Home & Food

Foodie Friday — Orzo with Everything

Posted on by Jeanine / 0 Comment

This is a version of a recipe my younger sister, JoAnn, introduced to me many years ago. There are many similar recipes out there, but this one is a mish-mash of a few I combined. The measurements are an educated guess — I just use “about” what looks right.

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups orzo
1 large cooked chicken breast cubed (I had small chicken tenders, that’s why there are so many)
1 medium English cucumber cut in rings and halved (I get the little ones and cut up about 3 or 4)
1 small pkg grape tomatoes (I get the little multi-colored pkg at TJs)
1 cup crumbled feta (again, I just use a whole pkg from TJs)
1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives cut in half (I usually add more ÔÇÿcause I love them)
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (I use parmigiano-reggiano —again, TJs)
(my sister also adds some capers & marinated sun-dried tomatoes, which sounds yummy — I didn’t have either)

Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
3 lemon juice
2 cloves garlic (get those frozen cubes at TJs to have at all times)
1/4 cup white balsamic
S & P

1/2 cup fresh basil – chiffonade or chopped
lots of salt & pepper to taste (I always use white pepper ÔÇÿcause it doesn’t have such a bite to it)
— and maybe a bit more parmigiano-reggiano.

Cook the orzo according to pkg directions (al dente). Drain well and transfer to a large bowl to cool a bit (it’ll stick together, but the dressing will coat it later) Mix the dressing ingredients together in a mason jar and shake to combine. Throw all the ingredients, except basil, in the bowl over the orzo and mix well. Add the dressing and mix again. Add the basil, season with more salt and pepper if needed and give one last good mix. Enjoy!!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Books and Daily Affirmations

Mindful Monday

Posted on by Jeanine / 0 Comment

The best view comes after the hardest climb.” – Unknown
and —
Adventure is a path. Real adventure, self-determined, self-motivated, often risky, forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world.” – Mark Jenkins

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Life

The Power of Flowers

Posted on by Jeanine / 2 Comments

This was supposed to go out Wednesday, but I had some technical issues on the blog. You may have gotten that wonky test post­ƒñªÔÇìÔÖÇ´©Å — better late than never —.

I’m a somewhat recent listener, and fan, of the Mel Robbin’s podcast. A few days ago the topic was flowers and the science-backed research on how flowers make you happier. I was all in! I love flowers — who doesn’t? Anywhoooo, she referenced THIS Harvard study and THIS study at Rutgers which both sing the praises of having fresh flowers within your home and/or workplace. I’ll give you the Cliffs Notes version of all the reasons why you should have fresh flowers in your environment.

According to the studies, flowers can —

  • boost your mood
  • boost your mental well-being
  • strengthen feelings of compassion towards others
  • decrease anxiety and worry
  • boost your energy

Who wouldn’t want to enjoy all of those benefits? — and in such an easy way! Sure, you could go to a florist and buy a big bouquet and spend a ton of money —. OR — you could go to Trader Joe’s (or your local supermarket) and get a simple bouquet of 10 stems of daffodils for $2.00 or splurge on peonies for $10.00. Break up that bouquet and put a few stems in your bedroom, so it’s one of the first things you see when you wake up, and scatter the rest in small jars or vases around the house.

Think of a time that you received flowers — a birthday, an illness, after the death of a family member, Mother’s/Father’s Day, moving to a new home. How did they make you feel? I would venture to guess you felt seen, loved, appreciated. Just knowing someone thought of you is a gift in and of itself, but the lasting gift of the flowers that you get to enjoy for days on end just re-iterates that feeling every time you see them. The gift that keeps on giving!

The study goes on to say that giving flowers is also a gift that impacts you positively. It’s a gift that makes you feel more emotionally connected to the person you’re giving them to. They are an extension of how much that person means to you. What a beautiful sentiment.

I know there are some that think they are a waste of money and “they just die!,” but these two studies prove otherwise. Sure, they do die, but if you change the water, cut the stems and basically just care for them a bit, they can last a bit longer. Isn’t it worth it to have a little joy in your life, whether it lasts two days or two weeks. It’s a small price for a big impact.

— and there’s no need to wait for someone to give you flowers! You deserve things of beauty. Give them to yourself and enjoy all the positive feelings & emotions that envelope you every time you look at those flowers. — Or if nothing else, stop and smell the flowers on a walk around your neighborhood!

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The Earth Laughs in Flowers!”

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!