just crazy?) and on top of that I had an upper respitory infection for a month. Andy worked every Saturday so we didn't do random fun things like go to the farmer's market. We still are not moved. I don't think we saved any money this summer (and we're both pretty extreme savers). But we've had fun and went to Disney with Andy's family (the happiest place on earth and I got to feel like a six year old for a week!) and enjoyed beautiful weather and ate some amazing food and found a lot of things we needed for free or pretty close to free. For this last part of summer I want to look forward and focus on big picture things. I want to:

1. be creative and complete this self-portrait challenge
2. read. we are here to learn and lately that is all I want to do. i have a growing spreadsheet of over 100 books I want to read. i think if I focused I could read 1 (or more if they're small!) book a week.
3. be a friend

So, friends, happy new year! May the rest of your summer days be like a warm hug, as they have been to us.

lately {july} in words and pictures

 

eating blueberry crumble

petting caramel, curly-haired dogs

  

devouring good books

watching a beaver leisurely walk through a front yard in the middle of the city

 

cancelling Netflix and

listening to the Harry Potter series

 

savoring Coffee Crisps and maple cookies from Canada

playing the piano (after a fairly long break from the piano I can all of a sudden play and sing at the same time!)

 

walking slowly in the evening summer breezes

longing for more freshly ground wheat pancakes shared with friends

 

scoring amazing free finds

hooked for life on audio books

 

 

hearing Andy say "I've been reading fashion magazines...stop laughing...it's for my job!"

enjoying life with my best friend